Gospel of Mark
Mark Study 20
Read Mark 8: 27-30
1. What was the popular view of Jesus?
2. Who did Peter say Jesus was? What had he witnessed to lead him to this conclusion?
3. Why did Jesus warn the disciples not to reveal his identity?
Read Mark 8: 31 - 9: 1
4. In Daniel 7: 13 Daniel records a vision of "one like a son of man". This became another title for the Messiah. Jesus brings in the teaching of the "suffering servant" from Isaiah 53 and applies it to himself. What did Jesus teach would happen to the Son of Man?
5. Why did Peter rebuke Jesus? What was his misunderstanding?
6. In Matthew 4: 8-10 Satan tempts Jesus to avoid sacrifice and gain the whole world. What point is Jesus making in his sharp rebuke?
7. What does it mean to follow Jesus?
8. When are Christians tempted to be ashamed of Jesus and his words?
Mark Study 21
Read Mark 9:2-13 and Luke 9:28-36
1. How was Jesus' appearance changed when he was "transfigured"? What does Luke say he was doing?
2. Moses and Elijah were very important figures in the scriptures. What did their appearance at Jesus' transfiguration represent?
3. What does Luke say they were discussing?
4. What does Peter's response reveal? How has he misunderstood the situation again, trying to hold on to this moment of Jesus' visible glory?
5. What is God the Father's important message? For who was it meant?
Read 2 Peter 1:16-18
6. What lasting impact did this moment have on Peter?
Read Malachi 4:5-6; Luke 1:17 (Where the angel Gabriel appears to John's father Zechariah) and Matthew 17:11-13
7. How had John the Baptist prepared the way for the Messiah?
8. Elijah and John the Baptist had both suffered under the hand of weak and wicked kings and evil manipulative queens. Jesus is beginning to teach the disciples about his own impending suffering. Why was the suffering Messiah such a hard teaching and why was it necessary?
Mark Study 22
Read Mark 9:14-32
1. Why had this father brought his son to Jesus?
2. Why might he have had trouble believing that Jesus could help? (v18)
3. What did Jesus mean by "Everything is possible for him who believes"? (v23)
4. Where does the man turn for help in believing?
5. The disciples had been given the authority to drive out demons. Why did they fail this time?
6. As his time of death grows closer, why does Jesus prioritise teaching the disciples?
7. Why are the disciples confused and afraid?
8. In times of crisis, are we more like the desperate father or the fearful disciples? Read Hebrews 12:1-3. Where can we turn to strengthen our faith?
Mark Study 23
Read Mark 9:33-37
1. Why were the disciples reluctant to admit to Jesus what they had been discussing?
2. What is meant by "the little children", and how can we welcome them?
3. In Jesus' eyes, who are the greatest and the least?
4. How does Jesus show us what it means to be "servant of all"?
Read Mark 9:38-41
5. In the previous study, the disciples had failed to cast out a demon. Given their concern about status and rank, why might they have tried to stop the man who was not "one of us"?
6. How did Jesus broaden their understanding of who was "with them"?
7. How can this help us in our interactions with Christians from different denominations?
Mark Study 24
Read Mark 9:42-50
1. Should we take this literally? What is Jesus really saying?
Read James 1:13-15
2. What really causes us to sin?
3. Why is causing others to sin such an important issue for God?
4. What is salt good for? What does it represent?
5. What is the connection between salt and peace? (see Colossians 4:6)
6. How can we avoid specific sins?
7. How can we live in peace with one another?