Well, we have come to the end of our studies in Mark! In your Bible it may have something telling you Mark 16:9-20 are not in the earliest manuscripts of the Gospel. If you are so inclined, it’d be good to follow up this point with a bit of research. Ultimately, the events are still trustworthy particularly because they are similarly reported in the other Gospels. We are reminded of the fact that Jesus rose, that the women at the tomb went and told the other disciples, and that Jesus appeared to more of them at different times. Then He gave them a command (in the form of a goodbye speech!). Jesus told them, “Preach the good news to all creation.” This is the final word Jesus gave to His followers. And that’s what they did. In verse 20, the disciples went out and preached the good news, and the Lord worked with them. Sometimes He “confirmed His word” by the signs that they did, many of which we can read about in Acts. Now, the important point in this last passage is to preach the word (verse 15), knowing Jesus has risen and ascended into heaven (verse 19), and that He works with His people (verse 20). Sometimes He proves His power with amazing signs and wonders, but He doesn’t always, nor does He have to. “The main thing is to ensure that the main always remains the main thing.” So remember what’s of first importance! Go, go and tell other people the good news.

• After all we’ve looked at from Mark’s Gospel, what is your response to Jesus? Where do you stand?
• After all that we’ve read and learned, how is following Jesus going to change your life?

Some followers of Jesus went to the tomb where Jesus was buried early in the morning on the first day of the Jewish week (Mark 16:1-8). They had waited for the Sabbath to end, according to the Law of Moses, and then went out early. They were going to anoint Jesus’ body with spices, which was a sort of burial custom (compare the Egyptian custom of embalming their dead).  But when they entered the tomb, they saw a “young man dressed in a white robe” (an angel) “and they were alarmed”. They were expecting Jesus’ body in the tomb, instead they find a man in white sitting down where Jesus’ body was supposed to be! But the angel brought good news to them. He told them that Jesus had risen; He is not in the tomb, but has been raised, and they will see Him in the place called Galilee. Now they were still greatly afraid (verse 8), but they must have told the message to other people as the other Gospels tell us.

This gospel that the women heard and reported to others is the one which has power to save. The good news involves the fact that Jesus is alive! He has risen! That is amazing, because His resurrection means those who trust in Him will also rise to new life. The good news is that Jesus’ death on the cross defeated the power of sin; His sacrifice was accepted by God as sufficient to pay for our sins. No wonder this great news, this gospel of the kingdom of God, is “of first importance” (see 1 Cor. 15:3-11)!

• Why do you think it is important to tell other people this news?
• Why is it important that Jesus rose from the dead?
• Jesus’ resurrection is a great source of joy and hope. Do you believe that it actually happened?

There is also a lot going on in today’s passage (Mark 15:33-47)! The land is covered in darkness, Jesus quotes a psalm before He dies, there is a lot of Scripture that is fulfilled – these and other symbolic events occur in the record of Jesus’ death and burial. The main point is that Jesus suffered separation from God as a substitute. The Bible teaches that the punishment for sin is eternal separation from God. It is clear that we have all sinned, and therefore all have this penalty to bear. We are all in debt; or we are all guilty under the law of God; or we are all rebels to be held accountable for treason. “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Psalm 95:7-8). For today there is good news. We read about Jesus Christ dying in our place, taking God’s wrath on Himself, so that we don’t have to experience it. The climax of Jesus’ death in verse 37 is followed by the curtain of the temple being torn in two. This symbolises that Jesus’ death means we can now come before God. Because He died, we don’t have to fear punishment, but can come to God by faith and ask for forgiveness.

The message of the cross is offensive to the world, because there is nothing so humbling as looking at it. To look at the cross correctly is to realise the innocent Son of God died a most horrible death because of what I have done. This means there’s something wrong with me, but often I don’t want to admit that! But at the same time, because Jesus took the punishment I deserve, there is also a great joy. Now I can live free from fear and guilt; now I can enjoy God the way He intended. You see, “now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation.” So be reconciled to God! (2 Cor. 6:2, 5:20.)

• Imagine you are a disciple who followed Jesus. What would you be thinking at the moment of Jesus’ death?
• In light of this passage, how can you “take up your cross” (Mark 8:34) and follow Jesus every day?

Crucifixion was a nasty process. It has been said that it was one of the worst forms of torture and death anyone could experience, if not the worst. If you want to read more about such things, then perhaps talk to your leaders, or pick up a book like The Case for Christ (there’s even a student edition). Either way, today’s reading (Mark 15:16-32) shows us how much Jesus suffered. We read again and again that Jesus was mocked. Perhaps you’ve been mocked before. It’s not a very nice thing. For Jesus, it was even worse, because they were mocking the Son of God. When you speak to friends, you may joke and speak casually. When you stand before royalty, you need to speak with appropriate manners. So what the people did in mocking Jesus was a very, very great insult. He is the Son of God!

Everyone from the soldiers to the teachers of the law and priests to the common people and even the robbers He was crucified with – all these mocked Jesus. Can you imagine what this was like for Jesus? He came to save these people, and they taunt Him! He is the promised Christ, whom the people had been looking forward to for a long time, but they mock Him, saying “He saved others but He can’t save Himself! Let this Christ, this ‘King of Israel’ come down now” (verses 31-32). But as we said yesterday, Jesus could have stopped everything if He wanted to, but He didn’t. He suffered so greatly because He loves you so much. It’s an absolute necessity that Jesus died for us; otherwise we could not be saved. Remember that “God demonstrated His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

• Why do you think Jesus endured so much? What does that mean to you?
• Why do you think the people mock Jesus – do they understand who He is? What sort of ‘Christ’ were they looking for?
• Do we follow Jesus as He shows Himself in the Bible, or have we changed bits and created our own version?

Mark 14:66-72 is a rather emotional passage, as Peter denies Jesus. Remember that it was Peter who said to Jesus that even if all would fall away, he would not; that even if he had to die with Jesus, he would not disown Him. But we read in today’s passage that three times Peter denied that he knew Jesus. Have you ever had a friend betray you? Well, Judas betrayed Jesus, which was terrible in itself. But then one of Jesus’ closest disciples was ashamed to have known Him. Peter denied that he even knew Jesus (verse 71). Imagine how Jesus would feel! He was betrayed by His own disciple, beaten by His own people (whom He had come to rescue), and denied by His best friend! Yet we know from the end of John’s Gospel that Jesus forgave Peter. Truly, Jesus’ work on the cross is so powerful to forgive every sin. There is nothing that Jesus cannot forgive.

• Why do you think Peter disowned Jesus? (Think about where he was at the time – verse 66.)
• If Jesus can forgive Peter for denying Him three times, do you think we can forgive each other?

