Lesson 7--“Astounded,
Offended, and Unbelieving"--Mark 6:1-29
ID:
Inductive Questions (Asking the text questions like who, what, where, when,
why, & how?”)
CR: Cross
References (Comparing Scripture to Scripture, understanding the vague by the
clear.)
WS: Word
Study (Understanding definition, theological meaning, and usages in other
passages.)
The WORD: What does the Bible say?
Context: Read Mark 4:33-6:3
to help understand the context of this passage.
Read Mark 6:1-29 in a more literal
or more dynamic translation
than you usually use.
In this passage we begin to get a sense of the varied
response to Jesus and His ministry.
1. WS: (26:1-6) What
three words from the text summarize the response of the people to Jesus and His
ministry? (Do a word study on one or two
of them.) How did that affect Jesus’
ministry? (Mark
2:2-5; 5:32-34; 10:47-52)
2. ID: (6:8-9) What
instructions did Jesus give to the Twelve about what they should bring on their
“missions trip?” What do those instructions
indicate about their mission?
3. ID: (3:10-12) What
was their message? How were they to
respond to people who rejected them? (Why do you think Sodom and Gomorrah were
referenced?)
4. CR/ID: (3:14-29) Who
was Herod
Antipas (cf. Matthew
14:3-5; Luke 3:19-20 / Matthew
14:6-12; Luke 9:7-9 / Luke
23:7-12). What do we learn about him in this passage?
5. ID: (6:14-20, 25-29)
What do we learn about John
the Baptist and his ministry in this passage?
6. CR: (2:8) Why did
Herod think Jesus was like John the Baptist?
Why was the ministry of John the Baptist associated with Elijah (Matthew
17:9-13)? Why do you think Mark
included this flashback of John the Baptist’s death?
The WALK: What should I do?
1. Is it easier for you to live the Christian life at
home or away from home?
2. Jesus ministry (not omnipotence) seemed to be
restricted because of their unbelief (Mark 5:32-34). How do we sometimes grieve the Holy Spirit by
our unbelief?
3. Do Jesus’ instructions to the disciples have any
applications for our evangelistic efforts?
What?
4. Why do you think Jesus sent them out in twos? What is
the lesson for us?
5. Have you ever made a rash vow that you regretted? Is it ever best to go back on a promise?
Going Beyond:
What areas of theology are touched on in this passage?
The
Bible God God the Father Jesus Christ The Holy
Spirit
Man
Salvation The Church
Angels & Satan Future Things –
Answer:
There are several men in the New
Testament referred to as “Herod.” These Herods
were part of a dynasty, a partly hereditary, partly appointed line of Idumean
rulers over Israel during the days of the Roman Empire. Unlike other previous
kings of Israel, the Herods were appointed by the Roman emperors and the
senate.
The first of the Herods is often known
as “Herod the
Great” and is the one who sought to kill Jesus in Matthew 2 by
slaughtering all the infant boys. This Herod also tried to enlist the wise men
to reveal the whereabouts of the baby Jesus. According to Jewish historians,
this first Herod, also called Herod the Ascalonite, was the son of
Antipater, a friend and deputy of King Hyrcanus. He was made
king in the room of Hyrcanus his master by the senate of Rome.
The son of Herod the Great was Herod Antipas
(or Antipater), who was referred to as Herod the tetrarch (Matthew 14:1;
Luke 3:1).
The word tetrarch signifies that one who governs a fourth part of a
kingdom. His father Herod the Great divided his large kingdom into four parts
and bequeathed them to his sons, an action confirmed by the Roman senate. This
Herod Antipas was tetrarch of Galilee, the part of the kingdom assigned to him.
He is the one Jesus was sent to during His trials and eventual crucifixion (Luke 23). This
same Herod Antipas was the Herod who had John the Baptist murdered (Matthew 14).
Herod Agrippa
I was the grandson of Herod
the Great (Acts
12). It was he who persecuted the church in Jerusalem and had the apostle
James, the brother of John and son of Zebedee, put to death by the sword. By
the hand of Herod Agrippa I, James became the first apostle to be martyred. Two
of Agrippa I’s daughters were Bernice and Drusilla, mentioned in Acts 24 and Acts 25.
Agrippa’s son, Herod
Agrippa II, was instrumental in saving Paul from being tried and
imprisoned in Jerusalem by the Jews who hated his testimony of Jesus as the
Messiah. King Agrippa, out of consideration for Paul being a Roman citizen,
allowed Paul to defend himself, thereby giving Paul the opportunity to preach
the gospel to all who were assembled (Acts 25—26).
Agrippa II was the last of the line of Herods. After him, the family fell out
of favor with Rome.
An Apparent Contradiction…
“There is an apparent contradiction
between Matthew 10 and Mark 6:8. Matthew
says, “Take not staff” while Mark says, “Take nothing for the journey except a
staff.” Mark uses the word ariō,
“take up.” Matthew uses the word ktaomai,
“procure.” It may simply be that Matthew
assumes they already have certain “travel tools” and they are not going to buy
a new set of luggage for their trip. In
other words, they surely already had a walking stick in their hand. They didn’t need a new one for this trip.
Edersheim notes that the command to take
not extra “stuff” corresponds to the rabbinic command about entering the temple
for service without “staff, shoes, … and a money girdle.” The symbolic reasons underlying this command would,
in both cases, be probably the same: to avoid even the appearance of being
engaged on other business, when the whole being should be absorbed in the
service of the Lord (Edersheim,
I: 643).”
Moore, Mark E.
The
Chronological Life of Christ. Joplin, MO: College Pub., 2007. Print. p.
251-252
Lesson 7 – Mark 6.1-29
WORD:
1. The
three words I was thinking of are astonished,
offended,
and unbelief,
but you and your men may see others.
4. Note the
article that helps answer this question in the extra section.
4-5 These
questions include inductive and deductive character studies about these two
contrasting characters. This should help the men sharpen their
observation skills.
6. The last
part of this question is primarily to prompt thought and discussion.
WALK:
2. One of the
things to notice is the central part that repentance had
in their preaching. (6:12, 17-19)
4. This
question may seem a little moralistic. However, I thought since the issue
was so clear in the passage, it might be a good time to discuss it.
5. Please
take some time to observe allusions to the Gospel in the passage each week.
This is an important focus and skill for the men to develop and it will
lay a foundation for them if they should read Mark with an unbeliever. Of
course there is no need to shoe horn the Gospel in where it isn’t.
EXTRA:
All the Herods
in the Gospels are notoriously difficult to keep straight. This is a
short article to give a sketch of each one.
I have also
included a note about an apparent contradiction.
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