Have you ever sought out one thing in life, thinking it would bring you comfort, only to find that you actually were looking for something else?  I do this often.  It can be something as simple as thinking that going for a walk will help me clear my head, only to...

The fact that God didn’t rescue Jesus from the cross is one of the hardest truths to accept. Jesus willingly and obediently endured the unimaginable so we wouldn’t have to. There was no shortcut to the cross nor a dulling of the pain our Lord had to suffer.  The truth...

A thread has been woven from Genesis to Revelation that has perfectly placed Jesus in the position to let the world know who He truly is: the Messiah. We know of Jesus’ miraculous birth. We have seen John the Baptizer prepare the way. We have witnessed His miracles...

There are verses sandwiched into Mark 14 about a woman, Mary, who poured an alabaster jar of oil on Jesus’ head. What can we learn from this encounter?  It should reaffirm to us that Jesus is worthy. Not because of what He has done or what He will do. He is God...

“First the gospel must be preached to all nations. When they arrest you and hand you over for trial, do not worry about what to speak. But say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.”  - Mark 13:10-11   In Mark 13, Jesus...

Have you ever faced awkward questions about your faith? Or had people ask you awkward questions, with their only intent being to trick you? It’s never a nice place to be, and yet even these times can provide us with opportunities to point people to Jesus.  In Mark 11...

In 1727, a group of believers in Germany led by Count Nicholas Zinzendorf gathered for a communion service. Deep division had invaded the church, and the young leader had spent weeks visiting each member of his congregation. He urged them to repent, love one another,...

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus demonstrated in everything He did, every action He made, every person He encountered, every conversation He had, that He had us in mind. While He could have demanded that others bend down to serve Him and meet His every need,...

If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better for you to enter into life crippled than to have two hands and go into hell, to the unquenchable fire. - Mark 9:43 Recently, a woman in our town visited the ER. She was sick and did not know what was causing it....

Can you imagine going with a couple of friends up a mountain and suddenly one of your friends begins to shine brightly?! Then, two other people appear out of the blue and a voice from the sky begins talking? It sounds like something you would find in a fantasy movie. ...

As a child, I clearly remember a friend at school telling me that I should stop pointing my finger at her because three of my fingers were pointing back at me. I am pretty sure I was standing there with pigtails and a frowny face feeling like I was righting a wrong. I...

Have you ever felt the rejection of people you thought would welcome you with open arms? Have you ever delivered a message expecting one reaction, only to be met with disdain? Jesus has.  I think sometimes, because Jesus lived a perfect life, we forget that He lived,...

“When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she kept saying, “If only I touch his clothes, I will be healed.” At once the bleeding stopped, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.” Mark 5:27-29 This...

“So he got up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Be quiet! Calm down!” Then the wind stopped, and it was dead calm. And he said to them, “Why are you cowardly? Do you still not have faith?” They were overwhelmed by fear and said to one another, “Who then is...

Today’s reading shares an answer to one of the questions that appears frequently throughout the Gospel of Mark: “Who is Jesus?” As Jesus went home after appointing the twelve disciples, experts of the law gathered around and tried to answer that question by claiming...

Today’s verses relay a critical moment in Jesus’ life and ministry: His calling of the twelve disciples. This is the beginning of a story of transformation.  Jesus had many followers (also called disciples) at that time, but He chose only twelve to be His closest...

“When the experts in the law and the Pharisees saw that He [Jesus] was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard this, He said to them, “Those who are healthy don’t need a...

The Gospel of Mark Bible study journal is currently available in 27 languages, with more in process!  Help us spread our amazing translations around the world by sending this post to your mission’s pastor, missionaries your church supports, or any missionary friends...

Mark didn’t hide his intentions as he opened his Gospel with the bold statement that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Mark then spent the first eight chapters showing us that Jesus IS the Son of God. Mark’s Gospel is action packed, in part due to his short, to the...