Day 16: Mark 6:1-6a
A Prophet without Honour

Jesus’ home town was Nazareth. The healing campaign so far had taken place in Capernaum or on the shore villages of Lake Galilee. He was back with his own family and their friends and the whole atmosphere was sceptical and discouraging. It did not stop him from trying but he could only do a few miracles.

How do you deal with rejection when you meet it from those who know you?

Why do think they are sceptical and discouraging?

  Day 15: Mark 5:21-43
A Dead Girl and a Sick Woman

Jesus went back to the Jewish areas again west of the Sea of Galilee. This story is a window into some of the tragedy of life in Israel with incurable diseases for adults and children even where doctors were available. It is not known what illness the child had but it could have been a serious condition in its last stages. Jesus clearly knew what it was from his comments in verse 39.

This story is an opportunity to think about healing and where it comes from. What has God impressed on you about healing?

Do you know any situations where God needs to intervene to bring healing? What can you do about it?

Talk to other Christians about healing. Try to be clear on the difference between healing and medicine. Most experienced doctors will be able to tell you that treatment is really a process of putting the body in the best possible state to carry out its normal healing process. But we all know cases where the natural healing process itself has broken down which is the case in both of these situations that Jesus faced. This story is evidence that Jesus is both willing and able to go beyond the natural processes and bring about a supernatural healing. This account shows that we can freely ask for healing (Mark 5:23 and 34).

  Day 14: Mark 5:1-20
Healing the Demon Possessed Man

This healing opened up a testimony for Jesus in the Decapolis which was a union of ten cities that shared a high class of Greek culture and so many Gentiles (non Jews) lived there. Nine of the cities were east of Galilee and the Jordan River and also included Damascus. The man in the story is unknown but the events are a clear demonstration of the authority Jesus had over evil and his intention to reach out into Gentile regions. Find this region on the map.

In this account evil powers are described as able to de-humanise a person who has been possessed by them and there are physical signs such as cutting himself with stones. 

How does this enlighten your opinions about some modern day problems, such as self harming, and how much they could be evidence of demon influence? 

What were the demons most afraid of?

  Day 13: Mark 4:1-20
The Parable of the Sower.

A parable is a story which has a purpose. During the story telling Jesus left it to God to reveal the meaning so that his words could not be trampled on. (verse 9) He sometimes explained the meaning to those who were clearly genuine and wanted to know. On this occasion he later explained the meaning of the parable when his close followers asked him.

Reflect on the four responses in this parable and ask God to apply these to you.

What has God said to you through this parable?

This is one of the most well quoted of Jesus’ parables and although it is cast in an agricultural setting, it is timeless and crosses every cultural barrier because without seeds there will be no tomorrow! It really is worth getting the hang of this parable and to be amongst those who understand it. Let God use it throughout the day to speak to you.

  Day 12: Mark 3:20-30
Jesus and Beelzebub

Beelzebub means prince of demons and the name can be used to describe Satan which is how it was used here.  Jesus uses this accusation (of being evil) to explain how Satan can be defeated and then turns the accusation back on to the teachers of the law.

What was the motive behind this accusation that Jesus was evil?

How do you deal with accusation against you when your position as a child of God is challenged? Think about where that accusation ultimately comes from. (Revelation 12:10)

The bible has a great picture to help here. A robe of righteousness is described in Isaiah 61:10 and is later used by Jesus in a parable to explain that when you become a Christian (a child of God) you are covered by something which God sees and which makes you acceptable to him. (You can check out the parable in Matthew 22:1-14). No-one, not even Satan, can rob you of that acceptance and it is the only reason why you are able to approach God. Without the covering, however, you have no authority to approach God.

If you are having difficulties with this or understanding this go and talk to someone in your church who can help you. It is important to know where we stand and unnecessary spiritual struggles can be avoided.

  Day 11: Mark 3:13-19
Appointing the Twelve Apostles

Jesus selected twelve men to become the founding fathers (apostles) of his kingdom. Eleven came from Galilee. Only one, Judas Iscariot, came from Judea. The twelve were Simon Peter, the lead apostle, James who was martyred in Acts12:2 and John the author of John’s gospel.  Andrew was Peter’s brother, Philip from Bethsaida was the one who tried to understand the Way,  the Truth and the Life  (John 14:8) and Bartholomew was probably the same man as Nathanael introduced in John 1:45. Matthew was a tax collector and the author of Matthew’s gospel, Thomas doubted the resurrection (John 20:25) and  James was possibly the son of Mary one of Jesus’ helpers in Mark 15:4.  Thaddaeus was also called Judas, Simon was one of the Zealots, a Jewish revolutionary group violently opposed to the Roman occupation and Judas Iscariot, the only one not from Galilee, was the one who betrayed Jesus.

