THE GOSPEL OF MARK

Lesson 7
JESUS TURNED HIS FACE TOWARD JERUSALEM AND DEATH
(Mark 10:1-52)
I. Introduction
A. Jesus now left GALILEE and went to the borders of Judea, and beyond the Jordan.
This would be called His ministry in PEREA, beyond the Jordan (Mark 10:1)
B. Mark does NOT record many events in Jesus ministry which are found in Matthew,
Luke, and John. See the syllabus by Buchanan.
C. Multitudes continued to follow Jesus, and He taught them. This word is in a continuous
tense in Greek
(Mark 10:1, 2)

II. The Teaching of Jesus on the Subject of DIVORCE

(Mark 10:3-12)

A. The Pharisees were very interested in trapping Jesus. Read also John 8:6 and this
same account in Matthew 19:3.
1. Is it possible that they were trying to get Jesus to say something similar to what
John the Baptist said concerning Herod? He said that it was not lawful
for Herod Antipas to have his brothers wife (Mark 6:17, 18)
2. Were they hoping that, if Jesus made such a statement, He might be killed
by Herod also?
B. Jewish rabbis were divided over the subject of DIVORCE as taught in Deuteronomy 24.
1. The followers of rabbi Shammai taught that divorce could be granted only for
adultery, or the rejection of the Law. This was very strict.
2. The followers of rabbi Hillel taught that divorce could be granted for many
reasons
C. Jesus called them back to GODS LAW!

(Mark 10:3)

1. In the Old Testament, God tolerated divorce, but, even in the later prophet
Malachi, God hated divorce
(Malachi 2:16)
2. Moses suffered them or permitted them to divorce their wives, but, this was
caused by the hardness of the hearts of people (Mark 10:5; Matthew 19:8)
3. But, from the beginning, God intended ONE man for ONE woman. Jesus had
taught this previously
(Matthew 5:31, 32)
4. God joins man and woman in marriage (Mark 10:7-9)
5. Jesus was calling them back to Gods IDEAL for marriage
D. In the house, Jesus told the disciples that whoever divorces his wife, and marries another,
commits adultery against her (Mark 10:11). Please notice that Mark does NOT
include the exception, except for fornication that is found in Matthew 19:9.

III. Jesus LOVES the LITTLE CHILDREN (Mark 10:13-16). Read again Mark 9:36
and see the parallel accounts in Matthew 19:13, 14 and Luke 18:15-17
A. Jesus BLESSED these little children! May Gods blessings be upon them!
B. Notice again the emphasis on TOUCHING, and the fact that, in Matthew, Jesus also
PRAYED
(Matthew 19:13, 15). He took them in His arms..
C. Jesus was indignant with His disciples who desired to keep the children from Him
(Mark 10:14)
D. Those in the KINGDOM must have the same QUALITIES as the little
children (Mark 10:15, 16). If not, they cannot enter the kingdom. Jesus is
very EMPHATIC here. IT MUST BE DONE!
E. Receive the kingdom as a little child!
1. Would this include humility and trusting obedience?
2. Could it also include a feeling of DEPENDENCE and HELPLESSNESS?
3. Note: Everything a child receives IS NOT EARNED. Compare this
to our salvation (Romans 4:3, 4; Ephesians 2:8-10)

IV. The GREAT DANGER of RICHES

Luke 18:18-30)

(Mark 10:17-31; Matthew 19:16-30;

A. The question was, What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

(Mark 10:17)

B. This MAN was (1) Rich (Mark 10:22; Luke 18:23), (2) Young (Matthew 19:20),
and (3) A Ruler (Luke 18:18). A RICH, YOUNG, RULER!
C. What GOOD THING should he do? Perhaps, he thought that he could EARN
eternal life by doing something special (Matthew 19:16)
D. Jesus pointed him back to the TEN COMMANDMENTS
E. One Thing was LACKING!

(Mark 10:19)

(Mark 10:19-22)

1. Jesus KNEW his heart!

2. Get your PRIORITIES RIGHT! Have a complete COMMITMENT!
3. Jesus saw that in order to place his DEPENDENCE on God, he must give up
his possessions
4. One great TRAGEDY would be that he would possibly lose these possessions
at the time that Rome destroys the temple and Jerusalem!
F. It is so HARD for a RICH PERSON to be SAVED!

