Following the King to the Cross

Mark 11-15

And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

Sharing together - Pursuing God

• Share with one another what you have been learning or growing in this term in our Pursue series. If you want some questions to get the ball rolling, try some of these:

  • What have you been inspired to go after or grow into?

  • What have you decided to cast aside or leave behind?

  • What has challenged you or slowed you down on the journey?

  • What has helped you or who has encouraged you?

  • What new habits or patterns of life have you started?

  • What sermons or bible studies have stuck in your mind, and why?

  • What are you celebrating that God has already done as you pursue him?

We are about to celebrate Easter together, followed by a series in Mark's Gospel next term.

To prepare, you can watch this 5 minute video from the bible project, giving an overview of the Gospel According to Mark:

This bible study is like 5 bible studies in 1. We will read 5 readings taken from Mark 11-15, describing events during the Easter week. Read and discuss each one fairly briefly...make sure you have enough time to get to the end! [1]

1. Read Mark 11:1-11

• What was Jesus saying about himself by entering Jerusalem in this way?

• What would it have been like to be one of the two disciples sent to fetch the colt?

  • What does it mean for us to go where Jesus tells us, and to do what he tells us, even if it is a strange, awkward or scary thing to do? Do you have any stories from your own life following Jesus that are like this one?

2. Read Mark 11:27-12:12

• Why did the chief priests, teachers of the law and elders oppose Jesus like this?

• What was it about Jesus that made them question his authority?

  • What was it about Jesus that they understood, and what was it that they misunderstood?

• What do you notice about Jesus' response to their opposition?

  • How should we respond to those who oppose Jesus and His kingdom?

3. Read Mark 14:1-9

• Why did this woman anoint Jesus with expensive perfume? What do you think this meant for her?

• What did it mean to 'those present' in verse 4-5?

• What was Jesus' understanding of it? Do you think his understanding was the same as hers - if so, in what way? if not, how did it differ?

• What could be your 'jar of expensive perfume' that you could give up for Jesus?

4. Read Mark 14:53-65

• What did the Sanhedrin accuse Jesus of?

• Look at the question the high priest asked in verse 61, and Jesus' response in verse 62. What is the significance of this exchange for our understanding of Jesus?

  • What does this exchange say to those who believe Jesus was just a wise teacher, a prophet, or a worker of miracles?

5. Read Mark 15:16-39

• What do you notice about Jesus' kingship in Mark's account of his crucifixion?

• What sort of king is Jesus?

  • What does it mean to us to follow in his footsteps as citizens of his kingdom?

Sharing Together

• Which of these 5 readings spoke to you today, and why?

• What are you going to take with you into Easter week as you seek to pursue Jesus towards the cross?

Pray about these things for one another.

[1] Alternatively, you could split into pairs or threes and give each group a reading and set of questions to do - then they can give a brief description of their reading, and report back their thoughts back to the group.