Today’s passage: Mark 8:11-21

Helpful thoughts:

• For additional details concerning verse 11-13, read Matthew 12:38-42.
  • If all these Pharisees wanted was some visual evidence, then there was plenty of evidence to have been seen.  And there would be evidence to come in the resurrection.
  • No sign or declaration from the heavens would have been enough (Luke 16:31).  What they needed (And what all people need) is a change of heart.
• Leaven represented sin.  The “leaven” of the sinful actions and teaching of the Pharisees had been working to “leaven the whole lump” of Israel (1 Corinthians 5:6-7).
• Even though they had been with Jesus throughout this time, even the disciples did not yet understand.  Even once they did, Jesus informed them who had opened their eyes and ears to the truth (Matthew 16:16-17).

Questions to consider:

1. How does the end of verse 11 really show the motive behind the request from the Pharisees?  What did they expect (And want) Jesus to do?  Did they want Him to be their Messiah?  What must be the condition of our hearts when we come to the Lord in His Word and in prayer?
2. What parallel can we see in this passage between Jesus’ healing the physically blind and deaf with the characteristics of an unbelieving heart?  What healing do the hearts of mankind need to be able to see and hear the truth?
3. Are there any concerns that are consuming your thoughts today?  How can this passage help you to trust the Lord and keep those concerns from becoming a blind-fold, preventing you from seeing Christ?

Today’s passage: Mark 8:1-10

Helpful thoughts:

• This is a second miraculous feeding of a multitude of people.  Mark records both instances, here and in chapter 6.
• It appears that this feeding of a multitude happens in Gentile territory.  Jesus has also come to “feed” the Gentiles (John 6:35).
• These 4,000 people gathered and listened to Jesus’ teaching for 3 days straight with no food.  Jesus feeds them beyond satisfaction in more than one way.

Questions to consider:

1. What differences can you find in this account from Mark 6:30-44 that indicate this is a distinct miracle?
2. Why does verse 4 seem odd?  How would we suspect the disciples should have answered Jesus’ question?  Why didn’t they (Mark 6:52)?  How can this encourage us in our faithfulness as we proclaim the gospel message to the lost?
3. What can we see in Jesus and learn from verse 3?  How might He have displayed His omniscience? What was His concern?  How did He show compassion?

Today’s passage: Mark 7:24-37

Helpful thoughts:

• Jesus travelled outside of Judea, into Gentile regions.  In this passage, we see the precursor to the spread of the church beyond the Jewish people.
• The challenge in verse 27 appears to be a test.  It could sound offensive, but it also includes hope.  Jesus and His message was given to the Jews first, but it would also be given to the Gentiles.
• The people in these regions were not to spread the news of Jesus’ miracles.  The people wanted Jesus for something less than what He had ultimately come to bring.

Questions to consider:

1. Why do you think Jesus sighed before healing the man in verse 34?  What might have been wearing on Him?  What has he continually been trying to accomplish (See verse 24)?  Why do people keep finding Him, what do they want?
2. What does Jesus continue to show He has power over?  Even though these miracles aren’t the greatest thing Jesus came to do, to what truth do they attest?
3. How might we rephrase the final statement in verse 37 in a way nearer to the heart of God?  Jesus can make the physically deaf hear and the physically mute speak, but more than that, He can even…

Today’s passage: Mark 7:1-23

Helpful thoughts:

• The Pharisees gathered and scribes were sent from Jerusalem to find fault in Jesus and how He was leading His disciples.  All they found was that Jesus did not enforce their supplementary (And at times contradictory) man-made traditions.
• In response to this errant rebuke, Jesus quoted Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 29:13) and gave them a specific example of how they had come to use a man-made tradition to disobey God and feel spiritual about it.
  • The word “corban” means, dedicated to God.  If their hearts and money was truly dedicated to God, they would have used it to obey Him.  This is Jesus’ argument.
• Man needs a purified heart to be restored to God, not just a better habit of washing his hands.
  • Our actions and words do not come from without, they come from within our own hearts/minds.  (Ezekiel 36:26, 2 Corinthians 5:17)

Questions to consider:

1. Would it be possible for us to organize or participate in church in ways that are contrary to God’s commands and teaching because we prefer our own way?  What is the only way we would actually know if we have?  What is the final authority?  What can we be prone to do when how we do things becomes “comfortable,” even if it disagrees with God’s Word?
2. Why were all of the ceremonially unclean foods from the OT Law made “clean” by Jesus’ statement in this passage (Verse 18-19)?  How did the Law teach us about our greater need (Romans 3:20)?
3. There are so many things we could focus our attention on as a church?  But what should our greatest focus be?  How does this passage help us to see this?  What then is the purpose for everything else our church does (From the leadership, to the building and property, to the music and media, etc.)?  How does a unity of overall purpose help a church stay united in the details?

