The Christ & The Cross THE GOSPEL OF MARK PART II

The Christ & The Cross THE GOSPEL OF MARK PART II SMALL GROUPS TERM 1, 2018

Introduction There is an abrupt change in the tone of Mark s Gospel at 8:31, where Jesus first teaches about his suffering and death. Peter s confession of Jesus as the Messiah (8:29) is a key moment in Mark and the climax of the first half of the Gospel. But the nature of Jesus Messiaship and mission will be even harder for the disciples to grasp, as signified in the two-stage healing of 8:22-26. His suffering will make no sense to them until much later. After Jesus transfiguration (9:2-13), which probably occurred a long way to the north, Jesus begins to journey southward, through Galilee, towards Jerusalem. The section in which this journey takes place (8:31-10:52) contains three predictions by Jesus of his suffering, death and resurrection. Mark presents each prediction as being met with misunderstanding from his disciples, not only about Jesus mission but also the nature of true Christian discipleship. If Mark s original readers were Roman Christians under persecution by Emperor Nero, there were crucial lessons here for how to view their experience. Christians today must also understand what it means to follow a suffering Messiah. When Jesus arrives near, and then in, Jerusalem, he exercises a prophetic ministry of symbolism, confrontation and teaching amidst conflict and impending crisis (Mark 10:1-13:37). The Passion Narrative (14:1-15:47) outlines the preparations, trials and crucifixion of Jesus and is the climax of Mark s Gospel. The Roman centurion s exclamation, Surely this man was the Son of God! (15:39), having just witnessed the suffering and death of the Messiah, is the high point. Mark s Gospel concludes with a brief conclusion in which the resurrection is first reported, hence leaving Christ s ministry open (16:1-8).

Mark 8:31 9:29 STUDY ONE Paul says that the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing (1 Corinthians 1:18). 1. What is it about the message of the cross that is hard to come to terms with? Read Mark 8:31-33. It is crucial that those who see Jesus as the Messiah also understand the nature of his Messiaship. Hence immediately following Peter s confession of Jesus as Messiah Jesus warns his disciples to tell no one (v30), but then straight away spoke plainly (i.e. openly/boldly/publicly) about his suffering (v32). The reason for Jesus insistence on secrecy throughout Mark 1-8 is revealed here: the Messiah had to suffer. 2. Why do you think Peter pulled Jesus aside to rebuke him? Is his ignorance (along with all Israel s!) understandable? How do you account for Jesus firm response to Peter? 3. How is Christianity altered if we forget that Jesus was a suffering Messiah? Read Mark 8:34-9:1. These verses seem to speak clearly past the immediate context of Jesus disciples to the persecuted Christians in First Century Rome (the original recipients of Mark s Gospel). 4. What does the decision to follow Christ involve according to vv34-38? What is gained? In our context, how is this decision seen in someone s life? 5. If Jesus suffering is completely sufficient to pay for our sin, why is it necessary for Christians also to carry a cross (i.e. suffer)?

Mark 9:1 promises encouragement along the way. The promise of Jesus sovereign power being witnessed in the lifetime of his disciples begins to be fulfilled even in the next verse in the transfiguration (9:2)! And the cross and resurrection would be even greater displays of the Kingdom s coming. These guarantee the consummation of God s kingdom at the return of Christ. Read Mark 9:2-13. The transfiguration of Jesus serves to confirm Jesus new and shocking teaching about his suffering. It would reassure his disciples for the suffering that they would soon witness and experience. It can also encourage us, who believe the report of the eyewitnesses of his majesty, who saw Jesus receive honour and glory from God the Father (2 Peter 1:16). 6. What do the following elements of this account teach us about Jesus? (a) his appearance (b) the visit of Moses and Elijah (c) the cloud (d) the voice from heaven 7. How can the report of this incident encourage us today? Peter seems to think that this is the arrival of the promised glory (hence his offer to build three tents of meeting). He does not understand that this was only a foretaste; Jesus suffering must come first. The voice from heaven reminds the disciples to listen to Jesus but they would struggle to do so. They did not understand why they had to keep the incident secret until after Jesus rising from the dead or what that meant in the context. The nature of his mission was still obscure to them. Their question about Elijah also indicates that they didn t understand the delay (if Elijah has come, why not glory now?), but Jesus insists on the necessity of his suffering and rejection (v12).

