Student handbook WRITTEN BY SIMON SMART
Mistaken
Identity? INVESTIGATING THE REAL JESUS FROM MARK’S GOSPEL
Introduction MARK’S GOSPEL Prologue IS THIS THE ONE?
1 5
MARK 1:1–13
Lesson 1 MISTAKEN IDENTITY
8
MARK 1:14—3:6
Lesson 2 CONFUSION REIGNS
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MARK 3:7—6:6A Published 2005 by CEP. Reprinted 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2016. Second edition 2017. ISBN 978-1-925725-10-0 eISBN 978-1-925725-11-7 Copyright © Christian Education Publications 2005 This resource is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this book may be copied without the written permission of the publisher. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973,
Lesson 3 COLLISION COURSE Lesson 4 TURNING POINT
MAP 26 Lesson 5 KINGDOM LESSONS 28 MARK 8:31—10:52
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MARK 11:1—13:37
Christian Education Publications
Interview WITH MICK Lesson 7 MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
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MARK 8:22–30
Interview WITH RACHEL Lesson 6 INTO THE FURNACE
1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved
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MARK 6:6B—8:21
34 35 41 42
MARK 14:1—15:47
Interview WITH MIKE Epilogue MYSTERY REVEALED!
47 48
MARK 16:1–8
Crossword MARK’S GOSPEL
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Introduction
Mark’s Gospel
WHO WAS MARK?
from Jerusalem and he went with Paul on Paul’s first
It is hard to be sure. The Bible doesn’t tell us. There are various
himself from Mark after a disagreement saw Mark head for
theories about his identity. Some of the clues may be helpful.
home midway through the trip. Later they must have sorted
Christian tradition says that the writer of the Gospel of Mark was the same Mark, or John Mark who appears at different points of the New Testament. If so, then he was
missionary journey (Acts 12:12; 13:1–5). Paul distanced
out their differences because Paul mentions him in some of his letters (Colossians 4:10 and Philemon 24). Mark is thought to have been a close associate of Peter. This is supported by the second-century Bishop of Hierapolis, Papias. A book Papias wrote says that Mark was the author of the Gospel. He says he was not an original follower of Jesus, but became a helper of the apostle Peter. So Mark was probably a close associate of Peter. He is linked with Peter in a number of passages in the New Testament. When Peter escaped from Herod Agrippa he went to Mark’s mother’s house (Acts 12:12). Peter refers to Mark as ‘my son’ in his first letter (1 Peter 5:13). There is good reason to suggest that Mark was able to take the teachings of Peter and weave them into his Gospel account of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
Books were very expensive and ‘oral’ (or spoken) history, was the normal way of learning at the time. Groups of followers, or churches, would meet and listen to the stories of Jesus—the things he said and did.
WHAT IS A GOSPEL?
As the years went by, the apostles and eyewitnesses of the time
The word gospel comes from a translation of a Greek word
began to get old, and some were dying. The need to write the
meaning ‘good news’. In the ancient world the term was used
story down became more urgent. These Gospels were then put
to announce joyful or important events. Such things as weddings
together to make sure the message of Jesus was not lost. As
and births were announced in a gospel. Often the term related to
Christianity was growing so fast, there were all sorts of people from
news of the Emperor’s military conquests and political victories—
very different backgrounds coming into the church. They needed
so ‘gospel’ was a term associated with kings and rulers.
to make sure that there wasn’t any wrong teaching about Jesus being passed around. Also, because Christians were experiencing
The early followers of Jesus thought the ‘good news’ of his
persecution by Roman and Jewish authorities, the Gospel writers
birth, life, death and resurrection was the most important
wanted to show that there was no danger to Rome in the
message of all that God had given them to take to the
message of Christianity. They wanted to encourage Christians to
entire world.
keep going despite the difficulties they might be experiencing.
It was ‘good news’ because of the different life it promised—both now and in eternity—for those who accepted it. It is the message about Jesus!
WHY WERE THE CHRISTIAN GOSPELS WRITTEN? Christians know Matthew, Mark, Luke and John as the four Gospels. In the years after Jesus’ life on earth, his closest followers and others who had heard and accepted the news about Jesus, spent much of their time travelling around, telling others. They wanted as many people as possible to know about the chance to be friends with God because of what Jesus had achieved. For the first thirty years or so, the sayings and stories about Jesus were passed on by word of mouth, and then memorised.
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Mistaken IDENTITY?
