Introduction to the Gospel of Mark

Overview

Mark wrote about what Jesus did during his last three years on earth. Mark called Jesus “God’s servant” (see: Mark 10:45). In this book, Jesus always served God and other people. According to Mark, Jesus travelled to different places, taught people, and did many miracles. Jesus did these miracles to prove that he taught true things from God. Mark wrote about the miracles of Jesus more than any other gospel writer.

Mark wrote that Jesus was both God and man. The things Jesus said and did allowed people to know how to do things and say things that honor God.

See: Miracle; Gospel; Jesus is God

Who wrote this letter?

In the gospel, the author does not write who the author was. Also, the author did not say that he saw everything that he wrote about.

Two of the first Christian leaders, wrote letters writing the author was Mark. These letters are not in the Bible.

In the Bible, Mark was also called John (see: Acts 12:12, 25; 15:37). His mother was a woman named Mary and she lived in Jerusalem (see: Acts 12:12). Mark’s cousin was Barnabas (see: Colossians 4:10).

Mark traveled with Barnabas and Paul on the first missionary trip (see: Acts 13:5).

Mark was a friend to the apostle Peter, (see: 1 Peter 5:13). Mark learned most of the things he wrote about from Peter.

See: Gospel; Paul's Missionary Journeys;Apostle

To whom did Mark write?

In the gospel, the author did not speak about the people to whom he wrote. Mark wrote in the Greek language. He explained Aramaic words. So it is thought the readers did not know Aramaic (see:Mar k3:17, 5:41, 7:11, 7:34, 10:46, 14:36, 15:22, and 15:34).

Mark did not explain the different names for Jesus such as Messiah, Son of God, Son of David, Lord, and the “Son of Man.” He also did not explain the words gospel, King Herod, Pilate, and many of the towns in his book. Because he did not explain these words, the audience probably knew these words and believed in Jesus.

Mark wrote fourteen Latin words that were spoken by the people in Rome. One example was when he explained the value of the two coins the widow gave (see: Mark 12:42). He wrote the Latin name for the coin. Because of these Latin words, scholars think Mark wrote to people in Rome.

See: Gospel;Languages in the New Testament; Messiah (Christ); Son of God;Son of Man

See Map: Rome

What did Mark write about in this letter?

Messianic secret

In the first part of Mark’s gospel Jesus did not tell people that he was the messiah. In the second part of Mark’s gospel, he told his disciples that he was the messiah. However, Jesus told them not to tell anybody.

See: Messiah (Christ); Gospel;Messianic Secret; Disciple

Suffering servant

The “suffering servant” was a certain person who serves God and suffers for doing it. Isaiah prophesied about this person (see: Isaiah 53). This person is Jesus. Mark said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (see: Mark 10:45)

Jesus not only came to serve God and man, he commanded Christians to do the same.

See: Prophecy (Prophesy) ; Son of Man

Son of Man

Jesus often called himself the “Son of Man.” He did this because he was a man who served God and would die.

However, the “Son of Man” had a different meaning in the book of Daniel (see: Daniel 7:13-14). In those verses, the Son of Man was a specific person who would have all power and judge all people. When Jesus called himself the Son of Man, he wanted to say that he was not just a man who served God. He would also rule the world and judge everyone.

See: Ezekiel 2:1

See: Son of Man

#### Son of God

Jesus is sometimes called the “Son of God.” In Mark, other people often call Jesus the “Son of God.”

See: Son of God

Kingdom of God

Mark often wrote about the kingdom of God.

See: Kingdom of God

Why did Mark write this letter?

Mark wanted to tell people about the gospel of Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God (see: Mark 1:1). Jesus was both the “Son of God” and the “Son of Man.” He was a humble man who served other people. He rescued people and got them to worship God. Jesus tells everyone to trust him and to follow him.

See: Gospel; Messiah (Christ); Son of God; Son of Man

Outline of the Gospel of Mark

1. Jesus, the Son of God (1:1-13)
2. The baptism and teaching of John (1:1-8)
3. The baptism of Jesus (1:9-11)
4. The temptation of Jesus (1:12-13)
5. Jesus at work in Galilee (1:14-9:50)
6. He begins his work (1:14-45)
7. He teaches about his kingdom (2:1-5:43)
8. He meets people who want to stop him (6:1-8:26)
9. He prepares his disciples for the end (8:27-9:50)
10. Jesus prepares for death (10:1-14:31)
11. He goes to Jerusalem (10:1-11:11)
12. He stays in Jerusalem and vicinity (11:12-14:31)
13. Jesus suffers and dies at the hands of men (14:32-15:47)
14. His suffering in Gethsemane (14:32-42)
15. His arrest (14:43-52)
16. His trial before Jewish leaders and Peter denies knowing him (14:53-72)
17. His trial before Pilate (15:1-15)
18. His crucifixion (15:16-41)
19. His burial (15:42-47)
20. Jesus triumphs over death (16:1-20)
21. His resurrection (16:1-8)
22. His appearances on earth (16:9-18)
23. His ascension into heaven (16:19-20)

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Mark

Chapter 1

¹ This is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

² As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,

         "Look, I am sending my messenger before your face,

         the one who will prepare your way.

    ³ The voice of one crying out in the wilderness,

         'Make ready the way of the Lord;

         make his paths straight.'"

⁴ John came, baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ The whole country of Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. ⁶ John wore a coat of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.

⁷ He was preaching, saying, "One will come after me who is more powerful than I; the strap of his sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. ⁸ I baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

⁹ It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and he was baptized by John in the Jordan River. ¹⁰ As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens split open and the Spirit coming down on him like a dove. ¹¹ A voice came out of the heavens: "You are my beloved Son. I am very pleased with you."

¹² Then the Spirit compelled him to go out into the wilderness. ¹³ He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels served him.

¹⁴ Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God. ¹⁵ He said, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the gospel."

¹⁶ When he was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ Jesus said to them, "Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." ¹⁸ Then immediately they left the nets and followed him. ¹⁹ As Jesus was walking on a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and John his brother; they were in the boat mending the nets. ²⁰ He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and they followed him.

²¹ Then they came into Capernaum, and on the Sabbath, Jesus went into the synagogue and taught. ²² They were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as someone who has authority and not as the scribes. ²³ Just then a man in their synagogue who had an unclean spirit cried out, ²⁴ saying, "What do we have to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the Holy One of God!"

²⁵ Jesus rebuked the demon and said, "Be quiet and come out of him!" ²⁶ The unclean spirit threw him into convulsions and went out from him while crying out with a loud voice. ²⁷ All the people were amazed, so they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He even commands the unclean spirits and they obey him!" ²⁸ The news about him went out everywhere into the whole region of Galilee.

²⁹ After coming out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, along with James and John. ³⁰ Now Simon's mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. ³¹ So he came, took her by the hand, and raised her up; the fever left her, and she started serving them.

³² That evening after the sun had set, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed by demons. ³³ The whole city gathered together at the door. ³⁴ He healed many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons, but he did not allow the demons to speak because they knew him.

³⁵ He got up very early, while it was still dark; he left and went out into a solitary place and there he prayed. ³⁶ Simon and those who were with him searched for him. ³⁷ They found him and they said to him, "Everyone is looking for you."

³⁸ He said, "Let us go elsewhere, out into the surrounding towns, so that I may preach there also. That is why I came out here." ³⁹ He went throughout all of Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

⁴⁰ A leper came to him. He was begging him; he knelt down and said to him, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."

⁴¹ Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched him, saying to him, "I am willing. Be clean." ⁴² Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. ⁴³ Jesus strictly warned him and sent him away. ⁴⁴ He said to him, "Be sure to say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." ⁴⁵ But he went out and began to declare it freely and spread the word, so much so that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but he stayed out in remote places. Yet people were still coming to him from everywhere.

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Mark 1 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry in 1:2-3, which is a quotation from the Old Testament.

Special concepts in this chapter

"You can make me clean"

Leprosy was a disease of the skin that made a person unclean and unable to properly worship God. Jesus is capable of making people physically "clean" or healthy as well as spiritually "clean" or right with God. (See: clean)

Prophecy

Mark begins this book about Jesus Christ with the words that the prophet Isaiah wrote long before that time. Then he tells how John the Baptist and Jesus Christ fulfilled that prophecy.

Repentance

Repent means stop sinning. John the Baptist taught people to repent so that God would forgive their sins. Jesus taught people to repent and to believe the good news about the kingdom of God.

The work of Jesus

Jesus went around preaching the good news of God, casting demons out of people, and healing people who were sick.

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Mark 1 Commentary

1:1-8

What is the gospel?

[1:1]

See: Gospel

How is Jesus the “son of God”?

[1:1]

See: Son of God

Who was John the Baptist?

[1:4]

Mark wrote about John the Baptist fulfilling a prophecy from the Old Testament. Three different prophets spoke about this prophecy (see: Exodus 23:20; Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1). Mark wanted people to know that God promised to do something, and it happened. God promised that a prophet would come before the messiah to tell people that the messiah was coming. John the Baptist was this promised prophet.

See: Messiah (Christ); Prophecy (Prophesy) ; Prophet; Messiah (Christ)

How did John the Baptist serve God?

[1:4, 1:5]

John the Baptist served God by telling people that they needed to repent. They needed to worship and obey God. They were unclean because they disobeyed God. They needed to be made clean. John also served God by baptizing people who believed in God and repented of their sins.

See: Confess (Confession); Sin; Clean and Unclean; Baptize (Baptism); Gentile; Confess (Confession)

Why was John’s baptism different from all other baptisms?

[1:4, 1:5]

John’s baptism was not like other baptisms. John’s baptism helped people get ready for the messiah. People wanted to follow the messiah, so they confessed their sins. They were at peace with God for a time. This helped them to know the messiah when they heard him speak. In ancient Israel, other leaders might have baptized and preached repentance. However, only John prepared the people in Judea and in Jerusalem for Jesus.

See: Clean and Unclean; Preach (Preacher); Repent (Repentance); Clean and Unclean

See Map: Jerusalem; Judea

Where is Judea and Jerusalem?

[1:5]

See Map: Judea; Jerusalem

Why did Mark write about the clothes John the Baptist wore and the things he ate?

[1:6]

The Jews thought the prophet Elijah would come back to earth before the messiah (see: Malachi 4:5). Elijah was a prophet who wore a coat made of hair and a leather belt around his waist (see:2 Kings 1:8). John dressed in the same way as Elijah.

Both Elijah and John lived in the wilderness. People who lived in the wilderness ate locusts and honey.

Mark wrote these things so everyone would know that John was the prophet who God promised to send before the messiah came. John told people that the messiah would be there soon.

See: Wilderness; Messiah (Christ); Locust; Wilderness

Why did John not want to untie Jesus’ sandal?

[1:7]

In ancient Israel, people thought that feet were very dirty. Because of this, only servants or slaves would touch someone’s feet. It dishonored someone to touch dirty feet. However, John thought that even touching Jesus’ feet was a greater honor than John deserved.

Advice to translators: A sandal is a certain type of shoe. It does not cover the entire foot.

See: Clean and Unclean

How was Jesus’ baptism different from John’s baptism?

[1:8]

John’s baptism was a way for people to show other people that they wanted to obey and honor God. They wanted to stop sinning. Jesus baptizes people with the Holy Spirit. That is, he did not just wash their body with water. They were baptized because they believed in Jesus.

See: Matthew 3:11; Luke 3:3-16; John 1:19-34; Acts 2

See: Spirit (Spiritual); Holy Spirit;Spirit (Spiritual)

1:9-11

How were the heavens split open?

[1:10]

Mark wrote that the heavens were “split open” or tore and opened when Jesus came out of the water. Mark wrote the same word to write about God tearing the curtain of the temple from top to bottom when Jesus died on the cross (see: Mark 15:38). This was at the beginning and the end of Mark’s gospel. Mark wanted people to know that Jesus is the Son of God. Mark wrote about the heavens opening because he wanted to say that God was allowing people to know more about God.

See: Heaven; Cross; Gospel; Son of God; God;Heaven

Why did the voice say “You are my beloved Son. I am very pleased with you”?

[1:11]

The voice saying “You are my beloved Son” was saying that the messiah had come to earth. After this, Jesus began to do certain things to serve God and tell people that he was the messiah. God sent the Holy Spirit as a dove so people would know that God had anointed Jesus for ministry.

The words spoken by God the father made the readers think about Isaiah 42:1.

See: Psalms 2:7; Matthew 3:13-17; Luke 3:21-23

See: Anoint (Anointing); God the Father; Holy Spirit; Messiah (Christ); Minister (Ministry); Anoint (Anointing)

1:12-13

Why did Jesus go to the wilderness after he was baptized?

[1:12]

Jesus went to the wilderness because the Holy Spirit wanted him to go there. Jesus completely obeyed the Holy Spirit and went to the wilderness.

See: Baptize (Baptism); Holy Spirit; Baptize (Baptism)

Why did God send Jesus into the wilderness?

[1:13]

God sent Jesus into the wilderness. This is because Satan was going to tempt him. Jesus was given choices to follow God or not. Jesus obeyed God because he trusted God. Jesus did not sin when he was tempted. He did not follow Satan. After the temptations, angels served Jesus because his body was weak.

See: Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13

See: Angel; Tempt (Temptation); Angel

1:14-15

Why was John put into prison?

[1:14]

John was put in prison because he told Herod that he could not marry his brother’s wife, Herodias. John said that Herod broke the law by marrying Herodias.

Where is Galilee?

[1:14]

See Map: Galilee

Why did Jesus say that the “kingdom of God” is near?

[1:15]

Jesus said that the kingdom of God was near. Some scholars think Jesus’ kingdom was on the earth. He was the king of the earthly kingdom.

Other scholars think Jesus wanted to say the “kingdom of God” has started so that people did not have to sin any more. God rules the things someone thinks and the things they do when they believe in Jesus and do the things he said to do. Before, people could only do evil before Jesus came to earth. Now people can return to God and do the things that honor him.

Other scholars think Jesus was coming to offer to his kingdom to Israel. His kingdom was going to begin if they believed in him. Because they rejected him, his kingdom did not begin.

See: Matthew 4:12-17; Luke

See: Proclaim (Proclamation); Messiah (Christ); Proclaim (Proclamation)

1:16-20

Why did Jesus say they would be “fishers of men”?

[1:17]

Jesus used a metaphor when he said they would be “fishers of men.” Peter, Andrew, John and James were all fishermen. They fished to earn money. Jesus said this to say that they were no longer going to catch fish for money. Instead, they would bring men to God by telling them about the gospel. Jesus wanted to tell them they would serve God in a different way.

See: Gospel; Gospel

Why did Peter and Andrew follow Jesus immediately?

[1:18]

Andrew heard what John the Baptist said about Jesus (see: John 1:40). Andrew was ready to follow Jesus because of John. Andrew found his brother Peter. Peter was also ready to follow Jesus (see: John 1:41-42).

Why did Mark write about the hired men?

[1:20]

The disciples left their family, their work, and their homes to follow Jesus. They left everything that they had. Mark wrote that they did not leave their father to fish without help. He had hired men who would help him. They honored their father by making sure he was not alone.

See: Matthew 4:18-22; John 1:40-42

See: Disciple

See Map: Sea of Galilee

1:21-28

Where was Capernaum?

[1:21]

See Map: Capernaum

What was the Sabbath?

[1:21]

See: Sabbath

What was a synagogue?

[1:21]

See: Synagogue

How were the things Jesus taught different from other teachers?

[1:22]

In ancient Israel, teachers said what other teachers that came before them said. Jesus’ teaching was different. He taught what God commanded. Jesus did not follow the things that other people taught because other people taught it. He only taught about what God said and the people were amazed.

Why did the unclean spirits cry out?

[1:23]

The unclean spirits cried out. That is, they were afraid. They knew that Jesus is God and will one day judge them and punish them.

See: Demon;Demon

Where was Nazareth?

[1:24]

See Map: Nazareth

Who is the “holy one” of God?

[1:24]

Jesus is the holy one of God. That is, he is the messiah.

See: Messiah (Christ)

Why did Jesus tell the demon to be quiet?

[1:25]

Jesus made others know that he had power over the demons when he told them to be quiet. They needed Jesus’ permission to speak.

See: Demon

Why were the people amazed?

[1:27]

The people were amazed because even the demons did what Jesus told them to do. He had power that they had never seen before.

See: Luke 4:31-37

1:29-31

Why did Mark write that the woman served Jesus after she was healed?

[1:31]

Mark wrote that Peter’s mother-in-law served Jesus so everyone would know that Jesus had completely healed her.

See: Matthew 8:14-15; Luke 4:38-39

1:32-39

How was someone possessed by a demon?

See: Demon Possession (Casting Out Demons)

Why did Mark write that the people came to Jesus after sunset?

[1:32]

Mark wrote that people came to Jesus after sunset. The people wanted to follow the Law of Moses and not do any work on the Sabbath. The Jewish leaders taught that carrying a person who could not walk was work. Therefore, it was against the Law of Moses. The people waited until after the Sabbath was over at sunset to come to Jesus for healing.

See: Sabbath; Sabbath

### Why did Mark write Jesus woke up early and prayed in a quiet place alone?

[1:35]

Mark wrote about Jesus getting up early in the morning and praying. For Jesus, prayer was the most significant part of his day. He was able to talk and listen to God the father. God the father told Jesus what he needed to do while he prayed. This is the beginning of Jesus’ preaching and healing in Galilee.

See: Preach (Preacher); Preach (Preacher)

See Map: Galilee

1:40-45

What is leprosy?

[1:40]

See: Leprosy (Leper)

Why did Jesus touch the leper?

[1:41]

A person became unclean if they touched a leper. This is what is written in the Law of Moses. Mark wanted people to know that Jesus touched the leper. Jesus did not worry about being unclean because he leper was made clean and was healed of his leprosy when Jesus touched him.

See: Leprosy (Leper); Law of Moses; Leprosy (Leper)

Why did Jesus warn the leper not to speak about being healed?

[1:44]

The Law of Moses required a leper to show himself to the priest. The priest would pronounce that he was clean. In this way, Jesus was following the Law of Moses. Mark wrote that Jesus healed three different people. He told each of them not to tell anyone (see: 1:44; 5:43; and 7:36). The leper who was cured did not obey Jesus. He told everyone. Crowds then came to be healed by Jesus instead of coming to hear Jesus teach. Because of the crowds, Jesus could no longer teach in the synagogues. He began to teach outside of the towns where no one lived.

See: Matthew 8:1-4; Luke 5:12-16

See: Synagogue;Leprosy (Leper); Priest (Priesthood); Clean and Unclean;Synagogue

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ULB Translation Questions

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Chapter 2

¹ When Jesus came back to Capernaum after a few days, it was heard that he was at home. ² So many gathered there that there was no more space, not even at the door, and he spoke the word to them. ³ Then some men came to him who were bringing a paralyzed man; four people were carrying him. ⁴ When they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof that was above Jesus, and after they made an opening, they lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. ⁵ Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

⁶ Now some of the scribes were sitting there, and they reasoned in their hearts, ⁷ "How can this man speak this way? He blasphemes! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

⁸ Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit what they were thinking within themselves. He said to them, "Why are you thinking this in your hearts? ⁹ Which is easier, to say to the paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take up your mat and walk'? ¹⁰ But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins," he said to the paralytic, ¹¹ "I say to you, get up, take up your mat, and go to your house."

¹² He got up and immediately took up the mat, and went out of the house in front of everyone, so that they were all amazed and they gave glory to God, and they said, "We never saw anything like this."

¹³ He went out again by the lake, and all the crowd came to him, and he taught them. ¹⁴ As he passed by, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector's tent and he said to him, "Follow me." He got up and followed him.

¹⁵ Jesus was having a meal in Levi's house and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with him and his disciples, for there were many and they followed him. ¹⁶ When the scribes, who were Pharisees, saw that Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

¹⁷ When Jesus heard this, he said to them, "People who are strong in body do not need a physician; only people who are sick need one. I did not come to call righteous people, but sinners."

¹⁸ Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and said to him, "Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"

¹⁹ Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding attendants fast while the bridegroom is still with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. ²⁰ But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and in those days, they will fast. ²¹ No one sews a piece of new cloth on an old garment. Otherwise the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and there is a worse tear. ²² No one puts new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the wine will burst the skins and both the wine and the wineskins are lost. Instead, new wine is put into fresh wineskins."

²³ On the Sabbath day Jesus went through some grainfields, and his disciples began picking heads of grain as they made their way. ²⁴ The Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing something that is not lawful on the Sabbath day?"

²⁵ He said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry—he and the men who were with him— ²⁶ how he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the presence, which is unlawful for anyone to eat except the priests, and he even gave some to those who were with him?" ²⁷ Jesus said, "The Sabbath was made for mankind, not mankind for the Sabbath. ²⁸ Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord, even of the Sabbath."

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Mark 2 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter

"Sinners"

When the people of Jesus's time spoke of "sinners," they were talking about people who did not obey the law of Moses and instead committed sins like stealing or sexual sins. When Jesus said that he came to call "sinners," he meant that only people who believe that they are sinners can be his followers. This is true even if they are not what most people think of as "sinners." (See: sin)

Fasting and Feasting

People would fast, or not eat food for a long time, when they were sad or were showing God that they were sorry for their sins. When they were happy, like during weddings, they would have feasts, or meals where they would eat much food. (See: fast)

Important figures of speech in this chapter

Rhetorical Questions

The Jewish leaders used rhetorical questions to show that they were angry because of what Jesus said and did and that they did not believe that he was God's Son

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Mark 2

2:1-12

Whose home did Jesus go to?

[2:1]

Mark wrote that Jesus was “at home.” He did not return to the place where his family lived. He went to Capernaum. Jesus left and returned there many times. Scholars think this was Simon and Andrew’s home (see: Mark 1:29).

See Map: Capernaum

How did Jesus speak the word?

[2:2]

Mark wrote that Jesus “spoke the word.” This was a metaphor. He wanted to write that Jesus taught things about God. People needed to do the things he taught because they were the things God wanted them to do.

See: Metaphor

What did Mark want to write about the people who opened the roof?

[2:4]

Mark wanted people to know that these people were going to get their sick friend to Jesus no matter how hard it might be. In ancient Israel, homes usually had an outside stairway or ladder that went up to a flat roof. The roofs were made of slabs of burnt or dried clay. This was placed on supporting beams that stretched from one wall to another wall. The friends removed some of these slabs to make a hole in the roof. They then lowered the sick man into the room with Jesus.

Advice to translators: A slab is something that is large and flat. It may be 1 to 3 meters long and wide, but only a few centimeters thick. A beam is a long piece of wood that is very strong.