It is important to remember as we read the events of Mark 14:43-65 that God is in control. The Bible teaches clearly that God is sovereign over everything – even the events leading up to Jesus’ death and resurrection. He had already planned that they should happen. The Old Testament contains many prophecies, as by now you have probably realised, about Jesus and what He would do. These events were not an accident, but God used them to bring about salvation. What does this mean for the passage we read today? God’s sovereignty over these events reminds us of a few things: (1) Salvation through Jesus was a plan, not an accident. (2) For this reason, Jesus willingly went to the cross, out of love for you and me. (3) It still means it was our sin that made Jesus go to the cross, because otherwise He would not have died.

• What do you think Jesus means in verses 48-49?
• What does He mean by “But the Scriptures must be fulfilled”?
• Why do you think the Council, who knew the Old Testament prophecies about the Christ, condemn Jesus after hearing Him say that He is the Anointed One?

There is a great amount of meaning to the events in Mark 14:22-42. It starts with a special meal called “the Lord’s Supper”. It points back to the Passover meal from the Old Testament. In that meal, the people ate ‘unleavened’ bread (which means the bread was without yeast, so it did not fluff up) as they remembered that God had brought them out of the land of Egypt. To the Israelites, Egypt was the land of slavery. So God brought them out into freedom.

The events in today’s reading are highly symbolic of those Old Testament events. The people of Israel were saved from God’s plague by the blood of a sacrificed lamb. They painted the blood over the doorframes of their houses. So God “passed over” (that is, did not touch) those houses with blood on the doorframes. After this, God brought His people out of slavery in Egypt to freedom with God.

It is in the same way we are saved as Christians. How? By the sacrificing a lamb? No, not quite. The lamb has already been sacrificed. Jesus is the Passover Lamb who died on the cross in our place. By His blood (the blood represents His death), we are saved from God’s wrath against us because of our sin. In this amazing grace, God has forgiven us for our sin and brought us out of slavery to sin and into freedom! He has brought us from death to life. When Jesus says the bread is His body (verse 22) and the wine is His blood (verse 23-24), He is showing that His body will be broken and His blood poured out for our sake. When we participate in the Lord’s Supper we are to remember these things, because its purpose is like that of the Passover festival: We have been saved by God.

• Why is the Lord’s Supper important – what are we meant to remember?
• What did Jesus do for us?
• At different times in Exodus, the Israelites rebel against God and say that they’d prefer to go back to be slaves in Egypt. What does Jesus’ sacrifice mean for you, and how you should then live?

While staying at a place called Bethany (Mark 14:3-21), Jesus was with His disciples. Then a woman came and anointed Him with expensive perfume. In fact, from what the disciples said, the perfume was worth more than the money a worker would make in a year! But notice, the disciples were “indignant” about this “waste of perfume”. They supposed that it would have been better to sell the perfume and give money to the poor. That sounds good and fair, doesn’t it? So why did Jesus disagree? There are a few points to think about: (1), Jesus said she had done a beautiful thing to Him. In verse 3 the woman had “poured the perfume on His head”. Remember when we talked about the word “Christ”? It means ‘the Anointed One’ and to anoint someone was often a sign to show their importance. Here, it points to Jesus as the Christ, God’s chosen King (perhaps read Psalm 2 as well). (2) Jesus said the disciples can give to the poor whenever they wish, but they won’t always have Him around. It is a serious statement. Jesus says that the woman had anointed Him in preparation for His burial (verse 8). Perhaps the disciples were selfish in their anger? (3) Now we can put these things together. Jesus was anointed as God’s King, yet at the same time it was preparation for His burial. This is the point: Jesus, our King, died willingly for His people.

• What do you think Jesus means in verse 21: “The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him”?
• Consider the next part of the story: Jesus tells His two disciples to go and find the place where they will eat the Passover meal (verses 13-16). Does stand out to you from these verses?
• From both of the above, what do we learn about Jesus, especially about His attitude and motivation?

In yesterday’s reading, the main point was to be alert and watchful, in order that we are not deceived about Jesus and His coming. Building on this, the main point in today’s reading (Mark 13:14-31) is to know that the day is coming. Jesus warns us there will be a lot of trouble and strife as the end of the world draws near (verse 19). “So be on your guard”. This is the same point from yesterday (verse 23). Jesus will return soon, and there are a lot of prophecies from the Old Testament that Jesus uses to show what the last days will be like. Ultimately, His return will mean the end of the world and judgement for all people. If you trust in Jesus, then you will live. But those who do not trust in Jesus will be shut out from His presence. This day is coming, but we do not know when. So the main point from today’s passage is to know that Jesus is coming soon. And if it is coming, where do you stand with Jesus?

• If Jesus is coming, but we do not know when, what does that mean for us?
• Romans 8:1 says that those who trust Jesus do not have to fear being condemned, because God has saved them. Do you believe this?
• What do we learn about Jesus from this passage? (Think particularly about verse 31.)

In Mark 12:35-44 Jesus makes an interesting point. He more or less says that Christ is not the Son of David, but is the Son of God (verse 37). This is because the Lord God said to David’s ‘Lord’ to sit at His right hand until His enemies are dealt with, until they are subdued (see Psalm 110:1). The point is that Christ is the Son of God. Jesus says this to correct the Jews’ misunderstanding about who He is because they focused too much on the truth that the Christ was the Son of David (but it’s a true title – remember Bartimaeus?). Sometimes in the Bible a certain truth is explained which may seem to be different to another truth. Jesus is the Son of Man, as He keeps referring to Himself. He was born of a woman, so He is a human. But as He focuses on in this passage, He is not only a human. He is the Son of God. Since the Bible says that both are true, that Jesus is fully God and fully man at the same time, we need to accept that fact. For only God can save us from our sin, so only the Son of God, coming as a human, can take the punishment humans deserve.

• Do you believe that Jesus is both God and man at the same time? Perhaps talk to a leader or friend about it if you don’t understand it.
• How do the events of chapter 12 relate to each other? For example, how does the commandment to love God (verse 30) tie in with the parable of the tenants (verses 1-12); Jesus’ warning against the teachers of the law (verses 38-40); and the widow’s offering (verses 41-44)?

After the debates Jesus had been engaged in, one teacher of the law who was listening, after hearing Jesus give a good answer, asked Him which commandment was the greatest Mark (Mark 12:28-34). It is interesting that Jesus’ answer is not one of the Ten Commandments, but is still a command in the Old Testament. This is because Jesus’ point is that these two commandments sum up the whole law of God. To love God with all you heart, soul, mind and strength means to seek His honour and glory, to get rid of pride and arrogance, and to trust in God genuinely. To love our neighbour as ourselves means to respect and look after everyone around us, whether rich or poor, from any other country, and no matter what they do to us (whether they love us or hate us in return). These things are not easy, but God gives grace to do them.

Notice that the teacher of the law who asked the question understands what Jesus said (verses 32-33). Because he understood this, Jesus said to the teacher of the law, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” Worshipping God is not a duty. The sacrifices the Jews had to do were a religious duty for the hard-hearted Jews who reject Jesus. But for those who accepted Jesus, they pointed to the fact that Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice who takes away our sins. Worshipping God, then, means to love Him and be in a relationship with Him.

