Observation Guide for Mark 2, Studies #25-48 1

OBSERVATION GUIDE for MARK MANUSCRIPT (Part 2)

Mark 2: 8:31-16:8 | 22 Studies: Pages 21-45 | What Does it Mean to Follow Jesus?

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This Observation Guide may be printed (front to back if possible) and provided as part of the Mark notebook. Place it after the manuscript with a separating tab. It will help to provoke thought, especially for personal study. (It is NOT to be used by the leader like a Bible study guide.) The Application Journal may be place after the Observation Guide.

Observation Guide for Mark 2, Studies #25-48 1

Observation Guide for Mark 2, Studies #25-48 1

______#25: 8:31-9:1 (p. 21-22)

______#26: 9:2-13 (p. 22-23)

______#27: 9:14-29 (p. 23-24)

______#28: 9:30-50 (p. 24-25)

______#29: 10:1-16 (p. 25-26)

______#30: 10:17-31 (p. 26-27)

______#31: 10:32-45 (p. 27-28)

______#32: 10:46-11:1-11 (p.28-29)

______#33: 11:11-26 (p. 29-30)

______#34: 11:27-12:12 (p. 30-32)

______#35: 12:13-27 (p.32-33)

______#36: 12:28-44 (p.33-34)

______#37: 13:1-13 (p. 34-35)

______#38: 13:14-37 (p.35-36)

______#39: 14:1-26 (p.36-38)

______#40: 14:27-52 (p. 38-40)

______#41: 14:53-72 (p. 40-41)

______#42: 15:1-20 (p.41-42)

______#43: 15:21-41 (p. 42-44)

______#44: 15:42-16:8 & to 20 (p.44-45)

______#45: Optional Review Mark 8:31-16:8

______#46: Mark Celebration!

Observation Guide for Mark 2, Studies #25-48 1

#25

STUDY #25 Observation Guide:Mark: 8:31-9:1, page 21-22

Background – Read 8:22-30 Jesus heals a blind man with 2 touches and then he sees clearly. Jesus has taken his disciples through 2 rounds of similar experiences with him and then asks, “Who do you say that I am?”

(Can you see clearly now?) Peter declares that Jesus is the Christ.

Son of Man – Jesus’ own self-designation, which he uses 14 times in Mark. See Daniel 7:13-14.

*Keep in mind that Mark is writing to Christians in Rome who are facing intense persecution at the hand of Nero.

Look for (Observe) and mark:

  1. Divide into scenes.
  2. Who is involved?
  3. When and Where? See previous passage, Mk 8:27-30.
  4. Look for repetitions, and similar words.
  5. Find words and phrases that are opposites/contrasts.

vs 31-33

  1. What did Jesus teach (list of 4 things) and how did he teach?
  2. What was Peter’s response? Compare to answer he gave Jesus in v. 29.
  3. How did Jesus handle this? Note the use of word “rebuke” on pg. 2 (1:25).

vs 34-9:1

  1. Who is addressed by Jesus here?
  2. Identify the “if…then” statement.
  3. Find 4 supporting statements starting with the same preposition.
  4. Find all the pronouns referring to Jesus in this section.
  5. Find the words that are like business terms.
  6. What is the main contrast/irony?
  7. List what is said about “those who would save their life”?
  8. What’s said about “those who lose their life for Jesus and the gospel?”
  9. Contrast what is said about Son of Man in vs. 31 with v. 38.

**Bonus** What word is mentioned that we have not seen yet in Mark?

#26

STUDY #26 Observation Guide: Mark 9:2-13, page 22-23

Background – The Jewish view of Messiah - The period from the 3rd century BC to the beginning of 2nd century AD was a time of intense struggle of the Hebrew nation for its political independence. This difficult struggle and the hardships connected with it helped to develop among many Jews the hope for better times, when the Messiah would defeat the enemies of the Hebrew nation. They expected in the Messiah a worldly king bringing earthly blessings.

The Jewish people of 2000 years ago were expecting to see the OT Prophet Elijah literally, physically descend from heaven. According to the book of II Kings, Elijah had ascended "into heaven" in a "chariot of fire." Malachi prophesied that this same Elijah, was also going to return from heaven to herald the coming of the Messiah... the Christ.

Look for (Observe) and mark:

  1. Divide into scenes.
  2. Who is involved?
  3. When?
  4. Where?
  5. Note all the prepositions and phrases referring to Peter, James and John.

Look up 5:37 (pg 13).

  1. What sequence of events happened on the mtn. as part of the transfiguration?
  2. Contrast Peter’s statement with what’s going on around him.

Note how Peter addresses Jesus vs. the “voice”.

  1. What insight does the writer, Mark,give usabout Peter?
  2. Compare what the “voice” says in v. 7 with 1:11 (pg 1).
  3. Compare Jesus’s charge in vs 9 with 8:29-39 (pg 21).
  4. What predictions are mentioned for the 2nd time? See last study.
  5. What 2 questions do the 3 disc.have? Which do they verbalize to Jesus?
  6. Note the verbs connected with Elijah in vs. 11-13.

