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Lesson OneNativity and Early Years (Matthew 1–2, Luke 1–2)18 Activities
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Lesson TwoBaptism and the Desert (Matthew 3–4, Mark 1:1–13, Luke 3–4:13)18 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson ThreeThe Ministry of Jesus (Mark 1:21–2:12, Luke 4:14–6:49)17 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson FourThe Miracles of Jesus (Mark 5–6, John 2, 20)14 Activities3 Assessments
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Lesson FiveThe Identity of Jesus18 Activities
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Course Wrap-UpCourse Completion1 Activity1 Assessment
Participants 20
In | Workbook: Two Parallel Healings in Mark
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 Details | Jairus’ Daughter | The Epileptic Boy |
| A father intercedes for his child with a life-threatening illness | Mark 5:23 | Mark 9:22 |
| A delay of healing leads to a discussion of faith | Mark 5:25-36 | Mark 9:23-24 |
| The child appears to be dead | Mark 5:35 | Mark 9:26 |
| Jesus takes the child’s hand | Mark 5:41 | Mark 9:27 |
| Jesus raises the child | Mark 5:41-42 | Mark 9:27 |
Source: Joel Marcus, Mark 8–16: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary, 2009, p. 662.
- 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?