Category: MARK

RE Verse reading–Mark 1:16-18; 8:27-33; 14:26-31, 66-72; 16:5-7 (Day Three)
“At once they left their nets and followed him.”  What do you think you can’t live without?  For Peter and the other fishermen who followed Jesus, it was the tools of their trade.  But they left them behind when they actually began to pay attention to what Jesus was saying.  When they paid attention to Jesus, they could hear God calling to them. Their jobs did not prevent, per se, their devotion to the Lord.  But the way they gave themselves to their work certainly did.  Paying attention to Jesus ended up requiring that they make major shifts in the way they structured their days in order to hear him more intently and more clearly.  So they rearranged their lives.  They learned what they could live without—and what they could not.

RE Verse reading–Mark 1:16-18, 8:27-33, 14:26-31,66-72, 16:5-7 (day two)
When Jesus met Peter, he didn’t make Peter a leader. Peter brought natural gifting that has made many great leaders. Quick wit, passion, risk-taking ability, forcefulness, and courage are marks that cause leaders to rise in the ranks of military, business and academic achievement. Peter had all of these marks…before Jesus. Peter would even go so far as to attempt to lead Jesus himself telling him what he could and could not say, plan or expect (Mark 8:32). When Jesus met Peter, he made Peter a follower (Mark 1:17). It was only the leadership of Jesus that would eclipse the leadership of Peter. Peter found a leader greater than he, and so Peter became a follower. Have you yet found a leader greater than you? If so, perhaps you like Peter… and me…find yourself attempting to lead the Leader and after feeling the sting of His rebuke needing to remember whose wisdom, wit, passion, integrity and courage really is superior.

RE Verse reading–Mark 1:16-18, 8:27-33, 14:26-31,66-72, 16:5-7 (day one)
” ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said. . .at once they left their nets and followed him.” (1:17-18) In 1970 I decided to follow Jesus.  I know some resist the idea that people have any part in salvation, But I still believe that Christ called me to follow and (like Peter) a decision was required of me. What I didn’t know at that time was how much of me was still undecided and unsurrendered. Like Peter in Mark 8, I had days (later) when I thought I knew better than the Lord. I argued my ideas and preferences. Like Peter in Mark 14, I had moments when my pride blinded me to the things that Jesus could see. How grateful I am that my story is also like Peter’s in Mark 16, when the Lord, following moral collapse, was patient and kind to “call again”. I am grateful Peter decided to trust the Lord again.  I am grateful I did as well.

RE Verse reading–Mark 1:1-11 (day seven)
“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God”  (vs 1)  People these days are searching for good news.  In the face of economic and political crisis, the human heart looks desperately for hope.  As Christians, we have the privilege of giving it to them.  Euangellos is Mark’s word.  Note the similarity to our word evangelism.  It means “good news” and is usually translated gospel.  It is truth(s) that has a beneficial effect on human life–truth(s) from God that produces good results. . .for everyone who believes.  We are not ashamed of the gospel! ( Romans 1:16)  While some consider us naive to hold this confidence, we do not retreat from the hope that people can be rescued and the world restored by the power of God and the gospel He has given.  We “amen” the angel who spoke of  “good news of great joy” (Luke 2:10)  How/where does this good news begin?  Mark knows!

RE Verse reading–Mark 1:1-11 (day six)
“John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey”  (vs 6)  John’s message was a challenge.  He charged that Israel had sinned against God thus needing repentance and cleansing (symbolized in baptism).  Such a message required a life of integrity.  Rather than the softness and selfishness, he lived a life of austerity and self-discipline.  It gave his message great influence.  None of us can separate our life-styles from our message.  If we live self-indulgently this is what others will hear, regardless of what we say.  In 1 Thessalonians 1:5, Paul makes a similar claim.  “Our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit. . .just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you.”  In order for the gospel to have the influence that God intends, we must be in the world but not of it.

RE Verse reading–Mark 1:1-11 (Day Five)
In the beginning of the Gospel of Mark, we meet John the Baptist. John the Baptizer understood his role in the Kingdom of God. It was to “prepare the way”. The required daily activities were preaching and baptizing. He did them with passion and faithfulness.
It’s a worthy question to ask. “What is my role in the kingdom of God?” Will it be in: What I say? What I do? Where I go? How I think? We should all ask these kinds of questions frequently. As a spouse or future spouse, as a parent, as a boss or employee, as a student, as a citizen, or as a friend, “How could I contribute to the Kingdom of God?” That God would want to use our talents, time, and tasks to help grow His Kingdom is an amazing thought. That our actions and attitudes could have an eternal influence is great perspective to regularly consider.

ReVerse Passage:  Mark 1:1-15; 6:14-29; 11:27-33 (day 4)
In Christianity Explored by Rico Tice, three great themes are identified in Mark:  1) Who is Jesus? (Jesus’ Identity)  2) Why did He come? (Jesus’ Mission)  3) What does He require of His followers? (Jesus’ Call).  As you read through Mark, watch for each of these themes and mark the verses in your Bible that explain His Identity, His Mission, and His Call.  In Mark 1:1-11, there are three verses that identify one of these themes…verse 1 gives us information on who Jesus is (Identity).  Verse 8 tells us what His mission was…to baptize with the Holy Spirit.  Verse 11 again gives us His identity:  “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”  It is important for each of us to clearly understand each of these themes in Mark.  A misunderstanding of any one of them will give us a distorted view of the true gospel.  Enjoy your study!

RE Verse reading–Mark 1:1-11 (Day Three)  “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”  John came baptizing, and for good reason.  Baptism signifies a beginning—in our Christian tradition, of course, a new birth into life under the reign of Christ—and for the people in John’s day, a beginning of a new action of God in history.  You can’t begin the day until you wake up.  You can’t pick the vegetables until you sow the seed.  You can’t run the race until you’ve forced your body to begin the training program.  And you can’t listen to the Lord until you’ve braced your whole being to receive what he says.  Baptism in 30 A.D. meant that people were ready to listen—really ready.  If you want to hear God, John says, then prepare to do so.  What’s the evidence that you’re poised for God’s words to you?

RE Verse reading–Mark 1:1-11 (Day Two) “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God…You are my beloved Son…” If Jesus is God’s Son, who is God’s wife? It’s a fair question, especially coming from an eight year old. If Jesus is God’s son in the same way that I am my father’s son, then there are strange conclusions that follow about the nature of God. Psalm 2:7-9 shows that to be a “son” is not so much about progeny as it is about authority. It’s not merely sharing a name but sharing the power that goes with that name. When God claims Jesus as His “beloved Son,” he declares more about Jesus’ role as rightful ruler than about Jesus’ nature as divine. When you claim Jesus, you are not merely claiming a Savior. You are claiming a Master who carries the authority of the Supreme Lord, the Creator God. This raises an important question. Are you living under the authority of Jesus, the Son of God?

RE Verse reading–Mark 1:1-11 (day one)  “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”  Welcome to a new study in the gospel of Mark.  For 13 weeks it will be our privilege to see Christ in the way that people responded to His life and message.  This week we focus on John the Baptist who called people to “prepare the way for the Lord”.  The greek word is hetoimazo, “to make something fitting or appropriate”.  If God is to come and dwell with us, bringing with Him a new chapter of blessing, then respect alone requires certain things be done in preparation.  Christmas makes a similar (if more material) requirement of us.   Homes and schedules have to be prepared for the celebration.  Carefully the choir must rehearse for “Christmas at First”.  Isn’t spiritual/inner preparation is even more necessary?  What steps should be taken now to be ready for His presence?  God guide us as we study and consider.