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“Who do you say I am?” – The Book of Mark

Mark Bible Study #9

Mark 9:30 – 10:52

Pre-Introduction

We are following along in Mark in the second half of our “teeter-totter (see below).” Mark’s goal is to answer the question – What has the Messiah (Jesus) come to do? Seeing what the Messiah is to do, as we saw last week, has profound implications for our lives in the here and now.

A “Teeter-Totter” seems to be the best way to describe Mark’s Structure

Mark 1:1-8:26 Mark 8:31-16:8

Who is Jesus? What has the Messiah, Son of God,

come to accomplish?

8:27-30

Jesus is the Messiah – Son of God

Introduction

Often when I approach a new or difficult task, I look for an example to follow. For instance, when writing my master’s thesis at Purdue I spent a goodly amount of time (before I began actually writing the thing) investigating previous master’s theses in my field. I learned a lot about how to write a thesis by simply paying close attention to those who had gone before me. In our last Bible study, Jesus called his disciples (and vicariously us) to follow his lead – like Jesus, we are to take up our cross AND follow after him. Because of what Jesus accomplished (and will accomplish still yet), the Christian life practically lived out is now all about following after and becoming more like Jesus. It’s not a mystery what a Christian is, and what he/she is supposed to then do. If you are a Christian today, our job is to now “live up to what we have already attained” (Philippians 3:16). What does this life look like in reality? We got a taste of it last week, but again, that’s what this next section in Mark is all about…

Goals for this Bible Study:

1) To grow in our knowledge of God through the study of His Word

2) To consciously apply the truths which God intended through this Gospel – i.e. to become more faithful disciples

3) To learn how to read and understand New Testament Gospel narrative and parables. This will largely be done by example – i.e. you will, Lord willing, learn by doing and imitating what you see me and your leader doing

4) To encourage one another to love and good deeds (Heb 10:24-25)

Expectations:

This week should require you 1-2 hours of preparation/reading to be ready for discussion.

Homework for Bible Study #10:

1) Read through Mark 9:30-10:52 (in the paragraph text of your choosing) 2-3 times this week. Try to read it through in 1 sitting. It should take you approx. 5 minutes.

2) Read through the copy of Mark 9:30-10:52 and inserted comments (denoted by “NOTE” below). Answer the “INPUT” questions you see peppered throughout the text. You’ll see the text of Mark in Grey and in Italics.

3) Answer the final summary questions at the bottom of the study.

4) Come to Bible study prepared and ready to discuss Mark 9:30-10:52!

As usual, seeing the structure of the passage helps us towards our goal of understanding the author’s intended meaning. I hope you are looking for and evaluating the structural layout of Mark as we go. One of the goals of this study is that you learn better how to read and understand NT literature. Paying attention to the structure is part of that. Let’s look at the big picture for the passage we find ourselves in the midst of…

The literary structure of 8:31-10:52 falls into 3 units of “3’s”

In other words, each of these three units has these three elements:

  1. A Passion prediction
  2. A Response from the disciples
  3. Discipleship lessons

Last week we had time to observe Unit #1. Here’s what we saw…

  1. Passion prediction – 8:31 – Jesus tells disciples he's going to die and be raised
  2. Disciples’ reaction – 8:32-33 – Peter rebukes Jesus
  3. Discipleship lessons – 8:34-9:29 – 1) deny yourself & take up your cross, 2) discipleship requires a great cost but it is hopeful, 3) a disciple is always dependent upon God and this dependence should lead to prayer.

Here’s what we’re going to see in this week’s study. Let’s look to see how this structure works out and the implications these truths have on our lives…

Unit #2:

  1. Passion prediction – 9:30-31
  2. Disciples’ reaction – 9:32
  3. Discipleship lessons – 9:33-10:31

Unit #3:

  1. Passion prediction – 10:32-34
  2. Disciples’ reaction – 10:35-41
  3. Discipleship lessons – 10:42-52

30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.

NOTE: Here we have our second passion prediction and our second reaction from the disciples.

INPUT: Let’s focus in on the disciples’ reaction here for a second. Compare and contrast this second passion prediction with the identical account in Matthew 17:23 (note the disciples’ response). What is significant about this second prediction? And how would you characterize the disciples’ thinking now?

NOTE: Typically, this section of Mark is called “On the way to Jerusalem” or something similar. Because of the obvious reason that Jesus and the disciples are inching closer to Jerusalem and the cross. It appears from Mark’s description of the disciples above and below, that Jesus’ walk to Jerusalem (although physically joined by the disciples) is a lonely one. Those closest to him clearly misunderstand his mission. They misunderstand, and they are afraid (9:3210:32 below). I know this is skipping ahead a bit, but notice where Jesus is in 10:32. On their way up to Jerusalem, Jesus is “leading the way.” The Savior is on his way to bear the wrath of God and die, and he’s leading the charge. Amazing.

33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.

35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

36 He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

NOTE: So, we’ve seen our 2nd prediction and response, now we’re going to see a discipleship lesson illustrated in 3 short accounts. Let’s take them one at a time, observe the bigger lesson, and see how this lesson intersects with our lives.

INPUT: The disciples are arguing on the way to Capernaum about who among them is the greatest. Notice quickly that Jesus does not scold them for their desire for greatness. The desire to be great isn’t inherently a bad thing. BUT Jesus redefines greatness. What is greatness, based upon 10:35? And how is this different from the “traditional” view of greatness?

