========================
Verses 1-12 Jesus Forgives and Heals a
Paralyzed Man
========================
1A few days later, when Jesus
again entered
2They gathered in such large
numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached
the word to them.
3Some men came, bringing to
him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them.
4Since they could not get him
to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by
digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on.
5When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are
forgiven.”
6Now some teachers of the law
were sitting there, thinking to themselves,
7“Why does this fellow talk
like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
8Immediately Jesus knew in
his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said
to them, “Why are you thinking these things?
9Which is easier: to say to
this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat
and walk’?
10But I want you to know that
the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man,
11“I tell you, get up, take
your mat and go home.”
12He got up, took his mat and
walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God,
saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
----------------------------------------
Concerning the healing of the
paralytic,
----------------------------------------
1)
Where did Jesus
and his disciples go a few days after the healing of the leper?
o
Jesus and his
disciples again entered
2)
What was the
situation with people seeking healing the last time Jesus entered
o
Many people came
to Jesus for healing and Jesus healed them.
3)
What happened
when people heard that Jesus had come home?
o
Many people came
to the house such that the house was filled to capacity and there was no room
even outside the door.
4)
What did Jesus do
when so many had gathered?
o
Jesus preached
the word to the people.
5)
Who wanted to see
Jesus while Jesus was preaching the word?
o
Four men carried
a paralytic to Jesus.
6)
Why were the four
men unable to get the paralytic to Jesus?
o
They could not
get him to Jesus because of the crowd.
7)
How did the four men
overcome the hindrance presented by the crowd?
o
They dug through
the roof above Jesus and lowered the mat the paralytic was lying on.
8)
Did the four men
get permission from the owner of the house before they dug through the roof and
why?
o
No, because they
wanted to get the paralytic to Jesus for healing as soon as possible.
9)
What price in
financial terms were the four men willing to pay in order to get the paralytic
to Jesus for healing as soon as possible?
o
They were willing
to pay for the repair of the roof.
10)
Was there risk
involved in digging through the roof and then lowering the mat the paralytic
was lying on, and were the four men willing to take the risk?
o
Yes and yes.
11)
What interruption
did the four men’s action cause?
o
It interrupted
Jesus’ preaching.
12)
Did Jesus welcome
the interruption to his preaching and why?
o
Yes, because
Jesus completely stopped the original train of thought in his preaching and started
using healing the paralytic as live demonstration.
13)
What was Jesus’
response to the situation?
o
Jesus saw their
faith.
o
He said to the
paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
14)
Whose faith did
Jesus see?
o
Jesus saw the
faith of the four men and the paralytic in his ability to heal.
15)
How did Jesus see
their faith?
o
Their faith was
made manifest in the action they had taken.
16)
Whose sins did
Jesus forgive?
o
Jesus forgave the
sins of the paralytic.
17)
What does it take
for sins to be forgiven?
o
It takes faith in
Jesus for sins to be forgiven.
18)
For whose faith
did Jesus forgive the sins of the paralytic?
o
Jesus forgave the
sins of the paralytic for the faith of the paralytic and of the four men in his
ability to heal.
19)
How do we see the
faith of the paralytic since he did not do anything that indicated his faith?
o
It is not obvious
in the description so far but we are going to see it in action at the point of
healing.
20)
How in practical
terms did the faith of the four men assist in the forgiveness of the sins of
the paralytic?
o
The faith of the
four men was expressed in the action they took in overcoming all the obstacles
that kept the paralytic from getting to Jesus for the forgiveness of sins.
21)
If only one or
two people instead of four helped the paralytic, what impact did it have on
helping the paralytic get to the Jesus?
o
If only one or
two people instead of four helped the paralytic, helping the paralytic get to
Jesus would be a lot more difficult.
22)
Which was easier,
for a community that had faith in Jesus to overcome all the obstacles that kept
the paralytic from getting to Jesus or for one or two individuals?
o
It was easier for
a community.
23)
What was the
ultimate responsibility of the four men in assisting in the forgiveness of the
sins of the paralytic?
o
Their ultimate
responsibility was to help the paralytic get to Jesus.
