Mark - Lesson 1...Continued from page 3

DAY FOUR:  The Galilean Ministry Begins

Please carefully read Mark 1:14-15 and answer the following questions.

1.  What happened around the time Jesus returned to begin His ministry (v. 14a)?

2.  John’s statement that he had to decrease and Jesus had to increase seems to have been as prophetic as it was a mark of his humility.  John was arrested by Herod Antipas; Herod Agrippa I later had James killed to appease the Jews (A.D. 44), as Acts 12 tells us, and Herod Agrippa II heard Paul’s defense (Acts 25-26)[xiv]  Mark doesn’t give us the reason for John’s arrest here, but what led to this (see Matthew 14:3-5)?

3.  How did Jesus begin His ministry in Galilee (v. 14b)?  How does Matthew 4:12-16 expand on this?

NOTE: John 2:13-4:4 included Jesus’ ministry in Judea that lasted about a year; Mark chose to skip this to focus on other things, which further shows us he didn’t write this to be only a biography in chronological order.[xv]

4.  We were told in verse 14 that Jesus came preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.  What was His specific message to the people of Galilee (v. 15)?

5.  There are two key words again used in verse 15.  The first is repentance, which in Greek is the word metanoia, a change of mind, but much more than just being a thought process, we saw earlier this week how it meant a change in consequent actions and conduct after we choose to turn from sin.  The second is believe, which means to be persuaded of, put credit in, be confident and trust in,[xvi] the Gospel.  What are some of the ways that the following passages help us understand what believing in Christ and the Gospel means?

John 1:12, 13; 3:16-18

Romans 3:21-26

Romans 10:9-13

Scripture Memory:  Try to fill in the missing words in the blanks below, by memory if at all possible, and then review the passage several times today.

Then Jesus said to them, “_________________ Me, and I will _____________ you __________________ ______________________ of men.”  Mark 1:17, nkjv