WORD OF LIFE BIBLE STUDY GUIDE  

  The Bible in Your life and Your Life in the Bible  




  THE GOSPEL OF MARK  



"Follow me " (Mark 2:14)

  MARK 2:13-17 TEXT  




13  He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. 14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.15 And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”









  MARK 2:13-17 QUESTIONS  





Please note.
By reading the meditation associated with this text you will find many answers to the questions. However, the most important thing to do is to remain on the text, meditate on it until you can formulate your own answers. When interacting with the text we are interacting with the ultimate author of the text, the Holy Spirit.

If you wish to discuss these questions and interact with others then please join our online Bible group. If you wish to discuss these on a one-to-one basis then please contact us.



  The Scandal of Love – Loving the Unloveable.  




      Verse 13   


  1. Where does Jesus go after healing the paralytic? Where was he? Does this verse tell us why he went out? Why do you think he went out? Did he go out to meet people?

  2. Why do you think people gathered around him? What does Jesus do when people come to him or when he meets people?

  3. Why do you think they gathered round him to hear his teaching? Did they not get teaching in the synagogue? After teaching the crowd what did he do?

  4. Jesus heals us in two ways. He heals by his touch (Mark 1:40-41) and he heals by his teaching (v. 13). The word of God heals our minds.

  5. Is Jesus only interested in the crowd?




    6.   Verse 14   

  6. As he was walking whom did he see? Was this a chance encounter? Does chance exist for the Christian? Why / why not?

  7. Jesus calls Levi. Did they have an appointment, did they agree to meet? Did they know each other before meeting? Why do you think they were both there at the same time?

  8. What was Levi doing when Jesus saw him?

  9. What was Levi? Was he a distinguished member of society? How were people like him considered? Were they loved? Hated? See Matthew 18:17.

  10. Who was Levi? (Matthew 9:9).

  11. Who was Levi collecting taxes for? The Holy Land was undr whose rule? Can you think of any other reminders of this foreign rule in the Gospels?

  12. What / who did Jesus see when he saw Levi? What/who would we have seen if we had been passing by? Why does Jesus see things and people differently from us? Should this difference exist? What can we do to see things and people as Jesus sees them?

  13. Did Jesus enter into conversation with Levi? What did Jesus say? What did Levi do? Did Levi hesitate? Why is this such a radical decision to make? Is the reaction of Levi normal? How do we explain it? What would we have done in the same situation?

  14. Levi was called to follow Jesus. What does that mean? Are we also called to follow him? What does that mean for us, what does it involve? What kind of relationship is this?

  15. Do people normally do what Levi did, leave everything? What does this show?

  16. Did Jesus call someone who did hesitate (Matthew 8:22). Which one do we identify with? The nameless one or the one who had a new name and a new life?

  17. What or who do we follow? The most popular celebrity? Our friends? The latest fashion? Have we given up thinking for ourselves? See Romans 12:2

  18. Does God have a plan for each person? When was Levi chosen? When was each one of us chosen? (Jeremiah 1:5; Ephesians 1:4) Did we choose Jesus or was it he who chose us? (John 15:16) When was this plan thought of? When does it become operative? Can God’s plan for us be missed? Can we say no to God?

  19. Have we had that vital encounter with Jesus that urges us to a change in lifestyle? Are we open to that encounter? Is God calling us? To do what? Has he called us to be part of this community? Have we accepted without counting the cost? Do I place my talents at the service of the local church?

  20. Who takes the initiative? Do we know how to discern God’s will? Are we prepared to do God’s will? Do we think we are able to do God’s will in our own strength?

  21. What kind of person does Jesus want?

  22. Spend a few moments to think on what God is calling us to do, in life, in the parish, in the group. Are we listening? Are we resisting? Do you want to share this with the group?



    23.   Verse 15  

  23. What was the first thing Levi did? What was the first thing Jesus and Levi did together? What did they do at Levi’s home?

  24. What kind of company was there with Jesus? What does this tells us?

  25. What do we call someone who follows Jesus?

  26. What does this great feast tell us about Levi?



    27.   Verse 16  

  27. Why does Jesus eat with tax collectors and sinners? Why does he want to associate with each one of us? Are we any better than they?

  28. Why was it natural for him to be with this kind of people? Why?

  29. Why do you think the Pharisees were not eating with Jesus?

  30. Why are the Pharisees concerned and critical witnessing this scene? Why are the relationships of Jesus, as seen here, not acceptable to the Pharisees?

  31. Can you think of other passages where a banquet or meal is important in the teachings of Jesus?

  32. Why do you think the Pharisees address the disciples of Jesus rather than Jesus himself? Does Jesus address the Pharisees directly? What does this difference tell us?



    33.   Verse 17  

  33. What does Jesus call everyone to do as the first step in establishing a relationship with him? See Luke 5:32; Matthew 3:2; Acts 26:20; Matthew 3:8

  34. How is repentance shown by Levi? How do we show repentance?

  35. What is the first step in repentance?

  36. What is one of the fruits of repentance in this case?

  37. What are the fruits of unrepentance? Who do you think shows unrepentance in this passage and why?

  38. How have we witnessed the healing of Jesus in the passages we have covered so far?

  39. Who are the sick people in this scene?

  40. Who are the righteous? See Romans 3:10

  41. Who is in need of the healing power of Jesus? Am I among the righteous or among the sinners?




      General discussion questions  

  • How do I consider the sacrament of confession? Is it really necessary? Why/ why not?

  • Have I ever heard the call to discipleship? What does being a disciple mean to me?

  • Would we classify ourselves among the rigteous or the sinners?

  • Like Levi have I ever brought someone to Christ?

  • Like Levi have I used my house as a centre of evangelisation for friends and neighbours?




      Application  

  • Let us examine ourselves to see how we can be more of a disciple in following, listening, learning and practicing what I learn from the teachings of Christ.



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Mark 2:13-17 Meditation






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