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MARKED

Gospel of Mark Study Guide March 10 - April 21, 2019 Message Series ______We’re diving deep into the life of a man who fundamentally changed the ______world, leaving his mark on mankind and upsetting the religious and cultural ______order not only of his time, but for all time. came as a suffering ______servant to establish his radical upside-down kingdom on earth, to assert his ______authority and power over , and encourage his followers to put their ______faith in God. ______We’re excited you’re joining us for this “Marked” series! Please bring this ______study guide to church with you each week to take notes and be sure to grab ______our events postcard to stay up-to-date on all the latest happenings at MCC. ______Table of contents: ______Introduction to -4 ______Reading Plans & Resources 5 ______Sunday Message Notes & Study Questions 6-23 ______Biblical Maps & Pictures 24-31 ______Notes 32-34 ______

1 34 ______message overview ______• Part 1 - The King Has Come (March 10) ______• Part 2 - The Hidden Kingdom (March 17) ______• Part 3 - The Upside-Down Kingdom (March 24) ______• Part 4 - Who is the King? (March 31) ______• Part 5 - Mountaintop Experience (April 7) ______• Part 6 - A Man on a Mission (April 14) ______• Part 7 - The Darkest Hour (April 21) ______introduction to mark ______about the author: ______John Mark wrote the book of Mark. He was not one of the 12 disciples, but ______accompanied Paul on his first missionary journey (Acts 13:13). Mark wrote ______down the chronicles of Peter as Peter journeyed with Jesus. was ______the cousin of , a co-worker of Peter and Paul. The church started in ______John Mark’s home (talk about good credentials for being a biblical writer!). ______date written: ______Between A.D. 55 & 65 ______The was written some time around the Jewish War (A.D. 66-70) and ______the destruction of the temple (A.D. 70) and could have been written at any ______point within the two decades before the fall of . ______AUDIENCE: ______The gospel of Mark was written primarily for a gentile audience outside of ______Palestine. Mark felt compelled to translate words from (the ______language of Palestine) as evidenced in :41 and 15:22. He also explains ______Jewish customs and beliefs in 7:3-4 and 12:18 to accomodate a non-Jewish ______audience.

33 2 Additional notes:

______Setting: ______The Roman Empire under Caesar. The empire had an excellent ______transportation and communication system and a common language which ______made it ripe for the spreading of Jesus’ message. ______What makes this gospel unique? ______Mark is one of the four autobiographies of the life of Jesus (Matthew, Luke ______and John are the other three ). Mark is unique in that it’s the shortest ______gospel and most likely the first one written. ______All but 31 verses, of it’s 660 verses, are quoted in other gospels. It’s fast- ______paced with two-thirds of the verses beginging with the word “and.” The ______words “immediately,” “instantly” or “quickly” are used over 40 times. There’s ______a clear sense of urgency and speed throughout . ______It’s action-packed. Mark records 19 miracles and only four . All but ______3 of the miracles happen in the first half of the book. Only Mark stresses the ______works of Jesus rather than the words of Jesus. ______And it is evangelistic. The entire book is based on answering the question, ______“Who is Jesus?” ______What is the purpose? ______To answer the question, “Who is Jesus?” In :1, Mark makes the claim ______“Jesus is the , the .” He then goes on to prove that claim ______throughout the book. Mark writes to encourage Roman Christians and to ______prove beyond a doubt that Jesus is the Messiah. 32 Why the lion image? The lion represents and reminds of persecution, God’s power and Satan’s savageness. Throwing Christians into an arena to be devoured by lions was a common form of entertainment in Rome during the writing of Mark. Biblical writers depict Jesus as both a powerful conquering lion and a lamb that was slain for the sins of the world. Through 19 miracles, Mark shows us just how terrifyingly powerful Jesus is. Peter, who told John Mark what to write down, said this about Satan in :8: “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” a Tip for reading: The meaning of the events recorded in Mark are not complete without taking into account the entire overarching narrative of the book. To truly under- stand Mark, you must read and study the whole gospel, paying close atten- tion to the themes Mark traces throughout. Themes: • the identity of Jesus • the connection between Jesus’ identity and His destiny • the person and work of Jesus (His miracles) • Jesus as Messiah • fear versus faith

What are some more themes you notice? ______helpful overview: The gospel of Mark can be divided into three acts. • ACT I: Mark 1-8a (Set in ) • ACT II: Mark 8b-10 (Jesus on the way from Galilee to Jerusalem) • ACT III: -16 (Set in Jerusalem) 31 4 Reading Plans: 1. Follow the message series: Week 1 : read Mark 1-2 Week 2: read -4 Week 3: read Mark 5-6 Week 4: read -8 Week 5: read -10 Week 6: read Mark 11-13 Week 7: read -16

