Bible Study Assign6

Mike Spindler (michspi@regent.edu)

BINT 500 SU08 DE

Assignment 6 (Mark 4:35 - 6:6a)

NASB

Selected Mark 5:25-34 (para. 4) for detailed analysis.

Part 2, 5, & 6

Part 5: 3 questions from para. 4: Q2 This question is based on a category 1 observation, not a category 2., Q3 Same comment as for Q2., & Q4

2 questions between 3 or more paragraphs/segments: Q1 & Q5

Part 6: Answer at least 2 questions. I answered all and wanted to see if I got the categories correct - subjective or objective. What do you mean by subjective and objective in your answers? I'm confused.

Observation 1 (Cat 1): Previous to this segment Mark has documented Jesus providing explanations in parables (4:2, 4:26, 4:30), healing (1:34, 1:41, 2:5, 3:5), and casting out demons (1:25, 1:34.) In this segment Mark shows a progression in Jesus' interactions - He is not providing any explanations or discourse, but focusing His actions on directing (4:35) and commanding (4:39, 5:8, 5:41) with greater vocal authority. Good.

Question 1 (B): Why is there a progression of Jesus' actions in this specific direction from explanations and parables to commanding with no explanations? Good.

Answer: (Subjective) As the coming Messiah it was important that Jesus set the authority of God apart from the rationale discourse of man. There was a time to teach for understanding. And there was a time to walk in the authority as God, and as man - The Ambassador. (Objective)

Observation 2 (Cat 1): There is a particularization in healing that Jesus is introducing from the previous segments into this one. Healing was something that occurred as the sick and possessed came to Jesus and He responded on their behalf. Give some Scripture references for this statement. In this segment (5:34) Mark documents that Jesus took no action to heal the woman and yet she was still healed by Jesus, but it was her faith that caused the action. I'm not sure where your particularization comes in. This sounds more like contrast.

Question 2 (B): Why did the woman's faith, something she initiated, provide a resulting action? Good, but see my change.

Answer: (Objective) Later in Mark (9:23) Jesus is quoted as stating “All things are possible to him who believes.” It wasn't her faith in healing, it was her faith in Jesus' power (ability) and knowledge of His willingness to heal. That is the Gospel connection under the new covenant - by faith God acts on our behalf to save, to heal, to deliver, to fulfill. Good.

Question 3 (E): What were the implications of this healing since it was initiated by the woman's faith? Good.

Answer: (Objective) There exists a key aspect of the Gospel message - Jesus' promise has no strings attached, offered by Him and accepted by us. Words like this make your answer one of application more than interpretation. It wasn't initiated by Jesus, but the woman came and took the (offered) gift, and she paid nothing for the healing or His blessing. John states it clearly in John 3:15 “… so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.” Good overall, but see my comment.

Observation 3 (Cat 2 - Para. 4): There is an explanation of how the woman that touched Jesus' garments was healed (5:29) in Mark 5:34 when He explains that it is the woman's faith that made her well. Good.

Question 4 (B): Why did the woman choose to touch Jesus' garment when the model to this point was to have Him touch the person and pronounce healing? Okay, but be careful here. There is no mention of a “model” of healing in your observation. If you're going to ask a question like this, simply ask, “Why did the woman touch Jesus' garment for healing?” A better question is to ask a question focused directly on your relation of explanation here - “Why did Jesus explain that the woman's faith made her well?”

Answer: (Subjective) The answer is given in the text - the woman thought… “If I just touch His garments, I will get well.” (5:28) She was tired and sick after a very long illness and was in the crowd behind Him - perhaps there was no way for her to obtain Jesus' attention - so she rationalized that if He can heal, then so can simply touching Him. This is also pivotal in explaining the Gospel - that faith is our action - in accepting God's many gifts. Good!

Observation 4 (Cat 3 - Para. 3 & 5): A progression occurs between Jairus approaching Jesus with the story of his daughter “at the point of death” (5:23) and the later paragraph when they arrive at Jairus' home (5:35) after other events. Okay, but there are other relations you could use here that are much more precise than progression. Examples - complementation (beginning-interruption-sequel) or interchange.

Question 5 (C): Why did Mark break this story up into the two paragraphs with the other healing in between? What other healing in between? It's not in your observation so don't ask about it. Your question here sounds like it goes with a relation of complementation (beginning-interruption-sequel) or of interchange.

Answer: (Subjective) This is a chronological account and events occurred in this order. Perhaps there is also the need to show the synagogue official's need over time and that he had to wait until the point where his daughter apparently died. Time was not relevant to Jesus - from the moment her father humbled himself and Jesus starting walking toward the girl - she was going to get up. Interesting insights!

Observation 5 (Cat 4): There is a relationship of continuity between the paragraphs in this segment that show Jesus is powerful.

Para. 1: Jesus calms the sea (4:39.)

