We shall continue with
the study of the Book of Mark this week.
(1) In this segment, Mark took care to repeat something three times (from the mouth of Pilate). What was it?
(2) Did Pilate truly believe that Jesus was the “king of the Jews”? How can you tell? Did Jesus behave or look like one? Why not?
(3) Mark said that the priests accused Jesus out of envy. What was the priests' envy about? What then can you learn about the severity of the sin of envy?
(4) Mark said that even Pilate was amazed at Jesus and as much as he tried to free him, the Apostles held him responsible for the death of Jesus (see Acts 4:27). What was the sin of Pilate then?
(5) It was the crowd that asked Pilate to honor the custom of releasing a prisoner. Did the crowd have Jesus in mind when they asked (see Mk. 14:2)? Why did they end up crying, “Crucify him”? What was their sin?
(6) A most notorious murderer was freed at the expense of the King of the Jews. What might be the symbolical significance of this?
(7) What have you learned today and how may you apply it in your life?
(1) The soldiers were bent on humiliating Jesus and called up the whole company in the Praetorium to do so. What sin was committed by these soldiers?
(2) How humiliating was it for Jesus? Did you have any similar experience as that of Jesus?
(3) By identifying Simon with quite a bit of detail, it appears that the first church either knew of him or his two sons. How special was this experience for Simon and what might have been its impact? Was he simply in the wrong place, at the wrong time?
(4) Have you had any experience or feeling like that of being forced to “carry the cross”? How should you look at such an experience?
(5) How much do you know about death by crucifixion? Try to describe it. Why did Jesus refuse to take the wine which was mixed with myrrh as an anesthetic?
(6) Here Mark repeats the charge against Jesus that He was “the King of the Jews”. What might be the significance of such a repetition?
(7) How did His being crucified beside the robbers further fulfill the prophesy of His death? (Isa. 53:9, 12)
(8) What have you learned today and how may you apply it in your life?
(1) In this passage of Scripture, who were the people that mocked at Jesus?
(2) What kind of sin did each of these groups of people commit against the Lord?
(3) Reflect on the second temptation by Satan in Matthew 4:5-7 and compare it to the temptation in vv.29-33 here. Which of these presents a stronger temptation, and why?
(4) “The whole land” was covered with darkness from noon to 3pm. What did it signify?
(5) Reflect on this cry of Jesus in v.34. These were the exact words that David recorded in Psalm 22:1.
a. Was Jesus simply crying to fulfill prophecy, or it was a cry out of the depth of His suffering?
b. In uttering these words, how deep was His pain?
c. Have you ever felt being forsaken by God?
(6) Do you believe that if you were the only sinner on earth that needed salvation, Jesus would have gone through this suffering for you? (Look up Lk. 15:3-7.)
(7) What have you learned today and how may you apply it in your life?
As Mark describes the final moment of Jesus’ death, he highlights several witnesses which testify to who Jesus really is:
(1) The curtain of the temple: Luke 23:46 and John19:30 give us a clue as to what this loud cry of Jesus was about in v. 37 here. Try to link His last cry with the tearing of the curtain of the temple which appeared to happen at the same time. What was its significance? What is its significance to you?
(2) The Centurion: Why did the last cry convince the centurion that He was the Son of God (surely the centurion would have no knowledge of the tearing of the curtain)? How special was his faith (given that he was likely a gentile, of German descent, a foreign official of an occupying power)? Contrast what this Gentile Centurion said with that which was said by those among the chief priests, the scribes and the crowd. How did the Bible use the Centurion’s testimony to convict them?
(3) The women: Why were the women-disciples there (besides John)? Try to describe their feelings or what they had gone through, being eye-witnesses of what Mark has described. How special were they to Jesus?