24)
What is the
ultimate responsibility of disciples of Jesus who participate in the catechized
bible study of the gospel of Mark?
o
Their ultimate
responsibility is to help non-believers in the bible study get to the Jesus and
know Jesus as depicted in the bible.
25)
What does the
current situation tell us about faith and its beneficiary?
o
The faith of one
party can aid in the forgiveness of the sins of another party.
26)
Did the four men
have their sins forgiven too and why?
o
Yes, because the
four men had faith in Jesus too.
27)
Of all the
incidents of healings by Jesus as recorded in the bible, it was always those
who approached Jesus for healing who initiated the conversation but for this
incident, why?
o
Jesus initiated
the conversation with the paralytic in order to define the theme of the ensuing
conversation that he had authority on earth to forgive sins, for otherwise
people would have been fixated on the healing as usual.
28)
Did people expect
it when Jesus said to the paralytic that his sins were forgiven and why?
o
No, because
§
The paralytic and
the four men were expecting physical healing, not forgiveness of sins;
§
The teachers of
the law considered Jesus to be blaspheming and
§
The owner of the
house thought that his roof had been ruined for nothing.
29)
Who were the
teachers of the law?
o
The teachers of
the law were teachers of Jewish traditions and the law
of Moses.
30)
What social standing
did the teachers of the law enjoy?
o
The teachers of
the law were highly respected because they were highly educated in the Jewish religious
law.
31)
Why did the
teachers of the law consider Jesus to be blaspheming?
o
The teachers of
the law held that only God alone could forgive sins.
o
They considered
Jesus to be a mere man.
o
Therefore they considered
Jesus to be blaspheming.
32)
Did the teachers
of the law vocalize their opinion about what Jesus was saying and why?
o
No, they only
thought to themselves.
33)
What was Jesus
implying when he forgave the sins of the paralytic?
o
Jesus was
implying that he is God.
34)
Did the teachers
of the law think that Jesus was implying that he is God and why?
o
No, because
otherwise their reaction to what Jesus said would have been much stronger.
35)
How did Jesus
know what the teachers of the law were thinking in their hearts?
o
Jesus knew
because he
§
Understood that
the teachers of the law held that only God could forgave sins.
§
Is God and
therefore knows all things.
36)
When Jesus said
to the teachers of the law, “Why are you thinking these things?" what was
Jesus trying to address that was wrong in the thinking of the teachers of the law?
o
Jesus was going
to let the teachers of the law know that when he said to the paralytic that his
sins had been forgiven, he was being factual and not blaspheming.
37)
From a human
perspective which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’
or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’, and why?
o
From a human
perspective it is easier to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven,”
because no one can tell whether the sins of the paralytic had indeed been
forgiven or not.
38)
Who is the Son of
Man?
o
Jesus referred to
himself as the Son of Man.
39)
When Jesus said
to the teachers of the law, " But I
want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . .
. .” what was Jesus more clearly pointing out?
o
Jesus was more
clearly pointing out that he is God.
40)
What connotation
does the title ‘the Son of Man’ impart as a result of
what Jesus said?
o
It is a title of
divinity because only God has the authority to forgive sins.
41)
But did Jesus
actually say that he is God?
o
No.
42)
What would be the
consequence if Jesus had actually said that he is God?
o
According to the law of Moses the Jews would pick up stones to stone him.
43)
At this juncture
did the teachers of the law know that Jesus was pointing out that he was God?
o
Yes.
44)
Did Jesus give
the teachers of the law time to respond and why?
o
No, because Jesus
immediately said to the paralytic, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go
home.”
45)
What did the
paralytic do in response to Jesus’ order for him to take his mat and go home?
o
The paralytic got
up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all.
46)
How do we see the
faith of the paralytic in the healing?
o
Though he could
not get up by himself, the paralytic was healed while he was trying to obey Jesus’
words for him to get up as an expression of his faith.
47)
How do we know
that the paralytic’s healing involved his trying to obey Jesus’ words for him
to get up as an expression of his faith?
o
We can apply the
principle of using the bible to interpret the bible to show that the healing
involved the paralytic’s trying to obey Jesus’ words for him to get up as an
expression of his faith.
