========================
Verses 1-8 The Parable of the
Sower
========================
1Again Jesus began to teach
by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a
boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore
at the water’s edge.
2He taught them many things
by parables, and in his teaching said:
3“Listen! A farmer went out
to sow his seed.
4As he was scattering the
seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
5Some fell on rocky places,
where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was
shallow.
6But when the sun came up,
the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
7Other seed fell among
thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain.
8Still other seed fell on
good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some
sixty, some a hundred times.”
----------------------------------------
Concerning the parable of the
sower,
----------------------------------------
1)
Where was Jesus?
o
Jesus was by the
lake, i.e., the
2)
What was Jesus
doing by the lake?
o
Jesus was
teaching.
3)
What was the size
of the crowd around Jesus?
o
The crowd was
very large.
4)
What arrangement
was made to prevent the people from crowding Jesus?
o
Jesus sat in a
boat out on the lake while all the people were along the shore at the water’s
edge.
5)
What might be
another reason the arrangement was made?
o
The arrangement
was made for better acoustics:
§
People crowding
around Jesus would block his voice from being heard by the majority of the
people.
§
Speaking out on
the lake allowed the sound waves of Jesus’ voice to be bounced off the calm surface
of the water for him to be heard from far away onshore.
§
The distance of
the boat from the shore could be adjusted for the best outcome.
6)
How was Jesus teaching
the people?
o
Jesus was
teaching the people many things by parables.
7)
What is a
parable?
o
A parable is
a simple story used to illustrate a moral or
spiritual lesson.
8)
Why did Jesus
teach the people by parables?
o
Jesus taught the
people by parables to avoid escalating the tension of the conflict between him
and the religious leaders.
9)
What was the
backdrop of Jesus’ parable of the sower?
o
Jesus used
farming as the backdrop of his parable.
10)
Why did Jesus use
farming as the backdrop of his parable?
o
Jesus did so
because:
§
Farming was the
mainstay of society in Jesus’ time;
§
People would
readily understand what he meant.
11)
Did Jesus provide
an explanation of the parable?
o
Yes and we are
going to study Jesus’ explanation of the parable.
----------------------------------------
· Ask for a volunteer to summarize.
· Ask for the rest of the participants to supplement the
summary.
========================
Verses 1-8 The Parable of the
Sower
========================
========================
Verses 9-25 The Parable of
the Sower Explained and The Parable of a Lamp on Its Stand
========================
9Then Jesus said, “Whoever
has ears to hear, let them hear.”
10When he was alone, the
Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables.
11He told them, “The secret
of the
12 so that,
“‘they may be ever seeing but
never perceiving,
and ever hearing but never understanding;
otherwise they might turn and
be forgiven!’”
13Then Jesus said to them,
“Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?
14The farmer sows the word.
15Some people are like seed
along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes
and takes away the word that was sown in them.
16Others, like seed sown on
rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy.
17But since they have no
root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of
the word, they quickly fall away.
18Still others, like seed
sown among thorns, hear the word;
19but the worries of this
life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and
choke the word, making it unfruitful.
20Others, like seed sown on
good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some
sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”
21He said to them, “Do you
bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on
its stand?
22For whatever is hidden is
meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out
into the open.
23If anyone has ears to hear,
let them hear.”
24“Consider carefully what
you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to
you—and even more.
25Whoever has will be given
more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”
----------------------------------------
Concerning the parable of the
sower explained and what to do with it,
----------------------------------------
12)
How did Jesus say
people should handle the parable of the sower?
o
Jesus said, “Whoever
has ears to hear, let them hear.”
13)
What do verses 9
and 23 have to do with one another?
o
Both are almost
identical and refer to Jesus’ admonition for anyone who has ears to hear.
14)
What literary
device is being employed in verses 9 and 23?
o
The literary
device is called inclusio.
o
It creates a
frame using verses 9 and 23 to highlight the writer’s intent for the enclosed
verses 10-22, i.e., the explanation of the parable of the sower and the parable
of the lamp on its stand, to be interpreted as one unit.
