Category: Mark

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Mark’s Gospel bounces along at a fast pace. There are at least four important topics here – the testimony of the evil spirits, the appointment of the Twelve, the rejection of the teachers of the law, and Jesus’ words about His family. What verse speaks to your heart and mind?

SJA Notes

* Lord God Above, Your word is life to us. Please grow it within us.

“And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.'”

Do we come before the Lord each day thinking we have a better connection than others because of our own disciplines, our history, our biological or spiritual bloodline?

They are less than nothing in this respect.

All our pride, all our motives, all our patterns of thinking – They must be placed at Jesus’ feet, submitted under His rule.

He is our King. We are His people.

He is our Saviour. We are sinners in need of His salvation.

He is our Good Teacher. We must be teachable.

* Father God,

Please humble us each day.

Sink us in self Lord God, and raise us up in Thee.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Jesus gives us some guidelines for what we do on Sundays – find at least three. Our rest is in the resurrection of Jesus – the new creation, not in the old creation. So we worship on the first day of the week – Sunday, not the last day – Saturday. Sabbath just means rest day.

SJA Notes

* God Above, Jesus is Your word become flesh. Please show us Jesus today.

“And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart,”

Jesus is not a peace-loving mung-bean.

It is important for us to know this, to continue to remember that He is the King of kings, the Lord of lords.

That He will return, as we read in Revelation 19,

“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.”

And further down a little,

“From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.”

Jesus will return as the conquering king. To tread out God’s fury upon His enemies.

This is a God that should not be taken lightly.

* Holy God,

Thank You for hiding us in Christ from the just desserts for our sin, Your wrath being poured out.

Please save those around us, please Lord, we would see them saved through Jesus.

Your word tells us that in Christ and Him alone we are saved from Your wrath.

Please may we see Jesus today.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Here is a famous incident of the paralytic with four friends. Notice that verse 10 informs us that Jesus HAS AUTHORITY to forgive sins! That’s in today’s world too! Jesus follows this up with another demonstration of His authority to forgive sins – with Matthew (or Levi as he was called).

SJA Notes

* Dear God, please teach us from Your word to us today, help us to know You better.

“Follow me.”

Jesus called people to follow Him.

Our Lord Jesus, the Good Shepherd, He says this to us, “Follow me.”!

To walk with Him, to listen to His voice, to do what He tells us, to love and serve Him all our days.

Levi rose and followed Jesus. Following takes action. Daily obedient active trust.

Our King has called us, the true shepherd of God’s sheep.

May our lives be marked with true worship, true service, heart-felt desire for His word.

* Gracious Lord,

Please show us Jesus today. Help us be His disciples in spirit and in truth.

May we follow Him all the days of our lives.

Amen.