The Problem of Jesus Study Guide plus Streaming Video

Answering a Skeptic’s Challenges to the Scandal of Jesus

Mark Clark

• Publisher: Zondervan
• Year: 2021
• eBook ISBN: 9780310108382
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Studies

Look beyond the superficial understandings of Jesus to reexamine his powerful claims, teachings, and the events surrounding his life.

The modern world portrays Jesus in many ways for many reasons. But in order to see and understand the real Jesus and what the Gospels say about him, we have to take a closer look and be willing to accept him on his own controversial and challenging terms.

In this nine-session study (DVD/streaming video sold separately), Mark Clark will guide you and your group through some of the essential aspects of the person and work of the historical Jesus of Nazareth, including:

• His parables and miracles.
• The historical and biblical accounts of him.
• His death and resurrection.
• His claim to be God.

Based on the commentary and reflections of his book, The Problem of Jesus, Mark Clark helps us come to a truer understanding of Jesus and the often-unexamined cost of following him.  

This video-based study is designed to be experienced in a group setting or any small gathering. Throughout the nine sessions, you'll take part in a number of activities, including:

• Watching the video teachings from Mark (The Problem of Jesus, A Video Study, sold separately).
• Group discussion questions.
• Written responses and personal reflections.
• Scripture readings and prayers.

The Problem of Jesus Study Guide provides a safe space to wrestle with and strengthen your faith—and ultimately to deepen your discipleship to the Redeemer.

SESSION 1

The Problem of
THE HISTORICAL JESUS

I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.

—LUKE 4:43

Welcome

Today we’re talking about the historical Jesus of Nazareth, one of the most interesting and influential figures in history. However, this session isn’t just about Jesus; it’s actually more about you. It’s about what you do with the most important person who ever lived and how it defines your life. What we do with Jesus doesn’t just define our lives in this moment—it defines the fate of everyone who has ever lived. Eternity hangs in the balance based on how we define and accept Jesus today. So, in this first session, we will see the first problem of Jesus is that he brings us to a crisis of faith, challenging us to either make him our center or deny him all together. In order to accept Jesus, we must first understand who he was and understand the meaning of his message, because without a proper understanding of Jesus and his context, we misunderstand him in small yet significant ways. When we see Jesus in his first-century Jewish context rather than our modern Western context, we see how his whole life—all he did and taught—comes alive in fresh and colorful ways. Jesus’ ministry did what all good prophetic ministries do: it subverted the stories, beliefs, and actions of the existing religious movements and replaced them with something better. Jesus brought a kingdom message to his audience, and in doing so, he offered something scandalous for his time: membership in the new people of God on his own authority and by his own process. He did this by consciously putting himself in the role of Israel. Jesus made it clear that he was bringing Israel’s history to a final phase and redrawing the boundary lines of Israel, including Jews and Gentiles alike. That’s why looking at Jesus in his original context is so important, because it helps us guard against making Jesus in our own image and using him for our own agenda, and it helps us understand what his message actually was—what he was doing and saying, and why. So let’s take a closer look at the problem of the historical Jesus.

Share

If you or any of your group members are just getting to know one another, take a few minutes to introduce yourselves. Then, to kick things off, briefly discuss one of the following:

• Share one hope or expectation you have for this study.

—or—

• What are some common misconceptions we have about the historical nature of Jesus?

Read

Invite someone to read aloud the following Bible passage as preparation for Mark’s teaching. Listen for fresh insights as you hear the verses being read, and then briefly discuss the questions that follow.

The Vine and the Branches

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other. (John 15:1–17)

What is one key insight that stands out to you from this passage?

[Your Response Here]

Why is the vine and branches metaphor so significant for Jesus’ audience?

[Your Response Here]

Consider as you listen to Mark’s teaching: What would change about your perspective of the gospel if you understood the words of Jesus through the eyes and ears of a first-century Jew?

[Your Response Here]

Watch

Play the video segment for session 1. As you watch, use the following outline to record any thoughts or concepts that stand out to you.

NOTES: PART A

Did Jesus Really Exist?

What we do with Jesus defines the faith of everyone who has ever lived.

The scandal of Jesus

But we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block . . .

—1 CORINTHIANS 1:23

“skandalon”(n)—original Greek

“. . . and they took offense to him.”

—MATTHEW 13:57

Three kinds of people and responses to Jesus:

1. those who loved Jesus

2. those who rejected Jesus

3. those who were indifferent to Jesus

A man who is merely a man and said the sorts of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic . . . or else he would be the Devil of Hell. . . . But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us.

—C. S. LEWIS

There is no middle ground with Jesus.

The Challenges of Jesus

The study of the historical Jesus: Did he exist and what was his message?

Evidence of Jesus outside the Bible

• Ten different writers from history who talk about Jesus by name

Nero fastened the guilt on a class hated for their abominations called Christians by the populous. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hand of Pontius Pilate.

—TACITUS

•...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Ebook Instructions
• Contents
• A Note from Mark Clark
• How to Use This Guide
• Session 1: The Problem of the Historical Jesus
• Session 2: The Problem of the Gospels
• Session 3: The Problem of Discipleship
• Session 4: The Problem of Loving God
• Session 5: The Problem of Miracles
• Session 6: The Problem of Jesus’ Stories
• Session 7: The Problem of Jesus As God—or God As Jesus
• Session 8: The Problem of Jesus’ Death
• Session 9: The Problem of the Resurrection
• Closing Words
• Index of Verses Used (By Session)
• Leading This Group