Mark 10:32-34

Mark 10:32-34  Living Bible (TLB)

Jesus Again Predicts His Death

³² Now they were on the way to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking along ahead; and as the disciples were following they were filled with terror and dread.

Taking them aside, Jesus once more began describing all that was going to happen to him when they arrived at Jerusalem.

³³ “When we get there,” he told them, “I, the Messiah,^[a] will be arrested and taken before the chief priests and the Jewish leaders, who will sentence me to die and hand me over to the Romans to be killed. ³⁴ They will mock me and spit on me and flog me with their whips and kill me; but after three days I will come back to life again.”

Jesus continues to instruct his disciples as they make their way to Jerusalem.  This is the third time that Jesus brings up his death with the disciples and He gave them more details as to what was ahead.   The disciples also now knew where his death was going to occur, in Jerusalem.  The disciples still struggled to take on board what Jesus was saying.  It still didn’t make sense to them what was being told to them and they were terrified.  They were panicked about what was ahead for them personally.  I wonder if the graphic detail of what Jesus described in His upcoming death made the disciples wonder if they would endure such atrocities also.

Jesus was very aware of what was going to happen and yet He moved towards Jerusalem with boldness.  He didn’t follow behind the disciples but led the way.  He showed His commitment to His Father’s will despite what was being asked of Him.

I wonder what we would do if we had been one of the disciples.  Would we have continued with Jesus on the way to Jerusalem or would we call it quits then and there.  It is not always easy to stand out for Jesus and be counted.  It can cost us but are we willing to do it despite the cost?  These are not questions that are easily answered.

Mark 10:17-31

Mark 10:17-31 Living Bible (TLB)

The Rich Young Ruler

17 As he was starting out on a trip, a man came running to him and knelt down and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to get to heaven?”

18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good!19 But as for your question—you know the commandments: don’t kill, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t cheat, respect your father and mother.”

20 “Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve never once[a] broken a single one of those laws.”

21 Jesus felt genuine love for this man as he looked at him. “You lack only one thing,” he told him; “go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor—and you shall have treasure in heaven—and come, follow me.”

22 Then the man’s face fell, and he went sadly away, for he was very rich.

23 Jesus watched him go, then turned around and said to his disciples,“It’s almost impossible for the rich to get into the Kingdom of God!”

24 This amazed them. So Jesus said it again: “Dear children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches[b] to enter the Kingdom of God. 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.”

26 The disciples were incredulous! “Then who in the world can be saved, if not a rich man?” they asked.

27 Jesus looked at them intently, then said, “Without God, it is utterly impossible. But with God everything is possible.”

28 Then Peter began to mention all that he and the other disciples had left behind. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said.

29 And Jesus replied, “Let me assure you that no one has ever given up anything—home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or property—for love of me and to tell others the Good News, 30 who won’t be given back, a hundred times over, homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land—with persecutions!

“All these will be his here on earth, and in the world to come he shall have eternal life. 31 But many people who seem to be important now will be the least important then; and many who are considered least here shall be greatest there.”

Personal Insights

Warren Wiersbe said of this rich young ruler “Of all the people who ever came to the feet of Jesus, this man is the only one who went away worse than he came.” How sad that a man has an encounter with Jesus and walks away rejecting what Jesus had to offer. He chose the things of this world over what Jesus could give him….eternal life.

Jesus challenged the ruler on the way he greeted Him. It was an unusual form of address at that time. He pushed the ruler to realise that by calling Him good he was implying that Jesus was God. As one writer said “He was telling a self-centered and self-righteous man that only God is truly good”.

This young man thought he could earn his salvation. He asked Jesus what he needed to do to earn salvation. When he got the answer he was disheartened and sorrowful. He was not willing to give up what he had on this earth for the eternal. He had a superficial view of salvation.

Jesus used this situation as a teaching point for His disciples. Jesus said it is difficult for people to enter the Kingdom of God. It is not something we can do on our own. According to verse 27 Jesus says it is impossible but with God it is possible.

In contrast Peter expressed to Jesus that he and the disciples have given up everything to follow Him so what would their reward be. Jesus assured Peter that if he followed Him he would gain much including eternal life, however, there would be persecutions along the way. “God balances blessings with battles, developing mature sons and daughters” (Warren Wiersbe)

What is it that we are unwilling to give up for God? It might not be riches or wealth but it could be something else. The story of the Rich Young Ruler is a good reminder for us to examine our priorities. Is there anything in our life that we put before God? On the outside we might look like the ideal Christian and yet on the inside it might be something very different. Jesus says in John 10:10b “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly”. However, we need to be obedient to the Good Shepherd. There is blessing in obedience. This young ruler missed out on the greatest gift ever and settled for second best. Let us not follow his example.

