Author: Norm

“When he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.” (Mark 4:34)As a Jesus follower, I need to spend time alone with Jesus.Not as a duty, but because I want to, to help me learn and grow.Despite my years with Jesus, I still not not comprehend His teaching.Thankfully Jesus is committed to helping me, by…

The smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of all garden plants.” (Mark 4:31-32)As a Jesus follower, I am committed to ‘the little way’.Thérèse of Lisieux (1873-1897) was a nun known as ‘la petite Thérèse’.She modelled simplicity and practicality in her spiritual life.Holiness involved small acts of love and service rather than grand gestures.She…

“The seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.” (Mark 4:27)As a Jesus follower, God works in me in ways I do not understand.Someone may ask me how reading the Jesus stories can help me?Or how the message of Jesus can transform me more like Jesus?I will say, as Jesus says in this parable,…

“With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.” (Mark 4:24)As a Jesus follower, I need to produce measurable results for God.That is, the effect of the seed needs to be visible, not concealed.This section (Mark 4:21-25) continues from what precedes it.Jesus just described the measurable results of those who hear His message.“Some…

“Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop.” (Mark 4:20)As a Jesus follower, I have accepted the message of Jesus.Jesus is the Word of God, God’s Messenger and Message to us (John 1:1)!Jesus is the Message of life, love, grace and truth, in human flesh (John 1:14).What Jesus says and…

“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” (Mark 4:9)As a follower of Jesus, I need to have ears to hear.This sounds odd; don’t most people have ears that hear?Yes, our ears may hear, but do they actually listen?Anyone who is married or has kids know the difference.We can hear the sound, but do we understand…

“If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” (Mark 3:25)As a Jesus follower, I see divisiveness as a serious concern.From the beginning, the spirit of evil uses division to conquer.Though Adam and Eve were together, the serpent only approaches Eve.When asked about eating, Adam turns on Eve, and Eve blames the serpent.Their children…

“Here are my mother and my brothers!” (Mark 3:34)As a Jesus follower, I am part of the crowd sitting around Jesus.The crowd around Jesus was large, and included different people.It included Jesus’s actual family members, who thought He was crazy.It included the twelve, a mixed assortment of oddballs and misfits.It included religious leaders, who were there…

“Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.” (Mark 3:18-19)As a Jesus follower, I belong to a strange community of Jesus followers.Two people in particular, Simon and Judas, make this clear to me. Simon is a Zealot, a radical Jew known for violence and rebellion.The Zealots hated the Romans, and all who worked for them…

“He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out.” (Mark 3:14)As a Jesus follower, I am also appointed like the twelve.These twelve were representatives for the many to follow.Like the twelve tribes of Israel, they represent the whole group.After sending out the twelve, Jesus sends out 72 more (Luke 9:1;…