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Gospel of Mark
Part 51: Disciples ask Questions
By Rev. Bruce A. Shields
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SERMON TIMELINE
1. Introduction
5. The Preaching Ministry of Jesus I
6. The Preaching Ministry of Jesus II
9. At the Home of Simon and Andrew
12. Jesus and the Tax Collector
13. Jesus Questioned About Fasting
15. Jesus, Lord of the Sabbath & Resurrection Sunday 2025
16. Hard Hearts and Hard Thoughts
18. Jesus Appoints the Apostles
24. Parable of the Growing Seed
25. Parable of the Mustard Seed
26. Benefits of Private Teaching
30. When Familiarity Breeds Contempt
32. Weakness in the Seat of Power
34. Feeding 5000
38. The Source of True Defilement
39. Gentile Blessed for Her Faith
40. He Has Done All Things Well
41. Jesus Feeds 4000
42. Jesus Sighs
43. Beware of Leaven
44. The Blind Man at Bethsaida
45. Who Do You Say That Jesus Is?
46. Mindful of the Things of God
49. Ashamed of Jesus and His Word
51. Disciples ask Questions
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
The Transfiguration just took place before them.
Mark 9:9-13 “And as they were coming down from the mountain, He (Jesus) gave them orders not to recount to anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man rose from the dead.
10 And they seized upon that statement [kept the statement to themselves], arguing with one another what rising from the dead meant.
11 And they began asking Him, saying,
“Why is it that the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
12 And He said to them, “Elijah does first come and restore all things. And yet how is it written of the Son of Man that He will suffer many things and be treated with contempt?
13 But I say to you that Elijah has indeed come, and they did to him whatever they wished, just as it is written of him.”
INTRODUCTION
The disciples obeyed what Jesus commanded, not to tell anyone of what they had seen until after His resurrection. (verse 10: “seized upon that statement”)
But they argued amongst themselves because they still did not understand His purpose and reason for coming to this world, which was to redeem man, which required His going to the cross.
Confused, they asked about scripture for understanding. Referring to Malachi 4:5, they ask Jesus, “Why is it the scribes say Elijah must come first?”
Jesus states, “Elijah does first come and restore all things.” Which refers to Elijah as one of the two witnesses who come not too long before the Second Coming. (Revelation 11:3-12)
The identity of the two witnesses in the end-times is likely Enoch and Elijah, because we know that these witnesses will be killed and left in the streets.
Hebrews 9:27 tells us “it is appointed for men to die once…”
We know from Genesis 5:24 “Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him,” and 2 Kings 2:11 “there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire, and it separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven,” so, neither Elijah nor Enoch has died…yet.
Why Enoch and Elijah?
Both are associated with prophetic confrontation and divine judgment.
Enoch prophesied judgment against the ungodly world before the flood, a message preserved in Jude 14–15.
Elijah also confronted idolatry, false worship, and corrupt rulers in Israel, calling the nation back to covenant faithfulness 1 Kings 18:17–40.
Revelation’s two witnesses likewise stand in open opposition to a rebellious world system and speak God’s truth in a time of widespread deception Revelation 11:3–6.
However, what I would like us to look at today is the disciples asking questions to Jesus.
Peter, James, and John, after witnessing the transfiguration and agreeing to keep it to themselves until after the resurrection of Jesus, still had questions. They struggled to understand what “rising from the dead” meant, and even argued amongst themselves about it.
Though they believed in the future resurrection, they were confused by Jesus saying He would die and be resurrected.
Mark 9:31-32 “For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, 'The Son of Man is to be betrayed [some: delivered] into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and when He has been killed, He will rise again three days later.” 32 But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him.”
So they asked a question about what the scribes taught. Jesus confirms they were correct, Elijah would come first, referring to the end-times, but then Jesus says, Elijah had already come, in the person of John the Baptist.
Matthew 17:12-13 “but I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wished. So also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist.”
Now, what we want to see here is when the disciples had a question (about the scribes and scriptures in Malachi), they asked Jesus and got an answer. However, later in verse 32, they were confused about Jesus dying and being resurrected, but were afraid to ask Him.
ILLUSTRATION
When I was in school, I would sometimes ask if I could “ask a stupid question,” to which my teacher would always reply, “The only stupid question is the one not asked.”
By not asking Jesus the question, the disciples remained in the dark and in ignorance.
