Mark - Lesson 8...Continued from page 3

Thomas Klock

DAY FOUR: A Disastrous, Discouraging Situation

Please carefully read Mark 5:35-38 and answer the following questions.

1. Jairus must have been about to burst from anxiety as he waited for Jesus to finish ministering to the woman who had suffered for twelve years, to minister to his daughter, who was twelve years old. Up until age 11, a girl was considered a child; from age 12 to 12½ they were considered a “young daughter;” and at age 12½ they were considered an adult and old enough to marry.[xiii] This is rather unnerving for this author whose daughter turned age 13 in 2005?but we must remember that the average life span in Jesus’ day was about 40 years![xiv] What news that Jairus dreaded reached him just at that moment (v. 35)?

2. Before Jairus could react to the news, what short but profound encouragement did Jesus give him (v. 36)?

3. At that moment, Jesus left His disciples except for the “inner circle” of Peter, James and John, and went with Jairus (v. 37). What scene met them that no doubt broke the heart of the already anguished father (v. 38)?

NOTE: The Greek word for wailing comes from a monotonous wailing sound, alalazontas. Soldiers entering battle would cry out “Alala!” to freak out their enemies. It is also the word Paul used in 1 Corinthians 13:1 to describe clanging symbols.[xv]

4. This situation had definitely turned from hopeless to being beyond all hope now. Yet Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just trust Me.” How many times we too have heard that same small still voice in the midst of hard or seemingly impossible situations! What are some things that the following passages remind us about our need to walk in faith when faced by fear?

Deuteronomy 20:3, 4; 31:6; Joshua 1:9

Psalm 5:11, 12; 27:1; 56:11; 91:1-5

Proverbs 3:5, 6, 21-26

Revelation 1:17, 18

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.

“Don't ________ ____________________. ________________ __________________ me.” Mark 5: 36c (nlt)

DAY FIVE: A Dead Daughter Resurrected!

Please carefully read Mark 5:39-43 and answer the following questions.

1. It seemed as if those who brought the news to Jairus weren’t too thrilled about his going to Jesus for help, and they basically told him not to bother (or bother with) Him![xvi] The Greek word for trouble literally means to skin or flay, meaning to vex or bother. What did Jesus say to this crowd of hired mourners, what was their response, and what did Jesus then do (v. 39, 40)?

NOTES: Two different words are used to describe Jairus’ daughter: (1) paidion , which has 51 occurrences in the kjv which translates it as “child” 25 times, “little child” 12 times, “young child” 10 times, and “damsel” four times; it described a young child, a little boy, a little girl, or of a more advanced, mature child. (2) korasion, the word kore (a maiden); there are eight occurrences of this in the kjv, translated as “damsel” six times and “maid” twice. It means a girl, damsel, maiden, young lady, someone older than a child but not a full adult yet. The wording of verses 39-40 as well as Luke’s account of the same event indicates that the girl was not just in a coma, but clearly dead.[xvii]

2. Entering the girl’s room with the devastated parents, who were hoping against all hope, Jesus took Peter, James, and John who would serve as legal witnesses of this event.[xviii] Describe the touching scene of verse 41.

NOTE: As we saw in our studies in Nehemiah, the Jews had adopted Aramaic while in Babylon. In Galilee most people spoke Aramaic and Greek, as well as many speaking Hebrew; since the girl’s primary language would have been Aramaic, Jesus spoke Aramaic to her.[xix] Talitha was not the girl’s name, but rather is the feminine form of the word meaning a lamb or a youth.[xx] Not a bad name too!

3. What thing beyond all possible hope happened in verse 42, and what was the reaction of everyone except Jesus (and the girl)? What two things did Jesus then tell the parents (v. 43)?

NOTE: Mark reminded us that the girl was old enough to walk in verse 42. Also by telling the parents to give the hungry young lady something to eat not only showed that the girl was alive and could walk and eat, but was now completely well![xxi]

4. The nkjv states that the parents were “overcome with great amazement;” the niv “completely astonished;” the nlt “absolutely overwhelmed;” and the amp “utterly astonished and overcome with amazement.” In other words, however you translate their reaction it would be an understatement! Amazement in Greek is the word ekstasis, from which comes the English word ecstasy; her parents were beyond the point of ecstatic! Jairus believed despite what common sense told him and the devastating grief that was trying to grip his heart. It is somewhat similar to something that Abraham faced. Read Romans 4:17-21 and Hebrews 11:8-12 and describe how he was able to get beyond his own seemingly hopeless situation.

Scripture Memory: Can you write out this week’s passage by memory here below? Give it a try, and keep reviewing the passage several times throughout the day.