• Why do you think the teacher of the law said these commandments were more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices? (Verses 32-33.)
• What are practical ways to love God and each other? (Something you can do today, perhaps?)

Continuing the story with Mark 12:13-27, some of the Jews came to try and trap Jesus in what He said, so that they would have a reason to accuse Him. So Jesus taught them concerning taxes and marriage. His wisdom is clear. What brings the two teachings together, however, is that they have the same focus.  The focus is on a right relationship with God. That means, pay taxes if you have to, but do it in a way that honours God. And on the other hand, understand the Word of God and live by it. Jesus replied to the Sadducees, “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?” Behind this is a call to understand the Bible properly, and not make it say what we want it to say. So remember these two things and the focus they both have: Live for God who has saved you.

• Do you believe that Jesus is trustworthy?
• Are you willing to follow His teaching?
• What does Jesus mean when He says to give to God what is God’s (verse 17)?

In chapters 12 and 13 of Mark, Jesus gives a sort of teaching interlude. He came to Jerusalem telling His disciples He will be handed over to the Gentiles and will die, and rise again three days later. But while He was at Jerusalem, He continued to teach the people about the way of God. So He explained the kingdom of heaven using a parable (Mark 12:1-12). In a very clever way, Jesus explains how God has worked in His world. God planted a vineyard and ‘rented the vineyard to some farmers’ who are the humans He created. God sent servants (which represent prophets and other messengers) to the farmers in order to tell them to give some of the fruit of the vineyard to the owner. This reflects how the prophets came to tell the disobedient Jews to repent and return to God, who is their Lord and King. But the farmers beat and killed some of the servants, just as the Jews did to the prophets God sent. Finally, the owner sent his son, just as God sent His Son (Jesus). But the farmers killed the son. “What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will comes and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” Jesus showed that God treats sin seriously, and the greatest sin is to kill the Son of God!

• What does the quotation in verses 10-11 mean?
• Even after this the Pharisees didn’t believe in Jesus (verse 12). What is your response to Jesus – are you willing to take Him seriously?

When Jesus returned to the temple (Mark 11:15-33), He taught the people once again, but He also drove out those who were selling and exchanging money (verses 15-17). After this, the chief priests, teachers of the law and elders came to Him and asked, ‘By what authority do you do these things?’ In reality, it is as if someone came up to the Prime Minister of Australia and said ‘Why are you building this school?’ It is a silly question. The Prime Minister can do stuff, because the people of Australia voted for her and gave her that authority. In this case, Jesus is able to do these things because He is the Son of God. But, why doesn’t He tell them this when they ask? It’s because they have had many opportunities to see Jesus’ miracles and to hear His teaching, and to hear the reports of other people, but they still don’t believe. If they had understood where John’s baptism came from (verses 29-30), they would understand who Jesus really was.

• Why was an understanding of John’s baptism important? (What was his purpose?)
• Do we sometimes not trust Jesus because we have forgotten what He has done for us?
• How do you think this reading can apply to our everyday lives?

The Old Testament contains a lot of predictions about Christ. When Jesus enters Jerusalem (Mark 11:1-14), He rides on a colt while the crowds about Him sing praises to God (“hosanna” means “save”). This fulfils the Old Testament prediction that the promised King would come, riding on a colt. (If you’re interested, read Matthew 21:4-5 and Zechariah 9:9.) Remember that Jesus had told His disciples He was going to Jerusalem to be delivered over to the chief priests and the people to be killed, and three days later He will rise.

So imagine the scene here: Jesus, having procured a donkey the strange prediction to His disciples in verse 2, enters into the city with crowds around Him praising God. What do you think this says about Jesus? It seems a bit like a procession, celebrating the arrival of someone special, like a King. For this reason, it not only teaches us about Jesus’ royalty, but also prepares us for the coming story about how He, the King, defeats sin and the devil, so that we might be saved.

• What do we learn about Jesus from this passage?
• How does Jesus entering Jerusalem as King relate to what will happen to Him?

In Mark 10:46-52, Jesus is travelling to a place called Jericho. When He arrives, there is a blind man sitting on the road. Since He was blind, He would have been unable to work, and they didn’t have many means of social support back in ancient times. He would have been very poor. Today we have government funds to help people with disabilities, but back then people like blind Bartimaeus sat on the road, often outside the temple or other places where people walked by, and begged for money or food. But when Bartimaeus learns that Jesus has come to town, he doesn’t beg for food or other such things. No, he begs the “Son of David” for mercy. He recognised who Jesus really was, which is why he called Him the “Son of David” (it’s another Old Testament name that pointed to Christ). He isn’t put off by other people telling him to stop shouting, because he had faith Jesus would do what he asked. So Jesus called Bartimaeus and healed him so that he could see.

• Do you think it is important that Bartimaeus continued to call on Jesus even when other people told him not to (verse 48)?
• How do you think this could apply to your own life?
• What do you think of Bartimaeus’ response to Jesus (consider verses 50, 52)? He seems rather happy – have you considered this in your life? Rejoice over what Christ has done for you!

Today we reach a high point in the gospel (Mark 10:35-45). It begins with the request of James and John (brothers – “the sons of Zebedee”). They came to Jesus and asked Him to grant them permission to sit at His right hand and at His left when He reigns in glory. This is good in one sense, but ultimately, they did not really know what they were asking (verse 38). Perhaps not as much today, but in ancient times seating places were very important. You had the head of the table, for example, then the distinguished guests near him, proceeding down the table to those deemed “less important”. In the kingdom of heaven, we know that God reigns supreme, so Jesus will be seated in glory. But who will sit at His right hand or His left? We are not to know until it happens (verse 40).

But in response to the other disciples becoming angry at the selfish request of James and John, Jesus says something very important. We often think like James and John did, seeking greatness and glory for ourselves – or like the disciples, who are envious and angry of those who seek or receive such glory. But Jesus tells them all “whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all” (verses 43-44). Jesus describes the kingdom of heaven as radically different from the earthly kingdoms. Instead of the great ruling, they serve. Why? Because that’s what Jesus did, and that’s the beauty of it. Jesus, the King of kings, the Son of the Most High God, came to earth as a man. He will reign in glory (and is right now, but when He returns His glory will be visible to everyone), but when He came to earth as a man, He humbled Himself (verse 45). He humbled Himself even to death, so that He might “give His life as a ransom for many.” This ‘ransom’ is the price required to pay for our sins. With the ransom of His Son, God purchased us – He redeemed us from our sin and so we belong to Him. Jesus died so we might be free, in order that we may gladly serve God and each other in everything.

• Think about what Jesus has done for us. What is humility?
• Why is Jesus’ humility so amazing? (What does it mean for Him to offer His life as a ransom for many?)
• How does the promise of heaven help with what Jesus says in Mark 10:43-45?
• How do you think we can show humility toward each other – even today?