(4) As Mark closes the scene of the last day of Jesus, he introduces us to these characters:
i. The priests and religious leaders who killed Jesus out of envy
ii. Pilate who “conspired” with these leaders (Acts 4:27)
iii. The crowd who yelled “Crucify Him” senselessly like a mob
iv. The soldiers who humiliated Jesus, abusing their power
v. Simon who was forced to carry the cross innocently
vi. The two bad criminals nailed beside Jesus, one of whom came to know Jesus while the other rejected Him even before His death
vii. The passers-by who mocked Jesus, being instruments for Satan in his tempting of Jesus
viii. The centurion who believed that He was the Son of God
ix. The women-disciples who stood afar, witnessing every details of His suffering
Which one(s) caught your imagination or attention most? Why?
(5) What have you learned today and how may you apply it in your life?
The Burial of Jesus:
“In antiquity, the execution of a condemned man did not mark the final moment of his humiliation. Roman law dictated the loss of all honors in death, and even the right of burial was determined by magisterial decree (while) Jewish law prescribed that those hung should be taken down and buried before sundown…lest there be a defiling of the land…”
(NICNT, Mark, 580)
(1) Please read Luke 23:50-51 about this Joseph as well.
a. Why does the Bible describe him as bold?
b. How can one tell that a person is “waiting for the kingdom of God”?
c. Are you? Can people tell?
d. As much as the gospel of Luke excuses him from the crime of the Council, how would he feel about the death of Jesus?
e. What motivated him to ask for the body of Christ?
f. How did his action further fulfill another prophecy of Christ in Isaiah 53?
(2) What can you learn from this Joseph? Would you have done anything differently? Why or why not?
(3) Compare the birth of Christ in Luke 2:7 and His death in Mark 15:46. How similar and dissimilar were they? How does it speak to you?
(4) Now it is Sabbath.
a. What is Sabbath about? (Exod. 31:12-18)
b. How did Joseph and these women spend this Sabbath?
c. How special was this particular Sabbath? Consider especially its spiritual significance.
(5) What have you learned today and how may you apply it in your life?
(1) Put yourself in the shoes of the women disciples. Describe how you might have felt in the last two days before this particular Sunday.
(2) Put yourself in the shoes of the men disciples who had fled and were not at the foot of the cross. Describe how you might have felt in the last two days as well. (Read v.10.)
(3) What were these women expecting as they went to anoint Jesus’ body? As far as having a plan (if any) was concerned, what would be next after the anointing?
(4) Upon seeing the big rock rolled-away, what might you think if you were one of the women? Why were they alarmed upon seeing the young man?
(5) What would be your reaction when the young man said, “He has risen”? What was their reaction (v. 8)? Why did Mark say that they “fled”? Why did they not tell anyone (besides the disciples)? (v. 8)
(6) What was the reaction of the disciples to their story and why?
(7) The young man emphasized, “just as He told you” (v. 7). Why did they have a hard time believing, even though they were told by Jesus ahead of time?
(8) What have you learned today and how may you apply it in your life?
(1) Why did Jesus choose to appear to two other disciples before appearing to the Twelve (minus Judas)? With so many reports, why would these disciples still not believe? How much does it speak to the traumatic and devastating experience of the last few days?
(2) What was Jesus’ verdict about their disbelief? Was it too harsh? Why or why not?
(3) Here, Mark reports the Great Commission. Compare it to Matthew 28:16-20. What might be the differences in emphasis here?
(4) Combining both accounts, try to write down what the Great Commission is.
(5) Some Christians believe that, since this is the promise of Jesus in v.17-18, they think that all believers should speak in tongues, heal the sick and be able to handle snakes and drink poison without being hurt. As we know, not all believers speak in tongues, nor do they heal the sick. Some have even died of drinking poison as they “tested” the validity of this promise. So, consider why Jesus made such a promise.
a. It was only applicable to those disciples of the first church.
b. Miracles still do happen, but may take different forms.
c. Miracles are not a sign of being disciples, but they only happen as needed to bring non-believers to Christ.
d. Non-believers coming to repentance and faith is a greater miracle than these.
Which of the above might the reason be? Or do you have other explanations?
(6) Mark asserted that “He sat at the right hand of God”. What does it mean to you?
(7) Mark closes out his gospel account with v. 20. What is the significance of this last statement?
(8) What have you learned about following Jesus as His fully committed disciple?