The Gospel of Mark 1:1 – 9:50

Answers

2009

Mark was not one of the Apostles; rather, he was a close friend of Peter and is often seen in the Book of Acts.  He was a cousin to Barnabas and a companion to Paul on Paul’s first missionary journey.  Mark deserted Paul and Barnabas on this journey.  Yet, Mark’s fear turned into great strength and maturity, and in time he proved himself of great help to Paul.  Mark’s restoration to ministry was probably due in large part to Peter, who referred to him as, “Mark, my son.”  The Gospel is often referred to as “the memoirs of Peter” and consisted of what Peter preached about Christ. 

While Matthew was addressed to a largely Jewish audience, Mark seems to have targeted Roman believers, particularly Gentiles.  Matthew wrote to prove that Jesus was indeed the long awaited Christ, the Messiah.  Mark wrote to show Jesus as the suffering Servant of the Lord.  He focuses on the deeds of Jesus rather than on His teaching, emphasizing service and sacrifice.  If we could pick one key verse in this Gospel it would be 10:45, “For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many.”  Mark, more so than any of the other Gospel writers, demonstrates the humanity of Christ, emphasizing Christ’s human emotions, His human limitations and other small details, which highlight the human side of the Son of God.

 Chapter 1 - John the Baptist Prepares the Way

1.     “Here begins the Good News (the Gospel) about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God (1:1).”  What is this, the “Good News” of?  (A) The gospel is the good, and long-awaited news about the coming of the Christ, the Messiah, and His life, death and resurrection.  It is the message of redemption and salvation, first to the Jews and then extended to the Gentile nations of the world.

2.     Why is John so important to the story of Jesus?  How well do you think he fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy (1:2,3)?  (A) John was prepared from before his conception for this special ministry.  The angel Gabriel announced to Zecharias that his barren wife would have a son and he was to be called John (the Lord is gracious).  He would be great in the sight of the Lord and filled with the Holy Spirit, even in his mother Elizabeth’s womb.  He would turn many of the people of Israel to God and would go before Him to make the people ready to receive their King (Luke 13-17).  Isaiah said that God would send the messenger to prepare the way (the one and only path to salvation) and He did.

3.     How was John’s baptizing different from the ritual washing of the Jews?  (A) Baptism was not a new thing to the Jews: they required all Gentile converts to the Jewish faith to be self-immersed.  The startling difference was that John’s baptism was for the Jews, God’s Covenant people, and it required their repentance in view of the coming Messiah.

4.     Why were they to be baptized?  (A) To show that they had turned from their sins (repented) and turned to God to be forgiven (1:4).  The Baptism did not produce repentance, but it was the result.  This is so critical, because far more than a mere change of mind or remorse, repentance involves a turning from sin to God (1 Thess.1: 9), which results in righteous (holy) living.  Genuine repentance is a work of God in the human heart (Acts 11:18)!

5.     Where they forgiven their sins because of their baptism?  (A) No!  The outward rite of baptism did not convey forgiveness, but baptism was a visible witness that one had repented (turned away from sin) and believed (to commit oneself wholeheartedly to an object of faith), and as a result had received Gods’ gracious forgiveness of sins.

6.     See Vs. 1:7-8.  Why does John say, “I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit?”  (A) His baptism with water was limited and preparatory.  But those who received it pledged to welcome the Coming One who would baptize them with the Holy Spirit.

7.     When the heavens “split open” and the Holy Spirit descended like a dove on Jesus, why was this significant?  (A) Several reasons:  the “heavens split” in the Greek implies that the heavens were torn open by God and implies God’s breaking into the human experience to deliver His people.  In the OT, the Holy Spirit at times came on certain people to give them power.  That is what we see here, that is, the H.S. descending to empower Jesus the man for His Messianic mission (Acts 10:38).  The Father’s words expressed His approval of Jesus and His mission.

8.     Jesus is immediately compelled (driven) by the H.S. into the wilderness for 40 days to face temptation.  What purpose did it serve?  (A) This was to lead Jesus to take the offensive against temptation and evil instead of avoiding them.  He was put to the test by God to show He was qualified for His Messianic mission, and by Satan, trying to draw Him away from it.

