Sermon Notes; a Daily Devotional

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alone with God

Mark 1:35-39 "35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. 36 And Simon and they that were with Him followed after Him. 37 And when they had found Him, they said unto Him, All men seek for Thee. 38 And He said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. 39 And He preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils." This is a striking detail in Mark’s Gospel: Jesus “would not permit the demons to speak” (v. 34). It illustrates the “Messianic Secret;”Jesus concealing His identity. He rejected testimony from evil spirits because truth from a dark source is morally tainted. He wanted people’s faith to rest on His teaching, character, and resurrection, not demonic acclaim. Yet the demons recognized the Son of God even when many people did not. Following a day of intense ministry; healing the sick and casting out demons, Jesu...

Messianic Secret

Mark 1:29-34 "29 And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell Him of her. 31 And He came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. 32 And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto Him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. 33 And all the city was gathered together at the door. 34 And He healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew Him." Mark’s Gospel moves at a rapid pace: by verse 34, Jesus has already been baptized, tempted, called disciples, and cast out demons. His fame is spreading throughout Galilee. Here we see Jesus display God’s compassionate love for individuals, healing Simon’s mother-in-law. That evening in Capernaum, He dem...

they do obey Him

Mark 1:21-28 "21 And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day He entered into the synagogue, and taught. 22 And they were astonished at His doctrine: for He taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with Thee, Thou Jesus of Nazareth? art Thou come to destroy us? I know Thee who Thou art, the Holy One of God. 25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. 26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth He even the unclean spirits, and they do obey Him. 28 And immediately His fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee." Mark’s Gospel moves at a rapid pace to tell...

believe the good news

Mark 1:14-20 "14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. 16 Now as He walked by the sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. 18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed Him. 19 And when He had gone a little further thence, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. 20 And straightway He called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after Him." We’re reading the Gospel of Mark from beginning to end. Mark uses the Greek word for “immediately” (or “straightway”) about 40 times, driving the story forward at a rapid pace to tell the most i...

blessing to testing

Mark 1:9-13 "9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. 10 And straightway coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him: 11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 12 And immediately the Spirit driveth Him into the wilderness. 13 And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto Him." Day Two of A Summer in Mark: Jesus on the Move! Mark uses the Greek word for “immediately” 40 times, moving quickly to tell the most important story in history; the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The message is urgent. The sooner we receive and believe the Gospel, the better. More is known about Mark than any other gospel writer except John. The early Jerusalem church met in his mother’s home. He joined Paul and Barnabas on...

wake up!

Mark 1:1-8 "1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; 2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send My messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight. 4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; 7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. 8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost." Today we begin a new summer series: A Summer in Mark: Jesus on the Move! Mark was...