A Lenten Journey to the Cross:
Lessons on Discipleship
Bible Study 1
Mark 8:14-29
Introduction
Tonight, we begin the Bible Study portion of our Lenten Journey to the Cross. This is our third stop; the previous 2 were the sermons of the past two weeks. Thus far we have learned that to be a disciple you must sacrifice, you must die. Tonight, we will add to this the discipline of Prayer.
I. What is happening in this story?
a) We have to go back to v. 2 where Jesus takes Peter, James and John with him up a high mountain. While they’re upon the mountain, the remaining 9 disciples are at the base of the mountain.
b) While Jesus and the other 3 are on the mountain, a father brings his son to Jesus. V. 17 says, “Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak….” Because Jesus was upon the mountain, the father trusts the remaining 9 disciples. V. 18 says, “I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so.”
c) Because the disciples were unable to cast out the spirit, it caused much consternation in the crowd and by the time that Jesus and the other disciples came down from the mountain, they found the remaining disciples arguing amongst themselves and with the scribes (v. 14). It seems that the arguments centered around the inability of the disciples to cast out the spirit.
II. Who does Jesus call a “faithless generation,” and why?
a) In v. 19 Jesus says, “You faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you?” Jesus is clearly showing his frustration here. Our theological understanding of Jesus is that he was God in human form (he became flesh and dwelt among us – Jn. 1:14). Because he was human, he was subject to the same emotions that we are, so we should not be surprised that Jesus could experience frustration.
b) Jesus had previously given all of the disciples the authority (ἐξουσία) over unclean spirits: “He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits (6:7).” So, if they had the authority over unclean spirits, why were they not able to cast it out?
c) Well, that’s Jesus’ frustration with “You faithless generation….” Jesus was frustrated with his disciples because not only had they been with him, but they were given authority over spirits and situations like this. Jesus feels that by now, they should have been able to cast this spirit out, but they couldn’t, and he’s frustrated with them.
d) By Jesus calling them a “faithless generation,” it shows that their problem was a lack of faith. They had the authority to do so; but within themselves, they lacked the faith necessary to cast the spirit out (vs. 28-29) and this frustrates Jesus; but Jesus is also frustrated by the faithlessness of that generation. They seek signs (8:11-13) but do not recognize the sign which is right before them. The disciples are part of a generation which lacks the faith to believe the promised fulfillment of God.
III. What is necessary for “this kind?”
a) Let’s first acknowledge the modernist position: from the symptoms the boy seemed to exhibit he was an epileptic and today, this type of exorcism wouldn’t be necessary because this (and other diseases) are treatable with modern medicine.
b) “This kind…” refers to the particular spirit that was in the boy and the disciples were unable to drive it out. When they ask Jesus why they were unable to drive it out, Jesus responds “This kind can come out only through prayer (v. 29).” The depth of prayer is the key in this situation to being able to drive out this kind of spirit.
c) What does this say about us today?
Next Week: Mark 9:42-48
Questions for the week:
1. What is our responsibility towards his “little ones”?
2. Let’s assume that Jesus doesn’t want us to mutilate ourselves so, what is he trying to teach us?
3. What is the problem with vs. 44 & 46?
4. What is Jesus teaching us about sin?