§
John 5:8-9 clearly states that:
Ø
The invalid was
cured upon Jesus’ words for him to get up and then the former invalid got up.
Ø
The invalid did not
try to obey Jesus’ words for him to get up as an expression of his faith for
healing.
§
John 9:6-7 clearly shows that:
Ø
The blind man was
not healed upon Jesus’ words for him to go and wash in the Pool of Siloam.
Ø
The blind man was
healed when he obeyed Jesus’ words for him to go and wash as an expression of
his faith.
o
With these other
two incidents of healing we can come to the conclusion about the healing of the
paralytic that he was healed when he obeyed Jesus’ words for him to get up as
an expression of his faith.
· Ask a volunteer to read out loud John 5:8-9 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
8Then
Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”
9At
once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
+++++++++++++++++++++
· Ask a volunteer to read out loud John 9:6-7 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
6After
saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it
on the man’s eyes.
7“Go,”
he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man
went and washed, and came home seeing.
+++++++++++++++++++++
48)
What did Jesus
point out was the purpose of healing the paralytic?
o
The purpose was
to confirm that Jesus had authority on
earth to forgive sins.
49)
Had Jesus’
authority to forgive sins been confirmed and why?
o
Yes, because the
paralytic was healed.
50)
What did Jesus’
authority to forgive sins further prove?
o
It further proved
that Jesus he is God.
51)
What was people’s
response to the healing?
o
Everyone was
amazed and praised God because they had never seen anything like that.
52)
What were people
amazed at, what Jesus did or what Jesus said, and why?
o
People were amazed
at the miracle Jesus did in healing the paralytic, not at Jesus’ words that the
paralytic’s sins had been forgiven, because they said that they had never seen anything like that.
53)
Did people
praise God because the paralytic had been healed
or because the paralytic’s sins had been forgiven?
o
People praised
God because the paralytic had been healed.
54)
What did people
actually miss when they were amazed and praised God because they had never seen
healing like that?
o
They missed the
fact that seeking forgiveness of sins from Jesus is more important than seeking
physical healing, because the consequence of physical healing is temporal but
the consequence of forgiveness of sin is eternal.
55)
Is it really
easier to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ than to say, ‘Get up,
take your mat and walk’ and why?
o
No, it is
actually easier to heal the paralytic than to forgive his sins.
o
There are records
in the bible of other incidents of people working miracles to heal paralytics,
but these people could not forgive sins; only God can.
56)
Did the paralytic
get his sins forgiven by Jesus without anyone asking for it and why?
o
Yes, because the
paralytic had faith in Jesus and therefore had his sins forgiven.
57)
Would we have our
sins forgiven if we ask Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins by faith?
o
Yes.
----------------------------------------
· Ask for a volunteer to summarize.
· Ask for the rest of the participants to supplement the
summary.
========================
Verses 1-12 Jesus Forgives and Heals a
Paralyzed Man
========================
========================
Verses 13-17 Jesus Calls Levi and Eats With Sinners
========================
13Once again Jesus went out
beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. 14As he
walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at
the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and
followed him.
15While Jesus was having
dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him
and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.
16When the teachers of the
law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they
asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
17On hearing this, Jesus said
to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not
come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
----------------------------------------
Concerning the calling of
Levi,
----------------------------------------
58)
Where was Jesus?
o
Once again Jesus
went out beside the lake, i.e., the
59)
What did Jesus do
the last time when he was beside the lake?
o
Jesus called
Simon, Andrew, James and John.
60)
What did people
do this time when Jesus was beside the lake?
o
A large crowd
came to Jesus.
61)
What did Jesus do
when the large crowd came to him?
o
Jesus began to
teach them.
62)
Whom did Jesus see
as he was walking along the lake?
o
Jesus saw Levi son
of Alphaeus.
63)
What was Levi
doing when Jesus saw him?
o
Levi was at work
sitting at the tax collector’s booth.
64)
What was Levi’s
occupation?
o
Levi was a tax
collector.
