Passion week – Michelle Lesley

Mark: Lesson 22

October 11, 2017April 4, 2019 Michelle Lesley

Previous Lessons: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21

Mark 14:53-72

And they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. ⁵⁴And Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire. ⁵⁵Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. ⁵⁶For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree. ⁵⁷And some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying, ⁵⁸“We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’” ⁵⁹Yet even about this their testimony did not agree. ⁶⁰And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” ⁶¹But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” ⁶²And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” ⁶³And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? ⁶⁴You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death. ⁶⁵And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards received him with blows.

⁶⁶And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came, ⁶⁷and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” ⁶⁸But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway and the rooster crowed. ⁶⁹And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” ⁷⁰But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” ⁷¹But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” ⁷²And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

Questions to Consider

1. Briefly review lesson 21 (link above) for context.

2. List the various people and groups named in verses 53-55 who assembled to hear testimony against Jesus. Describe the ideas, people, or positions these people/groups represented, and why each of them might have wanted Jesus killed (55). Consider past interactions Jesus had with them (you might want to review previous lessons to refresh your memory) as well as the religio–political climate of the day.

3. Was the Council (Sanhedrin) seeking honest, accurate testimony about Jesus so they could arrive at a just verdict about Him? (55) What kind of testimony did they receive? (55-57,59) What would the Council’s verdict about Jesus have been if they had not been driven by an agenda and had received honest testimony? (55) Compare verse 58 with John 2:18-22. What did Jesus mean by this statement, and how were the “lie-witnesses” trying to twist His words?

4. In a few sentences, describe the general way Jesus was treated by the Council, witnesses, and others present in verses 53-65. How did Jesus react and respond? (60-62) Why didn’t Jesus defend Himself when verbally (56-60) and physically (65) attacked? What was Jesus’ ultimate mission and how might defending Himself have distracted Himself and others from that mission?

5. Compare the way Jesus was treated in verses 53-65 with these passages. What kind of treatment from unbelievers can followers of Jesus expect? Why? Word of Faith heresy teaches that those who have enough faith will receive wealth, adulation, and success, and that if you experience problems or suffering in your life, it’s because you don’t have enough faith. How does the suffering the perfectly faithful Jesus experienced (and the passages about Jesus’ followers suffering) blow that false teaching out of the water?

6. Jesus said, in Luke 6:45, “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” List some of the “evil treasures” (contempt, hatred, etc.) that came out in the words and actions of the “evil people” in verses 53-65. How did Jesus demonstrate the following attributes (and others you might observe) in this passage: longsuffering, love, meekness, mercy, self-control? Read Matthew 5:43-48. How did Jesus “practice what He preached” in verses 53-65?

7. Describe in your own words what’s going on with Peter in this passage. (54, 66-72) Compare this scene with Peter to Jesus’ earlier prophecy about this event in 14:27-31. How does this demonstrate Jesus’ omniscience, deity, and office of Prophet? Observe this fulfilled prophecy in light of what Jesus was ordered to do at the end of verse 65.

8. How does Peter keep physical/geographical distance between himself and Jesus in verses 54, 66, 68? As the moments go by, is Peter getting (physically) closer to Jesus or farther away from Him? How does Peter distance himself relationally from Jesus in verses 68, 70, 71? As the evening passes, is Peter drawing closer to Jesus, relationally, or increasingly distancing himself? How does Peter’s physical proximity to Jesus mirror his relational proximity to Jesus?

9. Considering what was simultaneously happening to Jesus (53-65), why did Peter deny knowing Jesus? What might he have been afraid would happen to him if he admitted being Jesus’ disciple? What went through Peter’s heart and mind when the rooster crowed the second time? (72) Have you ever – maybe more subtly – denied knowing Jesus or hidden the fact that you were a Christian? Why? What were you afraid would happen? Was this a good reason to conceal your relationship with Christ or distance yourself from Him? Have you repented of this?

10. Compare 14:27-31 and 54, 66-72 in light of what Jesus said in 14:38: “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” How was Peter’s spirit willing in the earlier passage and his flesh weak in the latter passage?

11. As Mark is “God’s good news for the Gentiles,” imagine you’re a first century Gentile reading today’s passage. What impression does this passage give you of Peter? The Jewish rulers? The way Jesus responded to persecution and abandonment by His own people? How might the Gentile perception of the way the Jews – including Jesus’ own disciples – treated Jesus at His trials and crucifixion have had an impact on the first century church (made up of both Jews and Gentiles)?