It is essential for disciples to ask questions! This is how one is trained.
To understand the importance of asking questions, and how this is not a sign of weak faith, but rather a strong conviction to learn and grow closer to the Lord, let us look at;
I. THE CONCEPT OF DISCIPLESHIP
a. The word “disciple.”
i. The Greek word ‘Mathetes’ means “learner” or “pupil.”
ii. Vine’s Expository Dictionary defines it as “one who follows another’s teaching.”
b. But what does Jesus expect from His disciples?
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am [gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
1. Jesus says, learn from me, and you will find rest for your souls.
2. Jesus expects us to trust in Him, and Learn from Him, and in doing so, we find rest for our souls.
Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to keep all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always [all the days], even to the end of the age.”
3. Jesus says, keep all that I commanded, and I am with you all the days, even to the end of the age.
4. Jesus expects us to keep all He commands, and He will be with us “all the days” even to the end of the age!
5. The expression translated “age,” specifically in the eschatological tone of “the end of the age,” means Jesus will remain with us during this age (the present era characterized by sin, death, and gospel mission…age of Grace, or often called the “church age”).
6. The “end of the age” is the beginning of the next, which is the harvest. Matthew 13:39-41. Judgment Day.
c. What do the Apostles expect of the disciples?
2 Peter 3:18 “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”
1. The Apostles expected spiritual growth in disciples, growing in grace and knowledge.
Colossians 1:10 “so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the true knowledge of God;”
2. They expect disciples to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord
3. To please the Lord in all respects of their lives
4. Bearing spiritual fruit in every good work
5. Growing spiritually mature in the True Knowledge of God
A disciple of Christ is to be a lifelong student who grows in the true knowledge of God, which comes from the teaching of Christ and the Apostles found in God’s Holy Word.
II. THE ROLE OF QUESTIONS
a. Jesus taught by asking questions
i. Regarding healing on the Sabbath
Matthew 12:10-12 “And behold, a man was there whose hand was withered. And they questioned Jesus, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse Him. 11 And He said to them, “What man is there among you who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
ii. Regarding His identity
Matthew 16:13-15 “Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, saying, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” 15 He *said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Matthew 22:42-45 “What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He?” They *said to Him, “The son of David.” 43 He *said to them, “Then how does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying,
44 ‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Until I put Your enemies beneath Your feet”’?
45 Therefore, if David calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his son?”
iii. Regarding divorce
Mark 10:3 “And He answered and said to them, “What did Moses command you?”
iv. Regarding paying taxes
Luke 20:22-25 “Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 23 But He perceived their craftiness and said to them, 24 “Show Me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.” 25 And He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
v. Regarding having authority
Matthew 21:24-25 “And Jesus answered and said to them, “I will also ask you one]thing, which if you tell Me, I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John was from what source, from heaven or from men?” And they began reasoning among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’
Asking questions can be a useful tool.
b. The disciples learned by asking questions.
i. They asked about His parables, Mark 4:10; 7:17
ii. They asked about Elijah, Mark 9:11
iii. They asked about their inability to cast out a demon, Mark 9:28
iv. They asked about His teaching on divorce, Mark 10:10
v. They asked about a man born blind, John 9:2
vi. They asked about the destruction of Jerusalem, Mark 13:1-4
Asking questions is a great way to learn.
c. We, too, should learn by asking questions
i. So don’t hesitate to ask questions
1. After church
2. In Bible Study
3. Any time through text or phone call
ii. Do not be afraid to ask
1. If you are truly seeking an answer
2. Not asking will leave you in the dark
3. Asking, you will find the answer from scripture to bring light
iii. Asking questions is not only a great way to grow and mature spiritually through the true knowledge of scripture, but there may be others present who would also benefit from the teaching!
CONCLUSION
A disciple is a lifelong student, always seeking deeper understanding. As disciples of Christ, we must always be learning, growing in knowledge, understanding, and wisdom.
There is no better way to learn than to ask questions. And you keep asking until you get a biblical answer!
Acts 8:34-36 “And the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you earnestly, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he proclaimed the good news about Jesus to him. 36 And as they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch *said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?”
He asked two questions. One that began his learning about Jesus, and the second that led to his being saved by Jesus!
Many are willing to ask questions to learn and be saved. First, each of us, secondly, to those out in the world we preach the gospel to.
Want to learn more about Salvation?
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