In Mark 10:17-34, Jesus says some important things about the Law and how to be saved. As the story shows, a man came running up to Jesus with an important question: What must I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus told the man to keep the Law and its commandments, and he shall have eternal life (verses 17-19). If Jesus had said this to you, how do you think you’d respond? The man replied by saying he had kept the commandments since he was a boy. What do you think? Is it possible to keep all the commandments of the Bible – not just the Ten Commandments? The Bible tells us that through the Law we are able to realise our sin, because we see the good command of God, but perceive how we break that commandment (Romans 3:20). Notice, Jesus loved this man (verse 21). He wasn’t trying to be difficult.

Then Jesus told the man that he lacked one thing: “Sell everything you have and give to the poor.” Why this reply – is this how we are saved? No, but Jesus is making an important point. If worldly wealth or activities are getting in the way of your relationship with Jesus then it’s really difficult to grow as a Christian (remember Mark 4:19-20?). To follow Jesus is to trust Him in everything – even in poverty, and on the other hand, even so that our money is not our god. Now, it’s not wrong to be wealthy or poor, but what is most important? See how Peter says the disciples have given up everything to follow Jesus (verse 28). Jesus replies by saying that they will surely receive more, even on earth. But notice the key result: Eternal life (the end of verse 30). What’s most important is to remember that things in this life are only temporary. Eternal life is the better treasure.

• Do you think you trust too much in possessions?
• In what way do we receive the things Jesus mentions in verses 29-30? What do you think about the inclusion of persecution (verse 30)?
• How might this perspective change your way of life? Consider how Jesus says we will receive eternal life in the age to come. Look forward to heaven!

In Mark 10:1-16, Jesus teaches two important points about life. First, there is a teaching on divorce (verses 1-12). Then Jesus teaches about faith in the story of the little children (verses 13-16). How does Jesus make a connection between the little children and faith? It’s in verse 15: “I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” What does He mean by this sentence? First, the main reason Jesus brings up this point is because the disciples were rebuking people for bringing little children to Him (verse 13). Jesus told them to let the little children come to Him, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these (verse 14).

So how does a little child receive a gift? They trust that what they have received is a gift; they are thankful for the gift; and they accept the gift without question. The kingdom of heaven belongs to those who have faith. In this way, Jesus answers the important question: How do I enter God’s kingdom? Today we might say “how can I be saved?” to mean the same thing, but Jesus’ answer is no different. We need to receive the gospel like a “little child”. That is, we need to have a child-like faith that what God has given in the gospel (salvation in Jesus Christ) is a true gift.

• Have you accepted the gospel with a child-like faith?
• How can we trust Jesus daily? What sort of things should we trust Him in?
• Are there any particular areas of your life where you haven’t been trusting in Jesus? Have a think about it, and pray over how to respond.

Sometimes there are little sayings or proverbs that people may quote which are meant to be a wise saying on some aspect of life. Jesus was full of them, since He came to teach us the way to real life (which is Himself – see John 14:6). Today’s passage (Mark 9:33-50) includes a few really practical pointers to help us follow Jesus. Two key teachings to focus on is humility (verses 33-37) and peacefulness (verse 50). First, the kingdom of heaven is not like our kingdom. Leaders used to be decided upon strength or power – if you could beat someone, you were above them. But Jesus shows that the kingdom of heaven is different. Instead of being first by putting yourself up, He says you will be great if you actually put yourself low and serve other people.

Again, our relationships with each other are important, but often difficult. So be humble, and “be at peace with each other” Jesus said. Salt is used as an image to show that Christians are different from the rest of the world. But if you end up doing the same things as you did before you became a Christian, then how can you say that you are “salty”? So “have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.” Just before this, Jesus talks about sin (verses 42-48). Humility towards God and peacefulness towards each other is a great way of combatting sin.

• Jesus quotes from Isaiah to describe the frightening reality of hell (verse 48). What does this say about how we should treat our sin?

When Jesus and His three disciples return from the top of the mountain in Mark 9:14-32, they find the other disciples arguing with the teachers of the law (verse 14). A man had brought his son, who was possessed with a demon, to the disciples in hope that they may drive it out. But they couldn’t, and so they must have been arguing with the teachers of the law about this matter. When everyone saw Jesus, they ran up to Him “filled with wonder”. The father asks Jesus to heal his son. But Jesus rebukes the people for their lack of faith (verse 19). Then He heals the boy, but He gives an important teaching on faith. The father said to Jesus “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” In other stories of miraculous healings, such as the healing of Jairus’ daughter, the person who asks Jesus for help has often said “Please lay your hands on my daughter that she may live” or “Say the word and my servant shall be healed.” They said something specific, trusting that Jesus could do what they asked. The father, however, doesn’t follow the same pattern. So Jesus says “Everything is possible for him who believes” (verse 23).

• What does it mean to believe in or trust Jesus, that what He said is true?
• Does this verse mean we will get whatever we ‘wish’ for?
• Think about the father’s response to Jesus in verse 24. How have you responded to Jesus?

In Mark 9:2-13, Jesus takes three of His disciples up a mountain, and then He was “transfigured” in front of them (verse 2). Transfiguration means to change form or appearance. In this event, Jesus’ clothes became “whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them” (verse 3). All this prompts a response from Peter, who says he wants to build shelters for Jesus and for Moses and Elijah who appeared next to Jesus. This was because they were all terrified (verse 6). What can we learn from this passage? When Jesus is transfigured, it appears to be teaching us about how He is God, and how holy He is. In the Old Testament, some prophets had visions of God, and they describe the experience as seeing the glory of God, which causes them to fall to the ground and worship Him (see Isaiah 6:1-5; Ezekiel 1:28, 44:4 and Revelation 1:12-17). Jesus’ transfiguration is similar: He appears shining bright, in glory, while His disciples are frightened by what they see. Clearly, there is a connection between Jesus and God. Thankfully, to avoid any possible confusion, God makes it really clear in verse 7: “This is my Son whom I love. Listen to Him!”

• Do you believe that Jesus is God, as well as man?
• What does it mean to listen to Jesus?

This is a well-known passage (Mark 8:27-9:1). If you know it or are already familiar with it, great! But don’t let that stop you reading it. It is good that this passage is well-known. But we still need to read it, understand it, and seek to apply it to our lives. What does it mean? What is Jesus really saying and why? What should I do? These are questions that are helpful in understanding a passage like this one.

It begins with Peter saying that Jesus is the Christ (verse 29). This is very important. Peter recognises and understands that Jesus is chosen by God. “Christ” means “Anointed One”. In ancient times, to anoint someone was to set them apart for some special position or service. It is often part of the coronation (crowning) ceremony of a king; the ruler was anointed with oil to show God had chosen them as leader of the nation. Jesus is God’s anointed one: He is God’s chosen Ruler of the whole universe, and also the One through whom God will bring salvation, and fulfil the prophecies in the Old Testament.

After this, Jesus tells His disciples that He must die and rise again. But they don’t understand it, because they thought Jesus would be a great King who would not have to die. Jesus is the King, but His kingdom is not on earth. So Jesus tells Peter to not get in the way of God’s plan. Then He makes this famous statement: If you want to follow Jesus, you must deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow Him. Heavy stuff! It means we must give our whole life to Jesus, not only a little part of it. It means we deny what we want so we can do what God wants. To take up our cross means we want to follow God because Jesus took up the cross first.

