We shall continue with the study of the Book of Mark this week.
“During the festival seasons the population of the city swelled from ca. 50,000 to 250,000 persons.” (NICOTNT, Mark, 490)
(1) Why did so many Jews come to Jerusalem at this time? Why was the festival so important to them? (See Lev. 23:4-8.) What should be the focus of the chief priests and the teachers of law at the festival? What was their focus now and why?
(2) By putting Matthew 26:6-13 and John 12:1-8 together with this passage, we understand that it was Mary of Bethany, the sister of Lazarus, who anointed Jesus at probably His last feast in Bethany. From the incident of the death and resurrection of her brother in John 11, how would you describe Mary’s knowledge and understanding of Jesus?
(3) Which of the following might be Mary's motive(s) in anointing Jesus with such an expensive jar of perfume (it cost about one year in wages and would dissipate into thin air in seconds)?
a. To show her gratitude to Jesus (for bringing Lazarus back to life)
b. To show that she loved him
c. To express her belief in His words when no one else did, and to anoint Him in advance (She believed the words of Jesus about His crucifixion, and knew that it would be unlikely for her to get His body from the authorities.)
d. All of the above?
(4) Since it would only be two more days before Jesus was arrested, did the disciples take Jesus’ words of His death seriously? If they did, why would they chastise Mary for her action?
(5) Jesus rebuked the disciples, contrasting Himself with the poor. Did Jesus not care about the poor? Why was He so delighted with Mary’s action, even over the poor whom He certainly cared about? What is the lesson here?
(6) Jesus asks that “wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world (which He anticipated in advance) what she has done will also be told in memory of her”. What is the core content of the gospel? (Look up Jn. 3:16.) How is Mary’s action connected to the content of the gospel to the extent that it needs to be mentioned wherever the gospel is preached?
(7) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it in your life?
As explained in vv.1-2, the need for an insider is obvious as they (the chief priests and the teachers of the Law) tried to arrest Jesus in secret, avoiding a public confrontation.
(1) Imagine yourself as if you were Judas:
a. What might be the reason that you followed Jesus some three years ago?
b. What have you seen and heard in the three years? You have had the chance to live, eat, walk and sleep with Jesus, and you have discovered that He really is without sin. Who is Jesus, as far as you are concerned?
c. Money has always been important to you and, as you have been entrusted with the money bag of the group, you “used to help yourself to what was put into it” (Jn. 12:6). Now knowing that the religious leaders are plotting to put Jesus to death, what options do you have? What are the “pros” and what are the “cons” of your decision? Why do you take the option of betraying Jesus?
(2) Jesus arranged to eat His last Passover feast in an unknown place, even to the disciples; so, Judas could only find out the location later and he would have to sneak out during dinner to inform the chief priests. Since this was the last Passover meal that Jesus would eat on earth, can you imagine how Jesus felt as He presided over the meal and the full meaning of which He was going to fulfill almost immediately?
(3) Jesus pointed out that the one who would betray Him would be one of the Twelve and that he “dips bread into the bowl with me.” The gravity of it caused Him to say, “It would be better for him if he had not been born”. While this was Jesus’ comment on the life of Judas, what might His comment be of yours?
(4) Jesus’ announcement of the betrayal by one of them caused them to grieve and presumably, all twelve asked one by one, “Surely not I?”. Why did the eleven respond by asking Jesus this question? Didn’t they know they were not the one? And when Judas asked the same (see Matt. 26:25), what was he thinking?
(5) Why do you think Jesus felt that it was necessary to announce the betrayal at this point in time?
(6) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it in your life?
(1) As Jesus declares that our worship and relationship with God is one of “spirit and truth” (Jn 4:23), then place, building and rituals are really not as important. Why then would He institute the Lord’s Supper?
(2) As He looked at the bread and said “this is My body”, and took the cup saying, “this is My blood”, both times He gave thanks first. In what sense did He give thanks?
(3) As we now eat of the bread and drink of the cup during our Holy Communion, how can we imitate Jesus in giving thanks?
(4) Just a thought: Would it not be more appropriate for Jesus to pick up a piece of the lamb and said, “It is my body”? After all He is the Passover Lamb! Why did He choose bread as the symbol?