(Mark 10:23-31)

1. The disciples were amazed at this statement, for they believed correctly that
riches are a blessing from God (Please read Psalm 128:1, 2; Isaiah 3:10)
2. The key word seems to be those who TRUST in riches (Mark 10:24). Please
see this wrong foundation of trusting in riches in Psalm 49:6.
3. It is easier for a CAMEL to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man
to enter the kingdom of God (Mark 10:25). Jesus often made statements
that show INTENSITY and were strong declarations. (Read Matthew 7:3-5

and Matthew 23:24)

4. Jesus is expressing impossibility, but GOD CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN by
changing the HEART of a person! All things are possible with God
(Read the change in Paul in I Timothy 1:12-17)
5. Those who are faithful to the Lord will be REWARDED in THIS LIFE, and
the LIFE TO COME (Mark 10:28-31)
a. Those who give up things and people will receive a greater family in
this life! What a wonderful spiritual family!
b. And, in the world to come, ETERNAL LIFE!
c. But, there will be PERSECUTIONS in this life!

V. The THIRD FORETELLING of Jesus DEATH and RESURRECTION

(Mark 10:32-34)
A. The disciples were AFRAID and AMAZED, for Jesus was walking to Jerusalem
TO DIE
(Mark 10:32). He was out in FRONT of them!
B. In this passage, it is clearly seen that JESUS PLANNED TO DIE!
C. See the SEQUENCE of things that would happen later in the gospel of Mark:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Jesus would be delivered to the GENTILES! (Mark 15:1)

He would be CONDEMNED to DEATH
(Mark 15:15)
He would be SCOURGED, whipped
(Mark 15:15)
He would be MOCKED
(Mark 15:17, 18)
They would SPIT upon Him
(Mark 15:19)
He would be KILLED
(Mark 15:37)
He would be RAISED
(Mark 16:8)

VI. The DESIRE for PROMINENCE of the SONS of ZEBEDEE, James and John
(Mark 10:35-45). Please read also Matthew 20:20-28.
A. These men did NOT YET see the NATURE of the KINGDOM that was NEAR!
Please note this problem also in Mark 9:33, 34
B. Matthew mentions that their MOTHER was also with them, and made the request
(Matthew 20:20)
C. The SUFFERING of Jesus is found here under TWO different FIGURES:
1. A CUP that He must drink! To share a cup is to share a destiny! Read
Mark 14:36.
2. A BAPTISM with which He is to be IMMERSED!
D. It is true that LATER, JAMES will be the first apostle to die for his faith
(Acts 12:1, 2)
E. TRUE GREATNESS is to be found in SERVICE in the kingdom

(Mark 10:40-45)

1. God is the one who designates where GREATNESS LIES!

2. In the GENTILE world, greatness was measured by AUTHORITY, by
being a LORD over others! This word is the same as the word in
I Peter 5:3 where ELDERS are NOT to Lord it over the flock.

3. The Father has specified that GREATNESS lies in the following:

a. He who would be great must be a minister. This word,
diakonos is the word for minister in I Timothy 4:6
b. But, the very FIRST in the kingdom will be a slave. This word,
doulos is the common word for slave, or bond-servant
(Please read Galatians 5:13 and II Corinthians 4:5).
4. Jesus came to be a SLAVE and give Himself as a RANSOM for many
a. Jesus left HEAVEN to be a SLAVE
(Philippians 2:5-8)
b. The word RANSOM (Mark 10:45) is the same Greek root word
as the word REDEEMED. (I Peter 1:18, 19)
c. The place of GREATNESS is for those who SERVE LIKE THEIR
MASTER!

VII. The HEALING of BLIND BARTIMAEUS

(Mark 10:46-52)

A. Jesus came to JERICHO, a city about 30 kilometers northeast of Jerusalem near the
Jordan River.
B. Mark explained that Bartimaeus means Son of Timaeus

(Mark 10:46)

C. When this blind man cried out, Son of David, have mercy on me, it is uncertain
concerning how much he understood about the Messiahship of Jesus
D. The people wanted this man to be SILENT, but Jesus said, Call him
(Mark 10:48, 49)
E. Jesus KNEW the need of the man, but still expected him to ASK!

(Mark 10:51)

F. Bartimaeus used the word, RABBONI, which carried more RESPECT even than
RABBI. See this word used also in John 20:16.
G. PLEASE NOTE: Almost in the shadow of the cross, Jesus is deeply concerned
about ONE MAN! He healed that man.
H. Jesus stated that the mans FAITH had made him WHOLE. This word is from the
Greek word, sodzein meaning TO SAVE. He had been saved from his
blindness!
I. Bartimaeus followed Jesus GLORIFYING GOD. (Mark 10:52; Luke 18:43). The
people also PRAISED GOD!