Homework

Meditate on the way Jesus responded to persecution and mistreatment in verses 53-65. Recall an incident from your own life in which you were persecuted or mistreated by others. List the ways you responded in the same way Jesus did. List the ways you responded that were not Christlike. Is it always necessary, and godly, to defend yourself against attack?

Suggested Memory Verse

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Mark 14:38

Mark Bible Study

Mark: Lesson 21

October 4, 2017April 4, 2019 Michelle Lesley

Previous Lessons: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

Mark 14:26-52

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. ²⁷And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ ²⁸But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” ²⁹Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” ³⁰And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” ³¹But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.

³²And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” ³³And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. ³⁴And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” ³⁵And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. ³⁶And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”³⁷And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? ³⁸Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” ³⁹And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. ⁴⁰And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. ⁴¹And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴²Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

⁴³And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. ⁴⁴Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard.” ⁴⁵And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed him. ⁴⁶And they laid hands on him and seized him. ⁴⁷But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. ⁴⁸And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? ⁴⁹Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.” ⁵⁰And they all left him and fled.

⁵¹And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, ⁵²but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.

Questions to Consider

1. Briefly review lesson 20 (link above) for context.

2. Examine the map below. Trace Jesus’ movements from lesson 20 (the upper room, #1) to the locales in today’s lesson. Where did Jesus and the disciples go first? (26) Next? (32) (Please note: I do not endorse anything on the website cited below that conflicts with my theology as outlined in my Welcome and Statement of Faith tabs above.)

3. Study verses 26-31. How, in this passage, does Jesus demonstrate that He is both a prophet (27,28,30) and the fulfillment of prophecy? (27,49) As you’ll recall from previous lessons, Christ has told the disciples about His impending death many times. Do you get the sense from this passage that they have grasped what is about to happen to Jesus? Compare and contrast the way the disciples believed Jesus’ prophecy of His betrayal (18-19) with their disbelief of His prophecy that they would abandon Him.

4. Read verses 32-42. If Jesus was God, why did He need to pray? How do Jesus’ desire to pray and the words He prayed demonstrate the Trinity – and the agreement within the Trinity – to us? Compare verse 37 to verses 29 and 31. What do you observe about Peter, and why might Jesus have called him “Simon” instead of Peter? In what ways would it have been better in verses 29-31 for Peter and the others to heed Jesus’ admonition of verse 38 than to make the bold pronouncements they made?

5. What was Jesus’ will, or preference, regarding His impending suffering and crucifixion? (36) Was there any way in which Jesus was lacking faith in God as He prayed (or at any moment of His earthly life)? How did God answer Jesus’ prayer? The Word of Faith heresy teaches a) that it is never God’s will for us to suffer and b) that if God does not answer our prayers the way we want Him to it’s because we don’t have enough faith in Him. How does this passage refute these unbiblical teachings? What can we learn from Jesus’ prayer about the right way to pray?

6. Read Philippians 2:8 and Hebrews 12:4 with verse 36. How far was Jesus willing to go to be obedient to God? How does your willingness to obey God stack up to Jesus’ willingness to go even to a torturous death rather than to disobey God? Is your obedience more like the disciples’ willingness to obey but failure to follow through? (29,31,37,40,41) Do you obey God when it’s painful? Inconvenient? Embarrassing? Expensive? Difficult? When it’s not your will?

7. Go over verses 43-52. Why might the posse that came to arrest Jesus have felt the need to be armed (43) and to place Jesus under guard (44)? If the chief priests, scribes, and elders thought Jesus was so dangerous or blasphemous that they needed to put Him to death, how is it that they needed Judas to point Him out to them? (44) Why would they not have recognized Him on sight? (48-49) How is verse 50 the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy in verse 27?

8. Look at verses 51-52 through the lenses of 2 Timothy 3:16-17. God must have thought these details were important enough to include in Scripture, because they’re there. Why do you think God wanted us to know this about the young man? How can we learn, be reproved, corrected, trained for righteousness, made complete, or equipped for every good work by these two verses?

