8: They Were Afraid (Mk 4:25-5:20)
I.
The Basics
A.
Setting
After teaching during the day,
Jesus went to the other side of Galilee at night. In Mark, this is the first
time Jesus visited a Gentile settlement. What happened there shows us how
people and unclean spirits were afraid of Jesus for different reasons.
B.
Key Verse
“Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have
no faith?” (4:40).
C.
Did You Know…?
1.
Boat (4:36): A fisherman’s boat was between
20-30 feet (8-11 m) long and 7 feet (3 m) wide.It moved through the
water either by means of sails (Lk 8:23) or oars (Mk 6:48), and was steered at
the stern (rear).
2.
Windstorm (4:37): Situated in a basin surrounded
by mountains, the Sea of Galilee is particularly susceptible to sudden, violent
storms. In spite of the danger, boats were the most convenient mode of
transportation to get from one side of the lake to the other.
3.
“Be still!” (4:39): This is the same expression
used (phimo’o) as when Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit in Mk 1:25.
4.
Country of the Gadarenes (5:1): Somewhere on the
eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Several towns with similar sounding names
(Gadara, Gerasa, Gergesa) were across the lake from Capernaum. This region lay
in the predominantly Gentile territory of the Decapolis (cf. Did You Know 7).
The presence of pigs (Mk 5:11), inconceivable in a Jewish settlement,
illustrates the region’s Gentile background.
5.
Tombs (5:2): Often in Palestine people were
buried in natural caves or in tombs cut out of the limestone rock. These
provided good shelter for anyone desiring to live in them. The demon-possessed
man probably had been driven from ordinary society into the tombs.
6.
Legion (5:9): A main division of the Roman army
comprising 3,000 to 6,000 men.
7.
Decapolis (5:20): A league of ten free cities,
located in the northeast part of Galilee.Characterized by high Greek culture,
they were a thorn to the Jews because they introduced non-Jewish lifestyle and
architecture into Palestine.
II.
Observation
A.
Outline
(4:35-41)
(35-36)
(37-38)
(39-41)
(5:1-20)
(1-7)
(8-12)
(13-14)
(15-17)
(18-20)
B.
Key Words/Phrases
III.
General Analysis
1. Why
was each of the following afraid?
1a. Disciples (4:37-38, 41)
1b. “Legion” (5:7-8, 10)
1c. Gadarenes (5:15-17)
1d. Which is a good fear to have?
2. Are
you afraid of what Jesus can do? Why or why not?
IV.
Segment Analysis
A.
4:35-41
1a. How much time did Jesus wait
before the boat ride?
1b. Do you ever feel rushed? How
do you prevent from burning out?
2a. Who went with Jesus?
2b. Suppose you were one of the
disciples. What reasons were there for Jesus not to go to the other side of the
lake in the evening?
2c. Why did Jesus want to go to
the other side of the lake?
2d. Has God put you in a
situation where you would rather not be? What do you do about it?
3a. How could Jesus possibly
sleep through such a violent storm?
3b. When your life is in turmoil,
what do you think Jesus is doing?
4. Why did Jesus rebuke the wind
and the waves (39)?
5a. Why were the disciples afraid
of the storm? Why did they ask Jesus for help?
5b. Why were the disciples afraid
after they saw that the wind and the waves obeyed Jesus?
5c. Did the disciple have no
faith? Why or why not?
6. The disciples did not rely on
their professional experience to solve their problem. What types of work- or
school-related problems can Jesus help you with?
B.
5:1-20
7. What did each of the following
plead with Jesus to do?
7a. “Legion” (5:10-12)
7b. Gadarenes (5:17)
7c. Man who had been
demon-possessed (5:18)
8a. Why did Jesus ask the unclean
spirit its name?
8b. Why did Jesus give the
unclean spirit permission to go into the pigs?
8c. Isn’t it unfair for the pigs
to die?
9. What does the name “Legion”
imply? What warnings does the name give us?
10a. From the dialog between
Jesus and the unclean spirit, what can we learn about Jesus’ authority?
10b. Jesus was unfazed by the
legion of unclean spirits. Have you ever felt outnumbered? How did you get
through it?
11a. Why did the Gadarenes want
Jesus to leave their region?
11b. Has there been a time when
you wished God would leave you alone? Why?
12. The pig herders and the
healed man both told people what happened. Why did the people react differently
(5:14-15, 20)?
13. This is the first time Mark
writes that Jesus commanded someone to tell others what He had done (5:19). Why
now, in Gadara?
14a. The man wanted to follow
Jesus, but Jesus told him to do something else. What has Jesus told you to do
that you did not originally intend to?
14b. How does Jesus’ command to
this man apply to you today?