TELLING THE STORY Mark’s Gospel is one of four in the Bible that record important parts of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. These documents don’t try to fit everything Jesus ever said or did into their pages. They just focus on the most important things and tell the story in a way that captures what Jesus was on about. The four Gospels are not exactly the same. They each give their own interpretation of events, and all have something to contribute to what we know about Jesus. Mark tells his story in his own way. Just like any good storyteller, Mark selects and organises his material so he can emphasise important things about Jesus.
THE TEXT All four Gospels were written in Greek, the language spoken throughout the Roman Empire.
THE WORLD JESUS LIVED IN
Most scholars now believe that Mark’s Gospel was the first
Politics
one written. It is believed that the other two ‘synoptic’ Gospels, Matthew and Luke, used Mark along with another source called ‘Q’ which has been lost.
The Jews had been living under various foreign rulers for almost six centuries. Palestine was now a part of the Roman Empire. The Romans had at first allowed the Jews a certain amount of self-rule under the ‘half-Jew’ Herod the Great. He was a bloodthirsty, unpopular ruler and is believed to have killed large
Mark Matthew
numbers of his own family including one of his wives and several
Luke
Other common source-Q
of his sons so none of them could challenge his power! He rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem but was no friend of the Jews. Herod’s sons took over his rule after his death in 4 BC. Herod Antipas ruled Perea, east of the Jordan River, as well as Galilee in the northern part of Israel. He was called a ‘Tetrarch’ and was another cruel leader. Archelaus ruled in the southern part of Israel
DATE
in Judea, until he was sacked by the Romans and they put in
It is hard to be certain when Mark’s Gospel was written. If
was Pontius Pilate.
place their own military governor who, when Jesus was an adult,
Matthew and Luke used Mark to write their Gospels around 80 AD, as most historians now believe, then some time between 65 AD and 75 AD looks to be the most likely time. Events during this time help to explain why Mark’s Gospel has been written the way that it has. From the mid-60s AD, Christians suffered terribly under the Roman Emperor Nero. There was a series of earthquakes in 60 AD and 63 AD. There was civil war throughout the Empire after Nero’s defeat in 68 AD and contenders struggling to be Emperor in 68–69 AD. There was the Jewish–Roman war 66–70 AD culminating in the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in 70 AD. Mark’s Gospel is written largely as an encouragement to Christians suffering times of uncertainty or persecution that fits with the times. Certainly the Gospel would have helped Christians to think it was worth it to ‘take up their cross’ and follow the King who had defeated death. In this way Mark’s Gospel could be thought of as a motivational piece of writing for Christians feeling the pressure to give up on their beliefs.
INTRODUCTION—MARK’S GOSPEL 3
Different groups within Judaism Not all Jews believed the same things. While most Jews were not members of the groups below, they would have looked to one of these groups to guide their thinking. The Pharisees Their name meant ‘separate ones’ and this came from seeking holiness and avoiding the influence of gentiles (non-Jews) by strictly following Jewish law. They had helped to preserve Jewish religious practice but came under criticism by Jesus for adding to the law and missing its point. They believed in resurrection and God’s judgement. In this sense they were closer to what Jesus believed than some of the other groups. The Zealots In Jesus’ time this word was used of those who were deeply opposed to foreign rule and were prepared to fight against the Romans. To the Jews they were freedom fighters but to the Romans they were rebels who needed to be crushed. By 66 AD they were a recognised sect. They became famous for their stand at the mountain
The temple
fortress Masada where, in 73 AD, they took their own lives rather
There was only one temple and this was in Jerusalem. It was
than surrender to the Roman army.
the centre of Jewish life and a place for people to travel to
The Sadducees A small group, mainly of priests in the temple, the Sadducees collaborated with the Romans so they could stay in power. They based all their teaching on what was in the Torah and so rejected things like belief in angels, the Messiah and life after death. They also rejected the beliefs of the Pharisees and their extra rules. They disagreed with Jesus over the question of life after death and were part of the ‘High Court’ of Judaism, the Sanhedrin that found Jesus guilty of blasphemy.
for important festivals and events. The temple had been built by King Solomon but destroyed in 586 BC by the Babylonians before being rebuilt by Herod the Great. The temple was the
The Essenes
only place where
The Essenes were an extreme group of monk-like Jews who
animal sacrifices
thought the rest of the nation had gone astray. They believed
could be made. It
that the kingdom of God would come in a dramatic event. Only
was destroyed by the
they would be truly approved by God for their purity and holiness.
Romans in 70 AD.
They lived in desert communities following an extremely strict lifestyle, giving up all possessions and sharing all they had with
The Messiah
others in the group.
