Scripture: Mark 10: 32-33

They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him.  “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles

Scripture Commentary:

Jesus had told the disciples what was going to happen to him. Jesus’ death and resurrection should have come as no surprise to the disciples. He clearly explained to them what would happen to Him. Unfortunately, they didn’t really hear what he was saying.

Jesus said He was the Messiah, but they thought the Messiah would be a conquering king. He spoke to them of resurrection, but they heard only His words about death. As Jesus often spoke in parables, the disciples may have thought His words on death and resurrection were another parable that they were not astute enough to understand.

There are no accidents in God’s plan.

The gospels include Jesus’ predictions of His death and resurrection to show that these events were God’s plan from the beginning.

The disciples may have been confused about what Jesus was telling them. Are you confused about what Jesus is telling you?

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Mark Chapter 10

Scripture: Mark 2: 15-17

Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.)  But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum?^]”

 When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Scripture Commentary:

The day Levi met Jesus, he held a meeting at his house to introduce others to Jesus. Levi didn’t waste any time starting to witness!

Some people feel that new believers should wait for training or maturity before they begin to tell others about Jesus. But like Levi, new believers can share their faith right away with whatever knowledge, skill, or experience they already have.

Jesus spent time with everyone who wanted to hear the Word.

The self-righteous Pharisees were indignant that Jesus would eat a meal with such sinners. Jesus spent time with whoever (poor, rich, bad or good) needed or wanted to hear His message.

Are there people you have been neglecting because of their reputation? They may be the ones who most need to see and hear the message of Jesus Christ’s love in and from you.

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Mark Chapter 2

Scripture: Mark 11: 15-17

And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;  And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.  And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Scripture Commentary: How would Jesus  react if he entered His Father’s House today?

Would he say this is a house of prayer or that it’s more like a bazaar?

The church does the work of the Father.   Would Jesus see the church operated more like a business?  Or is it acting as a house of God that is bringing many to salvation for the Savior?

Are we in a store selling things or are we in God’s House worshipping him?

Mark 11: 15-17 tells what reaction Jesus had when he entered his Father’s House of Worship and saw the people more interested in selling things.  So the question now is would Jesus react the same way today?

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Mark Chapter 11

Scripture: Mark 11: 15-17

On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.  And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”

Scripture Commentary: God says that his house is a house of prayer for all nations.

How would Jesus react if he walked into his father’s house today? Would he find a house of prayer or a den of thieves? Is the work of our God the focus in our places of worship? Or, are we more concerned with how much money we raise?

Using the church setting as a business draws in more money than it does people.

The purpose of the church, of having a space to come together with fellow Christians and worship our Lord, is to cultivate community and bring in nonbelievers to teach them God’s Word. As instruments in God’s kingdom, we are to bring people to the Lord, to his salvation and mercy.

In these verses, Mark tells the reaction Jesus had when he entered his Father’s house of worship. The question now is would Jesus react the same way today? Are we in a store selling earthy objects or are we engaged in worship in God’s house?

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Mark Chapter 11

Scripture: Mark 10: 38-39

“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”

Scripture Commentary: Stay on point with God – do not turn to the right or left

James and John wanted honored places alongside Jesus. They wanted to know where their places were. Would they sit at Jesus’ right or left at the table?

Today, people think they are working toward having a physical spot next to Jesus. We don’t realize that, if we  live and love as Jesus did, there would be no need to question our place.

Jesus died and rose; he paid the price for our sins. We have an opportunity to turn to God. God’s plan is to give us what we want out of love, and in return we love him with faith.

We suffer, just as James and John, with serving others. Jesus will not ridicule us for wanting to know where we stand. Remember that God wants us with him.

Take it upon yourself to remove sin from your life.  Repent and find a place with God. Live a Christ-like life and minister to the needs of others. Fill your life by serving Jesus Christ.

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Mark Chapter 10

Scripture: Mark 10: 46-48

And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.  And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.  And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

Scripture Commentary: Jesus hears us when we cry out to him

When we pray we cry out to Jesus. We often cry out to him seeking help; either for something we want or think we need. What are we doing in our lives that leaves us with a need for something?

God gives us everything we need, so what are we asking for? Did we use or did we waste what we had? We often call out to Jesus looking to gain something that we do not need, but something that is the object of our greed.

Jesus gives you what you need.  What have you given him?

Jesus healed Bar-ti-mae’-us out of love. He gave you what you need, and sometimes he gives you the things you ask for, out of love. What have you done for Jesus out of love?

Have you taught his Word to others? Do you spread the word about what Jesus has done for you and for your family? Jesus gives you so much. What have you given?

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Mark Chapter 10

Scripture: Mark 13: 34-37

For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.  Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.  And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

Scripture Commentary: The keys to God’s house are His Words, The Bible.

Jesus has left us with the keys to His Father’s House.  The keys are His Words, The Bible.  His footprints are on the ground, in the sand and on the floor.

Our role is to be the porters, the gatekeepers, Christ’s servants.  Are you a servant for God?  Or are you a self-serving person?

The gatekeeper or doorman is the one who is spreading God’s Gospel.  It’s the person who is trying his/her best to live a Godly life.

Prepare for Jesus’ return

We don’t know, as God’s servants, when the Master will return.  We plan for events in our lives such as births, weddings, home purchases, and car purchases.

But are we preparing for Jesus?  Our Lord has gone to prepare our rooms.  What are you doing to prepare for the journey?

When God has given us another second, minute, hour, day, we are to give thanks and go about spreading His Gospel to as many people as possible.

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Mark Chapter 13

Scripture: Mark 8:31-35

And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men. And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

Scripture commentary: Jesus as the Son of Man is the human agent of God

Jesus refers to himself as the ” Son of Man.”  The expression comes from Daniel 7:13.  Also, it refers to Jesus as the Messiah, the human agent of God who is vindicated by God.

In Mark 8, Jesus begins to speak plainly and directly to His disciples about His death and resurrection. As a result, He began to prepare them for what was coming, telling them three times that He would soon die.

Peter wanted Christ to be king, not the suffering servant. In addition, he was ready to receive the glory of following the Messiah, but not the persecution. He saw only part of the picture, not seeing God’s plan for Jesus’ life, and he was thinking of his own natural human desires and feelings.

Like Peter, we often do not see the plans that God has for our life because we are focusing only the things that we want, here and now. Do not hold on to the things of this world. Now is the time to deny the the things of this world and follow Jesus.

Note: The expression “the Son of man” occurs 81 times in the Greek text of the four Canonical gospels.

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Mark Chapter 8