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MARK 1 :1- 45 : THE LIVING PARADOX
Introduction
Most biblical scholars agree that the Gospel of Mark was written by John Mark, whom the apostle Peter affectionately calls “my son” in 1 Peter 5:13. Because of their close relationship and many internal clues, we can surmise that the Holy Spirit used Peter’s firsthand accounts in shaping this Gospel. It was probably written between AD 64 and 70, to a mostly Gentile audience. Mark likely wrote from fast-paced Rome, which may account for his condensed and action- packed approach, often employing words like “immediately.” In any case, Mark is anxious to unveil to us who Jesus is, what his mission was, and how we are to respond to him. In the first eight chapters, Mark focuses our attention on the power and authority of “the Son of God” who performs many mighty works. The second eight chapters reveal a Jesus with no less authority, but who is determined to take the lowly route of suffering and death, in order to fulfill his saving mission. As to our response, Jesus calls us to “repent and believe the good news” (1:15) and to endure suffering along with him.
How would your friends describe you to someone who’s never met you?
Well, Mark wastes no time getting to the “real deal” about Jesus. He skips
any mention of Christ’s birth or childhood and gets immediately to scenes
from his ministry that reveal who he is.
Read verses 1-41.
[Optional: As the students read, sketch a map of Palestine on paper or dry-erase board, indicating the locations of the events described in the chapter.]
How long does it take Mark to get to the central message of his Gospel?
[Rephrase if necessary: What monumental truth does Mark reveal in the first sentence of his book?] (The deity of Christ. Mark pulls no punches!)
Reread verse 2.
In the Isaiah quote, who is “I”?
(God the Father.)
Who is “my messenger”?
(John the Baptist.)
And who is “you”?
(Jesus.)
Someone rephrase it for us with names instead of pronouns.
(The Father will send John ahead of Jesus.)
For clues to John the Baptist’s role, let’s look at his wardrobe.
What was the brother wearing?
(A camel’s-hair coat and a leather belt.)
What do his clothes reveal beyond his lack of fashion sense?
(That’s exactly what Elijah the prophet wore. John also ministered in the same area Elijah had—in the desert near the Jordan River! He was obviously making a statement since he and everyone else was familiar with the Old Testament prophecy that Elijah would return before the Messiah came. Read Malachi 4:5-6 and Mark 9:2-5, 11 - 13. Other parallels to mention if there is time and interest: Elijah passed on authority to his successor, Elisha, who received a double portion of his spirit. Christ’s ministry obviously eclipsed his predecessor’s as well. And Elisha’s ministry didn’t begin in fullness until after Elijah passed from the scene. The same was true of Christ and John.)
According to verses 4-5, what was John’s ministry all about?
(Repentance and forgiveness of sin.)
Since baptism is associated with cleansing from sin, why in the world did the
sinless Jesus get baptized?
(To identify himself with sinners, to be involved with God’s work through John, and to be revealed by John as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world”)
Name the persons involved in verses 10-11.
(Father, Son, Spirit. Once again, Mark is hard-hitting as he reveals the Trinity in his opening lines.)
(1. He sacrificed sleep to spend time with the Father.
- He didn’t skip prayer when tired or busy.
- He listened to the Father in prayer, seeking direction for the day.
- He obediently submitted to the Father’s direction.
- He didn’t give in to pressure from others.
- He realized that an “open door” doesn’t always reveal God’s will.
- If Jesus so needed time with the Father, how much more do we.
- He spent considerable time in prayer, beginning “while it was still dark.”)
When do you ever see people who are both powerful and humble? And he
not only possesses both qualities, but infinitely so. Let’s respond in prayers of
worship to the Servant-King. Let’s also ask for help to follow his example of
spending time with the Father.
MARK 2:1- 28 : AGAINST THE GRAIN
Why are people disliked by some when things are going well for them?
In chapter 1 , we witnessed the shocking authority and humility of Jesus. In
chapter 2 , we see that the Pharisees have also taken notice, and they don’t
like what they see. Skim the chapter to find the four lame complaints that the
Pharisees spew.
(Jesus proclaimed forgiveness, ate with sinners, did not direct his disciples to fast, and allowed them to pick grain on the Sabbath.)
