“Encountering Jesus: Transformative Moments in the Gospel of Mark” Week 10

“Encountering Jesus: Transformative Moments in the Gospel of Mark” Week 10: “From the Inside Out: Understanding Purity” Big Idea: Jesus reveals that true defilement comes from within, not from external sources. Practice: Guard your heart and mind against sinful thoughts and desires, seeking purity and holiness in Christ. Teaching Outline: 1: The Heart of the Matter (Mark 7:14-16) Pray for a heart transformed by God’s grace and filled with His love. 2: The Source of Defilement (Mark 7:17-19) Be vigilant about the thoughts you entertain and the desires you nurture. 3: The Transformation through Christ (Mark 7:20-23) Trust in Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of a new heart. Reference: Mark 7:14-23                    Cross-Reference: Matthew 15:17-20 14Once again Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, “All of you, listen to Me and understand: 15Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him; but the things that come out of a man, these are what defile him.” (BYZ and TR include) 16If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.  17After Jesus had left the crowd and gone into the house, His disciples inquired about the parable. 18“Are you still so dull?” He asked. “Do you not understand? Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him,19because it does not enter his heart, but it goes into the stomach and then is eliminated.” (Thus all foods are clean.) 20He continued: “What comes out of a man, that is what defiles him. 21For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness. 23All these evils come from within, and these are what defile a man.” Mark 7:14-23 BSB Introduction • Opening Illustration: Gift opening demonstration- illustrates the difference between external appearances and internal reality, such as a beautifully wrapped gift with something unexpected inside. • Context: Briefly explain the background of Mark 7, highlighting Jesus’ confrontation with the Pharisees regarding purity laws and traditions. Rejection at Nazareth (6:1-6): Jesus is rejected in His hometown of Nazareth, limiting His miracles there. Sending of the Twelve (6:7-13): Jesus sends out the twelve apostles in pairs, giving them authority over unclean spirits. John the Baptist’s Death (6:14-29): King Herod hears about Jesus, fears He is John the Baptist resurrected, and recounts John’s beheading. Feeding the 5,000 (6:30-44): Jesus miraculously feeds 5,000 men with five loaves and two fish. Walking on Water (6:45-52): Jesus walks on water, calming the disciples’ fears and revealing His divine power. Healing at Gennesaret (6:53-56): Jesus heals many people who touch the fringe of His garment. Traditions and Commandments (7:1-13): Jesus confronts the Pharisees and scribes about their traditions, emphasizing the importance of God’s commandments over human traditions. This section of Mark’s Gospel highlights Jesus’ authority, His miraculous works, and the growing opposition and misunderstanding He faces. • Main Point: Jesus teaches that true purity is a matter of the heart, not external rituals. Quote: “So, a key part of spiritual formation is understanding the gospel. Can you define how you understand the gospel now?” Willard: “Two words, trust Jesus. Trust him for everything, not just what happens when I die. Trusting Jesus and becoming his disciple is the same thing. I like the word apprentice because it means I'm with Jesus learning to do what he did. When you look at the first disciples, that's what they were doing. They watched Jesus and listened to him, and then he said, "Now you do it."”[1] - Dallas Willard (an interview about “Apprenticeship”) [1] An interview with Dallas Willard and Dieter Zander “The Apprentices”. https://dwillard.org/resources/articles/apprentices-the