NOTE: Jesus then offers them an illustration to drive home this proper perspective of greatness. He takes a child into his arms. This example doesn't hit home with us very well. In the 21st century we generally dote upon and delight in children. They are viewed today as beautiful, cute, and valuable. This was not the case in Jesus’ day. In the first century children were generally viewed as meaningless and worthless. They were insignificant until they reached a certain age – working age. In that day 70% of one’s income went towards food. To this end children were just another mouth to feed. Some accounts report of baby girls in the Roman world even being left out to die, so that the parents would not have to pay to feed them. The thinking was that the cost of keeping a baby girl wasn’t worth it. It’s disgusting and sad, but that was the thinking in that day. This is where Jesus’ point becomes clear. He takes a child into his arms – a “worthless” child. In a society where children are viewed as a nothing, Jesus illustrates his point about greatness. The one who really “gets it” (i.e. the one who is truly great) is the one who is willing to serve the “least” of all people. This is greatness.

38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”

39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.

INPUT: Here’s our second account to help us get this first discipleship lesson. What was the main problem John (and the disciples) had with this man in v. 38? Why might they care about this?

NOTE: This sort of self-righteousness is so like us! The disciples are expecting Jesus to usher in his physical kingdom very soon, and they don’t want anybody else to be in the “in” crowd. It’s as if the disciples are saying, “That casting out of demons thing is a privilege reserved only for us (a select few), so we told him to stop!” It’s likely that the disciples believed their group to have special insights and privileges, and they (in a high and mighty) way thought no one else was worthy.

INPUT: How does Jesus turn their self-righteousness on its head? More than self-aggrandizement, what does Jesus say is important?

42 “And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where

“ ‘their worm does not die,

and the fire is not quenched.’

49 Everyone will be salted with fire.

50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”

NOTE: This is the last account in the first discipleship lesson. Let’s look at it and summarize what we’ve seen.

INPUT: Generally, we think that our sinful actions and poor choices have no impact on others. We might not actually say things like – “I can do ______, and it doesn’t impact anybody but me” BUT we live that way. What should a disciple be concerned with? If the standard is based on the “worthless one” (v.37), how do we need to approach our choices and actions as a disciple of Jesus?

INPUT: Now, vv. 43-48 are not advocating that true disciples are masochists who really cut off appendages to live holy lives. But Jesus takes our sin much more seriously than we often do. He advocates radical amputation for our sin. Jesus’ doesn’t say, “Hey, we’ll get to that sin later. Don’t worry about it!”. No he takes sin seriously and so should we! Given the impact our sin can have on others and the consequences therein (v. 42), what should we strive for at all costs?

INPUT: What sinful habits are present in your life that could possibly impact others? As a disciple of Christ what radical steps do you need to take to “cut” out sinful habits in your own life?

NOTE:vv. 49-50 could be confusing. What’s up with the “salt” here? Read Leviticus 2:11-16. The OT context is helpful, and it helps us get at an explanation. In the OT, all grain offerings were to be salted. And understandably, under the old covenant sacrifices were then to be “salted” by fire – burned up completely. That is the nature of this particular OT offering. Jesus is drawing a parallel to help his disciples (and us) understand the nature of discipleship. Under the new covenant, it is no longer necessary to offer physical animals or grain sacrifices for the atonement of sins or as an act of worship. This side of the sacrifice of the cross, Jesus' disciples are to offer themselves as a sacrifice/offering of worship. Once an OT sacrifice was salted and burned, it could not be retrieved. Read Romans 12:1. If our live are to be living sacrifices of worship, we are to never go back! We are to offer our lives as sacrifices (lives lived for the glory and praise of God) and never go back.

INPUT: Let’s summarize this first discipleship lesson (illustrated in the last three accounts) and apply it. Look back at the accounts in 9:33-50 if you need to. What is true greatness?

INPUT: How is true greatness manifested in the life of a disciple of Christ?

INPUT: Are these manifestations evident in your life? What do you need to do now?

10Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them.

2 Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”

3 “What did Moses command you?” he replied.

4 They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.”

5 “It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. 6 “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ 7 ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, 8 and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”

10 When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11 He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”

NOTE: Here we have the next discipleship lesson in Unit #2. The Pharisees are again pressing Jesus – this time about divorce. It’s important to recognize that in their culture divorce was an accepted practice. They wanted to know under what circumstances it was lawful for a man to divorce his wife, and it was here that they were seeking to discredit Jesus. Jesus turns their perceptions on their heads and again offers a perspective on what life as a follower of Christ should look like – even in marriage.

INPUT: This is a sticky issue Biblically, and we really don’t have time to bring in all of the passages that discuss divorce and re-marriage and develop a comprehensive Biblical/theological position in this setting. I’d be glad to discuss this with you personally, if you would like. But what we want to do is see how this passage fits into the larger flow of thought in this narrative. What is God’s intention for marriage, based upon this passage (focus in on vv. 7-9)?

INPUT: No matter one’s views on when and why divorce and re-marriage are acceptable/not acceptable, it is clear from this passage that God intends for marriages to last until death. Take a minute and think about this principle in light of the larger context. If God intends for marriage to last a lifetime, what lesson is there here for those who call themselves disciples of Christ? It is markedly different from the world. What should the marriages of true disciples look like?

NOTE: The next two accounts bring out our 3rd and final discipleship lesson in Unit #2. Let’s read them and look at them together. The comparisons and contrasts are fascinating.

13 People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”

20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.