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Jesus begins His public ministry with a splash of authority, calling his first disciples, teaching, expelling demons, and healing the sick. The crowd was amazed. He also showed his authority in more private ways by avoiding the temptation to play to the crowd and ignoring law and custom to give a leper His healing touch. Jesus willing choices to stay true to His mission challenge our own tendency to seek our own best interests.

00:00 Welcome

02:45 Authority to Call Disciples

08:39 Authority to Teach and Expel Demons

14:02 Authority to Heal

18:10 Authority to Choose His Own Priorities

22:23 Authority to Touch the Untouchable

29:42 Concluding Comments

Study Questions for Mark 1:16-45

for your personal or small group use.

1. What were some of the struggles the first disciples of Jesus may have felt when they chose to follow Jesus? What are some of the struggles His followers face today?

2. Jesus promised to make his disciples become fishers of people (v. 17). In what ways have you experienced Jesus remaking you into a different person?

3. Jesus called his disciples to be involved in His ministry right away. How does that compare with your own experience? What areas of ministry do you feel Jesus calling you to take up?

4. Why do you think Jesus started His public ministry in a synagogue?

5. What was it about Jesus that amazed the crowd (v. 27)? What does it mean to teach with authority? Where did Jesus get His authority?

6. How does Jesus’ method of healing Peter’s mother-in-law compare with His method of casting out the demon (vv. 25, 31)?

7. Mark reports the events of vv. 21-32 as happening in one day. What all happened on this day?

8. Why did Jesus not allow the demons to speak (v. 34)?

9. After Jesus’ previous day, what might be his concerns for the new day as he prayed (v. 35)? How might this affect his decision in v. 38? If you were Simon, how would you feel about His decision (v. 38)?

10. Why do you think the leper may have been unsure if Jesus wanted to heal him (v. 40)?

11. If you had been the leper living alone, separated from friends and society, how would you feel to receive Jesus’ healing touch (v. 41)?

12. Was the leper disobedient in spreading the news of his healing (v. 45)?

13. If you just got engaged, who would you tell? If you just inherited a million dollars, would you want to share your good fortune? Most of us want to tell others about good news. How excited are you to share the gospel (good news) with others? Are you so excited that you cannot possibly be quiet (v. 45)?

14. What do the actions and words of Jesus we have seen today tell us about the Kingdom of God?

15. In what ways do we see the battle between good and evil in this section of the Bible?

Episodes released every two weeks | Next: March 24, 2025