2. Read through the gosel of Mark once a week for 7 weeks: Monday: read Mark 1-2 Tuesday: read Mark 3-4 Wednesday: read Mark 5-6 Thursday: read Mark 7-8 Friday: read Mark 9-10 Saturday: read Mark 11-13 Sunday: read Mark 14-16 memory verses: Each week we’ll select one theme verse from the teaching on Sunday morn- ing. We encourage you to memorize these and other verses throughout the study. Find the memory verses on the message notes page for each week. recommended Resources for further study: • Biblegateway.com • Asbury Commentary • Life Application Study Bible (New Living Translation) • Glo Bible App • The Bible Project - Visual storytelling meets the Bible https://thebibleproject.com/#watch • ESV.org and ESV Study Bible • You Version App (Bible.com) - reading plans, devotionals, topical studies 5 30 The King has come March 10, 2019 Mark 1:1-13 MESSAGE notes: ______

29 6 FURTHER STUDY QUESTIONS:

What was the relationship between John Mark & Peter? ______

What is the thesis of the book of Mark? ______

What was life like for early Christians in Rome at the time this book was written? ______

What makes the gospel of Mark unique? ______

The opening section of Mark’s writing tell of the significance of the person of Jesus and prepares the reader for Jesus’ first public act of ministry: the .

Week one Memory Verse:

“This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.” Mark 1:1 (NLT) 7 28 the hidden kingdom March 17, 2019 Mark 1:14; 4:1-34 MESSAGE notes:

______

27 8 FURTHER STUDY QUESTIONS:

How did John the Baptizer prepare the way for Jesus? ______

What’s the purpose of a ? ______

Why did Jesus use parables to communicate to His followers? ______

Describe the Kingdom of God (4:26-34): ______Week two Memory Verse:

“The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” Mark 1:15 (NLT) 9 26 the Upside-down kingdom March 24, 2019 Mark 1:16-20, 2:13-17, 3:13-19, 6:6-13, 8:34-38, 9:30-36, 10:13-52 MESSAGE notes:

The Christian Martyrs’ Last Prayer, by Jean-Léon Gérôme (1883) ______

Christians who were about to suffer martyrdom either by being devoured by thewild ______beasts or by being smeared with pitch and set ablaze. ______William T. Walters commissioned this painting in 1863, but the artist did not deliver ______it until 20 years later. In a letter to Walters, Gérôme identified the setting as ancient ______Rome’s racecourse, the Circus Maximus. He noted such details as the goal posts and the ______chariot tracks in the dirt. The seating, however, more closely resembles that of the Col- ______osseum, Rome’s amphitheater, in which gladiatorial combats and other spectacles were held. Similarly, the hill in the background surmounted by a colossal statue and a tem- ______ple is nearer in appearance to the Athenian Acropolis than it is to Rome’s Palatine Hill. ______The artist also commented on the religious fortitude of the victims who were about to ______suffer martyrdom either by being devoured by the wild beasts or by being smeared with ______pitch and set ablaze, which also never took place in the Circus Maximus. In this instance, ______Gérôme, whose paintings were usually admired for their sense of reality, has subordi- ______nated historical accuracy to drama. W. M. Brady & Co, New York, in “Drawings and Oil ______Sketches 1700-1900,” 27 January 2009 - 12 February 2009, No. 21, offers “Study for the ______‘Death of Caesar,” an oil on canvas with pen and ink underdrawing, measuring 7 5/8 x 13 in. (19.5 x 33 cm), which formerly belonged to Maurice Aiccardi, Paris. This sketch may be ______the one that Theophile Gautier alluded to during a visit to the artist’s studio in 1858 (G. ______Ackerman, Jean-Leon Gerome: Monographie revisee 2000, pp. 240-241). ______

25 10 FURTHER STUDY QUESTIONS:

According to Mark, who were the first disciples Jesus called? (1:16-20) ______

Who does Jesus invite to be his in 2:14 and why did this upset the ? ______

List all twelve disciples below. (Mark 3:16-19) 1. ______2. ______3. ______4. ______5. ______6. ______7. ______8. ______9. ______10. ______11. ______12. ______

What authority does Jesus give his twelve disciples in 6:7?

