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Life, Ministry and Identity of Jesus

  1. Lesson One
    Nativity and Early Years (Matthew 1–2, Luke 1–2)
    18 Activities
  2. Lesson Two
    Baptism and the Desert (Matthew 3–4, Mark 1:1–13, Luke 3–4:13)
    18 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  3. Lesson Three
    The Ministry of Jesus (Mark 1:21–2:12, Luke 4:14–6:49)
    17 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  4. Lesson Four
    The Miracles of Jesus (Mark 5–6, John 2, 20)
    14 Activities
    |
    3 Assessments
  5. Lesson Five
    The Identity of Jesus
    18 Activities
  6. Course Wrap-Up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment

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Grab your Workbook Journal!

[Record your answers in the workbook provided at the beginning of this course.]

Jesus’ miracles and healings in the New Testament occur in different contexts and involve different types of people, but the role that Jesus plays in these scenes is often the same. He encounters people in trouble and raises them up from their former condition. Questions of doubt and faith are often prominent. The two healing miracles of Jairus’ daughter and the epileptic boy in Mark are good examples of the consistency of Jesus’ calm demeanor and also the conditions that strengthen faith.

Carefully read the two passages, Mark 5:21-43 and Mark 9:14-29, and notice the parallel structure in the two healings.

Healing DetailsJairus’ DaughterThe Epileptic Boy
A father intercedes for his child with a life-threatening illnessMark 5:23Mark 9:22
A delay of healing leads to a discussion of faithMark 5:25-36Mark 9:23-24
The child appears to be deadMark 5:35Mark 9:26
Jesus takes the child’s handMark 5:41Mark 9:27
Jesus raises the childMark 5:41-42Mark 9:27

Source: Joel Marcus, Mark 8–16: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary, 2009, p. 662.

  1. Clearly Mark made these features a point of emphasis by recounting them in more than one story. What do you think Mark is trying to communicate through each of the five key developments outlined above?
Assessments