Let’s read verses 1-12.
Imagine being the paralytic—a quadriplegic in today’s terms. What do you
think his life was like?
How do you think he feels when Jesus announces: “Son, your sins are
forgiven”? How about when Jesus heals him?
How would you answer the question Jesus poses in verse 9?
(Spiritual healing is easier to fake than physical healing, but is harder to actually accomplish. In fact, spiritual healing was provided only at the cost of the cross. So forgiveness is the greater of the two miracles that Jesus performs for the paralytic.)
In what way does the healing address the doubts in the minds of the religious
leaders?
(It demonstrated Jesus’ power. If he can heal the outer man, maybe he can heal the inner man too.)
Though the house wasn’t handicap-accessible, his friends still found a way to
get the paralytic to Jesus. How would you describe his friends?
The paralytic’s friends provide a model of caring. What are some practical
ways we can follow their example?
(Hang with the unpopular, bring friends to Jesus, serve people together, and care for people even if it proves difficult.)
So now that Jesus has been taken, do we now practice the discipline of
fasting? Let’s read verses 21-22.
Explain the physical dynamics of the metaphors.
(New cloth shrinks, pulling apart the stitching. Wine expands as it ferments, bursting stretched-out leather.)
What do the patch and wine metaphors have in common?
(The old can’t contain the new.)
What is Christ’s point in using these two illustrations?
(Christ did not come to patch up an old religious system. It could not contain Jesus. He fulfilled the Law and superseded it, providing a new covenant. So, since Jesus is bringing a new way to relate to God, it should be no surprise that his actions break the religious and cultural norms.)
Now let’s read verses 23-28.
Why do they complain about the grain?
(They adhered to scores of nit-picking, non-scriptural laws concerning the Sabbath, not to mention the fact that they were scrambling for dirt on Jesus.)
What does Jesus imply by his reply?
What does he mean by calling himself “Lord of the Sabbath”?
(The Sabbath was meant to fulfill the human need for rest, so meeting the human need for food is consistent with keeping the Sabbath. It is meant to help us, not rule us. David’s action described in verses 25-26 also occurred on a Sabbath [Leviticus 24:8-9]. So in verses 27 - 28, Jesus says in effect: “If the Sabbath is a servant of man, specifically David, how much more is The Man Lord of it!”)
Do we have any religious traditions that hurt instead of help us?
In chapters 1–2, how have Christ’s actions broken free from cultural norms?
(He called disciples, avoided publicity, taught without a degree or permission, healed, delivered, touched a leper, forgave sin, ate with sinners, feasted instead of fasted, and picked grain on the Sabbath.)
As Christ’s followers, how are we to be countercultural?
As we pray, let’s surrender ourselves to minister in Christ’s love, however
radical or risky it may become.
While the Pharisees and Herodians are plotting to kill Jesus, how are the
common people responding to him?
Why do crowds come from everywhere? What do they want with Jesus?
(They seem interested in Jesus only for his miracles.)
Do we want Christ’s words as much as his works?
Let’s read verses 13-19.
Given Mark’s usual brevity, it may seem surprising that he lists all the apostles’
names. How is discipling central to Christ’s ministry?
How is verse 14 an outline of Christ’s entire ministry strategy?
(He appointed disciples, spent time with them, and sent them out.)
How is it a model for us?
(We should be prayerfully intentional in our discipling, invest our lives in these people, and enable them by giving them ministry responsibilities.)
Let’s read verses 20-35.
What do the Pharisees accuse Jesus of in their latest attack?
How does Jesus respond?
(A country can’t have two kings without a civil war.)
In Christ’s metaphor, who is the “strong man”?
(Satan. We shouldn’t underestimate his power.)
Who ties him up and how?
(Jesus surprisingly compares himself to a home invader! His saving work will deny Satan of power.)
What is Jesus taking from Satan?
(He’s freeing those enslaved to Satan.)
Why does Jesus warn them about blaspheming the Holy Spirit?
