Week of February 15

Chapter of Mark to be read: Chapter 10
Read the entire third chapter of Mark at http://bible.oremus.org/?passage=mark+10


Reflect specifically upon:
Mark 10:1-11 (NRSV)
He left that place and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan. And crowds again gathered around him; and, as was his custom, he again taught them.

Some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?’ He answered them, ‘What did Moses command you?’ They said, ‘Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.’ But Jesus said to them, ‘Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. But from the beginning of creation, “God made them male and female.” “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.’

Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. He said to them, ‘Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her;

Think about the following questions:

• What do you like best and least about weddings?
  
• How were the Pharisees trying to test Jesus by their questions? How can you apply the principles of marriage underlined here?
  
• Do you think Jesus would respond the same way to someone in a troubled marriage who is sincerely asking the question in verse 2?

Reflect specifically upon:
Mark 10:46-52 (NRSV)
They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Jesus stood still and said, ‘Call him here.’ And they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take heart; get up, he is calling you.’ So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man said to him, ‘My teacher, let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has made you well.’ Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

Think about the following questions:

• How do you respond when a beggar approaches you on the street?
• What is significant about the way Bartimaeus addresses Jesus? About the way the beggar is treated by the crowd? If Jesus asked you, "what do you want me to do for you?"

Please feel free to share your response to any of the above reflection questions by posting a comment.