Today’s passage: Mark 6:45-56

Helpful thoughts:

• Jesus sends His disciples ahead so He could have time alone to pray.
• The divinity of Christ is put on display in His “passing by” on the sea (Job 9:8) and in the sea being made still after He got on the boat.
  • The disciples had previously asked, “Who then is this…?” (Mark 4:41).  The answer to their questions is reiterated in Jesus’ actions after their hard hearts would not understand the miracle of feeding the 5,000.
  • In the gospel account most informed by the eye-witness of Peter, the account of his walking on the water was not included (Matthew 14:28-33).
• The woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5 wasn’t the only one healed simply by touching Jesus’ garment.  Word was getting around.  When Jesus came to Galilee, a crowd quickly developed.

Questions to consider:

1. In what way is prayer part of our rest?  How do you define rest?  What would be a perfect day of rest in your mind?  How can Jesus’ actions help us to sharpen our understanding?
2. What contrasts are we seeing in the heart (Thinking, emotions and desires) of man and the heart of God as we continue to read this gospel account?  How are the people responding to who Jesus is and what He is doing?  How could they have responded differently (Better…)?
3. How can this help us to rest in who God is, what He has promised, and what He has called us to be in this world?

Today’s passage: Mark 6:30-44

Helpful thoughts:

• After a time of hard work in ministry, Jesus told His disciples to rest.
  • Even in a time where rest was needed, the shepherd’s heart saw the need and served the people.  We need a compassionate savior and shepherd.  Jesus shows His compassion.
• Jesus miraculously multiplied five loaves and two small fish to feed a crowd of over 5,000 people.
  • The disciples’ question about 200 denarii of bread was rhetorical.  They likely wouldn’t have had that much money on them.  They were pointing out how expensive it would be (Beyond their means) to feed such a large crowd.
  • This task was beyond the disciples’ means, but not beyond God’s.

Questions to consider:

1. What can we learn from Jesus’ encouragement to pursue rest?  When was it time to rest?  Did the desire to rest prevent them from serving others?  Is it always going to look perfect and orderly?  What extremes can people go to in order to find “rest?”
2. In what ways was this miracle similar to the daily manna that Israel received from the Lord in the wilderness during the exodus?  What could people have been learning about Jesus through this miracle?
3. How had Jesus been “feeding” the people prior to giving them food?  In what ways do we need to be fed?  Why can it be difficult to have a proper balance discerning the needs of people to whom we minister as a church?  What kind of feeding to people need most?  What kind of feeding to people sometimes want most? How can feeding be helpful?  How could it be harmful?

Today’s passage: Mark 6:14-29

Helpful thoughts:

• Herod appears to have had a great fear of man.  He was also afraid that Jesus was John the Baptist, back from the dead.  Today’s passage tells us why he had John the Baptist put to death.
• After being intoxicated by pleasure, Herod made a foolish vow.  He (and more so, John the Baptist) paid for it dearly.
• John the Baptists actual “wrong-doing” was simply telling Herod that it was wrong to have married his sister-in-law the way he did.

Questions to consider:

1. What are all the instances of fear we see Herod experiencing in this passage (Or clamoring for the approval of people)?  How did he respond to his fear/desire?  How did his fear/desire control him?
2. What are some instances where fear (Or particularly the fear of man) have made you say or do things (Or kept you from doing things) you would or wouldn’t normally want to do?
3. Contrast Herod’s leadership with Jesus’ from Mark 5:40.  What thinking and heart motivation needs to change in us in order to have victory of the fear of man? (Mark 12:30-31, 1 John 4:19, John 15:13, Ecclesiastes 12:13)

 

Today’s passage: Mark 6:1-13

Helpful thoughts:

• Mary had at least seven children.  Jesus, these four brothers listed, and at least two sisters (Or else they would have used the singular, “sister.”).
  • When the people called Jesus the son of Mary, they were implying that Jesus was born illegitimately.  They would typically have called Him the son of Joseph, but they knew something was up.  In truth, Jesus was not Joseph’s son!
• Jesus is fully God and fully man.  The people of His own “hometown” did not suspect any deity in Him.  They perceived Him to be a normal man.
• In the wake of Jesus’ rejection by His own family and friends in Nazareth, He sends His disciples out to other towns with the same message.
  • The offense of the people in Nazareth did not render the Gospel inaccurate.  The power and the word of God goes on.

Questions to consider:

1. What does “A prophet goes without honor in his own hometown” mean?  How would that be seen today?  What’s the difference between our reputations and Jesus’ reputation in Nazareth?  What didn’t he have in his past that we all do (Romans 3:23)?
2. Once the message was shared, if there was great rejection, what happened next?  Did Jesus impose or force the miracles on people?  How does this pattern compare to the ministry of the Apostle Paul (Acts 18:6)?  How could this impact how we minister to people today (Without giving up prayer for those who have thus far rejected Christ)?
3. How can these truths help us to remain encouraged and continue to spread the Gospel when people choose not to hear?