We are quick to blame circumstances, people, or environments for our sin, just as the Pharisees did with their man-made traditions. They assumed defilement came from something outside of them—food touched by Gentiles, unwashed hands, unclean environments. But Jesus confronts this thinking head-on: the real problem is not out there, but inside of us. “There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him” (v. 15). External things may tempt or pressure us, but they cannot make us unclean. Defilement is not transferred from the outside in; it flows from the inside out.

When Jesus explained this to His disciples, He clarified that food enters the stomach, not the heart. The heart—our center of thought, will, and desire—is the real issue. Outward religion may scrub the “outside of the pot,” but unless the inside is cleansed, it remains corrupt. This is why Scripture warns repeatedly about the heart: “Every intention of the thoughts of man’s heart was only evil continually” (Gen. 6:5); “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick” (Jer. 17:9). Jesus’ teaching here echoes the prophets—our deepest problem is not environment or circumstance but our own sinful hearts.

From within, Jesus says, flow “evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness” (vv. 21–22). This catalogue of sins mirrors the second half of the Ten Commandments, showing how inner corruption spills out into outward violation of God’s law. Notice that it begins with evil thoughts and ends with foolishness—what fills the heart gives rise to the mind, which then gives birth to action. Whether it is sexual immorality (porneia, encompassing any sexual activity outside of marriage between one man and one woman), hatred that Jesus equates with murder, or coveting that Paul calls idolatry—each comes from within. As Spurgeon said, “Sin is not a splash of mud upon man’s exterior; it is a filth generated within himself.”

If the problem lies in us, then the solution must come from outside of us. The world insists the answer is to look within and stay true to ourselves. But Jesus teaches the opposite: we are the problem, and only He can cleanse us. The Holy God took on flesh in Jesus Christ, who lived without sin, bore our guilt on the cross, and rose victorious. And to all who call on Him by faith, He gives a new heart with new desires, washing and sanctifying us by His Spirit (1 Cor. 6:11). This is why we cannot simply blame others, minimize our sin, or settle for outward religion. Our hope is Christ alone, who not only forgives but indwells us to fight sin and pray with David, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

Main Idea – If the problem is primarily in us, the solution must be outside of us.

In Mark 7:1–13, Jesus confronts the Pharisees and scribes who have traveled from Jerusalem to investigate Him. Their concern wasn’t curiosity—it was opposition. They accused Jesus’ disciples of eating with “defiled hands,” not because of hygiene, but because they didn’t follow the “tradition of the elders,” an elaborate system of rules developed to safeguard ritual purity. These traditions went beyond God’s Word, taking commands originally given to priests and applying them broadly, turning good intentions into rigid regulations.

Jesus responds by quoting Isaiah: “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” The Pharisees’ problem wasn’t outward behavior—they were meticulous in keeping their rules—but their hearts weren’t aligned with God. Their devotion was empty because it sought the approval of man, not the glory of God. Traditions had shifted from being helpful guides to oppressive masters, distorting God’s character and replacing His Word with man-made commands.

Jesus drives the point home with an example: the practice of Corban. By declaring resources “devoted to God,” a person could withhold them from family obligations while still enjoying them personally. In effect, this tradition provided a loophole to neglect the clear command to honor father and mother. What looked like piety was actually hypocrisy. By elevating tradition above God’s law, they were not only distorting truth but also disobeying God directly.

This passage is a mirror for us. Like the Pharisees, we’re tempted to elevate personal traditions or convictions to the level of Scripture. Sometimes we excuse disobedience with spiritual-sounding loopholes, whether in how we serve our families, our church, or even in our worship preferences. Jesus exposes these tendencies not to condemn us but to call us back to genuine worship rooted in God’s truth. The good news is that He didn’t just confront the Pharisees—He went to the cross to cleanse our hearts. The only truly clean One gave His life for the unclean, so that our hearts might be made new.

Main Idea – God desires hearts shaped by truth, not empty religion shaped by tradition.