Para. 2: Jesus casts out the Legion of demons (5:8.)

Para. 4: Jesus notes power has gone out from Him (5:30.)

Para. 5: Jesus commands Jairus' daughter to get up (5:43.)

Para. 6: Jesus explains why there is a lack of power displayed in Nazareth (6:4.) Including this last paragraph and verse in your observation makes your observation more of a contrast.

Good, but I would call this a cat 3 rather than a cat 4 since you appear more focused on individual verses rather than on paragraphs as wholes.

Question 6 (D): Amongst a solid continuous account of events why is it true that “He could do no miracles” (6:5) in Nazareth when Jesus is God and the preceding paragraphs detail convincingly that He is all powerful? Good, but see my change. It also sounds like a question based on a relation of contrast.

Answer: (Subjective) The answer to this appears wrapped up in Jesus being fully God and fully man. He rested, slept, ate, prayed, and had emotions. His limitations as a man in this trip apparently rested in the audience. He either found it impossible, difficult, or by preference - did not perform more than just a few miracles in Nazareth. (More study necessary to develop a solid understanding.) Good! Yes, more study is necessary.

Observation 6 (Cat 2): At the moment that the woman touched Jesus' garment there was a contrast between what Jesus knew (“Who touched Me?” 5:31) and what the woman knew (“the woman… aware of what had happened…” 5:33.) Great!

Question 7 (B): Jesus was God on the earth - what could cause Him to not know not only who the woman was that had drawn power from Him but wouldn't know it in advance as she approached? Okay, but again, focus on your relation. “Why did Mark record this contrast between what Jesus knew and what the woman knew?” “What does this contrast mean?”

Answer: (Objective) Jesus was a man on the earth. (Is. 7:14, Mt. 1:18-25)

(Subjective) As a man, Jesus had limitations of knowledge. Good - but go a little deeper.

Part 3

Broad structure of vss. 5:25-34.

1. Woman with a hemorrhage for 12 years (5:25-28) specification Call this preparation or introduction instead. “Specification” is not a relation.

a. endured much at the hands of physicians

b. came through the crowd and touched Jesus

c. thought if she touched Him then she'd get well

2. [The woman touched His garment and] immediately - blood dried up and was healed (5:29)

3. Immediately Jesus perceived power proceeding from Him (5:30-33)

a. He turned in the crowd and asked “Who touched My garments?”

b. Many were touching Jesus

c. Jesus looked around to find the woman

d. the woman was afraid and aware of what happened

e. the woman came and fell before Jesus and explained

4. Jesus declares that the woman's faith has made her well (5:34)

a. Jesus told her to go in peace conclusion

b. Jesus told the woman to be healed of her affliction

Good job overall on broad structure! Be careful about getting too much in the “weeds.” Try to make it broader still.

Part 4

Chart the titles. (Optional - not completed)

Para. 1: Jesus Commands the Sea

Para. 2: Jesus Casts out Legion

Para. 3: Jairus' Plea

Para. 4: Woman Healed through Faith

Para. 5: Jairus' Daughter Healed

Para. 6: Reception in Nazareth

Great titles!

Part 7

Essential principle of Mark 5:25-34: Jesus is powerful and responds to faith. Good!

Part 8

Contemporary church application. General & specific.

General: Jesus is powerful and intensely in love with His bride, the Church - who He longs to see demonstrating faith in Him.

Specific and Practical: The old saying - “If God didn't show up in our fellowship at a meeting - would we know it?” The state of most gatherings of the Body of Christ is that they don't understand the real “God of today.” God is right now my Lord - powerful, and in intense love with me. That could take significant time each day to resolve for each convert (us.) Spiritual formation is something that has impacted the Church we've just started attending and the difference in being around people that strive to walk with a God who is interested in our entire life daily - is amazing.

So the practical application for the contemporary church - living like we believe that God is powerful right now and He does respond right now to faith! Spiritual formation for all believers upon entry into the (any) Church that requires people to understand clearly that this is a life lived in and for Jesus. Note: Having taught such classes in the past I am taking one now. As much skepticism as I've had about Willow Creek in the past - this workbook “Fully Devoted” is excellent. Super! I may get this book for my house church congregation since you've recommended it. << smile >>

Part 9

Asleep.

Concordance:

GreekStrongs in G2518

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update

24 occurrences

translated as:

asleep (8), bed (1), do (1), goes (1), sleep (3), sleeper (1), sleeping (9)

Matt 8:24 …covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep.

Matt 9:24 …the girl has not died, but is asleep.” And they began laughing at Him.

Matt 13:25 “But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares …

Matt 25:5 …delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep.

Matt 26:40 …He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and *said to Peter, “So, you men …

Matt 26:43 Again, He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.