65)
What did a tax
collector do?
o
The
o
A tax collector
was an agent of the government of the
o
As a tax
collector Levi was working for the occupiers and was considered a traitor by
the Jews.
o
Besides that tax
collectors overcharged taxes and kept the extra for themselves. So the Jews hated tax collectors.
66)
What did Jesus
tell Levi?
o
Jesus told Levi,
“Follow me.”
67)
What was Levi’s
response to Jesus’ call?
o
Levi got up and
followed Jesus.
68)
What might have
prompted Levi to get up and follow Jesus?
o
Earlier Levi
heard Jesus teach while he was sitting at the tax collector’s booth.
69)
What did Levi
literally do with his job in order to follow Jesus?
o
He literally
walked off his job to follow Jesus.
70)
Did Jesus call
Simon and Andrew, James and John, and Levi to fulltime gospel work?
o
Yes.
71)
Does Jesus call
every disciple to fulltime gospel work?
o
No.
72)
Does Jesus call
every disciple to a certain level of gospel work?
o
Yes.
73)
How should every
disciple respond to Jesus’ call to gospel work regardless of whether it is
fulltime or not?
o
Every disciple should
respond to Jesus’ call to gospel work promptly regardless of whether it is
fulltime or not.
74)
Had Jesus gained
a reputation by this time and why?
o
Yes, because Jesus
had performed a number of healings, cast out demons and taught crowds of people.
75)
Did Levi have
more incentives to follow Jesus than the earlier disciples?
o
Yes.
76)
What happened
after Jesus called Levi?
o
Jesus had dinner
at Levi’s house.
77)
Who were at the
dinner?
o
Many tax
collectors and sinners were eating with Jesus and his disciples.
78)
Why were many tax
collectors and sinners eating with Jesus?
o
They were eating
with Jesus because there were many who followed him.
79)
What did the
teachers of the law who were Pharisees do when they saw Jesus eating with tax
collectors and sinners?
o
They asked Jesus’
disciples why he ate with tax collectors and sinners.
80)
Who were the
Pharisees?
o
The Pharisees
exercised strict observance of traditions and the law
of Moses.
o
They had a sense
of superiority and self-righteousness and looked down on others.
81)
Why were the
Pharisees respected by the people?
o
They were
respected by the people because of their piety in practicing Judaism.
82)
Why were the
teachers of the law who were Pharisees respected by the people?
o
They were
respected by the people because of their
§
Piety in practicing
Judaism.
§
Expertise in the
Jewish religious laws.
83)
Why did the
teachers of the law who were Pharisees object to Jesus’ association with tax
collectors and sinners?
o
Tax collectors
and sinners were despised and rejected by the Jews.
o
They considered
Jesus to be a teacher like they were and therefore regarded his association
with tax collectors and sinners deplorable.
84)
Through whom did the
teachers of the law indirectly confront Jesus?
o
They indirectly confronted
Jesus through the disciples.
85)
Why did the
teachers of the law who were Pharisees indirectly confront Jesus through the
disciples?
o
They did so to confront
Jesus on the one hand.
o
On the other they
were also applying pressure on the disciples.
86)
How did the
people regard the criticism of Jesus by the teachers of the law who were
Pharisees?
o
The criticism of
Jesus by the teachers of the law who were Pharisees carried substantial weight
before the people because
§
They were
respected by the people.
§
Tax collectors
and sinners were shunned by the people.
87)
What did Jesus
say was the reason for his eating with tax collectors and sinners?
o
It is not the
healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
o
Jesus has not
come to call the righteous, but sinners.
88)
Is a sinner
righteous or unrighteous since Jesus had not come to call the righteous, but
sinners?
o
A sinner is unrighteous.
89)
What was Jesus
referring to when he talked about being healthy and sick?
o
Jesus was
referring to the spiritual condition of a person.
90)
Is a righteous person
spiritually healthy or spiritually sick?
o
A righteous person
is spiritually healthy.
91)
Is a sinner spiritually
healthy or spiritually sick and why?
o
A sinner is spiritually
sick because a sinner is unrighteous.