(5) We believe that the Lord’s Supper is meant for “remembrance” and not a re-enactment of the actual event. However, each time that we eat and drink, internalizing the elements, how may it help you to “remember”? Remember what?— His redemption for us or Him? Is there a difference?
(6) Jesus also points us to the day when He will drink it anew in the kingdom of God. How different will that heavenly feast be from this last one He drank on earth?
(7) I think the disciples by now had a growing sense of the reality of Jesus’ suffering and death. Would you have reacted to Jesus’ warning that “all will fall away” in the same way that Peter and the disciples did? Why or why not?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it in your life?
(1) What was the purpose of Jesus’ prayers before His arrest?
(2) Why did He choose to bring Peter, James and John along and share those words of v. 34 in private with them? What was He hoping or expecting of the three? Was His desire met?
(3) Consider these words of Jesus: “My soul was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death” (Italics mine). Did you ever experience anything close to this? What was the reason for His condition?
(4) Consider the prayers of Jesus carefully and the fact that He prayed the same prayer three times. What can you learn about the following?
a. The relationship between Jesus and Father God
b. What “incarnation" means
c. How the contents of His prayer define “prayer” in this context
d. How we may learn to pray like Him
(5) Read Hebrews 5:7-10. How does it help you to gain a better understanding of Jesus’ prayers in the garden?
(6) When Jesus said, “The spirit is willing, but the body is weak,” He was not only referring to the disciples, but probably to Himself as well. How did He demonstrate the power of prayer in meeting trials like His? What if the disciples did “watch and pray” with Him? What difference would it have made?
(7) What have you learned today that you need to apply to your life, especially in imitating Jesus?
(1) Of all betrayals, what do you consider (or what have you experienced) as the most base and hurtful of all betrayals? How might Hebrews 2:17 help us understand why Jesus had to be betrayed with a kiss?
(2) We understand from John 18:10 that the one who drew the sword was Peter. Why was he carrying a sword? What did he expect Jesus to do while he defended Him? Did Jesus take the opportunity to flee? Why not? (See His last words in v. 49)
(3) Jesus asked, “Am I leading a rebellion?”. What does this say about the way and mission of Jesus? How may we imitate Him?
(4) “Then everyone deserted Him and fled.” How could Peter, John and James and the other disciples leave Jesus? Did they not pledge to stick with Him only hours ago (v. 31)? Again, what if they had joined Jesus in praying in the garden? Why didn’t they?
(5) What have you learned today that you need to apply to your life?
(1) As you read this segment of the scripture,
a. What words can you use to describe the atmosphere?
b. What words can you use to describe these religious leaders?
(2) These leaders, who were determined to kill Jesus, were trying to legitimize their crime by conducting a trial that involved two or three witnesses as prescribed by the Law of Moses.
a. What kind of false testimony were they after so that could put Jesus to death?
b. Why was it so hard to come up with non-conflicting testimonies against Jesus?
(3) Why did Jesus remain silent before these false testimonies which He could certainly disprove? Then, when asked about who He is, He answered right away in no uncertain terms and more?
(4) Why did the High Priest charge Jesus with blasphemy? How could he have responded differently?
(5) What sins had these religious leaders committed? What sins had the rest of the crowd who abused Jesus physically committed?
(6) Peter was sitting and watching the entire event. How would he feel? What was going through his mind?
(7) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it in your life?
All four gospels contain the story of Peter’s denial of Jesus and according to Papias, Bishop of Hierapolis (c. 60-130): “Mark indeed, who became the interpreter of Peter, wrote accurately…the things said or done by the Lord.”
Therefore, we are reading what Mark heard directly from Peter of his denial of the Lord Jesus.
(1) Can you choose one word to describe the atmosphere of the night?
(2) What was Peter’s intention for being there, taking enormous risks?
(3) Was he aware that people might recognize him? Was he prepared for such a confrontation?
(4) Whether he was prepared or not, he was recognized and confronted. What might be the significance of the following?
a. The progression of the confrontations, twice by the servant girls and then by the bystanders
b. The progression of Peter’s responses as well
c. The purpose of the first crowing of the rooster (some early manuscripts add after v. 68, “and the rooster crowed”)
(5) Why did Jesus forewarn Peter of his denial?
(6) What impact might this denial have on Peter, both on a short and a long-term basis?
(7) Have you had any similar experience to that of Peter?
(8) What have you learned today about following Christ?