Gospel of Mark Bible Part 46: Mindful of the Things of God [Bible Study]

Bible Study Title: Mindful of the Things of God

Scripture Focus

Mark 8:31–33

“And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And He was stating the matter openly. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.’”

Introduction

In the previous passage, Jesus asked His disciples a question that still confronts every generation. “Who do people say that I am?” The answers reflected popular opinion: John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the prophets returned from the dead. Then Jesus pressed closer to the heart. “But who do you say that I am?”

Peter, speaking on behalf of the group, confessed, “You are the Christ.” With that confession on the table, Jesus immediately began to correct their expectations of what the Christ had come to do. Near Caesarea Philippi, He delivered the first of three clear predictions about His coming suffering, death, and resurrection. The disciples had confessed the right identity, but they had not yet embraced the right mission.

Bible Reading

Mark 8:31–33

“And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And He was stating the matter openly. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.’”

Background and Context

This is the first explicit passion prediction in Mark’s Gospel. Jesus speaks plainly and without parable. He tells them who will reject Him, how He will die, and that He will rise again on the third day. Later, He repeats this teaching with even more detail.

Mark 10:33–34

“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and will deliver Him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock Him and spit on Him, and flog Him and kill Him, and three days later He will rise again.”

Peter responds not with curiosity, but with correction. He takes Jesus aside and rebukes Him. Matthew records Peter’s words more fully.

Matthew 16:22

“God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.”

From a human standpoint, Peter’s reaction makes sense. He loved Jesus. He did not want Him to suffer or die. Yet sincere concern can still stand in direct opposition to the will of God.

Key Truth 1: God’s Ways Are Not Our Ways

Scripture repeatedly reminds us that God does not think as we think or evaluate as we evaluate.

Isaiah 55:8–9

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares Yahweh. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

God’s View of Suffering

The cross was not an interruption of God’s plan. It was the plan.

Luke 24:26–27

“Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory? Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He interpreted to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.”

Luke 24:44–46

“Now He said to them, ‘These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day.’”

God’s View of Greatness

Mark 10:42–45

“You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

God’s View of Beauty

1 Peter 3:3–4

“Your adornment must not be merely external, braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on garments; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible quality of a lowly and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.”

God’s View of Wealth

Luke 16:13–15

“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and were scoffing at Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts, for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.”

Key Truth 2: Being Mindful of the Things of God, Not Ourselves

Jesus rebuked Peter because Peter’s concern, though sincere, was rooted in human reasoning rather than divine revelation. Peter had set his mind on man’s interests.

The Danger of Trusting Ourselves

Jeremiah 17:9

“The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can know it?”

Proverbs 16:25

“There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”

Proverbs 28:26

“He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will escape.”

Proverbs 3:5

“Trust in Yahweh with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.”

Ezekiel 36:26

“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”

Feelings, Conscience, and Human Wisdom

Many people treat feelings or intuition as a moral compass. Scripture warns against this approach. Even conscience can be misinformed. Paul served God with a clear conscience while persecuting the church.

Acts 23:1

“Brothers, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day.”

Acts 26:9–11

“So then, I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth… And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities.”

God’s will must be revealed by God Himself.

1 Corinthians 2:9–12

“But just as it is written, ‘Things which eye did not see and ear did not hear, and which did not enter the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.’ For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God… Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God.”

Key Truth 3: We Must Trust God

Trusting God in Salvation

Salvation is not achieved by human effort, but by obedience to the gospel.

Mark 16:15–16

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”

Acts 2:38

“Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 22:16

“Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.”

Trusting God in Worship

Mark 7:6–9

“This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me. But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commands of men. Leaving the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”

Colossians 3:17

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

Trusting God in Daily Life

Matthew 6:33

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

1 Timothy 6:17–19

“Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.”

2 Timothy 3:16–17

“All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

2 Peter 1:3

“Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”

Application and Reflection

Peter’s mistake was not rebellion, but misplaced confidence in his own perspective. Good intentions are not enough. God’s will must always take priority over what feels right or seems compassionate by human standards.

Ask yourself honestly: Am I mindful of the things of God, or the things of man?

Memory Verse

Colossians 3:1–2

“Therefore, if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”

Closing Challenge

Romans 12:2

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may approve what the will of God is, that which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

What is good, pleasing, and perfect? The will of God. Choose daily to submit your thinking, your desires, and your direction to His revealed Word.

Available NOW on Amazon!