Mark 5:36c:

DAY SIX: Following Christ

1. All we can say after reading a chapter like Mark 5 is wow! Of course even that is an understatement in response to God’s awesome Word and works. One thing we saw common in both the woman with the hemorrhage and Jairus is that they took a risk to reach out to Jesus in faith. How would you describe your faith in Christ? Would it be labeled safe and comfortable, or risk taking and trusting God to work in great ways in and through your life? Is it bland, boring, or brave? By nature some people are bolder than others, and some receive the gift of faith; but those of us who aren’t and don’t certainly can identify with Mark 9:23-24: “Jesus said to him, ‘If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.’ Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, ‘Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!’” (nkjv) What are some of your faith “success stories,” or times you had to learn by watching misplaced faith kind of crash and burn? Is there something you’d like to believe God for that your group can be praying for you about? Please share some thoughts here about these things.

2. Perhaps you face a situation or problem that truly seems to be beyond all hope. Think about these words of Warren Wiersbe in light of any trial or affliction you are facing today, and record some thoughts about how the things in this wonderful chapter have ministered to you especially:

Unbelief laughs at God’s Word, but faith lays hold of it and experiences the power of God...Yes, God’s Servant is the conqueror over danger, demons, disease, and death. This series of miracles illustrates how Jesus met and helped all kinds of people, from His own disciples to a pair of demoniacs; and it assures us that He is able to help us today. This does not mean that God always must rescue His people from danger (see Acts 12) or heal every affliction (see 2 Cor. 12:1–10); but it does mean that He holds the ultimate authority and that we need never fear. We are “more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Rom. 8:37).[xxii]

3. We have seen in Mark 5 three great works of Jesus in ministering to a hopeless man, a hopeless woman, and a hopeless father. I think you obviously can identify with one gender or another here, but which story most parallels your life’s more difficult experiences? What are some things that you gleaned from them that we may or may not have even looked at that spoke to you? Please record your thoughts here and share them with your group if you wish.

Scripture Memory: Hopefully you now can write out this week’s passage completely by memory. Do so now, and keep on reviewing it so you will be ready to share it with others in your group time.

Mark 5:36c:

[i] Unless elsewhere noted, all Greek word/phrase translations are based on the following: A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. In Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1932, 1933, 1997; James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible: Showing Every Word of the Text of the Common English Version of the Canonical Books, and Every Occurrence of Each Word in Regular Order, Electronic Edition (Ontario: Woodside Bible Fellowship; in Bellingham: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1996); M.R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament (Bellingham: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2002); Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Studies in the New Testament: For the English Reader (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, Co; in Bellingham: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1984, 1997); and Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament, Electronic Edition (Chattanooga: AMG Publishers, in Bellingham: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1992, 1993, 2000).

[ii] Richard L. Niswonger, New Testament History (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing Co., 1988), pp. 55-57.

[iii] James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible: Showing Every Word of the Text of the Common English Version of the Canonical Books, and Every Occurrence of Each Word in Regular Order, Electronic Edition.

[iv] For more on this, see James A, Brooks, Mark. In David S. Dockery, The New American Commentary V. 23 (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1991), pp. 93, 94; and Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary (Downer’s Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1993), p. 148.

[v] M.R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament (Bellingham: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2002).

[vi] John D. Grossmick, Mark. In John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck eds., The Bible Knowledge Commentary, New Testament (Wheaton: Victor Books/SP Publications, 1983), pp. 124, 125.

[vii] John MacArthur, The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2005), p. 1213.

[viii] John Phillips, Exploring the Gospel of Mark (Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 2004), p. 121.

[ix] John D. Grossmick, Mark, p. 125. Also see Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary (Downer’s Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1993), p. 148.

[x] J. F. Freeman and H.J Chadwick, The New Manners and Customs of the Bible Electronic Edition (Bellingham: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1998).

[xi] Edgar Elliot, Ph.D. New Testament Synthesis I: Tape 3. Newburg: Trinity Theological Seminary, 2003.

[xii] Edgar Elliot, Ph.D. New Testament Synthesis I: Tape 3; also see John D. Grossmick, Mark, p. 125.

[xiii] William L. Lane, The Gospel of Mark. In Gordon D. Fee ed., The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1974), p. 197.

[xiv] Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, p. 148.

[xv] A.T. Robertson.

[xvi] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, Vol. 1 (Wheaton: Victor Books/SP Publications Inc., 1989), p. 94.

[xvii] Walter W. Wessell, Mark. In Frank E. Gaebelein ed., The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Vol. 8 (Grand Rapids: Regency Reference Library, 1984), p. 663.

[xviii] John D. Grossmick, pp. 125, 126.

[xix] Grossmick, p. 126; Keener, p. 149.

[xx] John MacArthur, The MacArthur Bible Commentary, p. 1213.

[xxi] Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Studies in the New Testament: For the English Reader (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, Co; in Bellingham: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1984, 1997).

[xxii] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, Vol. I, pp. 128, 129.

My BST

My BST

Mark - Lesson 8...Continued from page 3