Read Mark 9:14-37 – https://www.bible.com/bible/59/mrk.9.esv
Mark 9:14-29
As Jesus descended the mountain, He noticed great commotion in the
valley. The crowd ran to meet Him. While Jesus had been with three of
the apostles on the mountain, the others had been unable to cast a demon
out of a boy. Since the apostles had normally been able to cast out
demons (notice Mark 6:13), this failure puzzled them and surprised the
bystanders. Jesus' enemies were taking advantage of this lapse to
discredit Him. The father of the tormented lad asked Jesus to do
something, if He could. The Lord turned his statement back on him: "If
you can! All things are possible to him who believes." The father said
that he believed, but recognizing the possibility that his faith was not
as strong as it needed to be, he begged Jesus to help his unbelief.
With that, Christ commanded the unclean spirit to leave the boy. The
demon cried out and threw the boy into convulsions, but left. Later, the
disciples asked why they had been unable to cast out the demon. Jesus
explained that they were not relying on God enough, but on their own
power: "This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.” Perhaps their
prior success in expelling demons had caused them to be self‐reliant,
and they had neglected to pray in faith to God so that He would cast out
the demon.
1. What problem did the man's son have? Answer: He was possessed by a _____ that caused him to be mute.
2. What happened when Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit (demon)? The
spirit (demon): a) cried out, b) convulsed or tore him, c) came out, d)
all of the preceding. Answer: _____
Summary: Time and again the disciples demonstrated a lack of clear spiritual understanding. They saw Jesus multiply loaves and fishes, but failed to see that He could handle another food emergency. Peter affirmed that Jesus was the Christ, but thought it best to give Him some needed "advice." He believed Jesus was great, but on the same level with Moses and Elijah. The nine disciples in the valley boldly attempted to expel a demon, but without relying on the Lord. They were like those formerly blind who even now saw men like trees walking.
Mark 9:30-37
Please read the text in your Bible as you study each part of the lesson.
Jesus wanted to prepare His disciples for the tragedy that was nearing.
He warned them that He would be betrayed into men's hands and be
killed, but encouraged them by announcing that three days later He would
rise again. The disciples did not understand; they were too busy
arguing about who would be the greatest in Jesus' coming kingdom.
Knowing what they had been disputing, Jesus took a child into His arms
and used him as a model of the humility that should characterize
disciples. It must have disappointed Him greatly to see the disciples
vying for power while He was preoccupied with His coming suffering.
3. What did Jesus predict was going to happen to Him? Answer: Men
would ____ Him, but on the third day He would _____from the dead.
4. About what subject were the disciples arguing? Answer: They disputed about which of them was the _____.
5. What did Jesus say one should do, if he wants to be first of all
(v35)? Answer: He should be the _____ of all and the _____ of all.