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o If you are participants of the bible study, please open a browser and let it stay on Section 1 that has the bible text and the questions.

o If you are the facilitator of the bible study, please do the following:

o  Open a browser and let it stay on Section 1 for the bible text.

o  Open another browser and let it stay on Section 2 that has the questions and the answers.

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NOTE

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Begin Section 1: Mark 1 Text & Questions

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Verses 1-8 John the Baptist Prepares the Way

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1The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Christ, the Son of God,

2as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

 

I will send my messenger ahead of you,

who will prepare your way

3 a voice of one calling in the wilderness,

Prepare the way for the Lord,

make straight paths for him.

 

4And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

5The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

6John wore clothing made of camel s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.

7And this was his message: After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.

8I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

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1)       According to verse 4 who came as the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah to prepare the way for Jesus Christ?

 

2)       According to verses 4 and 5 what did John do to prepare the way for Jesus Christ?

 

3)       What is baptism for in Judaism, given that in Jesus days the Jews did things like ceremonially washing their hands as a ritual before a meal?

 

4)       What does repentance mean, given Matthew 21:28-32?

 

o The facilitator asks a specific participant to read out loud Matthew 21:28-32 that says,

+++++++++++++++++++++

28 What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, Son, go and work today in the vineyard.

29 I will not, he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

30 Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, I will, sir, but he did not go.

31 Which of the two did what his father wanted? The first, they answered. Jesus said to them, Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.

32For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

+++++++++++++++++++++

 

5)       According to verse 5 under what condition would John baptize people?

 

6)       According to verse 8 what is the difference between the work of John and the work of the Christ?

 

7)       If baptism with water is for cleansing the body, what is baptism with the Holy Spirit for, given that the Holy Spirit treats our soul?

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Verses 1-8 John the Baptist Prepares the Way

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Verses 9-13 The Baptism and Testing of Jesus

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9At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

10Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.

11And a voice came from heaven: You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.

12At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness,

13and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

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8)       What does the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus mean when he was baptized, given that the Holy Spirit stays with Jesus afterwards?

 

9)       According to verse 11 how is the relationship between the Father and Jesus the Son?

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Verses 9-13 The Baptism and Testing of Jesus

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Verses 14-15 Jesus Announces the Good News

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14After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.

15 The time has come, he said. The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!

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10)   In accordance with verse 15 how does a person enter the kingdom of God?

 

11)   In accordance with James 2:19 how good is our belief in Jesus compared to the demons belief in Jesus in terms of outcome?

 

o The facilitator asks a specific participant to read out loud James 2:19 that says,

+++++++++++++++++++++

19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that and shudder.

+++++++++++++++++++++

 

12)   In accordance with verse 15 what makes our belief in Jesus significant that we can enter the kingdom of God?

 

13)   In accordance with John 8:31 does belief in Jesus alone qualify us to be Jesus disciples? If not, what else do we need to qualify ourselves to be Jesus disciples?

 

o The facilitator asks a specific participant to read out loud John 8:31 that says,

+++++++++++++++++++++

31To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.

+++++++++++++++++++++

 

14)   So what does it mean to be Jesus disciples?

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Verses 14-15 Jesus Announces the Good News

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Verses 16-20 Jesus Calls His First Disciples

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16As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.

17 Come, follow me, Jesus said, and I will send you out to fish for people.

18At once they left their nets and followed him.

19When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets.

20Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

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15)   What does it mean to fish for people in verse 17?

 

16)   How promptly did Simon, Andrew, James and John respond to Jesus call to follow him?

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Verses 16-20 Jesus Calls His First Disciples

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Verses 21-28 Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit

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21They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.

22The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.

23Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out,

24 What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are the Holy One of God!

25 Be quiet! said Jesus sternly. Come out of him!

26The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

27The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, What is this? A new teaching and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.

28News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

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17)   What is the Sabbath?

 

18)   According to verse 24 who did the impure spirit say Jesus was?

