We shall continue with the study of the Book of Mark this week.
Vv. 10-12
(1) In the New Testament, “secret” or “mystery” refers to God’s plan of salvation hidden in the past, but now it is made plain by the coming of Jesus. Why then did Jesus use parables in many of His public teachings?
(2) Tom Rees once made a remark that “the same sun that hardens the clay melts the wax”. How can his remark help you understand the quote from Isaiah 6:9-10 in v.12?
Vv. 21-23—Try not to tie this parable of the lamp with the one in Matthew 5 but read this within its own context and pay attention to the connective “for” in v. 22.
(3) Who is the Light of the world? And with this Light having come to the world, what is being (and will be) disclosed and brought out into the open? What has this to do with you?
Vv. 24-25—This parable has to do with how we hear (Jesus’ teachings), and v.25 is linked to v.24 by the word “for” (NIV somehow omits it).
(4) With what measure did the Pharisees use in their hearing of Jesus? And what was the consequence?
(5) With what measures did the disciples, like Peter, use in their hearing of Jesus, and what was the consequence?
(6) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) A kingdom is usually understood in terms of (i) the extent of its reign, (ii) its location and (iii) its people or citizens. Try to apply these to the Kingdom of God.
(2) The first parable of the Kingdom is about (a) the continued growth day and night; (b) the growth is unknown to the sower; and (c) the “immediate” (in the original Greek version in v. 29) harvesting. What does this parable teach you about the Kingdom of God and to what aspect(s) (i.e. (a), (b), or (c) above) does it refer?
(3) The second parable of the Kingdom is about (a) its small or insignificant beginning, (b) its ability or power of growth, and (c) the final size being “the largest of all”. What does this parable teach you about the Kingdom of God and to what aspect(s) (i.e. (a), (b), or (c) above) does it refer?
(4) Although Jesus was speaking mostly in parables, obviously He has meant to be understood, As much as He would only explain them further in private to his disciples, what impact might these parables have on the listening crowd?
(5) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) After a day of teaching and healing, Jesus was obviously exhausted to the point that He was oblivious to the squall. What does it tell you about Jesus?
(2) How serious was the squall? How did the disciples react to it?
(3) Why did they wake Jesus up? From what they said, what did they expect of Jesus?
(4) How did Jesus calm the storm? Why would He choose such a method to calm the storm? And what was the effect?
(5) Was Jesus being reasonable in His remark to the disciples? If you were one of them, during this storm, how might you have reacted?
(6) Have you gone through any life’s storm that might be comparable to this squall? How did you handle it? What would have been Jesus’ remark to you?
(7) What have the disciples learned that night?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) What can you learn about demonic power from this man?
(2) Can you describe what a person is like under demonic power? How are people without Christ similar to this person?
(3) From the exchange between the evil spirit(s) and Jesus, what more can you learn about the spirit-world and why would Jesus entertain their request?
(4) The rearing of pigs was necessarily a pagan practice and so both the herdsmen and the demon-possessed man were probably gentiles. Does the reaction of the herdsmen to both the healing of the man and the drowning of pigs strike you as odd? What would yours be, if you were one of them?
(5) Why did the man beg to follow Jesus? Why did Jesus reject his request? (Note: Decapolis, meaning ten cities, refers to the cities east and northeast of the Jordan; all these, including Damascus, were gentile cities.)
(6) What is the most significant lesson you have learned today and how can you apply it to yourself?
(1) Based on what you have read so far in Mark, how did the rulers of the synagogue view Jesus? Why then did Jairus choose to fall at Jesus’ feet? Would you do the same, as one who might have gotten angry previously at Jesus because He blatantly broke the rules of Sabbath? Why or why not?
(2) If you were Jairus, what would you think upon hearing the news in v. 35? What impact might the healing of the bleeding woman have on him? What can you tell of his faith, as Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid, just believe”?
(3) Why did Jesus choose to revive the little girl only in the presence of a few disciples and the parents? Why would He exclude the wailing crowd from this?
(4) Reflect on v.41 and see how it might touch you.
(5) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) What would be the physical condition of a woman who had bled for 12 years? See Leviticus 15:19-24. What was the implication of her forcing her way through the crowd (should the people become aware of her uncleanness)?
(2) Apart from her health problem, try to describe her other conditions ― physical, emotional and spiritual (i.e. attitude toward God).
(3) Imagine the following: She took great courage to come, she took great strength to force herself to the front, she had great faith (believing that touching Jesus’ cloak was enough to be healed), and she “felt” instant healing. How would you describe her feeling at that very point? What adjective might be used to most appropriately describe her?
(4) Why did Jesus ask “Who touched my clothes?” Did He not know? Why then did He ask? What’s the purpose?
(5) Why did the woman “tremble with fear”? Would it not be the opposite of the adjective you just used to describe her?
(6) Her faith has already brought her healing. Now with her falling at Jesus’ feet and willing to tell Him her whole story, Jesus further pronounced: “Daughter, your faith has healed (the original Greek word is “saved”, which is the same word used in Luke 7:50) you. Go in peace (and be ‘whole’ of your suffering)” (Lk. 8:48, Mk. 5:34). What if, she chose to sneak away without being willing to be confronted by Jesus? She would still be healed, but would she be saved? Why or why not?
(7) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) What were the three amazing things that the people were asking about Jesus? By their questions, what have they admitted about Jesus?
(2) What were the counter-balancing questions they also asked about Jesus? Why would these questions appear to cancel out their previous admissions about Jesus to the point that “they took offense at Him”? What were they more concerned about?
(3) Read Jesus’ remark in v. 4. Was His remark true? Would it be true today about God’s servants serving in their home church where they were nurtured? What should a church be more concerned about when it comes to her teachers or leaders?
(4) What had been the effect of their offence (and lack of faith) on Jesus’ ministry among them? (Note: That the miracles were performed to a lesser extent was not an indication of Jesus’ power, but the lack of faith on the part of the people).
(5) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?