15)
Did the apostles
and the other disciples understand the parable of the sower and why?
o
No, because they
asked Jesus what it meant.
16)
When did the
disciples ask Jesus about the parable?
o
They asked Jesus
about the parable when he was alone with them.
17)
Did Jesus intend
for the crowd to understand the parable by explaining the parable to them and
why?
o
No, because Jesus
told the disciples
§
That the secret
of the
§
That to those on
the outside everything was said in parables.
18)
Where can the secret
of the
o
It can be found
in Jesus’ explanation of the parable of the sower.
19)
What kind of parable
can we classify the parable of the sower as?
o
We classify the
parable of the sower as a parable of the
20)
Where in the Old
Testament of the bible did Jesus quote from?
o
Jesus quoted from
Isaiah 6:9-10.
21)
Why did Jesus not
intend for the crowd to understand the parable?
o
Lest they might
turn and be forgiven.
22)
Did Jesus seem to
have some frustration with the disciples for their inability to understand the
parable of the sower and why?
o
Yes, because then
they would not understand any parable of the
23)
What did Jesus
imply that the disciples must do in order to understand the parables of the
kingdom?
o
Jesus implied
that they must first understand the parable of the sower in order to understand
the other parables of the kingdom.
24)
What is the
purpose for Jesus to teach a series of parables on the kingdom beginning with the
parable of the sower?
o
In chapter 1
Jesus promised his early disciples that he would make them fishers of
people.
o
In the current
chapter he was training them through the parables of the kingdom so that he
could send them out to fish for people.
25)
What is the seed
in Jesus’ explanation of the parable of the sower?
o
The seed is the word.
26)
What is the word?
o
The word is the
gospel, the good news.
27)
What is the
farmer doing in the parable of the sower?
o
He is sowing the
word.
28)
What is the
farmer a sower of?
o
He is a sower of
the word.
29)
Where is the word
sown?
o
The word is sown
§
Along the path.
§
On rocky places.
§
Among thorns.
§
On good soil.
30)
What is the
outcome of the sower sowing the word most of the time?
o
Most of the time
the word he sows falls on places where it is eventually unproductive.
31)
How does the sower
exercise his judgment of the productivity of the recipients in sowing the word?
o
He does not seem
to exercise any judgment in sowing the word.
32)
What happens to people
who are like seed along the path, where the word is sown?
o
As soon as they
hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that is sown in them.
33)
What do the birds
stand for?
o
The birds stand
for Satan.
34)
Do people who are
like seed sown along the path have the time to consider and retain the word
they hear?
o
No.
35)
What might be
these people’s response upon hearing the word?
o
They might simply
reject it.
36)
What happens to people
who are like seed sown on rocky places?
o
They hear the
word and at once receive it with joy.
But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble
or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
37)
What does the
scorching of the sun stand for?
o
The scorching of
the sun
stands for trouble or persecution.
38)
Is receiving the
word with joy at once after hearing the word an indication that the person has
no root and why?
o
No, quickly falling
away when trouble or persecution comes because of the word is the indication
that the person has no root.
39)
Is trouble or
persecution because of the word guaranteed to come for those who receive the
word and why?
o
Yes, because
trouble or persecution is bound to come just as certainly as the sun would rise
on the new plant.
40)
Is trouble or
persecution because of the word necessary for the wellbeing of those who
receive the word and why?
o
Yes, because it
is as necessary as the sun is for the new plant.
41)
What happens to
people who are like seed sown among thorns?
o
They hear the
word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires
for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.
42)
What do thorns
stand for?
o
Thorns stand for the
worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other
things.
43)
What personal
resource is squandered when we succumb to the worries of this life, greed for
wealth and the desires for other things?
o
Our emotion as a personal
resource is squandered.
44)
How do the
worries of this life, greed for wealth and the desires for other things choke
the word?
o
They choke the
word by chronically depleting our emotion that is a limited personal resource
such that we lack the drive to accomplish anything for the
45)
What happens to
people who are like seed sown on good soil?
o
They hear the
word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what
was sown.
