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Does a particular question or verse stand out to you? Feel free to comment responses to any and all questions you think are particularly interesting or challenging! Also, if you have additional questions you think other’s would benefit from, feel free to add them in the comments.
Day 1: Mark 5:1-20
Note: The region of the Gerasenes is a Gentile area, so this man and this crowd are likely not Jewish.
- Remember Mark 4:41. Why do you think the demons recognize who Jesus is but His disciples do not understand it?
- What did the demon possessed man do when he saw Jesus?
- In what name does the demon plead with Jesus?
- What was the town’s response to the healing?
- Do we respond to Jesus this way sometimes?
- What does Jesus tell the man to do as he leaves?
- How is this different or similar to what he has said to those he has healed in the past?
- Why would it be significant here that the man is likely a Gentile?
- At the end of this story, who is it better to be: The man who had been possessed by demons but now believes and wants to be with Jesus or the townspeople who asked Jesus to leave?
- This man went from being a complete outcast of society, naked (Matthew 5:15), living in tombs, to a perfectly sane witness for the power of Christ.
- Do we have other examples of this kind of extreme witness in the Bible?
- Do you think there is anything you’ve done that Jesus couldn’t redeem?
Research Question: Compare this parable to the account in Luke 8:26-39. What is similar and what is different?
Day 2: Mark 5:21-42
Note: This story is a Markan Sandwich. Take note of the interruption of one story with another, the markers that draw our attention to the connections between the stories and the possible theological implications Mark is attempting to show us.
- Who was Jairus?
- Is his daughter alive at this point?
- A bleeding wound would have meant this woman was considered unclean until the bleeding stopped. (Leviticus 15:19-31) She would not have been allowed to enter the temple. What would that have meant for her?
- How long had the woman been bleeding?
- What else makes her vulnerable? (Luke 8:43)
- Was she the only person touching Jesus?
- What was different?
- Augustine once said about this story “The flesh presses…faith touches.” What are your thoughts on his reflection?
- What makes her well: touching the robe or her faith in Jesus?
- What do we need to be healed of our brokenness: works or faith in Jesus?
- Does this always happen on earth or do we sometimes have to wait for heaven? (Read 2 Corinthians 12:6-10)
- What is similar about this woman and the man with the demons in verses 1-20?
- Why do you think Jesus says she is not dead, but just asleep?
- How old was the girl?
- What instructions does Jesus give the girl and her family?
Research Question: Compare the story and faith of Jairus to the story of the Roman Centurion in Luke 7:1-10. What is similar and what is different? What request does each man make and how does Jesus respond?
Day 3: Mark 6:1-12
- What do the people of his town ask?
- How do they feel about his wisdom and power?
- What are the names of Jesus’ family members?
- Have you ever experienced something like this?
- Is there a difference between doubt, no belief and unbelief?
- What might be the benefits of sending out the disciples in pairs?
- Who can give someone else the authority to cast out demons?
- Can anyone else make this claim?
- What are the disciples not supposed to bring?
- Why do you think that may be?
- When, during this part of Jesus’ ministry, should they abandon a town?
- Read Acts 20:26-27 and Romans 1:15-16
- What is our job?
- What if people don’t listen?
Day 4: Mark 6:13-29
- How did Mark know this story? Is it an eyewitness account? (Read Luke 8:3)
- Who do people say Jesus is?
- Who does Herod say Jesus is?
- Why did Herod arrest John?
- Did John do the right or the wrong thing for calling out Herod’s immorality?
- Can we call out immorality in our leaders?
- How did Herod feel about John?
- How did Herodias get Herod to kill John?
- Should we promise things without knowing what they are?
- Are there other examples of this in the Bible?
- What happened to John’s body?
Day 5: Mark 6:30-44
- What do Jesus and the disciples do after their ministry travels?
- How does Jesus feel about the crowd?
- What request do the disciples make of Jesus?
- How does he respond?
- How does Jesus ask us to do this in our lives?
- Did Jesus provide an extravagant meal or a simple one?
- Read Matthew 6:11 and Matthew 6:25-34
- Does God promise us extravagant earthly gifts or simple ones we need?
- How many men were fed?
- How many estimated people total?
- If anyone left hungry, was it because there wasn’t enough or because they rejected the gift?
- Read John 6:35, then read Mark 6:30-44 again.
- Does this add an element to the story to consider?
- What do you think the main message Jesus is communicating with this miracle?
Day 6: Mark 6:45-56
- What town were they outside of for the feeding of 5,000? (Mark 6:45)
- Read John 6:1-15
- Does John’s account of this story mention the town, Bethsaida?
- Focus on John 6:5. Why would Jesus ask Philip? (Read John 1:44, this is another undesigned coincidence)
- Why do you think Jesus was walking on the water?
- How did the disciples feel when they saw him?
- Why were the disciples totally amazed?
- Who was healed by Jesus?
Not a Theologian 