Mark 9:1-13

Mark 9:1-13Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Boy 1
9 Then He said to them, “I assure you: There are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God come in power.”
The Transfiguration
2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up on a high mountain by themselves to be alone. He was transformed[a] in front of them,3 and His clothes became dazzling—extremely white as no launderer on earth could whiten them. 4 Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.
5 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it’s good for us to be here! Let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”— 6 because he did not know what he should say, since they were terrified.
7 A cloud appeared, overshadowing them, and a voice came from the cloud:
This is My beloved Son;
listen to Him!
8 Then suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus alone.
9 As they were coming down from the mountain, He ordered them to tell no one what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 They kept this word to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.
11 Then they began to question Him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
12 “Elijah does come first and restores everything,” He replied. “How then is it written about the Son of Man that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13 But I tell you that Elijah really has come, and they did whatever they pleased to him, just as it is written about him.”
Questions:
1. Who is Elijah and Moses?
A. Elijah is one of the most important prophets of the Old Testament.  He lived to serve God and performed many miracles for God.  He never died, but was lifted up into heaven by a chariot of fire and horses.  He was persecuted by Ahab and Jezebel, King and Queen of Israel.  They wanted to behead him (Just like John the Baptist).  Moses was a leader for God.  He led the Israelites out of Egypt and preformed many miracles for God.  He never entered the promise land, but led his people to the promise land.
2. Peter calls Jesus Rabbi, what does this mean?
A. It means teacher, a teacher of the Jewish traditions and customs.
3. Why does Peter say, “It’s good for us to be here!”?
A. He is terrified.  He doesn’t know what to do.  He calls out to start building a tabernacle.  Three tents, or shelters to honor them.  
4. What do you think the cloud looked like?
A. ???
5. What does God mean by saying, “This is my beloved Son; listen to Him!”?
A. Elijah and Moses are gone, and Jesus is the only one left.  God is showing Peter, James, and John who is the most important and who to listen to.  God is telling them to listen and believe.  

Mark 8:31-38Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Girl 2
His Death and Resurrection Predicted
³¹ Then He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, be killed, and rise after three days. ³² He was openly talking about this. So Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him.
³³ But turning around and looking at His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said,“Get behind Me, Satan, because you’re not thinking about God’s concerns,^[a]but man’s!”
Take Up Your Cross
³⁴ Summoning the crowd along with His disciples, He said to them, “If anyone wants to be My follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. ³⁵ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me and the gospel will save it. ³⁶ For what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world yet lose his life? ³⁷ What can a man give in exchange for his life? ³⁸ For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

Questions:
1.   Why do you think Peter didn’t like what Jesus was saying?
A.   Jesus is Peter’s friend, He loves Jesus, Peter left everything to follow Jesus, and now Jesus is saying He is going die.  Peter doesn’t like it.
2.   What does Jesus mean by whoever loses his life because of Me and the Gospel will save their life?
A.   It means that if we stand up for our faith in Christ, or die for Christ we will actually save our Life and have eternal life with Christ.  We need to live in this world, but not be of this world.  Live for Christ not for ourselves.
3.   What does it mean for you to take up your cross and follow Me?
A.   Jesus used this image of carrying a cross to show the ultimate submission that requires a follower to moment by moment live for Him.  To do His will even when it is difficult and the future looks bleak.  

Mark 8:22-30

Mark 8:22-30Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Healing a Blind Man²² Then they came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to Him and begged Him to touch him. ²³ He took the blind man by the hand and brought him out of the village. Spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him,“Do you see anything?”
²⁴ He looked up and said, “I see people—they look to me like trees walking.”
²⁵ Again Jesus placed His hands on the man’s eyes, and he saw distinctly. He was cured and could see everything clearly. ²⁶ Then He sent him home, saying,“Don’t even go into the village.”^[a]Peter’s Confession of the Messiah²⁷ Jesus went out with His disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the road He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”
²⁸ They answered Him, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, one of the prophets.”
²⁹ “But you,” He asked them again, “who do you say that I am?”
Peter answered Him, “You are the Messiah!”³⁰ And He strictly warned them to tell no one about Him

Mark 8:11-21

Mark 8:11-21Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod
11 The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, demanding of Him a sign from heaven to test Him. 12 But sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, “Why does this generation demand a sign? I assure you: No sign will be given to this generation!” 13 Then He left them, got on board the boat again, and went to the other side.
14 They had forgotten to take bread and had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 Then He commanded them: “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.”
16 They were discussing among themselves that they did not have any bread.17 Aware of this, He said to them, “Why are you discussing that you do not have any bread? Don’t you understand or comprehend? Is your heart hardened?18 Do you have eyes, and not see, and do you have ears, and not hear?[a] And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the 5,000, how many baskets full of pieces of bread did you collect?”
“Twelve,” they told Him.
20 “When I broke the seven loaves for the 4,000, how many large baskets full of pieces of bread did you collect?”
“Seven,” they said.
21 And He said to them, “Don’t you understand yet?
Questions:
1. Why do the Pharisees demand to see another miracle even though they have witnessed so many before?
A. They are in denial and nieve of who Jesus is and are afraid of what He can do.  They might also want to witness and miracle to catch Him in the act.
2. What was Jesus’s response to the Pharisees wanting to see a miracle?
A. He is infuriated because they still couldn’t see the power in Him through their ignorance.
3. What does Jesus mean by, “Beware of the Yeast?”
A. Yeast makes bread rise, so if the yeast is bad, the bread is bad.  In this metaphor, the bread is the word of God, and because the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod makes the bread, they are infecting the word.  Also, the yeast spreads the bread, and they don’t want to spread the wrong words of God.
4. How would you feel if you were one the 12 disciples and you still don’t understand that Jesus will provide you with ever need?
A. ????
The Purpose/Summary
In this passage certain people test God’s power and want to see miracles before they believe.  God is not a magic lamp, He is not your servant or puppet.  He is your master, not the other way around.  We also learn that even seeing miracle after miracle doesn’t mean you truly know Christ.  His disciples have been with Him for a long time and still don’t understand they can rely on Him for every need.