46)
Are people who
are like seed sown on good soil subject to all the problems faced by
unproductive recipients of the word?
o
Yes.
47)
Why are people
who are like seed sown on good soil productive for the word?
o
They are productive
for the word because they
§ Hear the word and accept it.
§ Have root to withstand trouble and persecution because
of the word.
§ Do not squander their emotional resource on pursuing the
worries of this life, wealth and other things.
48)
What can we
conclude about the productivity of all the recipients of the word?
o
All of them are
unproductive except for the good soil.
49)
What can we
conclude about the sower’s knowledge of the productivity of the recipients of the
word?
o
The sower
§
Had no knowledge
of the productivity of recipients of the word at the time of sowing and
§
Secured the full
knowledge only at harvest time.
50)
What does the sower
do after all in raising the crop?
o
The only thing
the sower does is sowing the word.
51)
Can the sower’s
sowing be described as far and wide and indiscriminate?
o
Yes.
52)
What is the the sower’s
motivation for sowing far and wide and indiscriminately?
o
To ensure a
harvest.
53)
What are the
determining factors of the productivity of recipients of the word?
o
The growing power
of the word.
o
The condition of
the recipients of the word.
54)
What does the productive
recipient producing a crop testify to concerning the condition of the word that
is sowed?
o
It testifies to the
growing power of the word.
55)
Does the word
contribute to the lack of productivity of any of the unproductive recipients?
o
No.
56)
What then does the
productivity of the recipients depend upon?
o
It depends
entirely upon the condition of the recipients.
57)
Does the parable
provide information on the crop yield for one particular sowing and why?
o
No, because
§
One sowing would
have only one single crop yield.
§
The parable provides
multiple crop yields implying multiple sowings.
58)
What does the
parable tell us about the recurring reality of the recipients of the word the sower
encounters as the sower sows repeatedly?
o
The sower would
repeatedly encounter the same set of recipients of the word.
59)
What does the
parable tell us about the recurring reality of the crop yields of the good soil
the sower encounters as the sower sows the word repeatedly?
o
The sower would encounter
varying crop yields with the good soil for every sowing.
60)
What conclusion
about the availability of the good soil can we draw from the parable?
o
The good soil is
§
Always there.
§
The minority recipients
of the word.
61)
What conclusion
about the availability of the unproductive recipients of the word can we draw
from the parable?
o
The unproductive
recipients of the word
§
Are always there.
§
Constitute the
majority recipients.
62)
In light of the
extravagantly abundant crop yields in the parable what might have gone wrong if
the actual crop yield turns out to be mediocre or even less?
o
The following
might have gone wrong:
§
The integrity of
the content of the word chosen for sowing might be in doubt.
§
The sowing might
not have been far and wide and indiscriminate.
63)
In accordance
with guidance from the parable is it legitimate for us to make judgment of people
ahead of time as to who would be good soil for the word and who would not be and
why?
o
No, because the
sower does not know until harvest time.
64)
In accordance
with guidance from the parable is it legitimate even for us to make judgment of
ourselves ahead of time whether we would be good soil for the word or not and
why?
o
No, because
§
If we have not
yet suffered trouble or persecution because of the word, we would not know
whether we would be able to endure the trouble or persecution when it comes.
§
If tomorrow we
chase after wealth and the things and pleasures of this life, we might become choked.
65)
What did Jesus
intend for us to do when he said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear”?
o
Jesus intended it
for us to apply what we have heard.
66)
What good is a
parable for us if we do not apply it?
o
It is not good at
all.
67)
Who is the first
sower of the word?
o
Jesus is.
68)
Can any human
being know Jesus fully and why?
o
No, because Jesus
is infinite God.
69)
What would it
take for a disciple to get to know Jesus fully?
o
It would take the
entire eternity for a disciple to get to know Jesus fully.
70)
How then do we
characterize discipleship from the timeline perspective?
o
Discipleship is
an eternal continuum of getting to know Jesus that never ends.