92)
How did the
teachers of the law who were Pharisees regard themselves spiritually?
o
They regarded
themselves righteous and therefore spiritually healthy.
93)
Did Jesus
consider the teachers of the law who were Pharisees spiritually healthy and why?
o
No, because they
§
Saw only the sins
of others but not their own.
§
Were only self-righteous,
not righteous but unrighteous.
94)
Did Jesus
consider the teachers of the law who were Pharisees to be among the sinners
then?
o
Yes.
95)
Whereupon whom
did Jesus come to call?
o
Jesus came to
call not only tax collectors but also teachers of the law who were Pharisees.
96)
What is the
difference between the teachers of the law who were Pharisees on the one hand
and the tax collectors and sinners on the other in terms of seeing themselves
as sinners?
o
Tax collectors
and sinners saw themselves as sinners.
o
Teachers of the
law who were Pharisees did not.
97)
How did tax
collectors and sinners who saw themselves as sinners respond to Jesus’ call?
o
They followed
Jesus.
98)
How did teachers
of the law who were Pharisees and who did not see themselves as sinners respond
to Jesus’ call?
o
They refused to
follow Jesus.
99)
What does this
incident tell us about a determining factor in people’s responsiveness to
Jesus’ call?
o
Those who see themselves
as sinners will respond to Jesus’ call.
o
Those who do not
see themselves as sinners will not.
100)
What did Jesus
say he came to do?
o
Jesus said that
he came to call sinners.
101)
What was Jesus’
mission?
o
Jesus’ mission was
to call sinners.
102)
What was the
consequence that Jesus was willing to bear in pursuing his mission in the
current incident?
o
Jesus was willing
to face chastisement for his association with tax collectors and sinners.
103)
Looking back, did
Jesus intentionally go out beside the lake to teach the crowd within the
hearing of Levi in order to call him and why?
o
Yes, because
§
Jesus did not
call anyone in the crowd that came to him.
§
Upon finishing
the teaching Jesus walked over to Levi’s office to call him.
§
Levi got up and
followed Jesus, assuming that he heard what Jesus just taught.
104)
How had Levi
learned from Jesus in taking on the same mission when he started following Jesus?
o
Levi invited many
tax collectors and sinners to dinner with Jesus so that they could get to know Jesus
because Jesus came to call sinners.
105)
Was Jesus’
association with tax collectors and sinners against the Jewish social norm?
o
Yes.
106)
Is Jesus a rebel?
o
You decide.
----------------------------------------
· Ask for a volunteer to summarize.
· Ask for the rest of the participants to supplement the
summary.
========================
Verses 13-17 Jesus Calls Levi and Eats With Sinners
========================
========================
Verses 18-22 Jesus Questioned About Fasting
========================
18Now John’s disciples and
the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that
John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are
not?”
19Jesus answered, “How can
the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long
as they have him with them.
20But the time will come when
the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.
21“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece
will pull away from the old, making the tear worse.
22And no one pours new wine
into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine
and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.”
----------------------------------------
· The facilitator provides participants with the
following information on Judaism:
----------------------------------------
107)
How did Judaism
get started?
o
God established
the first covenant with the Israelites through Moses,
laying down the laws they were to observe in order to fulfill their
responsibilities in the covenant.
o
Judaism grew out
of the first covenant.
108)
Are Jews
Israelites?
o
By Jesus’ time
the Israelites were called Jews.
109)
Did the
Israelites fulfill their responsibilities in the first covenant and why?
o
No, because they
failed to observe the laws in the first covenant.
110)
Were not Jews in Jesus’
time very zealous for observing the traditions and rituals of Judaism?
o
Yes, they were,
but they focused on what was on the outside and neglected what it would take to
observe the spirit of the law in order to fulfill their responsibilities in the
first covenant.
111)
How did God view
the Jews’ external piety in the context of fulfilling their responsibilities in
the first covenant?
o
God refused to
accept the Jews’ external piety as fulfillment of their responsibilities in the
first covenant.
o
That is to say,
the Jews did not fulfill their responsibilities in the first covenant in God’s eyes.