Whose trust in God did Jesus see and reward?

Jesus saw these four friends trusted Jesus to heal the paralyzed man. These men worked very hard to bring the paralyzed man to Jesus so Jesus could heal him. Because they trusted Jesus, he rewarded them by healing the man and forgiving his sins.

Advice to translators: Someone who is paralyzed cannot walk.

See: Sin

Why were the teachers of the law angry that Jesus said: “your sins are forgiven”?

[2:5]

The teachers of the Law of Moses thought Jesus had insulted God when he said, “your sins are forgiven.” This is because only God can forgive sins. They believed God alone could forgive sins.

See: Sin; Sin

What did Jesus say to the teachers of the law?

[2:8, 2:9]

Jesus knew what the teachers of the Law of Moses were thinking. He gave them something new to think about. Jesus asked them a question. He did not want them to answer. Anyone could say that a person’s sins were forgiven. This is because people would not know if this happened. However, if someone told someone to get up and walk but they did not get up and walk, then everyone could see this. People would know the person lied if the could not to heal the other person. However, Jesus healed this man by telling him to “Get up and walk.” People saw that the man got up and walked. Therefore, Jesus healed him. So when Jesus said that, “Your sins are forgiven,” he showed them that he had the power to forgive sins by healing the man.

See: Matthew 9:1-8; Luke 5:17-26

See: Sin; Sin

Who is the “son of man”?

[2:10]

See: Son of Man

2:13-17

What was the lake about which Mark wrote?

[2:13]

Mark wrote about the Sea of Galilee

See Map: Sea of Galilee

How did Mark talk about Levi?

[2:14]

Mark called the tax collector Levi, son of Alphaeus. In the gospel of Matthew, Levi was named Matthew (see: Matthew 9:9-11).

Matthew was a tax collector. People in Israel hated the tax collectors. Tax collectors were Jews who worked for the Roman government. They paid the Romans so they could collect taxes from other people. If they collected more taxes than they paid the Roman government, then they were allowed to keep it. Because of this, many tax collectors became rich. The Jews thought a Jewish tax collector betrayed the Jewish people because they took money from the Jews and gave it to the Romans. They thought tax collectors were evil because they took money from people who honored God and gave it to people who rejected God.

Who were the people who followed Jesus?

[2:15]

The twelve disciples were certain people who believed in Jesus and followed him. In 2:15, Mark wrote about other people who followed Jesus. Some of them believed in Jesus and followed him. Others did not believe in Jesus, but they still followed him. They wanted to see the great miracles he did. However, they did not believe Jesus was the messiah.

See: Disciple; Messiah (Christ); Disciple

Why did the Pharisees ask Jesus’ followers “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?

[2:16]

Pharisees wanted to follow the Law of Moses. They thought that eating with unclean people would make them unclean. This is not what the Law of Moses said. It is what the Pharisees taught. Because of this, they did not know why Jesus wanted to be near people who sinned. They were saying that Jesus had broken the Law of Moses. However, he was not breaking the Law of Moses.

See: Sin; Clean and Unclean; Law of Moses; Sin

What did Jesus say to the Pharisees?

[2:17]

Jesus told the Pharisees that he was a type of doctor. This was a metaphor. Doctors needed to be near sick people so that they could help them. Certain people knew they sinned and were not at peace with God. They knew they needed God to forgive them.

Jesus called the Pharisees “righteous.” This is because they were the teachers of the Law of Moses. They thought they did not sin and were at peace with God. They did not think they needed God to forgive them. However, everyone needs to be forgiven by God because everyone has sinned.

See: Matthew 9:9-13; Luke 5:27-32

See: Sin; Righteous (Righteousness); Sin

2:18-22

Why were people arguing about fasting?

[2:18]

The people argued because they did not see the disciples of Jesus fasting. In ancient Israel, people fasted often. They fasted when bad things happened (see: Ezra 8:23). They fasted when people died (see: 1 Samuel 31:13; 2 Samuel 1:12). They fasted when people were sick (see:2 Samuel 1:16). They fasted when they repented (see: 1 Kings 21:27). Many Jews fasted two days every week when Jesus was on the earth (see: Luke 18:9-14).

See: Repent (Repentance); Fasting; Repent (Repentance)

How did Jesus answer the question of fasting?

[2:19]

The Pharisees asked Jesus a question about fasting. Jesus answered the question by asking a question. He asked if people needed to fast when good things happened. Jesus said that people did not fast when good things happened. People should have been very happy while Jesus was on earth. Therefore, they should not fast. Jesus prophesied that he would be killed. When this happens, people will be very sad. Then they will fast.

Jesus also used two metaphors. One metaphor was about clothes and the other was about wineskins. He wanted to say that people do things differently after something new happens. The disciples did something different because they were with Jesus, the messiah.

Advice to translators: A wineskin is a bag that holds wine. It was made of leather, that is, the skin of an animal.

See: Matthew 9:14-17; Luke 5:33-39

See: Messiah (Christ); Fasting; Wedding;Marriage; Bride of Christ; Lamb of God; Prophecy (Prophesy) ; Metaphor; Wine (Winepress); Messiah (Christ)

2:23-28

Why did the Pharisees say Jesus’ followers broke the rules about the Sabbath?

[2:24]

According to the Law of Moses, one could work on the Sabbath. However, it does not say what people needed to stop doing. The Pharisees made many rules about what someone could and could not do on the Sabbath. However, this was not in the Law of Moses. The disciples picked small pieces of grain and rubbed them together so they could eat them. In the Law of Moses, people were allowed to do this when they went from one place to another place (see: Deuteronomy 23:25). However, the Pharisees taught that this was wrong. Jesus knew it was not wrong to break the Pharisees’ rule.

See: Law of Moses; Sabbath; Law of Moses

How did Jesus answer the Pharisees?

[2:25, 2:26, 2:27, 2:28]

Jesus told the Pharisees that eating was not breaking the Law of Moses. The Law of Moses had certain rules about the Sabbath. Jesus told them a story about David (see: 1 Samuel 21:2-6). David broke the Law of Moses. However, this was not evil. It was not evil to help people or to eat if you needed to eat. Jesus created the Sabbath. Therefore, if Jesus said they were not doing something evil, then they were not doing something evil.

Jesus wanted people to know that God cared more about people than the rules about the Sabbath. God made the Sabbath for people and it was a gift he gave to people.

See: Matthew 12:1-8; Luke 6:1-5

See: Sabbath; Law of Moses; Sabbath

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ULB Translation Questions

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Chapter 3

¹ Again Jesus walked into the synagogue, and there was a man with a withered hand. ² Some people watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath so that they could accuse him. ³ Jesus said to the man with the withered hand, "Get up and stand here in the middle of everyone." ⁴ Then he said to the people, "Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath day or to do harm; to save a life or to kill?" But they were silent. ⁵ He looked around at them with anger, and he was grieved by their hardness of heart, and he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. ⁶ The Pharisees went out and immediately began to plot with the Herodians as to how they might put him to death.

⁷ Then Jesus, with his disciples, went to the sea, and a great crowd of people followed from Galilee and from Judea ⁸ and from Jerusalem and from Idumea and beyond the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. When they heard about the things he was doing, a great crowd came to him. ⁹ He told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not press against him. ¹⁰ For he healed many, so that everyone who had afflictions eagerly approached him in order to touch him. ¹¹ Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, and they said, "You are the Son of God." ¹² He strictly ordered them not to make him known.

¹³ He went up on the mountain, and he called for those he wanted, and they came to him. ¹⁴ He appointed the twelve (whom he named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them to proclaim the message, ¹⁵ and to have authority to cast out demons. ¹⁶ He appointed the twelve: Simon, to whom he gave the name Peter; ¹⁷ James son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, "Sons of Thunder"; ¹⁸ and Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, ¹⁹ and Judas Iscariot, who would betray him.

²⁰ Then he went home, and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat bread. ²¹ When his family heard about it, they went out to seize him, for they said, "He is out of his mind."

²² The scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebul" and "By the ruler of the demons he drives out demons."

²³ Jesus called them to himself and said to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan? ²⁴ If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. ²⁵ If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. ²⁶ If Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he is not able to stand, but has come to an end. ²⁷ But no one can enter into the house of a strong man and steal his belongings without tying up the strong man first, and then he will plunder his house. ²⁸ Truly I say to you, all sins of the sons of men will be forgiven, even all the blasphemies which they utter, ²⁹ but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin."

³⁰ Jesus said this because they were saying, "He has an unclean spirit."

³¹ Then his mother and his brothers came and stood outside. They sent for him, summoning him. ³² A crowd was sitting around him and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside, and they are looking for you."

³³ He answered them, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" ³⁴ He looked around at those who were sitting in a circle around him and said, "See, here are my mother and my brothers! ³⁵ For whoever does the will of God, that person is my brother, and sister, and mother."

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Mark 3 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter

Sabbath

It was against the law of Moses to do work on the Sabbath. The Pharisees believed healing a sick person on the Sabbath was "work," so they said that Jesus did wrong when he healed a person on the Sabbath. (See: lawofmoses)

"Blasphemy against the Spirit"

No one knows for sure what actions people perform or what words they say when they commit this sin. However, they probably insult the Holy Spirit and his work. Part of the Holy Spirit's work is to make people understand that they are sinners and that they need to have God forgive them. Therefore, anyone who does not try to stop sinning is probably committing blasphemy against the Spirit. (See: blasphemy and holyspirit)

Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter

The twelve disciples

The following are the lists of the twelve disciples:

In Matthew:

Simon (Peter), Andrew, James son of Zebedee, John son of Zebedee, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot.

In Mark:

Simon (Peter), Andrew, James the son of Zebedee and John the son of Zebedee (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder), Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot.

In Luke:

Simon (Peter), Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon (who was called the Zealot), Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot.

Thaddaeus is probably the same person as Jude, the son of James.

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Mark 3

3:1-6

To which Synagogue did Jesus return?

[3:1]

Jesus returned to a synagogue. Scholars think Jesus returned to the synagogue in Capernaum. (see: Mark 1:21).

See: Synagogue

See Map: Capernaum

What caused the man’s hand to be withered?

[3:1]

Mark wrote about a man with a withered hand. That is, his hand was damaged or deformed. However, he was born with a normal hand. Scholars think the man got sick and the sickness damaged his hand.

Why did people watch to see if Jesus would heal this man on the Sabbath?

[3:2]

The Pharisees taught that it was wrong to heal someone on the Sabbath unless the person could die. If they were not going to die, then the Pharisees said you must wait to heal them. They thought that healing was a kind of work. The Law of Moses taught that people are not to work on the Sabbath. Certain people wanted to say Jesus did something evil by healing this man. However, it was not wrong for Jesus to heal this man. It was wrong for them to want to say Jesus did something evil. This was why Jesus was angry.

See: Mark 2:24

See: Law of Moses; Sabbath;Law of Moses

Who were the Herodians?

[3:6]

The Herodians were Jewish teachers. They liked King Herod and the people that would rule after he did. The Roman government gave these men permission to rule Israel. They liked things and ideas that were from Greece and Rome. They did not think there was going to be a Jewish messiah and they did not like Jesus’ teaching. The Pharisees needed help from these leaders so they could kill Jesus.

See: Matthew 12:9-14; Luke 6:6-11

See: Messiah (Christ)

See Map: Greece; Rome

3:7-12

Where is Galilee?

[3:7]

See Map: Galilee

Where is Idumea, Jordan, Tyre and Sidon?

[3:8]

Idumea was an area south of Israel. It was also called Edom. Tyre and Sidon were Gentile cities north of Israel.

See: Gentile; Gentile

See Map: Jerusalem; Edom; Jordan; Tyre; Sidon; Israel

What was an unclean spirit?

[3:11]

See: Demon

Why did Jesus tell the unclean spirits to be silent?

[3:12]

The unclean spirits knew Jesus. They fell down to worship him. However, Jesus did not want them to tell people that he was the Son of God. Scholars think Jesus wanted people to tell other people that He was the Son of God and not the demons.

See: Mark 1:24-25, 34; Acts 16:17-18

See: Son of God; Son of God

3:13-19

What were apostles?

[3:14]

See: Matthew 10:1-4; Luke 6:13-16

See: Apostle

What was the message they told others?

[3:14]

The apostles were going to tell other people a message. That message was the gospel.

See: Gospel; Gospel

3:20-30

Why did Jesus’ family think Jesus was “out of his mind”?

[3:21]

Mark wrote that Jesus’ family thought Jesus was “out of his mind.” That is, they thought he was no longer able to think in a right way. Some scholars think that because Jesus was too busy to even eat, his family thought he was no longer thinking rightly. Other scholars think Mark wrote that the crowd thought Jesus was “out of his mind.”

Who was Beelzebul?

[3:22]

Beelzebul was a name for Satan.

See: Matthew 12:24-32; Luke 11:17-23

See: Satan (The Devil)

How did the scribes think Jesus was able to remove demons from people?

[3:22]

The scribes said that Satan gave Jesus permission to remove demons from people.

See: Satan (The Devil);Demon Possession (Casting Out Demons); Demon; Satan (The Devil)

What was a parable?

[3:23]

See: Parable

What did Jesus say to the scribes?

[3:23, 3:24]

Jesus spoke against what the Scribes said. Jesus said that he fought against Satan by casting out demons. If Jesus wanted to help Satan, then he would not fight against Satan. Jesus also fought against the things Satan ruled on earth. God allowed Satan to rule these things for a period of time. Jesus proved that he was stronger than Satan and could defeat Satan by casting out demons.

See: Satan (The Devil); Demon Possession (Casting Out Demons); Demon; Satan (The Devil)

What was the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit?

[3:29]

Jesus said that every sin could be forgiven except one. That was blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Scholars disagree about how someone blasphemes the Holy Spirit.

1. Some scholars think Jesus spoke about rejecting him. If someone does not believe in Jesus, then they will not be forgiven of their sins.
2. Some scholars think Jesus spoke about someone seeing Jesus do miracles and saying that Satan gave him the power to do this. Therefore, people today cannot blaspheme the Holy Spirit.
3. Other scholars think Jesus spoke about people who said that the Holy Spirit did not do the things that he did.

See: Miracle; Blaspheme (Blasphemy); Holy Spirit; Miracle

What was an unclean spirit?

[3:30]

An unclean spirit was a demon.

See: Clean and Unclean; Clean and Unclean

3:31-34

Who were Jesus’ family?

[3:32]

Mary was Jesus’ mother. The names of four of Jesus’ brothers were James, Joseph, Simon and Judas. Although Jesus had sisters, their names are not in the Bible.

See: Matthew 12:46-50; 13:55-56; Mark 6:3; Luke 8:19-21

See: Family of Jesus

Who else is Jesus’ family?

[3:35]

Jesus talked about his family. But this was not his mother and brothers. He spoke about how Christians are children of God. Because of this, they are part of Jesus’ family.

See: Children of God

What was the will of God?

[3:35]

See: Will of God

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ULB Translation Questions

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Chapter 4

¹ Again he began to teach beside the sea, and a large crowd gathered around him. He stepped into a boat that was on the sea, and he sat down in it. The whole crowd was on the shore beside the sea. ² He taught them many things in parables, and in his teaching, this is what he said to them. ³ "Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. ⁴ As he sowed, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and devoured it. ⁵ Other seed fell on the rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. Immediately it sprang up, because it did not have deep soil. ⁶ But when the sun rose, the plants were scorched, and because they had no root, they dried up. ⁷ Other seed fell among the thorn plants. The thorn plants grew up and choked it, and it did not produce a crop. ⁸ Other seed fell into good soil, and it produced a crop growing up and increasing and yielding thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times." ⁹ Then he said, "Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear!"

¹⁰ When Jesus was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. ¹¹ He said to them, "To you is given the mystery of the kingdom of God. But to those outside everything is in parables,

    ¹² so that when they look,

         yes they look,

         but do not see,

     and so that when they hear,

         yes they hear,

         but do not understand,

     or else they would turn

         and God would forgive them."

¹³ He said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? ¹⁴ The sower sows the word. ¹⁵ These are the ones beside the road, where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. ¹⁶ And these are the seed sown on the rocky ground; who, when they hear the word immediately receive it with joy. ¹⁷ But they do not have root in themselves, but they endure for a while. Afterward when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, they immediately fall away. ¹⁸ Still others are the ones sown among the thorns. They are those who hear the word, ¹⁹ but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, and it is unproductive. ²⁰ Those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word, accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much."

²¹ Jesus said to them, "Do you bring a lamp inside the house to put it under a basket or under the bed? You bring it in and you put it on a lampstand. ²² For nothing is hidden that will not be known, and nothing is secret that will not come out into the open. ²³ If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!" ²⁴ He said to them, "Pay attention to what you hear, for the measure you use will be measured to you, and more will be added to you. ²⁵ Because whoever has, to him will be given more, and whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken."

²⁶ He also said, "The kingdom of God is like a man who sows his seed on the ground. ²⁷ He sleeps at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. ²⁸ The earth bears grain by itself: First the blade, then the ear, then the mature grain in the ear. ²⁹ When the crop is ripe, he immediately sends in the sickle because the harvest has come."

³⁰ Again he said, "To what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use to explain it? ³¹ It is like a mustard seed, which, when it is sown, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth. ³² Yet, when it is sown, it grows and becomes greater than all the garden plants, and it forms large branches, so that the birds of heaven can make their nests in its shade."

³³ With many parables like this he spoke the word to them, as much as they were able to understand, ³⁴ and he did not speak to them without a parable. But when he was alone, he explained everything to his own disciples.

³⁵ On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go over to the other side." ³⁶ So they left the crowd, taking Jesus with them, just as he was, in the boat. There were other boats going along with him. ³⁷ Just then a violent windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat so that the boat was almost full of water. ³⁸ But Jesus himself was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him up, saying, "Teacher, do you not care that we are about to die?"

³⁹ He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" Then the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ Then he said to them, "Why are you afraid? Do you still not have faith?"

⁴¹ They were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, because even the wind and the sea obey him?"

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Mark 4 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Mark 4:3-10 forms one parable. The parable is explained in 4:14-23.

Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry in 4:12, which is a quotation from the Old Testament.

Special concepts in this chapter

Parables

The parables were short stories that Jesus told so that people would easily understand the lesson he was trying to teach them. He also told the stories so that those who did not want to believe in him would not understand the truth.

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Mark 4

4:1-9

Why did Jesus get into the boat?

[4:1]

Jesus got into the boat near the shore. By doing this, people could not get too close to him. Therefore, everyone could see him and could hear him.

What was a parable?

[4:2]

See: Parable

Why did Mark write about sowing seeds?

[4:3]

In this passage, Mark wrote about sowing seeds. This was a long metaphor. He wrote about the different types of people. However, scholars do not agree on who were the people about which Mark wrote.

See: Matthew 13:3-9; Luke 8:5-8

See: Metaphor; Metaphor

What was a thorny plant?

[3:7]

A thorny plant was a type of weed. Weeds are bad plants. They harm the good plants. These plants grew in places where people did not want them to grow. Farmers wanted to stop these plants from growing because they harmed the good plants that they wanted to grow.

Why did Jesus say, “he who has ears to hear, let him hear”?

[4:9]

When someone said “he who has ears to hear, let him hear,” they wanted someone to really listen to what they said because they needed to hear it.

4:10-12

Who were the twelve?

[4:10]

Mark wrote about the twelve disciples when he wrote about the twelve.

See: Disciple

What was the mystery?

[4:11]

See: Mystery

Who was given the mystery of the kingdom of God?

[4:11]

Those who believed in Jesus were given the mystery of the kingdom of God. Anyone who rejected Jesus would not understand the things he taught. In 4:12, Jesus said that if they understood the things he taught, then they would have believed in him.

See: Kingdom of God; Kingdom of God

4:13-20

What was the word?

[4:14]

Jesus explained the metaphor about sowing seeds. He said the sower sowed the word. That is, the things about which Jesus taught. Some scholars think Jesus spoke about the gospel. Fewer scholars think Jesus spoke about the kingdom of God.

See: Kingdom of God;Metaphor; Word of God; Gospel; Kingdom of God

Who were the people who were like seeds sown beside the road?

[4:15]

Jesus used a metaphor to talk about what happened to people when they heard the gospel. Jesus talked about certain people who were like seeds sown beside the road. This was a place where seeds could not grow. Those seeds died because the dirt was too hard. Some scholars think that Jesus spoke about Christians. These people say they were Christians, but they did not do things that honored God. Therefore, they were not at peace with God.

Other scholars think that Jesus spoke about people who were not Christians. These people did not believe in the things Jesus taught. They did not believe in Jesus.

See: ; Metaphor; Satan (The Devil); Metaphor

What people were like the seeds sown on rocky ground?

[4:16]

Jesus used a metaphor to talk about what happened to people when they heard the gospel. Jesus talked about certain people who were like seeds sown on rocky ground. On the rocky ground, the seed could begin to grow. But there was not enough dirt for it to grow very much, so it died.

Some scholars think that Jesus spoke about Christians. These people believed in Jesus, but they rejected Jesus when they were persecuted. Therefore, they are not at peace with God.

Other scholars think that Jesus spoke about people who were not Christians. These people said they were Christians, but rejected Jesus when they were persecuted. Therefore, they were not Christians.

See: Gospel ; Metaphor; Gospel

What people were like seeds sown with the thorns?

[4:18]

Jesus used a metaphor to talk about what happened to people when they heard the gospel. Jesus talked about certain people who were like seeds sown with the thorns. Thorn plants were bad plants. The thorn plants killed the good plants.

Some scholars think Jesus spoke about Christians. These people believed in Jesus, but they made other things more significant than Jesus in their life. They did not honor God as much as they should have honored him.

Other scholars think Jesus spoke about people who were not Christians. They said they were Christians, but they cared more for the things they owned than they cared for Jesus. They were not Christians.

Advice to translators: Here, “thorns” is a type of plant that grows among other plants and kills them. It is also not good to be used for anything.

See: Gospel; Metaphor; Gospel

What people were like seeds sown on good soil?

[4:20]

Jesus used a metaphor to talk about what happened to people when they heard the gospel. Jesus talked about certain people who were like seeds sown on good soil. These people obeyed God and did things that honored God. They made fruit when they did this. That is, they did not live in the way they used to live. They helped others to believe in Jesus and did the things that honored Jesus.

See: Metaphor; Metaphor

How did someone bear fruit?

[4:20]

See: Fruit (Metaphor)

4:21-29

Why did Jesus use a metaphor about light?

[4:21]

A lamp lights the entire room. It allows everything to be seen. God is light, and the word of God is light (see: Psalm 119:105; 1 John 1:5). Light made things known that were not known before. Jesus used a metaphor about the light.

