Mark 1-8

By David Maas
{CHAPTERS 1 -8}

[Click on the title below to open an article]


{IN GALILEE}
  1. Call His Name Jesus - {PDF Copy} - (The name ‘Jesus’ means ‘Yahweh saves.’ In the Nazarene, the salvation promised to Israel has arrived in all its glory)
  2. Introduction to Mark - {PDF Copy} - (A brief overview of the history and structure of Mark's gospel account)
  3. The Gospel Begins - {PDF Copy} - (In the ministry of Jesus, the kingdom of God arrived, commencing with his baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist – Mark 1:1-3)
  4. Voice in the Wilderness - {PDF Copy} - (John the Baptist prepared the way for the Messiah, the herald of the Good News of the Kingdom of God – Mark 1:4-8)
  5. Son, Messiah, Servant - {PDF Copy} - (The Spirit of God and the voice from heaven confirmed the calling and identity of Jesus – the Son, Messiah, and the Servant of Yahweh)
  6. Kingdom Herald - {PDF Copy} - (After his baptism, the Spirit drove Jesus into the Wilderness to be tested by the Devil. But he overcame and succeeded where Israel failed)
  7. Opposition and Fulfillment - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus commenced proclaiming the Kingdom following the arrest of John as opposition appeared even at the start of his mission – Mark 1:14-15)
  8. Four Fishermen Summoned - {PDF Copy} - (In Galilee, Jesus summoned four fishermen to leave their livelihoods to follow him and become his disciples – Mark 1:16-20)
  9. Authority over Satan - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus demonstrated his authority over Satan’s domain by driving his forces out of the children of Israel – Mark 1:21-28)
  10. Authority over Disease - {PDF Copy} - (Neither social conventions nor purity regulations prevented Jesus from ministering to the physical needs of men and women)
  11. Authority over Ritual Purity  - {PDF Copy} - (The touch of Jesus cleansed a leper, and the forbidden contact did not render him unclean)
  12. Authority to Forgive Sins - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus healed a paralytic, and by doing so, he demonstrated the authority of the Son of Man to discharge sins – Mark 2:1-12)
  13. Tax Collector Summoned - {PDF Copy} - (Forgiveness links the call of the tax collector to the preceding story of the healing of the paralytic - the Son of Man’s authority to discharge sins – Mark 2:13-17)
  14. Authority over the Sabbath - {PDF Copy} - (In response to the Jewish leaders that opposed him, Jesus demonstrated that he is Lord even of the Sabbath Day - Mark 2:23-3:6)
  15. The Son of Man has Authority - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus is the Son of Man foreseen by Daniel, the one with absolute authority from Yahweh over the earth)
  16. Crowds Press, Demons Profess - {PDF Copy} - (The crowds welcomed Jesus because of his miracles, but only demons recognized him as the Son of God)
  17. Twelve Disciples Appointed - {PDF Copy} - (Mark 3:13-21 - Jesus chose his Twelve Disciples from among a larger group of followers, including two surprising candidates)
  18. The Unpardonable Sin - {PDF Copy} - (Mark 3:22-34 - A line is crossed when what God’s Spirit is doing in Jesus is attributed to Satan)
  19. Sowing Gospel Seed - {PDF Copy} - (The Son of Man sows the seed of the Gospel in the world where it is growing into the Kingdom of God until the consummation of the age – Mark 4:1-20)
  20. Kingdom Parables - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus taught several parables concerning the Kingdom of God, its paradoxical growth, and its status in the world - Mark 4:21-34)
  21. Authority over Sea and Storm - {PDF Copy} - (Despite his tremendous miracle of calming a tempest on the Sea of Galilee, the disciples still did not recognize the Son of Man – Mark 4:35-41)
  22. Who is this Man? - {PDF Copy} - (In Mark, no one recognizes who Jesus is except the demons that he exorcises. Only in his death on a Roman cross is his identity understood)
  23. Demonized Man Delivered - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus delivered a demonized Gentile while traveling through hostile territory, demonstrating his vast authority over Satan)
  24. Two Women Restored - {PDF Copy} - (Mark 5:21-43 - Jesus healed two women and restored both to states of ritual purity)
  25. Rejected in Nazareth - {PDF Copy} - (Despite his miraculous deeds, his hometown rejected his ministry and took offense at the humble origins of Jesus – Mark 6:1-6)
  26. His Miraculous Witness to Israel - {PDF Copy} - (Mark 6:31-56 - The feeding of 5,000 men was a spectacular witness to Israel by her Messiah; nevertheless, most Jews refused to accept Jesus)
  27. Jesus and Tradition - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus undermined the religious rationale for dietary restrictions. With the Messiah’s arrival, the old rituals lost their relevance)
  28. Spiritual Dullness - {PDF Copy} - (Mark 8:1-21 - The gospel accounts highlight the unbelief behind the inability of his opponents and disciples to perceive just who Jesus is)
  29. A Blind Man Saved - {PDF Copy} - (A blind man’s eyes were opened, and he was “saved” as Jesus continued “on the way" to Jerusalem)
  30. On the Way - {PDF Copy} - (On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus explains to his disciples just what it means to be the Messiah of Israel)
  31. Embracing the Cross - {PDF Copy} - (To be the Messiah of Israel meant suffering and death for others, and Jesus summoned his disciples to follow that same path – Mark 8:31)


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