Mark – Page 3 – Be Still…

Mark 13:3-23 – Jesus Looks Out For Us

We now know how much Jesus will look out for us when troubles come. We’re given the privilege of hearing what Jesus was telling some of his closest followers. Jesus made it sound like these things were only going to happen during the disciples’ lifetimes, but the promise continues as we are facing the same opposition. There are so many gems in this reading.

Jesus speaks of the end times, as well as our times of persecution while we wait. You’ve probably heard people say “we’re in the end times” because of the earthquakes and wars going on around the globe. It’s not surprising, then, that we as Christ-followers are under attack for our faith in some parts of the world. Even churches and faith groups are under siege, as well as individuals standing for their religious rights. All have been mocked and scorned by society. It’s happening. Continue reading “Mark 13:3-23 – Jesus Looks Out For Us”

Mark 12:35-13:2 – Forever With God

Read Mark 12:35-13:2

Jesus covers a lot of ground here with his discussions about the Messiah, the widow’s offering, and a glimpse into the future. Jesus continues to share truth bombs to speak to his followers. Whether or not these all happened on the same afternoon or not doesn’t matter. The Gospel of Mark is a great collection of the life and teachings of Jesus.

When we hear Jesus talk about the Messiah (himself), our viewpoint is a lot different than that of his first audience. For the disciples and early followers, waiting for the Messiah to come was on the forefront of everyone’s minds. For centuries, since the prophets first foretold this Savior and promised deliverer, the people had been waiting and watching. Continue reading “Mark 12:35-13:2 – Forever With God”

Mark 12:18-34 – Love God & Others

Read Mark 12:18-34

The hard questions keep on coming for Jesus. I know when I have an audience with Jesus, I’m going to have all sorts of questions. I will seek clarification about creation and affirmation of my beliefs. I can’t imagine trying to trick Jesus.

It was helpful to hear how Jesus responded to the topic of resurrection. Except when we are in church or talking about our forever home with Jesus, the word “resurrection” doesn’t come up much in everyday conversation. It was interesting to me that it was a Sadducee who asked the question about resurrection, something they don’t even believe exists. Continue reading “Mark 12:18-34 – Love God & Others”

Mark 12:1-17 – More Than a Parable

Read Mark 12:1-17

Jesus loved to use stories, known as parables, in his teaching. While always memorable, the meanings are not always clear. But God allowed these religious leaders to understand the truth about who they represented in the story. I’m guessing that was Jesus’ intent all along, hoping they would not be too blind to recognize themselves. Their exit must have spoken volumes to Jesus. The crowd was likely clueless.

What caution can we take from the story? It may be easy for us to see the relationship between the landowner and God, who sent his son (Jesus) into the world. Jesus paid with his life, too. We don’t want to be like the greedy farmers who disrespect God or his Son. We can look around the world today and see plenty of examples of that. Does it break your heart, too? Continue reading “Mark 12:1-17 – More Than a Parable”

Mark 11:20-33 – A Different Side of Jesus

Read Mark 11:20-33

It’s starting to get real. Jesus knows his time is limited, and I’m sure he’s feeling the pressure to give his disciples as much wisdom as he can. They are going to need all the faith they can get when he’s no longer with them. Were you expecting to see the fig tree become a teachable moment once again?

The power of Jesus’ words, cursing the fig tree only a day earlier, had caused it to immediately die. The power of Jesus’ name can move mountains, too. Jesus tells us to “pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.” That sounds a lot like what people today call “manifesting.” Unfortunately, the idea is similar, but people calling it that don’t rely on God’s powerful provision. I prefer to focus on how God is moving in my life. Continue reading “Mark 11:20-33 – A Different Side of Jesus”