Some scholars think Jesus spoke about the kingdom of God. He wanted people to know they could now know about the kingdom of God.

Other scholars think Jesus spoke about himself. When people believe in Jesus, they should want to tell other people about him and the gospel.

See: Gospel; Kingdom of God; Metaphor;Gospel

Why did Jesus say, “he who has ears to hear, let him hear”?

[4:23]

When someone said “he who has ears to hear, let him hear,” they wanted someone to listen to what they said. This is why Jesus said it.

Why did Jesus say, “for the measure you use will be measured to you, and more will be added”?

[4:24]

Jesus said, “for the measure you use will be measured to you, and more will be added.” He wanted to say that if the disciples listened to him and obeyed him, they would be rewarded. If they did not do this, they would be disciplined.

See: Discipline (To Disciple); Reward;Discipline (To Disciple)

How is the kingdom of God like a man who sows his seed on the ground?

[4:26]

Jesus said that the kingdom of God is like a man who sowed his seed on the ground. This was a metaphor. The seeds were the gospel. Christians sowed the seeds. That is, they spread the gospel by telling it to other people. However, they did not make the seeds grow. God made the seed grow. Jesus wanted to say that Christians could not make other people believe in Jesus.

See: Metaphor; Metaphor

4:30-34

How was the kingdom of God like a mustard seed?

[4:31]

Jesus said the kingdom of God was like a mustard seed. This was a metaphor. The mustard seed was very small seed. It was about 1 millimeter in size. A mustard tree was very large. Jesus wanted to say that the kingdom of God began very small, but became great.

See: Metaphor; Metaphor

What were the birds of heaven?

[4:32]

The birds of heaven were birds. Heaven was the sky.

See: Heaven

What was a parable?

[4:33]

See: Parable

4:35-41

Why did Jesus tell the wind to stop?

[4:39]

Jesus told the wind to stop. This allowed others to know that he controlled the weather. Only God could do this. In ancient times, people thought the sea could not be controlled. They were afraid of the seas.

Why were the disciples afraid?

[4:41]

The disciples believed in Jesus, but they did not understand who Jesus was. They knew he was the messiah, but they did not understand that he is God.

See: Messiah (Christ); Messiah (Christ)

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ULB Translation Questions

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Chapter 5

¹ They came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gerasenes. ² When Jesus was getting out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came up to him out of the tombs. ³ The man lived in the tombs. No one could restrain him anymore, not even with a chain. ⁴ He had been bound many times with shackles and with chains. He tore the chains apart and his shackles were shattered. No one had the strength to subdue him. ⁵ Every night and day in the tombs and in the mountains, he cried out and cut himself with sharp stones. ⁶ When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran to him and bowed down before him. ⁷ He cried out with a loud voice, "What do I have to do with you, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you by God himself, do not torment me." ⁸ For he had been saying to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit."

⁹ He asked him, "What is your name?"

He answered him, "My name is Legion, for we are many." ¹⁰ He begged him again and again not to send them out of the region. ¹¹ Now a great herd of pigs was there feeding on the hill, ¹² and they begged him, saying, "Send us into the pigs; let us enter into them." ¹³ So he allowed them; the unclean spirits came out and entered into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep hill into the sea, and about two thousand pigs drowned in the sea. ¹⁴ Then those who were feeding the pigs ran away and reported what had happened in the city and in the countryside, and so people went out to see what had happened. ¹⁵ Then they came to Jesus and they saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had been possessed by Legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. ¹⁶ Those who had seen what happened to the demon-possessed man told them about it in detail, and they also told them about the pigs. ¹⁷ Then they started to beg him to leave their region.

¹⁸ When he was getting into the boat, the demon-possessed man begged him that he might be with him. ¹⁹ But Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go to your house and to your people and tell them what the Lord has done for you, and how he has shown you mercy." ²⁰ So he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis the great things that Jesus had done for him, and everyone was amazed.

²¹ Now when Jesus had crossed over again to the other side in the boat, a great crowd gathered around him, as he was beside the sea. ²² Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came, and when he saw him, fell at his feet. ²³ He begged again and again, saying, "My little daughter is near death. I beg you, come and lay your hands on her that she may be made well and live." ²⁴ So he went with him, and a great crowd followed him and pressed close around him.

²⁵ Now a woman was there who had a flow of blood for twelve years. ²⁶ She had suffered much from many doctors and had spent everything that she had, but instead of getting better she grew worse. ²⁷ When she had heard the reports about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. ²⁸ For she said, "If I touch just his clothes, I will be healed." ²⁹ When she touched him, the bleeding stopped, and she felt in her body that she was healed from her affliction.

³⁰ Jesus immediately realized in himself that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched my clothes?"

³¹ His disciples said to him, "You see this crowd pressed around you, and you say, 'Who touched me?'"

³² But Jesus looked around to see who had done it. ³³ The woman, knowing what had happened to her, feared and trembled. She came and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. ³⁴ He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be healed from your affliction."

³⁵ While he was speaking, some people came from the synagogue leader's house, saying, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any longer?"

³⁶ But when Jesus overheard the message that was spoken, he said to the leader of the synagogue, "Do not be afraid. Just believe." ³⁷ He did not permit anyone to accompany him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. ³⁸ They came to the house of the leader of the synagogue and he saw there people making a lot of noise; they were weeping and wailing loudly. ³⁹ When he entered the house, he said to them, "Why are you upset and why do you weep? The child is not dead but sleeps." ⁴⁰ They began to mock him. But he put them all outside and took the father of the child and the mother and those who were with him, and he went in where the child was. ⁴¹ He took the hand of the child and said to her, "Talitha, koum!" which is translated, "Little girl, I say to you, get up." ⁴² Immediately the child got up and walked (for she was twelve years of age). They were immediately astonished with overwhelming amazement. ⁴³ He strictly ordered them that no one should know about this. Then he told them to give her something to eat.

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Mark 5 General Notes

Possible translation difficulties in this chapter

"Talitha, koum"

The words "Talitha, koum"

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Mark 5

5:1-8

Where was Gerasenes?

[5:1]

See Map: Gerasenes

How did someone come out of the tombs?

[5:2]

A tomb was a place where dead people were buried. These were caves at the bottom of mountains. At that time, people possessed with demons lived in those tombs. The tombs were unclean.

See: Clean and Unclean; Demon Possession (Casting Out Demons); Clean and Unclean

What was an unclean spirit?

[5:2]

Mark wrote about an unclean spirit. Here, he wrote about many demons who were in this man.

See: Demon Possession (Casting Out Demons); Clean and Unclean;Demon Possession (Casting Out Demons)

Why could no one restrain the man?

[5:4]

When someone was restrained, they could not go from one place to another place or doing other things. This man could not be restrained. This is because the unclean spirit was very strong in the man.

See: Demon Possession (Casting Out Demons); Clean and Unclean; Demon Possession (Casting Out Demons)

Why did the man cut himself?

[5:5]

The man was in so much pain that he cut himself. He did not want to live anymore. He would rather die than to live with this demon inside of him.

See: Demon Possession (Casting Out Demons);Demon Possession (Casting Out Demons)

Why did the man bow down before Jesus?

[5:6]

The unclean spirit knew Jesus is God. He knew Jesus was greater than he was. In ancient times, someone kneeled before someone who was greater. Or perhaps the unclean spirit was worshiping Jesus.

See: Son of God; Clean and Unclean; Son of God

Why did the man ask Jesus not to torment him?

[5:7]

The man did not want Jesus to torment him. That is, he did not want Jesus to harm him in a severe way. He did not want Jesus to punish him and send him to hell to be punished forever. Some scholars think the man was talking here, not the demon living in the man. Other scholars think the demon was talking.

See: Hell; Hell

5:9-20

What was this demon’s name?

[5:9]

The demon said his name was Legion. A legion was a Roman military word. It was a group of 6000 soldiers. So the demon said his name was legion because there were many demons in the man. However, it was possible to speak of this as one demon because they were all in one man.

See: Demon

Why did the demon want to enter into the pigs?

[5:12]

The demons did not want Jesus to make them leave the area. They wanted Jesus to allow them to go into the group of pigs. Some scholars think they wanted to remain in the same area where they could hurt more people. Other scholars think that they did not want Jesus to punish them and send them to hell.

See: Hell; Hell

Why did the pigs run down the cliffs and into the sea?

[5:13]

The pigs ran off the cliffs after the demons entered into them. Some scholars think the demons chose pigs because they were unclean according to the Law of Moses. Other scholars think they wanted to destroy the man, but when they were not able to do this, they wanted to destroy the pigs. Other scholars think the pigs were overwhelmed by the demons and the demons made the pigs run over the cliff and into the sea.

See: Law of Moses; Clean and Unclean; Law of Moses

Why were the people afraid of Jesus?

[5:15]

The people in that region were afraid after seeing the things Jesus did.

1. Some scholars think the people were afraid because Jesus controlled the demons.
2. Other scholars think the people were afraid because all of the pigs died. 2000 pigs were worth a lot of money. Perhaps they were afraid that they could lose a lot of money.
3. Other scholars think that Jesus greatly punished evil. They were afraid that they would be punished too.

See: Demon

Why did the man want to go with Jesus?

[5:18]

The man wanted to be with Jesus. Some scholars think the man wanted to become a disciple of Jesus. However, Jesus wanted him to stay with the man’s own people. This is because the man was a Gentile and lived in a Gentile area. He wanted this man to tell the Gentiles in Decapolis about Jesus.

See: Gentile; Gentile

See Map: Decapolis

Why did Jesus call himself “the Lord”?

[5:19]

See: Lord

5:21-43

What was a leader of the synagogue?

[5:22]

The leader of the synagogue was someone who helped lead people in worshipping God in the synagogue. He was not necessarily a pharisee or sadducee.

See: Sadducees; Pharisees; Sadducees

Why did Jairus fall at Jesus’ feet?

5:22

Jairus fell at Jesus’ feet to ask him for help. He was begging. He was desperate for help. He was not worshipping Jesus.

Why did this man want Jesus to lay his hands on his daughter?

[5:23]

This man thought that Jesus could heal his daughter by touching her. He did not know that Jesus could heal her without touching her. He also did not know that he could heal her after she died.

What was a flow of blood?

[5:25]

Women bleed for a few days every month if they are not pregnant. However, this woman bled continuously for 12 years. This would have made her unclean.

See: Clean and Unclean

How did this woman “suffer much from many doctors”?

[5:26]

Mark wrote that the woman “suffered much from many doctors” because many doctors had tried to help her. However, instead of helping her, they actually harmed her more.

Why were the disciples surprised that Jesus asked who touched him?

[5:31]

The disciples were surprised that Jesus asked who touched him. That was because many people were touching him. They did not think he could know when someone specific touched him.

Why was this woman healed?

[5:29]

This woman was healed because she believed in Jesus.

What did Jesus say to the woman?

[5:34]

Jesus told the woman to go in peace and be healed from her suffering. He wanted her to live in a way that honored God. He also wanted her to know that he completely healed her. She was now clean and did not need to be separated from other people.

See: Clean and Unclean

Why were the people at the house crying?

[5:38]

The people at the house were crying because the little girl died.

Why did the people laugh at Jesus?

[5:40]

The people laughed at Jesus. The people did not know that Jesus had the power to make someone alive again.

Why did Jesus not want them to tell anyone about this?

[5:43]

Jesus did not want this girl’s family to tell other people about Jesus healing her. Her father was a Jewish leader and many Jewish leaders rejected Jesus as the messiah. It was not time for them to fight against Jesus. So he did not want them to know what he was doing. Some scholars also think Jesus did not want people to begin bringing dead people to him to be made alive again.

See: Messianic Secret; Messianic Secret

Why did the girl need to eat?

[5:43]

The girl needed to eat because she was alive again in the same way she was alive before she died. She was not resurrected. When someone is resurrected, they do not need to eat.

See: Resurrect (Resurrection)

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ULB Translation Questions

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Chapter 6

¹ He went out from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. ² When the Sabbath came, he taught in the synagogue. Many people heard him and they were amazed. They said, "Where did he get these teachings?" "What is this wisdom that has been given to him?" "What are these miracles that he does with his hands?" ³ "Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are his sisters not here with us?" They were offended by Jesus. ^[1]

⁴ Then Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household." ⁵ He could not do any mighty work, except to lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. ⁶ He was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went around the villages teaching.

⁷ Then he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits, ⁸ and instructed them to take nothing for their journey, except a staff—no bread, no bag, and no money in their belts— ⁹ but to wear sandals, and not to wear two tunics. ¹⁰ He said to them, "Whenever you enter a house, remain until you go away from there. ¹¹ If any town will not receive you or listen to you, when you leave that place, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony to them." ¹² They went out and proclaimed that people should repent. ¹³ They cast out many demons, and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

¹⁴ King Herod heard this, for Jesus' name had become well known. Some were saying, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him." ¹⁵ Some others said, "He is Elijah." Still others said, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets in ancient times."

¹⁶ But when Herod heard this, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised."

¹⁷ For Herod sent to have John arrested and he had him bound in prison on account of Herodias (his brother Philip's wife), because he had married her. ¹⁸ For John told Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." ¹⁹ But Herodias held on to anger against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not, ²⁰ for Herod feared John; he knew that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. Listening to him made him greatly perplexed, yet he heard him gladly.

²¹ Then an opportunity came when Herod had his birthday and he made a dinner for his officials and for the commanders and leaders of Galilee. ²² The daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced for them, and she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, "Ask me for anything you want and I will give it to you." ²³ He swore to her saying, "Whatever you ask of me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom."

²⁴ She went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask him for?"

She said, "The head of John the Baptist."

²⁵ She immediately hurried back to the king, and she asked, saying, "I want you to give me, right now, the head of John the Baptist on a wooden platter." ²⁶ Though this deeply grieved the king, he could not refuse her request because of the oath he had made and because of his dinner guests. ²⁷ So the king sent a soldier from his guard and commanded him to bring him John's head. The guard went and beheaded him in the prison. ²⁸ He brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹ When his disciples heard of this, they came and took his body and placed it in a tomb.

³⁰ The apostles came together with Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. ³¹ Then he said to them, "Come away by yourselves into a deserted place and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. ³² So they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. ³³ But they saw them leaving and many recognized them, and they ran there together on foot from all the towns, and they arrived there before them. ³⁴ When they came ashore, he saw a great crowd and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began to teach them many things.

³⁵ When the hour was late, his disciples came to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. ³⁶ Send them away so that they may go into the nearby countryside and villages to buy something to eat for themselves."

³⁷ But he answered and said to them, "You give them something to eat."

They said to him, "Can we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?"

³⁸ He said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see."

When they found out, they said, "Five loaves and two fish." ³⁹ He commanded all the people to sit down in groups upon the green grass. ⁴⁰ They sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. ⁴¹ He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven he blessed and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. ⁴² They all ate until they were satisfied. ⁴³ They took up broken pieces of bread, twelve baskets full, and also pieces of the fish. ⁴⁴ There were five thousand men who ate the loaves.

⁴⁵ Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he sent the crowd away. ⁴⁶ After taking leave of them, he went up the mountain to pray. ⁴⁷ Evening came, and the boat was now in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on land. ⁴⁸ He saw that they were straining against the oars, for the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, he came to them, walking on the sea, and he wanted to pass by them. ⁴⁹ But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought he was a ghost and cried out, ⁵⁰ because they saw him and were troubled. Immediately he spoke to them and said to them, "Be courageous! It is I! Do not be afraid!" ⁵¹ He got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased blowing. They were completely amazed. ⁵² For they had not understood what the loaves meant. Instead, their hearts were hardened.

⁵³ When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and anchored the boat. ⁵⁴ When they came out of the boat, the people recognized him immediately, ⁵⁵ and they ran throughout the whole region and began to bring the sick on their mats to wherever they heard he was. ⁵⁶ Wherever he entered into villages, or cities, or into the country, they would put the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch the edge of his garment, and as many as touched him were healed.

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Footnotes

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Mark 6 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter

"Anointed with oil"

In the ancient Near East, people would try to heal sick people by putting olive oil on them.

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Mark 6

6:1-6

Where did Jesus live when he was a child?

[6:1]

Jesus’ family lived in Nazareth.

See Map: Nazareth

What was the Sabbath?

[6:2]

See: Sabbath

Why did the people want to know who taught Jesus?

[6:2]

In ancient Israel, many teachers learned from other teachers. They taught the same things their teachers taught. This is why they wanted to know who taught Jesus. He did not teach the same things any other teacher taught.

Why did the people ask questions about how Jesus performed miracles?

[6:2]

The people asked Jesus who gave Jesus the power to do miracles. They did not think God gave Jesus the power to do these miracles. They thought Satan gave him this power (see: Mark 3:22).

See: Satan (The Devil); Satan (The Devil)

Did Jesus have brothers and sisters?

[6:3]

Some scholars think that Mary and Joseph had other children after Jesus was born. These people were talking about Jesus’ brothers and sisters. Fewer scholars think that Mary and Joseph did not have any more children after Jesus. They think these were Jesus’ cousins.

See: Family of Jesus

Why did the people not like what Jesus said?

[6:3]

The people did not like what Jesus said because the people knew Jesus was Mary’s son. They knew his brothers and sisters, they did not believe he was sent from God and was their messiah.

See: Messiah (Christ)

What did Jesus mean when he said, “a prophet is not without honor”?

[6:4]

When Jesus said that a prophet was “not without honor,” he wanted to say that people respected or honored a prophet. The only place that a prophet is not honored is in the place where he lived when he was a child. Jesus was a prophet. Perhaps he was also thinking about how Israel would reject him as their messiah.

See: Messiah (Christ); Messiah (Christ)

Why was Jesus unable to heal people?

[6:5]

Jesus was able to heal anyone in this place. Some scholars think Jesus was not free to heal people when the people did not believe in him. Jesus healed people so they would know that God sent him and that they will believe in him. The people in Nazareth did not believe in Jesus, even when they saw him heal people.

6:7-13

Who were the twelve?

[6:7]

The twelve were the twelve disciples.

See: Disciple

What did Jesus send the disciples to do?

[6:7]

Jesus sent the twelve disciples to tell other people about Jesus and to heal people who have unclean spirits living in them.

See: Demon Possession (Casting Out Demons); Demon; Clean and Unclean; Demon Possession (Casting Out Demons)

Why did Jesus not want the disciples to take anything with them?

[6:8, 6:9]

Jesus did not want the disciples to take anything with them when they traveled. That was because they were to go quickly and to know that God would give them everything they needed. They took only a staff to help them walk.

They were also not to have two tunics. A tunic was the main piece of clothing they wore. They wore a second tunic at night when it was cold. They carried the other tunic during the day. However, God would make sure they were warm at night.

See: Disciple

Why were the disciples to remain in one house?

[6:10]

The disciples were told to remain in one house. At this time it was a great honor to have someone stay in your home. Jesus did not want his disciples to dishonor a host by leaving that house.

See: Disciple

Why were the disciples to shake the dust off their feet?

[6:11]

If the people in a town rejected the disciples, the disciples were told to shake the dust off their feet when they left the town. According to the Law of Moses, the Jews needed to welcome people who were travelling. If they did not welcome the disciples, they disobeyed God. At this time, certain Jews shook the dust off their feet when leaving a place where Gentiles lived. This is because they thought they were leaving an unclean area.

See: Gentile; Law of Moses; Clean and Unclean;Gentile

Why should people repent?

[6:12]

See: Repent (Repentance)

Why did someone get anointed with oil?

[6:13]

In ancient Israel, it was common to anoint someone with oil who was sick so that they might be healed. They poured oil on their head or where they were hurt. It was a way of asking God to help this person.

See: Anoint (Anointing)

6:14-20

Who was King Herod?

[6:14]

See: King Herod

Why did people think John the Baptist was made alive again?

[6:14]

Scholars do not know why people thought Jesus was John the Baptist made alive again. These people did not know that these two men lived at the same time. Both Jesus and John were prophets who honored God.

See: Prophet ;Prophet

Why did people think Jesus was Elijah?

[6:15]

In ancient Israel, people thought Elijah would return to the earth. This is because he never died. Instead, he went straight to heaven. The prophet Malachi wrote about Elijah returning (see: Malachi 4:5).

See: Heaven; Heaven

What was a prophet?

[6:15]

See: Prophet

Why did Herod arrest John the Baptist?

[6:17]

John the Baptist spoke against King Herod. He said the things King Herod did were evil. He said it was wrong for Herod to marry Herodias because his brother Philip was still alive. This made Herod angry. Herod wanted to kill John. However, Herod worried about what people would do if he killed John. Therefore, he put him into prison.

See: Leviticus 20:21

Who was Herodias?

[6:17]

Herodias was the wife of King Herod. Before Herod married her, Herodias was married to Herod’s brother Philip.

Why was it difficult for Herod to kill John the Baptist?

[6:20]

The people of Israel thought John the Baptist was a prophet. Therefore they thought it was very wrong to harm John. Herod feared what people would do if he killed a prophet. Some scholars also think he feared John because John was a man who honored God while Herod did not honor God.

See: Prophet

6:21-29

What day was this dinner?

[6:21]

In this passage, it was Herod’s birthday. Many different leaders who served him went to the dinner feast he made for his birthday.

Advice to translators: A birthday is a celebration of the day someone was born. Every year on the same day someone was born people celebrate that person.

Who was the girl?

[6:22]

Herodias sent her daughter to dance for Herod. She danced in a way that made men have sexual thoughts about her. She was the daughter of Herodias and Philip. She was Herod’s niece and step-daughter.

What was an oath?

[6:22]

See: Swear (Oath)

Why did this make Herod sad?

[6:26]

Herod did not want to kill John the Baptist. He knew John was a man who honored God. However, he did not want people to see him break his oath. Therefore, he had John killed. This made Herod very sad.

See: Swear (Oath)

Why did the disciples place John’s body in a tomb?

[6:29]

According to the Law of Moses, a person needed to be buried before the end of the day. Therefore, the disciples buried John’s body to obey the Law of Moses.

See: Law of Moses; Law of Moses

6:30-44

Who went away in the boat?

[6:32]

The apostles and Jesus went away in the boat.

See: Apostle

What happened in verse 33?

[6:33]

The people saw Jesus and the apostles leaving. Many of the people knew who were Jesus and the apostles. The people ran there together on foot from all the towns. Many of them arrived there before Jesus and the apostles did.

See: Apostle

How were the people like sheep without a shepherd?

[6:34]

Jesus said that the people were like sheep without a shepherd. This was a metaphor. This meant the people did not have a leader to follow.

