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Jesus’ Parting Words to the Disciples and Us
Mark 16:15-20
Before we jump into our final text of Mark, we have to address the notation in many of our Bibles suggesting that the final twelve verses might not be in the original text.
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The Ineffective Disciples
Mark 14:27-52
Last week, we saw how Jesus was the hero of this passage. We should also take note of the disciples. They were ineffective. The passage begins with them declaring they will never deny Jesus, and it ends with all of them, even an unnamed-linenless-dude, running away from Jesus.
Read moreEaster Sunday Sermon: The View From The Tomb (John 20:1-10)
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Jesus Rejects Self-Sufficiency While Looking for Dependence Upon God
(Mark 9:25-29)
Jesus loves to save. And sometimes he will save us by allowing things to get worse before they get better. In the time of worsening, you must still believe, even with imperfect faith, in his ability and desire to break through. (3 Minutes/700 Words)
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Jesus Replaces Chaos With Flourishing
(Mark 9:14-18)
Our episode today provides a significant contrast with the glory of the mount of transfiguration. All the gospel writers are careful to record the stories together. They wanted us to note the differences between the two scenes. (5 Minutes/1300 Words)
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Jesus' Transfiguration Offered an Encouraging Preview
(Mark 9:1-3)
In response to the disciples' confession and this new teaching about his death and resurrection, Jesus took three of his men to a mountaintop. Though we don't know the exact location of this event, it seems likely to be one of Mt. Hermon's peaks, around 9,000 feet in elevation. The other gospels tell us he went there to pray, and, as was their custom, they slept while he cried out to God. (5 Minutes/1100 Words)
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The Attractiveness of Following Christ
(Mark 8:34)
I must start today's article by reminding you of our place in the gospel of Mark. Mark had begun his book by revealing Jesus' identity: he is the Christ, the Son of God (Mark 1:1), and in the first eight chapters of his gospel, Mark shows us the beauty of Jesus' life. No one in the book had confessed Jesus to be the Christ, the long-awaited Messiah, the descendent of David, who would vanquish Israel's enemies and bring in an everlasting kingdom. (5 Minutes/1300 Words)
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Be Shaped by Jesus' Compassion
(Mark 8:1-10)
If this episode sounds familiar, it's because Jesus has already fed a large crowd of five thousand earlier in Mark (6:30-44). And there are many similarities between this miraculous feeding and the first—a deserted setting, Jesus' compassion on the crowd, the dividing of bread and fish, and leftovers of bread. But there are also many differences between the two episodes. (5 Minutes/1300 Words)
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The Struggle for Obedience, Part 4 Understand What He's Done
(Mark 6:51-52)
Here we have a summary report about Jesus' healing ministry. This report is Mark's way of giving us a sense of the general atmosphere surrounding Jesus' life at that time and telling us that Jesus did more than he could record. (3 Minutes/600 Words)
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The Struggle for Obedience, Part 2 Learn How Hard Obedience Is With Only Your Strength
(Mark 6:47-48)
Perhaps you've had a similar experience. You've read something in the Bible, an area to obey, and set out to do it. Good work. But, perhaps just as quickly, you discovered how hard it was to obey. (2 Minutes/500 Words)
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