Mark’s Gospel: As a Source Of Religious, Moral And Spiritual Truths (Theme H) Flashcards
Parable of the Sower
- Told the crowd that a sower went to sow and as he sowed some seed fell on the path and the birds ate it. Other seeds fell on rocky ground and it sprung up quickly. When the sun rose it was scorched and withered away.
- Other seeds fell upon thorns and the thorns grew up and choked it.
- Other seed fell among good soil and brought forth grain.
Understanding the Parable of the Sower
- Seeds in thorns, those distracted by wealth and goods.
- Seeds in rocks, people delighted to hear the news but faith isn’t deeply rooted.
- Seed on Path, people who hear the news but don’t do anything about it. Seeds are taken.
- Seed on good soil, people who hear the message and accept it and become disciples.
Parable of Growing Seed
Jesus said the Kingdom of God is if someone would scatter seed on the ground and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he doesn’t know how. When it’s ripe he goes in with his sickle because the harvest has come.
Understanding the Growing seed
- Kingdom has its own life and grows no matter other circumstances.
- Kingdom will grow because it’s in God’s will to.
Parable of the Mustard Seed
Compared Kingdom of God to a mustard seed. When it’s sown it’s the smallest of the seeds yet when it grows up it becomes the greatest of all the shrubs and puts forth large branches.
Understanding of the Parable of Mustard Seed
Showing that the Kingdom starts out hidden and small but then grows and becomes a substantial size.
Jesus and the Children
People were bringing children to him so that he could touch them. Disciples were speaking angrily at them but then Jesus saw this and said that those who don’t receive the Kingdom of God as a child will never enter it. He then touched them and blessed them.
Understanding Jesus and the Children
- Touch, blessing.
- Teaching that if people approached the Kingdom of God like a child they will be accepted, innocence and lack of selfishness.
The rich man
A rich man asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life and Jesus told him to live by the commandments. He said he did and Jesus told him to sell his goods and give the money to the poor and he will end up in heaven.
Understanding the Story of the Rich Man
Showing that the man’s wealth presented a barrier against his approach to God, stopped him from seeing priorities and being sensitive enough.
The greatest commandment
- A scribe asked Jesus which commandment is the first of all? Jesus answered “Hear, O Israel: the Lord of our God, the Lord is one and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.” The other is “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.”
- The scribe responded wisely and Jesus said he wasn’t far from the Kingdom of God.
Understanding the Greatest Commandment
- Helpful for Christians to understand which are the most important.
- Message of loving God followed by loving one’s neighbour.
The man with leprosy
- A leper came to Jesus begging for Jesus to make him clean. Jesus touched him and said I do choose. Be made clean. The leprosy immediately left him and he was clean. He told him not to tell anyone and go to the priest.
- The man who had leprosy disregarded this and proclaimed it to everyone and hence Jesus couldn’t go into main towns.
Understanding the Man with Leprosy
The man had been disregarded by his society and hence Jesus felt pity for him and although Jesus was making himself ritually unclean, the man’s needs were what mattered.
The call of Levi
- While Jesus was teaching he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at a tax booth. Jesus called for him to follow and he did.
- Jesus ate dinner at Levi’s house with tax collectors and sinners.
- The scribes asked the disciples why Jesus was sitting with sinners.
- Jesus heard this and said that those who are well don’t need me but those who are sick I have came to call.
Understanding the Call of Levi
- Importance of Jesus’ mission to those who were outcasts.
- Showing that God was for all.
The Greek (Syro-Phoenician) Woman’s Daughter
- He entered a house in Tyre and didn’t want anyone to know.
- A mother who had a daughter with an unclean spirit went to Jesus and bowed down at his feet begging for him to cast the demon out of her daughter.
- He said that Let the Children be fed first for it is not fair to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.
- She replied that even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.
- He healed the daughter.
Understanding the Greek Woman’s Daughter story
- The conversation about children and dogs was really about Jews and non-Jews where the children are Jews and the non-Jews dogs and the food being Jesus’ message.
- Jesus didn’t discriminate and healed the daughter, a non-Jew.
The Epileptic Boy
- In a large crowd a father asked Jesus to remove the spirit within his son which makes him have epilepsy. The father said “if you are able,” Jesus replied saying he needed faith and the father said “I believe.” Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and told it never to return to the boy. It then came out and the boy seemed to be a corpse, they thought he was dead but Jesus lifted him up and he stood.
- The disciples asked Jesus why they couldn’t heal the boy, he said this kind can come out only through prayer.
Understanding the Epileptic Boy story
- show faith and receive
- Importance of prayer
The Widow at the Treasury
- He sat down opposite the treasury and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put large sums, a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins.
- Jesus said how the widow put more than the rich people because she put in everything she had.
Understanding the Widow at the Treasury
Shows to Christians the importance of generosity and sacrifice
The anointing at Bethany
- Two days before Passover the chief priests and scribes were trying to arrest Jesus and kill him.
- While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon, a woman came with a jar of very costly ointment and broke open the jar and poured it on Jesus’ head. People were angry due to the value of the ointment however Jesus told them to stop the anger as she did what she could.
Understanding the anointing at Bethany
- Christians should do “what they can” in helping people.
- Jesus recognized poverty and its existence forever.
Call of the first disciples
- By the Sea of Galilee, Jesus saw Simon and Andrew fishing.
- Jesus told them to go with him and called over James and his brother John. They followed Jesus.
Understanding the Call of the First Disciples
Disciples went straight away and committed to their beliefs leaving behind everything else.
The Woman with a Hemorrhage
- A woman with a hemorrhage came to Jesus and touched his cloak hoping it would heal her. It did.
- Jesus asked who it was and he wasn’t mad finding out about the woman as it was through her faith she was healed.
Understanding the Woman with a Hemorrhage Story
- Faith in Jesus
- Power in Jesus
The Mission of the Twelve
- He called the disciples and sent them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits.
- He said if somewhere doesn’t welcome them to dust their feet off as a testimony against them.
- They cast out many demons and anointed with oil many sick.
Understanding the Mission of the Twelve
- They were sent with just a staff, no money or food. Had to rely on faith and that God would provide for them.
The Costs and rewards of discipleship
- Those who want to save their life will lose it. Those who lose their life for Jesus’ sake will save it. Those who are ashamed of Jesus, God will be ashamed of them.
- Reward would be membership in the Kingdom of God both in life and after death.
Understanding the Costs and Rewards of Discipleship
- Not be too interested in gaining materials but serving others. Disciples would gain eternal life if they give up life for teachings.
- Membership in the Kingdom of God as a reward
Peter’s denial
- Jesus said Peter would deny him 3 times before the cock crows twice.
- In a courtyard a servant girl said he was a man from Nazareth, he denied it. Then the cock crowed. She said to the bystanders that Peter was one of them. He denied it. The bystanders said you are a Galilean. He denied it and cursed and swore an oath saying he doesn’t know Jesus.
- The cock crowed for the second time, he realized and broke down and wept.
Understanding Peter’s Denial
- Perhaps scared of being arrested.
- Maybe thought his mission was over since Jesus was arrested.
- Even the closest of Jesus’ disciples could make a mistake and humans aren’t perfect.
The Commission and Ascension
- He appeared to the eleven and got angry for their lack of faith because they hadn’t believed those who saw Jesus after he rose.
- He told them to go into the world and proclaim the good news. Ones who believe will be baptized and saved, those who don’t will be condemned.
- Using his name would outcast demons.
- Jesus was then taken to heaven.
Understanding the Commission and Ascension
Disciples did what Jesus asked of them and he handed authority to them. Modern Christians can learn from this and apply it.
