We shall continue with
the study of the Book of Mark this week.
(1) Read carefully vv. 21-22, the parable of a new patch on an old garment, and of new wine into old wine skin. What then does Jesus refer to as old garment or old wine skin? What then is the new patch or new wine?
(2) Now if Jesus represents the new, in what sense is it (He) new?
(3) Now if the Law of Moses is the old, then in what sense is the Law old?
(4) Applying the above understanding to vv.18-20 (the issue of fasting), why is fasting in the presence of Jesus like mixing the old with the new?
(5) Jesus did leave them for a while, but now the Holy Spirit has come and dwells in each believer. Has fasting then become the “new” again, or does it remain the “old”? What was the purpose of fasting by the disciples of John and the Pharisees that made it “old”?
(6) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) Go to I Samuel 21:1-6 in which David and his men ate of the consecrated bread that was only meant for priests (see also Lev.24:5-9 and Matt.12:4). How was David’s eating of the consecrated bread justified? From this incident, how would you approach and understand the ceremonial law in the Old Testament?
(2) How then should the Jews interpret and keep the law regarding Sabbath, in spite of the severe wordings in Exodus 32:12-17?
(3) Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath”. What does it mean? We do not have to keep any ceremonial law of the OT today, so how may you apply this teaching today?
(4) What do you think the impact of v.28 might have on the Jews that day, given this being the earlier part of Jesus’ ministry?
(5) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) Read carefully what Jesus said in v.4. Jesus was not really concerned about what was lawful, but rather the real purpose of Sabbath. What is the real purpose of Sabbath according to Jesus?
(2) What had the Jews turned Sabbath into?
(3) Why was Jesus angry? Can you think of similar things in your life and that of the church that might make Jesus angry today?
(4) Mark describes to us that the crowd was growing around Jesus. (Luke sometimes uses “many thousands” to describe the size of the crowd, see Luke 12:1.) The only way Jesus could practically minister to them was to do so from a boat (v. 9). Put yourself into the shoes of three kinds of people in the crowd:
(a) the ordinary people who saw the miracles and heard His preaching
(b) His disciples, like Peter
(c) the religious leaders, like the Pharisees
What might be the best description of each of their attitudes toward Jesus?
(5) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) From this small section, it appears that Jesus has attracted more than the Twelve to follow Him, but now He appointed the Twelve and some manuscripts read, “designating them apostles”. On what basis do you think Jesus chose these Twelve?
(2) Why then did He choose Judas Iscariot who eventually betrayed Him?
(3) What is the three-fold purpose for the choosing of these apostles? What is the significance of each of these three aspects?
(4) What is the most significant lesson you have learned today and how can you apply it to yourself?
(1) From vv. 20-21, how would you describe Jesus’ life of ministry? Should it be a model for us? Why or why not?
(2) Why did His family call Jesus “out of His mind”? If you were Jesus, how would you respond to them?
(3) Can you remember the kinds of miracles that Jesus has performed so far? Suppose you are a skeptic. What explanation(s) might you come up with to explain all these away?
(4) What explanation did the teachers of the law come up with?
(5) Jesus did not always address their attacks, but this time He chose to. Why? Was His explanation convincing? Why or why not?
(6) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) What is meant by blaspheming the Holy Spirit and why would it be an unforgivable sin according to Jesus?
(2) Mark remarks that Jesus said this because they were saying, "He has an evil spirit". So, have they (the teachers of the law) committed such an eternal sin? Why or why not?
(3) How should we then avoid such a sin?
(4) Back in v. 21, the family of Jesus was trying to take charge of Jesus, and now they had come, because they thought He was out of His mind. How did Jesus respond to their action?
(5) What do you think might be the reaction from his mother and brothers?
(6) What does Jesus’ statement in v. 34 mean to you?
(7) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
The fame of Jesus and the size of the crowd grew at the same time, but it appears that Jesus was speaking mainly in parables to them and Mark selects a few to be retold here. The first one is about the fate of the seeds being sown. Vv. 3-9 is the parable itself and vv.13-20 provides the explanation. It is important to note that in understanding a parable, one has to focus on its central teaching, and not on minor details, unless the latter is being made plain by Jesus himself.
(1) In what ways is the use of the sower and the sowing of seed vividly fitting to the sharing of the gospel?
(2) Can you relate the four outcomes of the seed to people or incidents that you have come across (or in your own life)?
(a) Seeds that fall along the path: Taken away by Satan
- How does Satan do this in a hearer’s heart?
- What can you (the sower) do?
(b) Seeds that fall on rocky places: Dried up by trouble or persecution
- Since trouble or persecution happens “because of the word”, should you encourage the hearer to keep his or her faith secret to avoid it?
- What can you (the sower) do?
(c) Seeds that fall among the thorns: Choked dead by worries, wealth, and worldly desires
- Which of the above might be the most potent in choking a hearer?
- What can you (the sower) do?
(d) Seeds that fall on good soil: Acceptance and multiplication
- How can the soil be good?
- Is there anything you (the sower) can do to make sure the soil of the hearer is good?
(3) What is the core message of this parable to you?