Wash Your Hands
The structure of Mark is fascinating. One commentator explains that for Mark, "Placing stories together like bricks in a row with little if any editorial cement is not unusual in Mark." The last time Mark mentioned the Pharisees were in Mark 3:6, "The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him." A massive cliffhanger, and then Mark turns quickly to the sea of Galilee voyages. Mark has not mentioned the Pharisees in
Come again
When we minimize the work of Christ to his death and resurrection, we neglect many aspects of the work of Christ. One of these aspects truly affects the life of a believer. If Christ has done everything for us, then why would it matter how we live? One aspect of the Christian life is that Christ is coming back. We live in the age between the two advents, one of his humiliation, and the second Christ returns with all of
True Christ
Who do you say that Jesus is? The predominate question that needs to be answered. This question is constantly before us as we read the gospel of Mark. Many answers have been given, Son of God (Mark 1:1, 3:11), Beloved Son (1:11), Holy one of God (1:24), a blasphemer (2:7), sabbath breaker (3:6), out of his mind (3:21), son of the most high God (5:7), just a carpenter (6:3), Elijah or Prophet (6:15), John the Baptist raised from the dead
The right hand of the Father.
Christ has not only sat down, but he sat down at the right hand of God. This position shows his exaltation for God has exalted him and bestowed on the name above all names (Phil 2:9). Christ came in the form of a servant in his humiliation, but he is no longer in that estate but is now exalted far above all things. We need to realize the beauty that Christ is in heaven, seated and on the right hand
Gentle Shepherd
We go from a banquet of people of nobility, military leaders, and other men of status at King Herod's perverse birthday party. We go from the palace to a side of a hill. I am sure Herod had many exotic foods and expensive wine. However, we see Mark explain that Jesus feeds the crowd of 5,000 men. He does not have an exquisite menu but simply bread and fish. Yet, the contrast is that Christ is the shepherd who cares
He Sat Down
Christ has ascended into heaven, and he sat down. Every hour at ten minutes to the hour, my watch will tell me to stand up if it has not recorded me standing for a minute in the previous hour. When sitting at a desk, working at a screen, or reading, we stand up and walk around to have a short break. However, to be seated means to be finished, no more work is to be done. Like sitting down after
Are you willing to go?
Mark chapter six continues to show the reality of discipleship. Jesus does not receive honor from those in his hometown, and they are offended by him. Mark continues to explain the reality of those who follow Jesus. Mark 6:7-13 Jesus sends out the twelve disciples, Mark then writes about the death of John the Baptist in Mark 6:14-29. These two pericopes could be viewed as different texts; however, what I hope to show is that Mark deliberately places the story
And Ascended into Heaven (Part 2)
Last time we looked at Christ ascending into Heaven and the benefits of his ascension for believers. This week we will be looking at the same line in the Nicene Creed but with a different focus. This week we will be looking at what he accomplishes in his ascension. The Westminster Larger Catechism answer fifty-three. Christ was exalted in his ascension, in that having after his resurrection often appeared unto and conversed with his apostles, speaking to them of the things
And ascended into heaven (Part 1)
We worship the risen and ascended Lord. Christ came to earth in his humiliation, taking the form of a servant in his birth, life, and death. After his humiliation, he was exalted in his resurrection, ascension, his sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and when he returns to judge the world. We do not worship a corpse in a tomb, nor do we worship a risen Lord whose body remained on earth. We worship the risen and
Helpless but not Hopeless
Mark 5:21-43 Mark chapter five shows Christ's power and authority over all things. In the first half of Mark chapter 5, we saw that Jesus' power and authority was over the strongman of this world. We saw Jesus show his earthy ministry was not just for those who physically descended from Abraham. Jesus went over the other side of the sea of Galilee to cast out the unclean spirit of the man living in the cemetery. He becomes the first gospel