14. How did Jesus answer their question?

Do you notice any reference to the unstated question?

15. What clues to you see that the Elijah Jesus mentioned (v. 12-13) is different

than the Elijah on the mountain during the transfiguration?

**Bonus** How does this passage relate to 9:1 from last study? (2 Peter 1:16-18)

More Background

Son on Man

Daniel 7:9

9 “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames;
its wheels were burning fire.

Daniel 7: 13-14

13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

Moses and Elijah - representative of the law and the prophets

Exodus 24:12-18

12 The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and wait there, that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.” 13 So Moses rose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. 14 And he said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we return to you. And behold, Aaron and Hur are with you. Whoever has a dispute, let him go to them.”

15 Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16 The glory of the Lord dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. 17 Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. 18 Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

1 Kings 19:11-13

11 And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Elijah and John the Baptist

Mark 1:2-8 (pg 1)

2 Kings 1:7-8 7 He said to them, “What kind of man was he who came to meet you and told you these things?” 8 They answered him, “He wore a garment of hair, with a belt of leather about his waist.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.”

Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.

Both Elijah and John the Baptist suffered under a wicked queen and weak king: Jezebel and Ahab, Herodias and Antipas Herod. Both called for repentance of the people.

The Great Day of the Lord Malachi 4

4 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. 3 And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts.

4 “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.

5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”

Suffering Servant Isaiah 53:3

3 He was despised and rejected by men;
a man of sorrows] and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Peter referencing the transfiguration 2 Peter 1:16-18

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.

#27

STUDY #27 Observation Guide: Mark 9:14-29, page 23-24

Background – After healing the blind man in Bethsaida (8:22) Jesus went to the villages of Caesarea Philippi (8:27) where Peter declares Jesus is the Christ. The transfiguration probably happened on Mt. Hermon, which is a little farther north (see map). The region of Caesarea Philippi is dominated by Gentiles with strong Roman influence. A temple built in honor of the emperor was there near a grotto to the Greek god Pan. The scribes may have traveled way north from Jerusalem, sent by the Sanhedrin to gather evidence against Jesus (ie: 3:22-30 and 7:1-5).

Look for (Observe) and mark:

  1. Divide into scenes.
  2. Who is involved?
  3. When? (refer to last study) Other repeated time words?
  4. What events have been happening while Jesus, Peter, James and John

were on the mountain?

  1. Contrast the scene at the bottom of the mountain with the scene at the

top of the mountain. (last study)

  1. Find the descriptions of what the evil spirit does, for how long, and why?
  2. Compare v. 9:18b with 6:12-13 (pg. 14).
  3. Look up other references to “generation”. 8:12 (pg 20) and 8:38 (pg. 22)

What words does Jesus use to describe it?

  1. What’s the progression of the father’s actions and requests through the passage?
  2. Trace Jesus’s questions, commands and responses through the passage.
  3. Compare and contrast vs 26-27 with 5:39-42 (pg 13).

12. Note Jesus’s answer to the disciples question in vs 28?

Ponder how it relates to vs 18b, 19 and 23 in this passage

along with 6:12-13 (pg 14).

**Bonus** What do you notice when you compare v 29b with v 25?

#28

STUDY #28 Observation Guide: Mark 9:30-50, page 24-25

Background – The Aramaic word for “child” also means “servant”.

--Common maxim of the time: “the world cannot survive without salt”.

It preserved food. Salt from the Dead Sea could lose its savory quality and become useless. OT sacrifices had to be accompanied by salt.

Look for (Observe) and mark:

  1. Divide into subsections.
  2. Who is involved?
  3. Where?
  4. Look for repetitions, similar words and phrases.
  5. Compare the similarities and differences between Jesus’s teaching here in 9:31 and 8:31 (pg 21). Also compare the disciple’s reaction to both verses.
  6. What circumstances lead to Jesus’s statement in v 35?
  7. Compare this statement (vs 35) with 8:34 (p22).
  8. What does Jesus do and say to continue teaching his point? (refer to background)
  9. What is the progression of “receiving”. Compare “receiving” here to 6:11 (pg 14).
  10. What issue does John insert? Are there any clues in the text as to why he would bring this up? Remember 9:18 (p 23).
  11. Note Jesus’s response to John. By looking at the prepositions can you tell how much of what Jesus says is related to the disciple’s attitude toward the person casting out demons in His name.
  12. Note the “whoever” statements. What are the contrasts made in these 2 vs.?
  13. Find the “It would be better” statements.

Compare the differences between the first one and the last three.

  1. Find the similarities and differences in the last 3 “It is better for you” statements.
  2. What are all the things Jesus says about salt? (Peter is behind Mark: see below.)