112)
What did God do
about the Jews’ failure to fulfill their responsibilities in the first
covenant?
o
God sent Jesus as
the mediator between God and man for the purpose of establishing the new
covenant with everyone in the world.
o
Man can observe
the commands in the new covenant in spirit and in truth as fulfillment of their
responsibilities in the new covenant.
113)
What impact did
the establishment of the new covenant have on the first covenant?
o
The first
covenant became old upon the arrival of the new covenant.
----------------------------------------
Concerning Jesus being
questioned about fasting,
----------------------------------------
114)
Who were fasting?
o
John’s disciples
and the Pharisees were fasting.
115)
How did John’s
disciples and the Pharisees criticize Jesus’ disciples?
o
They criticized
Jesus’ disciples for not fasting.
116)
Did John’s
disciples and the Pharisees directly confront Jesus’ disciples and why?
o
No, because they
brought the matter up before Jesus.
117)
Whom did John’s
disciples and the Pharisees indirectly criticize for not fasting and why?
o
They indirectly
criticized Jesus for not fasting, because disciples followed the practice of
their teacher.
118)
Whom was the
criticism actually directed at and why?
o
The criticism was
actually directed at Jesus because they brought the matter up before Jesus
demanding a response from him.
119)
Is fasting
commanded in the law of Moses?
o
Fasting is not
explicitly commanded in the law of Moses but is
implied for the Day of Atonement.
120)
Did John’s
disciples and the Pharisees criticize Jesus’ disciples for not fasting on the
Day of Atonement and why?
o
No, because they
would have otherwise pointed that out as the reason for their criticism.
121)
Was Jesus’
disciples not fasting a violation of the law of Moses?
o
No.
122)
What then was the
basis for the criticism of John’s disciples and the Pharisees against Jesus’
disciples for not fasting?
o
They used the
tradition of fasting in Judaism as the basis for questioning Jesus as to why
his disciples were not fasting.
123)
What prompted John’s
disciples and the Pharisees to criticize Jesus’ disciples for not fasting?
o
Jesus considered
himself God, associated himself with tax collectors and sinners and now broke
the ritualistic tradition of fasting.
o
Through these Jesus
was posing an existential threat to Judaism because many followed him.
o
So they applied
pressure on Jesus for him to stop his assault on Judaism.
124)
What were the three
parables that Jesus used to respond to the criticism of John’s disciples and
the Pharisees?
o
The parable of the
bridegroom and his attendants.
o
The parable of the
new cloth and the old garment.
o
The parable of the
new wine and old wineskin.
125)
How do we know if
the worries of John’s disciples and the Pharisees referred to were indeed on
their mind?
o
We know it from the
parable of the new cloth and the old garment and the parable of the new wine
and old wineskin.
o
Both parables referred
to the coexistence and incompatibility of the new covenant and the first
covenant in Jesus’ time, as discussed later.
o
Jesus used these parables
to address their concern.
126)
What is the
purpose of fasting as recorded in the Old Testament of the bible?
o
It is for the
purpose of expressing humility, helplessness and mourning.
127)
Was it
appropriate for the bridegroom and his attendants to fast and why?
o
No, because it is
a joyous occasion when the bridegroom and his attendants are together.
128)
When would the
attendants of the bridegroom fast?
o
They would fast on
the day the bridegroom was taken from them.
129)
Between Jesus and
his disciples who was intended to be the bridegroom and who were intended to be
the attendants of the bridegroom?
o
Jesus was
intended to be the bridegroom.
o
Jesus’ disciples were
intended to be the attendants of the bridegroom.
130)
Was it
appropriate for Jesus and his disciples to fast when they were together and
why?
o
No, because it is
a joyous occasion when Jesus and his disciples were together just as it is a
joyous occasion when the bridegroom and his attendants are together.
131)
When would Jesus’
disciples fast?
o
They would fast on
the day Jesus was taken from them just as the attendants of the bridegroom would
fast on the day the bridegroom is taken from them.