Chapter 2 –Jesus heals

When the paralyzed man’s friends had lowered him into the room, Jesus said to him, “My son, your sins are forgiven you.”

1.     The teachers were furious and denounced this as blasphemy.  They knew that only God can forgive sins and called Jesus on it.  Which do you think is easier: to forgive sins, or to heal a paralytic?  _____________________________________

2.     In light of the words Jesus counters the teachers with (v. 8-11), what new insight about the kingdom and Himself is Jesus revealing? (A) This is the first time Jesus reveals that He is the Son of Man.  It is not used again until much later as Jesus reveals exactly who He is to the disciples.  This was astonishing to reveal Himself to the teachers, because it immediately pitted the Jews against Him.  The title, the Son of Man, referred to His mission on earth – He was God incarnate in the form of a man sent to bring salvation to the world.  This flew in the face of the teachers because in the O.T., forgiveness of sins was never attributed to the Messiah.

3.     Jesus called to Levi (Matthew) to be a disciple.  That night He ate with Matthew and other sinners, much to the chagrin of the Pharisees.  Why did Jesus eat with sinners, when no true Jewish leader ever would?  (A) The Parisees saw no need to repent and believe.  They felt secure in their own interpretation of the law, although it was an external obedience and not of the heart.  Jesus knew that everyone, even the “righteous,” are sinful.  He came for sinners who acknowledged their need and received forgiveness.

4.     What was the significance of Jesus and His disciples not fasting as other Jews did?  The new wine into old wineskins?  Patching old clothes with new cloth?  (A) Jesus uses a story about it being inappropriate to fast in the presence of the bridegroom.  This was to be a time of celebration, for the promised One was here.  In the story about the new wine into old wineskins, Jesus was saying that salvation, available through Jesus, was not to be mixed with the old Judaistic system.

Chapter 3 – Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

1.     Why do you think that Jesus so often performed His miracles on the Sabbath?  (A) Referring back to chapter 2: 27, 28, Jesus rebuked the teaching of the Jews and their outward appearance of holiness.  He declared that the Sabbath was made for the people’s benefit.  What better way to benefit man than to heal him, body and soul, and what better time than on God’s holy day?  He healed the man by His word alone, thereby doing no external work, yet showing His love for the man.  He really is the Lord of the Sabbath – God.

2.     Whenever demon-possessed people were healed by Jesus, they would fall in front of Him shrieking, “You are the Son of God (v.11, 12)!”  Jesus strictly warns them not to say who He was.  Why?  (A) Isn’t it strange that demon-possessed people would come to see Jesus?  They recognized Jesus’ true status as the Son of God and were greatly threatened by His presence.  Yet Jesus commands them to be silent.  He wanted His teaching and actions, not the impure words of demons, to proclaim who He was.

Chapter 4 – Jesus Teaches through Parables

Verse 34 tells us that, in His public teaching, He taught only in parables and only afterward explained there meaning to His disciples.  In v. 11, He tells them, “You are permitted to understand the secret about the Kingdom of God.  But I am using these stories to conceal everything about it from outsiders.” 

1.     Why would He do that?  (A) These verses must be viewed in the context of hostility and unbelief.  The teachers had just recently accused Him of being demon possessed and refused to believe in Him.  To the believers, the disciples (not just the twelve), He says that “You are permitted…(v.10), that is, to them God gave the secret of the kingdom of God, never before known.  But to unbelievers everything was to be concealed.  The “secret” – God’s present plan which is to be the age of “seed sowing”, now revealed to the people of God’s choice (see Romans 16:25-26.)  The original Greek for “are permitted” translates to God had already given the believers the understanding.  Those blinded by unbelief saw in Jesus nothing but a threat to their existence.

2.     In the story of the growing seed (vs.26-29) explains the complete picture of God’s Kingdom: sowing (v.26), growing (v.s.27-28), and harvesting (v.29), with the emphasis on the growing stage.  How does this apply to the disciples?  To us?  (A) The story is about the spiritual growth accomplished in good soil.  Jesus is the Sower – He sows His seed (His Word) in the elect (those who will come and believe).  After the gospel is presented, the Word of God works in the individual heart, sometimes slowly, until the time when God reaps the harvest in that individual and saves him!  All believers are part of that harvest.  All who are called and respond will be included!  It is all about Him!

