Author: Norm

“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;…

“When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him.’ (Mark 3:8)As a Jesus follower, I am also drawn to Jesus and what He did.This is the reason why I focus so much on the four Gospels.I come to these Jesus stories because what I see inspires and compels me.Some might saying I…

“The Pharisees began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.” (Mark 3:6) As a Jesus follower, I am committed to honouring God’s Law of Love. The religious leaders were committed to the Moses Law. This is why they were harassing Jesus, for dishonouring the Sabbath day. But their true heart is revealed in…

“Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” (Mark 3:4)As a Jesus follower, I am under the Law of Love.The Law of Love calls us to do good, to save life!Paul calls this “the law of the Spirit Who gives life” (Romans 8:1)The Law of Love…

“So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:28)As a Jesus follower, I believe that Jesus is ‘God with us as a full human’.“In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” (Colossians 2:9)As a human, Jesus is a son of Adam, just as His mother was a daughter of…

“David ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat.” (Mark 2:26)As a Jesus follower, I understand God’s Law through the lens of love.The bible is not a book of rules to be followed.It is a collections of stories inspired by God to show God’s heart.All the stories in the Jewish bible hang…

“No one pours new wine into old wineskins.” (Mark 2:22)As a Jesus follower, I am drawn to what is new in Jesus.To a world saturated in the old, stale win of religion, Jesus is a treat!The stale rituals and empty creeds of religion do not bring joy.Neither does praying, or fasting, or church-going out of religious…

“Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (Mark 2:16)As a Jesus follower, I may face the criticism of religious people.Jesus’s greatest challengers were the religious establishment.Those who led the ‘church’, those appointed as ‘pastors’.Their criticism was that He associated with sinners and tax collectors.He ate with them, and allowed them to follow Him and…

“‘Follow me,’ Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.” (Mark 2:14)As a Jesus follower, Jesus has called me to follow Him.To follow means go on the same path as someone.It involves joining, sticking close to, and imitating their way.It was an invitation to become a disciple, to live WITH, LIKE and FOR them….

“The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” (Mark 2:10)As a Jesus follower, I am thankful for forgiveness.But for me forgiveness means more than just being pardoned.The word for forgiveness speaks of being released, set free.Our problem is not just our guilt, it is our bondage.Think about it, if you pardon a slave,…