THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 6:6-13 “They went out and preached that people should repent.” (Mark 6:12) Mark uses one word – repent – to summarize their message. That word – metanoia – literally meant ‘to change one’s mind’. Change the way you think about God, yourself, the world, life, sin, etc! ‘Open your mind to God,…
Author: Norm
Missing out?
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 6:1-6 “He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.” (Mark 6:5) Imagine a new cure has been discovered for a terrible illness. But some people are skeptical; they refuse the treatment and stay sick. Doctors will not be able to heal…
Wake up call!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 5:35-43 “The child is not dead but asleep.” (Mark 5:39) If physical reality is all that exists, then death is just physical too. This is what more and more people seem to believe (atheistic naturalism). And yet belief in spiritual reality does not go away either. We still cling to spiritual ideas…
Trust me through this!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 5:35-43 “Jesus told him, ‘Don’t be afraid; just believe.’” (Mark 5:36) What does Jesus mean when He says ‘don’t be afraid’? His daughter is dead, his heart is melting in grief and sorrow. I hear Jesus saying ‘don’t give in to your despair, trust me on this one!’ Fear, grief, despair, sorrow,…
A desperate touch
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 5:26-34 “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” (Mark 5:34) This woman’s faith was not a set of beliefs about God or Jesus. Her faith was not a clear or certain knowledge of Who Jesus was. It was a desperate hope, based on what…
Equal before Jesus
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 5:21-29 “When he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet… When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak.” (Mark 5:22,27) A religious leader and a bleeding woman, both coming to Jesus. According to the law, this woman was unclean, untouchable (Leviticus 15:19). But at…
Tell me about it!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 5:18-20 “Tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” (Mark 5:19) He wants to stay with Jesus, but Jesus sends him into a new battle. To face the people he grew up with, to tell them his story about Jesus. The important…
Draw me close to You!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 5:11-17 “Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.” (Mark 5:17) Why would deceiving spirits want to go into a herd of pigs? In order to scare the people away from trusting or following Jesus! Deceiving spirits have one purpose, to get you to look away from God….
Liar liar!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 5:1-10 “‘My name is Legion,’ he replied, ‘for we are many.’” (Mark 5:9) A spirit is a body-less personality, a spiritual presence without form. Good spirits are messengers from God, voices of truth and hope. Evil spirits are messengers from Satan, voices of deception and despair. They are ONLY messengers, they have…
Who is this… to you?
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 4:35-41 “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” (Mark 4:41) This is the big question Mark is answering, ‘Who is this?’ Who is this, announcing the kingdom, renouncing the darkness? Who is this, healing the sick, forgiving the guilty? Who is this, even the wind and waves obey…