Mark 9-16
Beginning with his transfiguration and reaching fever pitch at his trial before the Sanhedrin, Jesus boldly reveals his identity and mission. Along the road to his crucifixion, the unveiled Jesus is confronted by bewildered disciples, cunning elites and astonished onlookers. Jesus repeatedly foretells his fate: being delivered to sinners, killed, and then raised. And he will return in the clouds with great power and glory. Faced with these extraordinary claims, the audience is forced to reckon with the ultimate claim the centurion utters in chapter 15: Jesus truly is the Son of God.
Recommended Resources
Commentaries
The Beginning of the Gospel: A Theology of Mark (New Testament Theology series) → Peter Orr
The Gospel according to Mark (Pillar New Testament Commentaries) → James R. Edwards
The Gospel of Mark (New International Commentary on the New Testament) → William L. Lane
Online Resources
Gospel of Mark Summary: A Complete Animated Overview → BibleProject https://bibleproject.com/videos/mark/
Jesus Rediscovered (Mark Sermon Series) → Dick Lucas https://www.st-helens.org.uk/resources/series/1019/
Rediscovering Jesus (Mark Sermons Series) → Simon Manchester
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5K1SQE3sEIo09XzGzkU5gX
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rediscovering-jesus-with-simon-manchester/id1819720050
Knowing the Bible: Mark → Dane C. Ortlund https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/course/knowing-bible-mark/
Lumo: Gospel of Mark videos → Jesus Film Project https://www.jesusfilm.org/watch/lumo-the-gospel-of-mark.html/english.html
You might watch this word-for-word video of the NIV version of the gospel of Mark instead of reading the whole chapter each week. Or if you put it in your group chat, they could watch it beforehand. It also comes in other languages (e.g. Mandarin).
Dane C. Ortlund, ‘Knowing the Bible: Mark – A 12-week Practical Study Series on the Book of Mark’, The Gospel Coalition | USA, © 2013, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/course/knowing-bible-mark/#week-1-overview
Q&A
Gerard caught up with Moore Theological College lecturer Tom Habib to ask him questions that might come up in each chapter.
Chapter 9
1. What does Jesus mean in verse 1 that ’some standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power’?
2. The boy’s father exclaims, ‘I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief!’ How does this help us understand the nature of believing in Jesus?
Chapter 10
3. Jesus’ teaching to the rich young man (10:21) and about being slave of all (10:44) feels like an incredibly high bar. How do we read these together with simple ‘believe in Jesus and be saved’ kinds of verses in the Bible?
Chapter 11
4. When asked about the cursing of the fig tree, Jesus says ‘whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours’ (11:24). How do you understand this? And how can we practically pray like this?
Chapter 12
5. What does it mean that we ‘will be like the angels in heaven’ with regards to marriage (12:25)? Surely we’ll at least know who our spouse is in heaven - how does it all work?
6. Why does Jesus end his debates with the religious leaders by asking them about Psalm 110? What is he trying to force them to realise about his identity?
Chapter 13
7. It’s hard for us to distinguish between what Jesus says about the destruction of Jerusalem (70 AD) and his final return. How can Growth Groups navigate this chapter without getting lost?
8. Jesus says not even the Son knows the day or the hour (13:32). How does this reconcile with Jesus being God?
Chapter 14 Part 1
9. How should we think about God’s sovereignty and Judas’ responsibility? In 10:21 Jesus says it would have been better if he were never born. Yet in some way, God used him to bring about salvation.
Chapter 14 Part 2
10. In 10:36 Jesus prays, ‘yet not what I will, but what you will'. Does this somehow mean Jesus’ will is different to the Father’s? How does that work?
Chapter 15
11. How are we to understand Jesus' cry, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me’ (15:34)? In what sense is he forsaken? (Surely he can’t ultimately be forsaken if the Father raises him?) Is there somehow a rift in the Trinity here? Does the Father 'turn his face away’ like the song says?
Chapter 16
12. Can you explain the long and short endings of Mark? Why would he leave us hanging with a short ending?