KINGDOM BIBLE FELLOWSHIP

A Christian “Kingdom-Building” Ministry

GOSPEL OF MARK

Book I Review – Mark 1-8:22

General Facts

· John Mark (Acts 15:37)

· Son of Mary (Acts 12:12)

· Barnabas’ cousin (Colossians 4:10)

· A highly esteemed Christian (as described by Paul – 2 Timothy 4:11)

· Mark believed to be a protégé of Peter (1 Peter 5:13) – Peter may have led Mark to Christ

· Involved with the Apostle Paul – had a “falling out” with Paul (Acts 15:36-39)

· Reconciled (Colossians 4:10; Philemon 24) – since Mark was mentioned by Paul

· Gospel is written in a fast-paced and action-packed manner; Conciseness and Brevity

· Believed to be the first gospel written; served as guidelines for others

· Book written approximately 60 A.D.

· Book written to a largely Gentile (or non-Jewish) audience

· Doesn’t always tell the whole story, but tells the important parts of the story

· Devotes 1/3 of its content to the “Passion” (Chapters 11-16)

· Gospel covers Jesus’ introduction; public ministry, the Passion and Resurrection, Ascension

Chapter One

· OT – Fulfillment of prophecy

· Jesus’ relationship to humanity – baptized yet knew no sin

· Jesus’ Ordination – “Thou art my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased” (1:11)

· Temptation – early impact on true ministry; Presence of God – in face of dangers

· Choosing of disciples – Jesus enlists “help” and trains them

· The Kingdom of God – first introduction (1:15)

· First exorcisms; first healings

· “Touch” – Jesus inaugurates a new order – contact with the “unclean” outcasts

· “Messianic Secret” – Jesus’ desire to keep his identity private until the “set” time

· First preaching (1:39); First praying (1:35a)

· Jesus grapples with condition of one’s heart vs. need for physical healings (1:35,38)

Chapter Two

· FAITH – Jesus saw “their” faith (2:4,5) Faith of others can get you healed

· Opposition Party – the “scribes” or the learned ones in the law oppose Jesus (2:6)

· Remember – Jesus represented a threat to the religious system of holiness – which was based on following certain rules and practices to ensure “cleanliness”. (Leviticus 14:1-32)

· Jesus mounts a three-pronged strategy: (a) Meet the Need: He would “touch” the unclean with compassion (heal; deliver), (b) Confront and challenge the authorities of the day – correctly define the kingdom of God, and (c) Train for the future -- train disciples or followers to carry on the ministry after he is gone

· Jesus broke all the rules -- he eats with sinners and publicans – tax collectors – and shows that he has come to save the lost not those who deem themselves to already be righteous (2:17)

· Jesus attacks the ritual practices of “Sabbath” and “fasting” – Jesus’ disciples eat when the authorities think they should be fasting; Jesus heals when the authorities feel he should not “work” – based on their belief and understanding of “sabbath rest”

Chapter Three

· Jesus heals on the Sabbath and challenges the authorities about the real purpose of the Sabbath

· Enter the Herodians along with the Pharisees, and the scribes – strange bedfellows! Even enemies will join together if they have someone greater that they want defeated

· Jesus’ sense of balance (3:7) – regular withdrawal from the multitudes

· Renewal of the Messianic Secret – many heard of him and they flocked to be in his presence

· The list of 12 disciples is completed: Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddeus, Simon the Canaanite, Judas Iscariot. (3:16-19)

· Jesus’ “friends” or “family” begin to question his judgment (3:21) Is he “beside himself”

· Unpardonable sin – blasphemy against the Holy Ghost – no forgiveness (3:29) – Jesus charged with having an evil spirit – Beelzebub by the “scribes”

· Introduction to the “new” family – Jesus sets aside bloodlines and identifies in 1:35 “those who shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, my sister, and my mother”. Blood is not thicker than water – if you have the “living” water!

Chapter Four

· Introduction to the parabolic language of Jesus – Parables being metaphorical stories which demonstrate spiritual truths.

· Parable of the Sower – 4 types of soil that the Word of God falls on –

(a) some fell by the way side and the air (Satan) came and devoured it up

(b) some fell on stony ground and it sprang up because there was no depth in the earth, the sun then dried it up because there was no root – affliction or persecution stole it,

(c) some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, choked it, and yielded no fruit—the “cares of this world” and the “deceitfulness of riches” lusts for other things, and

(d) some fell on good ground – and fruit sprang up and increased – some thirty, sixty and one hundredfold – those that hear the word, receive it AND bear fruit!!!

