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Studying Mark

Studying Mark. (with non-christians in mind). Important Points?. “ The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God ” (vs. 1) Gospel - the true “ good news ” The Son of God - slap to Roman view of the emperor The good news of Jesus begins with OT prophecies (vs. 2-3)

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Studying Mark

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  1. Studying Mark • (with non-christians in mind)

  2. Important Points? • “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (vs. 1) • Gospel - the true “good news” • The Son of God - slap to Roman view of the emperor • The good news of Jesus begins with OT prophecies (vs. 2-3) • Combination of Ex. 23.20, Mal. 3.1, Isa. 40.3 • In Mark, events happen “immediately” • Implication? Power, authority.

  3. Questions about text? • Why did John dress funny and eat weird food? (vs. 6) • What is the baptism of the Holy Spirit? (vs. 8) • Why was Jesus baptized? (vs. 9) • What’s the kingdom of God? (vs. 15) • What’s the Sabbath day? (vs. 21) • Why didn’t he allow the demons or healed man to speak? (vs. 25, 34, 44) • What did Moses command? (vs. 44)

  4. Answers to Questions? • Why did John dress funny and eat weird food? (vs. 6) • Wilderness man • That’s how Elijah acted (2 Kings 1.8) • Malachi 4.5 • Mark 9.9-13

  5. Answers to Questions? • What’s the baptism of the Holy Spirit? (vs. 8) • Spirit - “breath, wind” • Isa. 63.11-14, 32.15-16, 44.3

  6. Answers to Questions? • Why was Jesus baptized? (vs. 9) • To signal the beginning of his ministry • To indicate that he shares the plight of his people?

  7. Answers to Questions? • What’s the “kingdom of God”? (vs. 15) • Jewish conception: the world will become Jewish! • Jesus’ point: The world will be fixed! • God will reign and display his power (9.1) • God will be united with his people (14.25) • Humble, lowly people enter it (10.14)

  8. Answers to Questions? • What’s the Sabbath day? • God rested on the 7th day of creation (Gen. 2.2) • The day of rest under the LOM (Ex. 20.8) • An opportunity to remember slavery (Deut. 5.15)

  9. Answers to Questions? • Why didn’t he allow the demons or healed man to speak? (vs. 25, 34, 44) • Jesus didn’t need the testimony of demons! • Perhaps Jesus didn’t want the popularity of the people (vs. 45) • “My hour has not yet come” (Jn. 2.4)

  10. Answers to Questions? • What did Moses command? (vs. 44) • Leviticus 14.2-31

  11. Studying Mark • (with non-christians in mind)

  12. Important Points? • Jesus has power over sin, as well as sickness, and spirits (2.5) • Sickness - 1.31, 1.42 • Spirits - 1.25 • Sin - 2.5 • In OT, healing of disease was often a demonstration of forgiveness (Ps. 103.3, 147.3, Is. 19.22) • Every healing is a driving back of the consequences of sin!

  13. Important Points? • Jesus called the outcasts (2.14) • Jewish tax collectors were excommunicated from synagogue, disqualified as a judge or witness, and entire family was disgraced! • Fish were taxed in 1st century Roman empire • Possible Levi knew the fishermen Jesus called? • Discipleship pictured as dramatic response!

  14. Important Points? • Jesus ate with outcasts (2.15) • “Sinners” a technical Pharisaical term referring to inferior Jews • Pharisees were ritually impure by eating with commoners • Jesus’ actions foreshadow coming Kingdom of God (14.25)

  15. Important Points? • Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath (2.28) • Sabbath was created for man: refreshment, remembrance • Son of man is Lord of it • Jesus was misunderstood by his own family (3.21) • Why record this if not true??? • More evidence for the inspiration of Mark!

