The Gospel Of Mark Bible Study Lesson 78

The Gospel Of Mark Bible Study Lesson 78:

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 19:26 NIV 
Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

     

Psalm 6:9 NIV
The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer.

Romans 12:12 NIV 
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Colossians 4:2 NIV 
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful 

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

Mark 14:32-42

Read the passages below:

Mark 14:32-42 NIV

Gethsemane

    ³²They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." ³³He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. ³⁴"My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch."

    ³⁵Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. ³⁶"Abba,^[a] Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."

    ³⁷Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? ³⁸Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

    ³⁹Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. ⁴⁰When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.

    ⁴¹Returning the third time, he said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴²Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"

Scripture Links:   Matthew 26:36-46  /  Luke 22:39-46        

The Garden of Gethsemane is one of the sacred places in the Christian tradition. It is still rich today in olive trees hundreds of years old and it is possible that these may be shoots of the same trees that witnessed Jesus' last night before his arrest. Gethsemane is derived from the Hebrew expression Gat Shemen which means olive press, a reference to the natural abundance of these trees and to the presence of oil presses in the region.
Gethsemane holds an important place in the Gospel story, since Jesus spent there the night before his arrest, after eating the Last Supper with his disciples.

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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 14:32-42

1.    Content: What is this passage about?

·        Jesus agonizes in prayer in Gethsemane while Peter, James and John sleep.

Who are the people if any?

·        Jesus and His disciples.

    What are they doing?

·        Jesus and His disciples go to a place called Gethsemane.

·        Peter, James and John are the disciples Jesus took with Him.

      

 Where does this take place?

·        The Garden of Gethsemane.

When does this take place?

·        After the Last Supper.

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

·        Only in prayer can I draw strength and submerge my will into the Father’s will in my crisis.

Is there a warning, command or promise?

·        Jesus tells His disciples to sit down while He went on a little further to pray.

·        Jesus tells His disciples to “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

·        Jesus tells His disciples that “The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"

Is there an example to follow or not to follow?

·        Jesus prayed to the Father. He was distressed and troubled at the time because He was aware of the circumstances He was about to face.  We should also go to God in prayer first in order to get comfort and discernment about any situation we are dealing with.  

·        Even though he told His disciples to sit and wait while He prayed, Jesus’ disciples fell asleep. Jesus warns us to be alert and to pray because if we are not alert and lose the proper perspective, “fall asleep”, we leave ourselves open to the enemy. (Read verse below)

1 Peter 5:8 NIV 
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

·        Even though Jesus asks the Father to find an alternative to the intense suffering He was about to go through, Jesus still wanted to remain in God’s will.  Even though we may suffer for living the Christian life, we need to be obedient to God and remain in His will.

·        Jesus understood that God had the power and authority to remove the cup “The cross” from Him. We need to understand that even though we may pray for a particular outcome, God will move forward with His purpose. We must remain a willing participant like Jesus, even though God’s plan may be different from ours.

·        Jesus understood well God’s power and authority. We need to be aware and respect of the sovereignty and the power of God.

·        Jesus understood the power of prayer. One of the greatest spiritual weapons we have is prayer.

Here are some verses about prayer:

Ephesians 6:18 NIV

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV

Pray without ceasing.

2 Corinthians 10:4 NIV

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

·        If we claim to know God and say we are followers of Christ, yet live no different than the world, aren’t we in a sense are betraying Christ since our claims are false and we don’t represent Him in spirit and truth?

John 4:23 NIV
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.

What are the main points in this passage?

·        Because Jesus is fully human as well as fully God He became distressed about the suffering He was about to face. Jesus goes and prays to the Father for a possible alternative to His suffering but confirms that He wants to do God’s will.

·        Jesus said this about how He was feeling: "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,"

·        Jesus’ disciples are told to wait for Him while He goes to pray. The disciples keep falling asleep.

·        Jesus warns His disciples about how sleeping and not keeping watch can draw them away from God and the purpose and mission they have been given. “Falling asleep”, not staying close to God and His Word, leaves the disciples open to temptation from the enemy. For example after Jesus was arrested the disciples scattered.

Matthew 26:31 NIV 
Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: " 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' 

Jesus’ disciples scattered and hid from fear that they too would be arrested.

Matthew 26:56 NIV

But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

Fear gripped the disciples because they did not pray.

·        After Jesus finds His disciples asleep for the third time He warns them that the time has come for Him to be betrayed.

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

·        Jesus willingly took the cup. He went to the cross in obedience to the Father in order to fulfill God’s plan of Salvation.

·        We can all fall asleep spiritually and fall into temptation if we are not committed to following Jesus daily by praying and staying in God’s Word.

·        Pray is the most important spiritual weapon we have.

·        Prayer connects us with God in a deep and intimate way.

·        If we want to know God’s will we need to pray asking God for direction and discernment for our lives. (Read scripture below)

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.  

 Matthew 7:7-8 NIV

Ask, Seek, Knock

 "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.

    Why did God put this passage in the Bible?

·        To show us that Jesus was the ultimate example of obedience to God.  Even though Jesus was about to go through great suffering He willingly carried out His mission.

·        To remind us the importance in staying connected to God.

·        To remind us that prayer will help us stay connected to God’s will.

·        To remind us that the enemy wants to distract us from God.

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

A.   His attributes: 

·        Fully God, Fully man, Obedient, Son of Man.

     B. His ways of relating/communicating to people:     

·        Through personal interaction and with His emotions.

·        Jesus sought comfort from His disciples by relating to them His inner most feelings.

     C. His emotions:

·        Jesus was distressed, troubled and overwhelmed with sorrow.

D. His views:

·        We must not fall asleep and let our guard down lest we be drawn into temptation.

       E. Reasons for us to love Him more:  

·        Jesus is our example of obedience to God. He went to the cross for us even though He would face great suffering.

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

·        Do I take time to think about what Jesus suffered before the cross for me?

·        Who has asked me to stand with them in prayer, and am I praying?

·        Do I truly want God’s will in my present crisis, or do I want my own?

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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