9. Which aspects of spiritual character (ex: obedience, humility, etc.) does Jesus display in today’s passage? What are some specific ways you can emulate Jesus’ spiritual character in your current life circumstances?

Homework

In question 3, we saw that the disciples unquestioningly believed Jesus when He said one of them would betray Him, but didn’t believe Him when He said they would all abandon Him. Why is it so easy to believe some parts of God’s Word and so hard to believe other parts? Identify a verse, passage, or promise of Scripture you struggle to truly believe. Study that passage and its cross references this week, and pray that God will help you to trust Him and believe that part of His Word.

Suggested Memory Verse

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Mark 14:38

Mark Bible Study

Mark: Lesson 20

September 27, 2017April 4, 2019 Michelle Lesley

Previous Lessons: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

Mark 14:1-26

It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him, ²for they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people.”

³And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. ⁴There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? ⁵For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. ⁶But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. ⁷For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. ⁸She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial.⁹And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”

¹⁰Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them.¹¹And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.

¹²And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” ¹³And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him,¹⁴and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ ¹⁵And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” ¹⁶And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

¹⁷And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. ¹⁸And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” ¹⁹They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?” ²⁰He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. ²¹For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”

²²And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” ²³And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. ²⁴And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.²⁵Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

²⁶And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Questions to Consider

1. Briefly review lesson 16 (link above) for the timing of chapter 14. During what time period or “era” of Jesus’ life did the events of chapter 14 take place?

2. Examine verses 1-2. What was the Passover? The Feast of Unleavened Bread? Many aspects of the Passover are types or foreshadowings of the events of Mark 14-16. Is that simply a coincidence? Click the above hyperlink (Exodus 12). How do each of the items below point ahead to Christ and His crucifixion?

♦The male lamb without blemish (3-5, see also)
♦”The whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight” (6, see also)
♦The blood of the lamb (7, Mark 14:24, see also)
♦The doorposts and lintel covered with blood (7, see also)
♦The death of the firstborn for the deliverance of God’s people from slavery (12, see also)
♦God eliminating judgment for those “under the blood” (13,23, see also)

3. Read verses 3-9. Lepers were, according to Levitical law, unclean, and had to live alone, outside the city. How is it that Simon had a home in the city with invited guests? How could Jesus have entered the house of a leper, without breaking the law, and remained clean Himself?

4. What did the woman’s outward actions (3) demonstrate about her heart attitude toward Jesus? What did the objectors’ outward words and actions (4-5) demonstrate about their heart attitude toward Jesus? Was Jesus being self-centered or uncaring about the poor? (6-7) Why was the woman’s anointing of Jesus the right and godly thing to do?

5. Compare and contrast the woman’s honoring of Jesus (3-9) with Judas’ betrayal of Jesus (10-11, 18-21). How did each of them demonstrate the truth of Luke 6:45? What did Jesus say about each of them?

6. What do verses 12-16 and 17-21 teach us about Christ’s deity and omniscience? What does the two disciples’ unquestioning obedience (16), and the disciples’ unquestioning belief (19) tell us about their faith and trust in Christ? Consider your own obedience to Christ and whether or not you believe His Word. What does this tell you, and others, about your faith and trust in Christ? Why do you think Jesus told the disciples that He was about to be betrayed and who would do it? What does Jesus’ statement in verse 21 mean?

7. What was Jesus trying to convey to the disciples in verses 22-26? What was the significance of Jesus giving the bread (22) and the wine (23) to the disciples? Roman Catholic doctrine teaches that when Jesus said “this is My body” and “this is My blood” He meant it literally, and that when Mass is celebrated today, the bread and wine are supernaturally transformed into the literal flesh and blood of Jesus. This is a false teaching called transubstantiation. Were the disciples literally eating Jesus’ flesh and drinking His blood in this passage? How does this (as well as Scripture) demonstrate that Jesus was speaking metaphorically? Can you think of other instances in which Jesus spoke about Himself metaphorically that we do not take literally? If someone were to ask you if you “take the Bible literally,” how would you answer?

8. What was the significance of Jesus saying “this is my blood of the covenant“? (24) Which covenants would the disciples have been familiar with which were sealed with blood? What was this new covenant Jesus was referring to?

Homework

Reflect on the past 24 hours of your life. List three things you said or did and what these outward words and actions demonstrate about your heart attitude toward Jesus.