Mark, my words: The End is the Beginning

And with that we have finally come to the end of the book of Mark.

If you missed any of the previous 50 plus episodes, they can all be found and viewed over here – for those of you who have been walking through this book [at a very leisurely pace i might add] thank you for hanging out with me and for any thoughts and ideas you might have shared along the way.

This final piece sees Jesus revealing Himself to a number of followers after His death and a whole lot of disbelief amongst themselves as to whether or not it was Him:

[For other looks at different parts of the bible, click here]

Mark, my words: Why does he keep them around?

As we continue on with Mark, we have this very interesting passage that might leave us wondering why Jesus kept the disciples around.

But then if you’re anything like me, you’ll probably be super glad that He did. [and does!]

Join me as we look at Mark 14. 27-42 and maybe take a moment to thank God that He uses the foolish of the world to confound the wise…

 

 

[For the next part of the story where Jesus heads to the garden and is arrested, click here]

Mark, my words: Having your enemy round for a meal

This story might be a whole lot more profound than we normally pay attention to.

Jesus having a last meal with His disciples who He has grown to know and really love after three years of spending time with them. But during the meal He indicates to them that one of them is going to betray Him. So to put it another way He points out the fact that He has an enemy sitting at the table. And then continues to sit and eat and love and share the most intimate of celebrations with [until the enemy can’t take it any more and is the one to leave]

Probably not a story where we will be in too much of a hurry to ask what Jesus would do and then apply to our situation.

Do you have an enemy? Someone you can’t stand or someone who really can’t stand you? When last did you have them over and break pizza with them?

Join me as i read through Mark 14 from verse 12 to 26 to see what Jesus was up to:

 

 

[For the next passage looking at Jesus continuing to use His loser disciples, click here]

Mark, my words: Inviting the interruption

A story of a woman who pours expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet to the obstination of those around Him and yet Jesus responds by calling the act beautiful and saying that what she did will be retold as long as the story of the gospel is being told [like now! it’s like He knew!] and also a little p.s. though on the idea of creating space for interruption which seems to be something Jesus did with regulartity.

So join me as i take a look at Mark 14 from verse 1 to 11

 

 

[For the next Mark my word clip on having your enemies round for a meal, click here]

 

Mark, my words: Wait, all men will hate me?

How do you put a positive spin on the words, “All men will hate you because of Me”? Especially when they come from the mouth of Jesus [which makes them a little bit harder to ignore or explain away].

Perhaps that is why Mark 13.1-13 is not a particularly popular passage for those who don’t specifically preach continuously through the Bible? The rest of it is End of the World stuff which generally is good for an audience, so let’s take a look and see what this passage has to say to us:

 

[For the next passage with Jesus talking about end times, click here]

Mark, my words: Jesus and the tiny offering.

This is another moment when Jesus turns the expected on its head and shows His audience another aspect of the kingdom of God where the heart is more important than any kind of outward show or impression.

As we read Mark 12.35-44, we sneak a peek at offering time in the temple:

[For links to the whole series on the book of Mark so far, click here.]

Mark, my words: Marriage after death?

So you’re married and happily reading your bible and you come across this passage where Jesus seems to say, ‘Once we get to the new heaven and the new earth, no-one is going to be married any more or even getting married.’ Oh. How do you explain that one?

Well join me as I walk through Mark 12. 18-27 where I very clearly don’t:

[For the next passage which deals with what this Christianity is kinda all about, click here]