Bible

In the Bible room today, we continue reading the book of Mark with Session 3, the summaries of chapters 9 through 12.

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Mark

Session 3 of 4

Chapter 9. Changed

One day Jesus takes Peter, James, and John to the top of a mountain:

• There, Jesus is changed; His clothes become white like snow;
• Elijah and Moses appear with them, talking to Jesus;
• “This is My beloved Son, hear Him,” said a voice from above;
• Jesus tells them to keep this a secret until His resurrection;
• Back down the mountain Jesus is greeted by a large crowd;
• There is a man who has a son with a mute spirit;
• Jesus says all things are possible if you believe;
• The man says “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief;”
• Jesus orders the spirit to leave the boy, which it does;
• The disciples ask Jesus why they could not remove the spirit;
• He tells them that requires much prayer and fasting;
• Later, Jesus tells the disciples He is going to be killed, but,
• He will come back on the third day; this makes them afraid;
• At Capernaum, Jesus sets them down for a private talk;
• He says anyone who wants to be first, must be a servant of all;
• There is someone casting out demons in the name of Jesus;
• But they are not following Jesus and the disciples;
• Jesus tells John whoever is for them is not against them;
• Anything done in the name of Jesus will be rewarded;
• He says if your hand, or foot, or eye causes you to sin,
• Get rid of them; it’s better to be disabled than to go into hell.

Chapter 10. Testing

Jesus crosses the Jordan and is greeted by a crowd, and some Pharisees:

• They begin testing Jesus with a question about divorce;
• Moses allowed a man to send his wife away with a note;
• Jesus says he did that because of the hardness of their hearts;
• God did not intend for a man to ever divorce his wife,
• Later, the disciples ask Him again about the same subject;
• Jesus says a divorce and remarriage can result in adultery;
• Then, some children are brought to Jesus and He blesses them;
• On the road a man asks Jesus how to have eternal life;
• He says he has kept the commandments his whole life;
• In love, Jesus tells him to sell everything, give it to the poor,
• Sorrowful, the man goes away as he was very wealthy;
• Jesus says this is why it’s difficult for the rich to enter heaven;
• But, He says, with God all things are possible;
• And whoever gives to Him sacrificially will be rewarded
• A hundredfold in this life, and eternal life in the future;
• Back on the road to Jerusalem, Jesus talks to his disciples;
• He tells them He will be treated cruelly in Jerusalem;
• After He has been mocked and whipped, He will be killed;
• Then on the third day He will come back;
• Later, James and John ask Jesus for a personal favor:
• In heaven, they want to sit at each side of Jesus;
• He tells them that is not His decision to make;
• Jesus says to be first one must become a servant;
• Just as He has come not to be served, but to serve;
• Out from Jericho, blind Bartimaeus is begging by the road;
• Jesus tells him: ‘Go your way, your faith has healed you.’

Chapter 11. Hosanna

Jesus and the disciples arrive outside Jerusalem at the Mount of Olives:

• He sends two of them to borrow a never-ridden colt;
• Jesus rides this untamed colt as they walk into the city;
• The people cover the street with clothing and tree branches;
• They welcome Jesus, proclaim “Hosanna in the highest”;
• And “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord”;
• Jesus visits the temple, then He and the twelve leave the city;
• After a night at Bethany, they go back into Jerusalem;
• On their way Jesus, being hungry, curses a barren fig tree;
• In the temple, He drives out the moneychangers;
• Then teaches the people a lesson about the temple;
• The scribes and priests fear Jesus, plot to kill Him;
• The next morning Peter asks Him about the fig tree;
• Jesus says “Have faith in God;”
• “When you pray, if you believe, you will have what you ask;”
• Then He says, “To be forgiven, you must forgive”;
• The elders ask Jesus who gave Him His authority;
• He asks them if John’s baptism was from men or heaven;
• Their reply is: they do not know;
• So, Jesus will not tell them where His authority comes from.

Chapter 12. Cornerstone

Jesus tells a parable about a man who plants a vineyard, and improves it:

• Then he hires some vinedressers to be managers;
• Overtime the owner sends many servants to harvest some fruit;
• They are all beaten, and some are killed;
• Then the owner sends his only son to the vineyard;
• The managers kill him, saying they will then be the owners;
• But the owner will kill them, and give the vineyard to others;
• For it is written: “The stone which the builders rejected,
• Has become the chief cornerstone”;
• The religious leaders knew this parable was against them;
• Some Pharisees ask Jesus if it is lawful to pay taxes to Caesar;
• He says they should give to Caesar what belongs to him;
• Then give to God what belongs to Him;
• The Sadducees claim there is no life after death;
• But they come to Jesus asking Him about marriage after death;
• Jesus says they do not know the scriptures or the power of God;
• Life after death will be like the angels: there is no marriage;
• One of the scribes asks Jesus which commandment is the first;
• Jesus says we are to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind;
• And to love our neighbor as ourselves;
• The scribe agrees, says this truth is greater than the sacrifices;
• Jesus tells him he is getting close to the kingdom of God;
• While Jesus is teaching, He tells the people: beware the scribes;
• They are hypocrites, love to wear long robes, pretend piety;
• They will receive the greater condemnation;
• In the temple, Jesus sees a poor widow giving two mites;
• He says she has given more than all the others.

End of Session 3 of 4 of the book of Mark.