Mark 1
Are you excited? I could not be more excited and I hope you are too.
A brand new year and a brand new Bible readying campaign.
We kick off with a familiar Gospel book – Mark. But even as we read over the next few weeks and think we know the stories well, the challenge to myself and to you is this…
- Highlight the verses that made a deep impression upon you
- Reflect on what lessons you can take away from today’s passage
- Keep this in your prayer
Now let’s start reading….
Introduction
Maybe a short introduction would help you get more out of what you would read from Mark…
The Gospel according to Mark emphasises that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God!
Jesus announced that the Kingdom of God is at hand. He healed the sick and told the people that He will die as a ransom for the sins of all mankind.
You will notice as you read through Mark that there are 3 main groups of people:
- the disciples
- the crowds
- the religious leaders
And the funny thing was… none of these groups really understood Jesus.
Instead of embracing Jesus as their religious leader, the religious leaders arrested Him! Instead of supporting and rallying around Him, the disciples desserted Him! Instead of praising and thanking Him for His wonderful acts of mercy, grace and blessing, the crowd jeered at Him! Only when He died alone on the Cross did a Roman centurion recognise that Jesus is the Son of God.
Which group do we belong today? This is a good question to start the year thinking about as we read…
Bible Passage: Mark 1
Whew! Talked about ‘H A P P E N I N G !’
One can almost get tired and lost with so many things happening just in chapter 1 alone!
But to me, it beautifully encapsulates who Jesus IS.
- He is the Promised One! (wow! sounds almost MATRIX like)
- He is the One that defeats the dark lord (ok… sorry with all these movie references)
- He is the Beloved One! (Beloved Son of God… nothing less!)
- He is the Teacher, Preacher and Master! (Shifu!)
- He is the Healer (There is NOTHING He cannot heal – the sick, the demon possesed…)
- He is the Prayerful One (He gets up early to pray… how many of us does that?)
- He is the Compassionate One (He goes out and seeks the lost and needy and does not wait for them to come knocking).
I have just listed out a few things (ok, quite a bit) about who Jesus is here. Feel free to add more to your list and share.
But let me just share with you a few more questions for my self reflection/examination as I read today’s passage:
Question 1: How often do I want to exalt myself rather than Jesus?
Hmm… what triggered this question?
Last year has been a rather ‘successful’ year in my office. And I think I had accomplished many things and done them well. And my bosses are happy with me and my colleagues too acknowledged the work that I have done.
Church work wise – I have been involved in relatively a lot more than in previous years and while I may not go around saying this, the pride inside of me tells me that I am doing more than ok.
BUT….That’s precisely what I am most fearful about and am trying to temper what I am doing or am going to do.
When I do something well, do I exalt myself rather than Jesus?
Are all the plans and execution of the plans opportunities for me to ‘shine’ more than the Lord Jesus?
What are my key motivations? Selfless service or selfish pride?
Satan had buckets full of pride.
Just because Satan did some ‘marvellous’ things for God in the past, he thought he was the…
one.
And that’s why he is below while Jesus in up there.
The other side of pride is still pride?
A good friend shared with me this about service to God. This friend was talking about how some people rejected doing work for God not because they are humble or unable… but rather because they are PROUD!
Proud?
Yep! They are afraid that if they do a bad job, they will lose face and people would look down upon them. In other words, their PRIDE would be hurt!
So that puts another angle of this question ‘Do I exalt myself more than Jesus’?
We are so afraid that our efforts would be ridiculed or that we will be embarassed that we choose NOT to do what we could have done for Jesus so that our pride will be kept intact!
Question 2: In what what have I been called to be a “fisher of men”?
Simon Peter and Andrew were called. So were James and John.
Who else? Many others. You and I are included!
Called to be….?
“Fishers of Men!”
For a lot of us middle agers and above, nothing strikes more fear into us than being called to be a fisher of men.
Anything! I can be a cook! A toilet cleaner! A driver! A translator! A tour guide! A watchman! A teacher! Someone who works hard and offers a lot…. Anything but a fisher of men!
Why? Actually… is there a choice?
Jesus’ great commissions to His disciples included preaching the Gospel to the ends of the earth. The last I read… we are all disciples of Christ… so I guess this means we are included.
Wait…. what’s this I hear you all saying…..