Mark 10:13-16

Mark 10:13-16 Living Bible (TLB)

The Little Children and Jesus

13 Once when some mothers[a] were bringing their children to Jesus to bless them, the disciples shooed them away, telling them not to bother him.

14 But when Jesus saw what was happening he was very much displeased with his disciples and said to them, “Let the children come to me, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as they. Don’t send them away! 15 I tell you as seriously as I know how that anyone who refuses to come to God as a little child will never be allowed into his Kingdom.”

16 Then he took the children into his arms and placed his hands on their heads and he blessed them.

Personal Insights

In this section we see the disciples learning another truth and, again, the situation involved children. It wasn’t unheard of in Jewish culture for parents to bring their children to the rabbis for blessing. So the parents in this story bringing their children to Jesus for a blessing would not have been strange. However, we see the disciples stepping in and rebuking the parents. The Living Bible talks about the disciples shooing the parents away and telling them not to be a bother to Jesus. This gives us a good image of what the situation looked like.

The disciples probably thought they were helping Jesus and creating some space and rest from people. Unfortunately, they had forgotten what Jesus had taught them not so long ago in 9:36-37. Jesus response to them was not positive. It says He was indignant with the disciples. This is not a mild annoyance but Jesus is irate and angry and gives them another lesson about His Kingdom.

Jesus taught the disciples, parents and whoever else that was listening that they (and us) are to receive the Kingdom of God like a child. What does this mean? Children at an early age are trusting, they are humble, they depend on others for their needs and they accept who they are. Somehow, as we grow up, we lose that innocence. We begin to listen to the ways of the world that we don’t need anyone, we can do life alone, and we develop insecurities about who we are. Jesus is encouraging us to have a childlike faith but not childish. When we understand who Jesus is, the Son of God, what’s not to trust. We need to continue to work at developing that relationship with Him. Humbly accepting His ways and trusting completely in what He says in His Word.

Jesus took these young children in His arms. They would feel safe and secure in His arms. Jesus blessed them. Jesus would know these children and would know what was ahead of them. I wonder what blessing He bestowed upon them.

For those of us who are parents, or Aunts and Uncles, or Grandparents who are entrusted with the care of children what influence do we have on them? John McArthur once said in a sermon concerning this passage and was speaking to parents mainly but I will extend it to caregivers in general “You’re the primary missionary in the life of your children” That is a responsibility not to be taken lightly. How do we evangelize our children? Deuteronomy 6:1-9 is a challenge for us today.

Mark 10:1-12

Mark 10:1-12 Amplified Bible (AMP)

Jesus’ Teaching about Divorce

10 Getting up, He left there (Capernaum) and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan; and crowds gathered around Him againand accompanied Him, and as was His custom, He once more began to teach them.

2 Pharisees came to Jesus to test Him [intending to trick Him into saying something wrong], and asked Him, “Is it lawful [according to Scripture] for a man to divorce his wife and send her away?” 3 He replied to them,“What did Moses command you?” 4 They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” 5 But Jesus said to them,“Because of your hardness of hearts [your callousness and insensitivity toward your wives and the [a]provision of God] he wrote you this precept. 6 But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female. 7 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother [to establish a home with his wife], 8 and the two shall become one flesh; so that they are no longer two, but [are united as] one flesh. 9 Therefore, what God has united and joined together, man must not separate [by divorce].”

10 In the house the disciples began questioning Him again about this.11 And He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her; 12 and if a woman divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”

Personal Insights

The subject in this chapter is not an easy one to take on. Divorce conjures up a myriad of thoughts and ideas and maybe, for some reading this, memories of heartache and pain. However, let us look at the discussion that Jesus and the disciples had in these verses.

The Pharisees were notorious for trying to corner Jesus and get Him to make a mistake that would give them the right to imprison Him or kill Him. In this chapter we see they are using the topic of divorce. Their question to Jesus was “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” Jesus takes them back to the OT and to Moses and what he said on the issue. He asks them “What did Moses command you?” They answered Him and said that Moses had permitted a certificate of divorce to be given by the husband to the wife and to send her away. Jesus steps in at this point and says that Moses did this because the people’s hearts were hardened. Notice that God did not create divorce but man did. Also this law talked about in Deuteronomy 24:1-4 was there to protect the wife. It was not unheard of in Biblical times for men to divorce and remarry whenever they felt like it. If their wife burned their food, showed her ankles, spoke too loudly or did something else that he didn’t like he would divorce her. By Moses instituting this law it gave some protection to the wife. She had a legal document that meant she was free from her husband and wouldn’t be seen as a harlot or prostitute.

