trying to find His way
Reflecting on Mark 8:31-33 “Rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law” (Mark 7:31) What strikes me here is the ones who reject Jesus.Jesus is the Son of Man these religious leaders have hoped for.Their whole purpose was to guide the people towards the Son of Man.Everyone saw them as the Son…
Reflecting on Mark 8:27-30 “‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’” (Mark 8:29) These words stand out to me, as if Jesus were asking me this.Notice Jesus first asks what other people believe.He is not looking for the right answer, but our real answer.We have been trained to give right answers.I have…
Reflecting on Mark 8:22-26 “Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes.” (Mark 7:34) As a Jesus follower, I find this story intriguing.Not just that He heals this blind man, but HOW He heals Him.And not just that He uses spit when He prays for His eyes.But that He needs to lay hands and pray…
Reflecting on Mark 8:14-21 “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” (Mark 7:34) As a Jesus follower, I am aware of how invisible spirits can infect and shape me.Jesus uses the symbol of yeast to describe this subtle yet strong power.Yeast is a microscopic fungus that feeds on other organic material.It is…
Reflecting on Mark 8:11-13 “He sighed deeply and said, ‘Why does this generation ask for a sign?’ (Mark 8:12) As a Jesus follower, I am called to love others deeply from the heart (1 Peter 4:8).I am inspired by Jesus, who loved people deeply from the heart.For the first time I am noticing the words “sighed deeply”.I am remembering…
Reflecting on Mark 8:1-10 “I have compassion for these people; they have nothing to eat.” (Mark 7:34) As a Jesus follower I am compelled by the compassion of Jesus.Jesus is still in the non-Jewish region of the Decapolis.These are non-Jews, who do not look favourably on Jewish people.But this large crowd of ‘non-believers’ is attracted to Jesus.Foolishly…
“But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it.” (Mark 7:36)As a Jesus follower, I cannot stop thinking and speaking about Jesus.I am compelled by Jesus, and enjoy talking to others about Him.I try not to be annoying or pushy, but to me He is so relevant.For years now I have been…
“For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.” (Mark 7:29)As a Jesus follower, I am aware of the power of words.How we speak shapes our lives as much as how we behave.Words impact us, but they also impact others, for good or for bad.Our calling as children of Adam and Eve…
“It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” (Mark 7:27)As a Jesus follower, I see all people as children of God, made in God’s image.We are all equally human, and no one should be treated as animals.Throughout history humans have naturally looked down on others.We love our own kind,…
“For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come.” (Mark 7:21)As a Jesus follower, I pay a lot of attention to my heart.In Hebrew thinking, the heart was the control center for the person.Everything about us, how we thought and lived and what we loved, was centered there.The heart was very…