“That’s easy for you to say… cause you are already doing it and have been doing it for some time. ”
“Aiyah! You can talk alot… so that’s why you can easily go preaching… I am an introvet. I am not like you.”
“You don’t understand…. preaching is a skill… and I don’t have that and I do not know what to say.”
Actually I have a few hundred more reasons but I want to keep this posting short (fat chance of that happening today). Why do I know all these reasons? This is because I used to say them and think them all the time. I always had a ‘WHY I CANNOT’ reason ready. And I completely understand where you are coming from.
But did you read properly what Jesus said?
“Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” ~ Mark 1:17
“I WILL MAKE YOU….”
Jesus will make you….
Not yourself. Not me. Not the preachers or deacons.
Jesus Himself will make you… become fishers of men!
I had wanted to share why I am now signed up as an active angler of the human kind. But let’s leave that for another day.
Instead, think about what I just shared. Look at how Peter, Andrew, James and John responded.
In what way has Jesus called you to be a fisher of men? What will be your response this year?
Conclusion
A new year is always filled with optimism. I am not sure why but pyschologically the changing of a year seems to give us a chance to discard the bad old things of the past year and start anew (although frankly it does not make a lot of sense because anytime to start casting out the bad and start doing the right thing is a good time).
But I hope that joining us in our journey through the New Testament together this year is one of the things you want to do.
There are so many things we can learn together and grow together. And we can certainly encourage one another and share with one another lessons we receive from God (very much like what my friend shared with me about pride). So just leave a comment below or post it on facebook using the facebook share button on top of this post.
The Word of God is manna for our soul. Food is only beneficial if we eat it (read the Bible) and digest it (reflect on the Scriptures) and use the energy to do something (apply the Word).
But it all starts with Reading the Bible regularly.
May God bless and guide our Journey Through the New Testament together this year.
6 Comments
InHisTime
The verses in today’s chapter that stood out for me are:
1) Verse 7 “…whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose.”
This reminds me that it is only through God’s grace that I can be baptised in His true church and receive His precious Holy Spirit. Who am I to deserve this salvation grace? The only thing I can do is to serve Him with a pure heart, obey His commandments and put Him first in my life.
2) Verses 40-41 ” Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean. Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”
There are plenty of things that we pray very earnestly for, but how often do we say “Lord, if You are willing, please…”
For things in life that we want so badly, has our prayers turned from requests to demands?
It is not easy to be like the leper, to request with faith, especially for things that we are anxious about.
May God strengthen our trust in Him.
PS
Why did Lord Jesus sent the man who was cured of leprosy away at once with a strong warning, “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifice that Moses commanded for your cleansing.”? (Mark 1:43)
This is my childish thought:
Lord Jesus is here to preach the gospel of the salvation for the souls and the kingdom of God (Mark 1:15), not only to cure sickness and to drive out evil spirit.
Lord Jesus is here to fulfil the laws and accomplish the salvation plan of God.
John 20:30 …that these miraculous signs were recorded that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing we may have life in His name.
Often i miss this focus of my salvation too.
Yesterday, i said sth harsh to a brethren matter-of-factly with no sense of shame. Now i reflect on it, i regret the words.
Lord Jesus has given me salvation. Everything dims when compare to this grace.
May Lord Jesus help me to let Him stay in my heart always and my short-sightedness not drive Him outside in lonely places.
May Lord Jesus help my prayers always to be requests not demands.
Treasureinearthenvessel
Wow! It was indeed many many incidents summarised into one chapter. At first glance, I was actually dreading it cos I was very sure this is going to take more than 5 min! But then, I realised that, because these were familiar stories to all of us, reading actually wasn’t such a chore. It almost felt like I was watching a movie of Jesus’ life on fast forward mode. 😡
One point that came out strongly for me:
Both John the Baptist and Jesus Christ were very clear about their purpose on earth. And because of that, they were able to stay focused and accomplished what they had set out to do. They were able to complete the work tasked to them.
John the Baptist knew that he wasn’t the Christ, but that he was the one who would prepare the way before Him. He knows who he is, and who he isn’t.
Often, as we search for our own identity and self-worth, we may eventually come to a knowledge of who we are. We may be called to be teachers…. or to be preachers…. or mothers…. etc. And that is good. We know where our gifts are and we employ them for the benefit for the Church. However, let us also not neglect knowing who we are NOT.
