Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class, August 17, 2024.

Main Theme: This section of the second Gospel is marked off by the healing of two different blind men, one at the middle of Mark 8:1-38 and the other at the end of Mark 10:1-52. These miracle “bookends” illustrate dramatically how discipleship includes spiritual insight regarding who Jesus is and where He is going. As His teachings challenged the twelve disciples about two thousand years ago, so they continue to confront disciples today with the deep cost, and benefit, of following Jesus.

Read in Class: Mark 8:22-30. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: Why did it take Jesus two touches to heal the blind man, and what lessons came out of this account?

Apply: What does this story teach us about times when it’s important not to say some things, however true they might be?

Share: Your friend asks you if it has ever taken you a while to understand something in Scripture. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Mark 8:31-38. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What does Jesus teach here about the cost of following Christ?

Apply: “ ‘He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life’ ” (John 12:25). How have you experienced the reality of these words?

Share: Your friend asks you if there was ever a time when you had to make a public stand or confession for Jesus, maybe even when no one else was standing up for Jesus? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Mark 9:1-27. Summarize this story.

Study: What did Peter, James, and John see one night with Jesus?

Apply: In what situations, if any, have you had to cry out, “ ‘I believe; help my unbelief’ ”? What did you learn from those experiences?

Share: Your friend asks what led to the disciples lack of faith in this story. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Mark 9:30-41. Define the main idea in this passage.

Study: What is different about Jesus’ second prediction of His death and resurrection (compare with Mark 8:31)? Also, what do the disciples argue about, and what instruction does Jesus give?

Apply: What is the biblical idea of greatness in contrast to the world’s idea? Which one are you striving for?

Share: Your friend says, we may not come right out and say we are the greatest, but in what ways or actions do people try to say they are the greatest today?