1. Ascension Men’s Bible Study
Gospel of Mark Part III The Road to the Passion Mystery of Jesus fully revealed
Ascension Men’s Bible Study

2. Review Session One: An overview of the Gospel of Mark
Session Two: Preparation for Jesus’ public ministry
Session Three: Calling the disciples and naming the Apostles. Calling of today’s priests
Session Four: Jesus established his authority, taught his disciples and gave authority to the apostles.

3. The Mystery of Christ Tonight we will look at
Jesus reveals his mystery to his disciples and apostles – to us.
The Journey to his passion provides the setting in which Jesus reveals his mystery.

4. Word Study
Pharisee: a. Gave considerable attention to ritual purity. B. gave special attention to symbols of Israel such as circumsion, food laws, tithing. C. developed their own set of rituals and traditions that stood along side of written laws of Moses
Sadducee: a. adherence only to the laws of Moses. B. did not believe in life after death – resurrection. C. Opponents of the Pharisees.
Christ: Greek - mashshiach or Messiah means Anointed. New Testament usage meant the anointed one.

5. The Journey to the Passion
Who is the audience for this portion of Mark?
The Disciples which includes us today
The Pharisees
The Sadducees

6. The Journey to the Passion
Events on the Way
Peter’s confession
First Prediction of the Passion
Transfiguration of Jesus
Coming of Elijah
Healing of Boy with demon
Second Prediction of the Passion
The Greatest
Another Exorcist
Temptation to sin
Simile of Salt
Marriage and divorce
Blessing of the children
Rich man
Third prediction of the Passion
Ambition of James and John
Blind Bartimaeus
Entry into Jerusalem
Jesus Curses a fig tree
Cleansing of the temple
The withered fig tree
Authority of Jesus Questioned
Parable of the tenants
Paying taxes to the Emperor
Questions about the resurrection
Signs of the end
Coming persecution
Coming of Son of Man
Lesson of fig tree
Need for watchfulness
Conspiracy against Jesus
Anointing at Bethany

7. Jesus reveals his mystery
Peter’s confession
Transfiguration
Three Predictions of his passion
His authority
Questions about the resurrection
Anointing at Bethany
The Way

8. Peter’s confession Read Mark 8:27-29
Jesus went out, along with His disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way He questioned His disciples, saying to them, "Who do people say that I am?" 28 They told Him, saying, "John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; but others, one of the prophets." 29 And He continued by questioning them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered and said to Him, "You are the Christ.“
Why was Peter’s confession important for understanding Christ?

9. The Transfiguration Read Mark 9:1-13
And Jesus was saying to them, " Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power."
2 Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; 3 and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4 Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. 5 Peter said to Jesus, " Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 6 For he did not know what to answer; for they became terrified. 7 Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, " This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!" 8 All at once they looked around and saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone.
9 As they were coming down from the mountain, He gave them orders not to relate to anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man rose from the dead. 10 They seized upon that statement, discussing with one another what rising from the dead meant. 11 They asked Him, saying, "Why is it that the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" 12 And He said to them, "Elijah does first come and restore all things. And yet how is it written of the Son of Man that He will suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13 "But I say to you that Elijah has indeed come, and they did to him whatever they wished, just as it is written of him."

10. The Transfiguration
Does this story remind us of any Old Testament Events?
The Mountain
Cloud
The Voice
Who was Present
What earlier event in Mark does this remind us of?
How would these connections help the disciples to know who Christ is?

11. Christ predicts his passion
Read Mark 8:31-33, 9:3-32, 10:32-34

12. Christ first prediction of his passion
Mark 8:31-33
He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.

13. Christ second prediction of his passion
Mark 9:30-32
They left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him and three days after his death he will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.

14. Christ third prediction of his passion
Mark 10:32-34
They were on the way, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus went ahead of them. They were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them what was going to happen to him. Behold we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles who will mock him, spit upon him, scourge him, and put him to death, but after three days he will rise.

15. Predictions of the Passion
Repeated 3 times:
Why was this so important for the disciples that Jesus repeated it to them three times?

16. Authority of Jesus Read Mark 11:27-33
Contrast the response of the leaders of the temple to that of the public and of the evil spirits.
They came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to Him, 28 and began saying to Him, "By what authority are You doing these things, or who gave You this authority to do these things?" 29 And Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one question, and you answer Me, and then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 "Was the baptism of John from heaven, or from men? Answer Me." 31 They began reasoning among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?' 32 "But shall we say, 'From men'?" — they were afraid of the people, for everyone considered John to have been a real prophet. 33 Answering Jesus, they said, "We do not know." And Jesus said to them, "Nor will I tell you by what authority I do these things."