Jesus selected them carefully after a night of prayer (Luke 6:12) and we believe them all be the right choice even though one betrayed him. It was common practice for a Jewish Rabbi to have followers and these apostles would have the unique opportunity to be with Jesus 24/7 and to find what he was really like without anything hidden.

How does the fact that these twelve men spent day and night with Jesus for nearly three years increase your confidence in the character of Jesus?

How will this help you to follow Jesus when He calls you to do stretching and difficult things?

  Day 10: Mark 3:7-12
Crowds Follow Jesus

Jesus had become a popular person drawing crowds from up to 70 miles away which was at least 3 days journey. It was news of his healing power that drew them to listen to him. Israel was not a primitive nation and medicine was widely practised (Luke, who wrote Luke’s gospel, was a medical doctor). Medicine offers treatment but only the body and its Creator can bring healing.

Was Jesus’ healing just a gimmick to draw crowds or did it have a real purpose?

What has God spoken to you about through this reading today?

  Day 9: Mark 2:23 – 3:6
Lord of the Sabbath

The Sabbath is a day of rest, one day in seven, and was one of the Ten Commandments on which work and heavy labour was forbidden. For some of the Jewish leaders (Pharisees) it had become a ridiculous farce where every movement was watched to see if it was work. Jesus openly challenged this to show that peoples’ needs were more important than a written code.

(Exodus 23:12 explains the principle of the Sabbath)

What does Jesus say is the important thing about the Sabbath?

What do you think about keeping one day in seven as a day of rest for spiritual, mental and physical recovery?

What is the reason for it? How should it be done?
Are there any things you need to change?
Let God Speak to you about this.

 Day 8 : Mark 2:18-22
Jesus Questioned about Fasting

Fasting is going without food for while so that you can focus more on God and pray. It is definitely effective and is a discipline that Christians should become used to. However it is not a ritual and this was one of the problems here.

What was Jesus trying to teach his disciples here?

Have you ever spent time fasting?

A good way to begin is to miss one meal when there are specific things that you know you need to pray about and then set aside an hour to pray. Begin in worship, thanksgiving and repentance and then bring your concerns to God.

Let God Speak! Mark's Gospel : Day 7

Day 7 : Mark 2:13-17
The Calling of Levi

This account shows Jesus is becoming very popular and able to draw large crowds in the open air. Levi was a tax collector who was hated by the Jews because they worked for the Romans who occupied their nation. He eventually wrote a gospel under his other name, Matthew. Jesus always had his eyes open to spot the individuals who needed help or were ready to make a decision to follow him

What does this incident show you about Jesus?

Let God speak to you about the kind of people He would like you to notice.

Let God Speak! Mark's Gospel : Day 6

Day 6 : Mark 1:40-45
A Man with Leprosy

Leprosy was an infectious skin disease for which there was no cure and those who had it were not able to mix normally with other people. It was considered a great risk for an unrecognised teacher such as Jesus to touch this man or have any contact with him and the religious leaders would think Jesus was breaking the Jewish law (Leviticus 13:45-46 if you want get into it) But Jesus often broke with convention so that he could bring the good news of the kingdom of God to ordinary people.

Why didn’t Jesus want the man to go around telling everyone about his healing from leprosy?

Are there ever any times when it is better not to speak out about what Jesus is doing in your life?

Let God Speak! Mark's Gospel : welcome

Welcome to all those who have found this blog for the first time. Days 1 to 6 have now been posted and are in the archive on this page. If you are finding this blog helpful why not post a brief comment to encourage others to take it up.

The daily readings will continue to be published about 10pm every evening. This means that for those looking in from SE Asia the readings will be available each morning at 4am.

I am praying a big blessing over all those who enter into this. Reading the bible with expectancy to hear God speak is one of the most rewarding experiences of life. Let God Speak!

Dennis Hardy

Let God Speak! Mark's Gospel : Day 5

Day 5 : Mark 1:35-39

Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place

Galilee was a province around the north and west side of the huge inland lake of Galilee.

