STUDY IT FOR YOURSELF! Have the attitude of the Bereans… … take what you are taught and search the Scriptures each day to see if what was taught is what the Word of God says [Acts 17:11]! Have the attitude of the Bereans…

Jesus – His Life Dull Discipleship Part 9:

The term DULL SENSIBILITY Can sound offensive As used in this study: Slow in PERCEPTION or SENSIBILITY SENSIBILITY AWARENESS of and RESPONSIVENESS toward something

UNDERSTANDING the GOSPELS… … and ALL Scripture

The GOSPELS … NOT just COLLECTIONS of stories about the life of Christ. … four different men; moved by the Holy Spirit to write four different audiences with four different views of Jesus Christ

wrote for – the Jews the Romans the Greeks All the World Scribe – Matthew – An Israelite Mark – Luke – A Greek John – wrote for – the Jews the Romans the Greeks All the World Message was – Jesus the Messiah KING The Servant Messiah The Messiah – the Son of Man The Word Fulfilled

The Background for Our Study

Mark 6:33-44 – – Feeding of the 5000 5 loaves + 2 fish ALL ate and were SATISFIED! Picked up TWELVE FULL BASKETS of scraps of bread and fish!

Mark 8:1-9 – – Feeding of the 4000 7 loaves + a few small fish ALL ate and were SATISFIED! Picked up SEVEN LARGE BASKETS of scraps!

Mark 8:10-21 – – the Contextual LINK Between the Two Stories [10] And immediately He entered the boat with His disciples, and came to the district of Dalmanutha. [11] And the Pharisees came out and began to ARGUE with Jesus, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to TEST Him.

[12] And sighing deeply in His spirit, Jesus said, “WHY does this generation SEEK FOR A SIGN? Truly I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.” [13] And leaving them, He again embarked and went away to the other side.

BEWARE of the LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES and the LEAVEN OF HEROD.” [14] And they (disciples) had FORGOTTEN to take bread; and did not have more than one loaf in the boat with them. [15] And Jesus was giving orders to them, saying, “WATCH OUT! BEWARE of the LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES and the LEAVEN OF HEROD.”

SEE OR UNDERSTAND? A HARDENED HEART?” [16] And they began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread [17] And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “WHY do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? DO YOU NOT YET SEE OR UNDERSTAND? DO YOU HAVE A HARDENED HEART? SEE OR UNDERSTAND? A HARDENED HEART?”

[18] “HAVING EYES, DO YOU NOT SEE. AND HAVING EARS, DO YOU NOT HEAR [18] “HAVING EYES, DO YOU NOT SEE? AND HAVING EARS, DO YOU NOT HEAR? And DO YOU NOT REMEMBER, [19] when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces you picked up?” They said to Him, “Twelve.”

[20] “And when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?” And they said to Him, “Seven.” [21] And He was saying to them, “DO YOU NOT YET UNDERSTAND?”

DULL Discipleship

The Disciples WEREN’T Getting it! REMEMBER – for this study, DULL means, Slow in PERCEPTION or SENSIBILITY. SENSIBILITY is AWARENESS of and RESPONSIVENESS toward something. The Disciples WEREN’T Getting it!

Why WERE They TERRIFIED in the Storm on the Sea – Mark 6:45-52 After the FEEDING of the 5000. Thought Jesus walking on the water was a ‘phantasm’ or ghost [vs 49]. They were FRIGHTENED [vs 50], TROUBLED, AGITATED, or DISTRESSED. Now UNDERSTAND THIS…

Why WERE They TERRIFIED in the Storm on the Sea – Mark 6:45-52 [51] And HE GOT INTO THE BOAT WITH THEM, AND THE WIND STOPPED; AND they were GREATLY ASTONISHED,

Why WERE They TERRIFIED in the Storm on the Sea – Mark 6:45-52 [52] FOR they HAD NOT GAINED ANY INSIGHT from the loaves, BUT THEIR HEART WAS HARDENED.

The Discipled DID NOT UNDERSTAND Jesus’ TEACHINGS – Mark 7:1-23 Controversy over WASHING HANDS [vss 1-13]. Further INSTRUCTION NEEDED [vss 14-23]. [18] And He said to them, “Are you so LACKING in UNDERSTANDING also? DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him;

Compare the FIRST and SECOND Feedings of the Many At the SECOND, the twelve HAD NOT LEARNED from the FIRST! The STILL DID NOT KNOW WHERE to FIND BREAD to feed so many [Mark 8:4]! They HAD NOT YET LEARNED to TRUST JESUS!

The LEAVEN of the Pharisees and Herod [Mark 8:14-21] [15] And Jesus was giving orders to them, saying, “WATCH OUT! BEWARE of the LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES and the LEAVEN OF HEROD.” They DO NOT BELIEVE BECAUSE they HAVE MADE A DELIBERATE DECISION NOT TO BELIEVE!

PERSUASION CONVICTION TRUST Mark 4:40 – The FIRST STORM [40] … “Why are you so TIMID ( fearful )? How is it that you have NO FAITH?” PERSUASION CONVICTION TRUST

Mark 8:18 – Three Questions [18] “HAVING EYES, DO YOU NOT SEE? AND HAVING EARS, DO YOU NOT HEAR? And DO YOU NOT REMEMBER, KEEP IN MIND

2 Timothy 3:5 ALTHOUGH Paul declares to Timothy, there are those who are [5] holding to a FORM of GODLINESS, ALTHOUGH they HAVE DENIED ITS POWER; and avoid such men as these.

Isaiah 26:3 BECAUSE HE TRUSTS in Thee. [3] “The STEADFAST of MIND Thou wilt keep in perfect peace, BECAUSE HE TRUSTS in Thee.

Here is YOUR Invitation to SHARPEN Your AWARENESS of Jesus, and How You RESPOND to Him!