Used by permission of Crossway Books, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Jesus healing ministry in Mark 1:29 34 shows us his great compassion. This is the glory of what Martin Luther called the great exchange. Jesus took our condemnation on himself and gives us his righteousness as we look to him in faith. Ultimately. KINGDOM OF GOD. In the video here I give my response. The coming of the kingdom of God means that Gods rule over peoples hearts and lives is being established in and through Jesus. The first thing Jesus says to the paralytic who is brought to him has nothing to do with the paralysis: Son, your sins are forgiven (Mark 2:5). 2:10). I havent been more personally convicted, while simultaneously given practical tools to grow through a book in a long time. . 23:1). 5:32; Rev. (For further background, see the ESV Study Bible, pages 18951898, available online at www.esvbible.org.). Take time to reflect on the implications of Mark 6:78:26 for your own life today. In the Book of Acts, John Mark was a companion of Paul and Barnabas. Upending Our Assumptions about Entering the Kingdom (Mark 10:1331). He was not Roman by birth but had been appointed king of the Jews under the authority of Rome. Sovereignty over all things is a distinctive attribute of God (1 Tim. Defiled morally. Several of these voices were advancing Critical Race Theory. FRUITFUL TREES. Jewish tax collectors in New Testament times collaborated financially with Rome against their fellow Jews. 8:13; see also Hos. They corporately read ancient creeds and prayers. Why might Mark have wanted to make this clear? The embracing of the nations in the kingdom of God is therefore probably part of the significance of Jesus parable in Mark 4. . Eugene Park is the associate pastor of True North Church in Palo Alto, California, and hosts a podcast, Off the Pulpit. It requires actual construction with hardhats, sweat, and a team. Unclean plus clean equals clean. Yet, when these incentives are more important than the presence and glory of Christ, were really no different than the celebrity using Jesuss name for personal profit. Marriage is left behind for the matchless experience of being in the presence of. 4:116). . (Mark 15:24). But the craziness of life caused me to take a closer look at Jesuss words on restand his exchange with the Pharisees in Mark 2 in particular. This longer ending is missing from various old and reliable Greek manuscripts, and early church fathers (such as Origen and Clement of Alexandria) did not appear to know of these verses. Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases on Amazon.com. The word eschatology means last things and refers to what Christians believe about the end times. I live in one of the most secular, post-Christian cities in our nation, and the longer Im here, the more convinced I become that hes right: hurry is the issue under all the other issues. Note the personal implications for your walk with the Lord in light of (1) the Gospel Glimpses, (2) the Whole-Bible Connections, (3) the Theological Soundings, and (4) this passage as a whole. The same holds true when God calls men and women to be his disciples today (see 1 Cor. From one perspective eschatology refers to the present, because the New Testament shows repeatedly that the ancient hopes and longings of the Old Testament have already decisively begun in Jesus and the church even if they are not yet fully completed. DAVIDS KINGDOM. Rather, our condition is one of defilementmanifested by what comes out of usand is thus in need of cleansing. Literally to immerse or to wash. Refers to the Christian practice of immersing a new believer in water as an outward sign of the inward reality of regeneration. There are several similarities between Isaiah 40:13 and the way Mark presents John the Baptist. A prominent instance of the vision/blindness theme is Isaiah 6:9 10, picked up by Jesus (Matt. What does this passage indicate about the key failure on the part of the crowd and the disciples? 4:12). But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose . We will therefore organize this section under the two headings Jesus Authority Revered and Jesus Authority Challenged. Read Mark 1:213:12 and consider the following questions. While the Bible doesn't confirm or deny this, many believe he developed a close . . While the Pharisees reach back to Deuteronomy 24 to ask about the Mosaic laws allowance for a certificate of divorce, Jesus reaches back even further, to Genesis. How does Marks Gospel uniquely contribute to our understanding of Jesus? Jesus is indeed the long-awaited son of David, the king, who leads his people to true freedomfreedom not from Rome but from sin and death. The exodus demonstrated Gods power and providence for his people, who had been enslaved by the Egyptians. 11:3234) and suffering (Heb. Eden was, in other words, the first temple. 9:10, 16; Joel 1:7). Consider the role that the temple has played throughout the Gospel of Mark. Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases on Amazon.com. In the New Testament, God in Christ once more calls out twelve men, whose task it is, once again, to bring Gods blessing to the world (Mark 6:713; note Rev. A healthy faith, like a sturdy home, trusts and leans into the help and expertise of others. John Mark was not one of the 12 apostles of Jesus. All rights reserved. Great book, just goes over my head a little in some parts but nothing too bad. In repentance we turn from sin; in faith we turn to God. . CONTAGIOUS HOLINESS. With Jesus this kingdom dawns decisively, and he will one day bring this kingdom to completion, sitting on his throne for all the world to see (Rev. Such is the nature of the gospel. Take time to reflect on the implications of Mark 3:136:6 for your own life today. In Mark 12, however, Jesus teaches that the Messiah is not only Davids son but also, according to Psalm 110, Davids Lord. This leads to an extended teaching on sin and the measures that must be taken to avoid it (Mark 9:4348). And they crucified him . Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (DE-SOWN-YAY) proudly represents Californias 10th Congressional District, which includes much of Contra Costa County and a part of Alameda County. Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. This sovereign choice stretches back into time immemorial (Eph. What is their reaction? And they crucified him . 7:1314; Psalm 2). John had faithfully heralded the coming of Jesus, not seeking glory for himself (John 3:30). This is the heart of Jesus. (Note that Save us, we pray in Ps. May these things become a treasure for you throughout your lifewhich we pray will be true for you, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 17:24). Jesus, however, declared all foods clean (Mark 7:19), uprooting the overscrupulous dietary regulation that had come to overshadow more important issues of the heart, where true cleanliness is determinedand which was the point of the law all along. How does he link up the mistake of the Pharisees with the mistake Gods people have made in centuries past (note Mark 7:67)? SICKNESS AND HEALTH. 22:13). Here the Gospels first eight chapters, and their portrayal of Jesus attractive and well-received messianic identity, ends abruptly and a series of predictions of this Messiahs suffering and death begins (Mark 8:3133; 9:30 32; 10:3234; cf. You will be set. Deep down, this is what all humans crave: peace with ourselves and, ultimately, with our Maker. Its a day to look at our life, our work, and the cross and say with great contentment, This is enough! Tim Kellerputs it well: The purpose of Sabbath is not simply to rejuvenate yourself in order to do more production, nor is it the pursuit of pleasure. A sixth-generation Floridian, Jordan lives in Tampa with his wife and their three young daughters. Repentance and faith (faith is the noun form of the Greek word translated believe) are the two basic motions on the part of the believer in receiving Christian salvation. 42:6; 49:6; 60:3). Throughout the New Testament these two are linked (e.g., Acts 20:21; Heb. Were satisfied. Lastly, we encourage you to occasionally take time to look back through this study, reviewing notes that you have written, and reflecting again on the key themes that the Lord has taught you about himself and about his Word. Of the four Gospels, Mark was probably the first one written. 7:1216). How does the womans response indicate humility and persistence? Highly, highly recommend. God selected the twelve sons of Jacob to be his chosen people. The saving news of what God is doing in Jesus to restore the world impacts human hearts with very different results. Doing so did not make Jesus unclean; it made the leper clean. In Mark 1:16 20 Jesus calls the first four disciples. Jesus first words in Mark are, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel (Mark 1:15). 6:7; Lev. John Mark's Gospel, the earliest account of Jesus' life, may have been told to him by Peter when the two spent so much time together. Jesus experienced rejection not only horizontally, by men, but also vertically, by God. 13:10; Ezek. Our salvation is a gift of grace from first to last. Comparing Marks statement that Jesus meant to pass by the disciples (Mark 6:48) with Exodus 33:19, 22; 34:6, and Job 9:8, 11, what do we learn here about Jesus identity? Only because at the pinnacle of all of human history, in another garden called Gethsemane, the last Adam (1 Cor. What does this passage indicate about the key failure on the part of the crowd and the disciples? . 