(Verse 30 gives a clue. In their most diabolical attack to this point, the Pharisees accuse Jesus of being demon-possessed. They are looking at the goodness of God, and calling it the evil of Satan. “The sin against the Holy Spirit involves deliberately shutting one’s eyes to the light and consequently calling good evil” [Bruce, 93].)
How do you think Jesus felt when his family came “to take charge of him”?
When we are opposed or rejected by those who are closest to us, what
comfort can we receive from Christ’s words in verses 33-35?
(Jesus is our brother, and we have a vast spiritual family that loves us.)
As we pray, let’s ask for Christ’s strength to focus on investing in people
despite any opposition we might face.
If you’ve accepted the message, your “soil” was receptive at your conversion.
How about now?
Is the soil of your heart still soft for God’s words?
Is it producing fruit in your life or is there a snag in the growth process?
What kind of soil are you tempted to revert back to?
- Do you let Satan keep you from soaking in God’s Word?
- Do you only experience joy and growth in good times?
- Do you let worldly things seduce your heart?
According to the passage, how are we to respond to the Word in order to be
fruitful?
(“Hear” is repeated nine times in verses 1-25. Mark also mentions “perceiving,” “understanding,” “listen,” “turn,” and “accept” as proper responses. So the verbs involve both hearing and acting on the Word.)
As we hear and obey God’s Word, truth becomes virtue in our lives. But those
whose hearts are hard, shallow, or distracted don’t gain any lasting benefit
from hearing truth. So let’s make every effort to make the soil of our hearts
receptive to God’s Word. As St. Augustine writes: “Work diligently the soil
while you may. Break up your fallow with the plough. Cast away the stones
from your field, and dig out the thorns. Be unwilling to have a ‘hard heart,’
such as makes the Word of God of no effect. Be unwilling to have a ‘thin layer
of soil,’ in which the root of divine love can find no depth in which to enter. Be
unwilling to ‘choke the good seed’ by the cares and lusts of this life, when it is
being scattered for your good” [Oden 57].
What varying degrees of fruitfulness did the seeds in good soil produce?
(30, 60, 100 times what was sown. Think about how fruitful your Christian life has been and how fruitful you want the remainder of it to be.) [Facilitator’s note: If you’re short on time, cover the following section quickly or save it for next week.]
Let’s read verses 10-12 and 21- 25 , where Jesus explains his use of parables.
At first glance, verses 11-12 seem to say that Jesus is keeping the truth from
people by telling hard-to-understand stories. Is he really?
(Yes and no. He’s not trying to exclude the whole crowd, but is weeding out those whose lack of interest is betrayed by their refusal to really “hear” and try to understand. Their response reveals that their hearts are like the hardened path that does not let the Word of God penetrate. So they bring judgment on themselves for their unbelief, as 2 Thessalonians 2:10 says: “They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.” The parables are not meant to obscure the truth, but rather to nurture a hunger for their meaning so that those who truly “hear” will seek God, who alone can speak truth to their hearts. Revelation is not obvious to all, but according to verses 11 and 25, it is “given” by God—to those who are receptive to the Word.)
What does Jesus say about hiding truth in verses 21-23?
(Hiding a lamp—referring to himself or at least his message—would be silly. Its very purpose is to spread light around.)
Let’s reread verses 24-25.
What is Jesus saying about hearing his message?
(The more you hear and absorb, the more will be spoken to you. The more you reflect on Christ’s parables, the more you get out of them. Those who barely listen will understand little. Jesus seeks to cultivate a hunger for truth by telling stories that take a little work to fully grasp. He doesn’t spoon-feed the truth, but in verse 10, he gives more of an explanation to those who demonstrate their hunger by sticking around to ask for clarification.)
How can we apply these verses to our lives?
(Be attentive to what he is teaching us in his Word, so that he will enable us to know him more and more. It’s exciting that we can influence the amount of understanding God will give us by listening and hungrily absorbing what he is teaching us now. Our prayer should be: “Open the valve wide, Lord!”)
Let’s pray now that God will give us insight into his Word and the desire to be
as fruitful as we can be. Let’s also ask him to remove the rocks and thorns
from the soil of our hearts.