132)
What does the new
cloth represent?
o
It represents Jesus’
disciples who
§
Had been taught
commands of the new covenant in the New Testament of the bible.
§
Were obeying
commands of the new covenant.
133)
What does the old
garment represent?
o
It represents the
first covenant in the Old Testament of the bible that was becoming old.
134)
What is requiring
Jesus’ disciples to fast likened to in the parable of the new cloth and the old
garment?
o
It is likened to sewing
a patch of unshrunk new cloth on an old garment thus making
the tear worse.
135)
According to the parable
of the new cloth and the old garment what would happen to the first covenant if
Jesus’ disciples returned to the practice of the first covenant?
o
It would cause
the disintegration of the first covenant just as the old garment that had a
patch of unshrunk new cloth sewn on it would get a
greater tear.
136)
What does the new
wine represent?
o
It represents Jesus’
disciples who
§
Had been taught
commands of the new covenant.
§
Were obeying
commands of the new covenant.
137)
What does the old
wineskin represent?
o
It represents the
first covenant that was becoming old.
138)
What is requiring
Jesus’ disciples to fast likened to in the parable of the new wine and the old
wineskin?
o
It is likened to putting
the new wine in the old wineskin causing the wineskin to burst thus ruining both
the wine and wineskin.
139)
According to the parable
of the new wine and the old wineskin what would happen to Jesus’ disciples and the
first covenant if they returned to the practice of the first covenant?
o
It would cause the
disintegration of the first covenant and the destruction of Jesus’ disciples spiritually
just as putting the new wine in the old wineskin causes the wineskin to burst
thus ruining both the wine and wineskin.
140)
Where then should
the new wine be put?
o
The new wine
should be put in the new wineskin.
141)
Which covenant
did Jesus’ disciples belong in?
o
They belonged in
the new covenant just as the new wine should be put in the new wineskin.
142)
Which covenant
did John’s disciples and the Pharisees belong in?
o
They belonged in
the first covenant that was becoming old.
143)
Would the first
covenant suffer disintegration if John’s disciples and the Pharisees continued
the practice of the first covenant?
o
No.
144)
What can we
conclude about the coexistence and compatibility of the new covenant and the
first covenant in Jesus’ time?
o
The new covenant
and the first covenant in Jesus’ time
§
Might coexist
§
But remained
incompatible.
----------------------------------------
· Ask for a volunteer to summarize.
· Ask for the rest of the participants to supplement the
summary.
========================
Verses 18-22 Jesus Questioned About Fasting
========================
========================
Verses 23-28 Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath
========================
23One Sabbath Jesus was going
through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked
along, they began to pick some heads of grain.
24The Pharisees said to him,
“Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
25He answered, “Have you
never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need?
26In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and
ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also
gave some to his companions.”
27Then he said to them, “The
Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
28So the Son of Man is Lord
even of the Sabbath.”
----------------------------------------
Concerning Jesus being Lord
of the Sabbath,
----------------------------------------
145)
Where were Jesus
and his disciples on one Sabbath?
o
They were going
through the grain fields.
146)
What did Jesus’
disciples do as they walked along?
o
They began to
pick some heads of grains.
147)
What did the
disciples pick the heads of grains for?
o
They were hungry
and were going to eat the kernels.
148)
Who were trying
to find fault with Jesus’ disciples?
o
The Pharisees were.
149)
What did the
Pharisees say to Jesus?
o
The Pharisees
confronted Jesus as to why his disciples picked heads of grain, i.e., did work,
on the Sabbath, which was unlawful.
150)
What should be
done to a person who violated the Sabbath by doing work according to the law of Moses?
o
The offender
should be stoned according to the passage in Numbers 15:32-36.
· Ask a volunteer to read out loud Numbers 15:32-36 that
says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
32While the Israelites were
in the wilderness, a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day.
33Those who found him
gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and the whole assembly,
34and they kept him in
custody, because it was not clear what should be done to him.
35Then the Lord said to
Moses, “The man must die. The whole assembly must stone him outside the camp.”
36So the assembly took him
outside the camp and stoned him to death, as the Lord commanded Moses..
