Day 9: Jesus is rejected by the religious leaders
In C. S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy have been evacuated from London because of the war—just like Granny Betty was in real life! The children go to live in a large house in the country, which is owned by a professor and run by a housekeeper named Mrs. Macready. Mrs. Macready is very strict and adds a lot of rules, as if they’re what the professor wants. But actually, they’re not. Throughout Mark’s gospel, the Pharisees try to get Jesus in trouble for breaking God’s rules, when actually, Jesus is not. Our passage today is one example.
In verse 1, who is in the synagogue along with Jesus?
In verse 2, what were some of the Pharisees looking for?
What does Jesus do in verse 3?
What question does Jesus ask in verse 4?
What do you think the right answer to Jesus’ question is?
Why do you think the Pharisees didn’t answer?
In verse 5, how did Jesus feel and why did He feel that way?
In the Gospels, we often find that Jesus is able to see what’s really going on in people’s hearts. He can see into our hearts today as well!
What did Jesus do in verse 5, and what happened?
How do you think the man felt when his hand was made well?
In verse 6, how did the Pharisees react when Jesus heals the man?
Why is it strange that the Pharisees would plot together with the Herodians?
The Herodians were supporters of King Herod the Great (who was the Roman-appointed king when Jesus was born) and his family. Two of King Herod’s sons—Herod Antipas and Herod Philip—are now ruling different regions. The Herodians are happy that the Romans are in charge. The Pharisees are against the Romans.
How does the reaction of the Pharisees show their real answer to Jesus’ question in verse 4?
In verses 8–10, we see a very different reaction to Jesus from the response of the Pharisees. How are people from the surrounding areas and especially sick people reacting to Jesus?
How does the reaction of the impure spirits in verse 11 echo what God said to Jesus at His baptism in our first study (Mark 1:11)?
Throughout Mark’s gospel, we’ll see that Jesus is opposed and rejected by some and welcomed by others. He’s the true King God always promised He would send. But many people don’t want Him to be King and don’t think they need Him. The same is true today.
Ask Jesus to help you see the parts of your heart that are stubborn and resisting Jesus’ loving rule. If there are kids in your school or neighborhood who seem like they are out to get you, thank God that Jesus knows just what it feels like. Ask Him to help you trust Him when you’re feeling under attack and not to just fight back.