Mark

Lesson 10 w/AnswersMark Chapter 10

Mark

From our last lesson, we know that Jesus and his disciples have returned to Capernaum. Along the way, he again told them that he would be crucified and resurrected; but they still did not understand. In the course of this lesson, Jesus will leave Capernaum for the last time and begin his journey back to Jerusalem. Along the route, he will pass through many places that he had previously visited, once again teaching as he goes. In these last days before Jesus arrives in Jerusalem, he will teach about divorce and marriage, allowing little children into the kingdom of God, and the folly of putting your faith in riches. His last lessons will address discipleship, i.e., what it’s like to be a disciple of Christ, the rewards of following Him, and what the essential meaning of discipleship truly is. Following these teachings, he will perform one last miracle—that of healing the blind. He uses this as a way of teaching everyone the effects of following his teaching, i.e., opening our eyes so that we can see.

Capharnaum

Let’s read Mark Chapter 10 and consider the following:

  1. In Mark 10:1-12, Jesus responds to a question about divorce. The Pharisees were constantly trying to "test" Jesus, to trap him by their questions; and as we see in these verses, nothing has changed. Jesus, as he does on many occasions, responds to the Pharisees’ question with one of his own. Specifically, they asked him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" What does Jesus tell them in pointing to Moses and Genesis 1:27?
    1. ANSWER: He points out that their hardened hearts led Moses to approve divorce, but that God did not intend for divorce to happen. He further tells them that marriage is between a man and a woman—he is clear in this teaching. Man may want things differently, but if we really want to follow God’s teachings and his intent for His creation; then divorce is to be avoided, and marriage is to be between a man and a woman. Anything else runs counter to God’s will.
  2. In Mark 10:13-16, Jesus again teaches about an important "kingdom principle." What is the lesson that he is trying to teach? Is it only about children, and why is he using children to teach it?
    1. ANSWER 1; Jesus is using the children to teach us, adults, that being a part of the kingdom of God requires us to be like little children: to place our faith completely in him, just as a child would do. Our faith is not to be "blind faith," but it is to be "child-like."
    2. ANSWER 2: Jesus is also teaching us that no one is too little or too young to be part of the Kingdom of God. This tells us to take children seriously, and to understand that at any age, they can recognize Jesus as their Lord and Savior. It’s not up to us to put artificial rules in place that limit a child’s access to Jesus.
  3. Next, Jesus turns his attention to an idol that is with us even today—wealth: the accumulation of things that we put our trust in. It may be our 401(k), our home, our job—perhaps it’s a boat, or stock that you own. Whatever it is, Jesus has a clear teaching for us today about the ability of the wealthy to enter into heaven—and yes, we are all wealthy at one level or another. Be careful where you put your faith. Why did Jesus tell the man to sell everything that he had, and to give it to the poor? Are all of Jesus’ followers commanded to do that? Why were the disciples "amazed" when Jesus told them that it was easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God?
    1. ANSWER 1: Jesus told the man to sell all that he had and give it to the poor because the man held his wealth in high regard; and I also believe that he did not care much for giving anything to the poor. The man was trusting in his finances and his wealth; it gave him a feeling of security. He did not want to trust anything else.
    2. ANSWER 2: Jesus does not command all of his followers to do as he commanded the man in this lesson. In fact, "wealthy" people are saved. Abraham and Moses, David and Solomon, these are all examples of this. However, in each case, they put their trust in God to provide their salvation, not their wealth.
    3. ANSWER 3: The apostles were "amazed" at Jesus’ teaching on wealth, as the Jews had always believed that wealth was a blessing from God for following the law. Therefore a wealthy man had God’s eye so to speak; it was a mark of earning God’s favor. Jesus used this lesson to show everyone that wealth is not anything like that, and it certainly won’t get you into heaven. In fact, Jesus taught the opposite; see Matthew 6:19-24.
  4. Jesus next turns his teaching to discipleship. Read Mark 10:28-31. What does Jesus say are the rewards of following him, i.e., of being a disciple of Christ?
    1. ANSWER: When the disciples told him that they had given up everything to follow him, Jesus replied that for doing so, they would receive many things. Along with a home, fields, etc., they would also receive persecution. But, above all, they would receive eternal life.
  5. He then pulls his twelve disciples aside, and tells them about what was coming next as they followed him. (see Mark 10:32-34) What did he tell them?
    1. ANSWER: For the third time in Mark, Jesus tells them that he will be crucified in Jerusalem and that three days later "he will rise."
  6. Jesus then uses a question from James and John to teach the disciples the essential meaning of discipleship. What is it? (see Mark 10:35-45)
    1. ANSWER: Jesus shows his disciples that they are servants, not lords. Specifically, he asserts that his disciples, i.e., all who follow him, will suffer because of the name of Jesus. He further indicates to them that being a disciple means that we are willing to serve and that we are not serving to gain a title, or a high position, or wealth, or community stature—we serve because we love Jesus and because we follow and live out his teachings out of pure love, and no other motive.
  7. Approaching Jericho, Jesus and his disciples meet a blind man, Bartimaeus, who is sitting by the side of the road begging. Jesus heals this man, and Mark ends this section with this miracle. Why?
    1. ANSWER: Jesus is showing us that our faith in him will result in our spiritual blindness being healed. Our eyes will be opened, we will see the world around us as Jesus does; and this will allow us to serve him in the way of true discipleship.

Closing this lesson, we’ve now observed Jesus travel the Galilean countryside across ten chapters. We’ve seen him teach us many things and accomplish many miracles. Starting in our next lesson, Mark Chapter 11, Mark will turn our attention to the last week of Jesus’ life. Jesus has taught his disciples all that he can prior to arriving in Jerusalem; he has told them three times about his impending death and resurrection, and he has planted the seeds of his ministry that will allow the church to grow rapidly following his death and resurrection. Geographically, in our next lesson, we will be heading to Jerusalem from Jericho with Jesus and his disciples; Jesus will enter Jerusalem on "Palm Sunday," and we will spend the next seven days of his life with him. What an exciting part of our study of Mark awaits us!

Have a great week everyone!

In Christ,

Wes

[2017]