Study Questions

1. The Pharisees elevated the “tradition of the elders” to the same level of authority as God’s Word. What other passages warn against adding to or taking away from God’s Word? Why is this so dangerous?
2. Jesus says true worship comes from hearts shaped by God’s truth (Mark 7:6–8). How can our traditions lead us to empty religion that is not connected to a heart posture of worship?
3. What are some common traditions that you have seen or held tightly to that may have been elevated to a place of authority alongside of God’s Word? What have been the results of this?
4. Jesus exposes the practice of Corban (Mark 7:9–13) as a loophole that let people neglect God’s command to honor father and mother (Exodus 20:12). What “loopholes” might Christians today be tempted to create that excuse disobedience to God’s clear commands? How does the gospel free us to obey with joy rather than look for loopholes?
5. Read Romans 3:20–24 and Galatians 2:16. How do these passages clarify why traditions and rule-keeping can never make us righteous before God? How does Christ’s perfect obedience and sacrificial death for the “unclean” give us true cleansing?

“If Jesus cares, why doesn’t He show up?” Most of us have asked that question in hard seasons. We’ve felt it in financial pressure, restless nights of worry, or deep grief when life seems unbearable. The disciples felt it too, straining at the oars in the middle of the sea, battling the wind, and realizing Jesus wasn’t with them in the boat. But the story reminds us of this comforting truth: Jesus is never absent. Even when He feels far, His eyes are on us, His prayers are for us, and His presence brings peace at just the right time.

Struggles are part of the Christian life. Sometimes Jesus allows the winds to push against us longer than we would like. But He never abandons us. He comes in His time, and when He comes, He doesn’t just make the storm stop—He reminds us of who He is. “Take heart, it is I. Do not be afraid.” Those words remind us that the God who tramples the sea and commands the wind is the same Savior who walks with us today. His presence doesn’t remove every trial, but it changes how we endure them.

Like the disciples, we’re quick to forget God’s faithfulness. We’ve all seen Him provide, sustain, and deliver in the past—yet we still fall back into fear and doubt. But even in our forgetfulness, Jesus is patient. He keeps us, leads us, and gets us to the other side, even when we drift off course. That’s the kind of Savior we have: not one who gives up on us, but one who faithfully carries us along, teaching us to trust Him more each time.

This story is a call to preach the gospel to our hearts and to one another in community. Jesus didn’t just save His disciples from a storm; He saved us from the far greater storm of sin and judgment. Because of His cross and resurrection, we can face every trial with hope. He sees us, He meets us, and He is patient with us. So when you gather with your group this week, remind each other of this: you are never beyond the gaze, the care, or the presence of Christ. Whatever storm comes, He is with you, and He will see you through.

Main idea – In your struggle, remember the transcendent God is always near to bring you peace

Study Questions

1. How do the two miracles on the sea in Mark differ, and what do they have in common? What do these similarities and differences teach us about Jesus?
2. What words or details in this passage highlight Jesus as our intercessor? What other New Testament passages remind us of this truth, and how does it bring you comfort?
3. When do you most often struggle with doubting Jesus’ care, provision, or presence? How does this story encourage you to trust Him in those moments?
4. What does Jesus reveal about Himself in this passage? Where else in Scripture do we see this same truth about Him, and how does it strengthen your faith?
5. Read paragraph 2 of the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith found here.Why is it so important that we believe in the full deity of Jesus?
6. How does this story of Jesus calming the storm point us forward to His greater rescue through the cross and resurrection?

We’ve come to another familiar story in Mark’s gospel—the feeding of the five thousand. Outside of the resurrection, it’s the only miracle recorded in all four gospels. If we’re not careful, its familiarity can keep us from feeling its weight. So let’s place ourselves, not in the shoes of the disciples this time, but among the crowd. Imagine the scene: you’ve heard rumors of this man who heals the sick and teaches with authority. You hurry to the shore with family and friends, and there He is. Hours pass as He teaches. Hunger sets in, and suddenly, you’re holding bread and fish in your hands—more than enough to satisfy. The question presses in: Who is this man?

