Mark (Page 3)
Ritual Blindness
Religious rituals like fasting and Sabbath keeping are the concern of skeptics, rather than concern over who Jesus is and what he does and says. Their focus is on religious ritual and they are blind to the presence of God among them. These rituals are made for us, we are not made for them. Even good, God-given things can become bad when they are elevated above their rightful place.
The Authority of Jesus
Early in the gospel of Mark, one characteristic of Jesus that dominates is his authority. Jesus demonstrated that he has the authority to teach, the authority heal, the authority to cast out demons, and the authority to forgive sins. Only God carries such authority and Jesus demonstrates that he is the Son of God. What is our response? It is a fact that the one we follow has all authority which gives us confidence to be his disciple and go…
Jesus’ Call: Repent, Believe, Follow
No matter who you are or what you’ve done, Jesus is calling you to repent, believe in the gospel, and follow him. What this looks like is important to understand as it has eternal significance. Don’t miss what Jesus preached, “for that is why [he] came out” (Mark 1:38).
Jesus Is the Gospel
In the introduction to the gospel of Mark, we’re compelled to see Jesus as the greatest news we’ve ever heard. We’re compelled see how all of Scripture points to Jesus Christ. We’re compelled to humility like John, recognizing that even the best of us are nothing compared to Jesus. We’re compelled to experience the power of his Spirit which he promised to give to his church. We’re compelled to see the fatherly love that God has for his Son. We’re…