Most Jews believed that God would send a Messiah or king who would represent God’s love for his people. This belief had
The synagogue
survived despite periods of great hardship for the Israelite people
As the local place of worship
including the destruction of the northern and southern kingdoms.
the synagogue was where the
After exile in Babylon, the Jews believed it would be the Messiah
Torah or the Law was read and explained. There was
who would bring in God’s kingdom or reign.
a synagogue in each town,
Most people expected the Messiah to be a great military and
and it formed something of a
political figure like King David had been. They were waiting for
centre for the community of
this person to bring victory to the Jews over their enemies and
the Jewish people.
establish Israel as a strong nation once again.
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Mistaken IDENTITY?
Lesson 6
Into the furnace
MARK 11:1—13:37
1. THE KING ARRIVES What is the most dangerous situation you have ever been in?
How do you respond to danger? Tick one of the boxes: AA Run AA Freeze—I’m unable to move AA Face it and fight AA Hide behind someone or something big AA Call for Mum AA Pray In this section we look at the last stages of Jesus’ life. Mark spends five of the 16 chapters on these last stages, so he thinks it was pretty important! Jesus heads for Jerusalem. This is where his enemies are the strongest.
He doesn't hide. In fact he picks a few fights!
2. THE BIG WELCOME! JESUS RIDES INTO TOWN
The following sentences are jumbled. Write the words in the correct order (11:9–10).
Blessed Lord who is the in the comes he of name!
Blessed father David of kingdom coming is our the!
$ $ Read 11:1-11. Circle the correct answer. When Jesus was coming into Jerusalem he wanted to:
The highest in Hosanna heaven!
a. be carried on the disciples’ shoulders b. ride in on a chariot c. sit on a donkey d. sneak in quietly.
Why might it be said that it took great courage for Jesus to enter Jerusalem in the way that he did?
There were many people there who: a. threw tomatoes at him b. ran away because they knew there would be trouble c. didn’t notice his arrival d. welcomed him with celebration as a very important person. The people who welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem probably thought of him as: a. the Messiah b. one of the teachers of the law c. a famous soldier d. a great musician.
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Mistaken IDENTITY?
3. ZECHARIAH THE PROPHET
$ $ Read 11:12-21.
Zechariah was an Old Testament prophet who spoke about
Cross out what did not happen.
Israel’s king coming back to Jerusalem in triumph, yet being slain for the sins of the people.
Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9
He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. Zechariah 9:10b Why do you think that Jesus chose to enter Jerusalem in the way that he did?
AA On his way into Jerusalem for the second time, Jesus had a meal of figs. AA Jesus cursed the fig tree that had no fruit. AA When Jesus arrived in Jerusalem he had lunch at the stores that had been set up in the temple. AA Jesus drove out of the temple those who had been buying and selling there. AA He upturned tables and prevented people from carrying merchandise through the temple courts. AA He bashed three merchants until they were unconscious. AA He physically threw one of the teachers of the law out of the building. AA Jesus showed that he was upset that the temple, which was supposed to be a house of prayer, was being misused. AA The chief priests were glad that someone was finally standing up to the traders. AA The crowd were not impressed with Jesus’ teaching. AA The next day the disciples saw that the fig tree Jesus had cursed was withered.
'Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple ... But who can endure the day of his coming? ... For he will be like a refiner's fire.' Malachi 3:1–2 Why do you think Jesus reacted so angrily to the people who had set up a market in the temple courts?
4. TELLING IT LIKE IT IS Very often anger is a negative thing that can make people do and say things they regret. When can anger be a good thing?
How different is the image of Jesus clearing the temple with the image of Jesus you have grown up with? Explain your answer.
LESSON 6—INTO THE FURNACE 37
What is the impact of sandwiching the temple episode between the beginning and end of the episode about the fig tree? Explain your answer.
5. THE FIG TREE INCIDENT Old Testament prophets often spoke about Israel as a fig tree. The destruction of the fig tree was associated with God’s judgement. The incident of Jesus clearing the temple is ‘sandwiched’ between the two parts of the fig tree episode. In the space below, draw a diagram to show the way Mark structures this sandwiched incident.
6. FAITH $ $ Read 11:22-25. What big lesson does Jesus have about faith in God?
Write an acrostic poem to illustrate what he means.
F A I T H What encouragement could followers of Jesus take from these verses?
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Mistaken IDENTITY?
7. THIS IS GETTING SERIOUS! $ $ Read 12:1-12. Read the Parable of the Tenants. In the space to the right draw and write your own picture strip to represent the events of the parable. Simple drawings are OK. Write in speech bubbles that capture the essence of the parable. Try writing the words as inoffensive slang or colloquial language. That might help to bring a more modern flavour to your picture strip. Why couldn’t the Jewish authorities just ignore Jesus?
