A Feast In The Wilderness (Mark 6:30-56)
Everyone needs to rest on occasion. Even God rested after He created the universe. In the Gospel account which bears his name, Mark tells us what happened one time when Jesus wanted some rest. In chapter 6, verses 30 through 32 he writes, “The apostles gathered themselves together to Jesus, and they told him all […]
A Birthday Gift (Mark 6:14-29)
Jesus’ teaching and the miracles He performed were a source of controversy. People were divided about where His power came from. They were confused about who Jesus was. The common people were not the only ones who were confused. There was a king who had a special reason to wonder who Jesus might be – […]
A Prophet Without Honor (Mark 6:1-13)
We tend to dismiss advice and calls to righteousness from “our own.” Our attitude is, “Who are you to tell me what to do?” It is far easier to accept instruction from someone on the outside than it is from someone we know. Jesus ran into this phenomenon when He visited the village where He […]
Power Over Death (Mark 5:21-43)
People come from many different backgrounds, societies and cultures. However, no matter who we are, we all have something in common. Someday, all of us will die. As King Solomon wrote, “All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and […]
Power Over Demons (Mark 5:1-20)
There is a saying that, “Talk is cheap.” What we mean by it is that it is very easy to say something but it is another matter entirely to actually do what we claim. People make empty boasts all the time. Unfortunately, this is true even in regard to spiritual things. People claim to be […]
Parables Of The Kingdom (Mark 4:21-42)
People like to listen to stories. Stories speak to our emotions and well as to our minds. Also, it is often easier to remember a story than a set of facts. Because of this skillful teachers use stories in order to make the truths they present easy to remember. They will also use ordinary things […]
Types Of Soil (Mark 4:1-20)
There is an art to communication. It is not always easy to present information in a way that others can readily grasp and understand it. The best speakers and teachers use illustrations and tell stories to make the concepts they present both memorable and easy to understand. In addition to being a prophet and a […]
Jesus’ Family (Mark 3:20-35)
Our culture, our families, our training and our experiences all condition us to view life in a certain way. Our thoughts and attitudes conform to the expectations of those around us. We learn to accept the values of our societies. It is a rare person who can perceive the limitations of his own experience and […]
To Be With Him (Mark 3:7-19)
Right from the beginning Jesus challenged people’s preconceptions. While doing so He exposed the hypocrisy of the religious leaders. Because of this, the leaders plotted to kill Him. The day would come when Jesus, in accordance with God’s will, allowed them to execute Him. However, Jesus needed to accomplish some things before that day came. […]
Lord Of The Sabbath (Mark 2:23-3:6)
All societies and cultures have certain rituals or customs which they observe. However, it is very possible for people to comply with the customs or rituals without thinking about or even knowing the reason for them. The same is true regarding spiritual things. We practice certain rituals and comply with certain customs without giving any […]