Mark, Lesson ONE

We had a great start to our ladies Bible study this morning. There were 13 ladies that came out, and a record 11 kids!! We are going to need 2 sitters - a GOOD problem to have! Today, Helen stepped in (thank you!) to help with the little ones, and next week we will have another College girl to help Nicole out.

As we go through this week, and look at the questions from this study, please feel free to add comments or questions in the comments section on this post, or any other post on this blog.

Mark - Lesson One

Read: Mark 1 : 1-13 Preparing for Public Ministry
(some questions taken from Nelson IMPACT Bible Study Series MARK).

Mark Facts:

- Mark is believed to be the first Gospel written, as there is evidence that both Matthew and Luke have referenced Mark in their Gospels.
- written around A.D. 58
- Mark writes about Jesus as the Perfect Servant. Mark himself was a servant, so was the perfect person to give this perspective on Jesus.
- Mark is often referred to as the action packed, fast paced Gospel. He deals with the "now" rather than looking back at the Old Testament... he wrote about what Jesus was doing, rather than what he was saying.
- Mark was described by some as Peter's interpreter, which is also helpful for new Christians reading Mark because he explained things clearly.
- The Gospel of Mark opens by identifying Jesus as the "Son of God" and spends the rest of the book demonstrating why we should see Jesus this way too.

Think of the significance and meaning of each of the parts of the title of Jesus: "Jesus Christ, the Son of God." What does each one mean? How do you relate to each one?

Jesus -
Christ -
Son -
God -

Do these help you relate easier, or with more difficulty to Jesus?

Mark 1:1-3 The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ the Son of God. It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way, a voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.' "

1. What was God's mission for John?
2. How might the people have responded differently to Jesus if John hadn't prepared the way?

Mark 1:4 And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

3. What is Baptism?
4. Why was John's baptism necessary?

Mark 1:9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

5. Why did Jesus ask to be baptized?
6. How was Jesus clearly set apart from everyone else who was baptized that day? (read Mark 1:9-11)

Next in this chapter comes a couple verses on how Jesus was led into the desert for 40 days, and was tempted by Satan.

7. Why would God allow Satan to tempt Jesus just before the beginning of His ministry?
8. Do you think that Jesus was really tempted?
9. Why is the final verse in this section "and the angels attended Him." (vs. 13) so important?

Thanks for joining us! May God bless you today :)