Mark shows us He is the Good Shepherd. Before filling empty stomachs, Jesus fills empty hearts with His Word. The disciples return weary from ministry, and the crowd is desperate for leadership. But instead of frustration, Jesus looks with compassion, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. He teaches them, reminding us that our greatest need is not physical but spiritual. Without His Word, we wander. Without His voice, we are directionless. He shepherds us by speaking life, calling us back to the God we’ve run from. Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

But notice how He also chooses to work through inadequate disciples. When Jesus tells them, “You give them something to eat,” they’re painfully aware of their insufficiency. Five loaves, two fish, thousands of people—it’s impossible. Yet Jesus takes what little is offered and multiplies it beyond imagination. That’s how He still works. He doesn’t call us because we’re sufficient; He uses our inadequacies to display His power. What matters is not what we bring, but who we bring it to. In His hands, the meager becomes more than enough, and His glory is revealed through our weakness.

And this miracle points us forward to a greater feast. Just as God fed Israel with manna in the wilderness, Jesus feeds His people in the desolate place. But as He broke the bread that day, He knew His body would soon be broken to nourish our souls. He is the Bread of Life, the one broken and poured out so that sinners like us might be truly satisfied. Every time we come to the Lord’s Table, we’re reminded: the Shepherd laid down His life for the sheep. Church, don’t miss it—He is enough. Look nowhere else to satisfy your deepest needs. Come hungry, come empty, and feast on Him.

Main Point – Jesus is the Sufficient Shepherd who abundantly meets all of our deepest needs.

Study Questions

1. Why does Mark place this story after the account of John the Baptist’s Death? Compare and contrast this miracle with the other accounts in the gospels.
2. In what ways do we, like the crowd, look for satisfaction in things other than Jesus? How does this passage redirect us back to Him as the only true source of life?
3. Jesus had compassion on the weary crowd and taught them before He fed them. What does this teach us about our deepest need, and how does the gospel meet it?
4. The disciples saw only their insufficiency when Jesus asked them to feed the crowd. How does the gospel free us to bring our inadequacy to Jesus and trust Him to work through us?
5. The miracle of the loaves points forward to the cross, where Jesus’ body was broken for us. How does remembering His sacrifice at the Lord’s Table strengthen and sustain our faith today?
6. Who in your life is “hungry” for the hope and satisfaction only Christ can give? How can you take what Jesus has given you and offer it to others this week?

Have you ever been in a situation where you knew you should stand up for the truth, but you hesitated? Maybe it was gossip, a false story, or pressure to compromise your convictions. That’s hard enough when the cost is just awkwardness or reputation. But what if the cost was much higher—your friends, your job, even your life? That’s the question before us in Mark 6, where we find the horrific story of John the Baptist’s death. At first it feels like an interruption, but Mark has placed it here—sandwiched between the disciples being sent out and their return—to remind us that proclaiming the message of the King comes with a cost. To follow Jesus will bring rejection, and the question is: will you compromise, or will you stand courageously?

John the Baptist stood courageously. He confronted King Herod and Herodias over their adulterous and scandalous marriage, even though he knew it could cost him everything. Herodias raged against him, Herod feared him, and yet John would not stop speaking truth. In fact, Herod himself was haunted by John. He feared him, respected him, even listened to him gladly, summoning him from prison to hear him preach. But like so many today, Herod was intrigued by God’s Word without submitting to it. His conscience was pricked, but he would not yield. Church, that is a warning to us—hell will be filled with people who enjoyed listening to Jesus but never surrendered to Him as Lord.

Herod’s cowardice is exposed in his birthday feast. Manipulated by Herodias through her daughter’s seductive dance, he makes a rash vow to save face before his guests. Though he knows John is innocent, he gives in to the pressure of the crowd. What happened? Every time Herod ignored the truth, he turned down the volume of his conscience until it was silent. And unless God’s Word is shaping our conscience, we too will cave under pressure. We will fear man instead of fearing God. Church, do not let that happen. Tune your conscience to the voice of Scripture, so when the moment comes to stand, you can stand with courage.

