As Luke tells it, Jesus threatened the rich and powerful, but appealed to the poor and outcast. If Jesus came today, how would those two groups in our society respond to him?

Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

~Luke 5:31

I think it could be possible that they would have the same response as they did in his time

Joanna

After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him,

~Luke 8:1

What do you think this part of Jesus' ministry was like?  Describe what you think his disciples may have done throughout the course of a day.

• I would think extremely busy, but I'm sure he enjoyed doing what he was donig very much
• They followed him wherever he needed to go, discussed a vast amount of topics with him and listened to his teachings

To whome do you minister in the course of your day?  What people around you need the sort of ministry spoken of in this verse?  Keep in mind that while Jesus was traveling and proclaiming the good news he was also healing the sick and "doing good" (Acts 10:38).

• I don't exactly do any spiritual ministering at the current moment, but if it counts, I minister to children on various educational subject almost every weekday
• many people that have doubts about God's existence

and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out;  Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

~Luke 8:2-3

What sorts of diseases might Jesus have cured in these women?  What was their response?  Jesus healed many people, most of whom thanked him adn praised God for their healing.  But these women were beyond mere thanks to very practical acts of gratitude.  Why do you think they responded this way?

• one in particular that I can think of is leprousy
• pure awe
• because they believe the healing to be a miracle

Have you ever been healed of a sickness?  Have you ever been saved from a life-threatening situation?  Have you ever found relief from low spirits or evil spirits or depression?  Who brought about your delieverance?  What practical acts of gratitutde can you, like Joanna and the other women, do in response?

• whenever I was sick, the sickness went away on it's own
• no
• yes, from my best friend
• spend more time with that friend

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.  They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.  While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.  In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:  ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ”  Then they remembered his words.

  When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others.  It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.

~Luke 24:1-10

Joanna took care of Jesus during his life, supporting him with her work and her money.  Now she is planning ot take care of him in his death.  What does she find instead?

• the tomb was empty and Jesus was risen from the dead

Have you ever been totally suprised by a turn of events?  Especially something that you thought that was going to be terrible that turned out to be wonderful?  What was your response?

• yes, I would feel very excited about a certain sort of bad news turning into good news

But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.  Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

~Luke 24:11-12

Why didn't the disciples blieve what the women told them?  Do you think if you had been there you would have thought it was "nonsense" also?  What other reaction might you have had?

• because they wanted to see with their own eyes that they were telling the truth
• no
  

To what is God asking you to say yes? What sacrifice may be involved?

I believe he is asking me to say yes to evangelizing to others.  The sacrifice involved would be giving up some of my time that I would normally utilize for other things.

Think of a time in your life when an "old era" ended and something quite new began: a move, a marriage, a new job or perhaps an experience with God. What made this change difficult? What made it joyful? How was God involved?

I will talk about the time that I moved here to Pennsylvania.  I moved here from Wisconsin at the end of my second grade year.  What made this change difficult was that I had to leave any friends I made behind, however, the joyful part was that I got to make new friends.  The way that God was involved in this experience was that he was providing my dad with a new job that he liked.

Herodias

For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married.  For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”

~Mark 6:17-18

Why do you think Herod had John put in prison?  Because he wanted to please his wife or because he was angry and afraid of John himself?

• He wanted to please his wife

When someone confronts you with something that is wrong in your life, how do you respond?

• My response will be told how I feel about the situation

So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.

~Mark 6:19-20

Note the different responses to John recorded in these verses.  What do these responses tell you about Herod and Herodias?

• that they have different views as to what should happen to John

Which response is more like yours when confronted with sin?  Are you like Herodia - sulking and wanting to get even with those who reveal your sin or failings?  Or are you like Herod - willing to listen, curious about what the other person has to say?

• I would say that I am more like Herod

Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.  When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.

The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.”  And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”

~Mark 6:21-23

What do you think Salome's dance must have been like to produce such an extravigant promise from her stepfather?

• it must have looked pretty seductive

Have you ever promised something to someone that you later wished you hadn't?  What did you do?

• Usually if I make a promise, I stick with it because I feel like i owe something to somebody

She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?”

“The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.

  At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

~Mark 6:24-25

Have you ever plotted, like Herodias, to get your own way?  How does that make you feel about yourself?  Are you pleased when you get your own way, or is the result less that satisfying?

• I don't think I'm going to doubt that I have plotted to get my own way.  It's probably not right, but yes, usually when I get my own way, it is pretty satisfying

The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her.  So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother.  On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

~Mark 6:26-29

What other response could Herod have given?  Was he obligated in some way to fullfill his promise or could he have told her to come with another, more reasonable request?

• there probably wasn't much he could say because he felt obligated to follow his wife's wishes

When have you done something you later wished you hadn't simply because of the pressure of those around you to do it?  What would have been a better response?

• I'm not actually sure if I have been pressured to do something to the similar point that Herod was pressured.  Had I been pressured like he was, I would have done my best to stand my ground 

Read over the Ten Commandments in Deuteronomy 5. How do they help us? What "rights" are they protecting?

Be careful to obey all these regulations I am giving you, so that it may always go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and right in the eyes of the LORD your God.