8. What should Christians do when God s ways are obscure to them? Read Mark 9:14-29. This episode is supposed to be a come-down after the glories of the transfiguration. It underlines the point that before glory must come confrontation and suffering, and that the disciples still have much to learn. Unbelief and confusion still reign. 9. The presence of Jesus occasions wonder from the people (v15). The absence of Jesus is the reason for the problems that had arisen here. Under what circumstances might the church feel abandoned and powerless without Jesus? What should it do? 10. Was it reasonable for the desperate man to bring his son to the disciples as if he were bringing him to Jesus himself (v17, cf. 6:13)? What effect did the disciples failure have on the man s faith? What warning is there for us here? 11. Why could the disciples not drive out the demon? What is the lesson for those who want to see the power of God at work around them? 12. Paul says, when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:10). Why is that such an important lesson for Christians to learn in terms from this passage?

Mark 9:30 10:31 STUDY TWO Read Mark 8:31-33. 1. This section begins with the second of Jesus three predictions of his death. How did the disciples respond to his prediction (v.32)? Why, do you think, did they respond in this way? 2. The disciples had been arguing about who was the greatest. Jesus responds by redefining what it looks like to be great / first. How does he redefine it? Why is welcoming a little child a model of this kind of greatness? 3. How does Jesus definition of greatness contrast with an average Australian s definition of greatness? Which definition of greatness do you most often live according to? Read Mark 9:38-50. 4. In v.39-40 Jesus corrects the disciples for stopping a man from driving out demons in his name. What assumptions did the disciples have that led them to do this? How does Jesus correct their assumptions? 5. Are there ways in which we, today, ought to be wary of wrongly excluding other Christians from God s mission? 6. In v.42-47, Jesus speaks of otherwise good things that cause you to stumble (NIV) / cause you to sin (ESV) (hands, feet, eyes). He says that since the ultimate consequence of this stumbling / sin is hell, it is better to remove ( cut off / pluck out ) the good thing that caused your stumbling/sin. What is the difference between Jesus perspective here, and the way the culture around us operates? Are there good things in your life that you may need to consider removing, to ensure that you enter life?

Read Mark 10:1-12. This passage is one of several in the Bible that contributes to the Christian understanding of divorce and remarriage. Others include Matthew 5:31-32, 19:1-9; Mark 10:2-12; Luke 16:18, and 1 Corinthians 7:8-16, as well as several Old Testament passages. In attempting to faithfully integrate these passages, Christians have arrived at a variety of positions on when (and whether) divorce and/or remarriage are permissible. What s more, the complexities of human relationships mean applying this teaching is rarely simple nearly every case of marriage breakdown, and remarriage, is different. 7. Jesus first answers the Pharisees question by pointing to the Old Testament Law (Deuteronomy 24:1-4). What does Jesus say was the reason behind the OT divorce law? What then, was not the reason(s) behind it? 8. Jesus next points to God s original design for marriage, quoting Genesis 1:27 and 2:24. How does Jesus define marriage? How does this differ from the way marriage is often thought of by people today? 9. In v. 10-12, Jesus turns to a discussion of remarriage. It is likely that Jesus was specifically addressing the culture of divorce-for-thesake-of-remarriage (which he effectively calls adultery even if no sexual relationship has occurred during the marriage), rather than making a blanket statement about anyone who divorces and later remarries. In any case, Jesus is firm that marriage is never to be treated casually. How can we ensure that marriages are supported and nurtured in our church?

Read Mark 10:13-15. 10. Look back at 9:36-37. How does Jesus teaching there compound the failure of the disciples in these verses? 11. What do you think it means to receive the kingdom of God like a little child? Is this how you would describe your own faith? Why/why not? Read Mark 10:17-31. 12. In responding to the question from man of great wealth, Jesus quotes from the 10 Commandments. Which of the 10 Commandments does Jesus leave out (cf. Exodus 20:3-17)? What, do you think, might be the significance of that? 13. Jesus is answering a question about inheriting eternal life. Is Jesus advocating salvation by works? Why/why not? 14. Why, do you think, is it so hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of God? 15. How do Jesus words in vv.29-31 challenge you? How do they comfort you? 16. Is your wealth or the pursuit of wealth hindering you from entering the kingdom of God?

