Today’s reading is James 5: 13-19: This is a passage that we have heard a million times before, but we need to hear it again and again. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. I think of how it … Continue reading
Today’s reading is Romans 1: 1-17 The next few weeks we’ll be looking at Paul’s letter to the Romans. This is such an important book; it is really the first book of Christian theology. In this book, Paul reflects upon who … Continue reading
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Today’s reading is Luke 22: 24-46 There are phrases in Scripture that always speak to me. It may not be something long and lofty, it may be something small and quiet. Today’s reading has one such phrase to me. It’s in … Continue reading
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Today we are finishing up our time with Mark. You can go through and read all our reflections on Mark here on my blog, you can group them under the category Mark below and catch up. Friday we’ll do a reading from our Daily Readings, and I’ll be thinking about what is next.
The Longer Ending of Mark
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
9 [[Now after he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. 10 She went out and told those who had been with him, while they were mourning and weeping. 11 But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.Jesus Appears to Two Disciples
12 After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. 13 And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.Jesus Commissions the Disciples
14 Later he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were sitting at the table; and he upbraided them for their lack of faith and stubbornness, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. 16 The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”The Ascension of Jesus
19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it.]]
We talked Monday about why Chapter 16 is made it like it is, with the notations of the different manuscripts. Today, we see these last few verses in Mark are in four different sections, and only one of them really makes us go, huh?
The first section – 9-10, Jesus appears to Mary, just as it happens in other Gospels. The first person to see Jesus after the resurrection was Mary. She was dedicated to Him, she loved Him, and she came to help prepare His body for final burial. And she was the first one to proclaim the resurrection. She was the first of many throughout the ages to tell others that Jesus is alive. She was the first to share that Good News. But notice, they didn’t believe her.
Second, 12-13, what sounds very similar to the walk to Emmaus in Luke. In Luke’s Gospel we see a fuller picture of what happened here, two followers were walking to the village of Emmaus when Jesus appeared to them, explained how all the scriptures point to Him, to His death, and resurrection, but they didn’t recognize Him. It wasn’t until they arrived at the village, and they broke bread together that they realized it was Jesus. So, they go and tell others, but notice, just like in the section before, they didn’t believe them.
Third, 14-18, Jesus appears to the Disciples. Ok, here there are some things that make us go, wait, what? We see a similar end to what we see in Matthew, with Jesus sending them out with the great commission. But we see something unique to Mark. We see that they will have signs of great power, they will be able to drink poison, handle snakes, speak in tongues, other such things. What are we to do this?
First, it is in the Bible. One of my professors in seminary always told us that we can’t just ignore passages of scripture that confuse us or that we don’t like. They are in the Bible. This ending of Mark is what is found most common in the manuscripts that the Bible comes from (I unpack a lot this Monday), but know, it is the Bible. So, I believe that those that follow Jesus, we can face amazing things, things that would kill others, and survive. I believe we have power that the world does not possess. Now notice, it didn’t say that we should necessarily go looking for trouble or for these things. But if they come, we will have more power than we think is even possible.
So, I’m not going to go out handling snakes. But, I do believe in miracles. And I do believe that as Christians, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, and we may not understand all that God does through us, He can and does do amazing things through us. We are filled with the very Spirit that raised Christ from the dead. Trust. Hope. Beleive.
Don’t be like those initial disciples. Have faith.
Fouth, 19-20, the ascension. We see Jesus ascend to heaven, where He sits at God’s right hand, praying for us, encouraging us, interceding for us. Remember, you always have someone on your side, someone pulling for you, someone that loves you, someone that cares for you, someone there for you. Jesus. He is at the right hand of the Father. On your team. Never forget that.
What questions do you have? How does this strike you? Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.
If you’d like to receive these thoughts by email, be sure to click here and join my email devotional group!
Today we look at Mark 9:38-41 and we see Jesus tell us about how we can work together as different churches:
Another Exorcist
38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 Whoever is not against us is for us. 41 For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.
Today we see Jesus giving us a picture of what “church” should be like. We see the disciples saying, we saw people casting out demons in Jesus name, but they weren’t part of their group. And they tried to stop them, because they weren’t part of their group.
And Jesus says no. If they do good my name (in other words, through me) then they can’t be against me. In other words, if they are part of Jesus, but not part of us, you know what? It’s ok. Jesus’ team, Jesus kingdom is bigger than just you and me. It’s bigger than just my local church. Or my denomination. Or those that worship like I do. Or believe exactly like me. Or have my theology.
Jesus team is made up of all those that believe in Him and part of Him. Even if they aren’t “part” of our group. Because you know what? If they are in Christ, they are part of us.
Through Jesus, we are one. Even if we disagree or have differences of opinions. If we are in Jesus, we are one.
Imagine what we could do as Christians if we all worked together. Imagine what could happen in our communities, our world, everywhere, if we all worked together in Jesus name. We could (and we can) change the world.
Look at the good that was being done. In Jesus name.
Today, may all of us that are in Jesus name, may we work together for the same goal, the same purpose, the same plan, the same savior.
May we all, no matter what group we are part of, work for Jesus!
Monday we’ll look at Mark 9:42-50.
What questions do you have? How does this strike you? Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.
If you’d like to receive these thoughts by email, be sure to click here and join my email devotional group!
Today we look at one of the more amazing stories in the Bible in Mark 9:1-8. We see Jesus’ transfiguration:
1 And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”
The Transfiguration
2 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” 8 Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.
This is why I like this story. In this, we see Jesus for who He is. He is glorious. He is powerful. He is majestic. He is strong. He is God.
We see Jesus today in all of His power and might. We truly see Jesus as is He. He left the right hand of God to be born of a virgin, to be fully God and fully man, to redeem humanity. While on the earth, He suffered. He bled. He was abandoned. He was betrayed. He walked around Israel and Judah with a group of followers. He lived a tough life. He did.
He was tested as we were, yet remained without sin. He was tested and tried. He experienced the death of friends, He felt rejection from family, He did not have an easy time fulfilling His Father’s plan.
And, by the way, that was for us. All that He went through was for our sake and for our salvation. Let us not forget that.
But today, today we see Jesus in His glory. We see Him in His power. We see Him as He is. King of Kings. Lord of Lords. Alpha and Omega. Beginning and the End. The First and the Last.
He is the visible image of the invisible God. He is the firstborn of all creation. He is God Himself.
Don’t forget that. Don’t forget who He is. Don’t take Him for granted. Don’t forget His grace. His mercy.
And His strength. And His power. And His might.
He is Jesus.
Monday we’ll look at Mark 9:9-13.
What questions do you have? How does this strike you? Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.
If you’d like to receive these thoughts by email, be sure to click here and join my email devotional group!
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