Mark-Lesson 13...Continued from page 1

DAY TWO: Opposition and Compassion

Please carefully read Mark 9:14-24 and answer the following questions.

1.  After the mountaintop experience came the valley, the return to reality.  Waiting for them was an unusual scene.  What was going on at the time (v. 14-18)?

This situation revolved around the failed disciples, the crowd, the father, and the boy.  The crowd interestingly was amazed when they saw Jesus coming; Mark frequently uses similar terms to describe how the people were reacting to Jesus, but this particular word is used only by Mark and only here, in the garden of Gethsemane (14:33), and at the empty tomb (16:5, 6).[v] We probably underestimate how mind-blowing Jesus and His teaching were to the people of His day, being quite radical in the view of the establishment of the day.  He was literally amazing to those who saw and heard Him.  Is He to us?

2.  This poor young man was exceedingly tormented by a demon drastically dominating him.  Some have seen parallels between this type of demonic activity and epilepsy, but epilepsy and demonic possession are distinguished in Matthew 4:24; the parallels could indicate that the spirit gained access to the same centers in the brain where seizures could also be induced by other means.[vi] What was Jesus’ harsh reaction to this, and what happened as the boy was brought to Him (v. 19-22)?

3.  How did Jesus redirect the man’s asking Jesus for help in this, and how did this distraught father respond (v. 23, 24)?

4.  The father’s honest response to Jesus was immediate, laden with emotion; in fact the term cried out means an inarticulate cry, as though he couldn’t get the words out, but honestly asked Jesus to help his unbelief.  That was all Jesus needed to hear, and we’ll see the results tomorrow.  “He declared his faith (I do believe), but also acknowledged its weakness: Help me overcome my unbelief! This brings out an essential element of Christian faith?it is possible only with the help of the One who is its Object.”[vii] We saw that the miracles in the first section of Mark had a theological purpose as well as one to teach His disciples, and this one would too.[viii]  But from this desperate father we learn that we could have all the faith in the world but if it is misplaced it will do no good, but weak faith placed in the One who can respond is all God needs, and He’ll take care of the rest.  How does Luke 17:5, 6 tie in with this?

Scripture Memory:  Try to fill in the missing words in the blanks below, by memory if at all possible, and then review the passage several times today.

Salt is good, but if the salt loses its _____________________, how will you season it? Have ________________ in yourselves, and have _____________________ with one another. Mark 9:50 (nkjv)