Despite all this In Malachi 2:16 God is really clear on what He thinks about divorce. He hates it. God was the one that brought in the institution of marriage. He was the one that created it and had guidelines on how it was supposed to work. In Genesis 2:21-25 it talks of a man and a woman becoming one flesh. When you look at the word cleave in the Hebrew it means to stick, keep fast, to cling, or to abide to name a few definitions. A couple of Pastors likened it to being glued together. This is not just a casual relationship or friendship but the strongest of all ties.

God loves marriage because it reflects who He is (Gen1:27). God uses marriage as a symbol of His relationship with the church. The church is His bride. He loves the church, that is you and me as believers.

The disciples in Mark 10, however, continue to press Jesus on the issue of divorce. In order to get a fuller idea of this conversation that Jesus has with the disciples we need to look at Matthew 19. In v9 we find an exception clause that Jesus gives us. He says that “…anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery”. Also in 1 Corinthians 7:15 there also seems to be another reason that would allow for divorce if either spouse is not a believer and walks out. However, the text goes onto say that “…God has called us to live in peace”. These two exceptions would also appear to give the grounds for remarriage in such cases.

The disciples in Matthew 19:10 seemed to be getting the sanctity of marriage. They were realizing that it is not supposed to be a covenant that you can rip up and then just start again with someone else. It was supposed to be lasting. The disciples came to the conclusion that this was a difficult mandate to keep and thought it better not to marry at all. Talk about going from extreme thought to another.

Some of you might be thinking well what about other difficulties in marriage are they not grounds for divorce also or should be?

Pastor David Guzik puts it like this…..

“ Note that incompatibility, not loving each other anymore, brutality, and misery are not grounds for divorce, though they may be proper grounds for a separation and consequent "celibacy within marriage."

This study on divorce could go on and on as there are lots to say about it and will probably be a controversial issue amongst believers until the Lord comes back. However, let me finish on a positive note and to encourage those who are married.


Proverbs 19:14Amplified Bible (AMP)

House and wealth are the inheritance from fathers,
But a wise, understanding, and sensible wife is [a gift and blessing] from the Lord.

Ephesians 4:32 Amplified Bible (AMP)

Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave [a]you.


Ephesians 5:33 Amplified Bible (AMP)

However, each man among you [without exception] is to love his wife as his very own self [with behavior worthy of respect and esteem, always seeking the best for her with an attitude of lovingkindness], and the wife [must see to it] that she respects and delights in her husband [that she notices him and prefers him and treats him with loving concern, treasuring him, honoring him, and holding him dear].

Proverbs 31:10Amplified Bible (AMP)

Description of a Worthy Woman

An excellent woman [one who is spiritual, capable, intelligent, and virtuous], who is he who can find her? Her value is more precious than jewels and her worth is far above rubies or pearls.

Mark 9:42-50

Mark 9:42-50 New International Version

Causing to stumble

⁴² ‘If anyone causes one of these little ones – those who believe in me – to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung round their neck and they were thrown into the sea. ⁴³ If your hand causes you to stumble, 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. ^{[a] 45} And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. ^{[b] 47} And if your eye causes you to stumble, 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

‘“the worms that eat them do not die,
    and the fire is not quenched.”^[c]

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 among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.’

Personal Insights

The lessons from Jesus continue in these next verses in Mark 9.  The disciples had a lot to learn concerning living out their faith as do we.  Jesus tells the disciples that to cause a fellow believer to stumble in the faith has severe consequences.  His analogy with the millstone shows us Jesus’s heart on the issue.  This millstone that he was talking about was not the small one that women would use for grinding grain but the more industrial one.  This one if tied around your neck would take you down into the depths of the sea.  Jesus is emphasizing to the disciples the importance of getting along with other people.  It is not always easy but something that Jesus considers highly important.

