The Gospel of Mark #18 – Study Questions

Kyle Bartholic   -   May 16, 2024

The Servant King

Mark 11:1-33 (CGS#18)

INTRODUCTION:  This week, we will work through chapter 11 in Mark’s Gospel. Chapters 1-2 covered the first two years of Jesus’ life and ministry. Chapters 3-10 covered year three of Jesus’ life and ministry. Now, chapters 11-16 will cover the events of the Passion week and the resurrection. It is no wonder why Mark’s Gospel has been called a passion narrative with a prologue. Here is how one commentator explains this unique feature in Mark’s writing. “Mark places the passion narrative of chaps. 11–16 in the context of Easter week. This means that fully one-third of Mark’s Gospel (and nearly one-half of John’s, chaps. 12–21) is set during the last seven days of Jesus’ life. The disproportionate emphasis on this brief time period signals the importance of the final week in Jerusalem for an understanding of Jesus’ mission and purpose. The passion narration in chaps. 11–16 resumes the fast pace of the first three chapters of the Gospel. Once Jesus arrives in Jerusalem, to which he has been “on the way” since 8:27, events quickly transpire to complete his mission and revelation as the Son of God.”[1]

The seventeen miles from Jericho up to Jerusalem is a rugged walk, ascending thirty-five hundred feet. Bethany was on the southeastern side of the Mount of Olives, just a couple of miles from Jerusalem. The mountain consisted of three peaks, with the highest at three thousand feet. It is disputed whether Jesus sent the two disciples to Bethany. His purpose in the arrangements is definitely to show messianic fulfillment, centering on three passages: Zechariah 14:4, which prophesies that Yahweh will stand on the Mount of Olives on the day of Yahweh; Genesis 49:10–11, stating that the lion of the tribe of Judah will tether his donkey and colt to a branch; and 2 Samuel 15:30–31, when David returned to Jerusalem (after Absalom had forced him to flee) on a donkey. Jesus’ purpose here is to show that he will not be the conquering Messiah they are expecting who will bring the armies of heaven to destroy Israel’s enemies. Rather, he is the Suffering Servant, who is coming to defeat a different enemy, the sinfulness of humankind, and bring messianic peace, as symbolized by the donkey.[2] The sad reality is that the crowds were half-right. Jesus is the long-promised Messiah and the rightful King. They just didn’t understand that his kingdom was not of this earth. And, what he offered them and offers us today is far greater than anything this age could offer. However, we’re not altogether unlike the crowds; what they hoped for is what we hope for. What they needed is what we need. And, what they missed, we can miss as well.  So what is it? Jesus is the servant King.

 

 

GETTING STARTED – As a group, take time to answer this question. What makes it hard to truly be a servant?

 

IN THE WORD –   Let’s dig back into the passage(s). It is important to strengthen our muscles in reading God’s Word. On Sunday, we walked through the passage in the sermon. Hopefully, that helped you to see the landmarks of the passage with fresh eyes. Now, with your group, go back through it and see what God is saying to you specifically.

First, before you read the passage, take a moment to ask God’s Spirit to quiet your mind and heart and to illuminate the text to you. Second, read the passage aloud to the group. Then, follow the simple method below. (O.P.A)

Observe: Make 8-10 observations from the passage. Pay close attention to observe and note repeated words and phrases, names, places, and themes.

 

 

Principles: From your list of observations, what patterns or big ideas do you see emerging? Can you distill it down into 2-4 big idea truths?

 

 

Apply: Moving from your list of principles, it is time to apply God’s Word. Remember, we believe that God’s Word is living and active and that it can change the way we live Monday- Friday. What is one tangible way to apply a truth from your list above?

 

Note: Another way to approach your time together is to talk through the following questions.

  1. The crowds and even the disciples had missed expectations with Jesus. Identify what the expectations were of the crowds and the disciples. How are your expectations of Jesus similar or different from those of the crowds and disciples on Palm Sunday?
  2. When you consider the historical or philosophical reliability of Christianity, do you agree with the idea that it is a reasonable and rational faith? Or do you tend to think that faith is an act of “blind hope” and can’t be or shouldn’t be rationally founded?
  3. If you had to explain or give a defense of why you follow Jesus, how might you answer that question?
  4. When you look back on your life, in what ways and through what methods (self, someone else, or God) have you tried to fill the need for a savior? What went well, and what ultimately fell short?
  5. If someone looked from the outside at your life, how do you think they would answer the question, “Who is Jesus?” from the evidence of your life? (Remember, this question doesn’t presuppose that a person could see with total accuracy, but what impression do our lives give?)

 

 

[1] James R. Edwards, The Gospel according to Mark, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos, 2002), 332.

[2] Grant R. Osborne, Luke: Verse by Verse, ed. Jeffrey Reimer, Elliot Ritzema, and Danielle Thevenaz, Awa Sarah, Osborne New Testament Commentaries (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2018), 453.