Bible Studies

Reading assignment for this lesson: Matthew 8:23-34, 9:18-26, 9:35, 10:1-11, 10:14, 13:53-58, 14:1-36, 15:1-20, Mark 4:35-41, 5:1-43, 6:1-56, 7:1-23, Luke 8:22-56, 9:1-17

Jesus did many miraculous works as He continued His public ministry in Galilee. The many miracles Jesus performed serve to demonstrate His powers over disease, the natural world, evil, and even death. They showed that He, like God, had power over all creation and thereby demonstrated His divinity. During this time John the Baptist was beheaded, and Jesus had more conflict with Israel's religious leaders.

1. a) What does the story of Jesus calming the storm (Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, Luke 8:22-25) tell about Jesus' powers?
b) What does it tell about the attitudes and beliefs of His disciples?

2. Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee into the Gentile land of the Gerasenes. There he met and healed a man (two men in Matthew) possessed by demons.
a) How did Jesus' attitude toward the man differ from that of the people of the region?
b) What does this story tell about Jesus' powers? (See Matthew 8:28-34, Mark 5:1-20, Luke 8:26-39.)

3. Jesus told the man possessed by demons to "Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you." Why did He tell this man to spread the news when He had told most of the Jews He healed to keep it a secret?

4. What did the synagogue leader Jairus and the woman with the hemorrhage have in common that played an important part in the miracles they received from Jesus? (See Matthew 9:18-26, Mark 5:21-43, Luke 8:40-56.)

5. What does the healing of Jairus' daughter tell about Jesus' powers?

6. Jesus again returned to His hometown of Nazareth, and again the people rejected Him. What did the people of Nazareth think about Jesus? (See Matthew 13:53-58, Mark 6:1-6.)

7. Some people say women should not work in Christian ministry because Jesus picked all men for His twelve apostles.
a) The Bible does not say why Jesus selected only men as apostles, but what are some of the possible reasons? (See Mark 6:7-12, Luke 8:1-3, Matthew 27:55-56, Romans 16:1-16, 1 Corinthians 14:33-35, 1 Timothy 2:11-15, Titus 2:3-8.)
b) Do you think women should be ordained as ministers and priests? Why?

8. a) Why did Herodias have a grudge against John the Baptist?
b) How did she trick King Herod into beheading John? (See Matthew 14:3-12, Mark 6:17-29.)

9. a) What did Jesus' feeding of the 5000 (Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17, John 6:1-14) tell about Jesus' powers? (See Numbers 11:7-9, John 6:30-34.)
b) Can you think of a symbolic meaning for this event? (See John 6:26-35, 21:15-17.)

10. What did Jesus' walking on the water tell about His powers?
b) Can you think of a symbolic meaning for this event? (See Matthew 18:20, 26:11, 28:20, John 14:18-19.)

11. a) How did Jesus' teaching about purity differ from that of the Pharisees and scribes? (See Matthew 15:1-20, Mark 7:1-23.)
b) Why would Jesus and His disciples object to washing their hands before eating?

12. a) Does Jesus' list of sinful practices (Matthew 15:19 and Mark 7:21-22) agree with your own ideas of what the most serious sins are? Why?
b) Can you think of cases where greed (avarice), envy (covetousness) or deceit have corrupted individuals, businesses or government affairs?