Jesus gives us an analogy of cutting away anything in us that causes us to sin.  This is not something we are to do literally but gives us a good visual of the seriousness that Jesus places on sin.  Sin starts in the heart and mind and needs to be dealt with there before it gets put into action.  “What He is teaching is that sin is to the inner person what a cancerous tumor is to the body, and it must be dealt with drastically”. (Wiersbe)

A topic that is often avoided is the subject of hell.  When was the last time you heard a sermon on hell.  It probably wasn’t recently.  Jesus doesn’t expound too much on what hell is like but what He does say is enough that should encourage us to share the Gospel with the lost.  Jesus believed in hell and knew it was a place of eternal torture and punishment.   The Hebrew word for hell is gehenna.  Gehenna originally was the valley of Hinnom where the rubbish, filth and dead animals would be thrown out and burned.  This was where King Ahaz worshipped Molech and sacrificed his children in the fire to appease this false god.  You can read what happened to King Ahaz in 2 Chronicles.  Hell is an everlasting punishment and not something to be taken lightly.

Depending on the context in which the word “fire” is used it can have a negative connotation such as hell or it can have a positive association such as purification.  God can use the fire of trials and testing to purify us.  Although not pleasant at the time it is removes all the dross, the unwanted stuff in our lives.  (Proverbs 25:4-5)

If you didn’t understand the fire of purification then Jesus gives us another example of salt.  Salt has many uses.  In ancient times it was used as a seasoning, a preservative and a disinfectant.  In Ezekiel 16:4 it talks about a practice of rubbing newborn babies in salt. In general it was used to prevent something going bad or to improve the taste of food.  Salt is seen as a positive thing.  How about us?  Are we considered salty in the way we live our lives?  Or could we do with another shake of salt over us to purify and preserve us to live a life worthy of our calling?  Something to ponder over today.

Mark 9:38-41

Mark 9:38-41 English Standard Version (ESV)

Anyone Not Against Us Is for Us

38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name,[a] and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 For the one who is not against us is for us. 41 For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.

Personal Insights

The whole theme of who is the greatest isn’t finished yet. John had a thought to share with Jesus and it seems that he might have been thinking about this for a while. This thought might have come about due to the disciples not being able to drive out the demon from the boy earlier in the chapter.

John’s comment was that a man, who wasn’t one of the 12, was able to cast out demons in Jesus name and that, as disciples of Jesus; they felt he should be stopped. Jesus’s response is very black and white. He told John that he shouldn’t have stopped this man from doing what he did. Jesus goes onto say that you are either for me or you are against me. We can’t sit on the fence when it comes to Jesus. Are you a believer in Christ or not? There is no grey area here.

The miracle of casting out demons was based on the authority of Jesus not on anything else. This man, whoever he was, maybe a disciple of John the Baptist, believed in the power and authority of Christ. He was able to do what he did because of Christ not because of his standing in life or his denomination or cultural background or anything else. The important thing was his relationship to Jesus.

John gives the impression that he hasn’t quite understood his position with Jesus. Yes, he has the privilege of being one of the 12 and being able to walk closely with Jesus but this is not an exclusive group. Those who believe in who Jesus says He is can do amazing things in His name also.

Jesus goes onto to say that even giving out a cup of water to someone in His name is worthy of reward. There is no hierarchy when it comes to doing things in Christ name. Jesus brings in the whole servanthood idea again to show and teach His disciples the importance of having a servant heart. This is a theme throughout the book of Mark, showing Jesus as a Servant King.

What impression do we give to those who don’t believe in Jesus? Do we judge those who are not of the same church background as us? Or don’t worship the same way as us or what about cultural background or family background? Maybe we have more in common with John than we would like to think or admit.

Mark 9:33-37

Mark 9:33-37 English Standard Version (ESV)

Who Is the Greatest?

33 And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. 35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”36 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

Personal Insights

It seems like the disciples always give Jesus an opportunity to teach them something more about Himself and the way to live a Godly life. There was an element of shame when Jesus asked what they were arguing about. Even Peter who is normally quick to speak was silent.

Jesus used this time as an occasion to teach them another aspect to Kingdom living and not worldly living. The question they were arguing about was “who was the greatest?” Jesus turns the world’s values on their head. He said in order for you to be first you must be the last and the servant of all. When we think of the word servant a number of images are conjured up in our minds. Jesus gave us the perfect example of being a servant. He not only spoke about being a servant but lived it out perfectly.

In case the disciples (or you and I) didn’t quite get His point with words He gave us a visual demonstration by taking a child into his arms. Many of us have heard the phrase “Children should be seen and not heard” but Jesus shows how important even a little child is to him. One Pastor (Guzik) compared the previous verses on how the devil used and afflicted a child and here we see the contrast of how Jesus treated them.