John’s faithfulness cost him his head, but it also pointed beyond himself to Jesus—the greater King who would also be condemned unjustly by a cowardly ruler. But unlike John, Jesus did not stay in the tomb. On the third day, He rose, conquering sin, death, and Satan. And because Jesus triumphed, we know the cost of following Him is worth it. Herod received his reward—the fleeting praise of men. John received his reward—the eternal presence of Christ. So the question remains: who will you follow? If you’ve compromised, run to Jesus in repentance, rest in His grace, and rise up refreshed by His resurrection power to live courageously this week. Because Christ has conquered the grave, we can live courageously for the King.

Main Idea – Because Christ has conquered the grave, we can courageously follow Him, even if we face rejection.

Imagine for a moment that you are one of the disciples. You’ve just watched Jesus calm a storm, cast out demons, heal the sick, and even raise the dead. Your confidence in Him is soaring. Then Jesus takes you to His hometown, and instead of celebration you watch Him face rejection and mockery. And right after that, He gathers you in and says, “Now it’s your turn.” But here’s the catch—you are to go out with almost nothing. No bag, no bread, no money, not even a change of clothes. Yet the assignment remains staggering: proclaim the kingdom, cast out demons, heal the sick. Do what He’s been doing, but do it without resources.

What Jesus was teaching the disciples, He is teaching us. If you belong to Jesus, you’ve been sent out by Him. And if you’re anything like me, you often feel unprepared, undersupplied, or simply inadequate for the task. That’s exactly how the disciples must have felt too. Jesus doesn’t call the equipped; He equips the called. He calls us not because of our merit, but to make us depend on Him. I can testify that when Jesus called me to plant this church, I didn’t feel ready. Maybe you feel the same way when it comes to sharing your faith, discipling your family, or stepping into a ministry role. But Jesus calls His people to step out, even when we feel ill-equipped.

It’s true that these specific instructions were originally given to the Twelve Apostles, a unique group who walked with Jesus and witnessed His resurrection (Acts 1:21–22; 1 Cor. 15:7–9). They held a foundational office in the church (Eph. 2:20), wrote Scripture by the Spirit’s inspiration, and their message was confirmed with signs and wonders (Heb. 2:4). While their office is unrepeatable, the principle remains: disciples are sent. There are no bench-warmer Christians. Every believer has been summoned by Jesus’ grace and sent out in Jesus’ power.

Notice also how Jesus sent them out two by two. They weren’t just representatives of the King—they were partners on mission. Scripture shows us why: together they could verify testimony (Deut. 19:15), complement one another’s gifts, offer counsel and encouragement, and provide accountability. That’s a picture of how the church is meant to live on mission—not as isolated individuals but as a gospel family. This is why community groups matter, why shared mission matters, and why we need one another as we go.

And here’s the good news: we do not go out empty-handed. Jesus gave His disciples authority, and He gives us the same assurance of His presence and power through His Word and Spirit. Yes, you will feel uncomfortable. Yes, you will face rejection. But Jesus sends us anyway, because the urgency of the mission outweighs our excuses. The call is simple: repent, believe, and declare the gospel in both word and deed. Whether across the street or across the world, the message remains the same. And as we go, we can trust Him to provide everything we truly need.

Main Idea: If you have been summoned by Jesus’ grace, you have been sent out in Jesus’ power.

Study Questions

1. Why do you think Mark places this account between Jesus’ rejection and John the Baptist’s beheading? What is Mark trying to communicate to followers of Jesus?
2. What are some obstacles that prevent you from living a sent-out life? What heart issues may hinder you from telling others the good news of the gospel?
3. Are there opportunities for your community group to go out together with the good news of the gospel?
4. Compare and contrast this account with Jesus’ later sending of the seventy-two in Luke 10:1–12. What explanations are given in Luke that are not explained in Mark?
5. Read Mark 6:12–13. Why do you think Mark references the proclamation of the disciples before their actions? What does this tell you about the centrality of the gospel in evangelism?
6. Why does the gospel demand the response of repentance?