See: Metaphor

What did Mark mean when he wrote the “hour was late”?

[6:35]

Mark wrote that it was late in the day and they needed to eat and find a place to sleep.

What was a loaf?

[6:38]

Bread is made in a loaf. In ancient times, a person needed at least one loaf a day to live. For a meal, five loaves and two fish fed 2 or 3 small families.

Why did Jesus “bless” the bread?

[6:41]

When Jesus blessed the bread, he thanked God for giving them the bread.

How many people ate the bread and fish?

[6:44]

Mark wrote that 5000 men ate the bread and fish. There were also women and children who ate of the bread and fish. Therefore, more than 5000 people ate.

6:45-56

Where was Bethsaida?

[6:45]

See Map: Bethsaida

How were the disciples “straining against the oars”?

[6:48]

Mark wrote that the disciples were “straining against the oars, for the wind was against them.” That is, they were working hard to row to keep their boat from sinking because of the bad weather.

See: Disciple

When was the fourth watch of the night?

[6:48]

The fourth watch of the night was a time after midnight.

What was a ghost?

[6:49]

A ghost is the spirit of a dead person trapped on earth. Ghosts are not real because people must either go to heaven or hell after they die. Spirits do not get trapped on earth when a person dies.

See: Hell; Heaven; Hell

What did the loaves mean?

[6:52]

Mark wrote about what the loaves meant. Mark wrote about Jesus walking on the water and feeding 5000 men. These were both miracles. He wanted people to know that Jesus could do miracles because he is God.

See: Miracle

Where was Gennesaret?

[6:53]

See Map: Gennesaret

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ULB Translation Questions

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Chapter 7

¹ The Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him. ² They saw that some of his disciples ate bread with hands that were unclean, that is, unwashed. ³ (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands carefully, because they hold to the tradition of the elders. ⁴ When the Pharisees come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they bathe themselves, and they hold to many other things they have received, such as the washing of cups, pots, copper vessels, and the couches upon which they eat.) ⁵ The Pharisees and the scribes asked Jesus, "Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unclean hands?"

⁶ But he said to them, "Isaiah prophesied well about you hypocrites. As it is written,

     'This people honors me with their lips,

         but their heart is far from me.

    ⁷ In vain they worship me,

         teaching the commands of men as their doctrines.'

⁸ You abandon the commandment of God and hold on to the tradition of men." ⁹ He also said to them, "How well you reject the commandment of God so you may keep your tradition! ¹⁰ For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'He who speaks evil of his father or mother will surely be put to death.' ¹¹ But you say, 'If a man says to his father or mother, "Whatever help you would have received from me is Corban"' (that is to say, 'a Gift'), ¹² then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother. ¹³ You are making the word of God void by your tradition which you have handed down. And many similar things you do." ¹⁴ He called the crowd again and said to them, "Listen to me, all of you, and understand. ¹⁵ There is nothing from outside of a person that can defile him when it enters into him. It is what comes out of the person that defiles him." ^16[1]17 Now when Jesus left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about the parable. ¹⁸ Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding? Do you not know that whatever enters into a person from outside cannot defile him, ¹⁹ because it cannot go into his heart, but it goes into his stomach and then passes out into the latrine?" With this statement Jesus declared all foods clean. ²⁰ He said, "It is that which comes out of the person that defiles him. ²¹ For from within a person, out of the heart, proceed evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, ²² adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, folly. ²³ All these evils come from within, and they are what defile a person."

²⁴ He got up from there and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. There he went into a house, and he wanted no one to know where he was, yet he could not be hidden. ²⁵ But immediately ^[2] a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him and came and fell down at his feet. ²⁶ Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by descent. She begged him to cast out the demon from her daughter. ²⁷ He said to her, "Let the children first be fed. For it is not proper to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."

²⁸ But she answered and said to him, "Yes, Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."

²⁹ He said to her, "Because of what you have said, you are free to go. The demon has gone out of your daughter." ³⁰ She went back to her house and found the child lying on the bed, and the demon was gone.

³¹ Then he went out again from the region of Tyre, and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee up into the region of the Decapolis. ³² They brought to him someone who was deaf and had difficulty speaking, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. ³³ Then taking him aside away from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and then he spit and touched his tongue. ³⁴ Then he looked up to heaven, sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is to say, "Open!" ³⁵ At once his ears were opened, the bond of his tongue was released, and he began to speak plainly.

³⁶ Jesus ordered them to tell no one. But the more he ordered them, the more abundantly they proclaimed it. ³⁷ They were extremely astonished, saying, "He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."

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Footnotes

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Mark 7 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry in 7:6-7, which is from the Old Testament.

Special concepts in this chapter

Hand washing

The Pharisees washed many things that were not dirty because they were trying to make God think that they were good. They washed their hands before they ate, even when their hands were not dirty, though the law of Moses did not say that they had to do it. Jesus told them that they were wrong and that people make God happy by thinking and doing the right things. (See: lawofmoses and clean)

Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter

"Ephphatha"

This is an Aramaic word. Mark wrote it the way it sounds using Greek letters and then explained what it means.

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Mark 7

7:1-23

Why did the Pharisees and scribes come from the region of Galilee to Jerusalem?

[7:1]

The Pharisees and scribes came from Jerusalem to see what Jesus and the disciples were doing. Scholars think the Pharisees and Scribes were searching for ways to accuse Jesus of not following the Law of Moses.

See: Law of Moses;Scribe; Disciple;Law of Moses

See Map: Galilee

Why did people not eat without washing their hands?

[7:2]

In ancient Israel, the Jews did not eat unless they washed their hands in a certain way. The Jews washed their hands in the way the religious leaders taught. Mark called the rules made by the religious leaders the “traditions of the elders.” They taught that Jews needed to wash their hands after they went to the marketplace. They needed to wash because they were around Gentiles. Gentiles were unclean. These rules were not in the Law of Moses.

Advice to Translators: A marketplace is a place where people go to get food, clothing, and other things they need to live.

See: Gentile; Clean and Unclean; Gentile

Why did the Pharisees bathe themselves?

[7:4]

The Pharisees bathed themselves after they went to the marketplace. The religious teachers taught that people needed to wash their hands after they went to the marketplace. However, the Pharisees washed their whole body. They did this because they were near Gentiles and Gentiles were unclean. None of this was in the Law of Moses.

Advice to Translators: A marketplace is a place where people go to get food, clothing, and other things they need to live.

See: Clean and Unclean; Gentile; Law of Moses; Clean and Unclean

Why did the Pharisees wash everything?

[7:4]

The Law of Moses taught that certain things were unclean and needed to be washed. The religious teachers and the Pharisees thought that even more things needed to be washed then what the Law of Moses said to wash. Mark wanted to write that the Pharisees and other religious teachers taught certain things were sins. However, those things were not taught in the Law of Moses. These were rules made by men, not God.

See: Sin; Pharisees; Clean and Unclean; Sin

What did Jesus say to the Pharisees?

[7:6, 7:7]

Jesus said that the Pharisees were hypocrites. The Pharisees said they were honoring God. They did things so that other people would think they were honoring God. However, they really did not want to honor God. Instead, they only wanted people to think they honored God.

The Pharisees were like the people Isaiah prophesied about. They obeyed men and the rules made by men. However, they did not obey God and the rules he made.

See: Hypocrisy (Hypocirte); Prophecy (Prophesy) ; Hypocrisy (Hypocirte)

What did Mark say about honoring your father and mother?

[7:10, 7:11, 7:12]

In the Law of Moses, children were to honor their father and mother. However, the religious teachers in Israel taught something different. Children could promise something to God that normally would be given to their parents. If they did this, they did not need to give it to help their parents. Neither did they need to use it in a certain way or to give it to a priest. Jesus said this did not obey the Law of Moses about honoring your father and mother.

See: Sin; Sin

What defiled someone?

[7:15]

Jesus said that things going into a person did not make them unclean. Instead, it was things that came out of people that made them unclean. That is, the wrong things a person thought and did made them unclean.

See: Clean and Unclean

Advice to translators: Something that is defiled has been made unclean.

Why do some translations not have verse 16?

[7:16]

Most of the ancient copies of the New Testament in Greek do not have the words in verse 16. Therefore, scholars think Mark did not write these words. However, the person who made separated the passages into verses did this with a copy of the New Testament in Greek that had those words.

See: Differences in the Ancient Copies of the Bible)

Which parable did the disciples ask Jesus about?

[7:17]

The disciples asked about a parable. The parable was about what Jesus said in verse 15.

See: Parable; Parable

What did Jesus want to teach when he used this parable?

[7:18, 7:19, 7:20, 7:21, 7:22, 7:23]

The disciples did not understand what Jesus wanted to teach them when Jesus used this parable. He wanted them to know that God cared more about what people did than what people ate.

Some scholars think Jesus changed the Law of Moses. He could do this because he made the Law of Moses. Christians were now able to eat any food. Food was no longer clean or unclean. Other scholars do not think Jesus changed the Law of Moses. Instead, Jesus wanted people to know that the Law of Moses was going to be fulfilled in Jesus. Believing in Jesus would now be how Christians could now follow the Law of Moses.

See: Matthew 5:21-48; Acts 10; Acts 15

See: Law of Moses; Parable;Clean and Unclean; Law of Moses

7:24-36

Where were Tyre and Sidon?

[7:24]

Tyre and Sidon were cities outside of Israel.

See Map: Tyre and Sidon

Why did Jesus not want people to know where he was?

[7:24]

Scholars think Jesus was searching for a place to rest. He wanted to have time alone with his disciples.

See: Disciple

What was an unclean spirit?

[7:25]

See: Demon Possession (Casting Out Demons); Clean and Unclean; Demon Possession (Casting Out Demons)

Why did the woman fall down at Jesus’ feet?

[7:25]

The women begged Jesus to do something when she fell down at his feet. She did not do this to worship him.

Where was Syrophoenicia?

[7:26]

See Map: Syrophoenicia

Why did Jesus talk about dogs?

[7:27]

Jesus talked about a dog who ate food that fell off the table. This was a metaphor.

Some scholars think he talked about the disciples when he talked about the children. He talked about the Gentiles when he talked about the dogs. He talked about something he gave them when he talked about the bread. He wanted to say that he needed to teach the disciples before he taught her.

Other scholars think that he talked about Israel when he talked about the children. He was talking about the Gentiles when he talked about the dogs. He talked about the gospel message and the blessings of Jesus’ miracles when he talked about bread. He wanted to say that he taught the gospel to the Jews before he taught the gospel to the Gentiles.

See: Miracle; Disciple; Gentile; Gospel;Miracle

Why did Jesus heal this woman’s daughter?

[7:29]

The woman made it known that she believed in Jesus by her reply to Jesus. Jesus healed her daughter because the woman believed in Jesus.

Where was the Sea of Galilee?

[7:31]

See Map: Sea of Galilee

Where was Decapolis?

[7:31]

See Map: Decapolis

What was the laying on of hands?

[7:32]

See: Laying on of Hands

Why did Jesus spit and touch the man’s tongue?

[7:33]

Jesus spit and touched the man’s tongue. This was a symbol. However, he did not say what was the meaning of the symbol.

Some scholars think Jesus spat onto the ground.

Other scholars think Jesus spat into his hand and then touched the man’s tongue.

See: Symbol

What did Mark mean when he said the man’s “tongue was released”?

[7:35]

Jesus healed a man that was not able to hear or speak. Mark said that the man’s “tongue was released.” That is, the man was now able to speak. The man was healed instantly.

Why did Jesus not want them to tell anyone?

[7:36]

See: Messianic Secret

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ULB Translation Questions

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Chapter 8

¹ In those days, there was again a great crowd, and they had nothing to eat. Jesus called his disciples and said to them, ² "I have compassion on the crowd because they continue to be with me already for three days and have nothing to eat. ³ If I send them away to their home without eating, they may faint on the way. Some of them have come a long way."

⁴ His disciples answered him, "Where can we get enough loaves of bread in such a deserted place to satisfy these people?"

⁵ He asked them, "How many loaves do you have?"

They said, "Seven." ⁶ He commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground. He took the seven loaves, gave thanks, and broke them. He gave them to his disciples to set before them, and they set them before the crowd. ⁷ They also had a few small fish, and after he gave thanks for them, he commanded the disciples to serve these as well. ⁸ They ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the remaining broken pieces, seven large baskets. ⁹ There were about four thousand people. Then he sent them away. ¹⁰ Immediately he got into the boat with his disciples, and they went into the region of Dalmanutha.

¹¹ Then the Pharisees came out and began to argue with him. They sought from him a sign from heaven, to test him. ¹² He sighed deeply in his spirit and said, "Why does this generation seek for a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation." ¹³ Then he left them, got into a boat again, and went away to the other side.

¹⁴ Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread with them. They had no more than one loaf of bread in the boat. ¹⁵ He instructed them, saying, "Keep watch and be on guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod."

¹⁶ The disciples were arguing with one another about having no bread.

¹⁷ When he understood this, he asked them, "Why are you arguing about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Do you have hardened hearts? ¹⁸ You have eyes; do you not see? You have ears; do you not hear? Do you not remember? ¹⁹ When I broke the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces of bread did you take up?"

They said to him, "Twelve."

²⁰ "When I broke the seven loaves among the four thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces of bread did you take up?"

They said to him, "Seven."

²¹ He said, "Do you not yet understand?"

²² They came to Bethsaida. The people there brought to him a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. ²³ Jesus took hold of the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. When he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, "Do you see anything?"

²⁴ He looked up, and said, "I see men who look like walking trees."

²⁵ Then he again laid his hands upon his eyes, and the man opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw all things clearly. ²⁶ Jesus sent him away to his home and said, "Do not enter the village."

²⁷ Jesus went out with his disciples into the villages of Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples, "Who do the people say that I am?"

²⁸ They answered him and said, "John the Baptist. Others say, 'Elijah,' and others, 'One of the prophets.'"

²⁹ He asked them, "But who do you say that I am?"

Peter said to him, "You are the Christ." ³⁰ Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

³¹ He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and would be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and would be killed, and after three days rise up. ³² He spoke that message openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. ³³ But Jesus turned and looked at his disciples and then he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! You are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of people." ³⁴ Then he called the crowd and his disciples together, and he said to them, "If anyone wants to follow me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. ³⁵ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake and for the gospel will save it. ³⁶ What does it profit a person to gain the whole world and then forfeit his life? ³⁷ What can a person give in exchange for his life? ³⁸ Whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

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Mark 8 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter

Bread

When Jesus worked a miracle and provided bread for a large crowd of people, they probably thought about when God miraculously provided food for the people of Israel when they were in the wilderness.

Yeast is the ingredient that causes bread to become larger before it is baked. In this chapter, Jesus uses yeast as a metaphor for things that change the way people think, speak, and act.

"Adulterous generation"

When Jesus called the people an "adulterous generation," he was telling them that they were not faithful to God. (See: faithful and peopleofgod)

Important figures of speech in this chapter

Rhetorical Questions

Jesus used many rhetorical questions as a way of both teaching the disciples

Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter

Paradox

A paradox is a true statement that appears to describe something impossible. Jesus uses a paradox when he says, "Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it" (Mark 8:35-37).

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Mark 8

8:1-21

What were “those days”?

[8:1]

Mark wrote about the time when Jesus was in Decapolis when he wrote about “those days.”

See Map: Decapolis

Why did the people not have anything to eat?

[8:2]

Mark does not write why the people did not have anything to eat.

How were they in a deserted place?

[8:4]

The disciples spoke about being in a deserted place. That is they were in a place were they could not get any food. Perhaps they were in the wilderness or desert.

See: Disciple

Why did Jesus give thanks?

[8:6]

Jesus gave thanks to God before they ate. He thanked God for giving them their food. This was common in ancient Israel.

Why did Mark write about how much fish and bread remained uneaten?

[8:8]

Mark wrote there were 7 large baskets of uneaten food after everyone ate. There was more food that remained then the food with which they started. This was a miracle.

See: Miracle

Where was Dalmanutha?

[8:10]

See Map: Dalmanutha

Why did the Pharisees want a sign from heaven?

[8:11]

The Pharisees wanted Jesus to give them a sign from heaven. They wanted Jesus to prove that God gave Jesus the power and permission to do these miracles. They thought that Satan gave Jesus the power and permission to do these things (see: Mark 3:22)

See: Satan (The Devil); Sign; Heaven; Miracle; Satan (The Devil)

Why did Jesus talk about yeast?

[8:15]

Jesus used the metaphor of yeast. He did this to talk about people doing evil things. In the same way a small amount of yeast goes through the whole lump of dough, so evil things would make other people want to do more evil things.

See: Metaphor; Metaphor

Why did Jesus ask the disciples many questions?

[8:17, 8:18, 8:19, 8:20, 8:21]

Jesus asked his disciples many different questions. They did not understand what Jesus was saying about who he is and why he did these things. They knew Jesus fed 5000 people through a miracle. They forgot he could do this. They worried that the people would not have food to eat (see: Mark 8:4).

Some scholars think Jesus rebuked them. That is, he spoke to them in a way that they would know they did something wrong.

Other scholars think Jesus was trying to help them understand (see: Matthew 16:11-12).

See: Miracle; Miracle

8:22-38

Where was Bethsaida?

[8:22]

See Map: Bethsaida

Why did the people want Jesus to touch the blind man?

[8:22]

The people wanted Jesus to touch the blind man because they believed that this would heal the man.

Why did Jesus take the man outside of the village?

[8:23]

Jesus took the man outside of the village because he did not want other people to see what he was doing.

See: Messianic Secret

Why did Jesus spit on the man’s eyes?

[8:23]

It was a symbol when Jesus spat on the man’s eyes. However, Mark does not write about what was this symbol. Perhaps Jesus spat on the man’s eyes because then the man could feel what Jesus was doing.

See: Symbol

Why did the man see men who looked like walking trees?

[8:24]

The man saw people and said they looked like walking trees. This is because his eyes were not yet completely healed. Jesus tried to teach the disciples something by not healing the man completely the first time. This was because seeing was a metaphor. People often spoke about understanding something as if they were seeing it. In the same way the man saw more clearly after Jesus touched his eyes again, so the disciples understood Jesus more clearly when he explained the things he taught.

See: Metaphor; Metaphor

Why did Jesus not want this man to enter into the village?

[8:26]

Jesus told this man not to enter into the village. He did this because he did not want the man to tell other people about what Jesus did.

See: Messianic Secret

Where was Caesarea Philippi?

[8:27]

See Map: Caesarea Philippi

Why did Jesus ask, “who do people say that I am”?

[8:27]

Jesus asked, “who do people say that I am.” Scholars think Jesus wanted his disciples to be prepared for the next question he asked. That is, he asked them “but who do you say that I am”?

See: Disciple

Why did Jesus not want the disciples to tell people that he is the messiah?

[8:30]

See: Messiah (Christ); Disciple; Messiah (Christ)

What is the Son of Man?

[8:31]

Jesus spoke about himself when he spoke about the Son of Man. He prophesied about things that would happen to him.

See: Prophecy (Prophesy); Prophecy (Prophesy)

Who were the elders, chief priests, and scribes?

[8:31]

Mark wrote about older men in Israel who lead the people in some way when he wrote about elders. Together the scribes, the chief priests, and the elders helped to lead Israel to worship and obey God.

See: Scribe; Scribe

How would Jesus rise up after three days?

[8:31]

Jesus said he would rise up after three days. That is he would be made alive again through his resurrection.

See: Resurrect (Resurrection)

Why did Peter rebuke Jesus?

[8:32]

Peter rebuked Jesus. He said that what Jesus said must be wrong. Peter thought that the messiah would not suffer and die in the way Jesus said. However, Jesus rebuked Peter. He said Peter spoke wrongly. The things he said were the things that Satan wanted Peter to say. Peter did not yet understand the things Jesus was supposed to do on earth.

See: Messiah (Christ);Messiah (Christ)

What did it mean for people to “take up their cross”?

[8:34]

The words “take up your cross” were a metaphor. Jesus died on a cross. He obeyed God even though he suffered for obeying God. He wanted people to do the same thing. He wanted them to obey God even if they suffered because they obeyed God.

See: Cross; Cross

How does someone save their life?

[8:35]

Jesus talked about “life” in two ways in this passage. He spoke about the life a person has before they die and the life they have after they die. He said people needed to obey God before they die if they want to live with God forever. In the same way, people who die on Earth because they obeyed God will still live with God forever after they die.

See: Save (Salvation, Saved from Sins); Save (Salvation, Saved from Sins)

How was this generation sinful and adulterous?

[8:38]

Jesus called the people living in Israel sinful and adulterous. This was a metaphor. Jesus meant the people were not faithful to God because they did not believe in Jesus.

Adultery; Adultery

How will Jesus be ashamed of people when he comes with the glory of his father?

[8:38]

Jesus talked about people being ashamed of him. That is, he talked about the people who rejected him. They did not believe in him. Jesus will reject everyone who rejected him when he returns. They will live in hell forever.

See: Matthew 24:30; Mark 13:26

See: Angel; Hell; Glory (Glorify); Angel

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ULB Translation Questions

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Chapter 9

¹ He said to them, "Truly I say to you, there are some of you who are standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."

² Six days later, Jesus took Peter and James and John with him up a high mountain, alone by themselves. Then he was transfigured before them. ³ His garments became radiantly brilliant, extremely white, whiter than any bleacher on earth could bleach them. ⁴ Then Elijah with Moses appeared to them, and they were talking with Jesus. ⁵ Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here, and so let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." ⁶ (For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified.)

⁷ A cloud came and overshadowed them. Then a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him." ⁸ Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them, but only Jesus.

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, he commanded them to tell no one what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. ¹⁰ So they kept the matter to themselves, but they discussed among themselves what "rising from the dead" could mean. ¹¹ They asked him, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"

¹² He said to them, "Elijah does come first to restore all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be despised? ¹³ But I say to you that Elijah has come, and they did whatever they wanted to him, just as it is written about him."

¹⁴ When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes were arguing with them. ¹⁵ As soon as they saw Jesus, the whole crowd was amazed, and as they ran up to him, they greeted him. ¹⁶ He asked his disciples, "What are you arguing with them about?"

¹⁷ Someone in the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought my son to you. He has a spirit that makes him unable to speak. ¹⁸ It seizes him and it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out of him, but they could not."

¹⁹ He answered them, "Unbelieving generation, how long will I have to stay with you? How long will I bear with you? Bring him to me." ²⁰ They brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw him into a convulsion. The boy fell on the ground and foamed at the mouth. ²¹ Jesus asked his father, "For how much time has he been like this?"

