Sabbath Questions, Chosen Ones, Parables (Mark 2:23-28; 3:1-35; 4:1-34)

(This is supplement 3 to the #mkbiblechat study taking place every Friday morning at 9:30 a.m. Eastern, 6:30 Pacific USA. Pastor Mike is teaching the Gospel of Mark on Twitter. Click here for class schedule and links to the notes. Click here to follow Pastor Mike on Twitter.)

PICKING GRAIN ON THE SABBATH

“And He was saying to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.'” (Mark 2:27)

Jesus never sinned. Thus, at its simplest interpretation (without getting into the particulars) He is not sinning here (in allowing His disciples to pick grain on the Sabbath). (Mark 2:23-28) These actions are allowable according to the law of God and the Bible anecdote Christ alludes to. (Mark 2:25-26)

The Sabbath is meant to be a benefit for man, not a burden. It is for rest, worship. It is not to become an excuse to avoid helping others (which was the case with the Pharisees). (Mark 3:1-6)

CHOSEN ONES

Jesus spent all night with His Father on this one. (Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12) “Praying through.” I learned this concept when I first got saved, but wonder if it’s been forgotten. Invest significant time in prayer when you’re making crucial, history altering decisions.

These 12 guys that Christ chooses aren’t anything “great.” (They’re just like us!) “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise.” (1 Corinthians 1:27a)

We’re always first choice in God’s eyes and on His team. Don’t think of yourself as otherwise. (Zechariah 2:8)

WHO ARE MY MOTHER AND MY BROTHERS?

Relationships in the kingdom of God transcend earthly relationships. (Mark 3:31-35) Christian (Graceless) in John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress: “Now he had not run far from his own door when his wife and children, perceiving it, began to cry after him to return; but the man put his fingers in his ears, and ran on crying, Life! life! eternal life! “‘If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.'” (Luke 14:26)

PARABLE OF THE SEED

Only found in Mark, this parable teaches the process of growth in the kingdom of God. (Mark 4:26-29) We mature over a course of time, slowly, but surely, as a plant grows. We are not now what we will be in the future (in knowledge, character, wisdom, love of/for others, etc).

PARABLES AS CHRIST’S PRIMARY TEACHING TOOL

Jesus uses parables to thin the ranks ~ turn away false followers / draw in true followers. (Mark 4:33-34)

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. Were you ever a team captain in school having to pick players for a team? How did you decide which one to choose first and which one to choose last? (Mark 3:13-19)

2. Most of us are probably familiar with Christ’s parable of “The Mustard Seed.” (Mark 4:30-32) But then there’s another parable of “The Seed” (no mustard). (Mark 4:26-29) Read it through a few times. Then come up with your own answer as to its meaning.

3. What is the unpardonable sin? (Mark 3:28-29) How would you describe it in your own words?

4. Is it ever okay to break the rules? (Mark 2:23; 3:4-5)