In Isaiah 2 it talks about what happens to arrogant people (2:11, 2:17). They will be humbled and the pride of men brought low. Three Hebrew root words of arrogance describe it as self- importance that leads to rebellion, an overwhelming self confidence that leads to insensitivity towards others and the last one is self-importance in general. The cure for arrogance is also found in these verses. We are to exalt the Lord alone. He is the one that is worthy.  We need to turn the focus of ourselves and onto Jesus.

The disciples had a lot to learn about servanthood as do we. However, if we study the life of Jesus we see the perfect example of how it can be done. May we be challenged today to live a life in contrast to what the world holds dear.

Mark 9:14-32

Mark 9:14-32 New Life Version (NLV)

A Boy with a Demon Is Healed

14 When Jesus came back to His followers, He saw many people standing around them. The teachers of the Law were arguing with them. 15 The people saw Jesus and were surprised and ran to greet Him. 16 Jesus asked the teachers of the Law, “What are you arguing about with them?”17 One of the people said, “Teacher, I brought my son to You. He has a demon in him and cannot talk. 18 Wherever the demon takes him, it throws him down. Spit runs from his mouth. He grinds his teeth. He is getting weaker. I asked Your followers to put the demon out but they could not.”

19 He said, “You people of this day have no faith. How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to Me.”20 They brought the boy to Jesus. The demon saw Jesus and at once held the boy in his power. The boy fell to the ground with spit running from his mouth. 21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” The father said, “From the time he was a child. 22 Many times it throws him into the fire and into the water to kill him. If You can do anything to help us, take pity on us!” 23 Jesus said to him, “Why do you ask Me that? The one who has faith can do all things.” 24 At once the father cried out. He said with tears in his eyes, “Lord, I have faith. Help my weak faith to be stronger!” 25 Jesus saw that many people were gathering together in a hurry. He spoke sharp words to the demon. He said, “Demon! You who cannot speak or hear, I say to you, come out of him! Do not ever go into him again.” 26 The demon gave a cry. It threw the boy down and came out of him. The boy was so much like a dead man that people said, “He is dead!” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him and he stood up.

28 When Jesus went into the house, His followers asked Him when He was alone, “Why could we not put out the demon?” 29 He said to them,“The only way this kind of demon is put out is by prayer and by going without food so you can pray better.”

Jesus Tells of His Death the Second Time

30 From there Jesus and His followers went through the country of Galilee. He did not want anyone to know where He was. 31 He taught His followers, saying, “The Son of Man will be handed over to men. They will kill Him. Three days after He is killed, He will be raised from the dead.”32 They did not understand what He said and were afraid to ask Him.

Personal Insights

Jesus and the three disciples, Peter, James and John, had come down from the mountain after having an out of this world experience to face an argument. Straight from a mountain top experience into a valley. The rest of the disciples, a large crowd and teachers were arguing and Jesus asked them what they were arguing about. It all had to do with the healing or lack of healing of a demon possessed boy. The man asked Jesus to heal his son as the disciples hadn’t been able to.

The father is honest in saying that he didn’t have enough faith but that he wanted faith. Sometimes we just stop at saying we don’t have enough faith but don’t go the next step and say that we want it to be different. As one writer said “While unbelief sees impossibilities, faith sees impossibilities because faith draws on the unlimited resources of heaven” (African Bible Commentary). Jesus, of course, was able to deliver this boy from demon possession and for him never to suffer in this way again. Jesus healing was final and complete. Jesus demonstrated His power and authority over the demonic world yet again.

The disciples had many questions. They had healed before but why not this time. Why was the boy not delivered through their ministry? Jesus reply was simple “This kind can come out only by prayer”. Their dependence needed to be on God not on their own ability. Prayer keeps us humble and reliant on God and not on ourselves. As one writer in the African Bible Commentary put it the disciple’s hearts were not prepared. The writer goes onto say that “Only time spent alone with God before such an encounter makes victory possible”.

Jesus reminds us in these verses the importance of believing who He is and what He can do and of our need for intentional prayer. Time set aside to be in His presence.  God does not call us to self-sufficiency but to being sufficient in God and all that He is.

Simon and I have experienced this in this last year with his back and now my shoulder.  We can either struggle through and try and be self sufficient or we can trust God with these situations and ask "what am I supposed to be learning?" rather than "why I am going through this?".  No situation is wasted with God if we truly depend on Him.  Another good reminder for me in these days.

