Mark lesson 1
Read Mark 1:1-15 – https://www.bible.com/bible/59/mrk.1.esv
Mark 1:1-‐8
In the very first verse, Mark announced that he would write about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is surprising, therefore, that he did not start out by telling about Jesus Himself; instead, he described the work of John the Baptist. This was because John was to prepare the way for Jesus. John fulfilled this mission by preaching to get people ready for the coming of the Lord. John's message focused on two themes that will help us get ready to receive Christ. First, he preached about repentance. To repent means to decide to change. John was telling his hearers that they had to reverse their life's direction to get ready for Christ; those unwilling to change could not come to Him. Second, John declared the greatness of Jesus. He said Jesus was so great that he himself was not even worthy to stoop down and untie His shoes. This was an amazing declaration because one does not have to have much worth to untie somebody's shoes. In fact, in John's day, untying shoes was considered to be a slave's lowest duty -‐ John wasn't worthy to be Jesus' humblest slave! So, for us to be ready to receive Jesus, we must repent (change our lives) and recognize His awesome greatness.
1. John came to prepare the way for whom? (a) Moses, (b) Mohammed, (c) Jesus, (d) Peter. Answer:
2. What word in our study means "to decide to change"? Answer: The word is
3. John said he was unworthy to: a) untie Jesus' shoes; b) carry Jesus' bags; c) stand beside Jesus; d) talk to Jesus. Answer:
Mark 1:9-15
Just like thousands of others, Jesus came to John to be baptized. But as He emerged from the water, something startling occurred: The Holy Spirit came down upon Him in the form of a dove and a voice from heaven said. "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." God was showing His approval of Jesus in a dramatic way. Then Jesus entered the wilderness where the devil tempted Him. While Matthew and Luke provide more specific information about the temptations (Matthew 4; Luke 4), Mark's brief account shows two things. First, Jesus experienced temptation as all men do. Second, doing what pleases God, as Jesus did when He was baptized, does not exempt one from temptation. Satan often intensifies his efforts when a person begins to serve God.
4. What two amazing things happened when Jesus was baptized? Answer: The _____ came on Him in a form like a dove, and a voice spoke from ______saying, "This is my beloved Son."
5. Where was Jesus baptized (v9)? Answer: He was baptized in the _____ River.
6. For how many days was Jesus tempted by Satan in the wilderness (v13; cf. Luke 4:1,2)? Answer: ____ days (give
a number).
7. What message did Jesus preach (v15)? Answer: He told people to repent and believe in the _____