Mark - Lesson 9...Continued from page 1

DAY TWO:  Mission Training

Please carefully read Mark 6:7-13 and answer the following questions.

1.  It is at this point we see that Jesus is beginning to slowly transition away from Galilee, and by the middle of Mark 8 that transition from Galilee is made, heading steadfastly toward Jerusalem and the hour for which He came.  So Jesus decided to spread out His work in the region and by it provided training for the Twelve.  What was the commission He gave, how did He equip them for it, and interestingly what did He allow them to pack for the journey (v. 7, 8)?

NOTES: The Greek word for send is apostello, from which we get the word apostle.  This signified one who was sent on a special commission to represent another and accomplish his work, and in fact the Jewish concept was that the man sent was considered equal to the man who sent him.[v]   Don’t let some of the differences in the list of things in Matthew and Luke that Jesus allowed or prohibited the disciples to take rattle your cage.  It most likely is either a different emphasis that the author took or possibly a copyist’s error that led to the differences seen, but whatever it is, we must remember the purpose indicated was for them to travel and trust God completely for their provision.[vi]

2.  There are two Greek words for power used in the New Testament:  exousia  (here in Mark 6:7), which means authority delegated from one person to another based on their authority; and dunamis, God’s dynamic power that He shares with us to accomplish His purposes.  How do these two terms apply to evangelism and discipleship (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Romans 1:16; 2 Timothy 1:7-12)?

3.  What other interesting guidelines did Jesus give the disciples for this time of ministry (v. 10, 11)?

NOTE: The latter part of verse 11 about Sodom and Gomorrha isn’t found in the earliest Greek manuscripts of Mark, so almost every version except those in the King James tradition exclude or italicize the phrase as not original.[vii]

4.  As the disciples went out, what was their message, fundamental in the preaching of John the Baptist and their later messages as well in Acts (v. 12)?[viii] What were some of the amazing results (v. 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.

And the king was exceedingly ___________________; yet, because of the oaths and because of ___________________ who sat with him, he did not want to _______________ her.  Mark 6:26, nkjv