Mark 9:1-13

Mark 9:1-13 English Standard Version (ESV)

9 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”

The Transfiguration

2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them,3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one[a] on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi,[b] it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son;[c] listen to him.” 8 And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.

9 And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. 11 And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 12 And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. Andhow is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”

Personal Insights

This is an amazing glimpse of Jesus in His glorified state not in His humble human state. No wonder Peter, James and John were so afraid. This scene before them was out of this world. Can you imagine standing on this mountain top with Jesus and Elijah and Moses appear? Men that you have heard of many times and now you stand in their presence. For most of us we would be dumbstruck at the sight but not Peter. He always has something to say even when he is fearful. We learn so much from Peter’s inquisitive nature even if it gets him into trouble sometimes.

The verse that jumped out at me from this section is verse 7 when God speaks. God authenticates again who Jesus is and the loving relationship that they have. The next three words are important…”Listen to Him”. God is telling the three disciples to listen to Jesus. Be obedient, do what He says. God is very straightforward in what He is asking of them. How would we respond if we had been Peter, James or John and heard those words. This obviously made an impression on Peter as he talks about this experience in 2 Peter 1:16-18. How would our relationship with Jesus change after this event? Do we take the time to listen or are we too busy doing? God has a lot to teach us about Himself if we only take the time to listen and know Him better.

Mark 8:31-38

Mark 8:31-38 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Predicts His Death

31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter.“Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

The Way of the Cross

34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said:“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

Personal Insights

When you read this section of scripture it is so counter cultural. We see Peter struggling with the words of Jesus and straight out rebukes Jesus for what He said. Wow the audacity of Peter to rebuke the Son of God. Jesus’s words to Peter are strong. “Get behind me Satan…” When we go against the Word of God we open up the door to Satan.

I wonder if we could see what each other are thinking if they would be the things of God or the things of men. If you wrote down each thought that went through your head today would the majority of your thoughts be related to God or to men? A scary thought.

“Peter is a perfect example of how a sincere heart coupled with man's thinking can often lead to disaster” (Guzik)

Jesus is very direct in what He has to say to the crowd. Who is number one in your life? Is it Jesus or yourself? Jesus is saying that we must deny ourselves and put Him first. We must give up selfishness and pride and focus on things that are eternal. How often we strive after the things of this world and yet Jesus says when we do this we forfeit our own soul. Strong words from the Son of God to the people of this world.

"Denying self is not the same as self-denial. We practice self-denial when, for a good purpose, we occasionally give up things or activities. But we deny self when we surrender ourselves to Christ and determine to obey His will." (Wiersbe)

Mark 8:27-30

Mark 8:27-30 New International Version (NIV)

Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah

27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”

29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”

30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.



If we were to go round our neighbourhoods, where we live, and ask people who they think Jesus is what do you think people would say? The following are some possible answers…..

· A good person who lived a long time ago

· A prophet

· A fictional character

· No idea

· Somebody mentioned in the Bible

· Son of God

And the list goes on……..

If you and I were to sit down and have this conversation what would we say about Jesus? We might mention things like…..

· Messiah

· God’s Son

· Saviour of the world

· The resurrected Christ

· A friend of sinners

And the list could go on and on…….



It is one thing to know about somebody it is another thing to actually know somebody. The disciples in the three years that they walked and lived with Jesus got to know Him and enjoyed fellowship with Him but they still had lots to learn. It is easy to rattle off the right answers of who Jesus is but do we continue, through His Word and through prayer, to know Him better. My prayer for all of us is that we would have a hunger and desire to know Him more and more.

Mark 8:22-26

Mark 8:22-26 New Life Version (NLV)

Jesus Heals a Blind Man

22 Then they came to the town of Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to Jesus. They asked if He would touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand out of town. Then He spit on the eyes of the blind man and put His hands on him. He asked, “Do you see anything?” 24 The blind man looked up and said, “I see some men. They look like trees, walking.” 25 Jesus put His hands on the man’s eyes again and told him to look up. Then he was healed and saw everything well. 26 Jesus sent him to his home and said, “Do not go into the town, *or tell it to anyone there.”

Personal Insights

Often times in our lives we feel that Jesus is far away and not personal with us. However, we see again from these verses that we serve a very personal Saviour. Jesus took time with this man and was very intentional with him. Jesus took His time and conversed with him. Notice that Jesus used physical means to heal this man, He used His own saliva. The healing for this man was not instantaneous but gradual. His sight came back to Him in stages but when he did see he saw very well.