Chapter 5 – Miracles

Miracles continue as Jesus went throughout the region teaching and healing, casting out demons.  We see a series of miracles in chapters 4-5 that highlight Jesus’ sovereign authority over various hostile powers: a storm at sea; demon possession; incurable physical illness, and death.

1.     In the story of the demon-possessed man, the demons knew that Jesus was the “Most High God” and beg Him not to torment them.  Why did they beg this?  (A) The demons answered Jesus question of what their name was by stating that it was “Legion” (a Roman legion consisted of 6,000 men).  They knew what their inevitable faith was – the Lake of Fire and torment forever.  They did not want to go there yet.

2.     Why do you think Jesus allowed the demons to enter the pig herd?  (A) Jesus always has a sovereign purpose.  Perhaps it was to give the man a very graphic, visible and powerful lesson on the immensity of the evil from which he had been delivered.  Has Jesus ever delivered you from evil?

3.     Of all the people pressing in on Jesus and demanding His attention, only two receive it, Jairus and the bleeding woman.  Why?  (A) Jairus was a leader of the local synagogue and a respected leader in his community.  Few of this caliber believed in Jesus.  Jairus believed and fell down before Jesus and begged much to heal her.  The woman was the opposite of Jairus.  Because of her condition, she would be considered unclean, even shunned by her family.  Jesus knew she had great faith when all she wanted was to touch the hem of his robe.

Chapter 6 - Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

1.     Jesus returns home to Nazareth, teaches in the local synagogue and is rejected by the people.  Verse 5 tells us that, “He couldn’t do any mighty miracles among them…”  How could this be?  Isn’t He God Himself in human form?  (A) Because they knew Him as the mere son of a carpenter, they could not see Him as higher than himself and found it impossible to see Him as the Messiah and Son of God.  The fact that He could do no mighty work is not because His powers were lessened by their unbelief, but perhaps it may show His greater mercy towards them by not heaping further condemnation upon them because of their hard hearts.  Has that ever happened to you – knowing about Him (even demons know Him) blocked your turning to Him?

2.     Jesus sent out the twelve apostles to extend His ministry to Galilee.  They anointed the sick with olive oil.  Why?  What does it signify?  (A) A big part of Jesus’ ministry was healing and the apostles were given authority to do so.  The use of olive oil was a common home remedy for illness, but here it signifies the power of the Holy Spirit in the supernatural healing taking place.

3.     A time of self-disclosure now takes place as Jesus shows His disciples how He cares for His own.  The twelve had just returned from a brilliantly successful ministry, casting out demons and healing the sick.  They were doing what Jesus Himself was.  When Jesus told them to feed the 5,000 (V.37), what was His motive?  (A) Because of their great success and being empowered by the Holy Spirit, they certainly could have used those same powers to feed the people.  Jesus was testing the limits of their faith.  Jesus once again proves who He is – the God of mercy and grace.

4.     The great miracle of Jesus walking on the water was another way for Jesus to show His apostles who He really was.  After all of the miracles they had just witnessed, their hearts were still hardened toward the truth.  How does Jesus show them who He is?  (A) Maybe we have heard this story so many times that we too lose sight of the wonder of the miracle.  These accomplished fishermen, for all their knowledge and experience, had absolutely no power over the wind and the waves.  Jesus walks on top of the water toward them and simply says, “It’s all right.  I am here!  Don’t be afraid (v.50).  The original language tells us He said, “It is I, literally meaning “I Am”, the great OT formula for God’s self-revelation.

Chapter 7 – Jesus Teaches About Purity

1.     The Pharisees and teachers of the law confront Jesus because the disciples neglected to wash their hands before eating.  He uses this to teach an important truth.  What is that truth and how can we apply it to our lives?  (A) Nothing …from the outside of a person can defile him morally.  The reason is that food does not enter his heart, that control center of human personality, and thereby affect his moral nature, What comes out of a person is what defiles him morally.  Vs. 20-23 are examples of what comes from within.  Ouch!