1:5; Heb. Jesus says in Mark 2:19 that his disciples do not fast because the bridegroom is with them. Referring to himself in this way, Jesus links up with a whole-Bible theme in which Gods relationship with his people is likened to a husbands relationship to his wife (e.g., Isa. To both parties Jesus asks, What do you want me to do for you? (Mark 10:36, 51), yet while James and John request glory, Bartimaeus requests mercy. In Mark 2:2328 and Mark 3:16 Jesus offends the Jewish religious leaders by doing on the Sabbath what they considered unlawful. Unclean plus clean equals clean. And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord (Mic. Then review the two listed passages and consider the following questions concerning various events in the early ministry of Jesus, first by word (Mark 3:134:34) and then by deed (Mark 4:356:6). THE SOURCE OF TRUE CLEANSING. 7:9; Luke 24:4; Acts 1:10; Rev. Would definitely recommend. Followers of Jesus Christ are not required to qualify with any self-generated prerequisites. They will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues . 4:111). 16:16 17). To touch such uncleanness was defiling. Jesus is the Son of God (Mark 1:1), not only in that he is the one called by God to rule the earth as Gods representative, but also in that he is God. Since coming to Congress, he has passed more than . Throughout Scripture, the heart refers to the center of ones being, including the mind, emotions, and will. Several of the events of Mark 13 take place on the Sabbath, climaxing in Jesus declaration that he is lord even of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28). The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics helps Christians show unbelievers the truth, goodness, and beauty of the gospel as the only hope that fulfills our deepest longings. A thread running through Mark 10 is the strange way in which people qualify for entrance into Gods kingdom: namely, by sheer awareness of their inadequacy, nothing more. If a person consistently attributes to Satan what is accomplished by Gods power, such a person does not know God and will not receive forgiveness. He was humble enough to assist Paul, Barnabas, and Peter, not worrying about credit. God sent his own Son, however, to do what his people had always failed to do. If youre like me, you give leased property much less upkeep than if you actually owned it. While the Pharisees reach back to Deuteronomy 24 to ask about the Mosaic laws allowance for a certificate of divorce, Jesus reaches back even further, to Genesis. Introduction to the Gospels (Beginner) Introduction to the Gospels (Intermediate) Evidence for the Reliability of the Gospels with Tyndale House The First Days of Jesus Parables and Miracles with Vern Poythress Life of Christ with Craig L. Blomberg Life & Teachings of Christ with Dan Doriani The Final Days of Jesus Pauline Epistles Herod I, also known as Herod the Great, ruled Israel and Judah from 374 BC. (For further background, see the ESV Study Bible, pages 1889 1892, available online at, Demonstration of Jesus Authority in Ministry (Mark 1:168:26), Jesus early Galilean ministry (Mark 1:163:12), Jesus later Galilean ministry (Mark 3:136:6), Nature miracle, exorcism, and healing (Mark 4:355:43), Teachings on moral defilement (Mark 7:123), Opening the door of grace to Gentiles (Mark 7:2430), Additional miracles in Decapolis and Bethsaida (Mark 7:318:26), Demonstration of Jesus Authority in Suffering (Mark 8:2716:8), Transfiguration and healing (Mark 9:229), Instruction on discipleship: putting others first (Mark 9:3050), Instruction on discipleship: divorce, wealth, humility (Mark 10:152), Entering and judging Jerusalem (Mark 11:113:37), Triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Mark 11:111), Jesus judgment on religious leaders (Mark 11:1212:44), Jesus and the coming universal judgment (Mark 13:137), Death and resurrection in Jerusalem (Mark 14:116:8), Crucifixion and resurrection (Mark 15:2116:8), [Longer ending of Mark (Mark 16:920; see note in Week 11)], Read through the complete passage for this study, Mark 1:120. Learn Religions, Dec. 6, 2021, learnreligions.com/john-mark-author-of-the-gospel-of-mark-701085. RELENTLESS COMPASSION. For information regarding the URCNA, including the locations of URCNA churches near you, please use the 'Find A . 34:5). For information regarding the URCNA, including the locations of URCNA churches near you, please use the Find A Church tool. To continue your study of the Bible, we would encourage you to consider other books in the Knowing the Bible series, and to visit www.knowingthebibleseries.org for print copies or www.thegospelcoalition.org/courses for reading online. Read Daniel 7:9 14, noting especially Daniel 7:13. Mark 14 bristles with connections to the Passover event that is recorded in the book of Exodus. (For further background, see the ESV Study Bible, pages 18981904, available online at www.esvbible.org.). Judgment over godless nations was likewise described in terms of the sun and the moon ceasing to give light (Isa. One way is to emphasize his sovereignty to the neglect of human responsibility. This king was called Gods son in the Old Testament (e.g., 2 Sam. Note Revelation 21:1214. Unclean plus clean equaled unclean. 