This Week’s Scriptures
Mark 1
1. Listen to the Message
Repentance does not describe something we must do before we come to God; it describes what coming to God is like.
When Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of God being “at hand” Jesus was not referring to a political reign; He was referring to His reign in the
Scribes spoke from authorities, quoting Rabbis in their teaching, but Jesus spoke with authority.
When applied to Jesus, a disciple is someone who
Be careful of becoming a
To follow Jesus means to worship Him exclusively.
“Worshiping Jesus is the greatest act for any creature.”
The reality is nothing will irritate our pluralistic society more than being an exclusive worshiper of Jesus.
Many people are “cool” with Jesus (at least their notion of Him), and even following the “ways” of Jesus, when it leaves out the exclusivity part. Jesus the Moral Teacher, the Nice Guy, the Judge-Not-Lest-You -Be-Judged Motivational Speaker. That Jesus is everybody’s homeboy. But that is not the real Jesus. That’s a manmade figure and a far cry from the portrait Jesus gives of Himself. To follow Jesus, to be His disciple, doesn’t mean community involvement and the veneer of tolerance. It means, mainly, first and central, to worship Him with joy at the heart.
There’s plenty of Jesus
When Jesus talks, His disciples are to not only listen but to follow and obey.
2. For further reflection and study
READ
14 Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
16 As He was going along the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will have you become fishers of people.” 18 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. 19 And going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, who were also in the boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and went away to follow Him.
21 They *went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and began to teach. 22 And they were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23 Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24 saying, “What business do you have with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are: the Holy One of God!” 25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” 26 After throwing him into convulsions and crying out with a loud voice, the unclean spirit came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so they debated among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” 28 Immediately the news about Him spread everywhere into all the surrounding region of Galilee.
Crowds Healed
29 And immediately after they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and they immediately *spoke to Jesus about her. 31 And He came to her and raised her up, taking her by the hand, and the fever left her, and she served them. —Mark 1:14-31
DISCUSS
Discuss how Jesus’s Kingdom is already here.
DISCUSS
Describe what repentance truly means
DISCUSS
What does Mark reveal that was different between Jesus and the Rabbis in their teachings?
DISCUSS
Discuss what being a disciple of Jesus should look like.
DISCUSS
Discuss differences between being a fan of Jesus of a follower of Jesus.
3. Pray