The Gospel of Mark, Chapter 10
You can listen to Mark 10 with us below.You can also read the passage in the New Living Translation here.
“Then Jesus left Capernaum and went down to the region of Judea and into the area east of the Jordan River. Once again crowds gathered around him, and as usual he was teaching them.
Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife?”
Jesus answered them with a question: “What did Moses say in the law about divorce?”
“Well, he permitted it,” they replied. “He said a man can give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away.”
But Jesus responded, “He wrote this commandment only as a concession to your hard hearts. But ‘God made them male and female’ from the beginning of creation. ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”
Later, when he was alone with his disciples in the house, they brought up the subject again. He told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries someone else, she commits adultery.”
One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.
When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.”
Thank you for joining us in listening to Mark 10! You can also find a written copy of Mark 10 in the NLT here.
Below are some questions that made us think. Feel free to journal your answers to one or all of them!
Discussion Questions
1. Jesus explained that when a man and woman marry, they become one. He said, "Let no one split apart what God has joined together." He told His disciples that divorcing a person's spouse is to commit adultery against her/him.
- What is the attitude toward divorce in your culture?
-Do Jesus' words about marriage and divorce surprise you? Why or why not?
-How might God be asking you to change your ideas about marriage?
2. Starting in verse 13, we read about some parents who brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. The disciples told the parents to stop disturbing Jesus. When Jesus saw this, He was angry with His disciples!
He said, "Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
- What do you learn from children in your life who love Jesus? How does their faith inspire or challenge you?
-Close your eyes and imagine yourself in this scene.
Who do you see yourself as? Someone in the crowd watching? One of the parents bringing his children to Jesus? A child being touched and blessed by Jesus? A disciple scolding the parents?
If you can, imagine yourself as a child being blessed by Jesus. Rest in that place of being welcomed, loved, and protected.
-Followers of Jesus are told to be like Him! How can you welcome and bless people around you who others see as unimportant?
3. A rich young ruler ran to Jesus and knelt in front of Him. He asked how he could inherit eternal life. After they discussed some of the commandments the ruler had obeyed, Jesus said he still lacked one thing. Jesus invited the young man to sell his possessions and give the money to the poor and follow Him. The man became sad and left.
Jesus explained to His disciples that it is extra difficult for those who are rich to enter the kingdom of God, but that it is possible with God's help.
- How can having a lot of money make it difficult to follow Jesus?
-How has Jesus helped you view your money and possessions differently?
-What can Christians do to fight the love of money and pursue security and satisfaction in Christ?
- What are you tempted to value more that Christ? Why might that be?
4. On His and the disciples' way to Jerusalem, Jesus predicted his death and resurrection for a THIRD time. He also repeated some of the words he said in Mark 9:35— that anyone who wants to be first must be a servant/slave of everyone else.
- Why do you think Jesus repeated these things to His disciples?
- What can prevent us from believing and living out Jesus' words?
-How can Christians remind themselves and each other of Jesus' words?
5. As Jesus and disciples left Jericho, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus began to cry out again and again for Jesus to have mercy on him. Jesus heard the man and asked, "What do you want me to do for you?" Bartimaeus said, "I want to see!" Jesus healed Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus followed Jesus down the road.
- Imagine that you are Bartimaeus, desperate for Jesus to heal you. Jesus comes to you and looks right at you. He asks, "What do you want me to do for you?"
What do you say?
This might be a difficult question to answer right away. Consider returning to it each morning. Ask God to show you what you most desire for Him to do for you. Ask Him to help you understand your desires and to align your heart with His.