(The lake is still there but is now called Tiberias)

It was the place where Jesus did most of his work of preaching, teaching and healing in the first year of his public life. Jesus used the method of going to the synagogue in the villages and towns which was the custom of the travelling Rabbis (Jewish religious teachers). But he went far beyond the custom as he cast out evil spirits and healed people.

How did Jesus make his plans to know which places to go to?
(John 5:19-20)

How does this change the way you should make your plans each day?
(James 4:13-15)

Let God Speak! Mark's Gospel : Day 4

Day 4: Mark 1:21-28
Jesus Drives out an Evil Spirit

Capernaum became the centre of Jesus’ public life and ministry. This display of evil in a man in the Synagogue was evidence that the Jewish Rabbis and the people were living in the shadow of fear as predicted in Isaiah 9:2. Jesus’ authority in this confrontation, and in his teaching, is part of the evidence that he was the Saviour sent to deliver the people from evil.

Evil is real and can appear in the person of demonic beings.

The kind of evil shown here is actual possession by demonic beings (who

spoke instead of the man) and can occur in those who have not actively closed the door to any past conscious or unconscious involvement with evil powers. Jesus, and his followers in the Church, have full authority in those situations. If you think you think are being disturbed by evil spirits it is important you talk to another trusted believer in Jesus to help you in the process of being set free.

Apart from this Christians can be battered by discouragement, feelings of worthlessness and non-specific spiritual opposition, accusation and persecution. This intimidation by evil forces wears us down. It is important to realise that these experiences cannot destroy us and we still have Jesus’ full authority to persevere when we are under that pressure. (1 Peter 5:8-9) God is using it to allow us to grow and the word of God needs to be strongly working within us. That the reason why daily readings such as this course in Mark’s gospel are so important.

Take some time to reflect on the authority of Jesus in your life.

Let God speak to you about the cleansing, refreshing and freedom that this brings to you.

Do you need to talk to anyone about anything that has been raised today?
Who will you speak to?

Let God Speak! Mark's Gospel : Day 3

Day 3: Mark 1:14-20
The Calling of the First Disciples

This was not the first time Simon (Peter) had met Jesus (John 1:40) but it was the time he was called to leave what he was doing to be trained by Jesus to be useful in the Kingdom of God. However, Simon acted decisively and was the one who led the way. For Simon, Andrew, James and John this call was full time but for many others, who later followed Jesus it would be alongside their normal occupation but even that is challenging and equally important.

What training are you doing to become useful in the Kingdom of God?

How will today be important in that process?

Let God Speak! Mark's Gospel : Day 2

Day 2: Mark 1:9-13
The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus

(previous days are archived on this page)

Jesus was about 30 years old and this is the beginning of his

public life. Mark only gives very brief details about Jesus baptism but what he reveals about being God’s son is important as Jesus faced an immediate trial of 40 days testing in a dangerous place. The testing was planned by God because it was the Spirit of God who led Jesus. Satan was once a high ranking prince of God before he

fell by wanting to be like God. (Ezekiel 28:13-19)

Why did God tell Jesus that he was his Son and he loved him very much?

What will you do when Satan accuses you that you cannot have a relationship with God? (Revelation 12:10)

How does knowing that you are a child of God help you when you face difficulties that seem designed to destroy your faith? (Romans 8:15)

Let God Speak! Mark's Gospel : Day 1

Jesus’ journey:
His daily life and work for three years

Welcome to a 49 day journey starting today. Jesus said “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls”

Day 1: Mark 1:1-8 John the Baptist prepares the way

The gospel is no ordinary story.
The Old Testament prophets Malachi and Isaiah pictured the coming of John the Baptist 400-700 years before it happened. (Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3) There are several hundred Old Testament prophecies about Jesus which picture his birth place, the way he died and many of the things you will read about in this gospel. All this shows that his life was planned for a purpose.

John the Baptist finally came to announce his arrival.

What was John’s important message?

How will you prepare yourself to meet with Jesus as you read this gospel over the coming weeks?

Is there anything God wants you to sort out?
(Luke 3:10-14)

Mark is very brief and the other gospels often add a lot more detail to some of the stories such as this one. This is probably because Mark was the first to write a gospel. We believe he used information that Peter (the leading disciple of Jesus) passed on. Peter was very much an action guy as you will find out later. Hence the action style of this gospel.