• What does it mean to ‘take up your cross’?
• How can we deny ourselves and follow Jesus?
• Have you committed to following Jesus daily – even today? Encourage one another in these things.

By now you probably know that Jesus speaks often in parables. (If not, that’s okay – from today you will know!) In today’s reading (Mark 8:14-26), Jesus talks to His disciples, teaching them to “watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” What is He saying? That you need to be careful where you buy your bread?

Well, He actually is, if we understand what He means by “bread” and “yeast”. Remember that Jesus told parables so people wouldn’t be able to understand them (Mark 4:11-12). Jesus used parables so that people would come to Him for guidance, so we cannot boast about our wisdom. In this parable, Jesus doesn’t mean the physical food that we eat, but the parable is used to show a connection between food and spiritual things. Just as we eat bread to survive, we also need spiritual food to survive. This is another point from yesterday’s passage, because Jesus can give us spiritual food. But today He says “watch out”. What is this ‘yeast’ or spiritual food? Jesus is talking about teaching. Yeast is something that causes bread to rise when baked, increasing its size. So yeast, in terms of teaching, is something that will increase you spiritually – but either in evil or in good. The yeast or the teaching of the Pharisees and of Herod is not helpful for growing up to be good, because they do not teach the “way of God” truly or faithfully.

Jesus, on the other hand, teaches the way of God truly and faithfully. By listening to Him, we can grow in goodness – that is, in godliness.

• Do you think this still applies today – what kind of teaching should we guard against?
• How can we listen to Jesus today?
• How often do you think we need to eat this ‘bread’?

We noted yesterday that Jesus was quite well-known at this point in the gospel. But remember that travel took a lot longer back in Jesus’ time, so news travelled slowly as well. Jesus must be special to be so well-known. So in Mark 8:1-13, another large crowd gathered, and Jesus taught them. He also miraculously fed them, breaking loaves and fish just like He had done before. The number of men was four thousand! If we add women and children, it is likely to be even more! But what is point of reading this miracle? It tells us a couple of things, such as Jesus’ power to supply what people need, His love for people, and more.

But check out verses 11-13. The Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign from heaven, to prove why He was doing these things. Jesus’ power to feed four thousand men ought to be clear enough proof that He is the Son of God! But the Pharisees don’t get it. Even though news travelled slowly, Jesus was quite well-known. One can hardly keep quiet the ability to feed thousands of people with a single basket of food. But because they would not believe what Jesus was clearly doing (and remember that His many miracles are also signs), He said that no sign will be given to them (verse 12).

The Pharisees studied the Old Testament and knew it well. But they could not understand the connection between what Jesus did in feeding the crowds with the passage from Exodus, where the people of Israel are in the wilderness. God sent manna (bread from heaven) to feed His people, for there was nothing else to eat. At the time, there were hundreds of thousands of people. So, when Jesus feeds the crowds, it is clearly a “sign from heaven” because He did just as God did, by feeding His people.

• Why did Jesus feed the four thousand men? (See verses 1-3.)
• This is the second time Jesus fed a large crowd. What do these two incidents tell us about Jesus? (What is the relationship between His teaching and His multiplying physical food?)
• Consider the Scripture ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ Where do you look to for life-sustaining food?

By this time in His life, many people knew about Jesus and knew of His power (Mark 7:24-37). As a result, many people would flock to Jesus for healing (shepherding pun intended). There are two such miracles in today’s reading. First, at a place called Tyre, a woman whose daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at His feet (verse 25). After speaking with the woman, Jesus healed her daughter, even though He was far away! Following this, Jesus cured a man who was deaf and partially mute (verses 31-35). Both these stories show Jesus’ power to heal people. But there is something different between these two events that is important for us to note.

When the woman came to Jesus, begging Him to cure her daughter, He replied “First let the children eat all they want, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” Jesus’ reply might not make sense the first time you read it. He refers to “children” and “dogs”. Then He says the “bread” that belongs to the children should not be given to their dogs if they are still hungry. We have already read that Jesus spoke a lot in parables, and today He does it again. So let’s make sure we’re trusting Jesus to help us understand this passage, for there is a deep significance behind what He says. Throughout the Bible, the Jews are treated as a special nation, chosen by God as different from the rest of the world. These are God’s “children”. The “dogs” are the other nations. The “bread” Jesus spoke of is His Word (His teaching and power to heal). The Jews are to be taught first, because they are God’s chosen. But, as the woman replied, “Even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Jesus applauds her reply (verse 29). It shows her humility, as she says the children sit at the table but the dogs are “under the table” – and they eat only the crumbs that fall from the table. Ultimately, she desires the bread that only Jesus can give – but she is content even with the scraps or crumbs.

In this way, the reply also shows the woman’s faith that Jesus can heal her daughter. The fact that Jesus healed her daughter is great news: It shows that non-Jews are stilled loved by God. For this reason, we can be saved (I guess not many of you are Jews), because in Jesus’ death and resurrection, God brought Jews and non-Jews together. (For more on this, read Ephesians 2:11-18).

• Do you learn anything about yourself from this story?
• What does this passage teach us about how we should approach Jesus?

In the previous passage, we looked at the problem the Pharisees had with their traditions. Today (Mark 7:14-23), Jesus tells us how God really views us. See, Jesus called the crowd to Him because He was about to say something important, so read the passage carefully.

Nothing that goes into a man physically, such as food, can ‘defile’ a man or make him unclean, because it is physical, and goes through him, so to speak. What comes out of a man, however, comes out of his heart, and it is this that makes a man unclean. Because out of our hearts come all the things which displease God, as Jesus lists in verse 21. This is what sin is, the things in our heart that displease God. It’s not about the action or the food or the washing of hands. It’s about love for God, and that comes from our heart.

We cannot escape the truth of Jesus’ words. But the word ‘heart’ may be a little old-fashioned. What Jesus is referring to is the evil thoughts that we may have, or a desire for revenge, or a feeling of rage or impatience. We all sin, though we do not always do the same sins. But check your heart and see where you are at with God.

This is a hard teaching because Jesus tells us where the real core or root of our problem is. We need to have a “change of heart”. Jesus can give us this. By turning to God, asking for forgiveness, and trusting in Jesus, we can have this new heart. If you have never thought about this before, speak to one of your leaders about it.

• What do you understand about the human heart? (Compare this passage with Jeremiah 17:9)
• Where is your heart at? Where do you want it to be?

You may know that the Pharisees were a particular sect or group of the Jews who rigorously held to the Law. But they also did lots of other things, which they passed on as traditions (Mark 7:1-13). These included washing their hands before meals (not such a bad thing), but even washing their hands when they return from the marketplace! Can you imagine having to wash your hands after returning from a trip to the shops?