**Bonus** What in the last sentence ties it to what happened earlier in this section?

1 Peter 1:6-7 … you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 4:12 … do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

#29

STUDY #29 Observation Guide: Mark 10:1-16, page 25-26

Background

Deut 24:1 “When a man takes a wife and marries her, if then she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, and she departs out of his house,…”

The wife was given a bill of divorce which authenticated her release from the marriage contract and allowed her to remarry. Its main function was to provide some protection for the woman who had been rejected by her husband.

Perea (region of Judea and beyond the Jordan) is part of King Herod’s jurisdiction. Here John the Baptist was imprisoned and killed for questioning the lawfulness of Herod’s divorce and remarriage to Herodias.

Exodus 20:14 “You shall not commit adultery”

According to rabbinic law a man could commit adultery against another married man by seducing his wife and a wife could commit adultery against her husband by infidelity, but a husband could not commit adultery against his wife.

Cross references:

  1. Deuteronomy 24:1 : Matt. 19:7; Mark 10:4; Cited Matt. 5:31; [Isa. 50:1; Jer. 3:8]

Cross references:

  1. Deuteronomy 24:1 : Matt. 19:7; Mark 10:4; Cited Matt. 5:31; [Isa. 50:1; Jer. 3:8]

Look for (Observe) and mark:

  1. Divide into scenes.
  2. Who is involved?
  3. Where did Jesus leave (last study)? Where did he go?
  4. Look for repetitions, similar words and phrases.

5. What do you observe about the Pharisees and their question?

(Hint: Consider the area. Refer to background info.)

6. How does Jesus handle this test question?

7. Compare Jesus’ question (v 3) with the Pharisee’s response (v 4).

8. What’s the contrast between v 5 and vs 6 / 7-8a?

9. Note the similar phrases in vs 7-9.

10. What is Jesus’ final answer to the Pharisee’s question?

11. Note the parallels between v 11 and v 12. What is the difference?

12. Note the scene in vs 13-14. Compare to 9:38-39 on page 24.

13. What is said about the Kingdom of God?

14. What did those bringing children want? What did Jesus do?

#30

STUDY #30 Observation Guide: Mark 10:17-31, page 26-27

Background:

In the O.T. “Good” is characteristically used for God.

“Fraud” appears to be an application of the commandments to not covet your neighbor’s wife or property. The commandments listed (Ex. 20-12-17, or Deut. 5:16-21) are those that focus on relationship with others and are mentioned in this passage.

Judaism regarded wealth as a mark of God’s favor. The rich had the means to do good works/ give alms. It was inconceivable that wealth could be a barrier to the Kingdom.

Cross references:

  1. Deuteronomy 24:1 : Matt. 19:7; Mark 10:4; Cited Matt. 5:31; [Isa. 50:1; Jer. 3:8]

Cross references:

  1. Deuteronomy 24:1 : Matt. 19:7; Mark 10:4; Cited Matt. 5:31; [Isa. 50:1; Jer. 3:8]

Look for (Observe) and mark:

  1. Divide into subsections.
  2. Who is involved?
  3. When and Where? (See last study for the journey’s description.)
  4. Look for repetitions, similar words and phrases.

5. Look for contrasts made throughout this passage.

6. Observe this man…What does he do? What does he ask?

How does he address Jesus? How does he respond verbally, emotionally, nonverbally?

7. How does Jesus answer the man’s question? What is the progression?

8. Compare the man’s question in v 17 with Jesus’ “Truly” statement in v 15 (last study).

9. Find the repetition that occurs in vs. 23-27?

What is the difference the 2nd time?

What comparison is made?

10. How do the disciples react?

Note the contrast made in Jesus’ answer to them.

11. Compare what Peter says in v. 28 with vs. 21-22.

Look up 1:18 on pg. 2.

12. Compare Jesus’ “truly” statement in vs. 29-30 with 8:34-35 on pg. 22.

Are any words the same? Similar ideas?

13. Compare list of things “left” in v 29 with list of things “received” in v 30.

14. What key word is repeated in Jesus’ “truly” statements from last study (10:15)

and this study (vs. 29-30)?

**Bonus** Find a theme that runs through the last 3 studies. (from 9:43-10:31)

It is summed up in a repeated similar phrase.

#31

STUDY #31 Observation Guide: Mark 10:32-45, page 27-28

Background:

In the O.T. the cup of wine is a common metaphor for the wrath of God’s judgment.

Cross references:

  1. Deuteronomy 24:1 : Matt. 19:7; Mark 10:4; Cited Matt. 5:31; [Isa. 50:1; Jer. 3:8]

Cross references:

  1. Deuteronomy 24:1 : Matt. 19:7; Mark 10:4; Cited Matt. 5:31; [Isa. 50:1; Jer. 3:8]

Look for (Observe) and mark:

1. Divide into sections.

2. Who is involved?

  1. When and Where? What do you notice about the journey?
  2. Look for repetitions, similar words and phrases.

5. Find list of all that Jesus says will happen in vs. 33-34.