2.     Jesus heals a deaf and mute man (31-35).  Why does Jesus put his fingers into the mans ears?  Why spit on His own hands and touch the man’s tongue with it?  (A) This is just like Jesus!  He takes the man away privately and uses sign language and symbolic acts that uniquely suited the man’s needs and caused him to have faith.  By looking up into heaven, the man knew That Jesus was praying.

Chapter 8 – Jesus Feeds Four Thousand

1.     Once again, we find Jesus teaching and the people so enthralled that they stay 3 days and have no food to continue.  What is different about this event compared to the feeding of the 5,000, and what is the same?  (A) Jesus once again has compassion on them, but this time He takes the initiative to feed them.  The disciples are still slow to comprehend (duh!) with them in a new crisis.  It showed their inadequacy to meet the need, but to their credit, referred the matter back to Jesus to fix.

2.     The Pharisees confront Jesus and try to test Him to get Him to prove the source of His authority.  Jesus refuses.  Why?  (A) The word for sign here implies that they weren’t looking for a miracle, rather some utterance or act that would prove to them that He was indeed authentic.  They believed that Jesus was not authorized by God and refused to believe in Him.

3.     Jesus used many forms of teaching for His followers.  During the healing of the blind man in Bethsaida, how does He teach them?  (A) He spit on the man’s eyes and asked if he could now see.  The man answered yes, but not clearly.  How like him were the disciples!  They still could not see clearly.  How is your eyesight?

4.     Jesus predicts His death (31-38).  After Peter declared that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, He began to teach them what this meant.  What does He say?  How are we to be His followers?  (A) Almost all of the Jews expected a political and earthly Messiah.  They didn’t worry about repentance and forgiveness.  After all, they were Jews, not Gentiles.  Jesus told them that He must suffer many things, be killed and then rise again in three days!

The “must” denotes God’s perfect will in this.  Jesus address discipleship for “any who wants to be His follower (v.34).  Put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross and follow Him.  It means that this life is not about YOU!  Taking up the cross means saying YES to God’s will and way.  Following Him means to keep on following, not just when it’s convenient, but always.  Lose your life – surrender it all!

Chapter 9 – Jesus Travels to Jerusalem to Meet His Death

Chapter 9 opens with Jesus saying, “I assure you that some of you standing here right now will not die before you see the Kingdom of God arrive in great power.”  Some believe it may be His Resurrection and Ascension, the coming of the H.S. at Pentecost, the spread of Christianity by the early church, the second coming of Christ.  It probably refers to the what happens seven days later – the Transfiguration.  Jesus appears with Moses and Elijah and is transfigured.  Our word metamorphosis comes from the word used here and means to change into another form, not just an outward appearance.  Why did this event occur?  Why Moses and Elijah?  (A) Moses was Israel’s lawgiver and deliverer and represented the Law.  Elijah was the defender of Yahweh (Jesus in the O.T.) worship and the future restorer of all things (Mal.4: 4,5).  Both represented God’s rule to the nation of Israel.  The Father comes as a cloud and says, “This is my beloved Son, listen to Him (v.7).”  This literally means to be obedient to Him.  Jesus is now the new and final mediator of God’s rule in its present and future form.  The work of Moses is done; Jesus is now God’s authorized Ruler and Spokesman!  His time has come.

1.     Jesus comes down from the mountain and is immediately presented with a father whose son has been possessed by a demon.  The disciples could not heal the boy, even though they had previously cast out demons.  How does Jesus reply and why?  (A) He says, “You faithless people, how long must I be with you until you believe?” The father’s faith is shaken by the disciples’ failure.  He says, “If you can…”Jesus made the point that it wasn’t His ability to heal the boy but the father’s ability to trust in God who can do what is humanly impossible.       “Anything is possible if a person believes (v.23).”  Faith sets no limits on God’s power and it submits itself to His will.

