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Bible Studies


Matthew, Mark and Luke
Lesson 12
Jesus Predicts His Death

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Reading assignment for this lesson: Matthew 15:21-39, 16:1-28, 17:1-23, Mark 7:24-37, 8:1-38, 9:1-32, Luke 9:18-45, 11:29-32, 12:1, 12:54-56

Jesus and His disciples traveled north of Galilee through the Phoenician regions of Tyre and Sidon and then east of Galilee to the mostly Greek district of Decapolis. As they traveled through these Gentile lands, Jesus continued to heal the sick and miraculously fed 4000 in much the same way as He had previously fed 5000 in Galilee. When Jesus returned to Galilee, the Pharisees demanded that Jesus produce a sign from heaven to prove His divinity.

Things began to change at this point in Jesus' ministry, and from this point on, events rush intensely toward Jesus' death and resurrection. First, Peter realized that Jesus was the Son of God. Shortly afterward, Peter, James and John witnessed Jesus' visible Transfiguration on the mountain, and Jesus began to prepare the disciples for His death.

1. Why did Jesus withdraw temporarily to the Gentile region of Tyre and Sidon? (See Matthew 15:1-12, 21, Mark 7:5-13, 24, Matthew 12:14-15, John 11:45-54.)

2. When Jesus was in the region of Tyre and Sidon, a Gentile woman approached Him to heal her daughter who was possessed by a demon.
a) What did Jesus mean by His parable in Matthew 15:24-26 and Mark 7:27? (See Matthew 7:6, Romans 1:16.)
b) What convinced Jesus to grant the woman's request?

3. a) How did Jesus reply to the Pharisees' demand for a sign from heaven? (See Matthew 16:1-4, Mark 8:11-13, Luke 11:29-32.)
b) What did Jesus mean by the "sign of Jonah" in Matthew 16:4 and Luke 11:29? (See Jonah 1:15-17, Matthew 12:39-40.)

4. a) Have you ever asked for a sign from God? Have you ever promised faith and obedience if God would grant some wish of yours?
b) How do you answer a skeptic who asks you for proof that your religious beliefs are true?

5. How were the teachings of the Pharisees like the yeast (leaven) added to bread dough? (See Matthew 16:5-12, Mark 8:14-21, Luke 12:1, Galatians 5:7-10,

6. How did Peter come to realize that Jesus was the Messiah and Son of God? (See Matthew 16:13-17.)

7. What did Jesus mean when He said to Peter, "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven"? (NRSV)(See Matthew 16:18-19, Acts 2:14, .)

8. a) According to Jesus' predictions, who would bear the responsibility for putting Him to death? (See Matthew 16:21, Mark 8:31, Luke 9:22.)
b) Why was Jesus so aggravated with Peter that He said to him, "Get behind me, Satan!"? (See Matthew 16:22-23, Mark 8:32-33, Mark 10:45, Luke 18:31-33, John 15:13, 18:10-13, Acts 26:22-23.)

9. What is required of someone who truly wishes to be a follower of Jesus? (See Matthew 16:24-27, Mark 8:34-38, Luke 9:23-26, Matthew 7:13-14, 10:37-38, Luke 11:23.)

10. Jesus' Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, Luke 9:28-36) is one of the most dramatic events of the Bible.
a) What did the transfiguration mean to Jesus? (See Matthew 3:13-17, John 12:23-30.)
b) What did it demonstrate to Peter, James and John? (See Exodus 34:29-35, John 1:14, Acts 6:15, 2 Peter 1:16-18.)

11. Why did Peter want to build three shelters (dwellings, tabernacles) for Jesus, Moses and Elijah? (See Matthew 17:4, Mark 9:5, Luke 9:33.)

12. What did Jesus mean when He said, "Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom"? (See Matthew 16:28, Mark 9:1 Luke 9:27.)

13. How could John the Baptist have fulfilled the prophecy of the return of Elijah? (See Matthew 17:9-13, Mark 9:9-13, Malachi 4:5, Luke 1:11-17, Matthew 11:11-14, John 1:19-23.)

14. Could you make a mountain move if you had strong enough faith? (See Matthew 17:18-21, 13:31-32, 21:21.)

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