· Parable of the Candle under a bushel – don’t hide a light

· Parable of the Seed – the kingdom of God grows methodically and bears fruit in its set time

· Parable of Mustard Seed – small offering – greatest reward – others benefit from its “shadow”

· Miracle Cycle – Jesus calming the sea

Chapter Five

· Gadarene demoniac called Legion – healed (note that the demon “worshipped” Jesus (5:6)

· No Messianic secret here (5:20) – OK to publish

· Jairus’ daughter and the woman with the issue of blood – 12 years – FAITH – no matter who it is will bring God close to you; both healed

· Even the disciples fell down on the job here – more concerned about serving the ruler of the synagogue’s daughter, than in serving the master of all – Jesus – who asked them “Who touched me?” (5:31)

· Note that Jesus selects to whom and in front of whom he does his best work (5:40)

· Re-enter the Messianic secret (5:43)

Chapter Six

· Unbelief in his own town – Nazareth

· Jesus teaching in the synagogue but being discredited because of who they believed he was

Son of Mary and Joseph; possibly an illegitimate child in their eyes (6:3)

· Rejected at home: Jesus’ teaches the disciples and others that it is hard to minister in your own space sometimes – you can often times be more appreciated outside of your home space (6:4)

· The people’s prejudices cost them miracles – Jesus could not do a mighty work there (6:5)

· Jesus’ sends the disciples out to preach and heal – On the job training

· Jesus instructs them on how their ministry should run – not about the money, not about the clothes, he has already provided shelter and food for them, and if they are obedient and does what he instructs – if people don’t receive them – they are off the hook – they can move on to a place where they will be received.

· He also prophesies the doom of those who do not accept the messenger of God.

· Story of John the Baptist’ beheading at the hands of a pathetic King Herod (6:14)

· Miracle cycle resumes – 6:30 Feeding of the five thousand – a lesson for the disciples

· Jesus walks on the sea – another lesson for the disciples

· Key verse about the disciples: 6:52 Disciples did not grasp the significance and power of Jesus through the miracles of the feeding, hence they didn’t grasp the miracle of Jesus’ walking on the water – their hearts were hardened. (6:52)

· Contrast Jesus in Nazareth – couldn’t heal many vs. 6:53 Jesus healing many at Gennesaret

Just by a touch of his garment!

Chapter Seven

· Emptiness of religious forms – Jesus ushered in a system of substance over form

· After all the miracles Jesus had performed, which were unable to be refuted, the authorities bring up a challenge about eating food that with “unwashed hands” – they are truly grasping at straws!

· Jesus challenged the holiness/purity/food code of the Jewish faith – tradition and the law

· Jesus declares that ritual purity has nothing to do with what you eat (what goes in your mouth to your stomach, and out), but more with your heart (what comes out of you)

· Jesus declares that “all foods are clean” – now this must have really rocked the Jewish authorities world

· Enter the Gentiles – a Greek Syrophoenician woman who was bold enough to stand toe to toe with Jesus for the healing of her daughter – “even the dogs can eat the crumbs from the children’s table” – Gentiles referred to as “dogs” – Jewish people as the chosen race – therefore first at receiving the favor of God. Faith!

· A “deaf and dumb” Gentile man – healed! Could represent God’s movement into the Gentile world – the outside world formerly deemed as “dumb” or ignorant to the things of God.

· Jesus ushers in a new order that challenged the very fiber of the system of the day!

· Jesus also demonstrates throughout all of the healings and miracles that there is more than one way to accomplish his goal – some healings were instantaneous without a touch from God, others involved a direct touch from God, some were accomplished with a mere touching of his garment (7:33-35)

Chapter Eight

· Feeding of the four thousand – Here we go again, disciples – you didn’t get it the first time – now let’s see if we can pass this pop quiz this time!

· Remember the “hardened hearts” of the disciples at the time of the first feeding in Chapter 6. Now look at the same “doubt” of the disciples in Chapter 8.

· Pharisees – require a SIGN – the healings, deliverances, miracles, exorcisms, and invincibility of Jesus were not sign enough. Jesus refuses – he knows this is a futile effort.

· The disciples are still hung up on issues concerning “bread”, the “loaves” – they still have no faith that the almighty God who has been in their presence can supply all their needs – they fret over the absence of bread for their journey! (8:14-16)

· Leaven of the Pharisees – Beware!!! Jesus warns the disciples about coveting the artificial power and authority of the Pharisees, and the rulers of the religious sect and of the rulers of the civil government – Herod—their lure was something to be wary of.

· Jesus reminds them of the miracles that they too witnessed—feeding of 5000, feeding of 4000, but that they did not “have eyes to see” or “ears to hear” (8:18-20)

· Jesus then asks the disciples -- How is it that ye do not understand????? (8:21)

08/04/05 ©KBF, Inc. all rights reserved.