Just in case you can, let us explore what it means for the Pharisees to wash their hands. The word “unclean” in verse 2 helps to clarify. In the Old Testament, God gave the Law, which told the Israelites that God is holy. Because He is holy, certain things (such as foods) ‘defile’ a person, so that they are “unclean” in God’s sight. The Pharisees washed their hands in order to clean them, but it was something they were doing that they thought would make them clean in God’s sight. So imagine now having to wash your hands every time you return from the shops, so that you don’t upset God!

But the Pharisees were missing the point. Jesus says they were hypocrites and He quotes from Isaiah (a prophet in the Old Testament) to prove His point. The Pharisees honoured God with their lips (by doing things like washing their hands) but their hearts were far away (because they did not really love Him). They held on “to rules taught by men”. In this way Jesus sums up their attitude: “You have let go of the commandments of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.”

God wants us to love Him, and not make up rules and traditions that we must follow in order to be acceptable to Him. In truth, the purpose of the Law was to show God is holy and we are unholy. The purpose of the Gospel is to show God’s love by rescuing us from our “uncleanness”.

• Think about what Jesus says in verses 9-13. What does this have to do with the above point?
• The Greek word rendered wash in verse 4 more literally means baptise. What do you think this adds to the meaning of baptism? (Think about why we are not saved by baptism of water.)

Have you ever had the conversation with your friends, asking what kind of super power you would want (if you could only have one)? Well, not that it is really relevant to this passage, but it is interesting to think about what it would be like to walk on water. In Mark 6:45-56, Jesus does just that. After sending away the crowds, Jesus went to pray (verse 46). He already told the disciples to travel away in the boat. It was late, but Jesus could see that they were struggling in the boat, because it was windy. So Jesus walked out to them! When they saw Him they were terrified and thought He was a ghost. But He told them something we’ve heard before: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

• What is the reason for including verse 46?
• Why do you think Jesus has told people to not be afraid so many times?
• What is the relationship between this event and ‘the loaves’ (verse 52)?



In Mark 6:30-44 the disciples have just returned to Jesus after He sent them out, back in 6:7. They came to Him and reported all that they had done and taught. (An interesting side note: Compare this with Luke 10:20. On a separate occasion, Jesus sent out seventy-two disciples. When they returned, what did Jesus say is more important?) Then Jesus and His disciples went away by boat, seeking some time alone and for some rest. But they were unable to find any, because there were so many people seeking Jesus, and they were so determined to find Him, that they travelled on foot to the other side of the lake (verse 33)! Imagine the scene: You arrive at the shore, tired and looking forward to some rest, but instead you find thousands of people standing on the shore waiting for you! You sigh and glance at Jesus, who is looking out with a strange look on His face. He doesn’t look upset. He actually looks pleased. Then He begins to teach them.

Eventually, you notice that the sun has almost set and you realise that all these people have not yet eaten. You try to tell Jesus to send them away so they can buy food, but He tells you to give them something to eat. You wonder how on earth you would find enough money to pay for enough food – for thousands of people! But Jesus then tells you to go and check on how much food is available. He then takes the five loaves and two fish and blesses them, breaks them up, and begins to hand them out to you and the other disciples, after all the people had been told to sit down in groups. Next thing you know, your belly is full and all the people have eaten!

• Why did Jesus begin to teach the people? What does the analogy in verse 34 tell us about His character?
• Mark tells us that Jesus fed five thousand men (verse 44). We can probably assume that the people following Jesus were families – so add to each man a wife and a couple of kids, and we realise that Jesus possibly fed 10000-20000 people! What is your response to Jesus feeding so many?
• What do you think we can learn from this miracle? (Think back to what Jesus did in verse 34 and why He did it.)

Today’s passage may be a little confusing when you first read it, because the events are not actually in order (Mark 6:14-29). It begins with Herod, the king, hearing about Jesus, and about His disciples going around and preaching that people should repent, and they were also performing miracles (verse 14). When he heard this, Herod believed that Jesus was John the Baptist, raised from the dead. The following verses explain how John the Baptist had died. While you read the passage, take note of how unwilling the people and Herod seem to be to accept the truth about Jesus. They were at least somewhat familiar with the Old Testament, because they knew of Elijah and the prophets (see verses 14-16). Think about why they couldn’t see how the Old Testament pointed to Jesus as the Christ.

• Why did John speak out against Herod?
• What happened to John as a result?
• What do you think we learn about Herod after this story? (Particularly from verses 26-28)

In this next reading, there are two main parts to look at. First, Jesus has gone to His hometown of Nazareth (Mark 6:1-13). This was the place where He spent His childhood years. On the Jewish Sabbath day, Jesus began to teach the people about God (verse 2). We also find that He performed miracles there (verse 2). But the people did not believe in Him – they rejected Him (verse 3).

• Why do you think the people rejected Jesus? (Read verses 3-4.)
• Jesus was amazed at their lack of faith (verse 6). Why do you think He was amazed?

After this, Jesus moved on. He sent out His disciples in pairs and gave them the “authority” to cast out evil spirits. He gave them specific instructions (verses 8-11) and so they went out and did what Jesus had told them.

• How do you think Jesus’ rejection at Nazareth relates to the instructions He gives to His disciples?
• What did the disciples go out to do primarily (verse 12)? What did they do to prove this (verse 13)?

Perhaps for today’s reading we can use a little more creativity (Mark 5:21-43). Imagine you are Jairus, a well-known man who manages the synagogue, who is also a father. Your twelve-year-old daughter is dying, and you know that she could die very soon. So you go and ask Jesus, a Teacher who has apparently done amazing things, like healing the sick and driving out evil spirits. So you find Him and ask Him “Please come and heal my daughter”. He agrees to go with you.

But on the way, He stops and asks “Who touched Me?” You stand uncomfortably, while He searches around Him for someone who touched Him. Even His disciples say that it is a silly question, and they point out to Him the number of people crowding around Him. But then a woman comes forward, and tells Jesus that she touched Him in the hope of being cured of her disease, and then she was healed. Jesus speaks kindly to her, while you still step from foot to foot, anxious that this unexpected event is costing the life of your daughter.

Then some people come to you from your house and tell you “Your daughter is dead, why bother the Teacher any longer?” You don’t know what to say! You stand there for a moment, taking in the news, and you feel the fear in your heart. You don’t know what to do next – would it be bad to tell Jesus that He is not needed anymore? But suddenly, Jesus speaks to you and says “Fear not; just believe”. Just as if He could read you like a book, Jesus somehow knew what you were thinking. He continued on the way to your house. There were many people mourning and wailing. He says to them “The child is not dead but asleep”, but they laugh at Him. He beckons you to come with Him inside the house, and allows only three of His disciples to follow Him. So you, your wife, three disciples, and Jesus stand in front of your daughter, lying lifeless on the bed. But He takes her hand and tells her to get up. Suddenly, she rises from the bed and walks around! You embrace her, overwhelmed with amazement and wonder at what just happened.

