Here’s some verse from the powerful story of Jesus’ encounter with the Syrophoenician woman in Mark 7:24-30. Outsider Insight With His disciples somewhere near Tyre, A retreat for renewal perhaps their desire. But it wasn’t to be— His presence became known, A woman came to Jesus, Fell at His feet like a stone. She pleadedContinue reading “Outsider Insight”
Category Archives: Mark
When Jesus Spoke At His Home Church
I grew up in a small town of a couple thousand people. Everyone there knew everyone else. If you were out goofing around and doing something you shouldn’t—your parents knew about it before you got back home. All twelve grades were in one school building. Like I said, it was a small town. After IContinue reading “When Jesus Spoke At His Home Church”
When Jesus Went Home
Here’s some verse that encapsulates Jesus’ return to Nazareth and the reception He received to a message He shared in the synagogue on the Sabbath. Back home in Nazareth. Comfortable places, familiar faces. Home church in Nazareth. Where everyone knows the story of you— Or at least they think they do. Message from God shared.Continue reading “When Jesus Went Home”
Tremble
Here’s some verse from the familiar story found in Mark 4:35-41. It’s not long, but I think you’ll find it sums up the situation. Jesus was asleep, The boat was in the deep, The disciples began to weep. Jesus was awoken, The storm was broken, The disciples’ faith was disassembled, And they were left toContinue reading “Tremble”
Touchable
We’ve learned a lot about touch and isolation in the last two years, haven’t we? We started off being told not to touch our eyes, nose, or mouth (remember that?). Then we graduated to not touching things, people, and carrying around sanitizer. There was also social distancing, masks, and isolation (a.k.a., “staying in”). We didContinue reading “Touchable”
Reaching Out To Jesus
Here’s the wonderful story of Mark 5:25-34 put into verse. I’ve found that doing this helps me get deeper into the story and see it in new ways. I hope you will find it helpful in some way. Reaching Out To Jesus Twelve years, painful isolation, finances drained, spiraling frustration. Somehow there was still aContinue reading “Reaching Out To Jesus”
Is He Amazed By Us?
Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’tContinue reading “Is He Amazed By Us?”
When A Little Water Gets In Your Boat
The familiar story of Jesus calming the storm is presented by Mark through a series of contrasts (4:35-41). There is an initial contrast in the early actions of the story (Jesus is asleep while the disciples are afraid). Then there is the contrast between their question (“Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”) and Jesus’Continue reading “When A Little Water Gets In Your Boat”
Mark And Chronology
Although Mark follows a general chronological approach in recounting of the story of Jesus (as do the other gospel writers), he’s not married to it. More to the point, he never claims to be. So, it’s a serious error to think that Mark somehow isn’t inspired because absolutely every detail isn’t arranged chronologically. Though weContinue reading “Mark And Chronology”
The Glories Of God’s Kingdom
The story featuring the question to Jesus about fasting is the third in a series of five stories of conflict (Mark 2:1-3:6). The first two stories (the healing of the paralyzed man, Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners) celebrate the power and scope of forgiveness in the kingdom (2:1-17), while the last two (theContinue reading “The Glories Of God’s Kingdom”
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 