16.1 Discipleship (Problems of Discipleship) Flashcards
1
Q
STORY Mark 9: 14-29
Jesus casts the spirit out of a boy (FAITH)
A
- “unable to speak…dashes him down…foams…grinds his teeth…rigid”: symptoms of a fit or seizure today but seen as a demon then
- “I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so”
- “You faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me”: Jesus was frustrated with the crowd because they didn’t have the faith and belief that Jesus was trying to show and teach them- they were ignorant
- “but if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us”: the father doubted Jesus’ ability to heal the boy- he was desperate thinking nothing could be done
- “I believe; help my unbelief”…when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit”: Jesus decided to banish the spirit because the father announced his belief and saw the crowd so he healed the boy to strengthen their faith
- “This kind can only come out through prayer”: (disciples) Jesus was saying that you can only heal people with faith and belief and he was also trying to tell people to pray and have faith
2
Q
PROBLEMS
Jesus casts out spirit
A
- we have other explanations for demons
- unfair to tell someone with an illness (e.g. epilepsy) that they have a demon
- it may be a coincidence that the boy stopped convulsing as Jesus said he healed him
- realistically faith can’t cure everything
- the disciples, the main followers of Jesus, couldn’t even heal the boy- how is everyone else expected to be able to?
3
Q
STORY Mark 4: 1-20
The parable of the sower
A
- The seed= word of God
- The seeds that fell on the path, the birds came and ate up: the people tempted away by Satan
- The seeds that fell on rocky places, (where there wasn’t much soil) sprang up quickly but withered because they had no root: the people hear the word and receive it with joy but when they are prosecuted they quickly fall away
- The seeds that fell among the thorns, grew but were chocked so they didn’t bear good grain: people hear the word but life’s worries and greed take over
- The seeds that fell on good ground, came and grew- producing a multiplied, plentiful crop: the people hear the word, accept it and spread the word of God
4
Q
PROBLEMS
parable of the sower
A
- Jesus used parables so that people could understand but even the disciples didn’t get it: “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?
- Goes against the belief that anyone can enter the kingdom of Heaven: “The secret of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you. But to those on the outside, everything is said in parables, so that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving’”
- Some Bible scholars believe that Mark interpreted this story to fit in more with his audience of persecuted Christians- they knew the secret but the Romans were condemned
5
Q
STORY Mark 10: 41-45
Jesus and service
A
- James and John (SoZ) had asked Jesus if they could sit beside him in Heaven- this upset the other disciples but Jesus told them all that only God decides this
- Jesus’ followers act like those who are last in order to be first
- “For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as ransom for many”: Jesus used the title of the son of man instead of son of God in order to show that he was human and a servant, also predicting his death
6
Q
PROBLEMS
Jesus and service
A
- Should we help other no matter what? makes Christians seem like slaves and the dirt of society
- Gives the impression that we are sinners if we do anything for ourselves
- There’s always going to be someone after you so it’s impractical
7
Q
STORY Mark 14: 27-42
The failure of the disciples (Jesus predicts Peter’s denial and Gethsemane)
A
- “You will fall away… for it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered”: Jesus quoted from scripture, already knowing how the disciples would react
- “Even if all fall away I will not…even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you”: When Jesus told Peter he would disown him he disagreed, even if everyone else fell away- Peter even said he would rather die
- “Sit here while I pray”: Jesus went to pray asking the disciples to keep watch
- “Deeply distressed and troubled…Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will”: Jesus was conflicted, expressing his human side where the suffering he was about to endure became to much for him
- “Returned to his disciples and found them sleeping…Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the body is weak”: the disciples didn’t do what Jesus had told them to do
- “Returning to them the third time…are you still sleeping and resting?”: the disciples let Jesus down three times
- “The Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners…here comes my betrayer”: the consequences of letting Jesus down- betrayed
8
Q
PROBLEMS
failure of the disciples
A
- The human body is too weak even though the disciples had Jesus’ best interests
- It can be hard to be persecuted so people can lack courage, fatigue, hunger, illness can weaken the body and make it hard to be a good Christian
- Loyal friends betrayed
- Although Jesus shows his understanding of humanity and shows his own it can make people complacent because they will think God will forgive them if they don’t even try to be faithful
9
Q
STORY Mark 14: 66-72
Peter’s Denial
A
- Peter denied knowing Jesus three times pretending to be ignorant and getting angry and the cock crowed the second time just like Jesus predicted
- “He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, ‘I don’t know this man you are talking about!’ Immediately the cock crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoke to him: ‘Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times’. And he broke down and wept”
- The prediction came true and the passage shows Peter’s panic and the immediate realisation and remorse which follows
10
Q
PROBLEMS + help
Peter’s denial
A
- Faith is a struggle
- Shows we shouldn’t judge someone on just one event in their life
- Peter became the first pope: reassuring that you are given a second chance and learn from the mistake
- Shows that everyone makes mistakes
- Jesus’ closest disciple betrayed him- what hope do we have today?
- Humans continue to let Jesus down
- Humans have a survival instinct which means we forget about faith
- We let our emotions get the better of us- we are only human
