Mark chapter 5-comp

Tuesday AM Bible Study Prayer

In the quiet of this morning we pause to thank you for your presence with us today, God, for the comfort of being held so securely in your love. Thank you for this day—may we experience it with expectation and faith and with a heart wide open to joy and beauty and appreciation.

We’re grateful for the gift of each other, Lord, for our families and for all whom we’re privileged to love. Heighten our awareness of the needs of others, and especially those whom we lift up to you today. May they be comforted and strengthened, and if we might be your outreaching hand to them, Lord, show us how.

We ask your blessings upon each of us. Look beneath our surface, God, and minister to our needs and concerns and hopes. Clear our minds and open our eyes so we can receive and see your love and meaning for our lives. Bless our study and our friendship and our laughter, and help us to leave with a deeper understanding of you and of your will for our lives.

We gratefully ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

SChapter 5, Mark’s Gospel From ScratchGood Samaritan UMC - Tuesday Morning Bible

Study

Transfiguration

: A miracle of Jesus recorded in all gospels. It’s unique in that the miracle happens to Jesus himself.

: A narrative in which Jesus is transfigured (or metamorphosed) and becomes radiant upon a mountain

: Jesus and 3 disciples go to a mountain (the Mount of Transfiguration) where Jesus begins to shine with bright rays of light. The prophets Moses and Elijah appear next to him and he speaks with them. Jesus is then called “Son” by a voice in the sky, assumed to be the voice of God.

: In Christian teachings, the Transfiguration is a pivotal moment, and the setting on the mountain is presented as the point where human nature meets God: the meeting place for the temporal and the eternal, with Jesus himself as the connecting point, acting as the bridge between heaven and earth.

Mark Session 5 - The End of Jesus’ Public Ministry Mark 11:1-14:72

In Todays session:

We move from Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem through many episodes in the final week of Jesus’ life.

We’ll conclude with Peter’s denying Jesus 3 times.

We also want to try to identify with some of the people involved in these important events.


Jesus is well received as he enters the city. (traditional story) (Mark 11:1-26)

Jesus; companions were probably expecting him to be crowned king on that day.

However, Jesus goes to the temple, looks around, and then goes back with his disciples to Bethany, where he is staying just a short distance east of Jerusalem.

On The Way into Jerusalem the next day…

Mark Session 5 - The End of Jesus’ Public Ministry Mark 11:12-14

On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see whether perhaps he would find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it. (Mk 11:12-14)


The Curse of The Fig Tree (Mark 11:12-14)

This is the first and only cursing miracle attributed to Jesus in Mark.

What’s curious about the incident is the observation that “it was not the season for figs.”

Why would Jesus curse a fig tree out of season?

Why would Mark include such an odd incident?


The Curse of The Fig Tree

Marks focus on the fig tree is a literary device bracketing the narrative of Jesus driving the money changers out of the temple in order to show that the temple is no longer fulfilling its purpose, just as the fig tree without fruit is no longer fulfilling its purpose. (Mark 11:12-14)


The purpose of the temple was to be a place of prayer.

My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations. (11:17a) (from Isaiah 56:7)

Here Jesus charges that the temple is not living up to its intended purpose. It is neither “a house of prayer” nor is it “for all nations.” (nations = gentiles)


You have made it (the temple) a den of robbers.”(11:17b) quoting (Jeremiah 7:11)

The Jeremiah reference refers not to where robbing takes place but rather to a safe haven where robbers go after they have committed their crimes.

The temple has become a safe haven for Israel. The temple gives Jews a sense of security, for as long as the temple is standing god’s presence is among them, and they can always retreat to the temple to receive God’s forgiveness.


When Jesus cleanses the temple he makes some powerful enemies.

Those who control the Jerusalem temple are also in the majority on the Sanhedrin, or council. These Jewish leaders, called “the chief priests and the scribes.” are Sadducees.

Sadducees were a small sect within 1st Century Palestinian Judaism. They were very influential. To keep their leadership roles in society they had to work closely with the Romans. To keep Rome at bay, it was to the advantage of the Sadducees to keep things orderly and under control.


“When the chief priests and the scribes saw what Jesus had done in the temple, they kept looking for ways to kill him; for they were afraid of him because the whole crowd was spellbound by his teaching.” (11:18)

In Mark as in Matthew and Luke – The TEMPLE CLEANSING incident is the beginning of the end for Jesus.


The placement of this story is significant, for the cursing of the fig tree frames the story of Jesus’ cleansing of the temple and serves as an interpretive framework for the temple incident. Just as Jesus curses the fig tree for not bearing fruit, so too does Jesus curse the temple for not living up to its intended purpose.

Moreover, as Jesus’ curse of the fig tree does not result in the immediate destruction of the tree, so too Jesus’ curse of the temple does not bring immediate consequences. The temple was destroyed when Jerusalem fell to the Romans in AD 70 some forty years after Jesus’ death.


