Mark 11:1-11; 14:66-72 - “GOING PUBLIC”
- Rico Tice, in his book Exploring Christianity, describes a follower of Jesus as one who knows who Jesus is, understands why Jesus came, and is prepared to follow him whatever the cost. How do these two Scripture passages affirm that description?
- Why is the final week of Jesus’ earthly ministry often portrayed as “the week that changed the world”?
- As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, how did the crowds receive him? How does his entrance compare with other accounts of Roman leaders entering cities as conquering heroes? Why might Mark’s gospel highlight the difference?
- Peter promised to follow Jesus anywhere, regardless of the cost (Mark 14:27-31). How did Peter respond when accused of being a follower of Christ? How are the three denials different? The same? What was his response to his actions?
- Why are promises broken? What’s the ultimate cost of broken promises to an individual? To a community?
- Why are promises kept? How does Jesus affirm that his promises stand and will be fulfilled in Mark 11:1-11?
- What is the power behind promises? How do promises define one’s identity? How do promises promote community? What happens when commitments are fulfilled?
- What are some risks with promise making? What are some risks of not making promises?
- 2 Corinthians 1:19-22 affirms the power of promise keeping. Why does Paul state that all God’s promises find their “Yes” in Jesus? What are some additional promises that are true because Jesus has kept his promises (see verses 21 & 22)?
- How can you trust Jesus to enable you to keep your commitments?
Ask the Lord to use this meditation on His Word to increase our love for Him and for each other as we seek to live daily by the grace of God.
Mark 10: 13-31 - “WHAT’S SO AMAZING ABOUT GRACE?”
- When you hear the word “amazing”, what first comes to your mind? What has amazed you recently? How were you surprised by what you discovered?
- Why is grace so amazing? How is grace counterintuitive to the law of cause and effect?
- Mark’s gospel places two events back to back for effect. How does Jesus’ response to the children (see 10:13-16) surprise the disciples? How does Jesus’ response to the wealthy young man (10:17-27) surprise the disciples?
- How do you spot the sacred in everyday life? Why are we often too busy to embrace the grace that comes our way each day?
- What characteristics does Jesus look for in the life of a disciple? Why does the rich young man not qualify in Jesus’ eyes? What was the central issue in his life?
- In the response of Jesus, the young man was told to give away his money to the poor. Is Jesus making this a requirement for all Christ-followers? Why or why not?
- This man also had moral wealth. He was a good person, cared for his mother, and fulfilled a majority of the Ten Commandments. Why does Jesus connect the last six commands with the first four commands of the Decalogue? What’s at the heart of this connection?
- How does grace threaten us? How does Jesus smash our cherished assumptions and practical righteousness?
- Study the interaction of Jesus with the young man. Why is verse 21 one of the greatest verses in the Bible? What does this tell us about Jesus?
- If grace is so amazing, why don’t we like it? If we are offended by Jesus use of grace, what does that tell us about our hearts? If we take grace for granted, what does that tell us about our hearts?
- Think about 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20. How do these verses apply to Mark 10:13-31? Why must we remember that Jesus became poor that we might become rich in him?
Ask the Lord to use this meditation on His Word to increase our love for Him and for each other as we seek to live daily by the grace of God.
Mark 8:31-9:13 - “NO and YES”
- Rico Tice, in his book Exploring Christianity, descries a follower of Jesus as one who knows who Jesus is, understands why Jesus came, and is prepared to follow Him whatever the cost. Do you affirm this definition of discipleship? Why or why not?
- Jesus taught his disciples that he must suffer, be rejected by the religious leaders, be killed and on the third day rise from the dead. Why were they unprepared to hear this teaching? What does this say about the human heart when confronted by the sheer grace of Christ’s actions?
- Jesus calls the crowds and his disciples together (8:34) and implores them to deny themselves, take up their cross and to follow him? What is the difference between a God-oriented life and a life of self-seeking?
- If taking up one’s cross doesn’t deal with self-pity for problems in life, then how does Jesus command imply an intentional and painful dying to our self-interests?
- Jesus invites people to follow him. What are the reasons that you follow or don’t follow Jesus? What is the cost of not following him?
- Jesus looks to the future as well as the past on the mount of transfiguration (Mark 9:2-13). How does Moses and Elijah’s presence point in both directions?How does Jesus stand at the center of biblical history in the past and the future?
- Peter misunderstood Jesus’ explanation of why the Messiah came (8:31-33) and, on the mountain, he wanted to build three “shelters” for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. What was Peter thinking in both instances? Why was he frightened by Christ’s words and Christ’s glory? Like Peter, how can our responses to Christ be an attempt to control the work of Christ’s kingdom on earth?
- Throughout this section, there is a call to embrace Christ and the gospel (see: 8:35, 38; 9:7). How does a disciple do this? What are some ways that you are committed to this life of discipleship?
- When they left the mount of transfiguration, they returned to face deep personal problems in ministry and the larger community? Why does Jesus call us to engage the world and not withdraw from this engagement? How can you faithfully touch this community for Christ? How can BG sharpen our outreach focus into the community?
- How does the NO and YES of Jesus words direct our lives in our homes and workplace?
Ask the Lord to use this meditation on His Word to increase our love for Him and for each other as we seek to live daily by the grace of God.
Mark 8:22-33 - “Open Our Eyes, Lord”
- Mark’s Gospel begins with the words: “The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Written to Christians in Rome, how do these words confirm that Jesus is Lord and not Caesar?
- The entire Gospel answers two major questions - Who is Jesus? and What did Jesus do? This section of Scripture is the hinge that separates Mark’s answer to these questions. Read Mark 8:22-33 and make some observations on the transition from one question to the other.
- How does Jesus’ healing of a blind person illustrate the desperate need for Jesus touch on the disciples understanding? (see Mark 8:14-21)
- The remainder of Mark’s Gospel reflects the disciple’s need for clearer understanding of Jesus. What might be some reasons that Jesus asked about the public’s perception of himself? What are some current perceptions of Jesus? Why does he then ask a more personal question of the disciples? How would you answer his question in Mark 8:29?
- Jesus teaches the disciples that he MUST suffer, be rejected by religious leaders, killed and after three days rise again. How do these truths change your understanding of the Lord?
- Peter did not accept these promises and challenged Jesus stating that the true Messiah would never engage in these things? Why is it hard for many people to accept the suffering and death of Jesus? Why does Jesus rebuke Peter?
- Jesus classifies Peter’s response as having the things of men in mind and not the things of God. How does Jesus’ response relate to our lives in the 21st century? How does Jesus emphasize that he is central to all of life?
- BG’s mission statement emphasizes that we seek to glorify God by making disciples who engage the world for Jesus Christ. How does this section of Scripture teach us to disciple others with whom we work and live?
Ask the Lord to use this meditation on his Word to increase your love for him and others as we seek to live daily in the grace of the Lord Jesus.