 

19)   According to verse 27 what was people s response to what Jesus taught and did?

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Verses 21-28 Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit

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Verses 29-34 Jesus Heals Many

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29As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew.

30Simon s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her.

31So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

32That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed.

33The whole town gathered at the door,

34and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

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20)   According to verse 34 what did Jesus do for those who were brought to him?

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Verses 29-34 Jesus Heals Many

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Verses 35-39 Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place

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35Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

36Simon and his companions went to look for him,

37and when they found him, they exclaimed: Everyone is looking for you!

38Jesus replied, Let us go somewhere else to the nearby villages so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.

39So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

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21)   According to verse 35 what did Jesus do the following day very early in the morning while it was still dark?

 

22)   According to verse 38 did Jesus go with his disciples to where the crowd was and why?

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Verses 35-39 Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place

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Verses 40-45 Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy

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40A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, If you are willing, you can make me clean.

41Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. I am willing, he said. Be clean!

42Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

43Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning:

44 See that you don t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.

45Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.

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23)   During Jesus time what were the socio-religious rules concerning people who had leprosy?

 

24)   According to verses 40 and 41 did the leper break the socio-religious rules the way he approached Jesus and why?

 

25)   What did begging on his knees before Jesus indicate?

 

26)   According to verse 40 what made the leper consider himself to be unclean, given that he equated the healing of his leprosy to making him clean?

 

27)   Was the leper s need for healing more psychological than physical and why?

 

28)   According to what he said in verse 40 did the leper think that Jesus was able to heal him of his leprosy and why?

 

29)   According to verse 40 did the leper s faith in Jesus ability to heal him translate into his confidence of Jesus willingness to heal and why?

 

30)   Why did the leper come within close proximity of Jesus so that it would be possible for Jesus to touch him, if we think about how important social acceptance is for a leper?

 

31)   According to verse 41 did Jesus break the socio-religious rules in the way he acted toward the leper and why?

 

32)   According to verses 41 and 42 did Jesus really need to touch the leper in order to heal him of his leprosy and why?

 

33)   Why then did Jesus touch the leper?

 

34)   Had Jesus healed the leper without touching him, would Jesus have accepted him socially?

 

35)   Had Jesus not accepted the leper socially, would Jesus have healed him emotionally?

 

36)   According to verse 41 did Jesus accept the leper socially first and then heal him of leprosy or did Jesus heal the leper of leprosy first and then accept him socially?

 

37)   Why was it important for Jesus to touch the leper first before healing him of his leprosy?

 

38)   Would the leper have been healed emotionally if he had stayed at a distance and why?

 

39)   Did the leper get to know Jesus better and in what way?

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Verses 40-45 Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy

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End Section 1: Mark 1 Text & Questions

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Begin Section 2: Mark 1 Questions & Answers

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Verses 1-8 John the Baptist Prepares the Way

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Concerning the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah,

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1)       According to verse 4 who came as the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah to prepare the way for Jesus Christ?

o  John the Baptist came as the fulfillment.

 

2)       According to verses 4 and 5 what did John do to prepare the way for Jesus Christ?

o  John

o Preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

o And baptized people who confessed their sins.

 

3)       What is baptism for in Judaism, given that in Jesus days the Jews did things like ceremonially washing their hands as a ritual before a meal?

o  Baptism in Judaism is ceremonial cleansing of the body as a ritual.

 

4)       What does repentance mean, given Matthew 21:28-32?

o  It means the change of mind

o From disobedience.

o To obedience.

o  To God.

 

o The facilitator asks a specific participant to read out loud Matthew 21:28-32 that says,

+++++++++++++++++++++

28 What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, Son, go and work today in the vineyard.

29 I will not, he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

30 Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, I will, sir, but he did not go.

31 Which of the two did what his father wanted? The first, they answered. Jesus said to them, Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.

32For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

+++++++++++++++++++++

 

5)       According to verse 5 under what condition would John baptize people?

o  John would baptize them.

o  When

o  They confessed their sins.

