Mark

Mark notes

11 And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything comes in parables; 12 in order that
‘they may indeed look, but not perceive, and may indeed listen, but not understand; so that they may not turn again and be forgiven.’”
13 And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 These are the ones on the path where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. 16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, they immediately receive it with joy. 17 But they have no root, and endure only for a while; then, when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. 18 And others are those sown among the thorns: these are the ones who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world, and the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it yields nothing. 20 And these are the ones sown on the good soil: they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.”

Mark 4:11-20 (NRSV)

This reminds me of the Church. People hear the word something, can repeat it back, and can even sometimes explain how it should change their life. Then you ask about it next week, and there was not any change or recollection of what was said.

24 Immediately the father of the child cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

Mark 9:24 (NRSV)

It is important to ask for belief when you do not believe.

29 He said to them, “This kind can come out only through prayer.”

Mark 9:29 (NRSV)

This shows that demons can be brought out of people. The second part shows that some demons need to be brought out of a person through prayer. Maybe this means the demon-infected person maybe the other people around them need to pray.

31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.”

Mark 9:31 (NRSV)

This hints at the death and resurrection.

35 He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.”

Mark 9:35 (NRSV)

I wonder if this means that those who were let’s say martyrs for Christianity when spreading the gospel will be more towards the front of the line whereas regular church attendees would be the back… the last part about servant of all kinda reminds me of the man serving the wife line. However, this doesn’t even mean that it is more serving to less serving. I believe this might also be referring to him being the first into heaven since he served all, but… earlier there was a like about seeing past prophets which also had before that a pretext of some will see heaven before death. It would also make little sense because the Son comes from the Father and therefore was previously in heaven with God the Father.

37 “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”

Mark 9:37 (NRSV)

This seems like whoever marries and has children will receive Jesus. This might also aplicable with for Catholic Priests, but I do not know that analogy for children. Maybe congregation?

Another Exorcist


38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 Whoever is not against us is for us. 41 For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.

Mark 9:38-41 (NRSV)

This gets used by the non-Catholic and Orthodox to show that Jesus doesn’t care about other denominations since they are only furthering his mission.

Temptations to Sin


42 “If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea.

Mark 9:42 (NRSV)

This sounds like Jesus was kinda promoting the idea of murdering those who make kids sin. A modern example of this could be those who leave sexual content out would have caused a little one to sin and, therefore kill that adult. Sexual sin is more complex than most in terms of effect, but having heard about that example recently is why it came to mind. In terms of modern Christianity where punishments are lessened, keeping that person away from children is a minimum.

43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 44 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. 46 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, 48 where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.

Mark 9:43-48 (NRSV)

The missing lines were just empty for some reason.

This suggests that any sin will cause you to fall short of the glory of God and not make it into heaven. This doesn’t seem to mix well with the faith alone gets you into heaven. This suggests that regardless of faith you have to be perfect in order to get into heaven. This could be in combination with some form of cleansing of sins to get into heaven.

5 But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. 6 But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ 7 ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

Mark 10:5-9 (NRSV)

This means there is nothing such as divorce.

15 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.”

Mark 10:15 (NRSV)

I need to think about this.

21 Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”

Mark 10:21 (NRSV)

Again an inverse of the original order.

24 And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

Mark 10:24-25 (NRSV)

Rich people will not enter heaven. Interesting, is this because of their behavior or value? It goes on to say that with God all things are possible.

29 Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age — houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions — and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

Mark 10:29-31 (NRSV)

Those who have little will have plenty. Again an inverse from Earth. This also suggests that those who serve missions will get lots in heaven. Is that an analogy? If you want to serve do you want lots in heaven? If you go to serve then you likely will not want to have plenty in heaven. You just want to worship God.

33 saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles; 34 they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again.”

Mark 10:33-34 (NRSV)

Telling that the death and resurrection will happen.

39 They replied, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

Mark 10:39-40 (NRSV)

Maybe this is referring to Jesus getting out to death and so will the rest of the twelve disciples (minus the one who got Jesus arrested)

45 For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:45 (NRSV)

Jesus does not get served but serves others. If you want to be more Christ-like maybe here is an area…

51 Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” 52 Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

Mark 10:51-52 (NRSV)

Ask and you will receive

14 He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.

Mark 11:14 (NRSV)

Why?

22 Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23 Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. 24 So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
25 “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.”

Mark 11:22-25 (NRSV)

Verse 23 if you believe it will happen, if you don’t it will not happen

19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. 20 There were seven brothers; the first married and, when he died, left no children; 21 and the second married the widow and died, leaving no children; and the third likewise; 22 none of the seven left children. Last of all the woman herself died. 23 In the resurrection whose wife will she be? For the seven had married her.”
24 Jesus said to them, “Is not this the reason you are wrong, that you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God? 25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the story about the bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 He is God not of the dead, but of the living; you are quite wrong.”