23:56) whom they expect to liberate the Jewish people from the oppressive yoke of Rome (see John 6:15). In light of what Jesus goes on to say in Mark 8:31, what did Peter and the disciples not yet grasp about Jesus? Jesus is indeed the long-awaited son of David, the king, who leads his people to true freedomfreedom not from Rome but from sin and death. In Mark 2 we see Jesus begin to receive opposition from the religious leaders. What is the difference between the two? So it's clear John Mark Comer is a polytheist; and, as a matter of fact, Comer even teaches in this same sermon that the LORD God Almightythe one true and living God of the Bibleactually created these lesser deities. . Jesus says in Mark 10:45 that he came to give his life as a ransom for many. The metaphor here is profound and gets at the heart of the whole Bible. Then review the following questions and write your own notes on them concerning this phase of Jesus life and ministry. Unmerited favor, especially the free gift of salvation that God gives to believers through faith in Jesus Christ. The death and resurrection of Jesus marked a new creation (2 Cor. He has risen, said the angel, he is not here (Mark 16:6). Only in Jesus is real Sabbath rest found (note Matt. This is why we pray in Jesus namebecause his rejection on the cross means that believers can have free access to the Father. All rights reserved. 15:45) was arrested and led off to be killed (Mark 14:3250). 21:24). . In Mark 1:1 Jesus is called the Son of God. One layer of meaning here may highlight the deity of Christ: Jesus is Gods Son in that he is himself God. Whatever the shortcoming was, it disappointed Paul. Several of the events of Mark 13 take place on the Sabbath, climaxing in Jesus declaration that he is lord even of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28). Also striking is the reversal that takes place, as the smallest seed provides a tree with the greatest branches (note also Ezek. In Jesus that cleansing is available. He was not the king they expected (a king of political triumph); he was the king they most desperately needed (a king of suffering). How does Jesus refer to them, and what is the significance of such references? What does this teach us about who Jesus is and what he came to do? And third, as the firstfruits of the resurrection, Jesus in his raised body is the first instance of the new order of humanity in which believers are promised to participate in the new earth (1 Cor. What is the danger if we resist self-denial and instead pursue the things of the world? What is Jesus teaching his disciples through these contrasting examples? If you are going to survive this war, you need to be a domineering, controlling, micro-managing tyrant when it comes to your thought life. (NIV), 2 Timothy 4:11Only Luke is with me. In Mark 12:1337 we read of a series of questions that the religious authorities put to Jesusa political question (Mark 12:1317), a theological question (Mark 12:18 27), and a moral question (Mark 12:2834). Ultimately, Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12; 9:5; cf. Jesus says that he is going to be rejected by the religious authorities of the day, and that is of course true. Throughout, we are reminded that Gods mercy benefits just those who know their need of it. WILDERNESS TESTING. It is those who know their need, not those who assume their superiority, on whom God pours out mercy. This section of Mark contains a number of fast-moving accounts of various events in the early ministry of Jesus. In Mark 3:1318 Jesus calls the twelve disciples. 5:5; 1 Pet. Here Jesus is anticipating being exalted to the right hand of God as Gods own Son. How might other biblical texts such as James 4:3 or 1 John 5:14 inform our understanding of what Jesus means? 5:15). According to both Jewish and Roman custom, Jesus had to be taken outside the city walls to be crucified. : Your Bible may have in brackets what is known as the Longer Ending of Mark (Mark 16:920). Once again, its so practical which I appreciate!!!! John Mark, the writer of the Gospel of Mark, also served as a companion to the Apostle Paul in his missionary work and later assisted the Apostle Peter in Rome. By faith in Jesus and his work on our behalf, we are restored to God and enter into Gods kingdom. The other error is to so emphasize human responsibility that we neglect divine sovereignty. SATAN AND DEMONS. And we are all ignorant of the precise time he will return. It's not something I'd usually listen to or read, but overall it was a really interesting experience. To love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love ones neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices (Mark 12:33). I spent over two months reading this book because for some reason I found myself re-reading chapters, in a good way though? When Jesus laments being forsaken by God, we see the reason that we are never forsaken by God (note Josh. SO GOOD! On his way to respond to the plea of Jairus, whose daughter is on the verge of death, Jesus is