Isn’t it amazing the changes a plant spontaneously undergoes? As Jesus said
in verse 28: “All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head,
then the full kernel in the head.” A little sprout appears... Little leaves grow.
.. Every part matures until it flowers and bears fruit. Likewise, God plans to
grow you until he finishes what he started in you. Look back on your Christian
life and reflect on how you’ve grown. How are you different now than when
your Christian life first sprouted? His goal in growing us is to prepare us for his
presence that we’ll experience when harvest time comes, as Jesus alludes to
in verse 29.
Let’s read verses 30-34.
What happens in Christ’s third parable about planting?
(The smallest seed, mustard, grows into the biggest garden plant.)
How does this illustrate the kingdom of God?
(Jesus, the king, came modestly, with no earthly power, and with only a few acknowledging his rule, but history has seen his kingdom expand to include millions the world over.)
As we go to prayer, let’s praise God for the mysterious power his Word has to
grow our faith and bring new life to those we share it with.
MARK 4:35-41: FAITH OVER FEAR
What is the worst storm you’ve ever been through?
Today’s passage recounts a severe storm on the Sea of Galilee. Let’s read
verses 35- 41.
How did the disciples react to this storm? And what did many of them do for a
living?
(They were fisherman [see 1:16- 19 ].)
So how strong can we surmise this storm was?
(These seaworthy fishermen were accustomed to storms on the Sea of Galilee. This one must have been fierce for them to fear for their lives.)
Are you ever annoyed when it looks like God is sleeping and ignoring the
situation that has “swamped” you and threatens to drown you? Why do you
think the disciples wake Jesus up?
Did they want him to calm the storm or to take cover?
(With their surprise at his calming of the storm, we can infer that they did not expect him to do so. Their “we” could include Jesus as well!)
Why are the disciples still “terrified” even after Jesus calms the storm?
(This fear was not produced by the storm, but by the calm [Morgan 105-106]. The sudden storm and sudden stillness caused brain overload. They were in fearful awe of the One who possessed authority to rebuke both the waves and themselves.)
What did the disciples ask each other in verse 41?
(“Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”)
Tell us of a time when God blew away your concept of him by a display of his
power.
MARK 5:1- 43 : THE CARING CHRIST
If you could time travel to see Jesus as he ministered in Galilee, what is the
one personal need you would ask him to meet? Let’s see how Jesus met the
differing needs of three people in this passage.
Split into three groups, giving each group one of the following scenes to act
out for everyone:
- Vv. 1 - 20 : This scene requires people to act out the man, people chaining him, Jesus, pigs, and the locals.
- Vv. 24 - 34 : Requires people to act out the crowd, the woman, doctors, Jesus, the disciples.
- Vv. 21 - 24, 35- 43 : Requires people to act out the crowd, Jesus, Jairus, men from his house, Peter, James, John, mourners, the child, and her mom and dad. [If you don’t have enough people in your group for this, then have the whole group mime each scene as it is read. Divvy up roles by putting multiple name tags on each person with the roles you want them to mime.]
After each act, stop and ask: What can we learn from this encounter with
Jesus?
(1. Vv. 1 - 20 : Expelling demons from the man and into the pigs demonstrated Christ’s power, the man’s freedom, the destructive nature of demons, the value of people.
- Vv. 24 - 34 : Jesus cares for emotional as well as physical needs. He is tenderhearted toward the hurting, seeking them out.
- Vv. 21 - 24, 35- 43 : Instead of looking at our situations and being fearful, we should look to Jesus and trust him to help us.)
What different kinds of needs did Jesus meet in these encounters with
people?
(Spiritual, emotional, physical.)
What emotion is expressed often in this chapter?
(Fear.)
How is faith expressed in each encounter?
(The man obeyed Christ’s instruction to be a witness. The woman reached out and touched Jesus, believing in his power to heal her. The child’s father asked Jesus to heal her, and did not give up when he heard that she had already died.)
What character traits of Jesus are revealed in all three scenes?
(Christ’s authority and compassion. Jesus took on demons, sickness, and death as he cared for a man, a woman, and a child.)
Let’s spend a couple minutes in silent prayer, meditating on Christ’s authority
and compassion that can calm our fears and strengthen our faith.
