Below is a digest of the daily email messages composed by Pastor Stuart Nice as he leads us in reflecting daily on the Gospel of Mark. Click the title of each to read the full article.
The Re-Beginning Of Good News | February 1, 2017
I am struck by the first words...The beginning... There is a definite starting place in the Lord. Sometimes it is a re-beginning.
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You,
Who will prepare Your way;
The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
‘Make ready the way of the Lord,
Make His paths straight.’”
John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
Mark 1:1-5, NASB
Can Jesus See Your Faith? | February 2, 2017
This classic gospel story is packed full of application for us, but the phrase that stands out so clearly to me is Christ's response, "When Jesus saw their faith..." There is something so charged in that statement. These four men were determined to get their friend to Jesus, because they knew He was able to help. Their tenacity, their perseverance, and their faith drove them forward.
Several days later Jesus came back to Capernaum. The report went out that he was home. Many people had gathered. There was no room left, even in front of the door. Jesus was speaking God’s word to them.
Four men came to him carrying a paralyzed man. Since they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof over the place where Jesus was. Then they lowered the cot on which the paralyzed man was lying.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
Mark 2:1-5, GW
Accusing Jesus | February 3, 2017
I have for some time, whenever I read about the Pharisees, try to find myself in the story. It is a little uncomfortable because I hate to admit that I might be less spiritual than Jesus, and possibly part of the problem, rather than the solution. When I set myself up to "judge" their actions, I realize I might be in their story.
Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus,
Mark 3:2. NIV