Jesus’ teaching also shows that the temple has out lived its usefulness. No longer does one need to go to the temple to pray and fulfill the ritual law. Now faith is what is most important, and prayer can be carried out at any time or in any place. (11:22-24)

Sacrifices are no longer needed for forgiveness. Now, praying to “your Father in heaven” and forgiving others is all that is necessary. (11:25)

The Parable of the Wicked TenantsMark 12:1-12

Jesus then began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. But they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Then he sent another servant to them; they struck this man on the head and treated him shamefully. He sent still another, and that one they killed. He sent many others; some of them they beat, others they killed.


“He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’

“But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ So they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.

“What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others. Haven’t you read this passage of Scripture:

“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes?”


Once the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders heard this teaching of Jesus they began to look for a way to arrest him because they knew he had spoken the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd; so they left him and went away.


The parable of the Wicked Tenants is bracketed by episodes of Jesus being questioned, first by the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders, and afterward by the Pharisees and Herodians.

They challenge the source of Jesus’ authority and the way he interprets the law.

Questioning JesusMark 11:27-33

And they said to him, "By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?” Jesus said to them, "I will ask you a question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men? Answer me.” And they argued with one another, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, 'From men'?” they were afraid of the people, for all held that John was a real prophet. So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Questioning JesusMark 12:13-17

Then they sent to him some Pharisees and some Herodians to trap him in what he said. 14 And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not? 15 Should we pay them, or should we not?” But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why are you putting me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me see it.” 16 And they brought one. Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” They answered, “The emperor’s.” 17 Jesus said to them, “Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were utterly amazed at him.


In This parableJesus is describing

what is going to happen to him

in his suffering and death.


These characters representwhat is happening in the life of God’s people:

Vineyard Owner = GOD

Vineyard Tenants = ISRAEL

Slaves = Prophets

Beloved Son = JESUS


In this thinly veiled parable

Israel is the Vineyard

and God is the Vineyard Owner.

The Tenants who have been entrusted to watch over the vineyard are Israel’s Religious Leaders.

Those leaders have mistreated God’s servants (the slaves), who are the prophets,

and will even abuse God’s beloved son who is Jesus.


Priests are Sadducees

Scribes are Pharisees Herodians

Meaning of the Questioning

What would you describe as the motivations of those who are questioning Jesus?

What do you think of the way Jesus responded to the questioners?

Which of Jesus’ responses do you think was most troublesome to the questioners?

To what extent do you think Jesus’ responses will lead to his suffering and death?

Sadducees

Sadducees were a small sect within 1st Century Palestinian Judaism. They were very influential. To keep their leadership roles in society they had to work closely with the Romans. To keep Rome at bay, it was to the advantage of the Sadducees to keep things orderly and under control.

The Sadducees denied the resurrection of the dead, the existance of spirits, and the obligation of oral tradition, emphasizing acceptance of the written Law alone.

Pharisees

In contrast to the Sadducees, the Pharisees, an ancient Jewish sect, were mostly middle-class businessmen, and therefore were in contact with the common man. The Pharisees were held in much higher esteem by the common man than the Sadducees. Though they were a minority in the Sanhedrin and held a minority number of positions as priests, they seemed to control the decision making of the Sanhedrin far more than the Sadducees did, again because they had the support of the people.

The Pharisees also distinguished themselves by their strict observance of traditional and written law. They did, however, allow for more freedom of the interpretation of the law.

Herodians

The Herodians held political power, and most scholars believe that they were a political party that supported King Herod Antipas, the Roman Empire's ruler over much of the land of the Jews from 4 B.C. to A.D. 39. The Herodians favored submitting to the Herods, and therefore to Rome, for political expediency. This support of Herod compromised Jewish independence in the minds of the Pharisees, making it difficult for the Herodians and Pharisees to unite and agree on anything.

But one thing did unite them—opposing Jesus.

Little ApocalypseMark 13:1-37

Difficult passage – it deals with what Jesus teaches will happen before the end.

Jesus makes an explicit reference to the temple’s future destruction (13:2)

Jesus describes to Peter, James, John, & Andrews false prophets that will arise and the other disasters that will occur but cautions: “this is but the beginning of the birth pangs” (13:3-8)

He tells them to “Be alert: I have already told you everything... After that suffering,” the eschatological or end-time Son of Man will come with unmistakable signs and wonders (13:9-26)

Little ApocalypseMark 13:1-37

He will “send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.” (13:27)

Like the fig tree, we can know the season when “he is near”(13:29) but “about that (specific) day or (exact) hour no one knows, neither the angels in heave, nor the Son, but only the Father (13:32)

The message of this chapter?

“Beware, keep alert” (13:33)“Keep awake” (13:35, 37)“For the end time is coming (13:30)BUT, no one knows when

Mark 14:1-72The Climax of 2 Markan ThemesThe Disciples – The Authorities

Climax with the Disciples

Prior to Peter’s Confession (you are the Messiah) the disciples lack understanding about WHO JESUS IS.

