Mark 6:45-56

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 6:45-56 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Walks on the Water

45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

47 Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified.

Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down.They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there.54 As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. 55 They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.


Paraphrase

• After a busy event of ministering Jesus took time out to go and pray on the mountainside with His Father
• Jesus walked on the water towards the disciples, this terrified them when they saw Him
• Peace came to the disciples when Jesus got in their boat as the wind died down
• Jesus was recognised once again and the people demanded His time that they may be healed

Principles

• Jesus was never too busy to spend time with His Father, we shouldn't either.
• Jesus is in control whether we believe it or not.  Jesus calms the worst storm and brings peace
• Jesus did some amazing things in these verses.  Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Questions

• Does our work or ministry for the Lord get in the way of spending time with Him?
• Do we know who Jesus is?  Do we believe that Jesus is active in our lives today even when the storm is blowing all around?
• We serve an amazing God.  Do we really believe that?  Why or why not?

Mark 6: 30-44

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 6:30-44  New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. 36 Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”
37 But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”
They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages[a]! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”
38 “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.”
When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”
39 Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42 They all ate and were satisfied, 43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. 44 The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.



Paraphrase

• The disciples reported back to Jesus all that they had done
• Jesus encouraged the disciples to take some time out and rest
• Jesus shows compassion to the crowd that were following Him
• Disciples wanted the people to go and get some food from neighbouring areas
• Jesus wanted the disciples to feed the people but the disciples thought this was impossible
• Jesus took control and organised the people and showed them that He would provide for the people's needs in a miraculous way

Principles

• It is good to have community and share what has been happening
• Rest and times of solitude is vital if we are going to be of any use in ministry
• Jesus knows our needs before we know them ourselves.  We serve a God who is compassionate and is involved in the details or our lives
• We need to learn to trust God with the impossible and not just see the problem that is in front of us.
• Jesus showed that He is faithful to provide for our needs

Questions

• Do we have people in our lives that we can share with?
• Do we take time out of our busy schedules just to enjoy some rest to be recharged for what is ahead?
• Do we believe that God has got our lives in His hands and that we serve a personal and compassionate God?

Mark 6:14-29

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 6:14-29 New International Version (NIV)

John the Baptist Beheaded

14 King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying,[a] “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15 Others said, “He is Elijah.” And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.” 16 But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!” 17 For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, 20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man.When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled[b]; yet he liked to listen to him. 21 Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.22 When the daughter of[c] Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.  The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.”23 And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”  24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?”  “The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.  25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”  26 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison,28 and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. 29 On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

Paraphrase

• There were questions as to who Jesus was
• Herod knew that John the Baptist was a righteous and holy man
• Herod was entertained by Herodias's daughter and asked what she wanted in return
• Herod was under peer pressure to give John the Baptist head on a platter
• John's disciples took care of his body and laid him in the tomb

Principles

• Get to know who Jesus is.  Have a close personal relationship with Him
• People should see Jesus in us, it should reflect how we live
• We should be careful what entertainment we get sucked into
• Peer pressure can lead us down the wrong track.  We need to watch out.

Questions

• Are we endeavouring to get to know Jesus more and more through His Word?
• What do we do for entertainment?  Is it God honouring?
• In what areas am I influenced by peer pressure?

Mark 6:7-13

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 6:7-13 New International Version (NIV)

7 Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. 8 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals but not an extra shirt.10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

Paraphrase

• Disciples were sent out in two's and were given authority over unclean spirits
• Jesus told them what they could take with them.  There were to be no extras
• Stay in one place until you leave the town
• If you are not received well then leave the place and shake off the dust as testimony against the people of that town
• The disciples preached repentance, drove out demons and made sick people well

Principles

• There is accountability in pairs
• They had authority from God and carried out only what God told them to do, nothing more
• We are not called to persuade but to share the truth.  If people dont't listen then we move on
• The disciples carried on the work that Jesus had started and we are called to the same

Questions

• Are we doing what God has asked of us or more than that?
• Are we reliant on God for all our needs?
• Are we teaching the truth or doing God's job in trying to persuade people?

Mark 6:1-6

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 6:1-6 New International Version (NIV)
A Prophet Without Honor

6 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples.2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.
“Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing?3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph,[a] Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith.

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve

Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village.

Paraphrase

• Jesus taught in the synagogue and the people were amazed at His wisdom and His mighty works
• The people were offended because they knew His background and His family
• Jesus said there is no honour in His hometown, household and family
• He laid hands on the sick and healed them and Jesus marveled at their unbelief
• Jesus went into the villages teaching

Principles

• Jesus has great wisdom and can do amazing things
• People judged Jesus
• Jesus continued to do great things but moved on from his hometown where He wasn't honoured.  He wasn't going to waste time there.

Questions

• When do we move on from a place or ministry when it is not wanted?
• How do we deal with people judging us for what we do?

Mark:5:35-43

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 5:35-43New International Version (NIV)

35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”  36 Overhearing[a] what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”  37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.”40 But they laughed at him.After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Paraphrase

• Ruler's daughter died before Jesus got to the house
• Jesus said do not FEAR
• Jesus questioned the people grieving in the house because He told them she was only sleeping
• The people laughed at Jesus as if He didn't know what He was talking about
• Jesus healed the girl instantly and the people were amazed but Jesus asked the people to keep this news quiet

Principles

• Even in difficult circumstances we need to believe and not fear
• Sometimes we can laugh and think that some situations are just not redeemable
• Jesus proves that all things are possible with Him

Questions

• Would I have been with the crowd laughing at Jesus's proposal to heal this little girl or would I have had faith in who He was and what He says He can do?
• What situations do we struggle to trust God in?

Mark 5:21-34

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 5:21-34 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman

21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22 Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23 He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” 24 So Jesus went with him.

A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”

31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”

32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

Paraphrase

• Jesus was surrounded by people again and Jairus, Ruler of the Synagogue, asked Jesus to heal his daughter
• A women with blood was in the crowd and had suffered much.  She had heard about Jesus and got close enough to touch his garments
• The woman was healed instantly and Jesus knew power had left Him
• The woman came forward to Jesus and told Him the whole truth and her faith healed her

Principles

• Jairus is a great example of boldness when it comes to asking Jesus for something
• The woman got close to Jesus and took a risk in touching Him
• Even with so many people around Him Jesus knew that something significant had happened
• The woman was bold in facing Jesus and bold in telling Him the whole truth in the midst of a crowd.  Her faith was strong and it had dramatic effect, she was healed. 

Questions

• Am I bold and honest with Jesus?
• Do I take steps of faith with Jesus?  Why or why not?