Mark 8- The
beginning of a gradual awareness of who Jesus really was.
Vs.
1-9-Feeding the 4,000- A mixed multitude with many gentiles-
Notice that the Savior gave
thanks for what they had—and a miracle followed: ‘And they did all eat, and
were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets
full’ [see Matthew 15:32–38; italics added; see also Mark 8:1–8]. …“Regardless of our
circumstances, each of us has much for which to be grateful if we will but
pause and contemplate our blessings. … To live with gratitude ever in our
hearts is to touch heaven” (TSMonson “The Divine Gift
of Gratitude,” Ensign, Nov. 2010,).
Vs. 22-26- Healing of blind man in stages- Men also are often healed of
their spiritual maladies by degrees, step by step as they get their lives in
harmony with the plans and purposes of Deity” (BRM, DNTC-
1:379–80). See 2 Nephi 28:30.
Vs. 34-38: 9:1- Discipleship: take up cross, follow me, lose life and
save it. Following Jesus Christ means denying ourselves of
all ungodliness and keeping His commandments. Those who willingly lose their
lives to follow Jesus Christ will save their lives. (Note the JST)
Men
and women who turn their lives over to God will find out that he can make a lot
more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their
vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits,
multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls,
raise up friends, and pour out peace. Whoever will lose his life to God will
find he has eternal life” (ETBenson “Jesus Christ—Gifts
and Expectations,” New Era, May 1975, 20).
Mark 9
Vs. 14-29- Jesus casts out dumb spirit after disciples fail. Read vs. 15
and then Exodus34:28-35 for another reason people may have been "greatly
amazed."
Vs. 24 - What are some things we can do to "help our unbelief"
or the unbelief of people we love?
Vs. 33-37- Who is the greatest? Become as a child- Who comes to your
mind?
Vs. 38-40- He that is not against us is on our part.- Read the JST vs.
40-48.
Mark 10
Vs. 35-45- James & John's request; worldly leadership versus servant leadership.
See 9:33-37. “An
attitude of love characterized the mission of the Master. He gave sight to the
blind, legs to the lame, and life to the dead. Perhaps when we make
face-to-face contact with our Maker, we will not be asked, ‘How many positions
did you hold?’ but rather, ‘How many
people did you help?’ In reality, you can never love the Lord until you
serve Him by serving His people” (TSMonson Great Expectations,” BYU Devo., Jan.
11, 2009).
Vs.
46-52-Restoring sight to Bartimaeus near Jericho- Bartimaeus
“received his sight after his persistent, faithful efforts to
reach the Lord” (SWKimball New Era, Oct.
1981, 47).
“A friend of mine recently wrote to me,
confiding that he was having a difficult time keeping his testimony strong and
vibrant. He asked for counsel. I wrote back to him and lovingly suggested a few
specific things he could do that would align his life more closely with the
teachings of the restored gospel. To my surprise, I heard back from him only a week later.
The essence of his letter was this: ‘I tried what you suggested. It didn’t
work. What else have you got?’ Brothers and sisters, we have to stay with it.
We don’t acquire eternal life in a sprint—this is a race of endurance. We have
to apply and reapply the divine gospel principles. Day after day we need to
make them part of our normal life” (DFUchtdorf Ensign, May 2009).
Mark 11-16- The Last Week of the Savior's life. If
Mark had devoted as much space to every week of the Savior’s life as he did to
the last week, the Gospel of Mark would have been about 10,300 chapters long. Most
of these events will be discussed as we study the other Gospels.
Mark 12&
14 A tale of two women.
|
What is a mite?
In what sense did the widow give more than anyone else?
What doctrine or principle can we learn from this account?
Our
willingness to sacrifice is a reflection of our devotion to the Lord. The Lord honors
those who sincerely contribute to His kingdom, even when their contributions
may seem small. The sincerity of our offering matters more than its monetary
value or its comparison with other people’s offerings
|
What is spikenard?
What did the Savior say the anointing represented?
What do the Savior’s words suggest about the woman’s
understanding and acceptance of God’s plan?
What doctrine or principle can we learn from this account?
The
Lord will accept our sincere acts of devotion even when others may not
understand.
