We shall continue with the study of the Book of Mark this week.
(1) Why did Jesus use a camel which is trying to go through the eye of a needle to describe how hard it is for a wealthy person to enter into the kingdom? Was it not too much an exaggeration or was it factual? What’s so special about wealth that it could prevent a person from entering into the kingdom? Use the young ruler’s case in reflecting on the above questions.
(2) More importantly, does wealth still stand in your way? Search yourself honestly.
(3) Since wealth is so powerful a force that stands in the way to the Kingdom, what is meant by “for all things are possible with God”? How might God work to help the rich be saved?
(4) Why did Peter draw Jesus’ attention to the fact that they had left everything to follow him? What was he expecting from Jesus and did he get his desired response? Why?
(5) We know that we will have our rewards in heaven, but what about receiving a hundred times already in this present age? Jesus won’t lie obviously, so what does it mean?
(6) What is the most significant lesson you have learned today and how can you apply it to yourself?
(1) Notice that Jesus did not only foretell His sufferings, but He spelled it out in great detail: He will be delivered to the chief priests, scribes and the gentiles, condemned, mocked, spat upon, scourged and killed, but He will rise again. Why did He spell it out in such detail to the Twelve ?
(2) Compare the atmosphere of vv. 32-34, and that of vv. 35-37. Can you make any sense out of James and John’s request? What were they essentially asking for? How much do you know about the two characters? (Write down what you know about John and refer to Acts 12:1-2 for the fate of James.)
(3) If you were Jesus, what would your response be? What was the point of Jesus’ response in v. 38?
(4) How does being Jesus’ disciples also mean that we will drink His cup and be baptized with His baptism? Consider especially the case of James.
(5) Why did the other ten begin to feel indignant? Would you have?
(6) How would you define greatness in the Kingdom of God, given Jesus’ own example?
(7) What is the most significant lesson you have learned today and how can you apply it to yourself?
(1) What do you know about being blind in Jesus’ days?
(2) Did the crowd see Jesus perform miracles before? Did they not want to see miracles? Why were they so stern in trying to keep the blind man quiet? What lesson can we learn from the crowd?
(3) Was Jesus’ question to the blind superfluous? Why not?
(4) If Jesus asks you today, “What do you want me to do for you?” , what would be your reply? (Take time to think of your reply.)
(5) Should you expect this request of yours to be answered? Why or why not? What’s so special about this blind man’s faith?
(6) What is the most significant lesson you have learned today and how can you apply it to yourself?
(1) Try to imagine yourself being one of the two disciples being sent to fetch the colt. Write a journal for this incident at the end of the day.
(2) What has this experience meant to you? Was this experience necessary? Why or why not?
(3) Imagine being this colt, tied there but which has never been sat on until the Messiah sat on it for His entrance into Jerusalem. What spiritual lesson can you draw out of it? (Note statements like, “The Lord has need of it.”)
(4) Read Psalm 118:25-26 and Zechariah 9:9-10. What did the crowd’s action signify? What did they expect to happen soon in Jerusalem? What about the Twelve?
(5) How different was Jesus’ entrance into His own city as the King of Kings from that of the Greek or Roman emperors of His time? Why did Jesus choose a colt instead of a stallion?
(6) What is the most significant lesson you have learned today and how can you apply it to yourself?
(1) The whole story about the fig tree is a little odd which makes it very interesting. Can you carefully jot down all that seems odd or unusual to you about it?
(Think of Jesus’ hunger, His foreknowledge, His curse [He never cursed anything before], and Mark’s comment about the season.)
(2) Obviously, Jesus did it purposely. What was the purpose or reason?
(3) Mark mentioned that the disciples heard Him loud and clear. What did He want the disciples to hear? (Note: In the OT, God often uses a tree or plant to make His point about Israel, e.g. Isa. 5:4.)
(4) As a “service” to the worshippers, the priests allowed people to sell doves for sacrifices and to operate money changers to “facilitate” offerings. But Jesus accused them of being “robbers” and drove them out of the temple (court’s area). How might the priests justify their actions to allow these things to happen? How did Jesus’ accusation serve to purify their motives?
(5) Jesus expresses His desire that “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations”. In what way may the church truly be called such, and how may you, yourself, participate in making the church a house of prayer?
(6) What is the most significant lesson you have learned today and how can you apply it to yourself?
(1) Jesus was using the withering of the tree as an object lesson of faith and extended it to the moving of mountains. If you were to pray, what might take greater faith, the instant withering of a tree or the moving of a mountain?
(2) How did the apostles apply faith in the Acts of the Apostles? How then did they reflect their understanding of this promise of Jesus?
(3) Why did Jesus link forgiving others to our prayers? What is the connection?
(4) Why did the religious leaders question Jesus’ authority in “doing these things”? Were they referring to the driving out of traders in the temple or the performing of miracles?
(5) In each case, what authority did they think one should have?
(6) What then was their problem with Jesus? What was their problem with John the Baptist then? So, what really was their problem?
(7) What is the most significant lesson you have learned today and how can you apply it to yourself?
(1) “Because they knew He had spoken the parable against them”— So they should understand that the vineyard obviously refers to the nation of Israel. What then is the relationship between Israel and God as depicted by this parable?
(2) Who are the servants being depicted? What is being highlighted in the successive sending of the servants?
(3) Can you think of one prophet that was being mistreated by the people and how?
(4) What is the reasoning behind the sending of the son? Is this expectation reasonable? Why or why not?
(5) What is the penalty imposed by the owner? Is it reasonable?
(6) What does the quote from Psalm 118:22-23 have to do with the parable? Reflect on these emphases: “the builders”, “the capstone”, “the Lord has done it” and “marvelous”.
(7) What is the most significant lesson you have learned today and how can you apply it to yourself?