All welcome as we continue our series on Mark’s Gospel this Sunday. We’ll explore why being a good religious person can be more dangerous than breaking the rules and living an irreligious life. We’ll encounter Christ the King of Sinners: The King who calls sinners, befriends sinners, heals the sin sick yet judges the righteous (Mark 2.13-17).
Discussion Questions
- Compare and contrast: the calls of Simon, Andrew, James and John on the one hand (Mark 1.16-20); and Levi on the other (Mark 2.13-14).
- Why was Levi so disliked by his people? (see a good Bible dictionary on Tax Collectors). What does this say about Jesus, if he called one such as Levi?
- What does the Pharisees’ reaction to Jesus (2.15-16) reveal about the Pharisees themselves?
- What strikes you about Jesus’ own view of his purpose (v17)?
- Who is in the more dangerous spiritual position- ‘the healthy’ or ‘the sick’? Why? (see Jesus’ mini parable Mark 2.17)
- What clues does Mark give us as to the nature of the medicine this ‘Soul Doctor’ offers (See Mark 2.5; Mark 10.45)?
- There are two ways to be a sinner- going your own way and pursuing personal freedom, or keeping the rules and looking down upon those who don’t. How does Mark illustrate these two options in our text today?
- What hope do the self-righteous have? (see Philippians 3.1-11).