  16. Important Points? • Jesus accepts believers as family (3.34-35) • Kinship to God is determined by godly action • People with common purpose and lifestyle make up God’s family

  17. Potential Questions? • Who were the Pharisees? (2.16) • What’s Jesus teaching about cloth and wine? (2.21-22) • What was Jesus’ point about the grain on the Sabbath? (2.24) • Do we still have demon possession today? (3.11, 15) • What’s the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? (3.29)

  18. How to Answer? • Who were the Pharisees? • Conservative, blue-collar Jews • Most prominent sect • Believed in an afterlife, resurrection • Believed in the written (Torah) and oral law (Talmud)

  19. How to answer? • What’s Jesus teaching about cloth and wine? (2.21-22) • OT only gave one mandatory day for fasting (Lev. 23.26-32) • Fasting here probably an expression of repentance designed to hasten coming redemption • Analogy: it is not fitting to use old things for new things • The old ways of John’s disciples and Pharisees are not fitting for the time of Jesus

  20. How to Answer? • What was Jesus’ point about the grain on the Sabbath? (2.24) • The action itself was legitimate (Deut. 23.25) • Reaping on the Sabbath prohibited (Ex. 34.21) • Jesus’ point NOT: I can break my own laws because I’m God! • Point seems to be: the Pharisee’s stringent tradition exceeds the intention of the law

  21. How to Answer? • Do we still have demon possession today? (3.11, 15) • Only examples in the gospels and Acts • Examples seem to highlight power of God’s message (1.27) • What’s the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? • Rejecting the very source of life • God cannot forgive when we do not desire it! • Jesus makes this point in response to the scribes

  22. Studying Mark • (with non-christians in mind)

  23. Important Points? • The kingdom of God starts with the sower: God (vs. 3-9) • Vs. 1-34 is largest unit devoted entirely to Jesus’ teachings • Parable of the sower, not the soils (Matt. 13.18) • Common for farmers to sow seed without first plowing • Point: God spreads message of the kingdom everywhere, with differing results

  24. Important Points? • The kingdom of God illuminates the world (vs. 21-25) • What’s the purpose of a lamp? To shine out! • God (through the coming of Jesus) makes hidden things visible

  25. Important Points? • The kingdom of God grows discreetly (vs. 26-29) • Mark alone records this parable • Counters popular Jewish idea that the kingdom would come in an instant • “By itself,”“knows not how” = mysterious, unnoticed • God’s work grows slowly but steadily until the harvest

  26. Important Points? • The kingdom of God starts small, but grows big (vs. 30-32) • Jesus’ messianic rule begins in a small, unnoticed way - mustard seed • Eventually, the kingdom of God grows to outstrip every other kingdom in glory and power • Birds nesting in branches illustrate God blessing it (Ez. 17.22-24)

  27. Important Points? • Jesus’ power over nature (vs. 35-41) • Story occurs on same day of parable teaching • SOG - 696 ft. below sea level. Sudden storms not unusual! • Jesus’ lack of concern vs. panic of disciples • Story illustrative of what “faith” is about • Unspoken answer to disciples’ question: the Son of God (1.1, 11)

  28. Potential questions? • What is a parable? (vs. 2) • Measuring, given, taken away? (vs. 24-25) • Why was Jesus so secretive about the meaning of his parables? (vs. 11, 34)

  29. How to answer? • What is a parable? (vs. 2) • Parabole - “a narrative or saying of varying length, designed to illustrate a truth, especially through comparison or simile” (BDAG) • “A comparison that places the known beside the unknown” - Paul Earnhart • Stories, sayings, and similitudes which uncover spiritual truth when pondered

  30. What is a parable? (vs. 2) • Parables generally teach one basic truth, but may have significant sub-points • Not unique to the gospels (Hosea 12.10, Psalm 78.2) • Large portion (approx. 1/3) of synoptic gospels made up of parables

  31. How to answer? • Measuring, given, taken away? (vs. 24-25) • Hearing constantly emphasized (4.3, 9, 12, 23, 24) • The more you want to “hear,” the more rich teaching from God you will uncover • Self-reliant, hard-hearted people will lost what knowledge of God they have

  32. How to answer? • Why was Jesus so secretive about the meaning of his parables? (vs. 11, 34) • Not because he wanted to block faith! (1 Tim. 2.4) • Quote from Is. 6.9-10 describing hard hearts of Israel • Parables harden the hard-hearted and soften the humbly-curious (Mk. 12.12, 4.10) • The “secret” is given to those who want it enough to go up and ask!

