Mark in 2022 – Page 4 – 300 words a day

Don’t you care?

Don’t you care? The storm was awful. The boat was threatened. Jesus slept. The disciples said, “Don’t you care that we are drowning?” Jesus woke up, rebuked the wind, and told the waves to be still. And in the stillness spoke to the disciples. “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” […]

by Jon Swanson

With many similar parables.

“The kingdom of God has come near,” Jesus said. “Give up your kingdom-building and believe the good news.” That’s where Jesus started in his teaching work. Technically, he said “repent”. But at least part of repenting is quitting what you are doing that’s going away from the kingdom of God and start going toward the […]

by Jon Swanson

About the seeds.

“Consider carefully what you hear,” Jesus continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you-and even more.” It’s the middle of a series of stories Mark tells about stories that Jesus told. Three seed stories, a lamp story, and a measuring story. Each of the stories feels like a stand-alone story, a […]

by Jon Swanson

Thinking about picking a team.

The tension is growing. Powerful people are starting to plot.People everywhere are continuing to come. Evil spirits are announcing. What’s Jesus going to do? He heads to the hills. He calls the people he wants and heads to the hills. In contrast to the lakeside where everyone can find him, he invites the people he […]

by Jon Swanson

Gathering crowds.

Jesus travels back to the area near Capernaum, to the shore of Lake Tiberius. It was likely close to where Peter, Andrew, James, and John had lived. Jesus told them to have a boat ready. And at this moment, Mark gives us a glimpse of the popularity of Jesus. People were coming to find him, […]