1. In 2:23-28, what had been the Pharisees' criticism of Jesus? In verse 1, what did Jesus do? What day was it? What must have been his reason for going to the synagogue?
2. Who did Jesus find there? What do you think it meant to that man to have a shriveled hand? Who were the people inn verse 2? What were they looking for?
3. In verse 3, what did Jesus do? Why do you think he had this man stand up in front of them all? What does this reveal about Jesus? What question did Jesus ask them? (4) What was Jesus trying to teach them about the spirit of the law?
4. When they remained silent, how did Jesus feel? (5) Why was he so angry and distressed? What did he do? What does this show about Jesus?
5. Why might it have been hard for this man to obey Jesus there? When he obeyed, what happened? (5) What can we learn from this man?
6. When Jesus and his disciples withdrew, what happened? (6,7) Where did the people come from? (8. If possible, see a map.) Describe the crowds. (9-12) What does this reveal about the people and about the time?
II. Jesus Appoints the Twelve Apostles (13-35)
7. When Jesus saw the desperate situation of the times, what did he do? (13,14) Who were the twelve he appointed? (16-19) What kind of people were they? What do you know about each one? What can you learn from Jesus' calling such men?
8. Why did Jesus designate them "apostles"? In verses 14 and 15 we learn three discipleship training subjects? What were they? What does it mean, "that they might be with him"?
