Mark 1 & 2 Class Comments

1. 1:1-8 What was John’s purpose? What do you think is meant by “Make straight paths for Him”? Comments: John’s purpose was to be a messenger, to prepare the way of the Lord, to not get in the way of His message, but to make His path straighter – easier – than it might have been otherwise.
   
2. 1:9-13 Describe Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River. Comments: John baptized (immersed) Him. As Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens parted (tore apart), and the Spirit descended like a dove. A voice from heaven said, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” According to Luke 3:22, the Spirit descended in “bodily form like a dove.” The class wasn’t sure exactly what it means for the heavens to part. Was it just a vision Jesus had, did it refer to clouds, or did Jesus see beyond the sky?
   
3. 1:14-20 What did Jesus call Simon and Andrew to do? What does this mean? Comments: Jesus called Simon and Andrew to follow him so they could become fishers of men. It meant that they would spread the gospel like a fisherman spreads his net, gathering the souls of men into God’s kingdom. Men would be gathered in not to eat fish, but to eat food of a spiritual nature.
   
4. 1:21-28 In verse 27, what new doctrine, or teaching, are the people referring to? Comments: This refers not only to the authority He demonstrated in casting out the unclean spirit, but to all the other new things they had witnessed: His miracles, a baptism of repentance, the appeal He had not to a mass of people, but to individuals. All of this made His teaching, mentioned in verses 21 and 22, even more astonishing. Jesus taught from His own authority. He didn’t just expound on the scriptures, as their rabbis and priests did.
   
5. 1:29-39 Why did Jesus leave Capernaum even though everyone was looking for Him? Comments: They were looking for healing, or to be rid of unclean spirits, but that was not Jesus’ mission. His purpose was to preach. Another consideration is that He realized that with the multitudes that came, the authorities also might come. [Cheryl’s post-class observation: He stated that focus  of purpose after He had gone off by Himself to pray.]
   
6. 1:40-44 How did the leper inhibit Jesus’ desire to fulfill His purpose? Comments: Because the leper could not keep quiet about his healing, Jesus was not able to go openly into the cities – because of the commotion it would cause – so he preached outside in the desert places. Still, they came to Him “from every direction.”
   
7. 2:1-12 What are the three manifestations of Jesus’ Godhood in this incident? [Consider verse 9. Which is easier?] Comments: 1) He forgave the sins of the paralytic (which only God can do); 2) He perceived in His spirit what the scribes were thinking; and 3) He healed the man’s paralysis (as the Son of Man). Regarding verse 9: For man, it would be easier just to say “Your sins are forgiven,” whether he could do it or not. In actuality, both are impossible for man. But with God, there is no difference; He has the power to do both.
   
8. 2:13-17 In verse 16, how do you think the Pharisees would want to answer their own question? [Consider: What would your reaction be if you saw a religious leader eating with someone who had taken advantage of you financially?] Comments: They would suppose that He was just like them. Good people don’t hang out with unscrupulous people. The lesson for us is that we shouldn’t jump to conclusions when we either see or hear things we can’t explain. We don’t always know the whole story.
   
9. 2:18-22 Read John 3:29. Is it a coincidence that Jesus speaks of a bridegroom? Comments: In John 3:29, when questioned by his own disciples, John refers to Jesus as the bridegroom and himself as merely the friend of the bridegroom. So in this answer – also to John’s disciples after John had been put into prison – Jesus makes the same reference. The presence of the bridegroom indicates a celebration, not a time to fast.
   
10. 2:23-28 How does the story about David apply to Jesus’ actions on the Sabbath? (See 1 Samuel 21:1-6.) Comments: In David’s case, the hunger for bread, for sustenance, was more important than a ceremonial tradition which stated that only the priests could eat leftover showbread. In Jesus’ case, He knew the purpose of the Sabbath – which was to give men a day of rest, a special day set apart. In the discussion of Matthew 11-13 (#4), we also determined that Jesus and His disciples were not actually breaking the Sabbath, according to the Law.