SB#4
23 February 1998


Mark 6:30-7:23

Who is this Jesus?



1. notes.
6:30ff Parallel passages are found in Mt 14:13-21, Lk 9:10-17, Jn 6:5-13.
6:32 Luke 9:10 locates this event near Bethsaida, near the northeast shore of the Sea of Galilee.
6:37 200 denarii; a denarius was a typical workman's daily wage.
6:38 These were barley loaves (Jn 6:9); people ate several small, flat loaves as a single meal.
6:39 green grass: The grass around the Sea of Galilee after late winter or early spring rains.
6:44 5000 men: With women and children, the number was probably considerably more; counting men was a common Jewish census method. This number is more amazing, considering that the nearby towns of Bethsaida and Capernaum probably numbered 2-3000 each. Incidentally, each disciple came away with a basket of food.
6:45ff Parallel passages are found in Mt 14:22-36, Jn 6:15-21
6:45 John 6:14-15 indicates the people wanted to take Jesus by force and make him king, so Jesus sent his disciples across the lake and slipped away to pray in the hillside.
Bethsaida was a village on the northern shore, east of Capernaum.
6:48 fourth watch: 3am-6am (a Roman time division).
6:49 ghost: Jewish superstition held that spirits in the night brought disaster.
6:53 Genessaret: A narrow, fertile plain 6X3km in size, northwest of the Sea of Galilee, or a town in the plain.
7:1ff Parallel passage found in Mt 15:1-20
7:1 Another delegation (see Mk 3:22) of Pharisees and other teachers came from Jerusalem to investigate Jesus' activities.
7:3 ceremonial washing: not for sanitary reasons, but out of religious ceremonialism. The Pharisees had developed a complex system of laws added onto the law of Moses, including washing laws and others which were considered binding. They ceremonially washed utensils and vessels, and washed their hands, especially after coming from the marketplace where they had come into contact with Gentiles.
7:6 Isaiah...prophesied: 'prophesy' means to 'speak forth', 'to declare God's message', and is not necessarily futuristic. In Isaiah 29:13 the prophet spoke out against the religious leaders of his days. Jesus takes the passage and prophetically applies it to the religious leaders of his day.
7:8ff Jesus contrasts God's commands in the Scriptures with man-made laws which are not Biblical and thus not binding.
7:11 Corban: Meaning 'offering', this word was invoked as a vow based on the law of the elders. This law allowed a son to formally dedicate to God (or the temple) whatever money he would have set aside to support his parents in their old age. Furthermore, the son did not actually have to give the money to the temple afterwards. This was a way to circumvent Biblical teachings of children's obligations to their parents, and this vow was considered binding, even if said rashly. To support this teaching, the teachers appealed to and misapplied Numbers 30:1-2.
7:19f Mark comments on the significance of this for Gentile readers. Jesus replaced the ceremonial cleanness with a teaching of moral, inward cleanness.


2. guiding questions.
What would the people have thought about Jesus, seeing him perform the miracle of feeding the 5000, and disputing with the religious leaders about what is clean and unclean? How about the disciples, seeing him walk on water? What do all these events tell us about Jesus?


3. interpretation questions.
feeding the 5000:

Was this miracle premeditated? (see 6:30-34) How did it come about?


What Old Testament images would this miraculous event conjure up in people's minds?


Why did people want to install Jesus as king afterwards? Why did Jesus escape? What does that tell us about him, his ministry, mission, character, etc.? (Jn 6:14-15, Mk 6:45-46)

walking on the water:
What does this event proclaim about Jesus? Why does Mark put this event here in his gospel narrative?
Why were they scared? Why did the disciples not understand these miracles and their significance? Were the crowds (6:56) just coming for the healings? Did they miss something beyond that?

clean and unclean
Why did Jesus argue with the religious authorities and teachers? Discuss the meaning of "prophecy" and "prophesy" š what do they mean?

This section tells of Jesus' last tour in Galilee before heading back into Gentile territory. What does he do differently on this last Galilee tour that makes his tour effective? 4. application questions.
How are people today like sheep without a shepherd? (6:34)
Are our attitudes toward others like the disciples or Jesus in 6:35-36? In what ways?
Why is it important to pray after spiritual successes (6:45-46), as well as before serving God?
What things hinder us from seeing Christ in our lives or in the world?
Why do we fail to see God, especially when He works in ways contrary to our expectation?
Do we come to God just for healing or deliverance? Or is there something beyond that which we must seek?

Why does Jesus denounce legalism? What exactly is legalism?


Contrast and compare outward religious righteousness, and inward holiness. How are they different? How do we find holiness, i.e., how do we cleanse ourselves?
What are some secular things that may be clean or unclean for us? Where must we be careful?
Think and discuss: Do you think you are clean or unclean spiritually inside?


5. conclusion.
Conclude with time of prayer. Also, remember to attend daily prayer meetings, and remind group members to attend. Be sure to pray about finding new SGL's and coworkers.