Lesson 9 Review: Jerusalem Controversies

Introduction

Memory Text: “ ‘And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.’ ” (Mark 11:25, NKJV).

Mark 2 and 3 records a series of five controversies between Jesus and the religious leaders all dealing with special issues of the Christian life. This week’s lesson analyzes just what it is that brings people in opposition to God and what Christians can do to speak to the hearts of those resisting the Spirit’s call. Mark 11-16 covers more than one week, thus showing how important these closing events are.

Why does half of the story in Mark 11:1-11 involve Jesus sending two disciples to a nearby village?

The answer is two-fold. First, it demonstrates Jesus’ prophetic powers, enhancing the dignity of His arrival and linking it to the will of God. Second, this aspect of the story links to Zachariah 9:9,10, which speaks of the king as riding into Jerusalem on a donkey.

What is the story behind Jesus’ triumphal entry?

Jerusalem is located in a hilly region at an elevation of about 2,400 feet (about 740 meters) with about a population of 40,000 to 50,000 in Jesus’ day. Jesus entered from the east, descending into the Mount of Olives and likely entering into the Golden Gate onto the Temple Mount (a gate now bricked shut). The whole city was stirred by Jesus’ entry and the crowd that accompanied Jesus shouted “hosanna,” a term originally meaning “save now” but eventually coming to mean “praise to God.” Now Jesus openly enters the temple using a well known royal symbolic action. But because it is late in the day, he looks around and retires with the twelve disciples to Bethany. What could have turned into a riot or revolt ends with Jesus quietly retiring.

What is the significance of the events depicted in Mark 11:12-26?

Jesus meets a leafy fig tree but found no fruit on it and as a result cursed the tree. He moved into the temple and drove away the money changers saying “My house shall be called a house of prayer but you have turned it into a den of thieves”, then on His way back the fig tree was withered and Jesus gave a lesson about prayer and forgiveness. The stories of the fig tree and the driving away of the money changers in the temple are the fourth sandwich story in Mark. In such stories, parallel characters do opposite actions or opposite characters do parallel actions. The fig tree and the temple stand in parallel. Jesus curses the tree but cleanses the temple, opposite actions. But the irony is now that the religious leaders will now plot to kill Jesus, and that action will spell the end of the significance of the temple services, which were fulfilled in Jesus.

How did Jesus respond to the challenge the religious leaders brought upon Jesus?

The religious leaders came with a question to trap Jesus rather than to know the truth. They asked Jesus by what authority Jesus does the things He did. If Jesus responded by saying that His authority is from God, they will deny that a simple country carpenter could have no such authority. If Jesus admitted that His authority is from men, they would dismiss Him as a fool. Jesus responded by telling them that He will answer their question if they answer His. What Jesus asked was whether John the Baptist’s baptism was from God or men. The religious leaders see that they were the ones trapped and that if they said it was from God, Jesus will say, “Why did you not believe him?” If they say from men, they fear the people. So they lied and said they do not know, thus giving Jesus the opportunity not to answer their question.

How does Jesus follow up His refusal to answer the question?

Jesus gives them a parable about a vineyard, an owner and tenants to whom the owner rents it. The tenants refuse to give any of the fruits of the vineyard to the owner, they kill the servants sent to them to collect the fruits and even the son. Their illogic is striking and the judgment to be meted on them is justified. Jesus in this parable gave the religious leaders information on where their steps were heading. This parable was a loving warning to avoid certain judgment. It is never too late for anyone to repent, change and accept Jesus Christ. While some will accept Jesus Christ, others may not.

What is Jesus’ response to the religious leaders concerning the issue of paying taxes?

The religious leaders were trying to catch Jesus in something they could use to condemn Him to the Roman Governor or the people. They asked Jesus whether it was lawful to pay taxes to Ceasar, Jesus reponded by telling them to give to Ceasar what belongs to Ceaser and to God what belongs to God. This response both kept Jesus out of the trap of the religious leaders and provided profound instruction on the believer’s responsibility to the government.

What is Jesus’ response to the Sadducees’ question about the resurrection of the dead?

The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, they gave a scenario of a woman who married seven sons one after the death of the other for the sake of raising children and who herself died with no child. Their question was who will be the husband of the woman in the resurrection, but Jesus answered that God is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He is the God of the living and not the dead. This response describes the power of God in the resurrection and indicates that there will be no marriage in heaven.

What is the Greatest Commandment?