We are definitely not God. There was once I was really worried about how a truthseeker’s first impression of the church service might be that I went to talk to a preacher about it and to raise some suggestions. But the preacher simply said, “It is the Lord’s burden. We need not worry too much.” It almost felt like someone hit my head with a bell and the sound simply echoed within my mind. I was awakened then, and serving Him became much sweeter.
Knowing who we are not also help us to stay humble. John the Baptist once made this statement about Jesus Christ: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” When we see others more gifted in the area of work we once were good at, do we give praise to God, or do we become jealous and unhappy? This goes in hand with Biblereadingcompanion’s reflection on “Do I exalt myself or Jesus?”
Jesus Christ Himself also knew His exact purpose on earth. While His fame had already spread throughout the region (Mark 1:28), and everyone was seeking after Him, this was what He said,
“Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.” (Mark 1:38)
Because both John the Baptist and Jesus Christ were focused on their purpose in life, they were able to complete that which were entrusted to them to fulfill.
At the start of this new year, it is good to ponder, what is it that God has entrusted into my care? What is it that God has tasked me to complete? And let us remember to emulate John the Baptist and Jesus Christ to complete the work.
“And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have.” (2 Corinthians 8:10-11)
Locked garden
Just want to thank biblereadingcompanion for sharing the two questions. They made me think and I also got some answers on my problems. Going to read Mark 1 now.
ST
Some teachings i learnt:
Firstly, John was meek and humble. This is seen in verse 6 which tells us that he did not seek pleasures of the world. Also he was humble in the sense he preached boldly saying there is One who is mightier than him (Verse 7). How many of us actually proclaim boldly that Jesus is mightier? Many of us are self-righteous, in a way we rely on ourselves, our abilities instead of God when we meet tribulations, even though we say “God is almighty”. Has that sentence becomes just a mundane saying and not a belief?
Secondly, in verse 17, when Jesus said to follow Him, simon and andrew IMMEDIATELY followed Him. This showed their strong conviction. They could have lost much revenue by just leaving but they didnt care. No doubt having great wealth accumulated from all the fishes sold is tempting, but is it more valuable than saving souls? (Mark 8:36)
Thirdly, Jesus had placed much emphasis on praying and preaching, what more us? In verse 35, it is stated “..having risen a long while before daylight..” I’m sure Jesus had little sleep as in verse 32 – after the sun had set, many sick or demon possessed people were brought to Him to heal, yet He still got up early to pray.
I can still recall a sermon when a preacher had said that on a missionary trip, the people who came with him automatically woke up at 5.30am daily and prayed for 1.5hours before heading for breakfast. This left a great impression on me as I felt ashamed. 1 hour and 30 minutes? In our daily busy lives, 1hour 30minutes could mean extra money for those working by hours. And as for students like me, in that amount of time I could easily spent it facebooking and catching up on friends. Comparing 1.5hours to my measly 15minutes, I feel like digging a hole to hide…
And Jesus clearly knew His purpose- verse 38. He did His work faithfully- verse 39. What about us? Have we the chosen generation did our part? (1 Pet 2:9)
PP
1. On last Saturday morning I noticed that my name was proposed to be a sermon speaker on Tuesday night service.
Very quickly, a brilliant idea come into my mind to reject it, because I know that I am not capable of doing it.
2. On last Saturday afternoon, I was having bible study on Mark 2, and the Bible study leader shared that we should not look down on us, because Jesus who work on us who make us able to do a great work, not our own ability.
Like when Jesus called His deciples, they were just fisherman, who were not considered as “capable” people to be His deciples.
I was “slap” softly on my plan about rejecting the idea to be sermon speaker on Tuesday night service.
3. Morning I read Mark 1. Nothing special come into my mind.
4. True enough, today I received email tell me that BOM agreed for me to deliver sermon on Tuesday night.
I plan to pray to God tonight for direction, but started to think of what reason should I give to reject the idea.
5. Evening, I read comment on Mark 1 on CloserDayByDay
I got these:
But did you read properly what Jesus said?
“Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” ~ Mark 1:17
“I WILL MAKE YOU….”
Jesus will make you….
Not yourself. Not me. Not the preachers or deacons.
Jesus Himself will make you… become fishers of men!
I was “Slap” the 2nd times. Harder…
I think I know what I should do now. Thanks.