71)
When then does a
person become a disciple of Jesus?
o
A person becomes a
disciple of Jesus when the person begins to participate in the discipleship continuum
of getting to know Jesus.
72)
Who were those in
Jesus’ time who became Jesus’ disciples?
o
The twelve
apostles and the people who followed Jesus became Jesus’ disciples because they
were in the discipleship continuum of getting to know Jesus.
73)
What does the gospel
of Mark record?
o
It records the
words and deeds of Jesus.
74)
How does the
catechized bible study of the gospel of Mark relate to sowing the word?
o
Helping people
get to know Jesus through the catechized bible study of the gospel of Mark is
an application of sowing the word.
75)
What is the function
of the catechized bible study of the gospel of Mark?
o
The catechized bible
study of the gospel of Mark is the initiating phase of the eternal discipleship
continuum of getting to know Jesus.
76)
What do we call
those who participate in the catechized bible study of the gospel of Mark and
why?
o
They are
disciples because they are in the discipleship continuum of getting to know
Jesus.
77)
Did Jesus sow the
word far and wide and indiscriminately as the sower in the parable did, and
why?
o
Yes, because in
the gospel accounts we have read about Jesus traveling throughout
78)
What does it mean
for us to sow the word far and wide and indiscriminately using the catechized
bible study of the gospel of Mark?
o
It means inviting
as many people to the catechized bible study of the gospel of Mark as possible.
79)
What do people
who are like seed sown on good soil and who produce a crop in the parable stand
for?
o
They stand for
people who have become committed disciples.
80)
What do we mean
by committed disciples?
o
Committed
disciples are those who have repented and believed the good news in accordance
with Jesus’ proclamation in chapter 1 verse 15.
81)
What happened to Jesus’
apostles and disciples in the end as the discipleship continuum continued?
o
In the end
§
Judas among the apostles
and many disciples fell away.
§
The others became
committed disciples.
82)
What might happen
to those who participate in the catechized bible study of the gospel of Mark?
o
Those who are
unproductive recipients of the word will not become committed disciples.
o
Those who are
productive recipients of the word will become committed disciples.
83)
Does the sower in
the parable attempt to do anything about the lack of productivity of the
unproductive recipients of the word?
o
No.
84)
Did Jesus as the
first sower attempt to do anything about the lack of productivity of
unproductive recipients of the word and why?
o
No, because Judas
who betrayed Jesus received the same teaching and training from Jesus as the
other apostles did.
85)
Can anything be
done during the catechized bible study of the gospel of Mark about the lack of
productivity of unproductive recipients of the word and why?
o
No, because we
are already studying the words and deeds of Jesus.
86)
Does the sower in
the parable attempt to make use of the crop produced by the good soil?
o
It is not
mentioned in the parable.
87)
How does the
parable of the sower begin?
o
The parable of
the sower begins with the sower going out first and then sowing the word.
88)
What do we need
to do if we are to apply this parable?
o
We need to take
the action of going out first and then sowing the word as the sower does.
89)
How can disciples
go out to sow the word?
o
They can
§
Go out by starting
their own bible study group.
§
Sow the word by
inviting people to the group.
90)
Where can we find
more information on how to apply the
parable of the sower?
o
More information on
how to apply the parable of the sower can
be found in the session on how to apply the parables of the
91)
Did Jesus address
the parable of a lamp on its stand to the disciples only or to the whole crowd
and why?
o
Jesus addressed the
parable of a lamp on its stand to the whole crowd because Jesus would continue
on to teach the crowd in parables.
92)
Is a lamp
supposed to be hidden or put on display?
o
It is supposed to
be put on display.
93)
What is supposed
to happen to what is hidden and concealed?
o
It is supposed to
be disclosed and brought out into the open.
94)
To what should
the parable of a lamp on its stand be applied and why?
o
The parable of a lamp
on its stand should be applied to the secret of the parable of the sower that
the secret will be disclosed and brought into the open, because of
§
Applicability;
§
Continuity of
context.
