October 9-10, 2017
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Mark? Here’s today’s reading:
Mark 1 (ESV)
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,
“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way,
3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”
4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”…Continue Reading
Already registered? Click here to log in.
Not registered? Click here (LHCC members only)
9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”❤️
Through Christ we are baptized with the Holy Spirit!💕
Man who was healed …tell no one go to the the priest….he told everyone (understandably)
There was a ripple effect to his telling everyone…..Jesus left the town ,people were probably amazed confused aware …..priests what did they think
Verses 2-3 were originally written during the time after the Babylonian exile and as the Jews were rebuilding the new temple, during this time there were many allusions in scripture to the deliverance of the exile and their deliverance from the exile. If these verses are used in the same context as they were back in times of the second temple, I think this is already prophetically speaking of a messenger of peace, comfort, and deliverance. Which lines up pretty accurately to who Jesus was during His time on Earth.
I figured it was time to spend time with Jesus, so we enter another gospel. We will also be returning to one chapter a day but I welcome input as to how the one chapter over 2 days worked and how God used it in your life. You will notice Mark is a very action oriented Gospel. Believed to be addressed to a Roman audience, actions spoke louder than words. That is why there is no mention of origins, where did Jesus come from, or of His birth.
But it is also fitting to start with John the Baptist. The one who heralded the coming of Jesus. He was both oriented to the law (baptism of repentance) and an awareness of grace (baptism of the Holy Spirit) which is fitting for the Jewish people to be prepared for their Messiah. As the provision of salvation through Christ was a mystery to the Old Testament saints ( John being one), we can’t expect John to know the forgiveness that would come through the cross.
Now look at all the things here that reveal Jesus’ divine orientation: clouds part, Spirit descends, followers called, authoritative teaching, driving out evil spirits, and healing many people including a man with leprosy. Although there are things we could learn from each, part of Mark’s intent is to give the big picture of Jesus as God because of the things He is able to do. And here He reflects in practical ways that God is able to provide everything we need for life and godliness, an assurance given to us in 2 Peter 1:3.
What a Savior!!!!!