MARK 1-2: DAY 77 JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
March 18, 2023
MARK 1-2
DAY 77 JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
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Focus Verse For Today: Mark 2:17
Our journey through the Gospel of Mark begins by reciting Isaiah 40:3, asserting that John the Baptist was the person to announce the coming of the Messiah, his cousin, Jesus of Nazareth. Upon John’s incarceration, Jesus began His ministry on earth.
Take some time to ask God to grant you His understanding of our journey through chapters 1 and 2 of Mark. Read Mark 1-2. Let’s begin!
Mark 1-2: Mark confirms that Isaiah 40:3 was referring to John the Baptist. John baptized Jesus. The Holy Spirit descended from heaven to rest upon Jesus. Jesus was taken away to be tempted by Satan. Jesus was ministered to by angels. Jesus’ ministry began. Jesus is questioned by the Pharisees for the choice of words Jesus used in healing a paralyzed man. Jesus not only healed the man’s physical ailment, He also forgave the man’s sin. Jesus was questioned about why His disciples didn’t fast, breaking Sabbath law. (Mark 1:1-2:28)
Our focus verse for today:
17On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
(Mark 2:17, NIV)
Before the incarceration and eventual beheading of John the Baptist, Jesus was preparing to begin His ministry. Our focus verse for today places Jesus with sinners, the worst kind of sinners to the Jewish people: Jews who served Rome as tax collectors. Jesus was ministering to them. He was sharing the Gospel with them. Jesus was dining with them! Jesus was not only dining with tax collectors, He was dining with all types of sinners besides the tax collectors. Jesus asked Levi to follow Him, and Levi followed. The Pharisees and Sadducees of the day were beside themselves with anger and misunderstanding. Who is Levi? Levi is Matthew the writer of the first Gospel we studied. This lunch date that Jesus had with Levi changed Levi’s eternity. Jesus loves Levi/Matthew. Jesus abhorred Levi’s/Matthew’s sin.
The Gospels are about sharing the “Good News” with everyone we encounter throughout our life’s journey. We are not to dwell with sin but we are to share the “Good News” with sinners. Have you shared the “Good News” with someone lately?
Godspeace!
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