Sometimes in our own lives God doesn't answer our prayers or work in our lives as quickly as we would like Him too. He seems slow in doing what we ask of Him. However, there is something to be learned in the process also not just in the final outcome. May we learn to be patient in the way that God wants to work in us and not miss what He has for us in the different stages. Let us learn to trust and obey Him even if we don't always understand His methodology.

Mark 8:14-22

Mark 8:14-21 New International Version (NIV)

The Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod

14 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. 15 “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”

16 They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”

17 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”

“Twelve,” they replied.

20 “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”

They answered, “Seven.”

21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

Personal Insights

As we read this story in Mark it is easy to judge the disciples for missing Jesus’s point. The disciples were focused on the physical but Jesus was talking about the spiritual.

In the Bible yeast is often associated with sin. It only takes a little yeast to puff up the dough of the bread. Sin is no different. Just a little bit of sin spreads and infects the whole person. The sin of the Pharisees was pride and spiritual authority. Herod’s sin was power and authority but not in a Godly way. They had the wrong idea of what Kingdom work Jesus had come to do.

We don’t know how Jesus said the following words in 17ff but He gets His point across. All this time the disciples had spent with Jesus and some truths they just hadn’t understood. Jesus was not talking about their physical needs but their spiritual. Sometimes we are more concerned with our physical needs than our spiritual. This should not be so.

When I was studying at Moody Bible Institute I had a few classes throughout my time there on Systematic Theology. Some of the concepts were not easy to grasp and so I had talked to my Professor about one in particular. His words to me were “You need to think deeper”. That was not the answer I was looking for. I wanted it to be an easy fix but it wasn’t. It was going to require more time spent wrestling with the deep things of life.

The disciples needed to put into action what they were learning from Jesus at a deeper level; on a spiritual level. This message is not only for the disciples but for many of us too. May we long for a deeper understanding of God and His Word and put the work in to understand the truths that God wants to share with us.

Mark 8:1-13 - New Style

*We are halfway through the book of Mark so I am going to change the style for the remainder of our time in Mark.  Have fun :)

Mark 8:1-13New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand

8 During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 2 “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.”
4 His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?”
5“How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied.
6 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so. 7 They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. 8 The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.9 About four thousand were present. After he had sent them away, 10 he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.
11 The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. 12 He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.” 13 Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.

Personal Insights

Jesus had compassion on the people and in this situation He was thinking about their physical needs as well as their spiritual needs. Jesus loves us holistically.

To have compassion is to be kind-hearted, to care, to have concern for someone or to show sympathy and empathy. Jesus showed that to these people who had already been with him three days and hadn’t had anything to eat during that time.

Jesus meets our needs in ways that we might not think. The disciples looked at the practical side of things when it came to meeting the people’s needs. They were in a remote place and food was not readily available. However, Jesus’s approach was different. He saw what was available around Him and gave thanks for it and performed a miracle before their eyes. The people were fed that day and were satisfied.

Sometimes the answer to our difficulties or the situations we find ourselves in are staring us in the face but we just don’t have the eyes to see. Often times we are not thankful to God for what we already have and are not prayerfully seeking Him for the answers of the needs that we do have. Do we have a thankful heart?

The Pharisees didn’t have ears to listen to Jesus and respond to Him. They wanted to judge and condemn Him. Often times they missed out on seeing Jesus’s miracles as their hearts were not open to seeing. Sometimes we are no different from the Pharisees. We question Jesus and we test Him but we do not listen and are not expectant of what He has to say to us.

Challenge: As you prayerfully consider this story in Mark 8 what is God showing you personally through these verses? What words or phrases leap off the page from this text for you? Be expectant!

Mark 7:31-37

1. Position yourself to hear God

2. Pore over the passage and paraphrase the main points

3. Pull out the spiritual principles

4. Pose the question

5. Plan obedience and pin down a date

Mark 7:31-37 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Heals a Deaf and Mute Man

³¹ Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis.^{[a] 32} There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.

³³ After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. ³⁴ He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). ³⁵ At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.

³⁶ Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. ³⁷ People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

Paraphrase 

·         Jesus left the area of Tyre and moved to the region of Decapolis where some people brought a man to him who was deaf and had difficulty talking for healing

·         Jesus took the man aside and put his fingers in his ears and spat and touched the man’s tongue

·         Jesus looked to heaven, sighed and asked for this man’s ears and tongue to be healed (opened)

·         This man experienced healing right away as he could now hear and speak

·         Jesus told the people not to say anything but they were overwhelmed at Jesus’s miracle that they spoke about it

Principles

·         This man had people who interceded on his behalf to find healing for him through Jesus.

