Devotionals: Mark

Be Careful What You Ask

By Devotionals: Mark

“You don’t know what you are asking” (Mk 10:38) Bible Reading: Mark 10:35-40 The two brothers James and John came to Jesus asking him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” They wanted Jesus to give them a “blank cheque” as it were. “Do for us whatever we ask” (v. 35). Wow, what a way to approach the Master. How wise he was in his answer. “What do you want me to do for you?” he replied. He didn’t make any promises – he simply asked them what it was that they wanted. We need to […]

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Not So With You

By Devotionals: Mark

“You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them… Not so with you.” (Mk 10:42, 43) Bible Reading: Mark 10:41-45 When the other disciples heard that James and John had asked Jesus for special places of honour in his kingdom (Mark 10:35-40), they were indignant. That is not likely because the brothers had done something so self-seeking. It is more likely that they were upset because they had tried to put themselves ahead of them. All of them were ambitious and wanted the top spot in Jesus’ kingdom (Mark 9:33-37). Knowing what was […]

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A Blind Man Begging

By Devotionals: Mark

“Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus… was sitting by the roadside begging.” (Mk 10:46) Bible Reading: Mark 10:46-52 Jesus and his disciples (and a large crowd with them) are making their way toward Jerusalem where Jesus will be betrayed, condemned and killed (Mark 10:33-34). Along the way they pass through the city (town) of Jericho, approximately 10 km from Jerusalem. On leaving the city they approach a blind man sitting by the roadside begging.  Hearing that it is Jesus that is passing by, […]

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The Effect of Faith

By Devotionals: Mark

“’Go,’ said Jesus, ‘your faith has healed you.’” (Mk 10:52) Bible Reading: Mark 10:46-52 While many in the crowd attending Jesus tried to silence the blind beggar Bartimaeus, Jesus stopped. He had heard this needy man, and his loving heart had responded to his cry for help. “Call him,” he told those with him. The enthusiasm of the blind beggar is hard to miss. “Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus” (v. 50). Face to face with the Master, he finds himself questioned: “What do you want me to do for you?” Earlier Jesus […]

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The Lord Needs It

By Devotionals: Mark

“If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’” (Mk 11:3) Bible Reading: Mark 11:1-6 Jesus and his disciples are approaching Jerusalem. Knowing that he must ride into the city on “a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9), Jesus sends two of his followers into a village they are approaching. He tells them they will find a “colt tied there” which they are to untie and bring to him. (Mark 11:2) Anticipating that they might be asked by villagers what they are doing, Jesus tells […]

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The Coming of the King

By Devotionals: Mark

“Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our Father David! Hosanna in the highest!” (Mk 11:9, 10) Bible Reading: Mark 11:7-10 The colt secured and draped with cloaks, Jesus sits on it and continues his journey to Jerusalem (Mk 11:7). Many people are with him, creating a carpet, as it were, of their cloaks and (palm) branches cut from the fields. But it is their words that capture our attention. “Hosanna!” they cry vv. 9, 10). The word means “Save,” and had become an exclamation of praise. It was […]

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Nothing but Leaves

By Devotionals: Mark

“Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he [Jesus] went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves…” (Mk 11:13) Bible Reading: Mark 11:12-14 Having entered Jerusalem and inspected the temple, Jesus and his disciples (“the Twelve”) went back to Bethany where they spent the night. Either accommodations there must have been scant, or Jesus and his party must have left Bethany early the next morning to return to the city, because Jesus was hungry (Mk 11:12). Seeing a fig tree in the distance in leaf, he went up […]

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Corrupting the Holy

By Devotionals: Mark

“Is it not written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers’.” (Mk 11:17) Bible Reading: Mark 11:15-19 After the fig tree incident, Jesus continues on his journey to Jerusalem and enters the temple area once more. The previous evening he had gone there and looked around (Mk 11:11); now he responds to what he had seen. With holy violence he “began driving out those buying and selling there”, overturning the tables of money-changers and the benches of those selling doves (v. 16). He wouldn’t allow anyone […]

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The Possibilities of Faith

By Devotionals: Mark

“Have faith in God” (Mk 11:22) Bible Reading: Mark 11:20-23 On the second morning after arriving at Jerusalem, Jesus and his disciples again make their way into the city. As they journey, they notice the fig tree that Jesus had spoken to the previous morning “withered from the roots” (Mk 11:20). Peter, ever the spokesperson for the disciples, draws Jesus’ attention to this. “Rabbi, look!” he says. “The fig tree you cursed has withered!” (v. 21). The element of surprise – even wonder – in his voice prompts Jesus to give a brief yet powerful sermon on faith. “Have faith […]

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The Prayer of Faith

By Devotionals: Mark

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mk 11:24) Bible Reading: Mark 11:24-25 The word “therefore” connects v. 24 with what Jesus has been saying about the possibilities of faith. He has said that if a person truly believes in God, he can say to a mountain “Go throw yourself in the sea,” and it will happen. God will do it for him. Now he applies that idea to the realm of prayer – to a situation where a person is not “speaking a word” to a […]

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