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Christianity is a religion, but our relationship with Jesus is much deeper and more intimate than just a religious duty or activity.  As we get further into the gospel of Mark, we discover how Jesus interacts with his disciples and those who oppose him. In our scripture reading today, we encounter the disciples of John,… Read More »

The work of Good Friday began at the beginning and is a story told and proclaimed throughout the whole Old Testament. The Story of Cross begins in the Garden of Eden.  It is a story that starts with these words from God to Adam: “ The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden… Read More »

Today, I want us to take a fresh look at a familiar passage for those who have either grown up in church or have been in the Word for some time.  In Luke chapter 15, we find the story that many have called the Parable of the Prodigal Son, but it tells the story of… Read More »

The call of Levi is one of my favorites among the disciples’ calls.  The reason for this is that Levi was so far from any desire to follow or search for God.  As a tax collector, Levi was consumed with acquiring more riches.  “The fact that we initially encounter Levi in his tax booth means… Read More »

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 »

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 »

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 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 »

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 »

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 »