SOURCE FOR QUESTIONS
Mark 4:1 through 8:38

‍KEY VERSE FOR MEMORIZATION
“And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.” (Mark 8:29)

BACKGROUND

Chapters 4-8 of the Book of Mark focus on proving to believers among the Greek-speaking residents of the Roman Empire that Jesus was indeed the Son of God. A selection of parables is given, although in keeping with Mark’s stress on action, he presented fewer of Jesus’ teachings but proportionately more accounts of His miracles than did the writers of the other Gospels.

Jesus’ credibility was established in these five chapters by accounts of His power over nature, disease and physical disabilities, the antagonism of the Pharisees and scribes, and evil spirits.

In this portion of text, Jesus continued to minister in the region of Galilee and, as recorded in chapter 7, He also reached out into the surrounding areas such as Tyre, Sidon, and Caesarea-Philippi. By ministering in Phoenicia, where Tyre and Sidon were located, Jesus established that His ministry was to all people — first to the Jews, but also to the Gentiles. In addition to performing miracles and teaching in parables, He expanded His outreach by commissioning and sending out the disciples.

The people of Jesus’ own town of Nazareth did not accept Him as God’s Son, nor did the religious leaders. Yet Peter, speaking for the disciples, made the profound declaration that Jesus was the Christ, the promised Messiah from God.

At the end of chapter 8, Jesus gave the disciples His first prediction of His death.

QUESTIONS

1. Mark 4:2 indicates that Jesus taught many things by parables. Given the importance of Christ’s teachings, why do you think He chose to use this method?
   
2. What can we learn from Christ’s demeanor and actions in the midst of the sea storm? Mark 4:35-41
   
3. In Mark chapter 5, we are given three accounts of healing. In what ways are these three instances different from each other?
   
4. How are the miracles referred to in the previous question similar?
   
5. Mark 6:33-44 records another amazing miracle of Jesus’. Far away from the city in a desert place, a crowd of five thousand men, plus women and children, had been listening to Jesus teach. With evening approaching, the people needed food. What solution did the disciples first propose? What lessons can we learn from studying Jesus’ response to the situation?
   
6. In Mark 7:1-13, a delegation of Pharisees and scribes confronted Jesus, finding fault with His disciples for eating with “unwashen hands.” Jesus rebuked the accusers by making several charges against them. Note at least three behaviors He condemned.
   
7. When Jesus warned His disciples of the “leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod” (Mark 8:15), the disciples thought He literally meant bread. What did He really mean, and why did He give this warning?  
   
8. In Mark 8:34-38, Jesus revealed the cost of true discipleship. In verse 34, He said to His followers, “Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” What are some ways we can fulfill that challenge in our lives?

CONCLUSION

Christ revealed Himself openly while on earth.
He also reveals Himself openly to us through His Word and the Holy Spirit. Let us determine to learn and uphold the truths He shows us about Himself!