The father said, "Since childhood. ²² It has often thrown him into the fire or into the waters and tried to destroy him. If you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us."

²³ Jesus said to him, "'If you are able'? All things are possible for the one who believes."

²⁴ Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe! Help my unbelief!"

²⁵ When Jesus saw the crowd running to them, he rebuked the unclean spirit and said, "You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter into him again."

²⁶ It cried out and convulsed the boy greatly and then came out. The boy looked like one who was dead, so that many said, "He is dead." ²⁷ But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and the boy stood up.

²⁸ When Jesus came into the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?"

²⁹ He said to them, "This kind cannot be cast out except by prayer."

³⁰ They went out from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know where they were, ³¹ for he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, "The Son of Man will be given over into the hands of men, and they will put him to death. When he has been put to death, after three days he will rise again." ³² But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask him.

³³ Then they came to Capernaum. After he entered the house he asked them, "What were you discussing on the way?" ³⁴ But they were silent. For they had been arguing with one another on the way about who was the greatest. ³⁵ Sitting down, he called the twelve together and he said to them, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." ³⁶ He took a little child and placed him in their midst. He took him in his arms and said to them, ³⁷ "Whoever receives such a child in my name receives me; whoever receives me does not receive me but the one who sent me."

³⁸ John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we stopped him, because he does not follow us."

³⁹ But Jesus said, "Do not stop him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name and can soon afterwards say anything bad about me. ⁴⁰ Whoever is not against us is for us. ⁴¹ Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name because you belong to Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward. ⁴² Whoever causes one of these little ones who believes in me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone tied around his neck and be thrown into the sea. ⁴³ If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than to have two hands and to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire. ^44[1]45 If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life lame than to have your two feet and be thrown into hell. ^46[2]47 If your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out. It is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, ⁴⁸ where their worm does not die, and the fire is not put out. ⁴⁹ For everyone will be salted with fire. ⁵⁰ Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another."

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Footnotes

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Mark 9 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter

"transfigured"

Scripture often speaks of God's glory as a great, brilliant light. When people see this light, they are afraid. Mark says in this chapter that Jesus's clothing shone with this glorious light so that his followers could see that Jesus truly was God's Son. At the same time, God told them that Jesus was his Son. (See: glory and fear)

Important figures of speech in this chapter

Hyperbole

Jesus said things that he did not expect his followers to understand literally. When he said, "If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off" (Mark 9:43), he was exaggerating so they would know that they should stay away from anything that caused them to sin, even if it was something they loved or thought they needed.

Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter

Elijah and Moses

Elijah and Moses suddenly appeared to Jesus, James, John, and Peter, and then they disappeared. All four of them saw Elijah and Moses, and because Elijah and Moses spoke with Jesus, the reader should understand that Elijah and Moses appeared physically.

"Son of Man"

Jesus referred to himself as the "Son of Man" in this chapter

Paradox

A paradox is a true statement that appears to describe something impossible. Jesus used a paradox when he said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all" (Mark 9:35).

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Mark 9

9:1-13

Did Jesus say that certain people would still be alive when the kingdom of God came?

[9:1]

Jesus said that certain people would not “taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.” That is, they will not die before they saw this. However, scholars disagree about what they would see.

1. Some scholars think Jesus spoke about what was about to happen. That is, Jesus would be transfigured. Perhaps Mark wanted to write that Jesus himself was the kingdom of God. Or perhaps the things the disciples saw were similar to how Jesus would appear when he begins to rule on the earth.
2. Some scholars think Jesus spoke about something the Holy Spirit would do. He would begin to live in Christians forever (see: Acts 2).
3. Some scholars think Jesus spoke about dying and being resurrected.

See: Transfigure (Transfiguration); Disciple; Resurrect (Resurrection) ; Indwelling of the Holy Spirit; Transfigure (Transfiguration)

How was Jesus transfigured?

[9:2]

Mark wrote that Jesus was transfigured. That is, Jesus was changed in some way. The disciples did not see Jesus as he was, they saw him as he will be when he returns to the earth.

See: Jesus' Return to Earth; Disciple; Jesus' Return to Earth

Why did Peter, James, and John see Elijah and Moses?

[9:4]

Peter, James, and John saw Elijah and Moses. Elijah and Moses were in heaven. Scholars think this was a symbol. It symbolized that Jesus was the messiah for whom people were waiting.

See: Messiah (Christ); Symbol; Messiah (Christ)

Why did Peter call Jesus “rabbi”?

[9:5]

Peter called Jesus “rabbi.” Rabbi was the Hebrew word for teacher. Peter did not understand what was happening. If he did, then he would have called Jesus the messiah, not simply a teacher.

See: Messiah (Christ)

Why did Peter want to make three shelters?

[9:5]

Peter wanted to make three shelters. One for Jesus, one for Elijah, and one for Moses. Scholars disagree about why he did this.

1. Some scholars think Peter wanted to build three tents of meeting. That is, he wanted to build a place where God could talk to men once again. He did not know that God was already talking to people through Jesus. They did not need to meet in a tent to learn what God said to them.
2. Some scholars think Peter wanted to build three shelters (see: Leviticus 23:34-44). Perhaps he thought this was for the Feast of Shelters when the messiah came to rule over the world (see: Zechariah 14:16)

See: Messiah (Christ); Festival of Shelters; Messiah (Christ)

Why was Peter terrified?

[9:6]

Peter was terrified because he thought the time was coming for God to judge the world. He did not understand that this was not what was happening. Some scholars think Peter, James, and John did not have fear, but had great awe in seeing Jesus, Elijah, and Moses together on the mountain.

See: Awe (Awesome)

Who spoke from the cloud?

[9:7]

God the Father spoke from the cloud. In the Bible, heaven is often spoken about as if it is in the clouds.

See: Heaven

Why did Jesus tell the disciples not to say anything until the Son of man had “risen from the dead”?

[9:9]

Jesus spoke about the Son of Man rising from the dead. He spoke about himself. He would be resurrected. However, the disciples did not understand that Jesus would be resurrected. Some scholars think Jesus knew the disciples would understand after he was resurrected. Certain Jewish teachers even taught that no one would be made alive again after they died. This was why they talked about what Jesus said among themselves.

See: Disciple; Resurrect (Resurrection) ; Disciple

What did the scribes teach about Elijah?

[9:11]

The scribes taught that Elijah must return to the earth before the messiah came. He would tell Israel to repent and be ready for the messiah. It is not known whether they taught that Elijah would come back to the earth or that there would be a prophet who was like Elijah.

See: Prophet;Messiah (Christ); Repent (Repentance); Prophet

Who was Jesus talking about when he said that Elijah has come?

[9:13]

Jesus told them that the scribes were right about Elijah. A prophet like Elijah did help Israel to be ready for the messiah. Jesus spoke about John the Baptist when he spoke about Elijah.

See: Malachi 3:1; 4:5

See: Sin; Prophet; Messiah (Christ); Repent (Repentance); Sin

9:14-29

Why were the scribes arguing with the disciples?

[9:14]

The scribes were arguing with the disciples. However, Mark did not write what they were arguing about. Some scholars think the scribes were arguing with the disciples because the disciples could not make the demon leave the boy.

See: Demon; Disciple; Demon

Why were the disciples not able to make the demon leave the boy?

[9:18]

Scholars think the disciples were not able to make the demon leave the boy because they forgot to ask God for help. That is, they forgot to pray. They were not able to make the demon leave without God.

Some ancient copies of the Greek New Testament say that these demons could only come out through “prayer and fasting.” However, scholars think Mark did not write “and fasting.”

See: Fasting; Demon; Demon Possession (Casting Out Demons); Pray (Prayer);Fasting

Why did Jesus rebuke the “unbelieving generation”?

[9:19]

Jesus rebuked the “unbelieving generation.” That is, he said that the people of Israel were evil for not believing in him. He did not speak about everyone in Israel. Some people believed in him. Jesus spoke about the people of Israel in general. Perhaps Jesus said this because he wanted the disciples to know that they did the same things that people who did not believe in him did.

What did the spirit do when it saw Jesus?

[9:20]

The demon made the boy shake violently when it saw Jesus. Mark did not write why the demon did this.

See: Demon

Why did Jesus say, “all things are possible for the one who believes”?

[9:23]

Jesus said, “all things are possible for the one who believes.” He did not say that people who believe in him can do anything they wanted to do. Instead, he said that when someone obeys God, they can do things they did not think possible to do. God can make anything happen. He can use people to make anything happen that he wants to happen.

9:30-37

Where was Galilee?

[9:30]

See Map: Galilee

Why did Jesus not want people to know where they were?

[9:30]

Jesus did not want people to know where they were because he was teaching the disciples. He did not want people to interrupt them.

See: Disciple

What did Jesus teach the disciples about the Son of Man?

[9:31]

Jesus taught the disciples about what must happen to the Son of Man. The Son of Man must die and be resurrected. The disciples did not understand that Jesus is the Son of Man. They did not want other people to know they did not understand this, so they did not say anything.

See: Resurrect (Resurrection); Son of Man; Resurrect (Resurrection)

Where was Capernaum?

[9:33]

See Map: Capernaum

Why were the disciples silent when Jesus asked them a question?

[9:34]

The disciples were silent when Jesus asked them a question because they were ashamed of the things the spoke about to one another.

See: Disciple

What did Jesus teach his disciples?

[9:35, 9:36, 9:37]

Jesus said, “if anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and “servant of all.” He wanted to say that the person who was the greatest was the one who obeyed God. A person who obeyed God served other people in the same way Jesus served other people. This person also did not think he was greater than he was really. He knew God gave him everything that he had.

Jesus helped the disciples to understand what he said by talking about a child. At this time, people did not think they should spend their time teaching and helping children. He wanted the disciples to help people who wanted to believe in Jesus and follow Jesus, even if they did not think they were significant enough to teach. They served Jesus by serving these people. They also honored God, who sent Jesus to the Earth.

See: Serve; Serve

9:38-50

Why did John call Jesus “teacher”?

[9:38]

In ancient Israel, people often followed someone who taught them. They called them “rabbi” or “teacher.” When he said this, it did not mean that John did not think Jesus was the messiah.

See: Messiah (Christ)

How was someone driving out demons in Jesus name?

[9:38]

John said that someone was driving out demons in Jesus’ name. The disciples made this man stop because he was not one of Jesus’ followers. Some scholars think this man was not currently following Jesus, but they think he might have been one of the 70 people he sent out to preach the gospel (see: Luke:10:1). Jesus told the disciples that they did the wrong thing. This was because the man was honoring Jesus. Because Jesus knows everything, he also knew what the man was doing and gave him permission to do this. This man followed Jesus even though he was not with Jesus and the disciples.

See: Matthew 12:30

See: Disciple; Demon Possession (Casting Out Demons); Preach (Preacher); Gospel; Disciple

Who will be rewarded?

[9:41]

Jesus said that anyone who does something to honor Jesus will be rewarded. However, anyone who does something that caused someone to sin will be punished. That is, if they cause someone to want to do something that dishonored God or stops them from doing something that honored God, then they will be punished. In ancient times, people were punished by having a very large stone tied around their necks. They were thrown into the water which caused them to drown. He wanted to say that it was better to be punished while on earth than to lose your reward in heaven or to go to hell.

See: Hell; Sin; Heaven;Hell

Should people harm themselves?

[9:42, 9:43, 9:45]

Jesus said that it would be better for people to harm themselves than to go to hell. Jesus did not want people to harm themselves. However, he wanted them to know that it would be much better to suffer on the earth than to be punished forever in hell.

See: Kingdom of God;Fire; Kingdom of God

Did Mark write the words in verse 44?

[9:44]

Some ancient copies of the Greek New Testament have the words in verse 44. However, more of the ancient Greek copies do not have the words from verse 44. Mark probably did not write the words that are in verse 44.

See: Differences in the Ancient Copies of the Bible

Did Mark write the words in verse 46?

[9:46]

Some ancient copies of the Greek New Testament have the words in verse 46. However, more of the ancient Greek copies do not have the words from verse 46. Mark probably did not write the words that are in verse 46.

See: Differences in the Ancient Copies of the Bible

How was someone salted with fire?

[9:49]

Scholars do not know why Jesus said that someone was “salted with fire.” Perhaps he wanted to say that some people will be punished by going to hell, being burned with fire forever. Other people would be made clean by fire. This is a metaphor. They will be made clean so they can be with God forever.

See: Leviticus 2:13

See: Clean and Unclean; Fire;Metaphor; Clean and Unclean

Why did Jesus speak about salt?

[9:50]

Jesus spoke about salt as a metaphor. In the ancient world, salt was used to keep food from going bad. At this time, the salt could spoil or go bad. It was useless after this happened. Jesus wanted to say that the disciples needed to do things differently than other people. Then people would want to believe in Jesus and follow Jesus if they did this. However, if they do the same things that other people do, then people will not want to follow Jesus.

See: Disciple

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ULB Translation Questions

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Chapter 10

¹ Jesus left that place and went to the region of Judea and to the area beyond the Jordan River, and the crowds came to him again. He was teaching them again, as he was accustomed to do. ² Then Pharisees came to him to test him and asked, "Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?"

³ He answered, "What did Moses command you?"

⁴ They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and then to send her away."

⁵ "It was because of your hard hearts that he wrote you this law," Jesus said to them. ⁶ "But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.'

    ⁷ 'For this reason

         a man will leave his father and mother

         and be united to his wife,

    ⁸ and the two will become one flesh.'

So they are no longer two, but one flesh. ⁹ Therefore what God has joined together, let no man tear apart."

¹⁰ When they were in the house, the disciples asked him again about this. ¹¹ He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. ¹² If she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery."

¹³ Then they brought their little children to him so that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴ But when Jesus noticed it, he was angry and said to them, "Permit the little children to come to me, and do not forbid them, for the kingdom of God belongs to those who are like them. ¹⁵ Truly I say to you, whoever will not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will definitely not enter it." ¹⁶ Then he took the children into his arms and blessed them as he placed his hands on them.

¹⁷ When he began his journey, a man ran up to him and knelt before him and asked, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

¹⁸ Jesus said, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not testify falsely, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'"

²⁰ The man said, "Teacher, all these things I have obeyed from the time I was a youth."

²¹ Jesus looked at him and loved him. He said to him, "One thing you lack. You must sell all that you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." ²² But because of this statement he looked very sad and he went away sorrowful, because he had many possessions.

²³ Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How difficult it is for those who are rich to enter the kingdom of God!" ²⁴ The disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is to enter into the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."

²⁶ They were greatly astonished and said to each other, "Then who can be saved?"

²⁷ Jesus looked at them and said, "With people it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God."

²⁸ Peter began to speak to him: "Look, we have left everything and have followed you."

²⁹ Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the gospel ³⁰ who will not receive a hundred times as much now in this age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the world to come, eternal life. ³¹ But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

³² They were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going ahead of them. The disciples were amazed, and those who were following behind were afraid. Then Jesus took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what would soon happen to him. ³³ "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be given over to the chief priests and the scribes. They will condemn him to death and give him over to the Gentiles. ³⁴ They will mock him, spit on him, whip him, and put him to death. But after three days he will rise."

³⁵ James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask you."

³⁶ He said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?"

³⁷ They said, "Allow us to sit with you in your glory, one at your right hand and the other at your left."

³⁸ But Jesus replied to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup which I will drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I will be baptized?"

³⁹ They said to him, "We are able."

Jesus said to them, "The cup that I will drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you also will be baptized. ⁴⁰ But who is to sit at my right hand or at my left hand is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." ⁴¹ When the other ten disciples heard about this, they began to be very angry with James and John. ⁴² Jesus called them to himself and said, "You know those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. ⁴³ But it is not this way among you. Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴ and whoever wishes to be first among you must be the slave of all. ⁴⁵ For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

⁴⁶ They came to Jericho. As he left Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, sat by the road. ⁴⁷ When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to shout and to say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

⁴⁸ Many rebuked the blind man, telling him to be quiet. But he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

⁴⁹ Jesus stopped and commanded him to be called. They called the blind man, saying, "Be brave! Get up! He is calling for you." ⁵⁰ He threw aside his coat, sprang up, and came to Jesus.

⁵¹ Jesus answered him and said, "What do you want me to do for you?"

The blind man said, "Rabboni, I want to receive my sight."

⁵² Then Jesus said to him, "Go. Your faith has healed you." Immediately he could see again, and he followed him on the road.

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Mark 10 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Some translations set quotations from the Old Testament farther to the right on the page than the rest of the text. The ULB does this with the quoted material in 10:7-8.

Special concepts in this chapter

Jesus's teaching about divorce

The Pharisees wanted to find a way to make Jesus say that it is good to break the law of Moses, so they asked him about divorce. Jesus tells how God originally designed marriage to show that the Pharisees taught wrongly about divorce.

Important figures of speech in this chapter

Metaphor

Metaphors are pictures of visible objects that speakers use to explain invisible truths. When Jesus spoke of "the cup which I will drink," he was speaking of the pain he would suffer on the cross as if it were a bitter, poisonous liquid in a cup.

Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter

Paradox

A paradox is a true statement that appears to describe something impossible. Jesus used a paradox when he said, "Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant" (Mark 10:43).

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Mark 10

10:1-12

Where was the area beyond the Jordan River?

[10:1]

Jesus left Capernaum to go to Judea. This was a place past the Jordan River. Judea was on the west side of the Jordan River. This was an area where Jews lived. Mark wrote about the area east of the Jordan river when he wrote about beyond the Jordan River. This was a place where Gentiles lived.

See: Gentile

See Map: Capernaum; Jordan River; Judea

How did the Pharisees test Jesus?

[10:2]

Mark wrote that the Pharisees tested Jesus. That is, they wanted to get him to say something that made people angry. It would make certain people angry if he said people could not get divorced. It would make certain other people angry if he said that people could get divorced.

See: Divorce; Test; Divorce

What did Moses teach about divorce?

[10:3, 10:4]

Moses taught about divorce in the Law of Moses. The Pharisees thought that Moses said a man could divorce his wife. However, they did not think that a woman could divorce her husband. Some Pharisees taught that a man could only divorce his wife if she committed adultery or did evil things. Other Pharisees taught that any man could divorce his wife if he wanted to, even if she did not do anything wrong.

When a man wrote his wife a “certificate of divorce,” he divorced her and gave her something written that said she did not commit adultery. This would help her to marry another man.

See: Deuteronomy 24:1-4

See: Adultery; Pharisees; Law of Moses; Adultery

What did Jesus teach about divorce?

[10:5, 10:6, 10:7, 10:8, 10:9]

Jesus told the Pharisees what the Law of Moses actually said. Moses did not want people to get divorced because God did not want people to get divorced. Instead, Moses knew that some people had hard hearts. That is, they did not want to listen to God’s will about divorce. Moses allowed people to be divorced because of this. However, a certificate of divorce must be written.

Jesus told them about the marriage between Adam and Eve (see: Genesis 1:27; 2:24). A husband and wife became one flesh. That is, it was as if they shared one body. This could not be separated without hurting both the husband and the wife. Therefore, marriage was not simply a contract between two people. It was the joining together of two bodies.

Advice to translators: A contract is a written agreement between two people. They promised something to each other. If they did not do what they promised, they would promise to be punished in a certain way. When marriage is spoken about as a contract, it is written agreement they give to the government. They can easily end this agreement by giving the government another written agreement, that is, a divorce.

See: Will of God; Pharisees; Law of Moses; Sin; Will of God

10:13-16

Why did people want their children to have Jesus touch them?

[10:13]

The people brought their children to have Jesus touch them. They thought that if they did this, Jesus would bless the children. He did this by putting his hands on them and saying a blessing.

See: Bless (Blessing)

Why were the disciples angry with the people bringing their children to have Jesus touch them?

[10:13]

The disciples were angry with the people bringing their children to have Jesus touch them. Scholars think the disciples thought Jesus needed to be doing other things. Perhaps they thought that Jesus should be teaching adults instead.

See: Disciple

What did Jesus teach the disciples about the kingdom of God?

[10:14, 10:15]

Jesus told the disciples they were wrong for being angry with these people. Jesus wanted to have the little children come to him. This was because many adults rejected Jesus. They thought they knew more about the messiah than they did. However, the children were willing to learn and did not reject Jesus.

After this, Jesus taught the disciples about the kingdom of God. If people wanted to have the kingdom of God, they needed to believe in Jesus the same way children believed in Jesus. That was because children often trusted someone completely, but adults often only trusted someone who has earned it.

See: Kingdom of God; Messiah (Christ); Kingdom of God

10:17-31

What was inheriting eternal life?

[10:17]

This man spoke about having peace with God and living with him forever when he spoke about inheriting eternal life.

See: Heaven; Heaven

How was someone good?

[10:17, 10:18]

Jesus spoke about someone who always did the right thing when he talked about someone who was “good.” Some scholars think because only God is good, that Jesus said that he is God also. The man did not understand what it meant to be “good” and to obey God perfectly.

What were these commandments?

[10:20]

Jesus talked about some of the 10 commandments in the Law of Moses.

See: Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5

See: Law of Moses; Law of Moses

Why did Jesus want this man to sell everything he had?

[10:21]

The man called Jesus teacher. He thought that Jesus was just a teacher. He did not believe that Jesus was the messiah or that he was God. Jesus knew that the man wanted money more than anything else. He did not trust in God. He trusted in the things he had. Because of this, he rejected Jesus.

All people do not need to sell everything they have to be Chrsitians. This was not a command for all people to follow. Jesus knew the man’s money kept him from believing in Jesus.

See: Messiah (Christ)

What was treasure in heaven?

[10:21]

Jeus spoke about some rewards people will get after they die when he spoke about treasure in heaven.

See: Heaven; Heaven

Can the rich enter the kingdom of God?

[10:23]

In ancient Israel, people thought that God blessed people who obeyed him. Therefore, God also blessed rich people. This was not what Jesus said. When people put their trust in themselves and their money they will not be able to enter into God’s kingdom. Jesus used the metaphor of a camel. A camel would never fit through the eye of a needle, which is less than one millimeter. This made other people know how difficult it was for people to trust in Jesus when they had great riches and trusted in those riches instead of God.

See: Metaphor; Kingdom of God; Metaphor

Advice to translators: Someone who has a lot of money is rich. They have riches.

What did Jesus want to teach the disciples?

[10:23, 10:24, 10:25, 10:27]

Here, Jesus wanted to teach his disciples that there was only one way to have peace with God and to enter into his kingdom. That was to trust in Jesus. People should not trust in anything or anyone else.

See: Kingdom of God; Kingdom of God

How will people be given “a hundred times” as much as they left behind?

