Paula Wiseman » Mark

STT: Mark

Paula — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:09:18 +0000

The gospel of Mark is the story of a man, a God-Man, on a mission. I'm in the middle of an in-depth study of Mark with my Wednesday morning group and I've developed a deep appreciation for this compact, action-oriented gospel. I love how the narrative flows from one episode to the next, building as it goes. It's the shortest gospel- only sixteen chapters and makes for a quick read and a great study.

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you dig into Mark.

Mark is written for a Gentile audience. There are few mentions of Old Testament prophecies or Jewish customs or traditions.

The focus is on what Jesus does. Matthew proved Jesus was the Messiah based on the scriptural evidence. In Mark, the proof comes through His miracles. Nearly every chapter contains some demonstration of Jesus' divine power. Also note Jesus' unwavering focus on His mission. Nothing distracts Him from fulfilling His ultimate purpose.

Watch the transitions, time markers, and place names. Phrases like "they went out from there" or "while He was still speaking" or "then they crossed over" underscore Mark's narrative style. Another key word that's worth noticing is "immediately" (or "straightway", if you're KJV).

Mark supplies details and comments that none of the other gospels have, especially sensory details. He highlights the green grass, the little boats, the disciples' fear and failures. For instance, toward the end of chapter 6 after Jesus calms the storm, only Mark tells us the reason for the disciples fear and amazement. "For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened."

What's your favorite passage in Mark's gospel?

Throw the Cloak Aside

Paula — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 12:16:27 +0000

Mark 10 tells the story of the healing of a blind man named Bartimaeus. In verse 50, there's a detail worth noticing.

Throwing aside his cloak, [Bartimaeus] jumped up and came to Jesus.

That cloak was his bedroll and his blanket. It was his sole earthly possession. It was essential to his life as beggar.

But he threw it aside.

He was about to have an encounter with Jesus, the Christ, and he knew nothing in his life would ever be the same.

He called Jesus by the same intimate, personal name Mary Magdalene used on Resurrection Morning. He knew the One he was talking to.

And he asked for healing.

That's the choice.

Keep the cloak, and all it represents

Or receive restoration.

Storm Takeaways

Paula — Thu, 26 May 2011 11:27:56 +0000

My Sunday school kids and I looked at Mark 4:35-41, in which Jesus calms a storm on the sea of Galilee.

While we would expect townies and landlubbers like say, Matthew or Judas, to be freaked out by a storm on the water, four of the thirteen men on the boat were experienced fishermen. They had been through storms before, but this one was enough to worry them. This was a huge storm. My son suggested it was a waterspout- a tornado on water.

Here are some of my own takeaways from the lesson-

1. Storms are going to blow up suddenly and without warning.

2. They may be the kind I'm used to dealing with, (like the fishermen were used to storms) or they may be something completely foreign (like the townies were experiencing)

Then I had some difficult questions-

1. How long do I try to handle things on my own, not wanting to 'bother' Jesus? Until it becomes a life-or-death situation?

2. How quick am I to accuse Jesus of not caring? (v. 38)

3. Why I am so fearful? How is it that I have no faith? (v. 40)

The key to the whole story is the statement Jesus makes in v.35 "Let us cross over to the other side." He didn't say 'let's try' or 'I hope we make it'. He was completely sure of His mission, and confident that God would see Him through until the completion of it. I get fearful and lose faith because

a.) I don't know what I'm doing or where I'm going, so…

b.) I'm not so sure God is going to bring me through it.

What have you learned from the storms in your life?

(This is an encore post.)

A Break

Paula — Thu, 19 May 2011 11:57:33 +0000

And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. Mark 6:31

Occasionally, the well runs dry.

Over the past few weeks, I've noticed it's harder to get my posts written. I'm not studying like I should. Scenes in my current project are more difficult to lay out. I'm sleeping fewer hours and wrangling more with headaches. Slowly it dawned on me, I need a break.

So over the next couple of weeks as we transition from school to summer, I'm going to take a blogging break. Now if you don't have a photographic memory, you may not notice. I'll have some encore posts on my regular blogging days so there will still be content for you. Then that first full week of June, I'll be back, renewed and refreshed.

Thank you for understanding.

Do you need a break? What keeps you from taking one?

STT: Time Markers

Paula — Tue, 17 May 2011 12:13:37 +0000

Your computer probably has a little clock down in the bottom right hand corner, and even if it doesn't, your operating system had an internal clock which timestamps everything. Timing and event sequences are important markers when studying a passage of Scripture, especially narrative books like Kings and Chronicles or the Gospels. There are several types of time markers.

1. Straightforward - "And He was there in the wilderness forty day…" Mark 1:13
No interpretation necessary. The verse tells you exactly when or how long.

2. Relative - "Now when Jesus had crossed over again…" Mark 5:21
These relate events to each other and help us see how they fit together to form a big picture. Look for phrases like "after these things"

3. Nonspecific – "But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them…" Mark 2:20
These are used many times in parables or prophecies.

Determining the type of time marker is not nearly as important as recognizing them and using them to deepen your understanding of a Scripture passage. I even mark them in the margin of my Bible with a little clock symbol.

What have you learned from observing time markers in your study?

Recognize. Run. Reach.

Paula — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 12:31:13 +0000

One of my favorite things is meeting with my Wednesday morning Bible study group. We've been looking at Mark, and at the tail end of chapter 6, there's this section that seems nondescript after the miracles of feeding 5,000 and walking on water.

When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there. And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was. Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well.

Just a vague account of some nonspecific healing miracles Jesus did, right? But here's what I learned from that little section.

The people recognized Jesus.

Do I recognize Him? Do I hear Him in the encouragement of my friends or the prayers of my children? Do I see Him in my routine as well as in those unexpected 'appointments'?

The people ran to Him.

Do I run to Him? Do I carry others to Him?

The people were eager to receive from Him. They reached for Him.

Do I even bother to ask?

Sometimes there are powerful lessons in the most unexpected places.