Mark 1-9

Questions

2009

Mark was not one of the Apostles; rather, he was a close friend of Peter and is often seen in the Book of Acts.  He was a cousin to Barnabas and a companion to Paul on Paul’s first missionary journey.  Mark deserted Paul and Barnabas on this journey.  Yet, Mark’s fear turned into great strength and maturity, and in time he proved himself of great help to Paul.  Mark’s restoration to ministry was probably due in large part to Peter, who referred to him as, “Mark, my son.”  The Gospel is often referred to as “the memoirs of Peter” and consisted of what Peter preached about Christ. 

While Matthew was addressed to a largely Jewish audience, Mark seems to have targeted Roman believers, particularly Gentiles.  Matthew wrote to prove that Jesus was indeed the long awaited Christ, the Messiah.  Mark wrote to show Jesus as the suffering Servant of the Lord.  He focuses on the deeds of Jesus rather than on His teaching, emphasizing service and sacrifice.  If we could pick one key verse in this Gospel it would be 10:45, “For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many.”  Mark, more so than any of the other Gospel writers, demonstrates the humanity of Christ, emphasizing Christ’s human emotions, His human limitations and other small details, which highlight the human side of the Son of God.

 Chapter 1 - John the Baptist Prepares the Way

1.     “Here begins the Good News (the Gospel) about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God (1:1).”  What is this, the “Good News” of?  (A) The gospel is the good, and long-awaited news about the coming of the__________, the____________, and His_______, _________and________________.  It is the message of redemption and salvation, first to the Jews and then extended to the Gentile nations of the world.

2.     Why is John so important to the story of Jesus?  How well do you think he fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy (1:2,3)?  (A) John was prepared from before his ______________for this special ministry.  The angel Gabriel announced to Zecharias that his barren wife would have a son and he was to be called John (the Lord is gracious).  He would be great in the sight of the Lord and filled with the_________ _________, even in his mother Elizabeth’s womb.  He would turn many of the people of Israel to God and would go __________Him to make the people ready to receive their King (Luke 13-17).  Isaiah said that God would send the messenger to prepare the way (the one and only path to_______________ ) and He did.

3.     How was John’s baptizing different from the ritual washing of the Jews?  (A) Baptism was not a new thing to the Jews: they required all ___________converts to the Jewish faith to be self-immersed.  The startling difference was that John’s baptism was for the_______, God’s Covenant people, and it required their repentance in view of the coming Messiah.

4.     Why were they to be baptized?  (A) To show that they had __________from their sins (repented) and turned to God to be _____________(1:4).  The Baptism did not produce repentance, but it was the___________.  This is so critical, because far more than a mere change of mind or remorse, repentance involves a turning from sin to God (1 Thess.1: 9), which results in ______________ (holy) living.  Genuine repentance is a work of God in the human heart (Acts 11:18)!

5.     Where they forgiven their sins because of their baptism?  (A) No!  The outward rite of baptism did not convey forgiveness, but baptism was a ___________ ______________that one had ____________(turned away from sin) and ______________(to commit oneself wholeheartedly to an object of faith), and as a result had received Gods’ gracious forgiveness of sins.

6.     See Vs. 1:7-8.  Why does John say, “I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit?”  (A) His baptism with water was _____________and_______________.  But those who received it ______________to welcome the Coming One who would baptize them with the Holy Spirit.

7.     When the heavens “split open” and the Holy Spirit descended like a dove on Jesus, why was this significant?  (A) Several reasons:  the “heavens split” in the Greek implies that the heavens were torn open by God and implies God’s _____________into the ___________ _______________to deliver His people.  In the OT, the Holy Spirit at times came on certain people to give them power.  That is what we see here, that is, the H.S. descending to _____________Jesus the ________for His Messianic mission (Acts 10:38).  The Father’s words expressed His approval of Jesus and His mission.

8.     Jesus is immediately compelled (driven) by the H.S. into the wilderness for 40 days to face temptation.  What purpose did it serve?  (A) This was to lead Jesus to take the ______________ against temptation and evil instead of avoiding them.  He was put to the test by God to show He was _____________for His Messianic mission, and by Satan, trying to draw Him ____________ from it.