[10:30]

Some scholars think Jesus spoke about the many homes that would be opened for the servants of God. The brothers and sisters were those who believed in Jesus and became brothers and sisters in Christ. Other scholars think Jesus spoke about spiritual blessings that replaced the homes and families that were left behind. The blessings might be considered “a hundred times” better than what they left behind.

See: Bless (Blessing); Children of God; Spirit (Spiritual); Bless (Blessing)

10:32-45

Why were the disciples amazed and the people afraid?

[10:32]

Jesus went to Jerusalem knowing that he would die in Jerusalem. He taught this to people. The people were afraid that what he said was true and that he would be killed in Jerusalem. So they were amazed that he still wanted to go to Jerusalem if he was going to die.

See: Disciple

See Map: Jerusalem

What did Jesus tell the disciples would soon happen?

[10:33]

Jesus told the disciples that he was going to die and would be made alive again. That is, he will be resurrected.

See: Resurrect (Resurrection); Resurrect (Resurrection)

Who is the Son of Man?

[10;33]

See: Son of Man

Why will the chief priests and scribes give Jesus over to the Gentiles?

[10:33]

At this time, the Jews were not able to kill a criminal. Only their Roman leaders could do this. They were Gentiles. Jesus wanted to say that the Jewish leaders would get the Gentile leaders to kill Jesus.

See: Gentile; Scribe; Gentile

Why did James and John want to sit at Jesus’ right and left hand?

[10:37]

James and John wanted to sit at Jesus’ right and left hand. That is, they wanted to sit next to him in heaven. To be seated at the right and left hand of the throne were places of honor. They wanted to be honored.

See: Throne; Throne

What will happen to Jesus?

[10:38]

Jesus spoke about drinking the cup he was about to drink and enduring the baptism he was about to endure. These were metaphors. He was asking them if they would suffer and die to obey him. If they did this, it would be a type of offering to God. Eventually, James would be killed for believing in Jesus (see: Acts 12:2).

See: Offer (Offering); Metaphor; Offer (Offering)

Who will sit at Jesus’ right and left side in heaven?

[10:40]

Jesus will sit at God the Father’s right hand in heaven. Therefore, God is at Jesus’ left hand side in heaven. However, God the Father is the one who decides who will sit at the right hand of Jesus (see: Matthew 20:23).

See: Heaven; Heaven

Why were the disciples angry with James and John?

[10:41]

Some scholars think the other disciples were angry with James and John because they asked Jesus to honor them in a special way. Other scholars think the other disciples were jealous or afraid James and John might be honored over them.

See: Disciple

Who will be honored in heaven?

[10:43]

Jesus taught the disciples that certain people will be honored in heaven. Just as Jesus came to serve, so Christians who serve other people will be honored in heaven.

See: Heaven; Heaven

How did Jesus give his life as a ransom for many?

[10:45]

Jesus gave his life as a ransom for many. That is, he died so that people would be at peace with God. Mark spoke about Jesus dying as a price to be paid for their sin. By dying, Jesus set them free from being slaves to their own sinful desires.

See: Sin; Sin

10:46-52

Where is Jericho?

[10:46]

See Map: Jericho

Who was Jesus the Nazarene?

[10:47]

Jesus was Jesus the Nazarene. He was Jesus from Nazareth.

See Map: Nazareth

How was Jesus the Son of David?

[10:47]

The blind man called Jesus the “Son of David.” David was one of Jesus’ ancestors. He called him this because the messiah was to be one of David’s descendants. He was to fulfill the covenant God made with David.

See: Covenant with David; Messiah (Christ); Covenant with David

Why did the people rebuke the blind man?

[10:48]

People told the blind man that he was wrong. Some scholars think the people wanted to get to Jerusalem quickly, so they did not want Jesus to stop when the blind man cried out. Other scholars think the people were not ready to hear that Jesus is the Son of David, that is, the Messiah.

See: Messiah (Christ)

Why did the man call Jesus rabbi?

[10:51]

In ancient Israel, people called certain teachers “rabbi.” People followed the teacher, obeyed the things he taught, and called him rabbi. The Greek word can also be used to call someone “master.”

Why was this man healed?

[10:52]

Jesus healed this man because he believed in Jesus.

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ULB Translation Questions

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Chapter 11

¹ Now as they came to Jerusalem, they were close to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, and Jesus sent out two of his disciples ² and said to them, "Go into the village opposite us. As soon as you enter it, you will find a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it to me. ³ If anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' you should say, 'The Lord has need of it and will immediately send it back here.'"

⁴ They went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. ⁵ Some people were standing there and said to them, "What are you doing, untying that colt?" ⁶ They spoke to them as Jesus told them, and the people let them go their way. ⁷ They brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. ⁸ Many people spread their garments on the road, and others spread branches they had cut from the fields. ⁹ Those who went before him and those who followed shouted,

     "Hosanna! Blessed is the one

         who comes in the name of the Lord.

    ¹⁰ Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!

         Hosanna in the highest!"

¹¹ Then Jesus entered into Jerusalem and went into the temple and looked around at everything. Now the time being late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. ¹² The next day while they were going out from Bethany, he was hungry. ¹³ Seeing from far away a fig tree that had leaves, he went to see if he could find any fruit on it, and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. ¹⁴ He said to it, "No one will ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard it.

¹⁵ They came to Jerusalem, and he entered the temple and began to cast out the sellers and the buyers in the temple. He turned over the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. ¹⁶ He did not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple that could be sold. ¹⁷ He taught them and said, "Is it not written,

     'My house will be called

         a house of prayer for all the nations'?

But you have made it a den of robbers."

¹⁸ The chief priests and the scribes heard what he had said, and they looked for a way to destroy him. For they feared him because the entire crowd was amazed at his teaching. ¹⁹ When evening came, they left the city.

²⁰ As they walked by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. ²¹ Peter remembered and said, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered away."

²² Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God. ²³ Truly I say to you that if anyone says to this mountain, 'Get up and cast yourself into the sea,' and if he does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he said will happen, that is what God will do. ²⁴ Therefore I say to you: Everything you pray and ask for, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. ²⁵ When you stand and pray, you must forgive whatever you have against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your trespasses." ^26[1]

²⁷ They came to Jerusalem again. As Jesus was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him. ²⁸ They said to him, "By what authority do you do these things, and who gave you the authority to do them?"

²⁹ Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one question. Tell me and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. ³⁰ The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men? Answer me." ³¹ They discussed between themselves and argued and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?' ³² But if we say, 'From men,' ... ." They were afraid of the people, for everyone was convinced that John was a prophet. ³³ Then they answered Jesus and said, "We do not know."

Then Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."

---

Footnotes

---

Mark 11

11:1-10

Where were Bethany, Bethpage, and the Mount of Olives?

[11:1]

See Map: Bethany; Bethpage; Mount of Olives

How did Jesus enter into Jerusalem?

[11:2]

Jesus entered Jerusalem in the same way a king returned home after a great victory in a war. Often, they rode on horses or in a chariot. Jesus entered Jerusalem on a colt because he told people that he was the messiah and the king of the Jews (see: Zechariah 9:9). He also had a great victory. He lived the perfect life and was about to die so that people could have peace with God.

See: Matthew 21:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19

See: Chariot; Atone (Atonement); Chariot

What was a colt?

[11:2]

A colt was a young donkey. This colt was with its mother, a donkey (see: Matthew 21:2). No one had ever ridden this colt. In the Old Testament, an animal that had never been used had special value for religious purposes (see: Numbers 19:2; Deuteronomy 21:3; 1 Samuel 6:7).

Why did Jesus say, “the Lord has need of it”?

[11:3]

Some scholars think that Jesus said, “the Lord has need of it” to say that God needed it for God’s purpose. Other scholars think Jesus said this because he was calling himself Lord. That is, he was calling himself God. Still other scholars think the owner of the colt was traveling with Jesus, and Jesus said the owner had need of the colt.

See: Jesus is God

Why did the disciples put their cloaks on the colt?

[11:7]

The disciples put their cloaks on the colt to make it easier for Jesus to ride on it. A cloak was a coat. It was a piece of clothing used to make someone warm. It was put on over other clothes. This coat covered the whole body with a single piece of thick cloth.

See: Disciple

Why did the people put things on the road?

[11:8]

The road on which Jesus rode the colt was dirty. The people honored Jesus by putting things on the road so that he would not get dirty. In ancient times, people did this to welcome a new king (see: 2 Kings 9:13).

Why did the people shout “hosanna”?

[11:9]

The people shouted “Hosanna” because they wanted God to save them. They said that Jesus came “in the name of the Lord.” That is, God gave Jesus power and permission to serve him. They believed Jesus was the messiah who came to begin the kingdom promised to David.

See: Covenant with David; Heaven; Bless (Blessing); Messiah (Christ); Covenant with David

11:11-26

Why did Jesus look around the temple?

[11:11]

Jesus went to Jerusalem. He walked around the temple. Scholars think Jesus looked at the things happening in the temple. Many forbidden things were happening. They think Jesus planned what he would do the next day.

See: Temple

See Map: Jerusalem

Why did Jesus curse the fig tree?

[11:13, 11:14]

Jesus saw a fig tree. It did not have fruit. He cursed it. He did not do this because he was hungry or angry. It was a metaphor. In the same way a fig tree produced figs, so God wanted Israel to produce fruit. That is, he wanted Israel to serve and obey him. However, they did not do this. Therefore, they made themselves useless to God.

See: Metaphor; Fruit (Metaphor); Metaphor

Why did Jesus make people leave the temple?

[11:15]

Jesus made certain people leave the temple. He made people who sold things in the temple leave. He made people who bought things in the temple leave. He did not want people there to make money. He only wanted people to go to the temple to worship God. People from every nation were to go to the temple to pray (see: Isaiah 56:7). However, the Jews did not want other people to go to the temple to worship God. Instead, they used the area God made for the Gentiles worship God as a market to make money.

Jesus said the temple was made into a “den of robbers.” That is, a place where people who robbed other people lived (see: Jeremiah 7:11). Some scholars think Jesus quoted Jeremiah so everyone would know that the people did not honor the temple.

Before, Jesus also made people leave the temple earlier (see: John 2:13-22).

See: Gentile; Gentile

Why did the chief priests and scribes want to kill Jesus?

[11:18]

The chief priests and scribes wanted to kill Jesus because of what he did. Some scholars think the chief priests and the scribes made money from the things sold in the temple. Jesus stopped them from making money in the temple. Other scholars think Jesus made others know that he was greater than the high priest and he ruled the temple by doing the things he did there.

See: Scribe; High Priest; Chief Priest; Scribe

Why did Peter call Jesus “rabbi”?

[11:21]

See: Mark 9:5

Why did Jesus speak about a mountain?

[11:23]

Jesus spoke about a mountain to teach his disciples. This was a metaphor. He wanted to say they could do great things if they trusted in God. They were not actually going to move a mountain. This was hyperbole. However, God did many miracles through these disciples after Jesus was made alive again. God would do things that no person could ever do if they asked God for something in prayer that God wanted to happen. Jesus wanted them to trust in God when they prayed.

Jesus also wanted the disciples to forgive other people. God forgave their sins. So they should forgive other people. Some scholars think Jesus told the disciples to forgive others because God heard their prayers. They think there is a kind of separation between God and the person praying when they do not forgive other people.

See: Disciple; Sin; Miracle; Hyperbole; Will of God; Sin

Did Mark write the words in 11:26?

[11:26]

Some ancient copies of the Greek New Testament do not have the words in 11:26. Fewer ancient copies of the Greek New Testament have the words in 11:26. Some English Bibles were translated from a copy of the Greek New Testament that had 11:26. However, scholars think Mark did not write these words.

11:27-33

Who were the elders?

[11:27]

The elders were the Jewish leaders who were older men. Why did the leaders want to know who gave Jesus permission to do the things he did?

The Jewish leaders asked Jesus who gave him permission to do the things he did. They did not think God gave him permission to do the things he did. They thought Satan gave him permission to do these things. Some scholars think the leaders really wanted to have Jesus say that God sent him. They thought that the Law of Moses said they could kill him if he did this. However, God sent Jesus.

See: Law of Moses; Law of Moses

Why did Jesus ask the leaders about the baptism of John?

[11:29, 11:30]

Jesus asked the leaders about who gave John the Baptist permission to do the things he did. The people in Israel loved John the Baptist. They thought God sent him. John the Baptist said that Jesus was the messiah. The leaders were afraid of saying that God sent John because they would also have to say that God sent Jesus.However, the people would be angry with these leaders and reject them if they said that God did not send John.

See: Messiah (Christ); Messiah (Christ)

---

Chapter 12

¹ Then Jesus began to teach them in parables. He said, "A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, and dug a pit for a winepress. He built a watchtower and then leased the vineyard to vine growers. Then he went away on a journey. ² At the right time, he sent a servant to the vine growers to receive from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. ³ But they took him, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. ⁴ Again he sent to them another servant, and they wounded him in the head and treated him shamefully. ⁵ He sent yet another, and this one they killed. They treated many others in the same way, beating some and killing others. ⁶ He had still one more person to send, a beloved son. He was the last one he sent to them. He said, 'They will respect my son.'

⁷ "But the vine growers said to one another, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' ⁸ They seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. ⁹ Therefore, what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vine growers and will give the vineyard to others. ¹⁰ Have you not read this scripture?

     'The stone which the builders rejected

         has been made the cornerstone.

    ¹¹ This was from the Lord,

         and it is marvelous in our eyes.'"

¹² After this the Jewish leaders sought a way to arrest Jesus because they understood that he spoke the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd. So they left him and went away.

¹³ Then they sent some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to him to trap him with words. ¹⁴ When they came, they said to him, "Teacher, what people think is not a concern to you because you do not show partiality to anyone. You truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or not?"

¹⁵ But Jesus knew their hypocrisy and said to them, "Why do you test me? Bring me a denarius so I can look at it." ¹⁶ They brought one to Jesus. He said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?"

They said, "Caesar's."

¹⁷ Jesus said, "Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." They marveled at him.

¹⁸ Then Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him. They asked him, saying, ¹⁹ "Teacher, Moses wrote for us, 'If a man's brother dies and leaves a wife behind him, but had no child, the man should take the brother's wife, and raise up children for his brother.' ²⁰ There were seven brothers; the first took a wife and then died, having no children. ²¹ Then the second took her and died, leaving no child, and the third in the same way. ²² The seven left no children. Last of all, the woman also died. ²³ In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For all seven brothers had her as their wife."

²⁴ Jesus said, "Is this not the reason you are mistaken, because you do not know the scriptures nor the power of God? ²⁵ For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but they are like angels in heaven. ²⁶ But concerning the dead that are raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the account about the bush, how God spoke to him and said, '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 quite mistaken."

²⁸ One of the scribes came and heard their discussion; he saw that Jesus answered them well. He asked him, "What commandment is the most important of all?"

²⁹ Jesus answered, "The most important is, 'Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. ³⁰ You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' ³¹ The second commandment is this, 'You must love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other greater commandment than these."

³² The scribe said, "Good, Teacher! You have truly said that God is one, and that there is no other besides him. ³³ To love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself is even more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

³⁴ When Jesus saw that he had given a wise answer, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." After that, no one dared to ask Jesus any more questions.

³⁵ While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he said, "How is it that the scribes say the Christ is the son of David? ³⁶ David himself, in the Holy Spirit, said,

     'The Lord said to my Lord,

         "Sit at my right hand

         until I put your enemies under your feet."'

³⁷ David himself calls him 'Lord,' so how can the Christ be David's son?" The large crowd gladly listened to him.

³⁸ In his teaching Jesus said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, ³⁹ and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts. ⁴⁰ They also devour widows' houses, and they pray long prayers for people to see. These men will receive greater condemnation."

⁴¹ Then Jesus sat down across from an offering box in the temple area; he was watching people as they dropped their money into the box. Many rich people put in large amounts of money. ⁴² Then a poor widow came and put in two mites, worth about a penny. ⁴³ He called his disciples and said to them, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them who contributed to the offering box. ⁴⁴ For all of them gave out of their abundance. But this widow, out of her poverty, put in all of the money which she had to live on."

---

Mark 12

12:1-6

What was a parable?

[12:1]

Jesus used a parable about a vineyard. He did this to talk about Israel. In the same way a farmer makes and protects a vineyard, so God made and protects the nation of Israel. God gave certain leaders permission to care for Israel. He sent prophets to Israel to help the Israelites obey God. However, they did not do what these prophets said to do. Finally, God sent Jesus. That is, he sent his son. Then the Jewish leaders had him killed.

See: Son of God; Prophet; Son of God

What was a vineyard?

[12:1]

A vineyard was a place where people grew grapes. The man put up plants around the field to protect it from animals. He also built a watchtower. This is a tall tower were people could see far away.

At this time, scholars think the vineyard was owned by a Gentile who did not live in this area. Instead, he had made people pay him money to use his land.

See: Gentile; Gentile

See: Isaiah 5:1-2

Why did the owner of the vineyard send servants?

[12:2]

The owner of the vineyard sent his servants to get what they promised to the owner for using his land. They promised him a certain part of what they grew.

Why did the men beat the servants?

[12:3]

These men did not want to give the servant what they promised to give to the owner of the land. Therefore, they beat the servants. They wanted the owner to know they were not going to give him anything and that he should not send any more servants.

12:7-12

What was an inheritance?

[12:7]

See: Inherit (Inheritance, Heir)

What scripture said these words?

[12:10]

See: Psalm 118:22-23

Why did the Jewish leaders want to arrest Jesus?

[12:12]

The Jewish leaders wanted to arrest Jesus after they heard what he said. That is, they wanted to catch him so they could kill him. This is because they knew he was speaking about them. Jesus knew the Jewish leaders wanted to kill him.

Why were the Jewish leaders afraid of the crowd?

[12:12]

Mark wrote that the Jewish leaders did not try to arrest Jesus. They feared all the people there. Many people thought Jesus was a great man. However, Mark wanted people to know that the Jewish leaders feared the people more than they feared God. They thought they were obeying God by killing Jesus. However, they were not obeying God.

12:13-17

What was a pharisee?

[12:13]

See: Pharisees

What was a Herodian?

[12:13]

A Herodian was someone who served King Herod. He was the leader of the Jews and served the Romans.

How did the Jewish leaders try to trap Jesus?

[12:13]

The Jewish leaders tried to trap Jesus. That is, they tried to get Jesus to say something that would cause someone to be angry with him. They wanted Jesus to speak against the leader of the Roman Empire. Or they wanted Jesus to say something that made the Jew.

The Jewish leaders said several things to Jesus.

1. The Jewish leaders did not believe the things Jesus said. However, they said he spoke truth when they really thought he lied.
2. The Jewish leaders said Jesus did not care what anyone thinks. That is, Jesus will say true things. He will not stop saying these things because someone does not want him to say these things. He did not say things so that people would like him.
3. Jesus does not show partiality. That is, Jesus did not favor one person over another.
4. Jesus taught the way of God. That is, he taught them about hte way God wanted them to live. The Jewish leaders did not believe this. They would have obeyed Jesus if they had believed this.

Because of this, Jesus said the Jewish leaders were hypocrites. That is, they said one thing, but they did not believe it. Or they said something and did not do it.

The Jewish leaders asked Jesus about paying taxes. The Romans made the Jews pay taxes to them every year. The Jews had to pay the Romans to rule them. The Jews did not like having to pay this tax. The Jews would have been angry if Jesus said that the Jews should pay this tax to the Romans. The Romans would be angry if Jesus said that the Jews should not pay this tax to the Romans.

What did Jesus say to the Jewish leaders?

[12:15]

Jesus told the Jewish leaders to give him a Roman coin. This coin had the face of the Roman emperor on it. This man was called Caesar. The coin also had certain words on it. These words said that Caesar was God.

Jesus said that the Jews needed to obey Caesar, but they also needed to obey God more. Jesus wanted people to know that Caesar was not God and that God gave permission to Caesar to rule. He also wanted people to know that he did not think that Caesar was God.

See: Romans 13:1-7

What was a denarius?

[12:15]

See: Denarius

12:18-27

What did the Sadducees think happened when people died?

[12:18]

The Sadducees did not think that people would be resurrected. That is, they did not think people would go to heaven or hell when they died. They did not believe in many things taught in the Bible.

See: Hell; Resurrect (Resurrection) ; Heaven; Hell

Why did the Sadducees ask Jesus this question?

[12:19, 12:20, 12:21, 12:22, 12:23]

The Law of Moses taught the people of Israel how to care for a woman whose husband died. In ancient Israel, a woman became very poor when her husband died and she had no children. Therefore, the Law of Moses said that the husband’s brother would marry her. He would care for her. They had children who would inherit the dead husband’s land.

The Sadducees tried to trap Jesus by asking this question. They wanted Jesus to say something that would make people angry. They thought their question proved that no one would be resurrected.

See: Resurrect (Resurrection); Sadducees; Inherit (Inheritance, Heir); Resurrect (Resurrection)

How did Jesus answer the Sadducees?

[12:24, 12:25]

Jesus told the Sadducees that they thought the wrong things. They did not know the Scriptures because they only believed God gave Israel the first five books of the Old Testament. They did not understand many things about God. Jesus told them that people were married on the earth. God wanted them to do this. They had children and helped each other. However, in heaven, people will worship God. They do not need to be married. Therefore, people will be like the angels who do not get married.

See: Angel; Heaven; Worship; Angel

Why did Jesus speak about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?

[12:26]

The Sadducees believed that God only gave Israel the first five books of the Old Testament. Here, Jesus said the same thing God said to Moses. When God said these words, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were dead. However, God spoke about them in the same way he would speak about someone who is alive. The Sadducees did not understand the parts of the Bible in which they believed.

See: Exodus 3:6

12:28-34

Why did the scribe ask Jesus about the greatest commandment?

[12:28]

The scribe heard what Jesus said to the Sadducees. Therefore, he wanted to know how Jesus would answer his question. At this time, scholars asked each other about which of the commandments was the greatest. However, they did not agree which was the greatest.

See: Sadducees; Command (Commandment); Sadducees

Why did Jesus say that these two commandments were the greatest?

[12:29, 12:30]

Jesus told the scribes that the two greatest commandments were to love God and to love other people. A person will be doing all of the other things God commands people to do if they do these two things.

See: Command (Commandment); Command (Commandment)

Why did the Scribes call Jesus teacher?

[12:32]

In ancient Israel, many people called Jesus “teacher.” They believed that he was a teacher. However, they would know that Jesus was much more than a teacher if they believed in him.

How is God one?

[12:32]

God is one because there is only one God. There is nothing or no one else like him.