Mark 10:32-52 STUDY THREE 1. What is humility and how well is it understood? (See Philippians 2:3-4) Read Mark 10:32-34. 2. How do you account for the astonishment and fear of those following Jesus? What kind of attitude are we to understand that Jesus had here? (see Luke 9:51, Isaiah 50:7). This third prediction of Jesus passion and resurrection is the most detailed and specific. It includes the note of humiliation in what Jesus was to suffer. The way the disciples were thinking is a stark contrast. Read Mark 10:35-45. 3. What do James and John seem to have expected from this trip to Jerusalem? What mood and attitude are reflected in their approach to Jesus? Why is this so jarring in the context? Jesus sharply asserts James and John s ignorance. His glory is inseparable from his suffering. The cup is an OT image of God s wrath, while baptism signifies his being overwhelmed by God s judgment on sin. Their ignorant confidence that they could endure the same suffering that Jesus faced was naïve and insulting. As Jesus notes, they would suffer for him, but his suffering was unique. Jesus allows that some will be on his right and left in glory but acknowledges the Father s sovereign plan for who those people will be. 4. Why was Jesus suffering necessary for his glory? Why is our suffering necessary for his glory? 5. The other ten were jealous that perhaps James and John had gained an advantage over them. When and why do Christians become competitive?

The denarius used to pay taxes in NT times portrayed Emperor Tiberius as the semi-divine son of the god Augustus and the goddess Livia. Other copper coins struck by Herod in Caesarea Philippi showed the head of the emperor and said, He who deserves adoration. Rulers elevated themselves to retain power. The disciples undoubtedly hated such Gentile rulers and yet demonstrates that their attitude was no different. 6. In what ways might leaders in the church lord it over others and try to show who s boss? Why do people feel that this is necessary? 7. By contrast, what kind of attitude do the great ones in the Kingdom of God have? What does this look like in practice? Does this make the exercise of authority harder? 8. The Son of Man was probably immediately understood as merely Jesus quirky way of referring to himself. However it has clear overtones of the transcendent Son of Man from Daniel 7 who brings the eternal Kingdom of God. The fact that this person came not to be served by to serve says something profound about the Kingdom. In what ways is the character of God s Kingdom shaped by the character of the Son of Man? 9. v45 is as a clear a statement of Jesus mission as is found in the New Testament. It reveals the reason that Jesus insisted (repeatedly) that he must suffer and die. What does the idea of a ransom entail? What does it say about Jesus that he could be a ransom for many? The inversion of every worldly concept of authority and glory, implied in Jesus mission and explained in vv42-45, was a revelation that would take some time for the disciples to see.

Read Mark 10:46-52. Blind Bartimaeus had an uncommon insight into the true significance of Jesus. Son of David has probable overtones of Jesus Messiaship, but Bartimaeus seems to at least have been holding onto the promise that when the Way of Holiness was opened for the redeemed of the LORD to enter Zion, then will the eyes of the blind be opened. (See Isaiah 35:1-10) Knowing that Jesus of Nazareth was heading for Jerusalem, this was his chance! 10. What might Bartimaeus s defiant persistence (v48) have to teach us? Jesus made time for Bartimaeus, as he does for anyone who calls in faith. Bartimaeus threw aside his cloak, which would have been spread on the ground to receive alms. He knew he wouldn t need it for that purpose any more! 11. What do you think the purpose of the brief conversation in v51 was? 12. Given that Jesus asks the same question in v51 as he did in v36, what is the contrast in circumstances, attitudes and outcome? In 2 Samuel 5:6-8, when David first came to take Jerusalem, the Jebusites taunted him by saying that even the blind and the lame could defend it. David took the city and the blind and the lame became traditional outcasts (at least figuratively). As Jesus ( Son of David ) heads for Jerusalem, he does not overcome the blind man as an obstacle, but heals him and takes him along! There is both messianic dignity and servant-hearted compassion in Jesus. His kingdom has a different character to anything yet seen! 13. How should the nature of Jesus mission and kingdom be reflected in the church today? What part should you play in that?

Mark 11:1 25 STUDY FOUR It is the week prior to Jesus crucifixion. The chapter contains three acts of prophetic symbolism two highly public that tell us a lot about Jesus, a lot about people, and sends a strong message to us today. The Triumphal Entry 1. Read v. 1 11. What aspects of this passage indicate that Jesus entry is planned? 2. The disciples and others spread out coats and branches. What do you think they are saying in doing this? 3. Read Zechariah 9:9 10. Jesus would have been aware of this passage. What public statement is Jesus making by entering Jerusalem on a colt? 4. If the people were expecting a warlike, conquering Messiah, is there anything in the Zechariah passage that could indicate that Jesus had something a little different in mind? 5. Can you think of situations today where God s actions are a little different to what we had in mind? Cursing the Fig Tree 6. Read v. 12 14. Do Jesus actions in this verse seem a little surprising? 7. A fig tree was sometimes used to symbolise Israel. Read Micah 7:1 6. Do Jesus actions make a bit more sense now? Explain.

