Take up your cross: a study on Mark 8:31-9:39

As we begin to look at the second half of Mark’s Gospel, we are looking at a new emphasis. The first half was concerned with who Jesus was (and is). The second half is concerned with what he came to do and the implications of that for what we do and how we do it. The two halves intersect here. Who is Jesus? He is the Christ (Mark 8:29). What did he come to do? He came to be rejected, suffer, die and be raised. (Mark 8:31).

Question 1

1)      Read 8:34-37. If you were told that joining a club required that you would be prepared to suffer and become a condemned criminal, would you be anxious to join. Do you think that it would be a good way to attract people to Christianity? Do you think it’s a legitimate way to describe the prospects of a Christian?

2)      The word translated as “life” in verse 35,36 is “psyche”. It’s the same word that was used in the Greek translation of Genesis for “living being” (Genesis 2:70). What could we lose if we try to save our life instead of letting Jesus saving it?

Question 2 A promise

1)      Read Mark 9:1. This is a fantastic promise for some talking to Jesus at that moment? What are the implications of:-

a.       “Some standing here who will not taste death”. Does it suggest a period in which the promise would be kept?

b.       “see the kingdom of God come with power”. Does this suggest an impressive sight?

2)      Can you think of an event that seems to fulfil this promise?

Question 3 Seeing Jesus in his glory

1)      Read Mark 9:2-13) Who were those present on the high mountain?

a.       What do Peter, James and John represent? Note that 3 named people went up on Mt Sinai with Moses (Exodus 24:1-2) Do they represent the people of the new covenant?

b.       Why are Moses and Elijah present? Some scholars say that Moses and Elijah represent the law and the prophets respectively. Others point to the roles envisioned for them in the last days.

i.      When Jesus asked the disciples who people said he was, what was the answer?
(Mark 8:28).

1.       Why were they significant?

a.       Elijah. (Malachi 4:5). See also Mark 9:11-13

b.       Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15; Matthew 17:10-13)

2.       Moses and Elijah represent the Old Covenant and are associated with the last days. See above

c.       If there are representatives of the Old and New Covenant present and the circumstances remind us of Mt Sinai, who does this indicate that Jesus is?

d.       God speaks as he did at Mt Sinai (cloud and all). (Exodus 24:15-16) What is the significance of his endorsement of Jesus in the light of Peter’s rebuke of Jesus. (Mark 8:32).

2)      Why did Jesus tell Peter, James and John not to tell anyone what they had seen? (Mark 9:9)

3)      Peter’s reaction is to build huts. It may be to make those present comfortable. It may be the association with the Exodus and the last days so that Peter was wanting to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles when booths were erected to be a reminder of wilderness housing in the Exodus. Jesus rejects the offer.

a.       Moses, Elijah and Jesus are not equal

i.      Note God’s affirmation of Jesus as what? (Mark 9:7)

ii.      What is the description of the transfigured Jesus meant to indicate? (Deuteronomy 24:15-17; Mark 8:38b)

4)      Could the transfiguration be the fulfilment of the promise in Mark 9:1? Is it more likely to be something after the resurrection when some of the disciples have died?

5)      Does the transfiguration make any difference to your understanding of Jesus’ identity and role?

Question 4 – The faith of a father and the faith of the disciples

1)      Read Mark 9:14-29. Who are the characters in this story other than Jesus and the possessed boy?

2)      Who answers Jesus’ question (verse 16)? Why do you think that the disciples didn’t answer? (see verse 28)

3)      What is Jesus’ response to the non-healing of the possessed boy? (verse 19)

a.       Does this apply to the disciples? How does their lack of faith show? (verse 18).

i.      Do we always get healing/saving if we have enough faith?
(Mark 14:33-36; 2 Corinthians 12:6-8)

b.       Does this apply to the father of the boy? How does his doubt show? (verse 22)

4)      What is the boy’s father’s cry? (verse 24)

a.       Can you identify with it?

b.       Why is it sufficient for Jesus to be willing to heal the boy?

5)      What is the disciples’ question and why is it asked in private? (Verse 28)

a.       Can you identify with this question?

b.       How does Jesus’ answer help?

i.      Do you think that the disciples had not prayed? If not, why not?

ii.      Would the father’s cry qualify as a prayer?

iii.      Where does the power for anything we ask for come from? Is it vested in us and our position or role or somewhere else?

iv.      What does the act of prayer express? 

Question 5

In this section of Mark we have seen again that the disciples continually fail to understand Jesus and thus fail to trust him. How do these narratives address that issue? Do you think that your understanding is greater than the disciples? Why?