______

11 24 What then do you think is the significance of Jesus’ shed blood on the cross What message were the disciples to tell everyone they met (6:12)? What during ? What does this tell us about who Jesus was? other acts did the disciples perform in verse 13? ______Mark reiterates throughout his gospel that even the disciples were struggling to grasp who Jesus really was. Chapter 8:34-38 lead us into Act II (see “Help- ful Overview”) of the book. In 8:27 Jesus asks His disciples, “Who do people For further explanation of these two events in Jewish history, search for say I am?” Peter replies, “You are the Messiah,” which means that Jesus is a “Truth or Tradition” on YouTube and the video “The Feast of Passover” by victorious military king from the line of who will rescue Israel from the Dan Gallaher. There you’ll find a playlist full of videos explaining each feast Romans. How does Jesus describe Himself in 8:31, 9:31, 10:33-34? of Israel. ______

Week seven Memory Verse: Week three Memory Verse:

“When the Roman officer who stood facing him “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must saw how he had died, he exclaimed, “This man give up your own way, take up your cross, and truly was the Son of God!” follow me.” :39 (NLT) :34 (NLT) 23 12 FURTHER STUDY QUESTIONS:

Chapter 14 opens with the story of woman anointing Jesus with oil. What was the significance of this moment according to Jewish customs (v.8)? ______

Who is the king? In the Passover meal with His disciples (14:12-26), Jesus takes the symbols of the Passover and gives them new meaning. What are we liber- March 31, 2019 ated from now because of Jesus’ death and ? :35-5:43 ______MESSAGE notes: ______

______Why do you think Mark concludes his gospel so abruptly without a ______resurrection story? See Hebrews 11:1. ______A note about Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread: ______The word feast is actually translated to “appointed times,” so the ______biblical feasts refer to God’s “appointed times.” They’re celebrated every year ______with the Feast of Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread occurring in the ______Spring (Leviticus 23). The feasts of Passover and of Unleavened Bread were ______merged and treated for practical purposes as the seven-day ‘feast of ______Passover.’ ______To better understand Passover we must understand the story of ______Moses and the plagues of . In Exodus 11 explains the final judge- ______ment of Egypt- the death of the firstborn sons. The Israelites were protected ______from the destroying by the sacrificing of a lamb (Exodus 12). The lamb’s ______blood was then sprinkled on the doorposts to set God’s people apart and spare them of judgement. 13 22 FURTHER STUDY QUESTIONS:

The scene of Jesus in Mark 4 follows closely on the heals of his teaching and seems to pose the question of will the disciples understand and believe what Jesus has taught them and the miracles He’s performed? How do the disciples react to the storm in verse 38 and what does their reaction prove about their level of faith in Jesus? The darkest hour ______April 21, 2019 ______Mark 14:1-16:8 ______MESSAGE notes: ______

______The Bible often uses bodies of water as symbols for evil, death, and chaos. ______What, then, do you think is the significance of Jesus calming the storm? Why ______did the disciples react the way they did in verse 41? ______Mark is an action-packed gospel. He quickly moves on from one miraculous ______event to the next- from Jesus calming the storm to healing a demon- ______possessed man (5:1-20), healing a suffering woman (21-35), and even raising a ______girl from the dead (35-43). ______It’s important to note that in the cases of the woman and girl, Jesus was ______rejecting cultural norms by recognizing the dignity and value of women and ______children. He touched them, healed them, spoke with them directly and in ______public and never treated them as inferior.

21 14 What role do you think faith plays in these four stories (Mark 4:40, 5:34 & 36)? ______

Week FOUR Memory Verse: Week six Memory Verse: “Jesus overheard what they were talking about and said to the leader, “Don’t listen to them; “Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God.” Mark 11:9-10 (NLT) just trust me.” Mark 5:36 (MSG)

15 20 FURTHER STUDY QUESTIONS:

In chapter 11 we now enter the third act of the book of Mark. We see Jesus riding triumphantly into Jerusalem, the final destination and culmination of his ministry. Jesus knew of his impending death and yet rode into Jerusalem publicly and even cheerfully. Was He afraid of His enemies? What does this scene tell us about the identity of Jesus? ______Mountaintop experience ______April 7, 2019 ______Mark 8:27-9:13 ______MESSAGE notes:

When Jesus enters the temple courtyard, He asserts His royal authority by ______running out the thieves and crooks and stopping the sacrificial system. What ______stands out to you in this story? (11:15-25) ______In :1-12 Jesus answers the Jewish leader’s question in the previous ______passage with this parable. If the religious leaders are like the evil farmers and ______God is the owner of the vineyard, then who is Jesus? Do you think the Jewish ______leaders grasped the meaning of Jesus’ message (12:12)? ______

19 16 FURTHER STUDY QUESTIONS:

Describe the scene in Mark 9:2-13. Who was with Jesus on the mountaintop? ______A man on a mission Who were the two prophets who met with God on Mt. Sinai in Exodus 33 and April 14, 2019 1 Kings 19? Mark 11:1-12:12 ______MESSAGE notes: What does this mountaintop experience tell us about Jesus? ______What was Peter’s reaction to seeing Jesus in this glorious state? ______Week five Memory Verse: ______“Then he asked them, “But who do you say ______I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah.” ______Mark 8:29 (NLT) ______

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