Matt 26:45 …and *said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is …

Mark 4:27 and he goes to bed at night and gets up … and he goes to bed at night and gets up by day, …

Mark 4:38 Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they *woke Him …

Mark 5:39 …weep? The child has not died, but is asleep.”

Mark 13:36 …he should come suddenly and find you asleep.

Mark 14:37 And He came and found them sleeping, and *said to Peter, “Simon, are you …

…sleeping, and *said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one …

Mark 14:40 …And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and …

Mark 14:41 …and *said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough; the …

Luke 8:52 …for she has not died, but is asleep.”

Luke 22:46 …and said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you …

Eph 5:14 …For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And …

1 Thess 5:6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let …

1 Thess 5:7 For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those …

For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who …

For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk …

1 Thess 5:10 …us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.

Part 10

Commentaries:

Mark 15:39 Jesus questions their reason for creating the commotion and weeping by announcing that the girl is not dead, only asleep (__ π______ ___ _π______ ____ ________). How could Jesus say the girl was not dead? Some would answer quite literally, meaning she was only apparently dead (Taylor, 295). But this solution does violence to the story's flow by ignoring the messengers' report in 5:35 and the presence of the mourners in 5:38, not to mention the fact that Jesus had yet to see the child. Consequently, others have taken this statement euphemistically. “Sleep” can be a euphemism for death in the OT as well as the NT (e.g., Dan 12:7 LXX; Ps 87:6 LXX; 1 Thess 5:10) but hardly in a statement explicitly denying death (___ _π______).

Most today take her “sleep” as a qualification of rather than an antithesis to her “death.” Thus several interpret Jesus' comment as speaking from God's perspective who sees all death transformed by the resurrection (Lohmeyer, 106; Grundmann, 153; Schweizer, 119; Gnilka, 1:217). Jesus' reply to the Sadducees in 12:27 that God is “not the God of the dead, but of the living” and a relatively late (A.D. 250) rabbinical saying expressing a similar sentiment (“Thou shalt sleep, but thou shalt not die,” Gen. Rab. 96 [60c]; Taylor, 295) supposedly provide supporting evidence. Unfortunately, this reading ignores Jesus' rebuke of the mourners and confuses what follows with the resurrection.

Jesus' reference to the girl's sleeping corresponds with his word that summons her to “arise” or “wake up” (see Comment on 5:41). Therefore, the statement to the mourners explaining his question about their commotion is of the same cloth as Jesus' earlier assurance to Jairus to have no fear but merely have faith (5:36). Jesus viewed her death, which was real, in light of the approaching miracle (Klostermann, 53; Lane, 197). In other words, “though she is dead …, her death will be no more permanent than a sleep” (Cranfield, 189) in view of what Jesus was about to do. Great discussion here! Love it!

Student's Conclusion: I have read the 24 occurrences in the NASB95 for this Greek word. It appears that it is always used to denote sleep, and not death. However, the liberal New International Greek Testament Commentary also notes that sleep is a typical metaphor for death - but Greek scholars iterate that this word is never used as a metaphor. The conservative Word Biblical Commentary takes the position that she was certainly dead. Without further study - I liked the T.R. France's perspective: “…that there is something unique about this girl's situation.” To determine proof that Jesus ever raised a person from the dead - this verse will probably not be used. However, whether the girl was asleep, dead, or in a comatose state doesn't matter - Jesus indeed powerfully met her need. Super!

It was fascinating to see the distinction between commentaries. For years I've just considered that commentaries would be fairly on a parallel understanding on scriptures. That was silly. << smile >>

Question for Debra: Are you aware of a more comprehensiveexhaustive analysis that exists for the tenshundreds of commentaries, authors, or collections? The only one I'm aware of is the one I sent to the class after the last Wimba session. You could contact Bob Sivigny, the librarian for the School of Divinity, and ask him. His e-mail is robesiv@regent.edu. Bob is extremely knowledgeable on resources, and he is the one who could best answer your question.

Observations (5 @ 6 points each) - 30 points 27

Interpretive Questions (5 @ 5 points each) - 25 points 16

Interpretive Answers (2 @ 5 points each) - 10 points 9

Broad Structure - 10 points 9

Interpretive Thrust Statement - 5 points 5

Contemporary Church Insight - 5 points 5

Word Study of “asleep” - 5 points 5

Grammar, Sentence Structure, Spelling - 10 points 10

Grade: 86 / Mike, good job overall! Please see my comments and let me know if you have questions. Part of your problem here is that the directions for your interpretive questions were not followed fully. You based a couple of questions on a category 1 observation (observation #2) that should have been based on a category 2. Your questions for that particular category 1 observation were focused primarily on half the observation (specifically paragraph 4 of the current segment) when they should have been based on the entire observation. I did not see an observation based on some aspect of broad structure, or at least one that was identified as such. Overall, a good job - just a little fine-tuning to do.