See: Trinity

What were burnt offerings and sacrifices?

[12:33]

See: Sacrifice; Sacrifice

Why did Jesus say that the Scribe was “not far from the kingdom of God”?

[12:34]

Jesus said this man “was not far from the kingdom of God.” That is, he was close to believing in Jesus and becoming part of God’s kingdom.

See: Kingdom of God; Kingdom of God

Why did people stop asking Jesus questions?

[12:34]

Mark wrote that people stopped asking Jesus questions. People tried to trap Jesus by asking him questions. They wanted Jesus to say something that made people angry. However, they knew they could not trap Jesus by asking him questions because of the way Jesus answered them.

12:35-44

What was a temple court?

[12:35]

See: Temple Courts

Why did Jesus ask this question?

[12:35]

Jesus asked people about something the scribes said while he was in the temple. The messiah was the “son of David.” That is, he would be a descendant of King David (see: 2 Samuel 7). However, David said that the messiah was his master (see: Psalm 110). He knew people would not know how this would happen.

See: Covenant with David; Scribe; Messiah (Christ); Covenant with David

What did David say?

[12:36]

David said, “the Lord said to my lord.” That is, God said to the one who ruled David. He will sit at God’s right hand. That is, God will honor him. God will also make the messiah’s enemies his footstool. That is, one day God will defeat all of the messiah’s enemies.

See: Trinity; Trinity

Why did Jesus warn people about the Scribes?

[12:38]

Jesus warned people about the scribes. They only did things so that people honored them. However, they did not honor God. God gave them permission to care for the Jewish people. However, they did not do this. Therefore, God will punish them more severely than those people who are not leaders.

See: Scribe

What was an offering box?

[12:41]

An offering box was a place in the temple where people put money. The people serving in the temple used this money. People worshipped God by giving money in this way.

See: Worship; Temple; Worship

Why was the woman’s offering better than the offering of rich people?

[12:43, 12:44]

Giving money to the temple was an offering to God. Jesus told them that God did not care who gave the most money. The woman gave more to God because she gave everything she had to God. The rich people only gave a part of what they had to God. They kept most of what they had for themselves. However, the woman gave all she had for her to live.

See: Offer (Offering); Offer (Offering)

---

Chapter 13

¹ As Jesus was walking away from the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Teacher, look at the wonderful stones and wonderful buildings!"

² Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left on another which will not be torn down."

³ As he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, ⁴ "Tell us, when will these things happen? What will be the sign when all these things are about to happen?"

⁵ Jesus began to say to them, "Be careful that no one leads you astray. ⁶ Many will come in my name and say, 'I am he,' and they will lead many astray. ⁷ When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; these things must happen, but the end is not yet. ⁸ For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in many places, and famines. These are the beginnings of birth pains.

⁹ "Be on your guard. They will give you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues. You will stand before both governors and kings for my sake, as a testimony to them. ¹⁰ But the gospel must first be proclaimed to all the nations. ¹¹ When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry about what you should say. For in that hour, what you should say will be given to you; it will not be you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. ¹² Brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against their parents and cause them to be put to death. ¹³ You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But whoever endures to the end, that person will be saved.

¹⁴ "When you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be standing" (let the reader understand), "let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, ¹⁵ let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house or take anything out of it, ¹⁶ and let him who is in the field not return to take his cloak. ¹⁷ But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! ¹⁸ Pray that it might not occur in the winter. ¹⁹ For those will be days of great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of creation, which God created, until now, no, nor ever will be again. ²⁰ Unless the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those whom he chose, he cut short the days. ²¹ Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'Look, there he is!' do not believe it. ²² For false Christs and false prophets will appear and will give signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect. ²³ Be on guard! I have told you all these things ahead of time.

²⁴ "But after the tribulation of those days,

         'the sun will be darkened,

         the moon will not give its light,

    ²⁵ the stars will fall from the sky,

         and the powers that are in the heavens

         will be shaken.'

²⁶ Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. ²⁷ Then he will send his angels and he will gather together his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the sky.

²⁸ "Learn a lesson from the fig tree. As soon as the branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. ²⁹ So also, when you see these things happening, recognize that he is near, close to the gates. ³⁰ Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all of these things occur. ³¹ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. ³² But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father.

³³ "Be alert! Watch, because you do not know what time it is. ^[1]34 It is like a man who goes on a journey—he leaves his house and puts his servants in charge of the house, each one with his work, and he commands the doorkeeper to stay alert. ³⁵ Therefore stay alert because you do not know when the master of the house will come home; it could be in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or in the morning. ³⁶ If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. ³⁷ What I say to you I say to everyone: Watch!"

---

Footnotes

---

Mark 13

13:1-13

Why did the disciples talk about the buildings with Jesus?

[13:1]

The disciples were amazed by the buildings that made the temple in Jerusalem. Jesus saw that the people used the temple to make money. He also saw that the Jewish leaders rejected Jesus. Therefore, he prophesied about the temple being destroyed. The destruction of the temple happened about 40 years after Jesus returned to heaven. However, it was not completely destroyed. There is one wall that still remains from the temple in Jerusalem.

See: Heaven; Temple; Prophecy (Prophesy) ; Heaven

See Map: Jerusalem; Mount of Olives

What was a sign?

[13:4]

See: Sign

What did Jesus teach about his return to earth?

[13:5, 13:6, 13:7, 13:8]

Jesus told his disciples about things that would happen when he returned to the earth. However, the disciples did not know that he would die. They did not know it would be a long period of time before these things happened. Therefore, Jesus warned them. Many people will say that they are Jesus. Many people will believe these people who say that they are Jesus. However, Jesus talked about certain things that must happen before he returns to the earth.

1. There will be wars and rumors of wars. That is, people will worry about wars and there will be many wars.
2. There will be many earthquakes and famines. Jesus said these are “birth pains.” This was a metaphor to say that difficult things will happen before he returns to earth. People and the whole world will be judged and punished before the earth is made new again.
3. People who worship Jesus will be persecuted.
4. The gospel will be told to all nations. Some scholars think this means that every person will hear the gospel. Other scholars think this means that someone from every nation will hear the gospel.
5. People will have their children, brothers, sisters, and parents killed because their family are Christians.

See: Gospel; Jesus' Return to Earth; Messiah (Christ); Metaphor; Persecute (Persecution); Gospel

What will happen when Christians are persecuted?

[13:9]

Jesus warned the disciples that Chrsitians will be persecuted before he returns to the earth. The Holy Spirit will help Christians when they are persecuted. He will tell them what to say to leaders and those who persecute them.

See: Holy Spirit; Persecute (Persecution) ; Jesus' Return to Earth; Holy Spirit

How will the person who is persecuted be saved?

[13:13]

Jesus said that the person who endures to the end when persecuted will be saved. Scholars think Jesus was talking about different things when he said these words.

Some Christians reject Jesus when they are persecuted. Some scholars think when they do this, they are no longer at peace with God and will not live with him forever. Some Christians reject Jesus when they are persecuted. Other scholars think when they do this, God will save them. That is, God will rescue them from persecution and they will go to be with God. Some people say they are Chrsitians, but they reject Jesus when persecuted. Other scholars think when they do this, they prove they were never truly Christians.

See: Heaven; Save (Salvation, Saved from Sins); Heaven

13:14-23

What is the abomination of desolation?

[13:14]

Jesus talked about an “abomination of desolation.” This was when someone who rejected God did something that greatly dishonored God. Daniel also wrote about this (see: Daniel 7:27; 11:31; 12:11). Some scholars think Daniel wrote about a Gentile leader who sacrificed an unclean animal on the altar in the temple. Some scholars think Jesus talked about a time when the antichrist would sacrifice something in the temple or claim to be God in the temple. Other scholars think Jesus spoke about a time when people would no longer go to the temple. Other scholars think it is some type of idolatry.

Some scholars think Jesus spoke about a time 40 years after he returned to heaven. Other scholars think Jesus spoke about a time near to his return to the earth (see: Revelation 4-19).

See: Heaven; Sacrifice; Clean and Unclean; Altar; Temple; Antichrist; Idolatry (Idol); Heaven

What did Jesus want people to do when they saw the abomination of desolation?

[13:14, 13:15, 13:16]

Jesus wanted people to flee and go away from Jerusalem when people saw the abomination of desolation. Jesus warned them. He wanted them to know that he will judge people at this time. He warned people by telling them that they will not want to be alive when these things happen.

See: Tribulation; Tribulation

Who will Jesus save?

[13:20]

Jesus warned people about a time of great tribulation. That is a time when there will be great trouble because God will judge people. At this time, if God did not stop punishing people, no one would be saved. That is, everyone would die. When he said this, he was not talking about being separated from God forever. He was talking about someone dying on the earth, both Christians and non-Christians.

See: Tribulation; Tribulation

Why should people not believe that Jesus returned?

[13:21]

Jesus warned about a time when many people would say they are the messiah or that they are Jesus who returned to earth. However, everyone will know that Jesus has returned to earth when he returns (see: Matthew 24:23-27). Therefore, people should not believe other people who say this even if they do miracles and signs. However, many Christians will believe these false messiahs and false prophets.

See: Miracle; Jesus' Return to Earth; Prophet; Sign; Miracle

13:24-37

When are the days of tribulation?

[13:24]

Jesus spoke about certain days of tribulation or trouble. Some scholars think he spoke about the difficult times that happened soon after he returned to earth. Other scholars think he spoke about the time near his return to the earth.

See: Jesus' Return to Earth; Jesus' Return to Earth

Why did Jesus talk about things that happen in the sky?

[13:24, 13:25]

Jesus spoke about certain things people could see in the sky. Some scholars think these things will actually happen just before Jesus returns to the earth. Other scholars think this was a metaphor. Just as the stars will fall from the sky, so the rulers of the world will be destroyed. Jesus said these things to warn people.

See: Joel 2:10; 3:15; Ezekiel 32:7-8)

See: Metaphor

What will people see?

[13:26]

The people will see the Son of Man coming to the earth with glory. Jesus would return to the earth and everyone would know that he is God.

See: Jesus' Return to Earth; Glory (Glorify); Jesus is God; Jesus' Return to Earth

What will Jesus do when he returns to the earth?

[13:27]

When Jesus returns to the earth, he will bring angels who serve him. He will gather all Christians from all over the world and bring them to himself.

See: Angel; Angel

Why did Jesus talk about a fig tree?

[13:28]

Jesus talked about a fig tree to help people understand the things he said. This was a metaphor. When a fig tree does certain things, people know that the seasons are changing. He wanted people to know that he was going to return to the earth soon when the things he spoke about happened.

See: Hebrew Calendar (Seasons in Israel); Hebrew Calendar (Seasons in Israel)

When did these things happen?

[13:30]

Jesus prophesied that these things happened before the people listening to him died. Some scholars think that these things happened 40 years after he said these things. Other scholars think Jesus spoke about people in the future who lived when they saw the things he spoke about in this passage. Once these things happened, Jesus would return to the earth in a few years.

Jesus said that heaven and earth will end, but his words will not change. The apostle spoke about heaven and earth ending (see: Revelation 21). However, these things must happen.

Jesus said that he did not know when these things would happen. Only God the Father knew these things will happen.

See: Apostle ; Jesus' Return to Earth; Heaven; God the Father; Apostle

What did Jesus tell people to do?

[13:33]

In some ancient copies of the Greek New Testament, Jesus told people to “watch.” In fewer ancient copies of the Greek New Testament, Jesus told people to “watch and pray.”

Why did Jesus talk about a man going on a journey?

[13:34]

Jesus spoke about a man going on a journey. This was a metaphor. He wanted people to be ready for him to return to the earth. When he returns, Jesus’ followers will need to tell Jesus about the things they did while they were waiting for him to return. Jesus wanted Christians to serve him. He wanted them to tell other people about Jesus and the gospel. He wanted Christians to do things that honor God.

See: Gospel; Metaphor; Gospel

---

Chapter 14

¹ It was now two days before the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were seeking ways to stealthily arrest Jesus and then kill him. ² For they were saying, "Not during the festival, so that a riot does not arise among the people."

³ While Jesus was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at the table, a woman came to him having an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which was pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the nard on his head. ⁴ But there were some who were angry. They spoke among themselves and said, "What is the reason for the waste of this perfume? ⁵ This perfume could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and given to the poor." Then they scolded her.

⁶ But Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Why are you troubling her? She has done a beautiful thing for me. ⁷ You always have the poor with you, and whenever you desire you can do good to them, but you will not always have me. ⁸ She has done what she could. She has anointed my body for burial. ⁹ Truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will be spoken of, in memory of her."

¹⁰ Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went away to the chief priests so that he might give him over to them. ¹¹ When the chief priests heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. He began looking for an opportunity to give him over to them.

¹² On the first day of unleavened bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to go to prepare, so you may eat the Passover meal?"

¹³ He sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the city, and a man bearing a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him. ¹⁴ Where he enters a house, follow him in and say to the owner of that house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is my guest room where I will eat the Passover with my disciples?"' ¹⁵ He will show you a large furnished upper room that is ready. Make the preparations for us there." ¹⁶ The disciples left and went to the city. They found everything as he had said to them, and they prepared the Passover meal.

¹⁷ When it was evening, he came with the twelve. ¹⁸ As they were lying down at the table and eating, Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, one of you eating with me will betray me."

¹⁹ They were all very sorrowful, and one by one they said to him, "Surely not I?"

²⁰ Jesus answered and said to them, "It is one of the twelve, the one now dipping bread with me in the bowl. ²¹ For the Son of Man will go as it is written about him. But woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for him if he had not been born."

²² As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it, and broke it. He gave it to them and said, "Take this. This is my body." ²³ He took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. ²⁴ He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, the blood that is poured out for many. ²⁵ Truly I say to you, I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."

²⁶ When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. ²⁷ Jesus said to them, "All of you will fall away, for it is written,

     'I will strike the shepherd

         and the sheep will be scattered.'

²⁸ But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."

²⁹ Peter said to him, "Even if all fall away, I will not."

³⁰ Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you, today—yes, this very night—before the rooster crows twice you will deny me three times."

³¹ But Peter said emphatically, "If I must die with you, I will not deny you." They all made the same promise.

³² They came to the place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." ³³ He took Peter, James, and John with him and began to be distressed and deeply troubled. ³⁴ He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved, even to the point of death. Remain here and watch." ³⁵ Going a little farther, Jesus fell to the ground and prayed that if it were possible the hour might pass from him. ³⁶ He said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible with you. Remove this cup from me. But not my will, but yours." ³⁷ He came back and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch for one hour? ³⁸ Watch and pray that you do not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." ³⁹ Again he went away and prayed, and he used the same words. ⁴⁰ When he came back again, he found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him. ⁴¹ He came the third time and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come. Look! The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴² Get up; let us go. Look, the one who is betraying me is near."

⁴³ While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived, and a large crowd was with him with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. ⁴⁴ Now his betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard." ⁴⁵ When Judas arrived, immediately he came up to Jesus and said, "Rabbi," and he kissed him. ⁴⁶ Then they laid hands on him and seized him. ⁴⁷ But one of them who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.

⁴⁸ Jesus said to them, "Do you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs, to arrest me? ⁴⁹ When I was daily with you and I was teaching in the temple, you did not arrest me. But this was done that the scriptures might be fulfilled." ⁵⁰ All those with Jesus left him and ran away.

⁵¹ A young man, wearing only a linen garment that was wrapped around him, was following Jesus. When the men seized him, ⁵² he left the linen garment and ran away naked.

⁵³ They led Jesus to the high priest. There were gathered with him all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes. ⁵⁴ Now Peter followed him from a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest. He sat among the officers, warming himself near the fire. ⁵⁵ Now the chief priests and the entire Jewish council were seeking testimony against Jesus so they might put him to death. But they did not find any. ⁵⁶ For many brought false testimony against him, but even their testimony did not agree. ⁵⁷ Some stood up and brought false testimony against him; they said, ⁵⁸ "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.'" ⁵⁹ Yet even their testimony did not agree.

⁶⁰ The high priest stood up among them and asked Jesus, "Have you no answer? What is it these men testify against you?" ⁶¹ But he was silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest questioned him and said, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?"

⁶² Jesus said, "I am;

     and you will see the Son of Man

         when he sits at the right hand of power

         and comes with the clouds of heaven."

⁶³ The high priest tore his garments and said, "Do we still need witnesses? ⁶⁴ You have heard the blasphemy. What is your decision?" They all condemned him as one who deserved death.

⁶⁵ Some began to spit on him and to cover his face and strike him with their fists and say to him, "Prophesy!" The officers took him and beat him.

⁶⁶ While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came to him. ⁶⁷ She saw Peter warming himself, and she looked closely at him and said, "You were also with the Nazarene, Jesus."

⁶⁸ But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you are talking about." Then he went out into the gateway. And the rooster crowed. ^[1]

⁶⁹ But the servant girl saw him and began to say again to those who stood there, "This man is one of them!"

⁷⁰ But he denied it again. After a little while, those who stood there were saying to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you also are a Galilean."

⁷¹ But he began to put himself under curses and to swear, "I do not know this man you are talking about."

⁷² The rooster immediately crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered the words that Jesus had said to him: "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times," and he broke down and wept.

---

Footnotes

---

Mark 14

14:1-11

What was Passover?

[14:1]

See: Passover

What was the Festival of Unleavened Bread?

[14:1]

See: Festival of Unleavened Bread

Why did the Jewish leaders want to “stealthily arrest” Jesus?

[14:1]

The chief priests and scribes wanted to “stealthily” arrest Jesus. That is, they wanted to arrest Jesus when no one would know that they were doing it. They did not want to make people angry with them.

See: Scribe; Scribe

Where was Bethany?

[14:3]

See Map: Bethany

What was a leper?

[14:3]

See: Leprosy (Leper)

Why was Jesus reclining at the table?

[14:3]

In ancient Israel, people ate by laying down sideways at a table. Jesus did this because he had eaten.

What did this woman have?

[14:3]

The woman had a jar with a certain oil that smelled very good. Some people called this perfume. She opened this jar and poured it on Jesus head and feet to honor him. Jesus also said that she anointed him. This prepared his body to be buried. In ancient Israel, people poured these types of oils on a dead person before they buried them.

See: John 12:3

See: Anoint (Anointing)

Why did the disciples not want this woman to do this?

[14:4]

The disciples did not want this woman to pour this expensive oil on Jesus. This was because it would only smell good for a short time. However, it could be sold for the same amount of money that someone could make from working for one year. This could be used to help many poor people. Jesus said they were wrong. This was because what she did was a metaphor. That is, she anointed Jesus as a way to prepare him to die for people’s sins so they could be at peace with God. This was greater than helping poor people.

See: Anoint (Anointing); Anoint (Anointing)

Why did Judas go to the chief priests?

[14:10]

Judas went to the chief priests to help them arrest Jesus. Scholars do not agree why he did this. The priests gave Judas a large amount of money to help them.

See: Matthew 26:15; Exodus 21:32; Zechariah 11:12

See: Chief Priest

14:12-21

When was the first day of unleavened bread?

[14:12]

The first day of unleavened bread was also the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread. This was the day they sacrificed a lamb for the passover.

See: Passover; Sacrifice; Passover

Why did the disciples need to prepare for the passover meal?

[14:12]

The disciples needed to prepare for the passover meal. This was because they needed to become clean so they could eat this meal. They also needed to get certain foods ready to eat for this meal.

See: Clean and Unclean; Passover; Clean and Unclean

Why did Jesus say that one of the disciples would betray him?

[14:18]

After travelling with these twelve disciples for three years, Jesus had one last meal with them. During this meal, he told them that one of the disciples would betray him. This was to fulfill a prophecy spoken about the messiah (see: Psalm 41:9).

The man that betrayed Jesus would be punished for what he did. He would live forever in hell and be punished there forever. That was why Jesus said it would be better for that man to have not been born than to be punished forever in hell.

See: Prophecy (Prophesy); Hell; Son of Man; Woe; Prophecy (Prophesy)

14:22-31

What did Jesus say to the disciples during the passover meal?

[14:22]

Jesus told the disciples about the eating of bread and drinking of wine during this last meal. Some scholars called this the last supper or the Lord’s supper. From that time on, Chrsitians ate bread and drank wine at certain times in order to remember that Jesus died for Christians (see: 1 Corinthians 11:23-25).

See: Atone (Atonement); Lord's Supper; Covenant; Kingdom of God; Passover; Atone (Atonement)

What was a hymn?

[14:26]

A hymn was a song that was sung to worship God.

Where was the Mount of Olives?

[14:26]

See Map: Mount of Olives

Why did Jesus say that “all of you will fall away”?

[14:27]

Jesus said that the disciples would “fall away.” That is, they would fall away from Jesus. He said this would fulfill what Zecariah prophesied (see: Zechariah 13:7). This was a metaphor. Jesus was the shepherd and the disciples were the sheep. The disciples would not want people to know they followed Jesus when Jesus died. However, this did not last for very long.

Peter said that he would never do this. However, he said that he did not know Jesus three times that night.

See: Metaphor; Fall (Fall Away, Stand); Prophecy (Prophesy) ; Metaphor

14:32-42

Where was Gethsemane?

[14:32]

See Map: Gethsemane

What is a soul?

[14:33]

See: Soul

Why was Jesus distressed?

[14:33]

Jesus was distressed when he prayed. That is he had a feeling of great sadness and pain in his soul while he prayed. He knew he was about to die. He was not afraid to die because he knew why he had to die. However, he was distressed because he knew that he was about to be separated from God the Father in some way. He knew separation from God was part of the punishment from God for the sins of all people.

See: Soul; Sin; God the Father; Soul

Why did Jesus want the hour to pass?

[14:36]

Jesus asked God the Father if it was possible for the hour to pass. That is, he asked God the Father not to make him die. He wanted God to remove the cup. This is a metaphor. He wanted to not have to be punished for all people. However, he was willing to die to obey God.

See: Will of God; Will of God

Why did Jesus want Peter to pray not to enter into temptation?

[14:38]

Jesus wanted Peter to pray. However, Peter could not pray for one hour without falling asleep. Jesus told Peter to pray and ask not to enter into temptation. That is, that he would not be tempted. Peter was about to be tempted to say that he did not know Jesus.

See: Tempt (Temptation)

How was the spirit willing but the flesh weak?

[14:38]

Jesus said that the spirit was willing but the flesh was weak. That is, the disciples wanted to stay awake and pray, but their bodies were too tired to remain awake. They could only do these things with the help of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit wanted to help Peter. Peter just needed to ask for help (see: Psalm 51:12).

See: Flesh; Flesh

How has the hour come?

