I mentioned yesterday that I’m one month into my journey through the Bible. Here are some highlights and thoughts from my time in the Gospel of Mark:

  • It’s interesting that Jesus chose normal guys to join his first ministry team. Think there’s a reason he passed on inviting the religious scholars?
  • And, when Jesus asked them to join the team, "They didn’t ask questions. They dropped their nets and followed." Ouch. I can’t remember the last time I just did it–no questions asked.
  • Go ahead. Count how many times Jesus showed up and "as usual, a crowd gathered." Funny. Crowds were normal in Jesus’s ministry. Shouldn’t crowds be normal as well today?
  • "They rubbed their eyes, incredulous–and then praised God, saying, ‘We’ve never seen anything like this!’" I pray people say that same thing when they connect to our ministry at Granger. "We’ve never seen anything like this!"
  • "With many stories like these, he presented his message to them, fitting the stories to their experience and maturity. He was never without a story when he spoke." Jesus was a storyteller.
  • Jesus sent the 12 apostles out in pairs. There’s that community thing again. It’s as if Jesus actually wants us to share life with other Christ-followers.
  • "They preached with joyful urgency that life can be radically different." I want to continually have that "joyful urgency" in my life.
  • "Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you?"
  • "Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave."
  • "Jesus was matter-of-fact: ‘Embrace this God-life. Really embrace it, and nothing will be too much for you.’"
  • Jesus said the two most important commandments were to love God and love others. At which point a scholar responded and talked about loving God with all our passion, all our intelligence, and all our energy. I love it that my faith is one of passion, intelligence and strength.
  • Jesus died on a cross. And, then he was raised up. He overcame death. He appeared to a number of people. He spoke to them. He said, "Go into the world. Go everywhere and announce the Message of God’s good news to one and all." That’s our mission.