What's So Awesome About Jesus? A Chapter by Chapter Study Through Mark - Chapter 1

   Genesis 29:20 - "So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her."

     This is going to be a narrowed or zoomed-in study of the Gospel of Mark focusing on the attributes of Christ seen in Mark. The hope is that when we are done, like Jacob, we would fall in love with the beauty of Jesus and our Christian life would not be tedious but rapturous.
     Why Mark? Mainly because Mark is a book of action written for a Roman audience who basically said, "Don't tell me what he said, tell me what he did? Each chapter I will come up with a character trait of Christ that in my mind summarizes the chapter. Obviously, you may come up with a totally different word and theme which is one of the supernatural qualities of the Bible - how it is alive and speaks to us all differently. So if you are ready, here we go. I will give some questions to answer and then give a summary at the end.

                                             MARK 1

1. Read Mark 1:1-8, John 15:26, John 16:7. What was the difference between John's baptism and Jesus' baptism?

       In a sense, according to these verses, what does Jesus have authority over?

2. Read Mark 1:9-11, Matt. 3:13-15, Mark 1:44. What were 2 things that Jesus willingly put his authority under their authority?     _________________________
               
                              _________________________

3. Read Mark 1:12. Who did Jesus submit to?

4. Read Mark 1:13 and Matt. 4:10,11. Name 2 things in these passages that Jesus had authority over?

                            ________________________

                           _________________________

5. Read Mark 1:16-20. Read Luke 5 1-11. What may have precipitated the complete following of Peter, James, and John?

     What does Jesus have authority over in these passages?

6. Read Mark 1:21,22. It's been said that Jesus never gave an opinion. Why not?

     What does that show He has authority over?

7. Read Mark 1:23-28 What does Jesus have authority over?

8. Read Mark 1:29-34, 40-41. What does Jesus have authority over?

9. Read Mark 1:35-38, Phil. 2:5,6. Who did Jesus willingly submit His authority to?

10. Read Mark 1:43-45, Num.5:2. Where was a leper to live?                             Why?

      Where was Jesus now forced to live?                                   Why?

     In effect who did Jesus put Himself under?


Summary

     The word for this week is meekness. What is meekness? Meekness is yieldedness, it is power under control. It differs from weakness in that a weak person has to submit- they have no choice; they have no say or power. It differs from humility in that humility is considering others better than oneself. Can God consider us better than Himself? I'm not convinced. Jesus certainly considered the Father and the Spirit better then Himself but us???? I'm not convinced. I will have to study that one. Be that as it may, in Mark 1 we see the meekness of Jesus. He has authority over the sending of the Holy Spirit yet submits to Him. He has authority over the Law yet submits to it. He has authority over disease yet exchanges places with the leper. I find this, personally, a beautiful quality of Christ. We all have certain realms of authority probably more as we age. To be a servant leader and place others over us is a near impossible thing to do with this sin nature inside of us. And then to submit to others and still demand and command the respect Christ did is a testimony to His greatness and makes Him a winsome character to be admired, respected and loved.
     Lord, fill me with your Spirit that I might become meek like You!