Bible

In the Bible room today, we continue reading the book of Mark with Session 2, the summaries of chapters 5 through 8.

____________________________________

Mark

Session 2 of 4

Chapter 5. Faith

Jesus and His disciples ride the boat to the other side of the lake:

• They arrive to the land of the Gadarenes;
• There, a man with an unclean spirit meets them onshore;
• This man is uncontrollable by any ordinary means;
• Jesus orders the unclean spirit to come out of the man;
• This spirit tells Jesus his name is Legion as they are many;
• Jesus sends the spirits out of the man, into a herd of swine;
• The entire herd plunges into the lake, drowning;
• The now-normal man asks if he can become a disciple;
• Jesus declines, but tells him to go share his story in town;
• Back across the lake Jesus encounters a man named Jairus;
• A religious leader, he asks Jesus to come heal his daughter;
• Jesus agrees, as a large crowd again gathers around Him;
• On their way, a woman in the crowd touches Jesus’s clothes;
• She has been sick with a blood disease for twelve years;
• Instantly, she is healed; Jesus says her faith has healed her;
• Meanwhile, word comes that Jairus’s daughter has died;
• Jesus says she is just sleeping; tells him to keep believing;
• At Jairus’s house, Jesus heals the little girl.

Chapter 6. Repent

Jesus returns to His hometown, begins teaching on the sabbath:

• In the synagogue, the leaders are astonished;
• They ask: Isn’t this the carpenter we all know?
• They wonder how He has received all His wisdom;
• And they are offended at His mighty works;
• Jesus says a prophet has no honor in His own country;
• He sends out His disciples two by two to preach;
• He grants them power over demons and to heal the sick;
• They are to tell the people they need to repent;
• Meanwhile, the king has ordered the death of John the Baptist;
• And to bring his head on a platter to the king’s daughter;
• Hearing this, the disciples go bury the body of John the Baptist;
• Jesus calls them to take a break and rest with Him in a boat;
• But many people see Him and begin gathering on the shore;
• Having compassion, He starts speaking to this large crowd;
• Near the end of the day, He tells his disciples to feed them;
• They tell Him they only have five loaves and two fish;
• Jesus blesses the bread and fish, divides it among the disciples;
• They feed the crowd of five thousand men plus their families;
• Twelve baskets of food remain; He sends the people away;
• He tells the disciples to take the boat across the lake;
• It’s a very windy night when Jesus walks on the water;
• He tells them to not be afraid, gets in the boat with them;
• Then, the wind stops, and they are amazed at Him;
• They’re still wondering how He fed that crowd of people;
• Across the lake, they anchor at a region called Gennesaret;
• There, Jesus is again swarmed by a multitude of people;
• Everyone who touches Him is made well.

Chapter 7. Traditions

Jesus tells the Pharisees they are hypocrites:

• They have come out from Jerusalem to criticize Jesus;
• The disciples have been seen eating with unwashed hands;
• That is, they haven’t washed their hands in a certain manner;
• So, they ask Jesus why the disciples ignore these traditions;
• He says the prophet Isaiah wrote about the coming hypocrites;
• That they would replace the Law of God with their traditions;
• Jesus told the crowd around Him to listen to His words;
• What goes into a man does not defile him; it’s what comes out;
• From within a man’s heart comes out all the evil thoughts;
• A woman asks Jesus to remove a demon from her daughter;
• After she feeds her children, Jesus says the demon has left;
• Back at Galilee, Jesus heals a deaf mute;
• He tells everyone to keep this secret, but they will not.

Chapter 8. Secrets

About four thousand people are following Jesus, and they are hungry:

• The disciples have seven loaves of bread and a few small fish;
• Jesus gives thanks, divides the food among the disciples;
• They feed the crowd and seven large baskets of food remain;
• Later, the Pharisees come to argue with Jesus, ask for a sign;
• He says there will be no sign, then He leaves in the boat;
• The disciples are concerned as they forgot to bring food;
• Jesus reminds them of His feeding the two large crowds;
• He says they have ears but do not hear, eyes but don’t see;
• At Bethsaida a blind man is brought to Jesus for healing;
• Jesus heals his eyes, then tells him to keep this a secret;
• On the road, Jesus asks His disciples who they say He is;
• Peter says Jesus is the Christ; Jesus says keep this a secret;
• Then He begins to tell them the things that will happen;
• About the elder’s rejection of Him, His death, His resurrection.

End of Session 2 of 4 of the book of Mark.