• Why do you think Jesus said to not fear but believe?
• Think about the gravity of this miracle – it’s no small feat to raise someone from the dead! What does it teach us about Jesus, and what He can do for us?

Whew! After the incident with the stormy seas, Jesus and His disciples land at a place called Gerasenes (Mark 5:1-20). Then a man come out from the tombs, possessed by demons, and yet he fell at Jesus’ feet, because they knew Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus healed the man from the ‘legion’ of demons that were in him. But notice what happens: Jesus was casting the demons out of the man, and they beg Him to send them into a herd of pigs on a nearby hill. Jesus grants their request. He could have done anything He wanted, so why does He allow this to happen? It makes the point that Jesus cared so much for one man that not even two thousand pigs could be considered equal value.

• What does this incident teach us about Jesus? (Think about how the demons respond to Him and why.)
• What did Jesus command the man to do after he was healed? Can we do the same?

Today we read of two more parables Jesus used to explain the kingdom of God (Mark 4:26-41). Think about what characteristics the seed and the tree has, and what that might mean the kingdom of God is like. We also learn that there are probably many more parables that Jesus told, which we don’t know about (verse 33).

Next, we learn of Jesus and His disciples going away by boat to another place. They sailed across the lake, but a “furious squall” came up. This is another way of saying that a big storm started, and there would have been a very strong wind, and possibly rain, lightning and thunder also. But when there is a big storm at sea, it churns up the water, often creating a big swell – that is, big waves – and this is why the boat was nearly swamped (verse 37). Obviously, it makes travel by boat difficult. No wonder the disciples were terrified (verse 38)! So Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the waves. Normally, when we use the word rebuke, it means to correct someone who has done something wrong. But here Jesus “rebuked the wind and said to the waves ‘Quiet! Be still!’” As a result, it became calm.

• What is your response to Jesus calming the storm? What do you learn about Him?
• Did Jesus rebuke the creation only, or the disciples as well? Why/what for?
• What do you think this means to us, some two thousand years after it happened?

Now, thankfully, Jesus explains this parable to us (Mark 4:10-25)! He says that the seed is the Word of God (verse 14). People respond to the Word (that is, to the gospel) differently, according to what type of ‘soil’ they are. Some reject it, like the seed eaten by birds; others accept it but fall away because of persecution; still others accept it but cannot grow because of the thorns (which represent the worries of life and the desire for other things); and finally, some grow and bear fruit, like seed in good soil.

Jesus also explained why He uses parables in verses 11-12. Not only is this helpful for us in order to understand what Jesus said in verse 9 from yesterday’s passage, but notice that Jesus seems to suggest this parable is the key to understanding other parables (verse 13). So Jesus spoke in parables to show that, just as we have ears to hear physical sounds, so too we have spiritual ears, so to speak, which allow us to hear spiritual things. Jesus spoke concerning spiritual things, because He was talking about the kingdom of God. But we often block our spiritual ears and don’t listen to what Jesus says. So we need Jesus to help us, and this is why He said to the disciples ‘the secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you.’ If you believe in Jesus, He has unblocked your spiritual ears and helps you to understand these spiritual things. But if not, the parable will not make sense! (Note: The disciples didn’t understand the parable either, in verses 10, 13. But through Jesus, we can come to an understanding of the parable, but that doesn’t mean it has to make perfect sense straight away!)

• How is Jesus’ explanation for using parables true in our own day? (Do you think you can convince someone to become a Christian by intellectual debate?)
• Why do you think Jesus suggests in verse 13 that we need to understand this parable in order to understand the others?

In today’s reading, Mark 4:1-9, Jesus begins using parables to teach the people. A parable is a sort of story, used to explain a particular fact, much like an analogy, but mysterious like a riddle. Today we read about the parable of the sower, which Jesus uses as an illustration to explain the kingdom of God. It involves a farmer who sows his seed, and we are told that the growth of the seed varied with where it was scattered. What do you think this might mean? Think about what the seed may represent, and what the various places where it falls represent (the path, the rocky places, the thorns, and the good soil).

In verse 9 Jesus says “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” This is a bit strange, isn’t it? But it is a phrase Jesus liked to repeat a fair bit. What does He mean? Have a think about this to – for it is good for us when we read something from the Bible, particularly something we don’t understand, to stop, think carefully over the passage, and try to understand it.

With this particular sentence, we’ll walk through it together, so you can understand the process. First, we read “Then Jesus said”. The ‘then’ at the beginning of the verse tells us it is connected to previous passage. So we cast our eyes back over what we just read; Jesus told a parable. Then He says something to the effect of: “If you have ears, then listen to Me and understand!” We may break down the passage to look at the keywords. What are the ‘ears’ Jesus speaks of? What does it then mean to ‘hear’? Well, ears are something we use to hear. But what are we hearing? The parable that Jesus just told! So if we have ears, which then allow us to hear, pay attention to what Jesus is saying!

Perhaps you have heard this parable before and understand what Jesus means by it. If so, here are some questions, hopefully profitable for you to think about. (Don’t feel obliged to have an answer to every question though; but if I may encourage you to do so, perhaps you can discuss with a friend, or a leader?)

• Think about the how the fruitfulness of the crop differs with the soil it grows in; only one type of soil yields a successful crop. What is the significance and importance of ‘bearing fruit’?
• What do you think is represented by the yield or fruit of the crop? (Compare with the ESV, which uses “yielding” instead of “multiplying”.)
• How can we bear fruit for God?
• What does Jesus mean by the crop “multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times“?
• What is the significance of the different amounts? (Does the amount matter?)

Well done to have made it through our first seven posts in Mark! This time, in Mark 3:20-35, we come across a very important teaching. Jesus talks about a particular sin, which He calls blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. What is striking about this teaching, is that Jesus said blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is an ‘eternal’ or ‘unforgiveable’ sin. To help us understand what He means, let’s look at the context. Jesus spoke about this after the religious leaders were ridiculing Him by saying that He healed people only by the power of the devil. (Beelzebul was an ancient name for Satan.) In a previous post, there was a question about how Jesus did miracles – can you remember what you answered? In this passage Jesus tells us that it is definitely not by Satan that He casts out evil spirits! So He’s addressing something that the religious leaders were talking about.

Then in verse 28, Jesus says that all of our sins will be forgiven – praise God! However, if someone blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, they will not be forgiven. This is because Jesus was filled with the Spirit of God and He is, in fact, God! But because they were saying that He had an unclean spirit (verse 30), they were not recognising Him as God – they were rejecting Him and at the same time they were blaspheming against the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit, not an evil spirit! Therefore, if we do not accept Christ, we cannot receive forgiveness.

• How do you think this teaching demonstrates both the grace and justice of Christ?
• Why do you think we cannot receive forgiveness if we don’t accept Christ? (Why is it important that He is the Son of God?)