[14:41]

Jesus said the hour has come. That is, the things he talked about things that were about to happen.

Who were the sinners?

[14:41]

Jesus said that he was betrayed to sinners. That is, someone would give him to the people who wanted to kill him. These sinners were the Jewish leaders. They were supposed to help people worship God. Instead, they did evil. He knew Judas was about to betray him.

See: Sin

14:43-52

Who were the chief priests, scribes, and elders?

[143:43]

See: Elder; Scribe; Elder

How did Judas kiss Jesus?

[14:44, 14:45]

Judas kissed Jesus on the cheek. In ancient Israel, people often greeted each other in this way.

What was a rabbi?

[14:45]

See: Rabbi

Why did someone cut off this man’s ear?

[14:47]

Peter tried to stop the Jewish leaders from arresting Jesus (see: John 18:10-11). He did this by cutting off someone’s ear with a sword or knife.

See: High Priest

What scriptures does this fulfill?

[14:49]

Jesus said that certain prophecies were fulfilled when the Jewish leaders arrested him. These were prophecies spoken by Isaiah (see: Isaiah 53) and Zechariah (see: Zechariah 13:7).

See: Fulfill (Fulfillment) ; Fulfill (Fulfillment)

Why did Mark talk about this young man?

[14:51, 14:52]

Scholars think Mark wrote about this young man running away naked because Mark was this young man. He was there when Jesus was arrested. Other scholars think the young man symbolises all people who ran after Jesus’ arrest. This was a fulfillment of prophecy (see: Amos 2:16).

See: Fulfill (Fulfillment) ; Symbol; Fulfill (Fulfillment)

14:53-65

What was the courtyard of the high priest?

[14:54]

The Jewish leaders took Jesus to the high priest. They wanted the high priest to say Jesus had done something wrong so Jesus could be killed. They took him to the courtyard of the high priest. This was outside of where the high priest lived.

See: High Priest

What was testimony against Jesus?

[14:55]

The Jewish leaders wanted testimony against Jesus. They wanted people to say Jesus had done something wrong. They wanted them to say that he broke the Law of Moses in a way that he needed to be put to death.

See: Testify (Testimony); Testify (Testimony)

Why did Mark write that the people’s testimony did not agree?

[14:56]

People said that Jesus said things or did things that were wrong in the Law of Moses. However, Mark wrote that what the people said about Jesus did not agree with one another. Mark wrote this because someone could not be punished for something they did wrong unless two people had seen this person doing this wrong thing.

See: Numbers 35:30; Deuteronomy 17:6

See: Testify (Testimony); Testify (Testimony)

What did the high priest do?

[14:60]

The high priest asked Jesus two questions. He asked Jesus if Jesus was going to say anything. The high priest wanted Jesus to say something because he wanted Jesus to say the wrong thing. He also asked Jesus if he was going to say something about what people said about Jesus. The high priest thought Jesus did something written in the Law of Moses that people should not do. However, the high priest did something written in the law of Moses that he should not do. He said that Jesus did something wrong without the testimony of two people agreeing with one another.

See: Testify (Testimony); Law of Moses; Testify (Testimony)

Why did the high priest ask Jesus if he was the messiah, the son of the blessed one?

[14:61]

The high priest asked Jesus if he was the messiah, the son of the blessed one. He wanted Jesus to say that this was true. The high priest would them say that Jesus blasphemed.

See: Blaspheme (Blasphemy); Messiah (Christ); Blaspheme (Blasphemy)

What did Jesus say to the high priest?

[14:62]

Jesus told the high priest, “I am.” He said that he is God when he said this. He then told the high priest that the high priest will see Jesus again when he is next to God in heaven when Jesus returns to the earth to judge the world.

The high priest tore his clothes because he thought Jesus blasphemed God. This was what the high priest did when someone blasphemed. According to the Law of Moses, blasphemy was punished by killing the person who blasphemed.

See: Law of Moses; Jesus is God; Yahweh (I am); Right Hand; Blaspheme (Blasphemy); Heaven; Law of Moses

Why did the people ask Jesus to prophesy?

[14:65]

Many people hit Jesus at the same time. They mocked Jesus. That is, they insulted him. So they asked him to prophesy and tell them which person hit Jesus.

See: Prophecy (Prophesy)

14:66-72

Why did Peter say that he did not know Jesus?

[14:68]

Peter followed the soldiers who arrested Jesus. However, he did not go near Jesus. He did not want anyone to know he was a disciple of Jesus. He feared being arrested. This is why he said he did not know Jesus.

See: Disciple

What did Mark write in 14:68?

[14:68]

Some ancient copies of the Greek New Testament have the words, “then the rooster crowed.” Other, older ancient copies of the Greek New Testament do not have these words. However, Matthew, Luke, and John said that the rooster crowed (see: Matthew 26:74; Luke 22:60; John 18:27). Therefore, the rooster crowed whether or not Mark wrote these words.

See: Differences in the Ancient Copies of the Bible

What was a Galillean?

[14:70]

The people in Jerusalem spoke in a different way than the people in Galilee. Because of this, the girl knew Peter lived in Galilee. This was the same place where Jesus and his disciples lived.

See: Disciple

See Map: Galilee

Why did Peter begin to curse and swear?

[14:71]

Peter wanted this girl to think he was not a disciple of Jesus. He then swore and cursed himself. That is, he said that God needed to curse him if Peter was lying. He swore to her in the same way someone swears an oath to a judge.

See: Curse; Swear (Oath); Curse

---

Chapter 15

¹ Early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders and scribes and the entire Jewish council, consulted together. Then they bound Jesus and led him away. They handed him over to Pilate. ² Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?"

He answered him, "You say so." ³ The chief priests were accusing him of many things.

⁴ Pilate again asked him, "Do you give no answer? See how many things they are accusing you of!" ⁵ But Jesus no longer answered Pilate, and that amazed him.

⁶ Now at the time of the festival, Pilate usually released to them one prisoner, a prisoner they requested. ⁷ There was a man called Barabbas in prison with the rebels who had committed murder during the rebellion. ⁸ The crowd came to Pilate and began to ask him to do for them as he had done in the past. ⁹ Pilate answered them and said, "Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" ¹⁰ For he knew that it was because of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. ¹¹ But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to cry out that Barabbas should be released instead. ¹² Pilate answered them again and said, "What then should I do with the King of the Jews?"

¹³ They shouted again, "Crucify him!"

¹⁴ Pilate said to them, "What evil has he done?"

But they shouted more and more, "Crucify him." ¹⁵ Pilate wanted to satisfy the crowd, so he released Barabbas to them. He scourged Jesus and then handed him over to be crucified.

¹⁶ The soldiers led him inside the courtyard (which is the government headquarters), and they called together the whole company of soldiers. ¹⁷ They put a purple robe on Jesus, and they twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on him. ¹⁸ They began to salute him and say, "Hail, King of the Jews!" ¹⁹ They were striking his head with a reed staff and spitting on him. They went to their knees and they bowed down before him. ²⁰ When they had mocked him, they took off of him the purple robe and put his own garments on him, and then led him out to crucify him. ²¹ A certain man, Simon of Cyrene, was coming in from the country (he was the father of Alexander and Rufus), and they forced him to carry his cross.

²² The soldiers brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which is translated "Place of a Skull"). ²³ They offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not drink it. ²⁴ They crucified him and divided up his garments by casting lots to determine what piece each soldier would take. ²⁵ It was the third hour when they crucified him. ²⁶ On a sign they wrote the charge against him, "The king of the Jews." ²⁷ With him they crucified two robbers, one on the right of him and one on his left. ^28[1]29 Those who passed by insulted him, shaking their heads and saying, "Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, ³⁰ save yourself and come down from the cross!"

³¹ In the same way the chief priests were mocking him with each other, along with the scribes, and said, "He saved others, but he cannot save himself. ³² Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Those who were crucified with him also insulted him.

³³ At the sixth hour, darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. ³⁴ At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is interpreted, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" ³⁵ Some of those standing by heard his words and said, "Look, he is calling for Elijah."

³⁶ Someone ran, put sour wine on a sponge, put it on a reed staff, and gave it to him to drink. The man said, "Let us see if Elijah comes to take him down." ³⁷ Then Jesus cried out with a loud voice and died.

³⁸ The curtain of the temple was split in two from the top to the bottom. ³⁹ When the centurion who stood and faced Jesus saw that he had died in this way, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God." ⁴⁰ There were also women who looked on from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James the younger and of Joses), ^[2] and Salome. ⁴¹ When he was in Galilee, they followed him and served him. Many other women also came up with him to Jerusalem.

⁴² When evening had come, because it was the Day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, ⁴³ Joseph of Arimathea came there. He was a respected member of the council who was waiting for the kingdom of God. He boldly went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. ⁴⁴ Pilate was amazed that Jesus was already dead; he called the centurion and asked him if Jesus was dead. ⁴⁵ When Pilate learned from the centurion that Jesus was dead, he gave the body to Joseph. ⁴⁶ Joseph had bought a linen cloth. He took him down from the cross, wrapped him in the linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of a rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. ⁴⁷ Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw the place where Jesus was buried.

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Footnotes

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Mark 15

15:1-15

What was the Jewish council?

[15:1]

See: Jewish Council (sanhedrin); Scribe; Elder; Scribe

Why did the Jewish leaders take Jesus to Pilate?

[15:1]

Pilate was a Roman leader of Jerusalem. At this time, the Jews were not allowed to kill someone if the person was guilty of a crime. Therefore, the Jewish leaders needed permission from Pilate to have Jesus killed.

Why did Pilate ask Jesus if Jesus was the king of the Jews?

[15:2]

The Jewish leaders wanted to kill Jesus because they said he spoke blasphemy against God (see: Matthew 27:1-2; Luke 22:66-71). However, the Jewish leaders did not tell Pilate that Jesus was blaspheming God. Instead, they said that Jesus said he was the king of the Jews. Blasphemy of God was not wrong for the Romans. However, they killed people who rebelled against the Romans.

See: Blaspheme (Blasphemy)

Why did Jesus not answer Pilate?

[15:5]

Jesus did not answer Pilate because he did not do anything wrong. He also knew he needed to die for people’s sins. This also fulfilled a prophecy of Isaiah (see: Isaiah 53:7). This made Pilate think that Jesus was not guilty of the things the Jewish leaders said he did.

See: Fulfill (Fulfillment); Atone (Atonement); Fulfill (Fulfillment)

What was the feast?

[15:6]

Mark wrote about a feast. This was the passover festival.

See: Passover

Why did Pilate release a prisoner?

[15:6]

In ancient Israel, the Roman leader released a prisoner during the Jewish passover festival. This helped make peace between the Romans and the Jews.

See: Passover

Who did Pilate want the people to release from prison?

[15:9]

Pilate did not think Jesus was guilty. However, he did not want to make the Jewish leaders angry. Therefore, he tried to get the people to free Jesus. However, they did not want Jesus to live. They told Pilate to kill Jesus.

How was someone crucified?

[15:13]

See: Crucify (Crucifixion)

How was Jesus scourged?

[15:15]

Pilate told soldiers scourge Jesus. That is, they beat him very badly. Some scholars think that scourging a person made them die faster after they were crucified. Other scholars think Pilate had Jesus scourged so the Jewish leaders would have pity for Jesus. He hoped the Jews would not want Jesus crucified after this (see: John 19:1-15).

See: Crucify (Crucifixion)

15:16-21

Where did the soldiers take Jesus?

[15:16]

The soldiers took Jesus to the courtyard where a Roman leader lived. The courtyard was a large area outside of a home where many people gathered.

How many soldiers are a cohort?

[15:16]

There were about 600 soldiers in a cohort.

How did the soldiers mock Jesus?

[15:20]

The soldiers placed a purple robe on Jesus. They did this to mock Jesus. In ancient times, kings wore purple clothes. This was because it was very expensive to make purple clothes. They also put a crown on Jesus. They also did this to mock Jesus. Kings wore crowns. However, this crown had large thorns, so it hurt Jesus. The soldiers also mocked Jesus by saluting him in the way they saluted a king. They also hit Jesus with a staff. Kings held a special staff. They also bowed to Jesus in the same way they would have bowed to their king.

Where was Cyrene?

[15:21]

See Map: Cyrene

15:22-32

Where was Golgotha?

[15:22]

Golgotha was a place outside of the wall of the city of Jerusalem. In English, this place is often called “calvary.” It was a hill that looked like a person’s skull.

Why did the soldiers give Jesus wine mixed with myrrh?

[15:23]

The soldiers gave Jesus something to drink. People thought that this would stop pain. However, Jesus did not want to drink the mixed wine.

What is casting lots?

[15:24]

See: Cast Lots

Why did the soldiers make a sign?

[15:26]

The soldiers made a sign. This sign told people that Jesus was killed for saying that he was the king of the Jews.

Did Mark write the words found in verse 28?

[15:28]

Some ancient copies of the Greek New Testament have the words found in 15:28. A greater number of older copies of the Greek New Testament do not have these words. Therefore, most translations do not have these words.

How did the people insult Jesus?

[15:29]

The people insulted Jesus while he died. They mocked him because they did not know what he said when he said that he would destroy and rebuild the temple. They thought he spoke about the temple building. However, it was a metaphor. He wanted people to know that he would die and be resurrected in three days. They also mocked Jesus and told him to come off the cross if he was God. They spoke against Jesus because they did not believe he was the Son of God.

See: Son of God; Temple; Resurrect (Resurrection) ; Cross; Son of God

How did the Jewish leaders mock Jesus?

[15:31]

The Jewish leaders mocked Jesus in the same way people mocked him. They wanted Jesus to do something so they would know that he was the messiah. However, he did not listen to them. Jesus knew that his death on the cross was part of the work that God the Father sent him to do.

See: Atone (Atonement); Cross; Atone (Atonement)

15:33-37

When was the sixth hour?

[15:33]

The sixth hour was about 12pm.

When was the ninth hour?

The ninth hour was about 3pm.

Why did Jesus cry out about God had forsaken him?

[15:34]

As Jesus died, people’s sins were placed on him in some way. He was separated from God in some way for the first time. Jesus fulfilled prophecy with these words. In Psalm 22, David cried out to God. Jesus quoted the beginning of this Psalm so the people would know that he was the fulfillment of this prophecy.

See: Prophecy (Prophesy); Atone (Atonement); Fulfill (Fulfillment); Prophecy (Prophesy)

Why did people think Jesus was calling for Elijah?

[15:35]

When Jesus said, “Eli,” the people thought they heard Jesus calling to Elijah to help him.

15:38-47

Why did the temple curtain split into two pieces?

[15:38]

In the temple, there was a curtain that separated the most holy place from everything else. It was the place where the high priest went once a year to give a sacrifice to God. God was in this place in a certain way. The curtain was so big and thick that it could not be torn. When Jesus died, it tore. This was a metaphor. It allowed everyone to know that nothing separated people from God anymore after Jesus died.

See: Atone (Atonement); Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies); High Priest; Sacrifice; Metaphor; Atone (Atonement)

Why did the Roman soldier think Jesus was the son of God?

[15:39]

The Roman soldier thought Jesus was the son of God. Some scholars think the soldier believed that Jesus was God. More scholars think that he said that Jesus was a very great man whom God blessed. Mark wanted people to think about how the roman soldier believed the truth about Jesus even though the Jewish leaders did not.

See: Bless (Blessing); Jesus is God; Bless (Blessing)

Where was Galilee?

[15:41]

See Map: Galilee

Why did Jesus need to be buried before the sun went down?

[15:42]

According to the Law of Moses, a dead body needed to be buried before the sun set.

See: Deuteronomy 21:23

See: Law of Moses

How was Joseph of Arimathea waiting for the kingdom of God?

[15:43]

Joseph of Arimathea was a pharisee, but he believed in Jesus (see: John 19:38). He believed what Jesus taught about the kingdom of God.

See: Kingdom of God; Kingdom of God

Why was Pilate amazed that Jesus was dead?

[15:44]

Pilate was amazed that Jesus was dead because he died very fast. Jesus was beaten and very weak when he was placed on the cross. When most people were put on a cross it took a long time for them to die, sometimes two or three days.

See: Cross

Why did Joseph wrap Jesus’ body in a linen cloth and put it into a tomb?

[15:46]

Joseph of Arimathea wrapped Jesus’ body in linen cloth to prepare him to be buried. At that time, people wrapped a body in linen cloths with strong smelling spices. When Jesus’ body was ready to be buried, it was put into a tomb. This honored the person who had died.

Why did Joseph place a large stone in front of the entrance to the tomb?

[15:46]

Joseph placed a very large stone in front of the entrance to the tomb. This kept people and animals out of the tomb.

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Chapter 16

¹ When the Sabbath day was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices that they might come and anoint Jesus' body. ² Very early on the first day of the week, they went to the tomb when the sun had come up. ³ They were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?" ⁴ When they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, for it was very large. ⁵ They entered the tomb and saw a young man dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

⁶ He said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. Look at the place where they had laid him. ⁷ But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.'"

⁸ They went out and ran from the tomb; they were trembling and amazed. They said nothing to anyone because they were so afraid. ^9[1] [Early on the first day of the week, after he arose, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. ¹⁰ She went and told those who were with him, while they were mourning and weeping. ¹¹ They heard that he was alive and that he had been seen by her, but they did not believe.

¹² After these things he appeared in a different form to two of them as they were walking out into the country. ¹³ They went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.

¹⁴ Jesus later appeared to the eleven as they were reclining at the table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who saw him after he rose from the dead. ¹⁵ He said to them, "Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to the entire creation. ¹⁶ He who believes and is baptized will be saved, and he who does not believe will be condemned. ¹⁷ These signs will go with those who believe: In my name they will cast out demons. They will speak in new languages. ¹⁸ They will pick up snakes with their hands, and if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well."

¹⁹ After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. ²⁰ The disciples left and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by the signs that went with them.] ^[2]

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Footnotes

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Mark 16

16:1-11

What was the Sabbath?

[16:1]

See: Sabbath

Why did these women bring spices to anoint the body?

[16:1]

The women brought spices to anoint Jesus’ body. In ancient Israel, people did this to someone after they died. They did not think Jesus would be made alive again. The spices were used to stop the body from smelling bad. People did this for people they loved when the person died.

See: Anoint (Anointing)

What day was the first day of the week?

[16:2]

The Sabbath began on Friday at sunset and ended Saturday at sunset. The day after the sabbath was the first day of the week. This day began on Saturday at sunset and ended on Sunday at sunset.

See: Sabbath

Why did the women need someone to roll the stone away?

[16:3]

The stone in front of Jesus’ tomb was very large. It was so large three women could not move it. Therefore, they needed several men to move it.

Who was the man in the tomb?

[16:5]

The man in the tomb was an angel.

See: White (symbol); White (symbol)

Where was Nazareth?

[16:6]

See Map: Nazareth

How was Jesus crucified?

[16:6]

See: Crucify (Crucifixion)

How was Jesus resurrected?

[16:6]

The man in the tomb said that Jesus was risen. That is, Jesus was resurrected and was alive again.

See: Resurrect (Resurrection)

Where was Galilee?

[16:7]

See Map: Galilee

Why did the man say, “just as he told you”?

[16:7]

The man said that Jesus was resurrected, “just as he told you.” Jesus told people that he was going to be resurrected after he died. He also said he would go to Galilee (see: 14:28). They did not understand what he said. Or perhaps they did not believe it when he said it.

See: Resurrect (Resurrection)

See Map: Galilee

Did Mark write the words of 16:9-20?

[16:9]

The oldest copies of the Greek New Testament do not have the words written in Mark 16:9-20. Other ancient copies of the Greek New Testament do have these words. Therefore, some scholars do not think Mark wrote these words. They think some ancient scholars added these words to the ending of Mark’s gospel. Perhaps they did this to make the gospel end in a different way. That is, so the gospel would tell people about Jesus’ resurrection. Other scholars think Mark wrote these words. Perhaps an early copy of Mark’s gospel lost its last page and people made copies of this without the last page.

See: Differences in the Ancient Copies of the Bible; Resurrect (Resurrection) ; Differences in the Ancient Copies of the Bible

How did Jesus cast out demons?

[16:9]

See: Demon Possession (Casting Out Demons)

Why were people mourning and weeping?

[16:10]

People were mourning and weeping because they were sad. They were sad that Jesus died. They did not know that he promised to be resurrected. They also did not know that he was resurrected. When they heard that Jesus was alive, they did not believe the women. They thought the women lied because people did not become alive after they died.

See: Resurrect (Resurrection)

16:12-20

How did Jesus appear in a different form?

[16:12]

Jesus joined two people walking. Scholars think these people saw Jesus before he died. However, Jesus looked different from the first time they saw him. So they did not know it was Jesus (see: Luke 24:13-32).

Why were the disciples called the eleven?

[16:14]

People called the disciples the eleven. This is because Judas Iscariot was not a disciple anymore.

See: Disciple

Why did the disciples recline at the table?

[16:14]

The disciples reclined at the table because they were eating.

See: Disciple

What did Jesus tell the disciples to do?

[16:15]

Jesus wanted the disciples to go tell everyone they could that Jesus was made alive again. He wanted them to tell everyone about the gospel. When Jesus said “the entire creation,” he wanted everyone in the world to know these things.

See: Gospel; Resurrect (Resurrection) ; Gospel

How is someone who is baptized saved?

[16:16]

Jesus said that whoever believes in him and is baptized will be saved. When someone believes in Jesus, they are at peace with God and will live with him forever. Some scholars think Jesus spoke about being baptized by the Holy Spirit. Other scholars think Jesus spoke about being baptized with water.

See: Heaven; Save (Salvation, Saved from Sins); Heaven

How is someone who does not believe in Jesus condemned?

[16:16]

People who do not believe in Jesus are condemned. That is, they are punished and will live forever in hell.

See: Hell

What is casting out demons?

[16;17]

See: Demon Possession (Casting Out Demons)

How will Christians be able to speak in new languages?

[16:17]

See: Speaking in Tongues

Were Christians able to be poisoned without getting sick?

[16:18]

Jesus talked about Christians being poisoned. He said that Christians will be poisoned or bitten by poisonous snakes, but they will not die. The apostles did many miracles. These were signs so that other people would know that what they said came from God. Jesus did not talk about all Christians at all times.

See: Sign; Miracle; Sign

Why is Jesus at the right hand of God in heaven?

[16:19]

See: Heaven; Heaven

How did Jesus help the disciples when they preached?

[16:20]

The disciples went many places and told people about Jesus. Jesus helped them through the Holy Spirit. He also gave them the power to do miracles. These were signs that the things they taught were from God.

See: Sign; Miracle; Sign

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