Mark 4:35-5:20 | Who is this Jesus?!

In this episode, we follow Mark, the gospel writer, as he turns from recording Jesus’ teaching to telling stories of his deeds. The two miracle stories discussed today continue Jesus’ slow unveiling of his identity. First, Jesus and the disciples encounter a fierce storm on the Sea of Galilee, so violent that his seasoned fisherman-followers despair of their lives. Jesus calms the storm with his simple word. In response, the disciples ask the profound question, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him.” This question of identity is further answered when they reach the opposite shore. There, they are accosted by a demon-possessed wild man, but Jesus delivers him, again, by his simple word. Taken together, these stories answer that important question. Who is this? Jesus is God, the mighty God. He is not just powerful but filled with compassion for the ruined lives around him.

 

00:00 Opening comments

02:15 Jesus stills the storm (4:35-41)

11:24 Jesus restores a ruined life (5:1-20)

27:05 Final comments

 

Study Questions for Mark 4:35-5:20

1.      What do you think the disciples wanted from Jesus when they woke him (4:38)?

2.      Compare Psalm 107:23-32.  What similarities do you see with this story in Mark 4:35-41?

3.      The disciples asked each other “Who is this? What are the answers they may have suggested to one another (4:41)?

4.      After their eventful journey across the lake, how do you think the disciples felt, being immediately accosted by a wild man from the tombs (5:2)?

5.      What do we learn about demons from the actions of this possessed man (5:4-5)? What did the demons understand about Jesus and their relationship to him, based on what they said (5:7)?

6.      Was Jesus asking for the man’s name or the demons’ name (5:9)? Why did he ask this?

7.      Why did the demons not want to be sent out of the area but into the pigs, instead (5:10-12)?

8.      Was it morally right for Jesus to send the demons into the pigs and inflict economic hardship on the swineherds (5:13)?

9.      Why were the villagers afraid when they saw the restored man (5:15)?

10. What were the things that the disciples learned about Jesus on this eventful day from his parables, stilling the storm and restoring the demon-possessed man (4:1-5:20)?

11. When have you felt like you really needed Jesus’ peace in your life? How would you like Jesus to touch your life right now?

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