§
Inclusio
mentioned earlier.
95)
Did Jesus’
disciples know the secret of the parable of the sower?
o
Yes.
96)
Did the crowd
know the secret of the parable of the sower?
o
No.
97)
What did Jesus
intend for the disciples to do with the secret of the parable of the sower when
he taught them the parable of a lamp on its stand?
o
Jesus intended
for the disciples to eventually tell the secret of the parable of the sower to
the world.
98)
Had the disciples
done that and why?
o
The disciples had
done that and the explanation of the parable of the sower is recorded in the
gospel accounts.
99)
Why did Jesus not
explain the parable of the sower to the crowd himself?
o
Jesus did not
explain the parable of the sower to the crowd to avoid direct confrontation
with the religious leaders who were plotting to take his life, because the time
for him to die had not come yet.
o
Jesus left to the
disciples the handling of large numbers of people who would later perceive and
understand when given the explanation.
100)
What did Jesus
say in verse 23?
o
” If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.”
101)
What did Jesus
say in verse 9?
o
“Whoever has ears
to hear, let them hear.”
102)
Does verse 9 that
applies to the parable of the sower match verse 23?
o
Yes.
103)
What does the
match suggest for the readers to do?
o
It redirects our attention
back to the parable of the sower with explanation for us to consider it in the
context of what is immediately beyond verse 23.
104)
How then did
Jesus say in verses 24-25 that those who hear the explanation of the parable of
the sower should handle what they have heard?
o
“Consider
carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be
measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not
have, even what they have will be taken from them.”
105)
How should we then
exercise personal responsibility as a recipient of the word in handling the explanation
of the parable of the sower?
o
A person who
hears the word can
§
Hold on to what
has been heard so that Satan cannot take away the word that has been sown.
§
Endure trouble
and persecution that comes from the word.
§
Overcome the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth
and the desires for other things.
§
Eventually become
part of the crop.
106)
How should we then
exercise personal responsibility as a sower in securing productivity in
accordance with the parable of the sower?
o
If we make an
application of the parable of the sower,
§
The effort of
sowing the word that we put forth will be rewarded accordingly—and even
more.
§
Not only would we
be given seed to sow, but we would also be given an abundant crop—thirty, sixty
or even a hundred times what was sown.
o
If we do not make
an application of the parable, even what we have, i.e., the seed that has been given
us for sowing, will be taken away from us by way of rotting.
107)
What conclusion
can we draw about the relationship between the parable of the sower in and the discipleship
continuum?
o
The parable of the
sower depicts the initiating phase of the discipleship continuum of uncommitted
disciples getting to know Jesus that culminates in
§
Some uncommitted
disciples falling away.
§
Other uncommitted
disciples becoming committed.
----------------------------------------
· Ask for a volunteer to summarize.
· Ask for the rest of the participants to supplement the
summary.
========================
Verses 9-25 The Parable of
the Sower Explained and The Parable of a Lamp on Its Stand
========================
========================
Verses 26-29 The Parable of
the Growing Seed
========================
26He also said, “This is what
the
27Night and day, whether he
sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.
28All by itself the soil produces
grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.
29As soon as the grain is
ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”
----------------------------------------
Concerning the parable of the
growing seed,
----------------------------------------
108)
What did Jesus
use to illustrate the
o
Jesus used the
parable of the growing seed to illustrate the
109)
Who is the character
in the parable of the growing seed?
o
A farmer.
110)
What does the
farmer do?
o
The farmer scatters
seed on the ground.
111)
How does the
farmer attend to the growing seed?
o
The seed grows
without the farmer knowing how.
112)
What are the
stages of the growing seed?
o
The seed sprouts.
o
The plant grows,
stalk and head, and the full kernel in the head.
o
The grain is ripe.
o
The crop is
harvested.
113)
What does the
parable of the growing seed tell us about how the
o
The
114)
What is the seed?
o
The seed is the
word.
115)
What does the seed
sprouting indicate?
o
It indicates that
the word that is sown in an uncommitted disciple has started growing.
