The Gospel according to Mark

Second book of the New Testament 

Mark (Peter's disciple)

(Part 5)

We continue this issue to the Systematic Study of the New Testament, which includes the study of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and the book of Acts. The study is based on the Portuguese version of the New Testament that the reader can see from this link: http://www.bibliaonline.com.br/asv/mt/1. 

Relevant answers to questions are at the end of the text below. 

Questions 

1. How did the episode of the transfiguration of Jesus and the disciples who witnessed?

2. The scribes said that before the coming Messiah, it was necessary for Elijah to come. What did Jesus say about that?

3. To heal the boy possessed since childhood, who could not be cured by his disciples, teaching that Jesus left us?

4. Having discussed his disciples among themselves, which was the largest among them, Jesus took the opportunity to give them a remarkable lesson. What lesson is that?

5. In fact that Jesus said: Whoever is not against us is for us? And what these words mean?

Text for reading 

19. Jesus asks his disciples beware of the leaven of the Pharisees - After dismissing the crowds, Jesus entered the boat and went with his disciples, for parts of Dalmanutha. The Pharisees asked him then to try, to give them a sign from heaven. Jesus, sighing deeply in his spirit, he told them: "Why doth this generation seek a sign? Verily I say that this generation does not give any sign. "And he left them, went into the boat and went to another band. The disciples, for forgetfulness, not only took home a loaf. Jesus, take the opportunity, he warned them: "Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, the leaven of Herod." The disciples, not understanding what he said, they thought Jesus was speaking, because they had not brought bread. Seeing him, the Lord told them: "Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? not perceive, neither understand yet? Have ye your heart hardened? Having eyes, see ye not? and, having ears, hear not? Do not you remember when I broke the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments up? "They said," Twelve. Then Jesus asked, "And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments up?" They said, Seven. Jesus then asked them: "How not understand?" (Mark 8:10 to 8:21.) 

20. Peter said to him, firmly, "You are the Christ" - The Jews of his time, second was said by the disciples thought Jesus was John the Baptist, Elijah or one of the prophets who had been resuscitated. Peter, however, asked the Master said with conviction, You are the Christ. Jesus, on hearing this sentence, he admonished them to tell no man of him, and began to teach them that it was necessary that the Son of man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and that be killed, warning however that after three days rise again. When he said these things, Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, but he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked the apostle, saying, "Get thee behind me, Satan: for not the things that are of God, but those of men." (Mark, 8:27 to 8:33.) 

21. Who wants to save his life will lose it - Calling themselves the crowd with his disciples, the Lord told them: "If anyone would come after me must deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel will save it. For what shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or that a man give in ransom for his soul? For whosoever among this adulterous and sinful generation, is ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of man be ashamed when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." (Mark, 8:34 to 8:38.) 

22. Jesus again predicts his death and resurrection on the third day - After the transfiguration, Jesus commanded the three disciples who accompanied him to tell no one what they had seen until the Son of man rise from the dead. They then retained the case among themselves, but asked each other what they meant these words: rise from the dead. The same question arose when, walking in Galilee, Jesus again said to them: "The Son of man is betrayed into the hands of men, and will kill him, and killed him, rise the third day." The disciples did not understand what the Master said, but were afraid to ask him. (Mark, 9:9 and 9:10, 9:30 to 9:32.) 

23. Jesus teaches love and warns about the stumbling of life - Jesus, teaching the charity, said to his disciples: "He shall give you to drink a glass of water, thou art the Christ, verily I say I shall not lose their reward. But who put a stumbling block in the path of one of these little ones who believe, it would be better if you hung around his neck a great millstone, and he were cast into the sea." "If your hand you serve as a stumbling block - the Lord warned - cut it off: it is better to enter life lame, than having two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. If thy foot serve as a stumbling block, cut it off: it is better to enter life maimed, than having two feet to be cast into hell. If your eye causes you to be a stumbling block, pluck it out: it is better to enter the kingdom of God with one of your eyes, rather than having two to be cast into Gehenna, where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. For every one shall be salted with fire. Salt is good: but if the salt has become tasteless, with what you will restore its flavor? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other. "(Mark 9:41 to 9:50.) 

Answers to questions 

1. How did the episode of the transfiguration of Jesus and the disciples who witnessed?  

Jesus took Peter, James and John, and led them alone, particularly a high mountain and was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceeding white as snow, so as no fuller on earth could bleach. Appeared to them, then Elijah and Moses, and they spoke with Jesus. Peter, who saw it all, taking the word, said to Jesus, Master, it is good that we are here, and let us make three booths, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah. Down, then a cloud overshadowed them with his shadow, cloud and left a voice saying, "This is my beloved Son: hear him. (Mark 9:2 to 9:7.)

2. The scribes said that before the coming Messiah, it was necessary for Elijah to come. What did Jesus say about that?  

Jesus confirmed the prophecy telling them Elijah indeed comes first, and restore all things. I tell you, however, that Elijah is come already, and made him all they wanted, as it is written in a direct allusion to John the Baptist. (Mark, 9:11 to 9:13.)

3. To heal the boy possessed since childhood, who could not be cured by his disciples, teaching that Jesus left us?  

As soon as he entered the house, his disciples asked him: Why could not we drive? The Master said unto them, This kind can come out with anything, except by prayer and fasting. According to Amelia Roberts, in "First Fruits of the Kingdom", a work by psychographed Divaldo P. Franco, the words of Jesus mean that before the obsession and obsessive "only prayer and fasting indefatigable love of passions can quench their thirst in which devour", leading them to the generous assistance of spiritual workers everywhere who cooperate with Love, incessantly. Jesus' words also reveal that there are spirits more hardened than others, as we learned in 1997 and subsequent issues of The Book of Spirits, we talk about the different orders of spirits. (Mark, 9:17 to 9:29.)

4. Having discussed his disciples among themselves, which was the largest among them, Jesus took the opportunity to give them a remarkable lesson. What lesson is that?   

The purpose of the subject, Jesus sat down, called the twelve and said to them: If somebody wants to be first, be the last and servant of all. And resorting to a boy, put him in their midst and took him in her arms and said unto them, Whosoever shall receive one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me, but the Father who sent me.

However, it is not so among you: but, whatever you want to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever of you wants to be first must be servant of all, because the Son of man came not to be served but to serve and give His life a ransom for many. (Mark, 9:33 to 9:37. See also: 10:43 to 10:45.) 

5. In fact that Jesus said: Whoever is not against us is for us? And what these words mean?

John said to Jesus they saw a person in his name cast out demons, but he was not one of the followers of the Master, and because of that, the banned. But Jesus said to them: Do not prevent him, for no one who works a miracle in my name and can soon speak ill of me. Because who is not against us is for us. The teaching is by means thereof to an individual is said Christian, no matter what label it's worth in their charitable actions. Later, on another occasion, he would assert that the Christian is recognized for his works. (Mark, 9:38 to 9:41.)