February 28-March 5
Matthew 26-Mark 8
GodSpeak readings for each day are listed below. Click the link to read the section and/or listen online. A discussion question is listed below for you to use in your GodSpeak group session or for discussion with others who are reading along.
Monday, February 28 Matthew 26-27 Read & Listen Online Matthew 26 Read & Listen Online Matthew 27 (Click “Audio” link to listen)
1. Two titles given to Jesus figure prominently in His trial – Son of Man and Son of God. Jesus used Son of Man when He referred to Himself (Matthew 24:30; 25:31; 26:24, 45, 64. See also Mark 8:31.). Why would Jesus use this term for Himself so often? Why would others use the term Son of God when referring to Jesus (Matthew 3:17; 4:3, 6; 17:5; 26:63; 27:40, 54)? What benefit is it to us to believe and confess that Jesus is both “true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary”?
Tuesday, March 1 Matthew 28 Read & Listen Online (Click “Audio” link to listen)
2. Reflect on the account of the resurrection of Jesus in Matthew 28. How does Jesus show He was with His disciples and the people He knew? How is God with us even today (Matthew 1:23; 28:18-20)? Why was the message that “Jesus is with you” important for the disciples? Why is it important for us?
Wednesday, March 2 Mark 1-2 Read & Listen Online Mark 1 Read & Listen Online Mark 2 (Click “Audio” link to listen)
3 How do you know when someone has authority? In the first two chapters of his gospel Mark shows Jesus establishing His authority. How do these events show that Jesus had authority: John’s statements about Jesus (Mark 1:7-8); His baptism (Mark 1:11); His preaching in Galilee (Mark 1:14-15, 22); His recruitment of disciples (Mark 1:16-20); His dealings with evil spirits (Mark 1:23-27); His healing of illness (Mark 1:30-31, 42); His defense of disciples who did not fast (Mark 2:18-20) and “worked” on the Sabbath (Mark 2:23-27)? What authority did Jesus most want to establish (Mark 2:5-11)? Why is Mark’s emphasis in these two chapters beneficial to you?
Thursday, March 3 Mark 3-4 Read & Listen Online Mark 3 Read & Listen Online Mark 4 (Click “Audio” link to listen)
4. In contrast to the growing hatred toward Him among the religious leaders, as seen in the Herodians and the Pharisees and reported in Mark 3-4, Jesus enjoyed great popularity and acceptance among the people. What accounts for this difference? Are there any similar differences of opinion about Jesus today? Identify them. How do you explain these differing opinions? What clues to solving this problem does Jesus suggest in the parables of the lamp on a stand (Mark 4:21-25) and mustard seed (Mark 4:30-32)?
Friday, March 4 Mark 5-6 Read & Listen Online Mark 5 Read & Listen Online Mark 6 (Click “Audio” link to listen)
5. How did Herod react to John the Baptist and his message (Mark 6:14-20, 26)? Do you know any people who react to the Christian Gospel in the same way that Herod reacted to John’s message? What would Jesus’ advice be to us in dealing with such people? Look at the account of the feeding of the 5000 that immediately follows the story of John the Baptist’s beheading for clues.
Saturday, March 5 Mark 7-8 Read & Listen Online Mark 7 Read & Listen Online Mark 8 (Click “Audio” link to listen)
6 What should you use to be truly clean, perfume or soap? What were the Pharisees worried about, the perfume or the soap (Mark 7:1-8)? Explain your answer. The disciples needed to think about this question also, and Jesus raised it with them in Mark 8:27-38. What was the soap that really cleansed people? Jesus was not against the perfume, the ceremonial washing (John 2:6-8), but what was His greater concern (Ephesians 5:2, 25-27; 1 John 1:7; Titus 3:4-6; Hebrews 9:13-14)? With Paul praise God for your cleansing by putting your name in 1 Corinthians 6:11.
Today’s Light Discussion Questions © 2009 Concordia Publishing House.
Used with permission. To subscribe to Today’s Light, contact Concordia
Publishing House via e-mail at cphorder@cph.org, via phone at 1-800-325-3381,
or via fax at 1-800-490-9889