8. If Australia was a fig tree, what sort of fruit might we find on it? Clearing the Temple 9. Read v. 15 19. Has Jesus just had a brain explosion? What evidence is there in this chapter to suggest that this was a premeditated action? 10. Jesus quotes Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11 in his stinging rebuke. What things bother Jesus about what is taking place in the temple? 11. Where do we see religion gone wrong today? Are we ever guilty of it ourselves? Optional extra 12. Is it wrong to be angry? Is there such a thing as righteous anger? Can we ever show righteous anger? 13. In vv. 20 25 Jesus uses Peter s surprised response to his effectual cursing of the fig tree to provide some teaching on prayer. What are some of his main points?

Mark 11:27 12:44 STUDY FIVE Read Mark 11:27-12:12. In v.28, the Jewish authorities question Jesus about the source of his authority to do these things. These things refers to his clearing out the temple courts (Mk 11:15-18), and possibly also to his entry into Jerusalem on a colt to the praise of the people (Mk 11:1-11). We know from Mark 11:18 that the Jewish authorities were looking for a way to kill Jesus. 1. How might the Jewish authorities have hoped their questions in v.28 would lead to them being able to kill Jesus? 2. Jesus first responds to their question by pointing to the ministry of John the Baptist. Why do you think he did this? 3. Jesus also responds to the religious leaders by speaking a parable against them (Mark 12:12). Who do the following characters in the parable represent (and why): The owner of the vineyard The tenants The servants The son 4. How does the quotation from Psalm 118 (in vv.10-11) relate to the parable? 5. Summarise Jesus message for the religious leaders in plain language. Read Mark 12:13-17. 6. In what way was the question from the Pharisees and Herodians (vv.14-15) designed to catch [Jesus] in his words?

7. What do you think Jesus means when he says Give back to Caesar what is Caesar s and to God what is God s? (Hint: If the coin bears Caesar s image, who bears God s?) (You might also want to look at Romans 13:1-7, and Acts 5:27-29, for a fuller picture of how Christians ought to relate to human authorities.) 8. In what ways could Christians get this relationship between God and government wrong today? Read Mark 12:18-27. 9. The Sadducees continue the quest of the various Jewish sects to trap Jesus in his words. How was their question in vv.19-23 designed to do this? 10. Jesus says that at the resurrection (i.e. in heaven/the age to come) people will not marry, but be like the angels in heaven (i.e. single). Marriage will have fulfilled its purposes of procreation (Gen 1:27-28), and of pointing to Christ s relationship with his church (Eph 5:22-33, Rev 19:6-9). What are the implications of this teaching of Jesus for how we understand and value singleness today? What can Christians (and churches) do (better) to honour and uphold singleness? 11. The Sadducees held that only the first five books of the Old Testament were authoritative scripture. In light of that, how does Jesus counter their disbelief in the resurrection? What does Jesus response show us about the importance of paying close attention to even the smallest details of scripture? (You might like to look back at Exodus 3:1-6, which Jesus quotes from).

Read Mark 12:28-34. 12. What would it look like, in your own life, to Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength? 13. What would it look like to Love your neighbour as yourself? 14. How do these two commands relate to each other? (E.g. can you do one without the other? Why/why not?) Read Mark 12:28-34. It was common, in Jesus day, to refer to the coming Messiah as the son of David, since David was the archetypal king of God s people, and God had promised to establish the throne of David s offspring forever (see 2 Sam. 7:12-16). In one sense, then, the teachers of the law were right to call the Messiah the son of David Matthew himself does this at the start of his gospel (Matt 1:1). 15. How does Jesus, in quoting David s words from Psalm 110, show that there is much more to the Messiah s identity? (Especially in the light of the fact that Jesus has just affirmed that the Lord is one (12:29)) 16. How does the poor widow (v.42) contrast with the various religious leaders Jesus has been speaking with (see especially vv.38-40)? Is there anything you can learn from her example?

