Traditions

The Pharisees were constantly on Jesus' case for one thing or another. In Mark's gospel they attack him for claiming to forgive sins and later for eating with tax collectors and sinners. Now they are attacking his disciples for not keeping the traditions of the jewish community.

In each case, Jesus answers these attacks with displays of his divine power and wisdom. He shows them how their traditions are inadequate and sometimes at cross purposes with God's priorities.

We all live by traditions. We should think long and hard about whether our traditions are interfering or helping with our obedience to Christ.

Hospital For Sinners

The Pharisees were very concerned about righteousness. They would never do anything that would defile them and they were outraged when Jesus gathered to eat with tax collectors and sinners. How could he do such a thing?

Jesus' reply was a rebuke - "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came, not to call the righteous, but sinners."

It is possible for us to have a bad attitude toward sinners - when we are supposed to have Jesus' attitude toward them.

Who Can Forgive Sins?

What is the most amazing thing about Jesus? People loved to hear him teach and preach - but most did not really take his message to heart.  Out of the huge crowds that came to him, relatively few came with faith -- willing to repent of their sins and put their trust in Jesus for eternal life.

Sure, Jesus did miracles of healing, but that was not his purpose. These miracles were authentication of his foundational message - that he is God and he alone can forgive sins.

Jesus In Action

Mark's Gospel starts with a bang and keeps up a fast pace. Jesus is portrayed as a man of action. People are amazed by him and astonished by his teaching. They flock to him to hear him teach and to get his help.

What is it about Jesus that is so compelling? What is Mark pointing out to us?

Called To Fish

In Mark's account of Jesus calling his disciples is very direct. Jesus walked past where they were working, called them to follow, and they dropped everything and followed him.

What does this teach us about Jesus? What does it say about the disciples? What are we supposed realize about discipleship for ourselves?

The Main Point

The gospel of Mark is written in a rapid fire, very direct, no nonsense style. Mark is the shortest gospel partly because he cuts the story he is telling down to bare bones, action packed, high impact segments.

What is Mark's main point? He doesn't leave much room for doubt.

How Great God Is

Christopher Hitchens wrote a book a few years ago titled, "God is Not Great." In it he proclaimed his disbelief in God and the many reasons he thought that belief in God was a cause for problems in the world.

It is easy for skeptics like Christopher Hitchens to rail against God. God is not visibly present. God is not standing over them striking them with lightening when they blaspheme his name or ridicule belief in him. The world is definitely broken and bad things are happening all around us. Someone, anyone, might ask, as Hitchens asked, "Why should I worry about an invisible God? Why not do what I please to do?"

But these same currents have flowed throughout human history. They were flowing in Isaiah's day. Isaiah moved against the tide and proclaimed that God IS Great! We should be steadfast in following God wholeheartedly.

P.S. - I don't believe that Christopher Hitchens was struck down by God with esophageal cancer because of his unbelief and blasphemy. We live in a world broken by sin. If anything, the cancer was evidence of God's mercy in that it gave Mr. Hitchens time to confront his own mortality and reconsider his ideas about God.