The Gospel Of Mark Bible Study Lesson 28

The Gospel Of Mark Bible Study Lesson 28:

This week’s Bible Study of Mark’s Gospel will again include questions for you to answer. Once you finish the lesson on your own. You can look at my answers. Anytime you do Bible study ask yourself these 3 questions:

3 questions:

·        What is this passage about?

·        What do I learn from this passage?

·        How can I apply what I have learned to my life?

Scripture to meditate on before you do this week’s Bible study:

Matthew 21:32 NIV
Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For 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.

Acts 2:38 NIV  
Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 3:19 NIV
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

Acts 17:30 NIV
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.

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This Week’s Bible passage from the Gospel of Mark:

Mark 6:17-29

Read the passage below:

Mark 6:17-29 New International Version 17 For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, 20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled[a]; yet he liked to listen to him. 21 Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.22 When the daughter of[b] Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.”23 And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” 24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” “The head of John the Baptist,” she answered. 25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison,28 and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. 29 On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

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Answer the questions below:

1.   Content:  What is this passage about?

·        Who are the people if any?  

  

·        What are they doing?         

                                 

·        Where does this take place? 

·        When does this take place? 

2.   Lesson:   What do I learn from this passage?

·        Is there a warning, command or promise?

·        Is there an example to follow or not to follow?

·        What is/are the main truth/truths of this passage?  

·        Is there a lesson or principle that is a universal truth?

·        Why did God put this passage in the Bible?

What does the passage reveal about the character of God?

·        His Attributes/Characteristics (ex. loving, caring, Holy, Merciful etc.):

·        His ways of relating/Communicating to people:

·        His emotions:

·        His views:

·        Reasons for us to love God more:  

3.  Application:  How can I apply what I have learned to my life?

·        Can you think of a current situation in your personal life, home life, 

          Church, or business which is similar to what you are learning?

·        How can I apply what I am learning to my current circumstances?

·        Are there specific things in to which to pray about?

·        Is there a new thought to me? An encouraging thought?  

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Here is my layout for    Mark 6:17-29:

1.    Content: What is this passage about?

Mark recalls John the Baptist’s beheading at Herod’s command as his stepdaughter’s reward for dancing

Who are the people if any?

·         King Herod, John The Baptist, Herodias Herod’s brothers wife, Herodias’ daughter.

          

    What are they doing?

·        Herod throws himself a party on his birthday. John the Baptist  is in prison.

·        Herodias is planning to have John killed. She was waiting for the right time and circumstance.

Where does this take place?

·         In Herod’s Fortress named Machaerus.

When does this take place?

·        Around the time Jesus sends out the twelve to preach, drive out demons and heal the sick.

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2.    Lesson: What do I learn from this passage?

Unconfessed sin multiplies and affects others

(Scripture link: Matthew 14:1-12)

Who is Herod: Herod Antipas reigned as Tetrarch/King over the regions of Galilee and Perea. Herod’s Father, Herod The Great, ruled during the time of Jesus’ birth.

 Is there a warning, command or promise?

·        The promise Herod made to his wife’s daughter cost John his life.

Is there an example to follow or not to follow?  

·         Be careful what you promise others. (Herod was distressed over having to keep his promise to give his stepdaughter the head of John The Baptist.

 What are the main points in this passage?

·        Herod had been gave orders to arrest John The Baptist because Herodias his wife did not like the fact that John said it was unlawful for Herod to marry her.

·        John was put in prison.

·         Herodias wanted John The Baptist killed, but because Herod feared John and protected him, she was unable to do so.

·        Herod protected John because he believed John to be a righteous and holy man.

·        Herod like to listen to John but was puzzled by the things John said.

·        Herod threw himself a birthday party. At the party Herodias’ daughter danced for him and the guests. 

·        Herod  made an oath to give her anything she wanted because he was so pleased with the way she  entertained him and his guests..

·        The girl asked her mother what she should ask for.  Herodias believed this was her opportunity to have John Killed.

·        Herodias told her daughter to ask for John’s head.

·        Even though he was distressed, Herod kept his oath and had John beheaded.

·        John’s head was brought to the girl on a platter. She in turn gave the platter to her mother.

·        John’s disciples came and took his head and had him buried in a tomb.

Is there a lesson or principle that is a universal truth?

·        Even though Herod heard John’s message to repent he relented to Herodias and her wish to have him put in prison. We also have heard the call to repent but have relented to our desire to do life our own way.

·        We are either a slave to sin or a slave to righteousness. There is no grey area when it comes to whose side we are on. We are either with God or against Him. We cannot serve two masters.

·        The sin our life will affect others.

 Why did God put this passage in the Bible?

·        To show that sins reigns in those who do not believe in the Gospel of truth.

·        To show the level of depravity that sin can manifest  in a persons life. 

·        To make us aware of the need to repent from our sin.

What does the passage reveal about the character of God/Jesus?

A. His attributes: God is Sovereign and had a purpose for John's life and death

B. His ways of relating/communicating to people:   Through people like John The Baptist. Who are telling others to repent from their sinful lives

C. His emotions:  

D. His views: Those who do not repent from sin can cause others to sin. (ex. Herodias) 
E. Reasons for us to love Him more:   Jesus gave His life to free us from the penalty of sin.

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3.    Life Application (Personal):

·        From What un-confessed sins will I repent?

·        In what ways are my words and actions causing my children and grandchildren to sin?

·        Of what foolish, prideful promise will I repent?

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My prayer for you:

I pray you will take God’s Word to heart and ask God to help you apply what you have learned. I hope and pray that this Bible Study helps you grow spiritually by deepening your faith, trust and love for God.

Jesus declared that if we seek God, he will provide everything we need to live the abundant life, providing for us physically and spiritually:

Matthew 6:32-33  Living Bible (TLB)

 “So don’t worry at all about having enough food and clothing. Why be like the heathen? For they take pride in all these things and are deeply concerned about them. But your heavenly Father already knows perfectly well that you need them, and he will give them to you if you give him first place in your life and live as he wants you to.

John 10:10 English Standard Version (ESV)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Philippians 4:19 New Living Translation (NLT)

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

John 14:26 (NIV)

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Also, remember the importance and impact of embracing of God’s Word in light of how we are to be God’s Ambassadors and Teachers, as well as to live abundantly in a fallen world:

1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Psalm 119:105 (ESV)   

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

John 8:31-32  (NIV)

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Daily Application ideas:

·        Pray! Ask God to help you understand the passage of scripture you are

          reading.

·        Pray! Ask God to help you apply what you are learning.

·        Write down your thoughts and prayers. Seek to understand what God is

          trying to teach you.

·        Begin to make changes in your patterns of behavior in accordance to God’s 

          teaching.

·        Act on God’s answer to prayer.

·        Put God first in your life in every area of your life 

         (Marriage, Parenting, Ministry, Work etc.).

·        Be determined to make quality & quantity time for God in your life

           (ex. Quiet time, prayer time, Bible reading/study).

Helpful Hints for this Bible Study:

·        Not everything we read will contain enough info to answer all the questions.

·        Other questions may come to mind as you read.

·        The questions are just helpful guidelines.

·        Following the reading of the passage of scripture take a moment to write

          down your thoughts.

·        After you have asked yourself the above Template questions, answer the

          questions specifically. 

·        Refer back to above questions when you need to.

·        Then concentrate on a couple of things that are meaningful to you

          personally. 

·        Then go to the application section.

·        Think through the application questions and journal your thoughts and

          prayers.

Just Sayin……………..Dave