Lessons on Discipleship in the Book of Mark
Explore the teachings of Jesus in the Book of Mark regarding discipleship, self-denial, taking up the cross, and following Him. Reflect on the challenges and rewards of being a follower of Christ, as well as the encounters of the disciples with Jesus and their growth in understanding His identity and mission.
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The Book of Mark Lesson 7 Teaching Disciples: Part I
Memory Text Mark 8:34 NKJV When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. How many new recruits do you think Jesus would get with this description of discipleship? What would it mean to those who heard these words: take up your cross? How does a disciple deny himself?
Overview Mark ends the first part of his book, in which he has provided evidence for who Jesus is and what authority He has, with Peter s confession that He is the Messiah. The second part opens with preparing His disciples for His departure and teaching them what kind of Messiah He is. Seeing Clearly or Not Rules for Discipleship Mountain and Valley Who s the Greatest Summary
Seeing Clearly What is unusual about the healing of the blind man that only Mark records? (Mark 8:23-25) How does Mark record the climax of the first half of his book documenting who Jesus is? (Mark 8:27-30) How important is this question of who is Jesus? (Acts 4:12; John 14:6) If Jesus were to ask this question of you, what , if anything, would you add to Peter s response? Who is Jesus to you?
Or Not so Clearly What new direction does the teaching of Jesus take after Peter s confession? (Mark 8:31- 33) What would justify the strong rebuke of Peter, calling him Satan and ordering him away? What lessons can we learn from Peter s experience here, first being commended by Jesus and then rebuked?
Rules for Disciples How did Jesus describe the cost and rewards of the kingdom He was building as Messiah? (Mark 8:34-38)
Mountain and Valley What did Moses and Elijah talk to Jesus about on the Mount of Transfiguration? (Luke 9:30-31) Why Moses and Elijah and how did they defeat death to appear there? What should we take away from the Father s words about His Son? What is Peter s testimony about the transfiguration in his second epistle? In healing the demon possessed boy that the disciples could not heal, what was Jesus looking for in the heart of the father? (Mark 9:22-24)
Whos the Greatest? How did Jesus answer the question that the disciples argued about on the way? (Mark 9:35) How did Jesus illustrate the servant attitude needed for greatness in the kingdom? (Mark 9:36) What did Jesus teach about being a stumbling block to these little ones? (Mark 9:42) What did Jesus teach His disciples about the sinfulness of sin? (Mark 9:43,48)
Summary Mark s gospel divides into two halves: the first documenting who Jesus is and the second documenting His journey to Jerusalem for His passion. The first half reaches its climax with Peter s confession that Jesus is the Messiah of God. This confession is introduced by a miracle in which Jesus heals a blind man in stages. Many believe this to be an enacted parable that illustrates the truth that no man sees all of God s truth all at once. This was certainly true of Peter who confessed the truth for the disciples that Jesus was the Messiah of God, but then became a tool of Satan to renew the temptation for Jesus to take the kingdom with out going to the cross.
Summary We all need that second healing touch of Jesus to give us clearer spiritual vision. Jesus rules of discipleship turned the values of the world upside down. He was honest about the cost of discipleship as well as the rewards. His disciples were to deny themselves, die to self in order to live for Him, lose their life for Christ s sake and the gospel in order to save it, trade all the world offers them for all that God offers them in Christ. As Bonhoffer wrote, When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die. Death to self describes the total commitment Jesus desires to see in each of His disciples.
Summary In times of doubt, let us remember the exchange between Jesus and the father of the demon possessed boy: All things are possible for one who believes. I believe, help my unbelief. In God s kingdom, the servant of all is the greatest of all. Our servant leadership emulates Christ s example and brings glory to God not ourselves. God is looking for the helplessness and trust of a child in each of us who would enter the heavenly family. In terms that are unmistakable and unforgettable, Jesus warned us not to be a stumbling block to the weak and to deal with sin before it destroys us. How would you answer Jesus question: Who do You say that I am?
Mark 8:23-25 ESV And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, "Do you see anything?" 24 And he looked up and said, "I see people, but they look like trees, walking." 25Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. [R]
Mark 8:27-30 ESV And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" 28And they told him, "John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets." 29And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Christ." 30And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him. [R]
Acts 4:12; John 14:6 (NKJV) 12Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. 6Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. [R]
Mark 8:31-33 ESV And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man. [R]
Mark 8:34-38 ESV And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. 36For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." [R]
Luke 9:30-31 ESV And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, 31who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. [R]
Mark 9:22-24 ESV And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." 23And Jesus said to him, "'If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes." 24Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief! [R]
Mark 9:35 ESV And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, "If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all. [R]
Mark 9:36-37 ESV And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37"Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me. [R]
Mark 9:42 ESV "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. [R]
Mark 9:43, 48 ESV And if your hand [foot, eye] causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands [feet, eyes] to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. ... 48 'where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.' [R]