116)
What does the grain
becoming ripe indicate?
o
The uncommitted
disciple has
§
Repented and
believed the good news.
§
Become committed
as a result.
117)
What does the crop
being harvested indicate?
o
It indicates that
the uncommitted disciples who have become committed are formed into a church so
that they will not fall away just as the ripe grains are harvested so that they
will not rot in the field.
118)
What conclusion
can we draw about the parable of the growing seed in relation to the discipleship
continuum?
o
The parable of the
growing seed is the consummating phase of the discipleship continuum of
uncommitted disciples getting to know Jesus that culminates in
§
Uncommitted
disciples becoming committed and
§
Newly committed
disciples being formed into a church.
119)
Where can we find
more information on how to apply the
parable of the growing seed?
o
More information on
how to apply the parable of the growing
seed can be found in the session on how to apply the parables of the
----------------------------------------
· Ask for a volunteer to summarize.
· Ask for the rest of the participants to supplement the
summary.
========================
Verses 26-29 The Parable of
the Growing Seed
========================
========================
Verses 30-34 The Parable of
the Mustard Seed
========================
30Again he said, “What shall
we say the
31It is like a mustard seed,
which is the smallest of all seeds on earth.
32Yet when planted, it grows
and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the
birds can perch in its shade.”
33With many similar parables
Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.
34He did not say anything to
them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he
explained everything.
----------------------------------------
Concerning the parable of the
mustard seed,
----------------------------------------
120)
What did Jesus
use to illustrate the
o
Jesus used the
parable of the mustard seed to illustrate the
121)
Is the mustard
seed the smallest seed?
o
A mustard seed is
a very small seed.
o
On the other hand
it is not the smallest seed.
o
Jesus was not citing
a scientific fact here; he was simply referring to the small size of the
mustard seed.
122)
Is the mustard
plant the largest of all garden plants?
o
A mustard plant
is a very large garden plant.
o
On the other hand
it is not the largest garden plant.
o
Jesus was not
citing a scientific fact here; he was simply referring to the large size of the
mustard plant.
123)
How big did Jesus
say the mustard plant was?
o
Jesus said that
the mustard plant had such big branches that the birds of the air could perch
in its shade.
124)
What does the
parable of the mustard seed tell us about the extent to which the
o
The
125)
What do the birds
of the air that perch in the shade of the mustard plant signify?
o
In the parable of
the sower the birds that eat up the seed sown along the path represent
Satan.
o
The earthly
manifestation of the
o
When the birds of
the air perch in the shade of the mustard plant, it signifies the presence of
Satan in the church.
126)
How did Jesus
teach the crowd?
o
Jesus taught the
crowd using many similar parables.
127)
Did Jesus teach
the crowd anything else other than parables?
o
No.
128)
How well did the
crowd grasp what the parables meant?
o
The crowd
understood the parables to the extent possible without being given an explanation.
129)
How well did the
disciples grasp what the parables meant?
o
The disciples understood
what the parables meant because Jesus explained the parables to them.
130)
When did Jesus
explain the parables to his disciples?
o
Jesus did it when
he was alone with his disciples.
131)
What are the
upcoming miracles we are going to see Jesus perform?
o
We are going to
see Jesus exercise
§
Control over
nature.
§
Authority over a
legion of demons.
§
Power to raise
the dead.
132)
How do we view
the parables of the kingdom in light of these miracles?
o
The parables of
the kingdom are backed up by the fact that Jesus is God who is in control of
all things.
----------------------------------------
· Ask for a volunteer to summarize.
· Ask for the rest of the participants to supplement the
summary.
========================
Verses 30-34 The Parable of the
Mustard Seed
========================
========================
Verses 35-41 Jesus Calms the
Storm
========================
35That day when evening came,
he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.”
36Leaving the crowd behind,
they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats
with him.
37A furious squall came up,
and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.
38Jesus was in the stern,
sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t
you care if we drown?”