·         Jesus was specific in how he ministered healing to this man.  Jesus is personal in how He deals with us also.

·         Jesus sigh and prayer to his Father showed His compassion for this man who had suffered.  Jesus knew He would suffer also in His lifetime.  Jesus understands our suffering.

·         The man experienced a new life immediately thanks to Jesus personal dealings with him and so do we.

·         It is difficult not to share what Jesus has done in our lives

Questions

·         Do we have people that come alongside us and intercede on our behalf?

·         Do we believe that Jesus deals with us in our personal needs?  Have we experienced that?

·         In our times of suffering do we trust that Jesus knows what He is doing and that He understands our suffering?

·         Are we overwhelmed by what Jesus has done in our life?

Mark 7:24-30

1. Position yourself to hear God

2. Pore over the passage and paraphrase the main points

3. Pull out the spiritual principles

4. Pose the question

5. Plan obedience and pin down a date

Mark 7:24-30 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Honors a Syrophoenician Woman’s Faith

²⁴ Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre.^[a] He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. ²⁵ In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet. ²⁶ The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.

²⁷ “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

²⁸ “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”
²⁹ Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.”
³⁰ She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

Paraphrase

·         Jesus went to the vicinity of Tyre and wanted to keep His visit secret but it wasn't a secret

·         He went to a woman’s home where her daughter was possessed by an evil spirit

·         The woman wanted Jesus to heal her daughter but He wanted to test the level of her faith

·         Even although she was a Gentile she believed that Jesus could heal her daughter

·         Because of her faith Jesus healed her daughter and she was no longer afflicted by the demon

Principles

·         It seems when Jesus is present it can’t be kept secret.  Jesus should be evident in our lives so that people see Him in us

·         Jesus is more powerful than any evil spirit and was not afraid to enter the woman’s house where her demon possessed daughter lived

·         Jesus wanted to know the level of faith this woman had.  Sometimes Jesus asks us the same question

·         This woman’s faith stood strong and Jesus knew that her faith in Him was genuine and because of it He healed her daughter’s affliction

Questions

·         Do we keep our faith in Christ a secret or is it evident in the way we conduct our lives?

·         Do we believe that Jesus is all powerful in the situations we face each day?

·         How strong is our faith in times of adversity? 

·         Do we believe that God can do a work of healing in our lives?

Mark 7:1-23

1. Position yourself to hear God

2. Pore over the passage and paraphrase the main points

3. Pull out the spiritual principles

4. Pose the question

5. Plan obedience and pin down a date

 

Mark 7:1-23 (NIV)

That Which Defiles

7 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus ² and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. ³ (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. ⁴ When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.^[a])

⁵ So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?”

⁶ He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:

“‘These people honor me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me.
⁷ They worship me in vain;
    their teachings are merely human rules.’^[b]

⁸ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”

⁹ And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe^[c] your own traditions! ¹⁰ For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’^[d] and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’^{[e] 11} But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)— ¹² then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. ¹³ Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”

¹⁴ Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. ¹⁵ Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” ^[16] [f]

¹⁷ After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. ¹⁸ “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? ¹⁹ For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)

²⁰ He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. ²¹ For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, ²² adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. ²³ All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

 

Paraphrase

·         The Pharisees were observing Jesus and His disciples and noted that they had not followed the law concerning correct practice for eating food

·         Jesus, takes them to the OT, to the Prophet Isaiah’s words and tells the Pharisees that they are hypocrites, honouring God with their lips but not their hearts, making their worship useless

·         Jesus tells them that they are abiding by human traditions rather than God’s commands

·         Jesus explains that it is not the things from outside the body that defiles them but what comes out of a person that defiles

Principles

·         Sometimes we can get so bound up in observing the law that we become judgmental of other people who are not doing the same

·         We can go through the motions of doing the right thing but our hearts are far from God

·         It is easy to hold onto what is traditionally or politically correct rather than being in obedience to the Word of God

·         It is important that we deal with our heart issues in order to be clean both inside and out

 Questions

·         Do we act more like a Pharisee than a true disciple of God?

·         What is our heart condition like?

·         Do we compromise the Word of God with the things of this world?

·         Do we concentrate on making the outside look clean to others or do we ensure our hearts are right before God which in turn produces good fruit on the outside?