The Readings
Mark 2:1-3:6
Matthew 16:13 - 17:27
Mark 11:1-26
Psalm 127
Memory Verse
Matthew 17:22-23: As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day.” And they were greatly distressed.
Teachers of young children
Oh, the paralyzed man being lowered through the roof of the house in Mark 2 is fabulous theater, with so many rich characters and layers of meaning. There is a man who cannot walk; there are Scribes – educated men who read, write, and interpret God’s Law; there is a crowd, so tightly packed that Jesus is inaccessible. Then there are friends, who went to the effort to carry their friend up to the roof, make a hole, and lower the paralyzed man down on a stretcher. Note what Mark sees: “When Jesus saw their faith.” Already people are taking notice of this Jesus. He healed others; why can’t He heal our friend?
Another image to capture is the transfiguration in Matthew 17. Imagine Peter, James, and John invited to go up a mountain, as He often did, seemingly to pray. But then Jesus’ face shines white; then His clothes. There’s suddenly two men – we don’t know how Peter, James and John knew they were Moses and Elijah – talking with Jesus. Then a voice, terrifying them. Jesus calming words. Then it was over. How does this show us – show children – what God thought of Jesus?
Teachers of older children
To parents I wrote about reading this week’s stories: “What you’ll get is a composite sketch of who Jesus was, and importantly, Who He thought He was.” This is critical as you help students develop a primary faith in Jesus Christ themselves. Something to wrestle with could be: Jesus was not surprised. Jesus was not surprised when the paralytic walked; Jesus was likewise not surprised when the Pharisees questioned him. Jesus was not surprised when the withered hand was restored; Jesus was likewise not surprised when it made people want to kill Him. Jesus was not surprised when the fig tree withered, nor that a demon fled at His command, nor even when Moses and Elijah appeared.
Why do I say this? Because all these actions are public. They happen in front of people. Jesus was not surprised because, by all evidence, Jesus fully expected His word to carry both moral and physical force. Keep coming back to this, especially if students want to keep picking apart the foolish Pharisees, or the simple observers: The Primary Character of this Bible is God. Jesus’ words carried authority, just like God’s did. Jesus’ attitude seemed to embody this authority, just like God’s did. What does this say about who Jesus thought He was… and how do His actions back up His identity?
Teachers of adults
How much has changed, yet how much has stayed the same? The general population in Jesus’ time was far less educated than people are today. Perhaps 10% of people could read and write. Most people relied entirely on the educated class to explain how God wanted them to live and worship. Yet, though today we have greater personal access to God’s Word than any generation before, we still search for teachers who tickle our ears, who reinforce what we already want to hear.
I say this because you can help your adult students to understand what most people would have been looking for: Someone to follow. Someone to trust. Someone to believe in. Look not only at Jesus’ actions and words this week, but the promise they provoked: What did Jesus want people to think of Him? What did people to look to Him for? And consider, as we watch the sick coming to him, His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and His insistence that He was Lord not only of the Sabbath, but of nature, and of the Temple, what hopes might be laid on Him.