Jesus’ rejection at Nazareth marked the beginning of His “Year of Popularity.” That’s sounds odd! Many of the events that transpired during this time occurred in Galilee, but did include one trip to Jerusalem. During this time period Jesus told many parables, gave the Sermon on the Mount, raised people from the dead, and yes, continued to be a burr under the saddle blanket of the Pharisees and other Jewish leaders who couldn’t see that the Messiah had come.
- Jesus leaves for the Galilean countryside. Go to Mark 1:35-39.
- How does this section tell you that Jesus was popular?
- Where did He tell His disciples they were going?
- What were His goals?
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- A man with leprosy. Mark 1:40-45.
- Leprosy was used generically to refer to multiple skin disorders.
- How does verse 40 show this man’s faith?
- What was Jesus’ felling for the man?
- What was the method of cure?
- Leprosy was used generically to refer to multiple skin disorders.
Healing Requirements from the Old Testament
Leviticus 14:1-9
1The LORD said to Moses, 2“These are the regulations for the diseased person at the time of his ceremonial cleansing, when he is brought to the priest: 3The priest is to go outside the camp and examine him. If the person has been healed of his infectious skin disease,£ 4the priest shall order that two live clean birds and some cedar wood, scarlet yarn and hyssop be brought for the one to be cleansed. 5Then the priest shall order that one of the birds be killed over fresh water in a clay pot. 6He is then to take the live bird and dip it, together with the cedar wood, the scarlet yarn and the hyssop, into the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water. 7Seven times he shall sprinkle the one to be cleansed of the infectious disease and pronounce him clean. Then he is to release the live bird in the open fields.
8“The person to be cleansed must wash his clothes, shave off all his hair and bathe with water; then he will be ceremonially clean. After this he may come into the camp, but he must stay outside his tent for seven days. 9On the seventh day he must shave off all his hair; he must shave his head, his beard, his eyebrows and the rest of his hair. He must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water, and he will be clean.
- Jesus returns to Capernaum. Go to Mark 2:1-12.
- After reading the story of the paralytic man, list the point(s) that are important to you.
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- Verse 5 tells us that Jesus saw their faith. How can you see faith? And can you wear faith? If so, how?
- What was different in this healing story compared to the leper?
- After reading the story of the paralytic man, list the point(s) that are important to you.
- Another disciple is called. Mark 2:13-17, Matthew 9:9ff, and Luke 5:27.
- Mark tells us that Jesus was walking beside the lake. The Sea of Galilee is the same as Lake Gennesaret. See if you can find the other two names by which this body of water is known. (Hint: use a Bible dictionary for assistance)
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- Picture someone walking along and talking to a group. Then, approaching a man seated at a table collecting taxes, He says, “Follow Me.” What was Levi’s response?
- Associating with tax collectors was like having leprosy. Note how Mark lists them below sinners in verse sixteen. Do we avoid “lepers” and “sinners” today?
- What explanation did Jesus use to explain His association with Matthew (Levi)? What can we learn from verse seventeen for today’s world?
- Mark tells us that Jesus was walking beside the lake. The Sea of Galilee is the same as Lake Gennesaret. See if you can find the other two names by which this body of water is known. (Hint: use a Bible dictionary for assistance)
Jesus’ Second Passover: John 5:1-15
One person entitled this section, “expectations yield results.” We are going to read about a man who for thirty-eight years expected to be healed from his infirmity. There is even a more potent story embedded in this miracle. Let’s read it and see if we can identify what Jesus’ talking about.
- Jesus and His disciples have left Galilee to go to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover. This is His second Passover.
- What was the name of the gate through which Jesus entered the city?
- Where did the gate get its name?
- What do we know about this man mentioned in this section?
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- Do you find it strange how the invalid man replied to Jesus’ question?
- What was Jesus’ command to the man?
- At first, the man had no idea who had cured him of his 38-year disease/condition. Then, later at the Temple, he learned Jesus’ identity.
- What does Jesus tell the man in verse fourteen?
The Pool of Bethesda
BETHESDA The name of a pool in Jerusalem where Jesus healed a man who had been sick for thirty-eight years (John 5:2). The name, appropriately, means “house of mercy.” Most ancient manuscripts identify Bethesda as the place of the pool. The waters of the pool were popularly believed to possess curative powers. Truly, the man who was healed after thirty-eight years experienced the outpouring of God’s mercy on the Sabbath. The references to the pool being stirred by angels (John 5:3b-4) are not found in either the oldest or the majority of manuscripts. However, regardless of the disagreement among manuscripts on the name of the pool or the angel passage, the pool did exist. Today this pool is identified with the series of pools found near the church of St. Anne. (Source: Holman’s Bible Dictionary)