Bible study on Mark 8.31-38

See our Guidelines for a weekly Bible study

Begin with an opening prayer

Holy God, we come from our busy lives.
We often forget that you walk with us.
As we gather now, help us to be more aware of who you are.
Give us the courage to admit when we don’t understand,
so that we might grow more like you in all we do.
Amen.

Read the passage

Consider different ways to read the text. For example, hearing it in more than one version of the Bible.

In an online group, you could share parts between those present, or use/adapt this week’s Share the Word suggestion: Use the Jump to this week's menu on the right to go to Share the Word and scroll down to find the Gospel reading.

Explore and respond to the text

Start by reading the Bible notes below. You may want to read them more than once, or pause after each paragraph to reflect on what you have read.

Bible notes

We have heard that Abraham and Sarah are universal figures, giving rise to the multitude of nations. Here Jesus as ‘the Son of Man’ is the prototype of a humanity that is God’s delight (Psalm 8.4), the one whose faithfulness and love will triumph over the forces of oppression and destruction (Daniel 7.13ff.). The Scriptures characterise Satan as the source of this opposition to God’s purposes, and as resentful of God’s delight in humanity’s holiness (see Job 1-2). We heard in last week’s reading that as soon as God had said to Jesus, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased’, Satan tested him in the wilderness (1.11-13). Now Jesus recognises Satan at work again as Peter tries to deflect him from his faithfulness to God in his service of others. Jesus refuses to succumb to this temptation to disobey God by focusing on human ambition rather than divine providence. This seems to reverse the story of Adam and Eve’s succumbing to the serpent’s temptation to disobey God (Genesis 3.1-7). That disobedience led to recriminations that fractured relationships, but Jesus’ obedience establishes a new community as he invites others to follow his generous way of self-giving to others, letting go of selfish ambition ‘for the sake of the good news’ of God’s glorious purpose for humanity. Despite the necessary rebuke, six days later Peter is included in Jesus’ transfiguration, helping him to see that the way of the cross is indeed the path to glory.

See also:

In conversation with the Scriptures

Reflection

Spend a few moments thinking about what stands out for you from the Bible reading. This idea may help.

How do you cope with disagreement? For lots of reasons, each of us reacts differently when people disagree with us or one another. Perhaps you know people, especially leaders, who you’d be frightened to disagree with because they might reject you! Jesus seems to have created an atmosphere among his friends where they weren’t afraid. Peter is quite confident in his contradiction of Jesus. And Jesus is comfortable to disagree with Peter – very strongly. But is Peter kicked out of the group? Is Peter rejected? Far from it – in fact, just a few verses further in chapter 9, we read that Jesus chooses Peter with James and John for a special experience. If we are to grow as people of faith, we need to be able to create an environment where we feel safe enough to disagree but know we will not be rejected. Can we do that?

Questions for reflection

You may wish to use these questions and the picture to help you think about or discuss issues arising from this week’s Bible passage.

• How easy would you find it to speak up in a situation like this?
• What topics would you be prepared to speak up about, even with fear of rejection?
• How do you react when there is conflict or disagreement?

A simple worship activity

Reflect on learning from experience.

Peter was always making mistakes, jumping in with both feet before thinking. But this didn’t mean he gave up following Jesus, or that Jesus rejected Peter. He went on to be the leader of the Church in Jerusalem! We all respond differently to our mistakes. We may be ‘laid back’, perhaps not even realising that we have affected others. At the other extreme, we may be so paralysed by our failures that we give up trying. Where are we on that spectrum?

Show a one-minute clip from The Lion King on the theme ‘Run from it or learn from it’ (in the 1994 original version, it starts at 01:07:48). Ask if people have seen the film and know the end (saving you, hopefully, from having to explain that Simba does indeed return home to sort out his mistakes and becomes king).

Then, in twos and threes, reflect on things that we need to learn from, or do differently next time, and pray very simply for God to help you be honest with yourself, learn from your mistakes – and never give up.

Use the Jump to this week's menu on the right to go to more activities
in Explore and respond

Prayer

Adapt to your local context.

A prayer from the Revd Martin Luther King Jr (ed.)

Ever present God,
you call us to be in relationship with one another
and promise to be wherever two or three are gathered.
In our community, we are many different people;
we come from different places,
we have different cultures,
different experiences and expectations.
Open our hearts, that among us
we may be bold in finding the riches of inclusion
and the treasures of diversity.
We pray in faith.
Amen.

Use the Jump to this week's menu on the right to find more prayers,
including up-to-date intercessions.

A prayer to end the Bible study

Everything I am Lord, and everything I do.
Help me to be always more like you.
Teach me to be yours, Lord, show me when I’m wrong.
Help me to be always more like you.
You accepted all, Lord, help everyone to find the way.
Help me to be always more like you.
Amen. 

Go with God 24/7

Encourage everyone to put their faith into action.

At the end of each day this week, look at your diary/phone/card, stop and reflect: How have I let others be themselves? How have I learned more of what God wants me to be?

Encourage everyone to explore their faith this week with the ROOTS at home resource.