Week 9: Gospel of Mark
March 23, 2021
Welcome to Week 9! This week, we begin the second half of our New Testament reading.
This week, we will be in the gospel of Mark, reading 13 of the 16 chapters. There are some interesting things to keep in mind as you read Mark. First, Mark is widely accepted as the first of the gospels to be written. Second, the audience of Mark's gospel is persecuted Christians, mostly in Rome. Third, the gospel of Mark is the shortest of the gospels. Fourth, the gospel of Mark is considered a source for the (longer) gospels of Luke and Matthew. Fifth, the gospel of Mark moves quickly. Notice how many times you read the word "immediately." Sixth, notice how often Mark uses the "sea crossing" motif to move from one story to the next.
Enjoy your reading!
As you read, keep in mind our reading questions. Use these as general questions to keep in mind as we read to help formulate your reflections, observations, and questions.
Our guiding questions are these:
- What stood out to you in the reading?
- Was there anything confusing or troubling?
- Did anything make you think differently about God?
- How might what you read change the way you live?
Please post a comment below with some of your questions, comments, and reflections from this week's reading.
Looking forward to this week's readings because of personal dealings with these topics. Praying.
ReplyDeletePraying that God will bless you and your reading.
DeleteAs I read about Jesus inviting his disciples to join him. I am amazed at Mark's writings where the men drop what they are doing an follow Jesus. Did they have a prior meeting with Jesus? Did they watch John the Baptist talk about Jesus? It seems strange that they would just drop what they were doing and follow Jesus!
ReplyDeleteWhen Jesus healed people, he often told them not to tell others. Why? He even told the demons not to address Him as Jesus Son of God. Why?
ReplyDeleteIn this text " When his family[b] heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” Whose house and what is meant by "his"?
ReplyDeleteIn Mark 4 Jesus gives a reason why he speaks in parables. One of those is "otherwise they might turn and be forgiven"! What is meant by this statement?
ReplyDeleteMark 5 - Praise God that even the demons fear and respect Jesus! Her in Mark 5 Jesus does tell the demon possed man to go home and tell others who healed you!
ReplyDeleteMark 5Could it be he told people not to tell of his healings, because Jesus did not want the crowds only to see him as a healing, but rather the Son of God?
ReplyDeleteMark 6 - When Jesus came to them in the boat verse 52 States their hearts were hardened, They did not understand. Why would God harden the disciples heart?
ReplyDeleteCan you explain Mark 7:27?
ReplyDeleteI find it strange that in both of the feeding stories in Mark 8 the disciples act like they have not expereinced this miracle before! Unless the disciples were 2 different groups of men.
ReplyDeleteMark 8:21 - What were the disciples supposed to have understood?
ReplyDeleteI am sorry, but Mark 8:30 why would Jesus tell his disciples not to tell others about Him? Peter had just declared him the Messiah!!
ReplyDeleteMark 9 - Again after the transfurgaion Jesus tells the 3 with him not to say anything until after his resurrection. If wonder why?
ReplyDeleteMark 12 - Parable of the tenants means God sent many prophets, but they were beaten or killed by His chosen people. Then God sent His son and they too killed him. Correct?
ReplyDelete