Mark’s Gospel Assignment
Read each of the following passages in Mark’s Gospel. Then answer the two questions
from each story in complete sentences to understand the meaning of the passage.
Number 6 is a longer question where you will be asked to write a more substantial
response based on the interpretation of a short passage. This assignment will be graded
so make sure to demonstrate solid effort.
1) The Cleansing of the Leper (Mark 1:40-45)
A) What does Jesus tell the Leper not to do after he heals him?
B) Why do you think Jesus tells the leper not to do this (The leper of course ends up
not listening to him)?
2) The Calming of the Storm at Sea (Mark 4:35-41)
A) How do the disciples react when the storm first hits?
B) What is the problem that Jesus has with the disciples' reaction? What does he
question about them?
3) The Healing of a Paralytic (Mark 2:1-12)
A) How do the four men who are friends of the paralytic demonstrate that they have
real faith and love for their friend?
B) How do the scribes and Pharisees react when they see Jesus healing the man?
4) The Feeding of the Four Thousand (Mark 8:1-10)
A) What is the miracle that Jesus performs in this story?
B) How do the disciples show a lack of faith and trust in Jesus?
5) The Blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52)
A) What does the blind man ask of Jesus and how does the crowd react to him?
B) What does Jesus say to the blind man, and how was this man able to be healed?
6) Understanding Mark’s Themes of Discipleship and Suffering
Read the passage below, written by a acclaimed Catholic Theologian Henry Nouwen.
The passage is about what it means a true disciple by “taking up our cross,”. In a full
paragraph, explain the meaning of the passage. Make sure to cover the following points
in your explanation:
A) What does it mean for a person to “take up his or her cross?”
B) What kinds of “crosses” might people have to take up in our society if they
want to be good disciples?
C) Give a personal example from your own experience of how you or someone
you know has had to “take up a cross” to do the right thing.
Taking Up Our Crosses (by Henry Nouwen)
Jesus says, “If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him take up his cross
and follow me.” He does not say “Make a cross” or “Look for a cross.” Each of
us has a cross to carry. There is no need to make one or look for one. The
cross we have is hard enough for us. But are we willing to take it up, to
accept it as our cross?
Maybe we can’t study, maybe we are handicapped, maybe we suffer
from depression, maybe we experience conflict in our families, maybe we are
victims of violence or abuse. We didn’t choose any of it, but these things are
our crosses. We can ignore them, reject them, refuse them or hate them. But
we can also take up these crosses and follow Jesus with them.