Chapter 2 –Jesus heals

When the paralyzed man’s friends had lowered him into the room, Jesus said to him, “My son, your sins are forgiven you.”

1.     The teachers were furious and denounced this as blasphemy.  They knew that only God can forgive sins and called Jesus on it.  Which do you think is easier: to forgive sins, or to heal a paralytic?  _________________________________________________________

2.     In light of the words Jesus counters the teachers with (v. 8-11), what new insight about the kingdom and Himself is Jesus revealing? (A) This is the first time Jesus reveals that He is the Son of Man.  It is not used again until much later as Jesus reveals exactly who He is to the disciples.  This was astonishing to reveal Himself to the teachers, because it immediately pitted the Jews __________Him.  The title, the Son of Man, referred to His ____________ on earth – He was God ______________ in the form of a man sent to bring salvation to the world.  This flew in the face of the teachers because in the O.T., forgiveness of sins was never attributed to the________________.

3.     Jesus called to Levi (Matthew) to be a disciple.  That night He ate with Matthew and other sinners, much to the chagrin of the Pharisees.  Why did Jesus eat with sinners, when no true Jewish leader ever would?  (A) The Pharisees saw no need to repent and believe.  They felt secure in their _______ ______________of the law, although it was an ______________ obedience and not of the heart.  Jesus knew that everyone, even the “righteous,” are sinful.  He came for sinners who acknowledged their need and received forgiveness.

4.     What was the significance of Jesus and His disciples not fasting as other Jews did?  The new wine into old wineskins?  Patching old clothes with new cloth?  (A) Jesus uses a story about it being ___________________ to fast in the presence of the bridegroom.  This was to be a time of_________________, for the promised One was here.  In the story about the new wine into old wineskins, Jesus was saying that salvation, available through Jesus, was not to be mixed with the old ________________ system.

Chapter 3 – Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

1.     Why do you think that Jesus so often performed His miracles on the Sabbath?  (A) Referring back to chapter 2: 27, 28, Jesus rebuked the teaching of the Jews and their outward appearance of holiness.  He declared that the Sabbath was made for the _______________ __________.  What better way to benefit man than to _________him, body and soul, and what better _________ than on God’s holy day?  He healed the man by His __________ alone, thereby doing no external work, yet showing His love for the man.  He really is the Lord of the Sabbath – God.

2.     Whenever demon-possessed people were healed by Jesus, they would fall in front of Him shrieking, “You are the Son of God (v.11, 12)!”  Jesus strictly warns them not to say who He was.  Why?  (A) Isn’t it strange that demon-possessed people would come to see Jesus?  They recognized Jesus’ true status as the Son of God and were greatly __________________ by His presence.  Yet Jesus commands them to be silent.  He wanted His ___________and______________, not the impure words of demons, to proclaim who He was.

Chapter 4 – Jesus Teaches through Parables

Verse 34 tells us that, in His public teaching, He taught only in parables and only afterward explained there meaning to His disciples.  In v. 11, He tells them, “You are permitted to understand the secret about the Kingdom of God.  But I am using these stories to conceal everything about it from outsiders.” 

1.     Why would He do that?  (A) These verses must be viewed in the context of ________________ and_____________.  The teachers had just recently accused Him of being demon possessed and refused to believe in Him.  To the believers, the disciples (not just the twelve), He says that “You are permitted…(v.10), that is, to them God gave the ___________ of the kingdom of God, never before known.  But to unbelievers everything was to be concealed.  The “secret” – God’s present plan which is to be the age of “_______ ___________”, now revealed to the people of God’s __________ (see Romans 16:25-26.)  The original Greek for “are permitted” translates to God ______ ___________ ___________the believers the understanding.  Those blinded by unbelief saw in Jesus nothing but a threat to their existence.

2.     In the story of the growing seed (vs.26-29) explains the complete picture of God’s Kingdom: sowing (v.26), growing (v.s.27-28), and harvesting (v.29), with the emphasis on the growing stage.  How does this apply to the disciples?  To us?  (A) The story is about the ______________ growth accomplished in good soil.  ______________ is the Sower – He sows His seed (His_____________ ) in the elect (those who will come and believe).  After the gospel is presented, the Word of God works in the individual heart, sometimes slowly, until the time when God reaps the harvest in that individual and ___________ him!  All ______________ are part of that harvest.  All who are called and respond will be included!  It is _________ about Him!