+++++++++++++++++++++
151)
How important was
observing the Sabbath to the Jews in Jesus’ time?
o
It had become
part of who they were as a people.
152)
How did the
Pharisees view the violation of the Sabbath by Jesus’ disciples?
o
They considered
it the most serious challenge to Judaism.
153)
Did the Pharisees
directly confront Jesus’ disciples and why?
o
No, because they
brought the matter up before Jesus.
154)
Whom was the criticism
actually directed at?
o
Jesus.
155)
How did Jesus
answer the Pharisees?
o
Jesus cited an
incident in the Old Testament in the bible in rebuttal.
o
In the incident David,
the greatest earthly king of
156)
What exactly did
David do?
o
In the days of Abiathar the high priest, David entered the house of God
and ate the consecrated bread.
o
It is lawful only
for priests to eat.
o
He also gave some
to his companions.
157)
What is the high
priest?
o
The high priest
is the chief priest in Judaism.
158)
How did Jesus regard
strict observance of the Sabbath?
o
Jesus did not
regard strict observance of the Sabbath something that could not be broken
under any circumstance.
159)
From Jesus’
perspective when was it acceptable to not keep the Sabbath?
o
It was acceptable
to not keep the Sabbath in order to meet a pressing human need just as it was
acceptable for David to break the law in order to meet a pressing human need.
160)
What was Jesus’
conclusion about the relationship between man and the Sabbath?
o
Jesus concluded
that the Sabbath was made for the benefit of man, not man made for observance
of the Sabbath.
161)
Based on Jesus’
interpretation of David’s violation of the law, how should we treat the
violation of the Sabbath by Jesus’ disciples and the violation by the man who gathered wood?
o
Jesus’ disciples
were driven to violating the Sabbath by pressing human needs, which was
acceptable.
o
But the man who gathered wood had no compelling reason for doing it on the Sabbath, which
was not acceptable.
162)
Who is Lord of
the Sabbath?
o
The Son of Man is
Lord of the Sabbath.
163)
Who is the Son of
Man?
o
Jesus referred to
himself as the Son of Man.
164)
Who then is Lord
of the Sabbath?
o
Jesus is Lord of
the Sabbath.
165)
What credential
did Jesus provide as justification for his deciding the purpose of the Sabbath?
o
That Jesus is
Lord of the Sabbath is the justification.
166)
Was Jesus
strong-arming the Pharisees by saying that he is Lord of the Sabbath and
therefore has final say over the matter and why?
o
Yes, because Jesus
did not believe that the Pharisees who were fixated on external piety could be
convinced about his interpretation purely from the perspective of reason.
167)
Did what Jesus
did infuriate the Pharisees?
o
Yes.
168)
Which parties had
found fault with Jesus and his disciples for their religious improprieties in
the current chapter?
o
Those who had
found fault with Jesus and his disciples were
§
Teachers of the
law.
§
Teachers of the
law who were Pharisees.
§
The Pharisees.
§
John’s disciples.
169)
What
social-religious grouping can teachers of the law, teachers of the law who were
Pharisees, the Pharisees and John’s disciples be placed under?
o
They can be
placed under the Judaic community.
170)
On how many
different occasions in the current chapter had members of the Judaic community
found fault with Jesus and his disciples?
o
Four different
occasions.
171)
What was the
response of the fault-finders to Jesus’ rebuttal?
o
The fault-finders
were silent each time.
172)
What do we make
of the silence of the fault-finders?
o
The fault-finders
might or might not be convinced by Jesus’ rebuttal.
o
But that is
actually not important.
o
The important
thing is that the writer of the gospel of Mark invites the readers to consider
what kind of a person and God Jesus is from his rebuttals.
173)
Did the Judaic community
harbor any ill intent toward Jesus for their confrontation with him in the
current chapter?
o
No.
o
But in the next
chapter we are going to see how Jesus’ continual confrontation with the Judaic community
caused some of its members to begin to plot to kill him.
----------------------------------------
· Ask for a volunteer to summarize.
· Ask for the rest of the participants to supplement the
summary.
========================
Verses 23-28 Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath
========================