Have you ever heard the saying, “Familiarity breeds contempt”? It’s true in everyday life. Many of us didn’t fully appreciate our parents until we left home. New Yorkers can live their whole lives without ever visiting the Statue of Liberty. I’ll never forget my first trip to the Rocky Mountains—jaw dropped in awe of their majesty. But the locals? Unmoved. Why? Because those mountains had always been there. Familiarity dulled their wonder.

That is exactly what happens in Mark 6. Jesus returns to His hometown, Nazareth. The people who knew Him best—neighbors, childhood friends, even family—did not greet Him with faith but with rejection. They had heard His teaching and even acknowledged His miracles, but they dismissed Him. Why? Because they thought they already knew Him. To them He was “just the carpenter,” Mary’s son, the boy who grew up down the street. Familiarity led not to faith but to unbelief.

And isn’t that the danger for us? Many of us know about Jesus, but do not truly know Him. We can grow up in church, sing the songs, and know the Bible stories, but never bow to Him as Lord. We, like Nazareth, keep Him at a safe distance when He challenges our expectations. If Jesus doesn’t give us what we want—a comfortable life, easy answers, or quick fixes—we are tempted to dismiss Him. Unbelief doesn’t just come from outright rejection; sometimes it comes from superficial familiarity.

But here is the good news: unbelief is not unforgivable. The cross proves that. The rejection Jesus faced in Nazareth pointed forward to a greater rejection He would face at Calvary. There, the Son of God was rejected by men and, ultimately, forsaken by His Father, so that sinners like us could be reconciled. Even those in the crowd who once dismissed Him—including Jude, the half-brother of Jesus—came to worship Him as Lord after His resurrection. That same forgiveness and invitation is extended to us. Don’t let familiarity rob you of faith. Don’t settle for merely knowing about Jesus. Trust Him. Treasure Him. Follow Him, and intimately pursue Him.

Main Idea – Resist unbelief by embracing the one who was rejected for us.

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think Mark places this passage immediately after the story of Jairus’ daughter and the healing of the woman with the issue of blood, and just before Jesus sends out His disciples? Why does Mark emphasize that “his disciples followed him” (v. 1)?
2. The crowd in Nazareth did not deny the humanity of Jesus, but they rejected Him in unbelief. What is unbelief? What were the root causes of their unbelief? How does the indwelling sin of unbelief still manifest itself in your own life?
3. In verse 6, Mark tells us that Jesus was amazed. The Greek word is thaumazō—to be struck with wonder and awe. What is it about unbelief that causes Jesus to respond this way? What other places in Scripture reveal the danger of unbelief and help us understand its seriousness?
4. In what ways can “superficial familiarity” with Jesus—knowing facts, attending church, practicing outward religion—be dangerous if it does not lead to true submission to Him as Lord? (See Matthew 7:21–23.)
5. What Old Testament prophecies or stories point forward to the rejection Jesus experienced by His own people? How does His rejection in Nazareth prepare us to see the greater rejection He endured at the cross? And how does the cross speak to our own struggle with unbelief?
6. How can you actively combat superficial familiarity in your life? How does participating in the means of grace that God provides help you to truly know and love Jesus?
7. Who in your life comes to mind when you think of someone who has hardened their heart toward Jesus in unbelief? How can you begin praying specifically for them this week?

In Mark 5, two desperate people find themselves at the feet of Jesus—a respected synagogue leader named Jairus whose twelve-year-old daughter is dying, and an unnamed woman who has been bleeding for twelve years. One is a man of status, the other a social outcast. One is surrounded by crowds, the other hidden in shame. Yet both have run out of options, and both come to Jesus because they believe He is their only hope. Mark weaves their stories together in what’s called a “Markan sandwich,” inviting us to see how these two encounters reveal the same truth: Jesus’ authority is comprehensive—over sickness, over shame, and even over death itself.

Jairus comes to Jesus with the raw, urgent plea of a father who knows his daughter’s life is slipping away. He falls at Jesus’ feet—risking his reputation—because he believes Jesus can do what no one else can. And Jesus goes with him. Along the way, another desperate soul reaches out. For twelve years this woman has suffered physically, socially, and spiritually—cut off from worship, touch, and community. She’s tried everything and spent everything, but nothing has helped. In a crowded street, she stretches out her hand to touch the hem of Jesus’ robe, believing even that will be enough. And instantly, she is healed. But Jesus won’t let her slip away unseen. He calls her forward—not to shame her, but to restore her publicly and welcome her as “daughter.”