Chapter 5 – Miracles

Miracles continue as Jesus went throughout the region teaching and healing, casting out demons.  We see a series of miracles in chapters 4-5 that highlight Jesus’ sovereign authority over various hostile powers: a storm at sea; demon possession; incurable physical illness, and death.

1.     In the story of the demon-possessed man, the demons knew that Jesus was the “Most High God” and beg Him not to torment them.  Why did they beg this?  (A) The demons answered Jesus question of what their name was by stating that it was “Legion” (a Roman legion consisted of 6,000 men).  They knew what their _______________ faith was – the __________of _________and torment forever.  They did not want to go there yet.

2.     Why do you think Jesus allowed the demons to enter the pig herd?  (A) Jesus always has a sovereign purpose.  Perhaps it was to give the man a very__________, ___________and powerful lesson on the _____________ of the evil from which he had been delivered.  Has Jesus ever delivered you from evil?

3.     Of all the people pressing in on Jesus and demanding His attention, only two receive it, Jairus and the bleeding woman.  Why?  (A) Jairus was a ___________ of the local _______________ and a respected leader in his community.  Few of this caliber believed in Jesus.  Jairus  _____________ and fell down before Jesus and  ____________much to heal her.  The woman was the opposite of Jairus.  Because of her condition, she would be considered ________________, even shunned by her family.  Jesus knew she had great ______________when all she wanted was to _____________the hem of his robe.

Chapter 6 - Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

1.     Jesus returns home to Nazareth, teaches in the local synagogue and is rejected by the people.  Verse 5 tells us that, “He couldn’t do any mighty miracles among them…”  How could this be?  Isn’t He God Himself in human form?  (A) Because they knew Him as the mere son of a carpenter, they could not see Him as  ___________than himself and found it impossible to see Him as the Messiah and Son of God.  The fact that He could do no mighty work is not because His powers were lessened by their unbelief, but perhaps it may show His greater  ______________ towards them by not heaping further condemnation upon them because of their hard hearts.  Has that ever happened to you – knowing about Him (even demons know Him) blocked your turning to Him?

2.     Jesus sent out the twelve apostles to extend His ministry to Galilee.  They anointed the sick with olive oil.  Why?  What does it signify?  (A) A big part of Jesus’ ministry was healing and the apostles were given authority to do so.  The use of olive oil was a common  ________ ____________for illness, but here it signifies the power of the  _________ _____________in the supernatural healing taking place.

3.     A time of self-disclosure now takes place as Jesus shows His disciples how He cares for His own.  The twelve had just returned from a brilliantly successful ministry, casting out demons and healing the sick.  They were doing what Jesus Himself was.  When Jesus told them to feed the 5,000 (V.37), what was His motive?  (A) Because of their great success and being empowered by the Holy Spirit, they certainly could have used those same powers to feed the people.  Jesus was  ___________the limits of their _________.  Jesus once again proves who He is – the God of mercy and grace.

4.     The great miracle of Jesus walking on the water was another way for Jesus to show His apostles who He really was.  After all of the miracles they had just witnessed, their hearts were still hardened toward the truth.  How does Jesus show them who He is?  (A) Maybe we have heard this story so many times that we too lose sight of the wonder of the miracle.  These accomplished fishermen, for all their knowledge and experience, had absolutely no  ______________ over the wind and the waves.  Jesus  _____________ on top of the water toward them and simply says, “It’s all right.  I am here!  Don’t be afraid (v.50).  The original language tells us He said, “It is I, literally meaning “__ ______”, the great OT formula for God’s self-revelation.

Chapter 7 – Jesus Teaches About Purity

1.     The Pharisees and teachers of the law confront Jesus because the disciples neglected to wash their hands before eating.  He uses this to teach an important truth.  What is that truth and how can we apply it to our lives?  (A) Nothing …from the  _______________ of a person can defile him _____________.  The reason is that food does not enter his heart, that  _____________ center of human personality, and thereby affect his moral nature, What comes  _________of a person is what defiles him morally.  Vs. 20-23 are examples of what comes from within.  Ouch!

