The Book of Mark

My coffee cup is empty, I've already had two cups this morning, and I'm thinking that if I get one more cup I'll call it breakfast. I finished Matthew yesterday and today I read Mark. Since Matthew has 28 chapters and Mark has 16, that puts me four chapters ahead for tomorrow, as I read Luke which has 24 chapters. After reading the Bible through many times, you know how many chapters are in each book without even thinking. Someone asked me yesterday, how I can get something out of the Bible when I'm reading 20 chapters verses someone who slowly reads one chapter to get something out of it. The answer lies in the fact that I'm reading it for the 150^th time. I'm already very familiar with what I'm reading, but different phrases jump out at me and truths I'm known forever once again make a fresh impact upon me as I read. That is the working of the Holy Spirit. He speaks to us from His Word. The Spirit of God spoke through men of old to speak to us each morning, (or whenever we read God's Word.). When I'm in the New Testament it is hard to mention all of the things that jumped out at me because every chapter is full of great truths and lessons for each of us. But let me share just a few out of Mark. Mark 1:17-"And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men." This was spoken to Simon and Andrew who were casting their nets into the sea for fish. Jesus also calls each of us to become "fishers of men". By sharing the Gospel, we can lead others to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ! This is our command, and also our joy! Mark is an action Gospel. We see words like: straightway, immediately, forthwith, straitly,… used over and over. One event occurs and then "immediately" another happens. It is a power packed 16 chapters, full of the miracles Jesus accomplished. Here is another thing of note found in Mark, phrases like: "they were all amazed"; "insomuch that they wee all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion."; "From whence hath this man these things? And what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?"; "they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered."; "And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well:" "And the disciples were astonished at his words"; "And they were astonished out of measure,"; "they trembled and were amazed"!! What would it be like to view the earthly ministry of Jesus? It would be AMAZING! We would be astonished and the thing we would see, we would be be filled with wonder over the things we would hear, it would shock us to our very core to see God in flesh in our midst doing the miraculous like everyday occurrences. WOW!! So, you see phrases like these fill me with joy and wonder as I imagine what it would be like to see these things first hand. Join me tomorrow for some more coffee, and some insights I will get from the book of Luke. May God bless!! Pastor Mike Mutchler

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