Mark

Good Morning! 

What a beautiful day we had yesterday.  I noted the sprouting of daffodil plantings along the cart paths at Innsbruck.  It was a good day to be outside and enjoy the blessings of the earth.

This morning I began studying the gospel of Mark.  One of the key themes in Mark is the servanthood of Jesus.  Mark was not one of the Twelve but was a companion of Paul and Barnabas … and appears to have been close follower of Peter (1 Peter 5:13) who refers to him as his son.  So, while we cannot state unequivocally that Mark’s gospel is from Peter, it does seem to have been influenced by what Peter said. 

Do you remember the Reader’s Digest Condensed Books?  When I was a youth decades ago, when the summer days became boring, I would go to Grandma Ward’s collection of the Readers Digest Condensed Books to occupy my mind until school began.  If you recall, the books included were actual books written by authors but condensed to allow readers to get the gist of the actual book.  When I look at the first chapter of Mark, it seems like I am getting a condensed version of the writings of Matthew and Luke.  First, there is no mention of the birth of Christ.  Mark then goes through the mission of John the Baptist very quickly and through several of the miracles of Jesus in just 45 verses. To me, that style would indicate how a fisherman might recall facts.  Matthew and Luke were more scholarly … Matthew being a tax collector and Luke being a doctor.  Please understand that this is my impression … with apologies to those who feel differently.

So, what in Mark 1 jumps off the page that would be an encouraging word for us this good day?

Mark 1:14-15 English Standard Version (ESV)

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand;[a] repent and believe in the gospel.”

Footnotes:

Mark 1:15 Or the kingdom of God has come near

There is a time when all things were fulfilled … and will be fulfilled.  It seems sometimes we live in a world that assumes all things will continue as is … when in fact there is a coming end of the age.  Now I am not in charge … and really not smart enough to know when … but I do know that there will come a time when God see that all He desires has been accomplished … and He will bring His children Home.  Believers should both recognize this … and live in anticipation that today could be that very day … and be reaching all they love with God’s message.

The time is at hand …

May God’s richest blessing fall upon you this good day …

Agape’

Mr. Jim

  

Prayer:  Father, Jesus is coming to earth again … what if it were today?  Would I stand in good stead … or would You allow me to see the many folks I have failed to see. Open my eyes this good day, Father, to those who need You and give me the words and the courage to speak Your truth to all.   In Jesus’ Name … Amen.

Scripture for today:  Mark 1:14-15