Can we just ignore him? Why/ why not? Explain your answer.
LESSON 6—INTO THE FURNACE 39
8. SUM IT UP!
$ $ Read 12:41-44.
There were 613 laws in the Old Testament. Jesus summarises
Jesus praised the poor widow
them in two!
because
$ $ Read 12:29-31. Fill in the spaces. The greatest commandments were: Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is __________. Love the Lord your God with all your __________ and with all your _________ and with all your _________ and with all your __________. AND Love your __________ as __________.
9. ALL FOR SHOW?
Write a slogan to sum up her approach to life.
$ $ Read 12:38-40. Jesus criticised the teachers of the law because
10. THE UNKNOWN DAY Jesus speaks of a time when he will return to judge the earth.
$ $ Read 13:32-37. What three things does Jesus say about that day? i) ii) iii)
Write a slogan to sum up their approach to life.
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Mistaken IDENTITY?
What do you think this message means for us today?
It was an extremely difficult decision. Just when his career was
for. Diagnosed with cancer when Mick was 16, his mother passed
getting off the ground Mick was asked to ‘bend the truth’ for his
away when he was 22 after battling the illness for six years.
boss in a meeting at work. It was an agonising moment. Having
‘I thought God was to blame for it all because there was no-one
recently become a Christian this issue provided a huge challenge
else to blame’, explains Mick. ‘In that situation it’s easy to strike
to his newfound faith. In his twenties and already a foreman of
out. That’s what I did for many years. I got into the nightclub
the plumbing section of a large building project, Mick had risen to
scene pretty heavily and going out with my mates and doing the
a position of responsibility at a young age. He had a lot to lose.
stuff that you do and realised at the end of it all that something
The issue involved some damage
was amiss … when the headache disappeared
caused to a building that Mick
the same old problems were still there.’
says he knew was the fault of his company. He was asked to say that the problem was caused by someone else, which would mean his company was off the hook. ‘At the time we were doing a series at church about being a person of integrity and honesty and living out your faith all week and not just being a “Sunday
I thought God was to blame for it all because there was no-one else to blame.
There was an intense moment one afternoon at his favourite beach where, after praying for half an hour, Mick says he was overwhelmed with a sense of God’s presence. ‘I was blown away by it. That was the turning point for me.’ Since then there has been no looking back. While bitterness and anger would be understandable reactions to all the hard things he had experienced, Mick says this is not the answer. ‘Yeah I felt like that for years and I
Christian”’, says Mick. ‘I thought, “if I do this after proclaiming to be a Christian I make myself a fake and a hypocrite”.’ Mick says he couldn’t have lived with himself if he had followed the instructions he was given. ‘That’s not what I want for my wife, my future kids or my friends. I went into the meeting and my boss was sitting in there and he left the address to me and I stood up and said it was our fault—we stuffed up. I pretty much lost my job that afternoon!’ Relegated from foreman to performing menial tasks like getting the lunches for all the tradesmen on the job, and suffering intimidation from his workmates, Mick had paid a heavy price for his stand and says he was tested to his limits. It was three months before Mick was eventually transferred to another job as second-in-charge.
didn’t get anything from it. I could easily have been the most morbid bloke smoking pot in a cupboard—thinking the whole world was out to get me. Jesus helped me to see that that’s not the way to do it.’ While admitting that it might sound strange to some people, Mick says he is thankful for hard times because of the perspective it has given him on life and the way he has been able to help others in similar situations. ‘Essentially I’m not blaming God any more. I am thanking him for putting me through what he has put me through and that’s a way big 180 [degree turn] compared to four years ago because I was singing all the curses in the world.’ These days there will be no turning back. Without Jesus in his life Mick says life would lack purpose and meaning. ‘It would just
Becoming a Christian was, for Mick, a long process over many years. Having some involvement with a Christian youth group in his early teens, Mick says he was struck by the passion Christians had for their faith, and the caring way he was treated
be “you wake up, you eat, you work, you sleep, eat, work, sleep and chuck an occasional holiday in there”.’ Now that Jesus is at the centre of his life, Mick says without him the world would look ‘completely strange’.
by significant individual Christians. As a natural sceptic none of what he heard was enough to convince Mick right away, but he says that thoughts of God and Christianity remained with him. Life events conspired against Mick’s hopes of an easy carefree teenage existence. Abused by a relative as a child, he then had to deal with the serious illness of his mother, whom he had to care
Interview
with Mick INTERVIEW 41