Mark lesson 20
Read Mark 8:34-9:13 – https://www.bible.com/bible/59/mrk.8.esv
Mark 8:34-9:1
Jesus plainly explained what was required to become His disciple. He
said that you must deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Him.
These requirements are demanding. A person does not naturally deny
himself, but usually does what he wants. Death to self is painful, but
that is exactly the meaning of taking up one's cross. The cross was an
instrument of death-‐-‐to take it up would be to die to oneself and to
one’s own desires to serve Christ. There is no profit in gaining the
entire world, only to lose one's soul in the transaction. It is worth
everything to submit to God's stringent requirements for discipleship.
Note -‐-‐ Deceptive discipleship: Jesus highlighted the requirements for being a disciple because it is so easy to imagine that you are a follower of Jesus when, in fact, you aren't. Discipleship is not mere church membership or moral living. It is total devotion to Jesus Christ. It is to die to self and live 100% for the Lord. Am 1 really Jesus' disciple?
1. Which of the following was not given as a requirement for being a
disciple? a) deny self; b) take up ones cross; c) follow Jesus; d) speak
in tongues. Answer: _____
2. How did Jesus teach the importance of proper priorities? Answer: He
asked what profit a man would have if he could gain the whole _____ but
then lose his own _____
3. Jesus said some of the people standing there would not die before
they saw what (9:1)? Answer: They would not die until they saw the _____
of God come with _____.
Mark 9:2-13.
Jesus had taken three of His closest friends with Him to a high
mountain. There, he began to glow with breathtaking brilliance. Just
then, Elijah and Moses appeared, talking with Jesus. The disciples were
awestruck. Moses was the great Lawgiver, the one who had led Israel out
of Egyptian bondage and through the wilderness. Elijah was a great
prophet, one of two men in the Old Testament who went directly to heaven
without dying. And there they were, talking to Jesus. Peter was
profoundly moved by the occasion and suggested that they build three
tabernacles: one for Jesus, one for Moses and one for Elijah. No doubt
he felt that it would honor Jesus to receive a tabernacle alongside
Moses and Elijah. But God's voice boomed from heaven: “This is My
beloved Son, listen to Him.” Moses and Elijah vanished. Only Jesus
remained. As they descended, Jesus told the disciples not to tell anyone
about what had happened until after He was raised from the dead.
Note -‐-‐ The greatness of Jesus: God’s rebuff of Peter's
suggestion to construct three tabernacles teaches volumes. The problem
with Peter's plan was that it put Jesus on the same level as Moses and
Elijah. He isn't.
Jesus is above everyone-‐-‐in this case, above the greatest figures of
the Old Testament era. Our problem is like Peter's. We often tend to
build multiple tabernacles: One for Jesus and one for our parents. Or
one for Jesus and another for our pastor, for our church, or for a
favorite activity. This won't do. Jesus must have the only tabernacle;
He must be the supreme authority in our life. Nothing else can be on a
par with Him.
4. What two Old Testament characters appeared on the mountain and talked with Jesus? Answer: _____ and _____
5. What did Peter want to do on the mountain when he saw Jesus together with these men? Answer: He wanted to build three_____ .
6. What did the Father then say about Jesus? Answer: He said that Jesus was His _____ so people should _____to Him.
7. When were Peter, James and John permitted to tell about the
transfiguration? Answer: They could tell about it after Jesus had _____
from the _____.