Mark Book Assignment #1

a. Why is Mark considered a book for “readers with short attention spans”?
-it's the shortest of the 4 gospels...light on talk, heavy on action
b. What does Mark open up with (rather than a family tree or the birth of Jesus)?
-he jumps feet first into the Jordan River where John the Baptist is baptising people
c. What does Mark 1:7-8 say?
-"someone is coming soon who is greater than I am- so much greater that I'm not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandles. I Baptize you with water, but he will Baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
d. “Then Jesus took off to work”…doing what?
-rounding up disciples, healing hundreds, feeling thousands, freeing the tongues of the speechless,tying the tongues of snooty scholars, calming storms, walking on water, dying, adn coming back to life.

“The Messiah’s Dream Team”
a. Why do people recognize Jesus as a rabbi?
-he sounds like one...He knows the Jewish scriptures like an expert, and He teaches them with authority
b. What happened at the Sea of Galilee?
-jesus makes them an offer they can't seem to refuse. if they follow him, he will make them fishers of men.
c. What did Jesus offer to make these fishermen?
-"fishers of men"
d. What did Andrew hear Jesus call John the Baptist?
-"The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world"
e. What did tax collectors do in Jesus’ time?
-they bid for the right to collect taxes then pay rome and keep the rest as salary
f. Tell me about the “company” Jesus “keeps”.
his disciples
g. List out Jesus’ “team” – according to Mark 3.
simon
james
john
andrew
philip
bartholomew
matthew
thomas
james
thaddaeus
simon
judas

How God’s Garden Grows

a. How big is a mustard seed?
-1 millimeter thick
b. What is the Mishnah?
-a collection of ancient Jewish commentary
c. What are the smallest seeds on record so far?
-orchid seeds
d. How does God’s kingdom “start small” and “grow large”?
-starts with Him and his disciples and grows into a Christian movement spanning the world