The Gospel Of Mark Bible Study Lesson 57

The Gospel Of Mark Bible Study Lesson 57:

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 7:7-8 NIV
 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Matthew 3:13-17 NIV
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"   Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.  As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

John 1:23 NIV
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.   

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

Mark 11:27-33

Read the passage below:

Mark 11:27-33 NIV The Authority of Jesus Questioned     27They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. 28"By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you authority to do this?"     29Jesus replied, "I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 30John's baptism—was it from heaven, or from men? Tell me!"     31They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?' 32But if we say, 'From men'...." (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)     33So they answered Jesus, "We don't know."       Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things." Scripture Links:   Matthew 21:23-27 & Luke 20:1-8 (Check out the scripture link for some more details about this passage)

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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 11:27-33

1.    Content: What is this passage about?

·        When the Jewish leaders question the source of Jesus’ authority, He confounds them by asking them about John the Baptist’s authority.

Who are the people if any?

·        Jesus, the chief priests, teachers of the law and the elders.

       

    What are they doing?

·         While Jesus was walking in the temple courts the chief priests, teachers of the law and the elders approach Jesus to question Him.

      

Where does this take place?

·        In the temple courts in Jerusalem.

When does this take place?

·         After Jesus arrives in Jerusalem after His teaching on faith, prayer and forgiveness.

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

·        Those who refuse to accept the authority of Jesus will not receive more truth.

Is there a warning, command or promise?

·        Jesus told those who questioned His authority to answer the question he asked about John the Baptist if they wanted to know where His authority came from.

Is there an example to follow or not to follow?

·        If we understand what the scripture says, and scripture is God breathed, should we then question the authority of Jesus?

·        John the Baptist was a prophet from God and declared Jesus to be the light of the world, yet the many people rejected Jesus as the Messiah.

John 1:4 NIV 
In him (Jesus) was life, and that life was the light of men.

·        Jesus will reveal the truth of the Gospel and give us eternal life when we sincerely seek Him for answers.

Romans 2:7 New Living Translation (NLT)

He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers.

What are the main points in this passage?

·        While Jesus was walking through the temple courts in Jerusalem the chief priests, teachers of the law and the elders come to Him to question His authority.

·        Jesus in turn asks them one question concerning whether John’s Baptism was from heaven or from men.

·        The chief priests, teachers of the law and the elders did not answer the question. They were afraid because the people held that John was a prophet from God and agreeing that John was a prophet would give credence to Jesus’ authority. They would also have to agree with John that in fact Jesus was the Messiah.

·        They answered Jesus by saying they didn’t know.

·        Jesus replied “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

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

·        Jesus had the authority to teach and perform miracles.

·        John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus, the coming Messiah.

John 1:23-27 NIV
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.' "

Now some Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" "I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."

John 1:6-9 NIV
There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

·        Jesus is the son of God.

·        Jesus is the way the truth and the life.

·        Jesus makes an offer of salvation through the Gospel to us and it is up to us whether or not we will respond to it.

  Why did God put this passage in the Bible?

·        To remind us that God had given Jesus the authority to teach and perform miracles.

·        To show us that the Jewish leaders had an agenda and were trying to discredit Jesus’ ministry.

·        To clearly show John the Baptist’s role was to announce the coming of Jesus.

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

A.   His attributes: 

·        Teacher, Son of God, Savior.

  

B. His ways of relating/communicating to people:     

·         Through His teaching and miracles.

     C. His emotions:

·          

D. His views:

·        John the Baptist confirmed that Jesus was the Messiah.

·        Jesus’ authority was given to Him by God.

     E. Reasons for us to love Him more:  

·        Jesus came with a purpose and plan from God to deliver His people out of the bondage of sin.

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

·        In what ways am I acting or living that reveal I am questioning the authority of Jesus in my life?

·        What biblical truth am I refusing to believe?

·        What hard question from Jesus am I trying to avoid answering by saying, “I don’t know”?

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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