Before Jesus can reach Jairus’ house, news comes that the little girl has died. But Jesus tells Jairus, “Do not fear, only believe.” He enters the home, takes the girl by the hand—ignoring every ritual concern about touching the dead—and simply says, “Little girl, arise.” In an instant, life returns. Death retreats. What began as two separate crises ends with one stunning truth: nothing is too great for Jesus. The woman’s twelve years of suffering end, and the girl’s twelve years of life continue—all because they encountered the One with power over disease and death.

These miracles point beyond themselves to the cross and resurrection. Jesus heals the sick and raises the dead, but His ultimate mission was to bear our uncleanness, pay our debt, and conquer the grave once and for all. One day He will call every believer to rise, not just for a few more years of life, but for eternity with Him. In your desperation—whether from pain, fear, loss, or hopelessness—run to Jesus. He alone has the power to meet your need and the love to welcome you as His own. As Martin Luther, grieving the loss of his daughter, once cried, “Hammer away! On doomsday she’ll rise again.” Death will not have the last word, because Jesus already has.

Main Point – Desperation should drive us only to the feet of Jesus is bold faith.

Yes, Jesus had stilled the storm in chapter 4—a breathtaking display of power—but this encounter is something different. Here, Jesus steps onto Gentile soil and meets a man no one dared go near. A man consumed by darkness, living among the tombs, uncontrollable and utterly alone. Society had done all it could: bind him, exile him, forget him. But Jesus does not avoid what is unclean or broken. He steps ashore with purpose. And with just a word, He confronts and commands an entire legion of demons—thousands of them—and they flee. No one had the strength to tame this man… but Jesus didn’t need strength. He had authority.

This man’s story is haunting, but also beautifully familiar. He is unclean, unwanted, and untamable—a walking picture of what Satan aims to do to every person made in God’s image. And yet, in a moment of shocking grace, Jesus travels across a stormy sea just to reach him. That’s not a throwaway detail. It’s a gospel preview. If Jesus would endure a storm for one man, surely no one is beyond His reach. Maybe you feel chained by sin, crippled by anxiety, or buried in shame. You’ve tried everything, but nothing works. The same Jesus who silenced the storm and freed the demoniac is still rescuing today. He isn’t repelled by your darkness. He’s drawn to it. And He alone can bring healing, wholeness, and freedom.

Yet not everyone responds to Jesus with joy. The townspeople—shaken by the cost of this miracle—beg Him to leave. They prefer pigs and predictability to the presence of the Savior. It’s a sobering warning: many are okay with Jesus at a distance, as long as He doesn’t disrupt their comfort. But the man who was freed? He begs to go with Jesus. He is clothed, restored, and transformed—and now, he wants nothing more than to be near the One who saved him. And yet, Jesus sends him out instead. He commissions him as the first Gentile missionary—to tell his story, to declare what the Lord had done for him. That’s what Jesus does: He saves us to send us. Every Christian has a story of mercy that someone else needs to hear.

And that’s really the heart of the passage—and the gospel. Jesus delivers us from the kingdom of darkness and brings us into His marvelous light. But He does it at great cost. Did you notice? Jesus leaves this man restored and accepted, but He Himself is rejected. That’s the pattern of the gospel. He trades places with the broken. Like the man in the tombs, we too were spiritually dead—unclean, unwanted, and unable to change. But Jesus came for us. He was cast out so we could be brought in. He bore our sin and shame on the cross, and on the third day, He rose again with all authority in heaven and on earth. Friend, if you look to Him today, you too can be clothed, forgiven, and sent with a new purpose. Jesus still steps ashore—and maybe today, He’s stepping ashore in your heart.

Main Point – Jesus delivers us from enslavement to evil so that we might proclaim the goodness of his mercy.

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