1 John 4:4 says greater is God that is in us than anything in the world.  According to Jeremiah 29:11 God has great plans for us and desires the best for us, this means that God will not harm us, or as in Hebrews 13:5 He will not leave us or forsake us.  According to Philippians 4:19 our God is a loving God and according to His faithfulness He will provide for our needs.  Once again we need to remember that God has never left us and will never forsake us. “We love him, because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19”. Romans 8:39 says, “Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”.

The Bible teaches that we should live as Citizens of Heaven. We can live life on earth doing our best and following after Heavenly things. Romans  8:6 says, “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” We should obey God rather than the sinful desires of our flesh or body. In our flesh is sin and no good thing. Sin can keep us from what God has in store for us. Jeremiah 29:11 God tells us He has plans for us to prosper and do well. God wants us to excel and make most of our lives. Sometimes we are prevented from God’s plan by choosing sin over God. Sin divides us from God but Jesus Christ connects us to the Grace of God. The love of God and His promise that He will provide for us is something we should strongly desire. Philippians 4:9, “God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Mark chapter 16 was a very good chapter. It is amazing because the disciples seem to have no idea that Jesus would rise from the dead. Although in the Gospels it appears He told that many times it would happen. How many times has God spoken to us and maybe we just didn’t take the time to listen? I’m thankful that God speaks to me through His word and through His Holy Spirit it is also interesting that no one believed the people when they reported they had seen Jesus, because the Gospel clearly mentions this was destined to happen. It makes me wonder how many times in my life has God been saying something would happen and maybe I just didn’t believe or hear him? I know that God is faithful. I’m thankful for that and know He will continue to shape me and mold me. The passage about being a disciple of all nations is wonderful because I believe ever since the beginning of creation God has always desired for us to have that kind of discipleship with Him.

This is interesting that the pilot seemed to know Jesus was Messiah but still let Him be crucified because of the chief priest getting the people to shout out “kill him”. Rather, than do what is right, Pilate let Jesus be crucified to appease the people and Jewish authorities. It seems like we sometimes let our sins get in the way of having a genuine relationship with our Savior. Jesus was on the cross not just because of their sins but for ours also. We in a sense also crucified Christ because of our sins (Hebrews 6:6). One thing I took from this chapter is that it is more important to follow God than enjoy the pleasures of sin (Hebrews 11:25). Which means doing the right thing regardless of how we are treated which is why 1 John 3:10 speaks of loving our brother see Mark 16:15. Jesus in the strictest sense had every right to save Himself from the cross, He suffered for us so we should be willing to suffer for His sake (Philippians 1:29). However, I am thankful that Christ’s life is not all about suffering. In fact I am thankful that Jesus died to free me from the eternal consequences of sin. We are commanded to basically be a disciple of Christ, and I think that means loving not just God but our Christian and Non-Christian brothers and sisters. How can we do this? In my opinion the best way to do this is to run the race of life faithfully (Mark 13:13) with endurance which to me means being obedient to Christ and following His teachings as best as possible because that is part of being a disciple of Christ! The context of the verse is that we should love one another just as Christ has loved us. If we are in Christ the Holy Spirit leads us, and as we allow the spirit to lead us we can overcome much of our weaknesses and God will help us to remain in Him (John 15:4).

My study and observation of Mark 14. This chapter talks about the Passover, the plot to kill Jesus and a woman anointing Him with oil. It also covers Peter the Apostle’s denial 3 times of Jesus. It talks about Judas Iscariot’s betrayal of Jesus. They break bread and drink wine as part of the prediction that Jesus would give Himself as a sacrifice for them. Jesus is arrested at Gethsemane, has a trial, Jesus also tells them that He will rise from the dead. This is the longest chapter in the Gospel of Mark as it is 72 verses. Mark 14:28 Jesus says, “But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.”. It seems like the people may not have understood but at the end of Mark they see that He rose from the dead and begin to understand His resurrection prophecy once they see Him.

My study and observation of Mark 13. Jesus predicts that the Temple in Jerusalem will be destroyed. Mark 13:2, “And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”. Jesus warns about false prophets who say, “I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”. Christ talks about wars and rumors about wars. The Lord teaches that the Gospel must be preached throughout the world before the tribulation and end of the world will take place. Jesus says He will come back in the clouds and that everyone will see him. Mark 13:32, “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.”. Since Christ didn’t know when He would come back we should be careful not to believe those that try to predict the end of the world at a certain time. Jesus said, “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. Mark 13:33”. Praise God that Jesus will come back. Amen

My study and observation of Mark 12. This chapter opens with Jesus teaching in Jerusalem. The chapter talks about the wicked farmer. He leased the land to vinedressers and went into a far country. The farm in the parable relates Israel to a vineyard. Depicted here is God as the owner of the vineyard. The religious leaders are those that look after the vineyard. Just as those in the parable are beaten and killed in the same way many of God’s prophets were killed from the times of the Old Testament even until John the Baptist. The religious leaders were about to reject Jesus and God was going to take away some advantages from Israel and reach out His hand to the Gentiles. Chapter 12 also covers Jesus talking to the Pharisees and Herodians saying that it is right to pay taxes to Caesar. It also talks about Jesus’ greatest commandment “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. Mark 12:30-31”. In Mark the challenge to Jesus’ authority are all taking place during His visit to the temple. Mark 12:36 in reference to Jesus says, “For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.”.

My study and observation of Mark 11. In this chapter a great crowd gathers as Jesus enters Jerusalem. “And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Mark 11:9”. Jesus overturns the tables of money changers and says, “…Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. Mark 11:17”. The temple area was filled with people seeking to greatly profit from selling doves who worked together with the priests and robbed the people by forcing them to purchase approved sacrificial animals at inflated prices. The temple is God’s house so Jesus had the right to purge them of the crooked sellers.

My study and observation of Mark 10. It gives more teachings of Jesus as His journey progresses towards Jerusalem. The Pharisees tried to trap Jesus and get Him to speak against Moses or against popular thought; they hoped to catch Him in a trap. In the chapter Jesus condemns divorce, speaks of riches and service. Mark 10:2 says, “And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.”. ” Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.” “And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. – Mark 10:11”. Mark 10:24 says, “And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!” The people then begin to question if anyone can go to Heaven and Jesus tells them it is possible because all things are possible with God.

My study and observation of Mark 9. It starts out with Jesus saying, “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power”. It most likely is speaking of where Moses & Elijah appeared & Jesus was transfigured, His face and clothes becoming exceedingly bright. Many believe the unnamed mountain was Mount Tabor in Lower Galilee, Israel. The facts of the prophecy are that Peter, James, & John see the glorified Christ before they die. Mark 9:7, “And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.”. Jesus then clearly says to the disciples to keep the transfiguration a secret until He rises from the dead. “And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean. – Mark 9:10”. Praise God that Jesus died, rose from the dead and loves us. Amen