Mark 9-10: The Servant Prepares His Followers for the Future

Notes*...

In these chapters Christ is slowly, deliberately moving toward Jerusalem, the site of His final confrontation with the Jewish religious leaders. Knowing that time is short, Jesus sets about teaching and modeling for His disciples a number of important kingdom truths. In short order, we see Jesus' true glory revealed in the Transfiguration. During the Transfiguration Jesus underwent an dramatic change in appearance, so the disciples could behold Him in His glory. The kingdom splendor of Christ revealed at this event was intended as a preview of His majesty to be manifested at His second coming.

These chapters unveil an intentional effort by Jesus to equip the disciples with the knowledge and skill they will soon need to lead the fledgling church. The cost of true greatness is humble, selfless, sacrificial service. The Christian who desires to be great and first in the kingdom is the one who is willing to serve -- he is willing to work for excellence without becoming proud, to withstand criticism without becoming bitter, to be misjudged without becoming defensive, and to withstand suffering without succumbing to self-pity.

Questions / Things to Consider:

• Why do you think Christ's teaching of the "first shall be last; last shall be first" is so hard to swallow for most people?
• With what character in these two chapters do you most relate (the disciples who had just witnessed the glory of Christ; the parent of a child in trouble; the disciples confused over what lay ahead; the people scrambling for a position; the young ruler with tremendous wealth; Bartimaeus, fervently seeking help)? Why?

* Notes from "Mark: The Humanity of Christ," John MacArthur, 2006.

Mark 7-8: The Servant Broadens His Ministry

Study guide notes*...

Religious traditions are not inherently good or bad. They can be useful in reminding us what is true and important. But they can also be detrimental if we allow them to become larger than life and supersede God's eternal principles.

Ironically, the most religious people of the day had the least faith in Jesus, even as so many religious outcasts trusted and obeyed Him. After being rejected by His own people, Jesus broadened His ministry and turned His attention to the irreligious Gentiles in the area. Chapters 7 & 8 record Jesus' increasing conflict with the scribes and Pharisees over their burdensome, human-made traditions. We are reminded that pleasing God has little to do with religious ritual and everything to do with unwavering trust and obedience in Christ.

To come to Christ is to receive and to keep on receiving forever. But Jesus, through His direct instruction during His earthly ministry and through His apostles in the rest of the New Testament, repeatedly makes clear that there must be a cross before the crown, suffering before glory, sacrifice before reward. The heart of Christian discipleship is giving before gaining, losing before winning.

Questions/Things to Consider:

• Some have accused Jesus of being indifferent, almost rude, to the Syro-Phoenician woman with the sick daughter. What is your impression of what happened in this exchange?
• What (if any) human religious traditions do you see that tend to keep you from a closer relationship with Christ?

* Excerpts from: "Mark: The Humanity of Christ," John MacArthur, 2006.

Mark 6: The Servant Prepares the Twelve

Study guide* notes...

Until this stage of His ministry, Jesus had ministered alone. he had the companionship of the twelve disciples and the company of vast multitudes who followed wherever he went. But none of the Twelve nor the multitudes participated in His ministry except as observers or recipients. With growing hostility among the Jewish leaders, Jesus began the preliminary stages of commissioning the Twelve to join Him as fellow workers. For the balance of His earthly ministry, these men would become the primary object of Jesus' concern, instruction, and training because the establishing of His Church would soon fall squarely upon their shoulders.

Questions/Things to Consider:

• Based on the instructions Jesus gave, what were some lessons He wanted His disciples to learn on their first ministry trip?
• After seeing Jesus and His disciples in action, how would you define "ministry"? How does Jesus' style of preparing people for ministry compare with the typical approach of training clergy and/or lay people today?

Not every believer is called to be a preacher, teacher, pastor or missionary; but every believer is called to be Christ's witness to the world. Jesus has no followers who are not under His order in the Great Commission to "make disciples of all the nations." The first and most essential element from ministry is the unqualified understanding that one is soverignly called, gifted, and empowered by the Lord to do His work in His way. Children of God do not determine their own destiny or mark out their own patterns or plans. They are under divine orders, and their supreme, overarching concern must be to submit to Christ in all things.

* Excerpts from "Mark: The Humanity of Christ," John MacArthur, 2006.

Mark 4-5: The Servant Demonstrates his Power

Study guide* notes...

One way Jesus served those He came to save was by delivering God's truth to a world shrouded in darkness. Another way He served was by miraculously delivering people from certain temporal trials. These assorted miracles were not ends in themselves, but rather a means to a greater end. They were signs, intended to point out deeper truths about the person and work of Christ. They acted to authenticate His message.

