THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 11:12-19 “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” (Mark 11:14) Jesus is not being ornery just because He is hungry. Mark ties this story with what happens in the temple to show what Jesus is doing. A barren fig tree was a powerful symbol for the Jews, a sign of…
Author: Norm
On the road again!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 11:1-11 “Many people spread their cloaks on the road… ” (Mark 11:8) This was an act of devotion, an offering of ‘self’ in service to the king. What have you spread “on the road” for Jesus? This is more than faith, more than saying ‘I believe!’ Many say ‘I believe in Jesus’,…
A blind man who sees Jesus!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 10:46-52 “‘Go,’ said Jesus, ‘your faith has healed you.’” (Mark 10:52) Notice how this blind man sees something in Jesus that ignites his hope. ‘Son of David’ was another way of saying God’s promised messiah. While doubting minds debated and disputed, his desperate heart had no doubt. When no one else would…
The life we were made and saved for!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 10:41-45 “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” (Mark 10:45) The ‘Son of Man’ is the promised seed of Eve, sent to crush Satan (Genesis 3:15). Satan tempted Adam and Eve to serve themselves, their own desires and wants. Humanity as a whole has become enslaved to…
Walking in the light!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 56 “I may walk before God in the light of life.” (Psalm 56:13) We were made to live without pain or loss, without fear or death. We were made to be loved, not to be attacked or slandered or betrayed. David finds himself under attack, but he hangs on to God for…
Pray to Jesus!
THE STORY OF JESUS: 2 Chronicles 5-7 “May you hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place.” (2 Chronicles 6:20) Solomon knows that God cannot be bound by a man-made temple. But he still asks God to tie Himself to the temple. When people look to the temple for help, may God hear and respond. For Solomon, the…
God’s glorious temple!
THE STORY OF JESUS: 2 Chronicles 1-4 “Who is able to build a temple for him… heaven cannot contain him?” (2 Chronicles 2:6) What do you imagine it would look like stand in God’s presence? If God were to live in a house, what might it look like? Solomon attempted to design a ‘house’ that would reflect God’s glory….
Self-emptying!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 10:35-40 “To sit at my right or left is not for me to grant.” (Mark 10:40) Do you think of Jesus primarily as God or human? As Christians we believe God became human in Jesus. But sometimes we forget He emptied Himself of His God nature (Philippians 2:6-8). Jesus let go of being…
Three days later!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 10:32-34 “Three days later he will rise.” (Mark 10:34) By describing Himself as the “Son of Man”, He is claiming to be the Messiah. But why then does He speak of suffering and death and resurrection? This was not the path the disciples expected for the Messiah. As Jesus followers, it is…
Standing with Jesus!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 10:24-31 “Homes, brothers, sisters… along with persecutions.” (Mark 10:30) Why do we have to receive persecution, can’t God protect us from that? Hardship is often one reason why many people stop following Jesus. Yet hardship is the necessary result of the good news in this screwed up world. God put His creation…