The Ministry is Underway
Question of the day: What is the best birthday party or celebration you every had in your honor?
I ask that question today, because Chris and I are up in Asheville, celebrating Nolan's first birthday. It is so hard to believe that our first grandchild is already 1 year old! How is that possible? It seems like yesterday Chris and I moved to Charlotte and our boy was 1. Now he is the dad.... crazy!
I confess this lesson is very simple... even undone. I am preaching this morning at the Foster SDA church and frankly ended up spending more time on the sermon and ran out of time for the lesson. I know however, that you will be blessed, because what I know for sure is that whenever we open the word of God the Holy Spirit is present to guide and direct. I pray you enjoy the last part of the first chapter of Mark.
READ: Mark 1: 12-45
12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, 13 and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted[g] by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.
19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 24 “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” 26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.
35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
40 A man with leprosy[h] came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”
41 Jesus was indignant.[i] He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.
This week reading this passage over and over, I have found it hard to dive into any one section, that most of them seem a bit incomplete. So this is how I have decided to look at this lesson.
1. We are gong to look at what main point we may glean from each story or section
2. Putting them all together, let's see if we find a conclusion or some life application.
1. We see that Jesus is tempted.
2. Jesus asks people to repent and proclaims the good news.
3. Jesus calls his first disciples.
4. He casts out demons
5. He heals many people
6. He prays
7. He moves from place to place.
8. He touches the man with leprosy.
9. Heals the man with leprosy.
10. Tells the man not to tell anyone.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Are there any others you would add to the list?
What do we learn about Jesus reading this list?
What life application lessons can we learn from this list?
In closing if you have time and are interested someone can share the following video. It is interesting, and may shed some light on today's lesson.
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