Above all else the miracles were foretastes of kingdom power. When Jesus healed diseases and restored broken bodies, he provided a glimpse into the kingdom where there would be no sickness or deformity. When He cast out demons, He gave a preview of the kingdom where there would be no demonic activity. When He raised the dead, he previewed the kingdom where there would be no death.

Questions / Things to Consider:

• What "tests of faith" did Jarius have to endure before his daughter was restored to him?
• The disciples seemed shocked and surprised by Christ's power; however, the synagogue official and the bleeding woman seemed to have great faith in the power o Christ. How do you explain the differences in their responses?
• With which person or group of people from this extended passage do you identify most (the disciples in the storm, the man oppressed by demons, the prominent man with the sick child, or the woman with a debilitating and shameful illness)? Why?

* Study guide reference: "Mark: The Humanity of Christ," John MacArthur, 2006.

On a non-study guide note, I love the story about the woman who wanted to touch the garment of Jesus, because she knew He could make her whole (Mark 5:25-34). At the Women of Faith conference this weekend, Nicole C. Mullen sang and performed a song she wrote about this story. It is my new favorite song. Here's the video for the song (I put the lyrics below the video)...



Here are the lyrics...

Been ostracized for 12 years... I'm used to being alone... spent everything i had and now it's gone. I'm used to being put down... my issues tell it all... my only hope is anchored in this fall. If I could just touch the hem of His garment... I know I'd be made whole. If I could just press my way through this madness... His love would heal my soul. If only one touch.

So many people calling... how could He ever know... that just a brush of Him would stop the flow. If he knew would He rebuke me... Or shame me to the crowd. Well I'm desperate 'cause it's never or it's now. If I could just touch the hem of His garment... I know I'd be made whole. If I could just press my way through this madness... His love would heal my soul.

And then suddenly He turned around... He said somebody has unleashed my power. Well, frightened and embarrassed i bowed... You see I told Him of my troubles And how... I had to touch the Hem of His garment ...And i know I've been made whole... and how I had pressed my way through this madness... and His love has healed my soul.

Then with one word... He touched the hem of my garment... and you know I've been made whole... and somehow He pressed His way through my madness... and His love has healed my soul. I tell you he Touched me. He reached way down and touched me. When no one else would touch me... your Jesus sure enough he touched me... and i know I've been made whole.

Mark 3: A Mixed Response

After a whirlwind introduction to John the Baptist and to the inaugural events of Christ's public ministry, Mark continues his concise portrait of Jesus the Servant. The healing of a man's withered hand on the Sabbath prompts the Pharisees to begin counseling together how to destroy Jesus. This in turn leads to Christ's withdrawal to the Sea of Galilee with a great multitude from many places, where He names the twelve apostles.*

Questions/Things to Consider:

• How did Jesus' own family members respond to his ministry? Why?
• Jesus sometimes walked away from conflict, but not in this chapter. He had to challenge the accusation that He was one with Satan. Why do you think He didn't walk away from the conflict in this instance?
• If you had lived during the time of Christ, and had been among the masses watching and listening to Him, do you think you would have followed Him? Why or why not? What would have been some of the obstacles/incentives?

* Excerpts taken from "Mark: The Humanity of Christ," John MacArthur, 2006.

Mark 1-2: Inaugurating the Servant

Here's some notes from my study guide*...

Mark's Gospel was intended for a Gentile audience, especially a Roman one. Mark is the Gospel of action! Jesus appears in Mark as the Servant who bursts on the scene to suffer for the sins of many. Mark's fast-paced approach would especially appeal to the practical, action-oriented Romans. Mark begins his record of the life of Jesus with a description of John the Baptist.

Questions/Things to Consider:

• Count the number of times Mark uses the word "immediately" in chapters 1 & 2 (New King James Version). What do you think Mark was trying to convey about Jesus and his ministry by using the term repeatedly?

* Excerpts taken from "Mark: The Humanity of Christ," John MacArthur, 2006.

May Reading: The Book of Mark

I hope everyone enjoyed Matthew in April. In May we will be reading Mark. My study bible* includes the following contextual information on Mark...

Purpose: To present the person, work and teachings of Jesus.

Author: John Mark. He was not one of the 12 disciples, but he accompanied Paul on his first missionary journey (Acts 13:13).

Original Audience: The Christians in Rome, where the Gospel was written.

Date Written: Between A.D. 55 and 65

Setting: The roman empire under Tiberius Caesar. The empire, with its common language and excellent transportation and communication systems, was ripe to hear Jesus' message, which spread quickly from nation to nation.

Key Verse: "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45)

Special Features: Mark was probably the first Gospel written. The other Gospels quote all but 31 verses of Mark. Mark records more miracles than does any other Gospel.

* Life Application Study Bible