Sunday
October 4
1. THE TEACHER AND HIS STUDENTS
a. How did the disciples address Jesus on numerous occasions? Mark 4:38; 9:38; 13:1.
b. How did Jesus acknowledge the use of this title? John 13:13.
c. For what purpose did Jesus do this? John 13:14, 15.
“Christ distinctly appropriated to Himself the right to authority and allegiance. ‘Ye call me Master and Lord,’ He said, ‘and ye say well; for so I am.’ ‘One is your Master, even Christ.’ Thus He maintained the dignity that belonged to His name, and the authority and power He possessed in heaven.”—Lift Him Up, p. 37.
Monday
October 5
2. A MAN IN NEED SHOWS RESPECT
a. Who was Jairus, and how did he show respect to Jesus? Mark 5:22.
“[Jesus] remained by the seaside for a time, teaching and healing, and then repaired to the house of Levi-Matthew to meet the publicans at the feast. Here Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue, found Him.
“This elder of the Jews came to Jesus in great distress, and cast himself at His feet.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 342.
b. Why did Jairus come to see Jesus? How great was his faith? Mark 5:23.
“Jesus set out at once with the ruler for his home. Though the disciples had seen so many of His works of mercy, they were surprised at His compliance with the entreaty of the haughty rabbi; yet they accompanied their Master, and the people followed, eager and expectant.”—Ibid.
“Christ was on His way to the home of Jairus, the Jewish rabbi who had entreated Him to come and heal his daughter. The heartbroken petition, ‘My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray Thee, come and lay Thy hands on her, that she may be healed’ (Mark 5:23), had touched the tender, sympathetic heart of Christ, and He at once set out with the ruler for his home.”––The Ministry of Healing, p. 59.
c. As Jesus was delayed in His journey to Jairus’ house, what occurred, and how did the messenger address Jesus? Mark 5:35.
“The ruler’s house was not far distant, but Jesus and His companions advanced slowly, for the crowd pressed Him on every side. The anxious father was impatient of delay; but Jesus, pitying the people, stopped now and then to relieve some suffering one, or to comfort a troubled heart.
“While they were still on the way, a messenger pressed through the crowd, bearing to Jairus the news that his daughter was dead, and it was useless to trouble the Master further. The word caught the ear of Jesus. ‘Fear not,’ He said; ‘believe only, and she shall be made whole.’”—The Desire of Ages, pp. 342, 343.
Tuesday
October 6
3. REVEALING HIS DIVINITY
a. Who was taken into Jairus’ house when Jesus arrived? Why? Mark 5:37–40.
“Jairus pressed closer to the Saviour, and together they hurried to the ruler’s home. Already the hired mourners and flute players were there, filling the air with their clamor. The presence of the crowd, and the tumult jarred upon the spirit of Jesus. He tried to silence them, saying, ‘Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.’ They were indignant at the words of the Stranger. They had seen the child in the embrace of death, and they laughed Him to scorn. Requiring them all to leave the house, Jesus took with Him the father and mother of the maiden, and the three disciples, Peter, James, and John, and together they entered the chamber of death.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 343.
b. What miracle confirmed the divinity of Christ? Verses 41, 42.
“Jesus approached the bedside, and, taking the child’s hand in His own, He pronounced softly, in the familiar language of her home, the words, ‘Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.’
“Instantly a tremor passed through the unconscious form. The pulses of life beat again. The lips unclosed with a smile. The eyes opened widely as if from sleep, and the maiden gazed with wonder on the group beside her. She arose, and her parents clasped her in their arms, and wept for joy.”—Ibid.
c. What other instance do we have of Jesus performing a similar miracle? Luke 7:11–17.
“The Saviour raised the dead to life. One of these was the widow’s son at Nain. The people were carrying him to the grave, when they met Jesus. He took the young man by the hand, lifted him up, and gave him alive to his mother. Then the company went back to their homes with shouts of rejoicing and praise to God.”—The Story of Jesus, p. 79.
Wednesday
October 7
4. THE CROWD ACKNOWLEDGES HIM
a. How did one person from the crowd address Jesus? What was his great need? Mark 9:17, 18.
b. How did Jesus show the necessity of having faith, and what was the father’s response? Verses 19–24.
“The father told the story of long years of suffering, and then, as if he could endure no more, exclaimed, ‘If Thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.’ ‘If Thou canst!’ Even now the father questioned the power of Christ.
“Jesus answers, ‘If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.’ There is no lack of power on the part of Christ; the healing of the son depends upon the father’s faith.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 428.
“It is faith that connects us with heaven, and brings us strength for coping with the powers of darkness. In Christ, God has provided means for subduing every sinful trait, and resisting every temptation, however strong. But many feel that they lack faith, and therefore they remain away from Christ. Let these souls, in their helpless unworthiness, cast themselves upon the mercy of their compassionate Saviour. Look not to self, but to Christ. He who healed the sick and cast out demons when He walked among men is the same mighty Redeemer today. Faith comes by the word of God. Then grasp His promise, ‘Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.’ John 6:37. Cast yourself at His feet with the cry, ‘Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief.’ You can never perish while you do this—never.”—Ibid., p. 429.
c. How did Jesus show that He truly was a divine teacher? Verses 25–27.
“Jesus turns to the suffering one, and says, ‘Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.’ There is a cry, an agonized struggle. The demon, in passing, seems about to rend the life from his victim. Then the boy lies motionless, and apparently lifeless. The multitude whisper, ‘He is dead.’ But Jesus takes him by the hand, and lifting him up, presents him, in perfect soundness of mind and body, to his father. Father and son praise the name of their Deliverer. The multitude are ‘amazed at the mighty power of God,’ while the scribes, defeated and crestfallen, turn sullenly away.”—Ibid., pp. 428, 429.
Thursday
October 8
5. HIS ENEMIES ARE AWED
a. How did even Jesus’ enemies address Him as they pretended to be His followers? What did they ask Him? Mark 12:13, 14.
“The Pharisees had ever chafed under the exaction of tribute by the Romans. The payment of tribute they held to be contrary to the law of God. Now they saw opportunity to lay a snare for Jesus. The spies came to Him, and with apparent sincerity, as though desiring to know their duty, said, ‘Master, we know that Thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest Thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly: is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?’ ”—The Desire of Ages, p. 601.
b. How did Jesus confound their trickery? What was their response? Verses 15–17.
“The spies had expected Jesus to answer their question directly, in one way or the other. . . . Now they felt themselves baffled and defeated. Their plans were disarranged. The summary manner in which their question had been settled left them nothing further to say.
“Christ’s reply was no evasion, but a candid answer to the question. Holding in His hand the Roman coin, upon which were stamped the name and image of Caesar, He declared that since they were living under the protection of the Roman power, they should render to that power the support it claimed, so long as this did not conflict with a higher duty. But while peaceably subject to the laws of the land, they should at all times give their first allegiance to God.”—Ibid., p. 602.
Friday
October 9
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Why was it right for the people to refer to Jesus as “Master”?
2. How did a haughty rabbi show respect to Jesus? Why did he do this?
3. What did the miracle with Jairus’ daughter reveal about Jesus?
4. When Jesus cast out the demons from the boy, what was the reaction of the family? What was the reaction of the scribes? Why?
5. How did Jesus baffle the spies who were sent to trap Him?