We should offer the best we have to the Savior. Following Jesus Christ means
submitting to Heavenly Father’s will. Believing in Jesus Christ means
believing in His Atonement.
|
Mark 14
Vs.
32-42-Suffering in Gethsemane-As Mark related the events of the Atonement, he used
more vivid language in
describing the Savior’s suffering in Gethsemane than the writers of the other
Gospels:
“Sore amazed” (vs.33) “In Gethsemane, the suffering
Jesus began to be ‘sore amazed’ (Mark 14:33), or, in the Greek, ‘awestruck’
and ‘astonished.’ “Imagine, Jehovah, the Creator of this and other worlds,
‘astonished’! Jesus knew cognitively what He must do, but not experientially.
He had never personally known the exquisite and exacting process of an
atonement before. Thus, when the agony came in its fulness, it was so much,
much worse than even He with his unique intellect had ever imagined! …
“The cumulative weight of all mortal sins—past, present, and future—pressed
upon that perfect, sinless, and sensitive Soul! All our infirmities and
sicknesses were somehow, too, a part of the awful arithmetic of the Atonement.
(See Alma 7:11–12; Isa. 53:3–5; Matt. 8:17.) The anguished Jesus not only
pled with the Father that the hour and cup might pass from Him, but with this
relevant citation. ‘And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto
thee; take away this cup from me.’ (Mark 14:35–36.) … “In this extremity, did
He, perchance, hope for a rescuing ram in the thicket? I do not know. His
suffering—as it were, enormity multiplied by infinity—evoked His later soul-cry on the cross, and it
was a cry of forsakenness. (See Matt. 27:46.) “Even so, Jesus maintained
this sublime submissiveness, as He had in Gethsemane: ‘Nevertheless not as I
will, but as thou wilt.’ (Matt. 26:39.)” (NAMaxwell Ensign, May 1985)
“Very heavy” (vs.33)
“My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death” (vs. 34) “Fell on the ground” (vs.
35) “Abba, Father” (vs. 36) “All things are possible unto thee” (vs. 36) “Take
away this cup from me” (vs. 36) “Nevertheless not what I will, but what thou
wilt” (vs. 36)
Note the JST 14:36-
Some were/are still wondering if this be the Messiah!
Mark 15
Vs. 39- In Mark’s account, the first person to speak after the Savior died
was the Roman centurion who said, “Truly this man was the Son of God” (Mark 15:39). This statement echoes the one
made by Mark at the outset of his Gospel: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus
Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1).
“I
am a father, inadequate to be sure, but I cannot comprehend the burden it must
have been for God in His heaven to witness the deep suffering and Crucifixion
of His Beloved Son in such a manner. His every impulse and instinct must have been to stop it, to send angels to
intervene—but He did not intervene. He endured what He saw because it was the
only way that a saving, vicarious payment could be made for the sins of all His
other children from Adam and Eve to the end of the world. I am eternally grateful
for a perfect Father and His perfect Son, neither of whom shrank from the
bitter cup nor forsook the rest of us who are imperfect, who fall short and
stumble, who too often miss the
mark” (JRHolland,
Ensign,
May 1999).
Mark 16
“Without the
Resurrection, the gospel of Jesus Christ becomes a litany of wise sayings and
seemingly unexplainable miracles—but sayings and miracles with no ultimate
triumph. No, the ultimate triumph is in the ultimate miracle: for the first
time in the history of mankind, one who was dead raised himself into living immortality. He was
the Son of God, the Son of our immortal Father in Heaven, and his triumph over
physical and spiritual death is the good news every Christian tongue should speak. …“‘He is risen; he is not here.’ (Mark 16:6.) These words, eloquent in their
simplicity, announced the most significant event of recorded history, the
resurrection of the Lord Jesus. … On the third day, he did arise to live
again—the Savior of all mankind and the firstfruits of the Resurrection.
Through this atoning sacrifice, all men shall be saved from the grave and shall
live again” (HWHunter, Ensign,
May 1986)
Vs. 15-20-Apostolilc commission, necessity of baptism, signs shall follow
them that believe and where did Jesus go?