touched by a woman whose illness had rendered her ceremonially unclean. Observe the key phrase that is repeated in both Mark 9:38 and Mark 9:39; likewise consider the context, and who is being described, in Matthew 12:2232. Just simple, quiet, sacrificial giving. In Scripture, to pour oil (usually olive oil) on someone or something to set the person or thing apart for a special purpose. Upending Our Assumptions about Marriage and Divorce (Mark 10:112). How would you answer that? In 2 Timothy 4:11, Paul says, "Only Luke is with me. They knew the Scripture well. 15:40). (For further background, see the ESV Study Bible, pages 1889 1892, available online at www.esvbible.org.). On the other hand, in Mark 9 the disciples are concerned that strangers are casting out demons in Jesus name (Mark 9:38). Greetings and Welcome! We see this in the back-to-back accounts of Jesus warning about the scribes glamour (Mark 12:3840) and the widows offering (Mark 12:4144). Jesus comes to the Jordan River and is baptized by John. The Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost in Acts 2 in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy (e.g., Ezek. Others had been commissioned for unique service to God in the pastAdam, for instance, or Israel. Broadly speaking, Christian theology teaches that the Father orchestrates salvation, the Son accomplishes salvation, and the Spirit applies salvation. Truly this man was the Son of God! (Mark 15:39). Yet upon seeing the crowd, he had compassion on them (Mark 6:34). Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin (Mark 3:29). Read through the complete passage for this study, Mark 6:78:26. 16:17) but incomplete. . Get help and learn more about the design. Take a moment now to ask for the Lords blessing and help as you continue in this study of Mark. 54:5; Jer. To both parties Jesus asks, What do you want me to do for you? (Mark 10:36, 51), yet while James and John request glory, Bartimaeus requests mercy. . A further challenge to Jesus authority comes in Mark 2:1822, as the people ask why Jesus and his disciples do not fast. Jesus public ministry is drawing to a close. Read Genesis 48:15, Numbers 27:17, Psalm 23:14, and Isaiah 40:11, and notice what God promises in Jeremiah 23:24 and Ezekiel 34:1016. . Here we see that the kingdom of God is at hand. God has done this by bringing history to a climax (the time is fulfilled), yet at the same time people are called to respond in a certain way (repent and believe). All she brings is her need. What were these Old Testament writings looking forward to? Thus the Christ has already come once, decisively inaugurating the new world longed for in the OT, and the Christ will come again, bringing to full and final fulfillment the redemption of the cosmos and the eradication of all sin and suffering. Jesus Authority Challenged (Mark 2:13:12). He was re-creating. . (Mark 13:20). Caution: uncheck this box if you are on a public computer (e.g. 34:28); Israel was tested for 40 years in the desert (Deut. I'm the founding pastor of Bridgetown Church, right in the center of the city (by Powell's Books if you've ever been to Portland). The first act of rebellion the world had ever known had to do with putting something in the mouth and eating it (Gen. 3:6). Now that you understand how the Emerging Church slithered into acceptance, heres what this all has to do with John Mark Comer and his teaching polytheism this month in a Seeker Driven, ostensibly evangelical, church. . Why would we be surprised if people in the pews deconstruct when many are being fed a leased faith? This rest came to be identified with life in the Promised Land in the historical books of the Old Testament (Joshua2 Chronicles). John says that the one coming after him will baptize you with the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:8). Instead, God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong (1 Cor. It is by spirit and truth that we are transformed into the image of Jesus and set free to live in line with all that is good, beautiful, and true, Comer writes. VISION/BLINDNESS. What clues in the text lead us to this conclusion? In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed that, if possible, the hour might pass from him (Mark 14:35). The great hope of the Old Testament is the coming of a deliverer, a king, a Messiah (which means anointed one, i.e., king), who would rescue the people of God and usher in Gods glorious kingdom once and for all. Jesus then goes on to heal the man, confirming by the healing that he is able to do what he says, not only in healing but also in forgiving. We can be assured that all our prayers are heard because Jesus had a prayer to which God said no. Mark later became Chair of the California State Senate Transportation and Housing Committee. . 1:2223). What does the account of Jesus rejection in his hometown in Mark 6:1 6 tell us about the relationship between his performance of miracles and the faith of the people?