Mark 13:1 37 STUDY SIX Jesus is speaking in apocalyptic language a style found in certain other parts of the Bible such as Revelation about what were then future events. There is some debate today regarding how much of this chapter is about the destruction of the Jerusalem temple by the Romans in A.D. 70, and how much is about the second coming of Christ. Regardless of what we might conclude about this, the message of the passage for us today is clear. Watch! 1. Read v. 1 4. Why do you think Jesus disciples might have made the comment in v. 1? 2. What do you think would have been the impact of Jesus response in v. 2? 3. Read v. 5 13. They describe difficult times to come. List the things that will take place in these difficult times. 4. What things are Jesus followers exhorted to do during this time? 5. What encouragement is there for Jesus followers? 6. Read vv. 14 23. They describe a time of great distress. (The abomination that causes desolation is referred to in Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11) Do you think these verses refer to the events of A.D. 70, or to the last days generally?

7. List the things that take place in this period of distress. 8. What things are Jesus followers exhorted to do during this time? 9. What encouragement is there for Jesus followers? 10. Read v. 24 27. What events will take place at Jesus return? 11. Read v. 28 37. When will Jesus return? 12. Taking into account the whole chapter, how much of it reflects (and doesn t reflect) life in Australia today? 13. Might this chapter be more relevant to Christians in other parts of the world? 14. How should we be watching today? (Try to be specific here)

Mark 14:1-52 STUDY SEVEN Read Mark 14:1-21. The Passover (one day), and the Festival of Unleavened Bread (the following seven days), both commemorated the exodus from Egypt when Israel was birthed as a nation. Jewish national sentiment ran high during this period. With the visiting pilgrims, the population of Jerusalem would swell to five or six times its usual size. During the festival, the Roman authorities would be on high alert, ready to crush any hint of revolt or rebellion. 1. For all these reasons, the Jewish authorities were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly (v.1). How does Judas Iscariot help them to achieve this (vv.10-11)? 2. What is Jesus assessment of Judas role (vv.18-21)? In Mark 10:21, Jesus had commanded a wealthy man to sell everything and give to the poor. Yet here he corrects those who say the woman could have sold the perfume and given the money to the poor (300 denarii more than a year s wages NIV). 3. What is it about this scenario that puts them in the wrong? (You might want to compare with John s account of the story, which is far more explicit John 12:1-8). 4. Where might we today feel the need to minimise devotion to God in the pursuit of otherwise good things? Read Mark 14:22-31. The different elements of the passover meal symbolised different aspects of the first passover and exodus from Egypt. E.g. the unleavened bread symbolised the need to leave Egypt quickly, before bread had time to rise; the bitter herbs symbolised the bitterness of slavery under the Egyptians. After the Exodus, God made a covenant with his people at Mt Sinai. The covenant was sealed with the blood of young bulls, which was splashed on an altar and the people. This blood was called by Moses the blood of the covenant (Ex. 24:8)

5. Given all of the above, what is the new meaning Jesus is giving to the meal? What does it teach us about Jesus death? 6. Jesus says that the disciples would all fall away (v.27), but he also gives them information beyond that point: But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee (v.28). What does that say about the nature of Jesus forgiveness? Read Mark 14:32-42. 7. What two things does Jesus pray for in Gethsemane? Which one does he want more? How might Jesus prayers here inform your own prayers? 8. Sometimes Christians can become casual about the cross. It can become like a mechanical transaction merely the mechanism by which we are forgiven. What does Gethsemane show us about how Jesus felt about going to the cross? Do you need your attitude to the cross corrected? Read Mark 14:43-52. 9. How does Jesus response to his arrest contrast with everyone else s? Consider: Judas, the armed crowd, the disciples ( one of those standing near, v.47, everyone v.50) 10. By the end of this scene, Jesus is left utterly deserted, yet he would go to die for those who have deserted him indeed, even those who arrested him and killed him. What does this show us about the magnitude of God s love for us?which we are forgiven. What does Gethsemane show us about how Jesus felt about going to the cross? Do you need your attitude to the cross corrected?

Mark 14:53-15:20 STUDY EIGHT This passage outlines how events moved from Jesus arrest to his crucifixion. It was a tortured, unjust and troubling process. The way Israel and the nations receive the Messiah is a paradigm for how Christians should expect to be received. A feature of this passage is the silence of Jesus. He says practically nothing, except for a couple of responses designed to move things along (14:62, 15:2). This serves to fulfil scripture (Isaiah 53:7) and gives the impression that those around Jesus were actually the ones on trial and they were condemning themselves. Read Mark 14:53-65. Everything about this trial was dodgy (e.g. the middle of the night, no opportunity for a defence). The full Sanhedrin was present (a quorum was 23 members, so more than that), including chief priests, influential lay-people (elders) and scribes (lawyers, likely Pharisees). It had clearly been prearranged. The charge of threatening the temple, though a misunderstanding of Jesus statement, was potentially very serious (Jeremiah 26:8-9). But disagreement between the witnesses on details formally invalidated their testimony (v56, 59). In the end, Jesus himself helps them to their goal. 1. On what grounds was Jesus found to be deserving of death? 2. Jesus had carefully avoided the proclamation of himself as Messiah lest the nature of his Messiahship be misunderstood by the crowds. Here he asserts his claim in the boldest terms (Psalm 110:1, Daniel 7:13), claiming to be the ruling and judging Messiah. Under the circumstances, why would Jesus claim in v62 have seemed blasphemous? Jesus receives treatment in accord with the verdict. The Sanhedrin needed to show what it though of his claim and demonstrate that he failed a traditional test of messianic status (the blindfold test).