In the beginning of chapter 3, Jesus’ ministry continues (Mark 3:1-19). He continues to teach and heal people. Again He teaches on the Sabbath, then heals many, and later He goes up a mountain and calls twelve of His follows to be called “Apostles” – these are the Twelve Apostles. The word “apostle” is Greek for ‘one who is sent’. Jesus was going to send out the apostles to proclaim the good news. So an apostle is like a messenger for Jesus. This is helpful when we consider that the New Testament was written by apostles. Remember also that we learn a lot about Jesus by looking at how He related to other people. In this passage, Jesus proved that His purpose was to do good, and for that reason He healed people.

• Given what you’ve read so far, what is your response to Jesus?
• How do the crowds and religious leaders respond?
• Why do you think Jesus was angry with the religious leaders in the beginning of the chapter? What does this say about His views?

In Mark 2:13-28 we gain a glimpse into the reason why Jesus came. Here He calls another disciple, Levi, who was a tax collector. In Jesus’ day, tax collectors were often hated, for more reasons than one. Not only did people dislike paying taxes, but a lot of the tax collectors were frauds and would cheat people just so they could grow rich! They had a reputation for seeming to be heartless, as if they didn’t care for the poor or those they hurt. Yet in this passage, Jesus had a meal with tax collectors and known ‘sinners’. For obvious reasons, the religious leaders didn’t like this! But what did Jesus say to them verse 17? He said that He is like a doctor, and those who need a doctor are the sick, not the healthy!

After this, Jesus was asked a question about fasting. He says that His disciples did not fast at that time, because He was still with them. But notice the wording He uses? In verse 19 Jesus refers to ‘wedding guests’ and ‘the bridegroom’. Marriage imagery is often used in the Bible to convey the relationship between God and His people. Jesus is like the bridegroom, and the church (that is, the people of God, all Christians) are His bride.

Finally, Jesus teaches regarding the Sabbath. Notice how He wins the argument: He uses the Old Testament Scriptures, and He explains what they mean. Remember that the religious leaders had more or less abandoned true relationship with God. Instead, they turned God’s Law into religious rituals, without honouring God.

• From these three points, why do you think Jesus came? (How do the different stories fit together with verse 17?)
• Jesus wanted to help both the poor, the common people and the religious leaders. Can you see any evidence for this in today’s reading?

Throughout His three years of ministry, Jesus met many people. He often had incidents with religious leaders (Mark 2:1-12). Note what happened in this recount. Jesus was teaching, and the room was full of people – so full that people were outside the room! Perhaps it’s a bit hard for us to imagine, but think about people liking your English class so much that they all invite their friends and soon the room is overflowing with people just trying to listen to what was being said! Jesus must have been pretty special to draw such a crowd – He was no ordinary teacher! (But remember also that Jesus was a genuine and authoritative teacher; He was not a “crowd-pleaser”.) Then some people brought a paralytic on a mat – he was a man who could not walk. When they brought the man down through the roof (they could not get through the door, for there were so many people!), Jesus looked at him with compassion and said his sins were forgiven.

Then the religious leaders started thinking to themselves that Jesus was blaspheming – that He was dishonouring God by calling Himself God. They knew that God alone could forgive sins, so they were angry that Jesus called Himself God. (We know, though, that Jesus is God, as we shall see; and remember Mark 1:1!) But Jesus knew their thoughts and taught them an important lesson, which is helpful for us as well. Jesus said He will prove that ‘the Son of Man’ (an expression Jesus used to refer to Himself) ‘has authority on earth to forgive sins’. Pay attention to what He says – He then talks to the paralytic, tells him to get up, and the man does so! Jesus healed Him, and He did this to prove that He does have authority to forgive sins.

• Why is it important that Jesus has authority over physical sickness?
• What does this mean for the health of our souls?

The gospel is all about Jesus. It is clear from the beginning, in Mark 1:1-13, that Mark wants his readers to know that Jesus is the Christ. Look at verses 2-3. Mark begins the gospel with a quote from the Old Testament. This quotation shows that something was foretold a long time ago, and Mark recognises that it has now been fulfilled in the time of Jesus. This idea of prophesy and its fulfilment is a frequent feature in Jesus’ life.

This prophecy, however, refers to one who was to come before Jesus Christ: John the Baptist. John came in order to prepare the way for Jesus to come. He did this by travelling around the countryside telling people that the Christ (who we know is Jesus) was about to come into the world. He would often baptise people, which is why he received that name. Baptism is simply a sort-of washing with water, which is meant to show an inner change and cleansing. That is why John said in verse 8 “I baptise you with water, but He [that is, Jesus] will baptise you with the Holy Spirit”.

Remember that to get the most out of studying the Bible, and especially if you don’t understand anything, it’s great to read the passage again and perhaps ask another Christian what they think. For now, here are some questions you can think over:

• What is John’s attitude towards Jesus (verse 7)?
• What do we learn about Jesus in these opening verses? (See verses 1, 7-8, 10-11, 12.)

Welcome to the blog series on Mark! Each weekday there will be a post about the gospel according to Mark. There are three main aims of these posts:

1. To help you to learn more about our Saviour Jesus;
2. To help you form a habit of reading the Bible daily; and
3. To go through the entire gospel of Mark.

The way it will work is roughly this: The posts will contain a passage from Mark for you to read, and some comments to help you understand parts of the passage. Usually there will be a hyperlink for you to click on so you can quickly find the correct passage on the internet. The comments in the posts will be speaking about the passage in general, or referring to particular verses and incidents. Following this will be one or two questions for you to think over. They will hopefully encourage you to think more about what you have read, and if you want, you can discuss your thoughts on the passage.

A little explanation so we’re on the same ‘page’

Now, just to clarify some things so we all know what’s going on Each day’s reading should be linked to in some part of the post. But if you are reading from a printed Bible (which is absolutely fine!) then just a quick word on chapters and verses. We’ll be reading from Mark, which is the second book in the New Testament. Big numbers in the book are called chapters. Little numbers next to sentences and words are called verses. So if I write “Mark 10:45”, I am referring to the tenth chapter of Mark, verse 45. Also, the version of the Bible I have linked to and will quote from is the New International Version (NIV). You don’t have to read the same version as me, but if you read from another version, you may find the text a bit different. Usually you’ll be able to understand it (for it says the same thing anyway!), so don’t worry if there are some differences.

Some fact facts, and some important ones, too

Did you know that the gospel according to Mark was probably the first gospel to be written? In this gospel, Mark has put together various snapshots of Jesus’ life. It’s almost like he had a scrapbook and a camera, and collected photos of Jesus in various places, doing His ministry, and put them together.

Mark really wants want to tell you one thing, and he says it right at the start so it’s really clear: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Mark really wants us to know that Jesus was the Son of God, the Saviour of the world. He was the one the Jews called Messiah or Christ, which means “The Anointed One”. Anointing was a way for ancient people to show that someone was special or set apart to do some particular work. It was often used in coronation ceremonies (that is, the crowing of a king). Jesus was anointed by God to be King of the whole world, because He is the Son of God, so He is the rightful King. The gospel teaches us about who Jesus is and what He came to do, so read carefully and try to think about what we are learning about this person Jesus Christ.