Question to think about When Reading the Gospel of Mark

One of the intentions of this blog is to encourage our readers to examine the scriptures with clarity and depth. All to often we treat the word of God like a fast food happy meal. We gobble it up and then expect a prize. But sadly we miss the prize because in our haste we've swallowed it instead.

In this post I don't want to give the answers. I want to challenge you to further reflection. To sit and meditate upon the scriptures. What is God trying to say?

Let's start with the book of Mark.

1. In Mark, where, when and by whom is Jesus called Son of God? Who calls Jesus Lord? Who calls him Rabbi or Teacher? Is it important? Why or why not?
2. What is a disciple according to Mark? What do the disciples do?
3. What connection is there between the stories of Mark 1:39-3:6?
4. Why does Jesus teach in parables? Why does he begin to teach them at this certain point in the story?
5. What connection is there between the stories of lake crossing, legion, woman with the issue of blood, and Jarius’ daughter in Mark 4:35-5:43?
6. What is the meaning of the stories in Mark 7? How do they help to interpret one another?
7. How is Mark 8:27-30 a turning point in the gospel? Do you see a new pattern beginning to emerge? If so what is it?
8. Where, in Mark, do we first learn of Jesus' impending death?
9. James and John ask to sit on Jesus right and left in Mark 10:35-40 but Jesus says these places have been prepared for others. Who are the others to whom Jesus refers?
10. What does the fig tree represent in Mark 11:12-23?
11. What is the significance of the streaking disciple in Mark 14:51-52? Where else does a young man appear and who else wears a linen sheet?
12. Why does Mark end at 16:8? What are some possible explanations?
13. After reflecting on these questions, how do each of these topics combine to illustrate Marks major themes and purpose?

I encourage you to post your reflections in our comments box. Remember there are three rules for studying the bible. Context, context, context.

Pondering Heavenly Wisdom

Consider heavenly wisdom:

Gaining life by death
Matthew 10:38-39
And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Wisdom through foolishness
1 Corinthians 3:18-19
Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness,"

Strength through weakness
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Wealth by poverty
2 Corinthians 6:10
as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

Greatness by humility
Mark 10:44; Luke 14:11
…and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Does this heavenly wisdom make natural sense? No. It is seemingly contradictory. Life by death, strength by weakness? It doesn’t make natural sense. But to those who are followers of Christ it makes perfect sense. Christians are sometimes scorned as simpletons by the world because of the world’s inability to understand or even comprehend this heavenly wisdom.

The reason we as Christians understand these concepts is because we have been enlightened by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. But that is only the beginning. True wisdom is found in seeking and applying these principals to our life as we walk the narrow path. Wisdom, even heavenly wisdom is just knowledge until it is applied. And the application of heavily wisdom is the essence of a Christ follower’s life.

How do we give our life, how do we become foolish and weak, how do we be poor, how do we become humble? The answers for us are not found in the Christian living section of the bookstore, but by searching the Lord constantly and humbly. This searching is often moment by moment. (There goes the idea of a 15 minute devotion time). Our prayers will often be without ceasing as we realize we constantly need Him and His guidance and wisdom in every situation. By humbly seeking, asking and knocking we are in a sense dieing to our own fleshly desires, we are saying that our plans and will are foolishness, we acknowledge our ultimate weakness, and we are showing we are indeed poor in spirit. In the seeking we find fulfillment (Matt 6:33). Notice that as we seek we take the focus from ourselves and put it rightly on Him. That of course is where wisdom begins (Job 28:28; Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 9:10; Proverbs 15:33; Ecclesiastes 12:13).

So you could say that heavily wisdom is found in searching, and the searching is a result of applied heavenly wisdom. This reasoning would seem circular and contradictory to some of this world. But to those of us whom the Holy Spirit resides, it makes perfect sense!

Wisdom cries aloud in the street,
in the markets she raises her voice;
at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
"How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools hate knowledge?
If you turn at my reproof,
behold, I will pour out my spirit to you;
I will make my words known to you.
Proverbs 1:20-23