Bible ReadingMark 8:31-37 Then Jesus began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead.
[04:25] As he talked about this openly with his disciples, Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things.
[04:45] Jesus turned around and looked at his disciples, then reprimanded Peter. “Get away from me, Satan!” he said. “You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”
[05:27] Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.
[05:42] If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.
[05:52] And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”
[06:03]Mark 9:30-37 Leaving that region, they traveled through Galilee. Jesus didn't want anyone to know he was there, for he wanted to spend more time with his disciples and teach them.
[12:32] He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but three days later he will rise from the dead.”
[13:00] They didn't understand what he was saying, however, and they were afraid to ask him what he meant.
[13:10] After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, “What were you discussing out on the road?”
[13:52] But they didn't answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest.
[13:56] He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”
[14:47] Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.”
[14:59]Mark 10:32-45 They were now on the way up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were filled with awe, and the people following behind were overwhelmed with fear.
[27:15] Taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus once more began to describe everything that was about to happen to him.
[27:28] “Listen,” he said, “we're going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die and hand him over to the Romans.
[27:33] They will mock him, spit on him, flog him with a whip, and kill him. But after three days he will rise again.”
[27:50] Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came over and spoke to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do us a favor.”
[28:02] “What is your request?” he asked.
[28:11] They replied, “When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”
[28:14] But Jesus said to them, “You don't know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink? Are you able to be baptized with the baptism of suffering I must be baptized with?”
[28:27] “Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!”
[28:41] Then Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup and be baptized with my baptism of suffering. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. God has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.”
[28:47] When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant.
[29:04] So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different.
[29:12] Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else.
[29:26] For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
[29:35]Observation questions- In Mark 8:31-37, what does Jesus say must happen to the Son of Man, and how does Peter respond when he hears it? [04:45]
- In Mark 9:30-37, what were the disciples arguing about on the road, and what object lesson did Jesus use to answer them? [14:59]
- In Mark 10:32-45, what request do James and John make right after Jesus speaks again about his suffering and death? [28:14]
- What repeated pattern shows up across these chapters when Jesus talks about suffering, sacrifice, or the cross, and the disciples respond? [32:02]
Interpretation questions- Peter calls Jesus the Messiah, but then rebukes him for talking about suffering. What does that reveal about how easy it is to want the right Jesus-title but still resist Jesus’ actual way? [08:15]
- The Father’s words at the transfiguration are, “This is my dearly loved Son… listen to him.” Why is listening such a central response when full understanding has not yet come? [11:19]
- Jesus says greatness means taking last place and serving everyone else. How does that challenge the normal way people think about leadership, success, and influence? [18:16]
- Jesus uses severe language about cutting off anything that causes sin. What does that suggest about the danger of treating sin casually or trying only to manage it instead of removing it? [21:17]
Application questions- Jesus does not simply join someone’s pre-planned path; he calls people to surrender their own way. Where is there a real temptation right now to ask Jesus to bless a path already chosen instead of following where he leads? [09:27]
- Faith trusts Jesus before everything makes sense. Is there an area of obedience that feels unclear, costly, or uncomfortable right now, where the next step is less about having every answer and more about listening? [11:29]
- Greatness in Jesus’ kingdom looks like getting off the ladder and holding it for someone else. In daily life, where is there a quiet opportunity to serve without being noticed, praised, or put in front? [18:26]
- Anything that keeps pulling a person away from Jesus needs to be dealt with seriously. What habit, relationship, attitude, or pattern might need to be cut off or stripped away rather than merely managed? [22:29]
- Mark 10 keeps pressing the question of what is too important to surrender. What feels hardest to place in Jesus’ hands right now—comfort, money, reputation, plans, family expectations, or something else? [25:35]
- Jesus came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many. How could that reshape the way someone approaches leadership at home, at work, or in the church this week? [30:49]
- Bartimaeus cries out for mercy, receives sight, and then follows Jesus down the road. After receiving mercy from Jesus, what would it look like to keep following him in the ordinary parts of this week? [34:42]