3. Why, without the help of the Holy Spirit, are people unable to produce the right verdict on Jesus? Read Mark 14:66-72. At the same time that Jesus was supposedly failing the prophecy test (v65), his prophecy about Peter was being fulfilled just outside! 4. What kind of character had Peter been up until this point? 5. When considered side by side with Jesus performance under trial (vv53-65), what impact does account of Peter s failure have (a) on how we view Jesus and (b) on how we view Peter? 6. What impact would vv66-72 have been designed to have on Mark s original readers (Christians in Rome under Nero, facing possible martyrdom)? And what impact would 16:7 have in this context? 7. What aspects of this episode can you relate to? Read Mark 15:1-15. Mark s original readers would have derived great encouragement that their Lord had also stood before a Roman tribunal. He behaved with dignity but did not receive justice. We cannot expect anything different. The Romans carefully guarded the right of the sword. If the Jews wanted Jesus to be killed as a criminal, they had to convince Pontius Pilate to do it. Romans customarily conducted official business in the early morning. 8. In what ways was Pilate s approach to Jesus different to the Sanhedrin s approach?

In the end, Jesus refusal to defend himself (John relates more conversation than Mark) would have required a guilty verdict but Pilate was disinclined to believe that Jesus was guilty. Jesus passivity indicates his submission to God s will. 9. What did it take for the Jews to outplay Pilate here? What did they compromise? 10. Why do you think the crowd suddenly called for crucifixion, the worst form of execution (after welcoming Jesus to Jerusalem recently)? The customary scourging (v15) was a brutal and bloody affair, often itself killing the condemned before the actual execution took place. But Mark states the facts without giving the gory details. Read Mark 15:16-20. 11. Everything is taking place as Jesus predicted (10:33-34). The emphasis is on the mockery. What impact is this account supposed to have on us? 12. Why are Christians, just like our Lord, such an easy target for mockery and injustice? How should we respond?

Mark 15:21 16:8 STUDY NINE This study looks at the conclusion to Mark and covers material addressed in the last two sermons in this series. Mark writes in chapter 10:33 34 We are going up to Jerusalem, he said, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise. He also says in chapter 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. We now see these things worked out. The Christ on the Cross / The Empty Tomb 1. Read v. 15:21 32. The Jewish historian Josephus described crucifixion as the most wretched of all ways to die (War 8.4). From your general knowledge, what do you know about crucifixion? 2. How do the soldiers; the passers-by; the chief priests and teachers of the law each view Jesus? 3. Read v. 15:33 41. A number of things described in these verses suggest the significance of what is taking place. What does the darkness in v. 33 suggest? (Can you think of supernatural darkness in the Old Testament?) 4. Jesus cries out in v. 34. Why do you think Jesus cries out in this way? What do you think is causing him the most grief? 5. Scan Psalm 22. In the light of this background, what do you make of Jesus cry?

6. What does the tearing of the curtain in v. 38 suggest? 7. Why do you think the centurion was so impressed in v. 39? 8. Read v. 15:42 47. What sort of risk is Joseph of Arimathea taking? 9. Are there any situations where we lack the courage to align ourselves with Jesus? 10. Read v. 16:1 8. Given the importance of Jesus resurrection, and the number of resurrection appearances described in the other gospels and in 1 Corinthians 15, the account in Mark is surprisingly brief. (The v. 9 20 found in some versions of Mark are thought to have been written by someone else as an attempt to summarise the resurrection accounts elsewhere in the New Testament.) What extraordinary things do the women see in these verses? 11. Women have seen Jesus die (15:40 41), Jesus buried (15:47) and now the empty tomb and the angel. Does their reaction in 16:8 surprise you? 12. While we may have more information today than the women did, are we any less silent? What would motivate you to speak more about Jesus?