“ “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God is one. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your mind, with all your soul, with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

What is love according to the context of Deuteronomy 6:4, 5?

The term “love” refers to being faithful to the requirements of the treaty between parties, faithfully fulfilling them. While not ruling out the affection between parties, it is much more focused on the actions that demonstrate such loyalty.

What does it mean when Jesus says the Scribe is not far from the kingdom of God?

Not far from the kingdom of God does not mean inside. The Scribe still was to recognize who Jesus was and follow Him, a further step in the journey of faith. The Scribe’s honesty could have made one imagine scowls from other religious leaders. The Scribe was honest and saw the clarity and simplicity of Jesus’ response and said so.

In Conclusion,

We should not be like the religious leaders who resisted the Spirit of truth. They say but they did not do, and like the fig tree, their sin was considered worse than that of the open sinner. May God help us to love Him truly in Jesus’ name.

Lesson 8 Review: Teaching Disciples: Part II

Introduction

Memory Text: “ ‘For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.’ ” (Mark 10:45, NKJV).

This week covers Mark 10 which carries important teachings on what it means to follow Jesus Christ particularly on what it means to live in the here and now.

What is God’s plan for marriage?

In the beginning God made a man and a woman (Gen. 1:27), two individuals and a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and they shall become one flesh (Gen. 2:24).

How can you better reveal Jesus to whatever children are around you?

As Jesus commands in Mark 10:15 that we should let the little children come to Him because the kingdom of God belongs to them, we should be an example to little children and show them the right ways by not keeping them away from Jesus because Jesus loves little children.

How does the reality of God’s grace reveal in our lives both in justifying and in making us new people in Him according to Romans 6:1-11?

The death of Jesus Christ has resolved human guilt. Therefore, we are to obey His commands, because the grace of Christ and His resurrection empowers us.

How can a Christian be a servant to others in our daily interaction with people?

By uplifting and blessing others. In so doing, we follow Jesus, our Leader Who gave His own life as a ransom for our sins.

What can we learn from Jesus’ response to blind Bartimaeus?

In Mark 10:51 the story of Bartimaeus the blind beggar when Jesus asks him what He should do for him, he asks to receive his sight which Jesus immediately restores. Jesus does not disappoint us when we come to him for help in the gospel we will always receive what we ask him.

In conclusion,

As Christians we should cut away those things which if entertained can demoralize the whole being. May God help us to be true disciples in Jesus’ name.

Lesson 7 Review: Teaching Disciples: Part I

Introduction

Memory Text: “When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Mark 8:34, NKJV).

The primary focus of this lesson is about Jesus both as the preacher and a Teacher. This is different from that of the Pharisees and other Religious Leaders and we'll be considering the purpose of teaching His disciples as well.

What does the cross represent?

After Jesus called the people unto Himself a simple but tough warning words echoed out about the cross that meant that being a Disciples involves risk.

why was Jesus’ pattern of miracle different from others in this chapter?

Each and everyone needs healing not only in our mortal body but even to our spiritual life, the blind man required both spiritual and physical healing to help his site clearly open.

What is the cost of Discipleship?

Yes! God has given us salvation through His son Jesus but He has never hidden anything about the cost of following Him in the course of sharing the kingdom message, He said plainly that tribulations is ahead but we should rejoice for He has overcome it for us.

In what situation have we cried out, Lord help my Unbelief?

Deep down in distress and affliction when it seems all hope is gone, suddenly the voice of hope to the hopeless reaches out to us at a point where we all couldn't believe it but Jesus cares about heart and “help us” is a lesson to everyone.

What lessons can we learn about greatness?

It was surprising to the Disciples when they Saw Jesus take a child on His arms as an illustration about greatness. In our world today you are nothing if you are not rich or in a certain political group but Jesus taught us that heaven is far different from the world settings.

what do we know about burning hell?

Most Christians believe that there's hell fire here on earth which opposes the biblical teaching or meaning, the aims of this fire is to bring eternal end to every evil done on earth so as for it to never exist anymore. Once evil is destroyed then the fire ceases since its purpose is fulfilled.

What can we learn from the story of a Rich man?

There was no hell fire when Jesus made this teaching but It was an illustration of future events that will take place when He (Jesus) returns to the earth He created, everyone who finds it difficult to be generous with the gifts God gave to them will receive their eternal consequence.

