St. Mark - session 4
Level 1
In the first century, in Israel, the Pharisees were the over-seers of the Mosaic Law. These rules and regulations had been expanded many times since the time of Moses. Jesus was disturbed by these exaggerated methods which were SUPPOSED to honor God. He pointed out the fallacy of the many rules by quoting from their own long-honored Scripture. Mark, in chapter seven, verses six and seven, records Jesus quoting Isaiah 6:7.
These people honor me with their lips, and their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain, their teachings are but rules, taught by men.
One outstanding high-light came for three of the disciples. Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on top of a mountain (from this time on, this was called the Mountain of Transfiguration). This amazing event is recorded in Mark 9, Luke 9 and Matthew 17:1-13. Someone once asked me if God's audible voice had been heard by more than one person at a time. This is a wonderful way to answer that question. Those three devoted disciples were WITNESSES when God said "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Please read this account!
Level 2
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Once I sat in a Bible class with several men who, one could tell, were proud of their hard earned wealth. They became uncomfortable when the teacher brought up the Scripture about the "rich young man" (Mark 10:17-31). Luke calls him a "rich young RULER" (Luke 18:18). This man may have had the power to rule because of his wealth. How hard it is for some to give up power and wealth, if they do not see things from God's perspective. I find myself feeling sorry for this young man. He did not understand the Spiritual Truth that Jesus wanted to convey. Check out Proverbs 12:12, and I Timothy 6:10
Today we would call it an addiction, so hard to give up . . . the LOVE of money, which becomes the root of evil.
Wealth itself was not the problem, the USE of it was; the hold it had on this young man. His focus could not be on Jesus and the Kingdom of God, for it was on his pride of ownership.
Mark, in chapter 10: 1-12, records what Jesus said about divorce. He explained that although Moses permitted a certificate of divorce, he did this because he realized that "their hearts were hardened". Jesus said,
Wealth itself was not the problem, the USE of it was; the hold it had on this young man. His focus could not be on Jesus and the Kingdom of God, for it was on his pride of ownership.
Mark, in chapter 10: 1-12, records what Jesus said about divorce. He explained that although Moses permitted a certificate of divorce, he did this because he realized that "their hearts were hardened". Jesus said,
Whom God has joined together, let no man put asunder.
So much of what Jesus said can be understood by those who have a LOVING HEART, concerned about the welfare of others. This is especially true in marriage.