Mark 12:19-27 (NRSV)

No marriage exists in heaven.

11 When they bring you to trial and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say; but say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

Mark 13:11 (NRSV)

This suggests that if in a spot and they want to put you to death, follow along with the Holy Spirit and you will not have to worry. On paper that means you will be guided and can’t mess up if you believe.

13 and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Mark 13:13 (NRSV)

Again if you are put to death for Jesus you will be saved and get your place in heaven.

27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all become deserters; for it is written,
‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’
28 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”

Mark 14:27-28 (NRSV)

This is Jesus describing his death, the disciples scattering, and then Jesus coming back alive.

35 And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.

Mark 14:35 (NRSV)

Jesus in the human not wanting to feel the pain of death by asking that if it is possible he would not have to die this way.

55 Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death; but they found none.

Mark 14:55 (NRSV)

He was innocent in terms of what the church believed.

58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’”

Mark 14:58 (NRSV)

That happened in John, not in Luke…

72 At that moment the cock crowed for the second time. Then Peter remembered that Jesus had said to him, “Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

Mark 14:72 (NRSV)

He just realized that he did what he said he was not going to do.

16 The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned.

Mark 16:16 (NRSV)

Belief and baptism

17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Mark 16:17-18 (NRSV)

This suggests that Exorcism and touching to heal by just a touch is possible.

Stories #

  • Chapter 1
    • The Proclamation of John the Baptist
    • The Baptism of Jesus
    • The Temptation of Jesus
    • The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry
    • Jesus Calls the First Disciples
    • The Man with an Unclean Spirit
    • Jesus Heals Many at Simon’s House
    • A Preaching Tour in Galilee
    • Jesus Cleanses a Leper
  • Chapter 2
    • Jesus Heals a Paralytic
    • Jesus Calls Levi
    • The Question about Fasting
    • Pronouncement about the Sabbath
  • Chapter 3
    • The Man with a Withered Hand
    • A Multitude at the Seaside
    • Jesus Appoints the Twelve
    • The True Kindred of Jesus
  • Chapter 4
    • The Parable of the Sower
    • The Purpose of the Parables
    • A Lamp under a Bushel Basket
    • The Parable of the Growing Seed
    • The Parable of the Mustard Seed
    • The Use of Parables
    • Jesus Stills a Storm
  • Chapter 5
    • Jesus Heals the Gerasene Demoniac
    • A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed
  • Chapter 6
    • The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth
    • The Death of John the Baptist
    • Feeding the Five Thousand
    • Jesus Walks on the Water
    • Healing the Sick in Gennesaret
  • Chapter 7
    • The Tradition of the Elders
    • The Syrophoenician Woman’s Faith
    • Jesus Cures a Deaf Man
  • Chapter 8
    • Feeding the Four Thousand
    • The Demand for a Sign
    • The Yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod
    • Jesus Cures a Blind Man at Bethsaida
    • Peter’s Declaration about Jesus
    • Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection
  • Chapter 9
    • The Transfiguration
    • The Coming of Elijah
    • The Healing of a Boy with a Spirit
    • Jesus Again Foretells His Death and Resurrection
    • Who Is the Greatest?
    • Another Exorcist
    • Temptations to Sin
  • Chapter 10
    • Teaching about Divorce
    • Jesus Blesses Little Children
    • The Rich Man
    • A Third Time Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection
    • The Request of James and John
    • The Healing of Blind Bartimaeus
  • Chapter 11
    • Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
    • Jesus Curses the Fig Tree
    • Jesus Cleanses the Temple
    • The Lesson from the Withered Fig Tree
    • Jesus’ Authority Is Questioned
  • Chapter 12
    • The Parable of the Wicked Tenants
    • The Question about Paying Taxes
    • The Question about the Resurrection
    • The First Commandment
    • The Question about David’s Son
    • Jesus Denounces the Scribes
    • The Widow’s Offering
  • Chapter 13
    • The Destruction of the Temple Foretold
    • Persecution Foretold
    • The Desolating Sacrilege
    • The Coming of the Son of Man
    • The Lesson of the Fig Tree
    • The Necessity for Watchfulness
  • Chapter 14
    • The Plot to Kill Jesus
    • The Anointing at Bethany
    • Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
    • The Passover with the Disciples
    • The Institution of the Lord’s Supper
    • Peter’s Denial Foretold
    • Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
    • The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
    • Jesus before the Council
    • Peter Denies Jesus
  • Chapter 15
    • Jesus before Pilate
    • Pilate Hands Jesus over to Be Crucified
    • The Soldiers Mock Jesus
    • The Crucifixion of Jesus
    • The Death of Jesus
    • The Burial of Jesus
  • Chapter 16
    • The Resurrection of Jesus
    • THE LONGER ENDING OF MARK
      Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
    • Jesus Appears to Two Disciples
    • Jesus Commissions the Disciples
    • The Ascension of Jesus