17. Authority of Jesus Read Mark 1:21-28
21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.
23 Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24 saying, " What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are — the Holy One of God!" 25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!" 26 Throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice and came out of him. 27 They were all amazed, so that they debated among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him." 28 Immediately the news about Him spread everywhere into all the surrounding district of Galilee.

18. Question about the Resurrection
Read Mark 12:18-27
18 Some Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection) came to Jesus, and began questioning Him, saying, 19 "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that IF A MAN'S BROTHER DIES and leaves behind a wife AND LEAVES NO CHILD, HIS BROTHER SHOULD MARRY THE WIFE AND RAISE UP CHILDREN TO HIS BROTHER. 20 "There were seven brothers; and the first took a wife, and died leaving no children. 21 "The second one married her, and died leaving behind no children; and the third likewise; 22 and so all seven left no children. Last of all the woman died also. 23 "In the resurrection, when they rise again, which one's wife will she be? For all seven had married her." 24 Jesus said to them, "Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God? 25 "For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 "But regarding the fact that the dead rise again, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ' I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, and the God of Jacob'? 27 " He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; you are greatly mistaken."

19. The Resurrection
What does this dialogue tell the disciples about the mystery of Christ?

20. Anointing at Bethany Read Mark 14:3-9
While He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, there came a woman with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume of pure nard; and she broke the vial and poured it over His head. 4 But some were indignantly remarking to one another, "Why has this perfume been wasted? 5 "For this perfume might have been sold for over three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor." And they were scolding her. 6 But Jesus said, "Let her alone; why do you bother her? She has done a good deed to Me. 7 "For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me. 8 "She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial. 9 "Truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her."
Jesus tells his disciples that what this woman has done will be preached throughout the world. Why?

21. The WAY Exodus 13:21-22 The Lord showed them the “way”
Isaiah 35:8-10 The “way” is called the holy way
Mark 8:27: Along the “way” Jesus asks: “Who do people say that I am?”
Mark 9:33-34” Jesus asks : “what were you arguing about?”
Mark 10:17: “journey/way” Rich man on the way asks what he must do to have eternal life?
Mark 10:32: They are on “the way” to Jerusalem. Jesus tells them for the third time of his passion.
Mark 10:46: Blind Bartimaeus is healed on the “roadside/way”
Mark 10:52 Jesus says “go your way” your faith has saved you.

22. Early church – People of the Way
Saul of Tarsus persecuted those of the Way - Acts 9:2; 22:4
Others spoke evil of the Way - Acts 19:9
At Ephesus there was a riot about the Way - Acts 19:23
Paul confessed to worship God according to the Way - Acts 24:14
Felix the governor gained accurate knowledge about the Way - Acts 24:22

23. Summary
Peter’s confession: sets the stage for Jesus’ mystery. He is the Son of God
Transfiguration: Jesus reveals to the disciples his divine nature. The Holy Trinity is present. Connects Jesus to the O. T. on the Holy mountain with Moses and Elijah.
Three Predictions of his passion: He knows he must die as the sacrifice for our sins. Not only does he know, but he knows how, where, and when
His authority: His authority is God given. An authority unlike anything they had ever experienced. Proof he is the Son of God
Questions about the resurrection: Confirms his resurrection is possible. That there is indeed life after death. Therefore the disciples can begin to understand that he will rise and be present with them once again
Anointing at Bethany: Another confirmation of his death or passion. Anointed not as a pauper, but as a king.
The Way: The journey to his passion has created a following that now becomes known as “The Way”. An entirely new understanding of how the Messiah would bring salvation to the world.

24. THE PASSION Betrayal by Judas Preparations for the Passover
The Betrayer
Lord’s Supper
Peter’s denial Foretold
Agony in the Garden
Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
Jesus before the Sanhedrin
Peter’s denial
Jesus before Pilate
Sentence of Death
Mockery by the soldiers
Way of the Cross
The Crucifixion
Death of Jesus
Burial of Jesus

25. THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS
Appearance of Mary
Appearance to Two Disciples
Commissioning of the Elders
The Ascension of Jesus