In conclusion,

Being a Christian involves the toughest risk, however, this is not said to discourage anyone but to help us out in the cost of Discipleship. The road to heaven is not a bed of roses or bread and butter but full of thorns, sorrows and affliction but in the end those who overcome will receive a fruitful reward. May Heaven be ours indeed in Jesus’ name.

Lesson 6 Review: Inside Out

Introduction

Memory Text: “ ‘There is nothing that enters a man from outside which defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man’ ” (Mark 7:15, NKJV).

At the beginning of Mark 7, Jesus stirs up controversy by His rejection of religious tradition. This rejection however strikingly supports something deeply relevant to Christian life today and that is the fact that it is better to obey God rather than men. After this, Jesus goes to Tyre and Sidon and has an encounter with a woman who shows faith. This encounter with the woman reveals the truth that however impressive miracles can be, they alone are often not enough to open hearts to truth. The stories in this week’s lesson contain great lessons about the meaning and practice of religious life.

What is the two-pronged response in Mark 7:1-13?

The story where the Pharisees ask why Jesus’ disciples about washing hands is not a story about hygiene. Jesus defends His disciples in a two-pronged response. First, He quotes Isaiah’s strong words rebuking a nation that honors God in word but whose heart is far from Him (Isaiah 29:13). The second part of Jesus’ response plays off Isaiah’s quotation where Jesus cites the command to honor parents and how the Pharisees make null the command through their traditions.

What lessons are there to be learned from Jesus’ rejection of the tradition?

Whenever the traditions of men conflict with the commandments of God we are to rather obey God than men. The placing of human traditions over the commandments of God is sin.

Does Jesus dismiss all the laws about food?

First, it would be odd for Jesus to dismiss Mosaic instructions in Mark 7:14-19 when He had just defended Moses against tradition in Mark 7:6-13. Second, the very tradition that the Pharisees were promoting had no basis in Old Testament teaching, the food laws in contrast do. Thirdly, when Mark 7:19 says that Jesus cleanses all foods, it does not mean that the food laws are abolished but instead that the tradition of touch contamination that the Pharisees made was invalid.

What did Jesus say causes contamination of a person?

Contamination of a person is from the heart where all evil desires come from, anything that enters the body from outside enters the stomach and is eliminated but the things that come out of a man come from the heart and is what defiles a man.

How does Jesus defend the Law of God?

Jesus in speaking about contamination referred to breaking the commandment in the second table of the Decalogue as included in the vice list. Furthermore, Jesus refers to vain worship and in so doing stands as the defender of the Law of God throughout the passage.

What two characteristics in His response to the mother of the possessed child suggest what He is teaching?

Jesus said that the children should be fed “first.” If there is a “first, it seems logical that there would be a “second.” Second, Jesus uses a diminutive form of the word, “dog” not meaning puppies but rather in context, dogs allowed inside the house in contrast to street dogs.

How does the woman respond to Jesus and what is its significance?

The woman picks up on the two characteristics of Jesus’ answer. She said that even the dogs feed from the crumbs that fall from the master’s table thus indicating that Jesus’s ability to heal her is only a small matter compared to all the things He can do. By Jesus’ dealings with her, Jesus showed that she who was regarded as an outcast is now a child and share in the Father’s gifts (Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 401.

What lessons can be learnt from Jesus’ healing of the deaf and mute in Mark 7:31-37?

Although Jesus can open the ears of the deaf, He cannot force unbelieving hearts to acknowledge His Messiahship. However, for those who are feeling tongue-tied, Jesus can open your tongue to be willing to share a ready word to others and He can open your ears to be sensitive to others’ needs.

Why would the Pharisees who seek a sign still not believe?

The problem goes back to the end of Mark 3, where Jesus speaks of the sin against the Holy Spirit. If one’s ears are shut and eyes are closed, another miracle, even a sign from heaven, will not convince. Even miracles are not enough to convince those determined not to believe.

What does Jesus warn the disciples about in Mark 8:14-21?

Jesus warns His disciples about the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod (Mark 8:15), meaning their teachings (compare with Matt. 16:12). But the disciples misunderstand and think Jesus is talking about avoiding buying literal bread.

What do the questions of Jesus in Mark 8:19, 20 point out?

These questions point out that mere limitation of resources is no barrier for the Lord’s Messiah. Thus, Jesus was not talking about literal bread but the teachings of the Pharisees.

In Conclusion,

True cleanliness is from inside out, when the heart is clean it will be revealed outside. We can achieve this by saturating our minds with the things of God, may God help us to have this true cleanliness in Jesus’ name.