Forgiveness is something we all desire, but it is very difficult for us to do. What I mean is that it is easy for us to want and desire forgiveness, but it is extremely difficult for most of us to forgive. We live in a culture that consistently holds grudges and keeps receipts on the… Read More »
The Leper Cleansed (Mark 1:40-45)
As we jump into the last section of Mark chapter 1, we find one of the most beautiful pictures of compassion, grace, and exchange in all the New Testament. This encounter is also startling and provocative. As a matter of fact, the Jews who witnessed or even heard about it would have taken offense at… Read More »
The Priority of Jesus (Mark 1:29-39)
There are certain things that are priorities in our lives. For most of us, our top priority is caring for and providing for our families, including supporting their health and offering guidance and wisdom to those who are younger in our families. We do that because we love our families! And we love our families… Read More »
The Authority of Jesus (Mark 1:21-28)
The gospel of John begins with these words; “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in… Read More »
The Ministry Begins and The First Disciples Chosen
To this point in the gospel of Mark, we have seen how Mark sketches out the character of Jesus as the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy of the Messiah who is to come and is now here. Jesus is the Messiah who identifies with sinful humanity without succumbing to sin himself. Jesus can connect… Read More »
The Temptation of Jesus (Mark 1:12-13)
One of my favorite C.S. Lewis books is The Screwtape Letters. In this fictional account of spiritual warfare and human temptation, Screwtape (a demon) is writing to his nephew Wormwood (a demon) about the temptation of a man in England that they call the patient. “In them, Screwtape advises his nephew, Wormwood, on how best to… Read More »
The Baptism of Jesus (Mark 1:9-11)
Let’s begin with a question; Why did Jesus need to be baptized, if John’s baptism was for the repentance of sins? Jesus didn’t need to repent because he had not sinned, nor would sin, so, again why the baptism? I believe the answer is simple. The baptism of Jesus was not for the repentance of… Read More »
John Prepares the Way (Mark 1:1-8)
The gospel of Mark is the shortest of the gospels and one that gives a 30,000 feet flyover of the ministry of Jesus. Mark’s audience is Roman believers who are primarily gentiles. One of the reasons we know this is because Matthew begins with the genealogy of Jesus and Mark begins with the ministry of… Read More »
What is it going to take?
“8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.” Colossians 2:8-10 Christianity is… Read More »
A New School Year
As kids all across our country return to school, we need to remember the battle that is taking place in those classrooms. The battle before our kids and families is a battle for truth verses the lie. The truth is we are created in the image of God, and we are created as male and… Read More »