10.14 Mark 1-3

Dwayne Berry

10.14.2020

Mark 1-3

Summary: Mark chapters 1-3 move at a really fast pace and there is so much that happens. It begins the story of Jesus’ adult life starting with his baptism and by the end of chapter 3 he has already appointed the twelve disciples. Mark 1 starts with the story of John the Baptist, a man who baptized people in the Jordan River. John tells the people around him of the coming of Jesus who will be much more powerful than himself, saying that Jesus will baptize them with the Holy Spirit, rather than water alone. Jesus comes and is baptized by John then you’ve got heaven being torn open and God speaks to Jesus. Then Jesus goes in the wilderness for forty days and nights to be tested and we get the short version of that story. Jesus then goes on to preach the good news and call his first disciples. In Mark 2 Jesus is going around preaching and healing many people of different illnesses and disabilities. Jesus even spends time and eats with sinners and he’s really shaking things up and crowds of people follow in around. At the end of chapter 2 and in chapter 3 Jesus is already receiving persecution for his teachings and the amazing life he was living. He received persecution from the teachers of the law and even his own family. At the end of chapter 3 he declares that the disciples are his family and anyone who does the will of God. 

Key Verse:

Mark 3:31-35. This is one of those amazing and revolutionary but also tough teachings by Jesus. As a disciple the body of Christ and those who do the will of God are our family. When Jesus’ mother and bothers came to him thinking he was out of his mind he said “Who is my mother and my brothers?” He looked around at his disciples and says “Here are my mother and my brothers!” Jesus aligned himself with his disciples over his own family. In the same way we should align ourselves with Jesus and with each other over political groups, over race, and even over our own families.

How does what you read change your vision of God?: God is not telling us to disown or disregard our families. Family is super important. God blesses us with families and calls us to honor and love our families. God also has given us a new family in his church which he calls us to put before our own families.  

How does what you read change your vision of yourself? I pretty much do anything for my siblings. I’d do everything in my power to make sure that they’re safe and okay. This scripture helped me to see that I have to be willing to do the same and more for my family in Christ.

Where did you see Jesus in these chapters?: Jesus’ life in these chapters shows his heart and character and helps us to point out what’s really important. When the pharisees are trying to trap Jesus and find things to accuse him of, he doesn’t care about his image or upsetting them. He says “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” Jesus’ cares about our hearts and what’s right.