The Gospel Of Mark Bible Study Lesson 30

The Gospel Of Mark Bible Study Lesson 30:

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:

Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV  
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

Mark 10:45 NIV

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

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

Mark 6:45-52

Read the passage below:

Mark 6:45-52New International Version (NIV) Jesus Walks on the Water 45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. 47 Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

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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 6:45-52:

1.    Content: What is this passage about?

(After Prayer) Jesus walks on the water through the storm and calms the frightened disciples and the wind.

Who are the people if any?

·         Jesus and His disciples.

What are they doing?

·         The disciples were headed to Bethsaida in a boat. Jesus went to pray. 

·        Jesus walks on water as the disciples struggle to keep the boat steady on a windy lake.

Where does this take place?

·        On a lake. And then later in Gennesaret.  

When does this take place?

·        After Jesus fed the 5 thousand.

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

·        Jesus brings calm into any life when He is recognized as the only source of help.

·        Being in the will of God does not guarantee easy circumstances but does guarantee Jesus’ presence.

Is there a warning, command or promise?

·        Jesus has come to save us.

Is there an example to follow or not to follow?  

·        Jesus spent time praying to the Father. We need to spend time in prayer every day.

·        Jesus had quiet time and so should we.

·        Jesus saw the disciples struggling in the storm and He went to help them.

·        As followers of Jesus we should help others in need.

·        We need to trust Jesus to calm the storm in our lives.

What are the main points in this passage?

·        While the disciples traveled to Bethsaida Jesus went to pray.

·        While the disciples were on the lake battling to stay afloat in a storm, Jesus went out to help them.

·        Jesus went out to where the disciples were by walking on water.

·        The disciples were afraid when they first saw Jesus because they thought he was a ghost.

·        The disciples were completely amazed that Jesus was able to walk on water.

·        The disciples did not completely understand Jesus’ purpose and the power that he had. They saw His miracles but still did not recognize Him as the Lamb of God, the one who was to be their Savior, the sacrificial Lamb. Their hearts were hardened stemming from their experience when Jesus fed the 5000. Jesus  withdrew from the crowd because He knew the people wanted to force Him to be their King

John 6:14-15 NIV

After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did (feeding the 5000), they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world." Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

·        Jesus probably walked on water to help the disciples deepen their trust in Him. Not only did it show that Jesus cared about them but it also proved that Jesus had the power to be their Savior. Jesus’ ability to control nature would give the disciples more confidence that Jesus was able to do the things He said God had given Him to do.

·        Jesus got into the boat with them and told them to take courage and not be afraid.

·        As soon as Jesus got in the boat the winds died down.

·        When they got to Gennesaret people from all over came to Jesus to be healed.

·        All who touched Jesus were healed.

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

·        Jesus will calm the storm in our life.

·        If we come to Jesus He will provide us with a new life and a new hope.

·        Jesus was fully God and fully man.

·        Jesus sometimes chose to use His miraculous power to prove His authority and to show His love and kindness toward those in need.

Jesus' Two Natures

Jesus is God in human flesh. He is not half God and half man. He is fully divine and fully man.  That is, Jesus has two distinct natures:  divine and human.  Jesus is the Word who was God and was with God and was made flesh, (John 1:1-14).  This means that in the single person of Jesus is both a human and divine nature.  The divine nature was not changed.  It was not altered.  He is not merely a man who "had God within Him" nor is he a man who "manifested the God principle." He is God, second person of the Trinity. "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word," (Heb. 1:3 NIV). Jesus' two natures are not "mixed together," nor are they combined into a new God-man nature. They are separate yet act as a unit in the one person of Jesus. This is called the Hypostatic Union. (From the CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS & RESEARCH MINISTRY)

 The following chart should help you see the two natures of Jesus "in action":

GOD		MAN
He is worshiped (Matt. 2:2,11; 14:33).		He worshiped the Father (John 17).
He was called God (John 20:28; Heb. 1:8)		He was called man (Mark 15:39; John 19:5).
He was called Son of God (Mark 1:1)		He was called Son of Man (John 9:35-37)
He is prayed to (Acts 7:59).		He prayed to the Father (John 17).
He is sinless (1 Pet. 2:22; Heb. 4:15).		He was tempted (Matt. 4:1).
He knows all things (John 21:17).		He grew in wisdom (Luke 2:52).
He gives eternal life (John 10:28).		He died (Rom. 5:8).
All the fullness of deity dwells in Him (Col. 2:9).		He has a body of flesh and bones (Luke 24:39).

 Why did God put this passage in the Bible?

·        To show that Jesus was fully man and fully God at the same time.

·        To remind us that Jesus had the power to control nature which helped show He was God incarnate.

·        To show the loving and caring heart Jesus had for others.

Isaiah 7:14 NIV

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (God with us)

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

A. His attributes:   Sovereign, Omniscient, Powerful, Comforter, Caring, Loving

B. His ways of relating/communicating to people: By acts of love and kindness.                                                                           

                                                                          

C. His emotions: Concerned about His disciples.

D. His views:  We all must spend time with God. We need to trust Jesus with our lives.  

E. Reasons for us to love Him more:   Even though we struggle with the storms of life, Jesus promised to always be with us. (Deuteronomy 31:8)

                                                                   

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3.    Life Application (Personal):

·        How much time do I spend in prayer each day when things are calm?

·        Whom or what do I seek first as my source of help when the “storms” come?

·        Is my hard heart keeping me from recognizing what He is doing in my life?

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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