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God the Son
Jesus is recognized as the Holy Son of God by the Father and also by demonic forces. The miracles of Jesus in Mark 3 show His compassionate heart and fulfill Old Testament prophecy to verify that Christ is God’s Son.
When Jesus Gets Angry
The righteous anger of Jesus is directed at the Pharisees in Mark 3:1-6. Christ is justifiably angry at their hypocrisy and the hardness of their hearts. It is important for us to examine the anger of Christ and to learn how to follow Him in sincerity and truth.
Imitate Their Faith
In Hebrews 13:7-8, we are encouraged to remember those who have influenced us and established us in the faith. We are to consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus is the source of the grace that is manifested in the outcomes of their lives. We should lean on Christ, never giving up, devoting ourselves to teaching and sharing the Word of God.
You’ve Abandoned Your First Love
In Revelation 2:4, Christ says to the church at Ephesus, “You have abandoned the love you had at first.” A supreme love for Christ should be the mark of a believer, but even energetic, orthodox Christians can still love Jesus less than He deserves. The solution to being zealous yet unloving: remember from where you have fallen and repent, asking Christ to change you into a person who loves the Lord with a humble, public, extravagant love.
The Power of God for Salvation
The Gospel is an announcement of good news. Salvation is our rescue from guilt, separation from God, slavery to sin, and eternal death. Salvation is also rescue for life, adoption as children of God, and blessedness. The Gospel message is filled with the inherent power of God for the salvation of all who believe.
What the Resurrection is About
Easter is about forgiveness, hope, and worship. Jesus died on the cross to secure our forgiveness, and rose from the grave to prove that our forgiveness is secure. We have the certainty of a living hope through the resurrection. Our response should be to confess our belief in the resurrection and trust in Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. Praise God for a living hope from a living Savior!
A Mock Coronation
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 And when…
The Lord of the Sabbath
In Mark 2:24-27, the Pharisees accuse Jesus of breaking the Pharisaical view of the Sabbath. Their pride and self-righteousness caused them to add repressive rules to the Biblical view of the Sabbath. We must resist being modern-day Pharisees who hold others in contempt. We also must approach the Scriptures with humility, depending on the Holy Spirit. Finally, we must worship Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath and divine Son of Man.
The Bridegroom
Jesus refers to Himself as the Bridegroom in Mark 2:19, thus proclaiming His divine nature and fulfilling the portrayal of God as our bridegroom in 20 books of the Bible. The disciples of Jesus did not fast while the Bridegroom was with the, but today it is appropriate to fast when seeking wisdom or in times repentance and crisis. It is also appropriate to feast in celebration of God’s redeeming grace. As we await the return of the Bridegroom, “All who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as He is pure.” John 3:3 (ESV)
Jesus Eats with Sinners
Jesus went again to the Sea of Galilee to teach. While there He passed by Levi, a tax collector, and Jesus commanded him to “follow me.” Levi did. Shortly thereafter, Jesus joined Levi at his house with many of his friends. They were described by the scribes of the Pharisees as tax collectors and sinners. Jesus saw them as individuals needing salvation. We can learn at least four principles for sharing our faith with others from this example of Levi.
The Son of Man
When Jesus refers to Himself as the Son of Man (first in Mark 2:10 and many other times in the Gospels) this title holds deep significance. Son of Man is more than just a proclamation to Christ’s humanity. It is a reference to Daniel’s vision in Daniel 7 of the Son of Man who comes with the clouds of heaven, appears before the Ancient of Days, and is granted authority to judge the nations. Jesus has the authority to forgive our sins immediately, fully, and permanently.
Jesus, the Forgiver
In Mark 2:1-12, Jesus is preaching the Word, the timeless, binding truth which sets us free. The four friends of a paralytic resolve to overcome all obstacles to bring him to Jesus. Christ first forgives the man’s sins, because the greatest need of all of us is to have our slate wiped clean: instantly, totally, and eternally. Christ then miraculously heals the paralytic, demonstrating His authority as the Son of Man, the Christ, to take away our sins.
Forgiven
In Psalm 32 King David expresses the blessedness of forgiveness. David had committed sins of which the consequences of those sins still occurred, but he received forgiveness and a restored relationship with the Father when he cried out to God. Righteousness comes through faith to us as well. It is credited to us as a gift, apart from works.
Jesus Touched Me
Miracles of physical healing by Jesus demonstrate the Lord’s compassion, His kingly power as the Messiah, and His ultimate mission to cure our sin-sick souls. Jesus was very willing to extend mercy to a leper suffering from an illness which had left him deformed and isolated. We, also, need a merciful healing from our sin problem. Reach out in faith and obtain mercy and cleansing.
A Praying Life
Jesus commands us to pray, encourages us that our prayers will be answered, and gives us His Spirit to help us pray. But before any of those, Jesus set the example of how to pray. For Christ, prayer was a habit, and expression of His loving relationship with the Father, and a necessity in order for the work of God to be accomplished. Like Christ, let us “pray without ceasing.”
Our Lord’s Authority
The first chapter of Mark focuses on the identity of Jesus. Jesus is revealed to be the Christ, the Son of God, the Lord, and the King. In verses 21-28, Christ’s power and authority is demonstrated as He preaches truth and exorcises an evil spirit. The enemy is no match for the Almighty God.
Following Jesus
Jesus calls His disciples to make a deliberate choice to follow Him personally, closely, humbly, courageously, daily, and publicly. He will enable us to make Him known to others, telling them of His grace.
Repent and Believe — Now!
Mark 1:14-15 marks a turning point in history when Jesus proclaims, “The time has come.” Israel had been waiting for the Messiah for thousands of years, the Promised One who would suffer and die for our sins and bring deliverance from sin. Our response to the sacrificial death of Christ on our behalf should be one of repentance and faith, awe and worship.
Our Lord’s Baptism
Mark 1:9-11 describes the baptism of Jesus in specific fulfillment of prophecy (Isaiah 53:10, Isaiah 64:1, Isaiah 61:l-2, and Isaiah 42:1-4). Each member of the Trinity is present at this baptism. Jesus enters the water, the Father affirms that Jesus is His eternal Son, and the Holy Spirit descends to authenticate and empower Christ. In a similar way each member of the Trinity is intimately, personally, redemptively working for you and your salvation every day.
The Greatest Prophet
John the Baptist was the prophet who ushered in the new era of the Messiah. His message was a call to genuine repentance that leads to a changed life. He was humble before the almighty Christ. John foretold that Jesus the Messiah would give the Holy Spirit to His followers to enable them to walk in His ways.