Can't believe we are in Mark and going on into Luke. The Word of God is so amazing. Be blessed and be a blessing.
The scripture reading for this week:
Jan 17: Mark 8-9
Jan 18: Mark 10-11
Jan 19: Mark 12-13
Jan 20: Mark 14
Jan 21: Mark 15-16
Jan 22: Luke 1
Jan 23: Luke 2-3
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12 comments:
Mark 8:34-36
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?
We all want to follow Jesus but are we ready to take up our cross? If persecution came on North America would we stand for Jesus like our brothers and sisters in China and around the world?
Hi Andrew and my fellow Bible readers...
2 questions:
Mark 8 - “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."
1) Does the 'cross' symbolize our belief in God?
Mark 11:14 - Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.”
2) Why does Jesus curse the fig tree?
The cross symbolises the trials, persecutions and the general darts that life throws at Christians. Jesus Himself carried the cross for us and what a price He paid on that cross for us!
Therefore, the Christian walk is one where we need to surrender ourselves wholly to Jesus, following Him inspite of the darts, persecutions and trials that life throws our way.
What a pointed and resounding question Andrew! "If persecution came would we stand for Jesus like our brothers and sisters in China and around the world?"
Peter denied Jesus three times when when he should have stood fast in Jesus' corner. In fact all the disciples disappeared somehow. Nevertheless, Peter repented bitterly.
The flesh can battle for supremacy when it comes to taking up our cross and denying self and we come to know how solid our walk really is when we find oursleves in the fire of trials and persecution.
I pray to God that as Christians we possess the spiritual mettle to stand strong and carry that cross, unwavering in the knowledge that the ONE who carried His cross for us has already given us the victory over every situation.
Hedllo David,
We so value your input but we just haven't heard from you lately. How are you keeping? God bless you richly.
@David- Mark 4:11-12, here Jesus quote the Prophet Isaiah, who was addressing those of the children of Israel whose hearts had become hardened to the voice of the same GOD who delivered them from Egypt. I found an interesting perspective in the Quest Study Bible that I would like to share:
"Parables were used to reveal as well as to conceal truth (Isaiah 6:9-10). Jesus concealed truth from those who would reject his message-a judgment on their hard-heartedness." (Quest NIV, pg.1440)
I think this quote in Mark 4:11-12 mirrors so much of the tension found in the Old Testament between the Prophets/Word from GOD and the People of Israel. Here in the New Testament is the Word of GOD (made flesh) again speaking to the People. GOD knows the hearts of those who are sincerely seeking and those who refuse to love/obey the truth.
Very interesting...tough question...it makes me wonder about predestination.
Hi Carole Thanks for the kind words!
I have been tied up with my aunt. I think she has gone from Dementia to alzahmers . Nothing but hard choices a head
Natasha the hard thing for me is discerning the true “swine”. I have found more righteousness in some bars than some churches.
Mat 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
Don’t give away your power for it just diminishes the power of Christ in this world?
Predestination of the flesh or the spirit?
Thank you Natasha for answering David's question on parables. It was a question that had me in deep thought also but I now get the full sense of its meaning. May God be praised!
Hello David,
Sorry to hear about your aunt. Do continue to be blessing to her and trust God with all your heart. It is good to have you back. Blessings!
It is so good for us to keep our eyes focused on Jesus Christ and listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Man is flesh and subject to the trappings of the world, that is why each Christian needs to make Jesus his focus and seek to be light and salt whereever we go.
Hey David,
Tash and I will be praying for you. Trust God. If you need to talk email me at joinus@biblegrouponline.com
thank you Carole
thank you Andrew
@KellyKelly re: 'Why does Jesus curse the fig tree?'
I'm not really sure. Perhaps it is to show His sovereignty and dominion over creation. It is also a lesson on faith. It is also to reveal to His disciples who He truly is. I looked at some of His other similar examples of His dominion over nature. The responses of His disciples are that-they are astonished, in reverent awe/fear and amazed.
When the storm rises, He rebukes the wind and the sea causing them to become calm (Mark 4:39-41). "And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, 'Who can this be, that even the wind and sea obey Him!' " Mk 4:41
In Luke 5:1-9, Jesus tells Simon Peter to launch out into the deep and let down his net. Even though they were fishing all night and caught nothing, Peter complied. "When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were breaking." Luke 5:6. Then it says, "For all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken." vs. 9
In Matthew 21:18-22, when He curses the fig tree and it withers, the disciples are amazed. Here He not only displays His dominion over the earth but gives them a lesson on the power of faith-a recurrent theme in the gospels.
20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.
21 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
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