39He got up, rebuked the wind
and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and
40He said to his disciples,
“Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41They were terrified and
asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
----------------------------------------
Concerning Jesus calming the
storm,
----------------------------------------
133)
What did Jesus say
in the evening to his disciples on the day he gave the parables?
o
Jesus said to his
disciples that they should go over to the other side of the lake.
134)
What did the
disciples do?
o
The disciples
left the crowd behind and took Jesus along in a boat.
135)
How did other
people go along?
o
There were other
boats with Jesus.
136)
What happened as
the company traveled along in the boat?
o
A furious squall
came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.
137)
What was Jesus
doing when this happened?
o
Jesus was in the
stern, sleeping on a cushion.
138)
How did the
disciples react to the situation?
o
The disciples
woke Jesus and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
139)
Were some of the
disciples professional fishermen?
o
Yes.
140)
What did the
disciples think was going to happen to them?
o
They thought they
were going to drown.
141)
Did the disciples
follow Jesus’ order to go over to the other side of the lake?
o
Yes.
142)
What happened
when the disciples followed Jesus’ order to go over to the other side of the
lake?
o
They found
themselves in life-threatening trouble.
143)
Was that kind of
trouble permitted by Jesus and why?
o
Yes, because Jesus
intended for the resolution of the trouble to increase the faith of the
disciples.
144)
How did the
disciples address Jesus?
o
They addressed
Jesus as teacher.
145)
What was the
disciples’ attitude toward Jesus?
o
They were upset
with Jesus that he seemed indifferent to the trouble they were facing.
146)
Did the disciples
think that Jesus was able to save them and why?
o
Yes, because the disciples
woke Jesus up only to point out his indifference to their plight even though he
was able to save them.
147)
What did Jesus do
next?
o
Jesus got up,
rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!”
148)
What happened
then?
o
The wind died
down and it was completely calm.
149)
What did Jesus
say to the disciples?
o
Jesus said to his
disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
150)
What was the
disciples’ response?
o
The disciples were
terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey
him!”
151)
What conclusion
did the disciples draw concerning who Jesus was as a result of this episode?
o
They did not draw
any conclusion about who Jesus was; they only asked one another about it.
152)
Why did the
writer of the gospel of Mark not draw a conclusion about who Jesus was at this
juncture?
o
The writer of the
gospel of Mark let the readers draw their own conclusion about Jesus.
153)
What did the
disciples really question Jesus about when they woke him and asked him if he
did not care if they drowned?
o
The disciples
questioned Jesus’ heart.
154)
How could the
disciples have rephrased what they said to Jesus without questioning Jesus’ heart?
o
The disciples
could have turned the question into a remark and said, “Teacher, we are going
to drown!”
155)
What should our
attitude be toward Jesus when we head into trouble?
o
We should trust
Jesus’ heart.
156)
Is it wrong to be
fearful in dangerous situations?
o
No.
157)
When does fear
become problematic?
o
Fear becomes
problematic when we are driven to questioning Jesus’ heart.
158)
What was Jesus
really asking when he said to the disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you
still have no faith?”
o
Jesus was asking
why the disciples still had no faith in his goodness and not why the disciples
still had no faith in his ability to save them.
159)
For what purpose
did Jesus go with his disciples on this trip over the lake?
o
Jesus intended to
use the experience of trouble on the trip to help his disciples get to know him
better.
160)
In what way did
the disciples get to know Jesus better from this episode?
o
The disciples got
to know that Jesus
§
Is good.
§
Exercises power
over nature.
161)
What does this
episode teach us about the circumstance in which we can get to know Jesus
better?
o
We cannot get to
know Jesus better when things are well.
o
We can experience
Jesus and get to know him better when we head into trouble with him.
162)
How did Jesus
practice his own teaching about putting a lamp on its stand in this episode?
o
Jesus put his
lamp on its stand by revealing more about himself that was previously hidden.
----------------------------------------
· Ask for a volunteer to summarize.
· Ask for the rest of the participants to supplement the
summary.
========================
Verses 35-41 Jesus Calms the
Storm
========================