~Deuteronomy 12:28

To somewhat refresh our memories, this is what the Ten Commandments in Deuteronomy 5 (:6-21) say:

“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

“You shall have no other gods before me.
“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
“Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.
“Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
“You shall not murder.
“You shall not commit adultery.
“You shall not steal.
“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

The help us by telling us how to live our lives faithfully to God.   I guess we could say that they are protecting our individual rights for humanity and its possessions to be respected

The Woman With The Issue of Blood

So Jesus went with him.

A large crowd followed and pressed around him.  And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years.  She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.

~Mark 5:24-26

Choose three words that best describe the kind of suffering experienced by this woman who had been bleeding for twelve long years.

• pain, sadness, frustration

When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak,  because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.”  Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

~Mark 5:27-29

Probably this woman accidentally touched otherse in the crowd when she was trying to get to Jesus.  What do you think the crowd would have said or done if they had known she was sick and was unclean?  What did it take for this woman to accept such a risk?

• I think they may have screamed in outrage
• she probably had lots of guts to do what she did

Mark says this woman was thinking "If I just touch his cothes, I will be healed."  What does this tell you about this woman?  How does this relate to Jesus' statement in verse 34 that her faith has healed her?

• she was confident in what she needed to do
• she had faith

At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”

  “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”

  But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done ti.

~Mark 5: 30-32

How do you think Jesus knew someone had touched him?  Obviously, the touch of this woman was different from the other touches by those around him.  What made it different?

• he felt some power leave him

Describe how you might feel if you had the opportunity to actually touch Jesus physically. Is there anything about this woman - her suffering, her actions, her healing - that reminds you of yourself?  What is it?

• I would feel very excited about having that opportunity
• unfortunately, I can't think of anything at the moment

Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth.

~Mark 5:33

Why do you think this woman was afraid to admit she was the one in the crowd who had touched Jesus and been healed?

• maybe she thought someone would be able to spot or recognize her and know that she is unclean

Think of a time when something very special or miraculous happened to you.  Were you eager or hesitant to share it with others?  Why?

• I'm pretty sure I was very eager to share it with others because it was the first time I had the chance to spend some special time with someone

He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

~Mark 5:34

Why does Jesus call this woman "daughter"?  How do you think the woman felt when Jesus spoke these words to her?

• being Christian is being part of one big family where Jesus, as God the Son, is more or lesss like a father to us
• she probably felt overjoyed

This woman had tried everything in order to be healed.  When Jesus came to her village, she knew she had another option.  How often do you try every other option to solve a problem before turning to God?  Is he often a last resort for you?  What would be a better way?

• I probably do it more often than necessary.  I try not to make God a last resort to turn to, but I probaby should go to him quicker than what I have been doing

When do you think most about God: when things are going well or when you are in trouble?

and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

~Deuteronomy 8:13-14

I would say when I'm more in trouble than not.  However, I should do it at either time

The Woman Who Lived A Sinful Life

When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.  A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume.

~Luke 7:36-37

What do you think the woman was looking for when she came in to see Jesus at Simon's house?  Attention?  Forgiveness?  An opportunity to express her love?  Do you think everyone at the dinner knew who and what she was?

• Forgiveness
• yes

Describe what sort of feelings this woman might have had as she entered the house.  When have you felt that way?  Were you brave enough to continue like the woman did, or did you stop?  Describe the situation and your actions.

• She was probably feeling weary and full of sorrow.  Yess I have felt this way before, but as of when is hard to remember.  I believe I did continue on because it is best to get the worst behind you. There could have been a time when I said something hurtful and I didn't really mean it, but after thinking things over, I would feel bad for saying what I said, and I would go back and apologize to that person.

As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

~Luke 7:38

Put this extravigant scene into your own words.  Why do you think the woman acted this way?

• She knelt down at his feet and wept.  Her tears beagan to soad the flesh on his feet.  She mopped up the tears she made with her hair, kissed his feet and doused them with perfume.
• She must have realized taht Jesus was a sinless man and she wanted to be forgiven by him

How willing are you to be totally transparent in your worship?  What would need to happen to make you as open in expressing your love for Jesus as this woman was?

• very willing
• at the current moment, nothing needs to happen

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

~Luke 7:39

Describe the pharisee's attitued toward Jesus and toward the sinful woman.

• he felt doubt towards Jesus and disgust towards the sinful woman

Who are you more like: the judgemental pharisee or the broken woman?

• I would say that I am more like the broken woman

Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me, teacher,” he said.

    “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

  Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

~Luke 7:40-43

What did Jesus want Simon to understand from this story?  Do you think he did?

• that those with deeper wrongs should be forgiven first
• yes

In what ways can you be understanding and sympathetic towards those whose lives have been shattered by sin, like this woman?  Towards those whose lives are characterized by judging otherse, like the pharisee?  Who needs forgiveness more?

• by forgiving them
• the sinful woman

Picture yourself as this sinful woman.  Who has been like Jesus to you?  Who has acted toward you like the pharisee?

• my two best friends
• people that were jealous of me in high school

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.  You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.  Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

  Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

  The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

  Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

~Luke 7:44-50

Jesus here talks about this woman using her as an example to teach something to Simon.  What do you suppose she was thinking at this point?

• she was probably shocked that Jesus was defending her

Have you ever been made an example, good or bad, for others?  How did you feel?

• yes, and sometimes that made me feel more important
  

Put yourself in the disciples' place. How would you have responded to news of Jesus' death? Would you have believed in him still?

And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

~Mark 15:39

I may have responded with very deep sorrow, but I most certainly would have believed in him