 

6)       According to verse 8 what is the difference between the work of John and the work of the Christ?

o  John baptized with water.

o  The Christ baptized with the Holy Spirit.

 

7)       If baptism with water is for cleansing the body, what is baptism with the Holy Spirit for, given that the Holy Spirit treats our soul?

o  Baptism with the Holy Spirit is for cleansing our soul.

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Verses 1-8 John the Baptist Prepares the Way

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Verses 9-13 The Baptism and Testing of Jesus

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Concerning the baptism of Jesus,

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8)       What does the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus mean when he was baptized, given that the Holy Spirit stays with Jesus afterwards?

o  It means that Jesus had received the Holy Spirit.

 

9)       According to verse 11 how is the relationship between the Father and Jesus the Son?

o  The Father

o Loves Jesus the Son.

o And is well pleased with him.

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Verses 9-13 The Baptism and Testing of Jesus

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Verses 14-15 Jesus Announces the Good News

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Concerning the good news that Jesus proclaimed,

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10)   In accordance with verse 15 how does a person enter the kingdom of God?

o  A person enters the kingdom of God by

o Repenting, i.e., turning from disobedience to obedience to God.

o And believing the good news.

 

11)   In accordance with James 2:19 how good is our belief in Jesus compared to the demons belief in Jesus in terms of outcome?

o  Our belief in Jesus is as good as the demons belief in Jesus, in other words, as good as nothing.

 

o The facilitator asks a specific participant to read out loud James 2:19 that says,

+++++++++++++++++++++

19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that and shudder.

+++++++++++++++++++++

 

12)   In accordance with verse 15 what makes our belief in Jesus significant that we can enter the kingdom of God?

o  Repentance, i.e., turning from disobedience to obedience to God, makes our belief in Jesus significant.

o  That

o  We can enter the kingdom of God.

 

13)   In accordance with John 8:31 does belief in Jesus alone qualify us to be Jesus disciples? If not, what else do we need to qualify ourselves to be Jesus disciples?

o  No, belief in Jesus alone does not qualify us to be Jesus disciples.

o  It is believing in Jesus along with obeying Jesus commands that qualify us to be his disciples.

 

o The facilitator asks a specific participant to read out loud John 8:31 that says,

+++++++++++++++++++++

31To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.

+++++++++++++++++++++

 

14)   So what does it mean to be Jesus disciples?

o  To be Jesus disciples is to

o Believe in him.

o And obey his commands.

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Verses 14-15 Jesus Announces the Good News

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Verses 16-20 Jesus Calls His First Disciples

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Concerning the calling of the first disciples,

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15)   What does it mean to fish for people in verse 17?

o  We are going to find out later.

 

16)   How promptly did Simon, Andrew, James and John respond to Jesus call to follow him?

o  They responded to Jesus call to follow him at once.

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Verses 16-20 Jesus Calls His First Disciples

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Verses 21-28 Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit

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Concerning what happened after Jesus called the first disciples,

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17)   What is the Sabbath?

o  The Sabbath is observed by the Jews from Friday 6pm to Saturday 6pm.

o  It is a day of abstinence from work.

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Concerning Jesus driving out an impure spirit,

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18)   According to verse 24 who did the impure spirit say Jesus was?

o  The impure spirit cried out.

o  That

o  Jesus is the Holy One of God.

 

19)   According to verse 27 what was people s response to what Jesus taught and did?

o  They were amazed at

o Jesus new teaching that had authority.

o And the obedience of impure spirits to Jesus orders.

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Verses 21-28 Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit

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Verses 29-34 Jesus Heals Many

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Concerning Jesus healing many,

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20)   According to verse 34 what did Jesus do for those who were brought to him?

o  Jesus

o Healed many who had various diseases.

o And drove out many demons.