  33. Studying Mark • (with non-christians in mind)

  34. Important Points? • Jesus vs. Satanic forces (5.1-15) • Demons hurt, kill, and destroy (vs. 5, 13) • Jesus shows mercy and rescues (vs. 13, 15, 19) • Picture of life under sin vs. life under Jesus

  35. Important Points? • Even the demons believe and shudder! (5.7, Js. 2.19) • Notice terror of demon! Evil anticipating evil (vs. 7) • Demon acted on his terror by begging to inhabit something else (vs. 12) • Not enough to simply know that Jesus is Son of God • Not enough to simply be in awe of Jesus

  36. Important Points? • Faith, fear, and power of Jesus (vs. 21-43) • Jesus in no great hurry to heal Jairus’ daughter • Woman was unclean under Mosaic law (Lev. 15.25-28) • What she touched became unclean (Lev. 15.19-27) • Jesus makes her clean instead of becoming unclean himself!

  37. Important Points? • Faith, fear, and power of Jesus (vs. 21-43) • Faith is the antidote to fear (vs. 36) • Faith brings you into God’s family (vs. 34) • Disbelief separates you from power of Jesus (vs. 40)

  38. Potential Questions? • What does “Legion” mean? (vs. 9) • Why were the townspeople so afraid? (vs. 15) • Why does Jesus tell the man to spread the news? (vs. 19-20) • What’s a “ruler of the synagogue”? (vs. 22) • Why does Jesus embarrass/terrify this woman? (vs. 33)

  39. How to answer? • What does “Legion” mean? (vs. 9) • Unit in Roman army - 6,000 at full strength • Possession of 2,000 pigs verifies claim of strength • Why were the townspeople so afraid? (vs. 15) • Jesus = incredible power they didn’t understand • If Jesus could control the uncontrollable man... ??? • Contrast to the healed man (vs. 17)

  40. How to answer? • Why does Jesus tell the man to spread the news? (vs. 19) • Primarily Gentile region (vs. 11) • Perhaps Decapolis region did not pose same danger as Galilee?

  41. How to answer? • What’s the “ruler of the synagogue”? (vs. 22) • Synagogue - gathering place for worship/instruction • Jewish layman who presided over syn. affairs • Responsible for organizing teaching and services • Most were Pharisees • Fall at feet humble action for important man (vs. 22)

  42. How to answer? • Why did Jesus embarrass/terrify this woman? (vs. 33) • Fearful to admit condition and making others unclean • To publicly demonstrate the consequences of faith • To prove to crowd (and Jairus) that faith-full people can be healed past point of normal hope! • Jairus was not thinking about resurrection (vs. 23, 36)

  43. Studying Mark • (with non-christians in mind)

  44. Important Points • Unbelief blinds to obvious truth (6.1-6) • Throwback to Jer. 11 • Jesus prevented from performing miracles • Miracles alone don’t convince skeptics • Story more evidence for truth of gospel

  45. Important Points • Message of kingdom continues to spread (6.7-13) • Scene resembles the Exodus (Ex. 12.11) • Apostles signs of peace, defenselessness, trust, urgency • Jews would routinely shake dust off feet after leaving Gentile territory

  46. Important Points • The kingdom requires sacrifice (6.14-28) • John denounces personal lifestyle of a ruler (18) • John imprisoned (17) and beheaded (27) because of stand • Herod Antipas makes no sacrifice - stark contrast

  47. Important Points • Jesus has power to nourish (6.30-44) • Willing at any time (34) • Motivated by compassion (34) • Can supply whatever need (35) • Can work with limited resources (38) • “Green grass” (39) possible reference to Ps. 23 • Reminiscent of God feeding wilderness Israelites

  48. Important Points • Jesus continues to confirm his deity (6.45-56) • 4th watch was between 3:00 am - 6:00 am • Disciples struggle to oar, Jesus almost passes by • Echo of Job 9.9, 11 • Disciples bewilderment sign of hard heart • Heals merely by fringe of garment

  49. Potential questions? • Why did hometown reject him? • Who was Herod? • Why wasn’t Herod’s relationship “lawful”? • What’s a denarii?

  50. How to Answer • Why did hometown reject him? • Had never noticed Jesus’ unusual attributes (2) • Possible rumor of illegitimacy (3) • Could not see past his lowly, physical nature (3) • Gospel itself is not sophisticated or impressive (1 Cor. 1.26)

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