After Peter’s Confession the disciples “lack of understanding” turns to “Misunderstanding about who Jesus is and What he Must Suffer.” (note examples: Peter’s rebuke: 8:32b, debate concerning who is greatest 9:33-34, request to sit on Jesus right and left by James & John.)

In Mark 14 – the disciples’ misunderstanding takes a tragic turn. The disciples misunderstanding of Jesus’ identity and his destiny foreshadows their “failure to follow Jesus to the end.”


Climax with the Authorities

In the beginning the authorities are plotting against Jesus. (14:1-2)

They are looking for a way to arrest and kill him. (14:1b)

They find their way in Judas and “are greatly pleased.” (14:10b-11a)

Reading of

Judas’ Meeting with the Authorities



The Failure begins during the Last Supper when Jesus predicts a disciple will betray him. (14:18, 20)

On Mount of Olives Jesus predicts that his disciples will all desert him (14:27)

Jesus predicts that Peter will deny him (14:30)



These 3 prophecies are all fulfilled by the end of Chapter 14.

1. In the garden of Gethsemane Judas betrays Jesus (14:43-45)

2. Jesus’ Disciples desert him (14:50)

3. Later that evening, Peter denies him 3 times. (14:66-72)

After Jesus’ arrest he is taken to the high priest to appear before “the whole council.” (14:55)



Peter’s denial brackets the Trial of Jesus.

Peter’s denial outside in the courtyard is to be understood as happening at the same time as the trial of Jesus inside.

Peter’s “trial” in fact, stand in contrast to jesus’ trial.

As Jesus is being examined by the high priest inside (14:53) Peter is being examined by “one of the servant-girls of the high priest” (14:66, 69) outside.



When Jesus is being confronted by his enemies, he stands firm and acknowledges his true identity (14:62) even though it means his death.

In contrast, Peter collapses under pressure and denies Jesus 3 times in order to spare his own life. (14:68, 70, 71)



These authorities questioning Jesus are the same authorities (chief priests, elders, scribes) Jesus has already succeeded in alienating. (11:18, 27; 12:12)

The trial of Jesus (14:55-65) brings to a climax the opposition between Jesus and the the religious authorities.

Could he really have expected a fair trial?



Many testify falsely against Jesus, but none of the testimony can be corrobarated. (14:56-59)

High priest blurts out “Are you the Messiah, the son of the Blessed One?” (14:60-61) Note the word GOD is not used as it’s deemed unpronounceable. Jews avoid using the personal name of god altogether. It’s considered blasphemy.



After Peter realizes what he’s done and breaks down and weeps, (14:72b) the disciples are nowhere to be seen.

They are not present at the crucifixion or the burial of Jesus

They are not at the tomb on the first day of the week, so they are not the first ones to know about Jesus’ resurrection.

7 Significant Events in Mark 14

Anointing at Bethany (14:3-9)

Passover meal and Last Supper (14:12-25)

Peter’s Denial Predicted (14:26-31)

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane (14:32-42)

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus (14:10-11, 43-52)

Jesus Before the Council (14:53-65)

Peter Denies Jesus (14:66-72)

Anointing at Bethany (14:3-9)

3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages[a] and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you,[

b] and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world,what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark+14&version=NIV%23fen-NIV-24760a

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark+14&version=NIV%23fen-NIV-24762b


12 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb,Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”

16 The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

17 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve.18 While they were reclining at the table eating, he said,“Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.”


18 While they were reclining at the table eating, he said,“Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.”

19 They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely you don’t mean me?”

20 “It is one of the Twelve,” he replied, “one who dips bread into the bowl with me. 21 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”

23 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.

24 “This is my blood of the[c] covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. 25 “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark+14&version=NIV%23fen-NIV-24779c

Peter’s Denial Predicted (14:26-31)

27 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written:

“‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’[d]

28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

29 Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”

30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice[e] you yourself will disown me three times.”

31 But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark+14&version=NIV%23fen-NIV-24782d

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark+14&version=NIV%23fen-NIV-24785e

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane (14:32-42)

32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”

35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba,[f]Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing.40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.

41 Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark+14&version=NIV%23fen-NIV-24791f


10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11 They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”

35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba,[f]Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark+14&version=NIV%23fen-NIV-24791f


37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing.40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.

41 Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”


53 They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. 54 Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.

55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. 56 Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.

57 Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’” 59 Yet even then their testimony did not agree.

60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?”61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.


61Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

62 “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

63 The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. 64 “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”

They all condemned him as worthy of death. 65 Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.

Peter Denies Jesus (Mark 14:66-72)

While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.

“You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said. But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway.

When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” Again he denied it.

After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”

He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.” Immediately the rooster crowed the second time.[h]Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice[i] you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark+14&version=NIV%23fen-NIV-24827h

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark+14&version=NIV%23fen-NIV-24827i

Mark chapter 5-comp

Spiritual

Transcript of Mark chapter 5-comp