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Verses 29-34 Jesus Heals Many

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Verses 35-39 Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place

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Concerning what happened the following day,

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21)   According to verse 35 what did Jesus do the following day very early in the morning while it was still dark?

o  Jesus

o Got up.

o Left the house.

o And went off to a solitary place to pray.

 

22)   According to verse 38 did Jesus go with his disciples to where the crowd was and why?

o  No, because Jesus said that they should go somewhere else to the nearby villages.

o  So that

o  He could preach there also.

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Verses 35-39 Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place

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Verses 40-45 Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy

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o The facilitator provides participants with the following information on leprosy in Jesus days:

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23)   During Jesus time what were the socio-religious rules concerning people who had leprosy?

o  A leper

o Was considered unclean.

o Could not live in the community.

o And had to live away from the community.

o Had to

o  Wear torn clothes.

o  And let the hair of his head be unkempt.

o Had to

o  Cover the lower part of his face.

o  And cry out, Unclean, unclean .

o Was not allowed to come within feet of other people.

o  A person who touched a leper became unclean.

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Concerning the action the leper took in approaching Jesus for healing,

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24)   According to verses 40 and 41 did the leper break the socio-religious rules the way he approached Jesus and why?

o  Yes, because he came within close proximity of Jesus.

o  Such that

o  Jesus could touch him.

 

25)   What did the leper begging on his knees before Jesus indicate?

o  It indicated

o Humility.

o And earnestness.

 

26)   According to verse 40 what made the leper consider himself to be unclean, given that he equated the healing of his leprosy to making him clean?

o  He considered himself to be unclean because of his leprosy.

 

27)   Was the leper s need for healing more psychological than physical and why?

o  Yes, because feeling unclean is

o Not a physical condition.

o But a psychological one.

 

28)   According to what he said in verse 40 did the leper think that Jesus was able to heal him of his leprosy and why?

o  Yes, because to the leper it was a matter of whether Jesus was willing to heal him or not.

 

29)   According to verse 40 did the leper s faith in Jesus ability to heal him translate into his confidence of Jesus willingness to heal and why?

o  No, because he was expressing uncertainty about Jesus willingness to heal him in saying to Jesus, If you are willing, you can make me clean.

 

30)   Why did the leper come within close proximity of Jesus so that it would be possible for Jesus to touch him, if we think about how important social acceptance is for a leper?

o  The leper was longing for social acceptance from Jesus.

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Concerning the action Jesus took in responding to the man with leprosy,

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31)   According to verse 41 did Jesus break the socio-religious rules in the way he acted toward the leper and why?

o  Yes, because he touched the leper.

 

32)   According to verses 41 and 42 did Jesus really need to touch the leper in order to heal him of his leprosy and why?

o  No, Jesus could have just said the words.

o  And the leper would still have been healed.

o  Because

o  The leprosy immediately left the man upon Jesus uttering those words.

 

33)   Why then did Jesus touch the leper?

o  Jesus touched the leper to show his social acceptance of him.

 

34)   Had Jesus healed the leper without touching him, would Jesus have accepted him socially?

o  No.

 

35)   Had Jesus not accepted the leper socially, would Jesus have healed him emotionally?

o  No.

 

36)   According to verse 41 did Jesus accept the leper socially first and then heal him of leprosy or did Jesus heal the leper of leprosy first and then accept him socially?

o  Jesus

o Touched the leper to accept him socially first.

o And then verbally healed him of his leprosy.

 

37)   Why was it important for Jesus to touch the leper first before healing him of his leprosy?

o  The only way for Jesus to accept the leper socially was to touch him first before healing him of his leprosy.

 

38)   Would the leper have been healed emotionally if he had stayed at a distance and why?

o  No, because then Jesus could not have

o Touched the leper.

o And accepted him socially.

 

39)   Did the leper get to know Jesus better and in what way?

o  Yes, the leper realized that Jesus

o Was not only willing to heal him physically.

o But also accept him socially.

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Verses 40-45 Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy

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End Section 2: Mark 1 Questions & Answers

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