2.     Jesus heals a deaf and mute man (31-35).  Why does Jesus put his fingers into the mans ears?  Why spit on His own hands and touch the man’s tongue with it?  (A) This is just like Jesus!  He takes the man away  _____________ and uses  _______ ______________ and _____________ acts that uniquely suited the man’s needs and caused him to have faith.  By looking up into heaven, the man knew That Jesus was ______________.

Chapter 8 – Jesus Feeds Four Thousand

1.     Once again, we find Jesus teaching and the people so enthralled that they stay 3 days and have no food to continue.  What is different about this event compared to the feeding of the 5,000, and what is the same?  (A) Jesus once again has  _________________on them, but this time He takes the  ______________ to feed them.  The disciples are still slow to  _______________(duh!) with them in a new crisis.  It showed their  ______________to meet the need, but to their credit, referred the matter back to Jesus to fix.

2.     The Pharisees confront Jesus and try to test Him to get Him to prove the source of His authority.  Jesus refuses.  Why?  (A) The word for sign here implies that they weren’t looking for a miracle, rather some  ______________ or act that would prove to them that He was indeed ________________.  They believed that Jesus was not  _________________by God and refused to believe in Him.

3.     Jesus used many forms of teaching for His followers.  During the healing of the blind man in Bethsaida, how does He teach them?  (A) He  _________on the man’s eyes and asked if he could now see.  The man answered yes, but not clearly.  How like him were the disciples!  They still could not see _____________.  How is your eyesight?

4.     Jesus predicts His death (31-38).  After Peter declared that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, He began to teach them what this meant.  What does He say?  How are we to be His followers?  (A) Almost all of the Jews expected a  _______________ and earthly Messiah.  They didn’t worry about repentance and forgiveness.  After all, they were Jews, not Gentiles.  Jesus told them that He must suffer many things, be killed and then rise again in three days!

The “ _________ ” denotes God’s perfect will in this.  Jesus address  _______________ for “any who wants to be His follower (v.34)”.  Put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross and follow Him.  It means that this life is not about ________!  Taking up the cross means saying YES to God’s will and way.  Following Him means to keep on following, not just when it’s convenient, but always.  Lose your life – ____________________ it all!

Chapter 9 – Jesus Travels to Jerusalem to Meet His Death

Chapter 9 opens with Jesus saying, “I assure you that some of you standing here right now will not die before you see the Kingdom of God arrive in great power.”  Some believe it may be His Resurrection and Ascension, the coming of the H.S. at Pentecost, the spread of Christianity by the early church, the second coming of Christ.  It probably refers to the what happens seven days later – the Transfiguration.  Jesus appears with Moses and Elijah and is transfigured.  Our word metamorphosis comes from the word used here and means to change into another form, not just an outward appearance.  Why did this event occur?  Why Moses and Elijah?  (A) Moses was Israel’s  _______________ and  _______________and represented the Law.  Elijah was the defender of  _______________ (Jesus in the O.T.) worship and the future restorer of all things (Mal.4: 4,5).  Both represented God’s rule to the nation of Israel.  The Father comes as a cloud and says, “This is my beloved Son, listen to Him (v.7).”  This literally means to be  _________________ to Him.  Jesus is now the new and final mediator of God’s rule in its present and future form.  The work of Moses is done; Jesus is now God’s  ______________ Ruler and Spokesman!  His time has come.

1.     Jesus comes down from the mountain and is immediately presented with a father whose son has been possessed by a demon.  The disciples could not heal the boy, even though they had previously cast out demons.  How does Jesus reply and why?  (A) He says, “You faithless people, how long must I be with you until you believe?”  The father’s faith is shaken by the disciples’ ______________.  He says, “If you can…”  Jesus made the point that it wasn’t  __________ ability to heal the boy but the father’s ability to  ___________ in God who can do what is humanly impossible.  “Anything is possible if a person  _______________ (v.23).”  Faith sets no limits on God’s power and it submits itself to His will.