Ξ SCRIPTURE PASSAGE

The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
It is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way”—
“a voice of one calling in the desert,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’ “
And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
And this was his message: “After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.
I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

~ Mark 1:1-8

Ξ REFLECTION

John announced this great word: that repentance is the way people come to God, and the result is the forgiveness of sins. The greatest blessing people can experience is to have their sins forgiven. This is what the people who streamed out of Jerusalem to listen to John were looking for, and this is what they found. They found forgiveness of sins, and it came by way of repentance.

That is why the prophet Isaiah said John’s message would be like a great bulldozer, building a highway in the desert for God to reach the isolated stranger in the midst of the wilderness. Without a road, you cannot drive out into the desert in order to help somebody. You must have a road, a highway in the desert. John was God’s bulldozer to build that highway. You know how roads are built—exactly as Isaiah describes in chapter 40: Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain (Isaiah 40:4). That is what repentance does. It brings down all the high peaks of pride that we stand on and refuse to admit are wrong. It takes the depressed areas of our life, where we beat and torture and punish ourselves, and lifts them up. It takes the crooked places, where we have lied and deceived, and straightens them out. And it makes the rough places plain. Then God is there at that instance of repentance.

John brought people to Christ through acknowledgment of guilt. When people come this way, God meets them, cleanses them, and forgives them. John demonstrated that by the baptism he performed. But there is a greater baptism—that of the Holy Spirit. And on the day of Pentecost, when the Spirit of God came, Peter stood up and offered people two things: forgiveness of sins and the promise of the Spirit. These are both available to us if we begin at the beginning—the place of repentance.

Ξ APPLICATION

Have you ever repented? Have you ever changed your mind, stopped defending yourself and trying to blame everything on others, and said, No, Lord, no one else is to blame, only I. That is where God will meet you. He always meets us at that point, washes away guilt, cleanses, and forgives. That is where you will find forgiveness of sins. If you have never repented before, I urge you to do so now. God will meet you right there. In the quiet of your own heart, where God alone hears, you can say to Him, Lord, I repent. Lord, send me the Holy Spirit through Jesus. And He will.

Ξ PRAYER

Lord, thank You that You promise to meet me in this place of repentance. I come to You now and receive your forgiveness and your Holy Spirit.

Ξ ACTION

On a piece of tissue, draw a T-chart. On the left, list down areas where you need God’s forgiveness. On the right, write down people that you need to forgive. Receive God’s forgiveness, and release forgiveness to those who have wronged you. Flush the tissue down the toilet!

Ξ SCRIPTURE PASSAGE

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”

~ Mark 1:9-15

Ξ REFLECTION

There is no greater need that we have as individuals than to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is by the Holy Spirit that we are able to live as we long to live and are able to overcome the power of sin and guilt and fear within us. Thus, when Jesus began to take our place, there was immediately given to Him the gift of the Holy Spirit.

This is not the first time Jesus had the Spirit. It is recorded of John the Baptist that he was filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb. And surely, if that was true of John, it was also true of Jesus. He lived by the Spirit during those quiet years in Nazareth. He submitted Himself to His parents, grew up in a carpenter’s shop, and learned the trade. And through those uneventful days, Jesus lived by the power of the Spirit in His life.

Then what is happening now, when the Spirit comes upon Him like a dove? The answer is that He is given a new manifestation of the Spirit, especially in terms of power. Jesus was anointed by the Spirit at this point. In Old Testament times, kings and priests were anointed by pouring oil upon their heads, committing them to the function and office in which they were to serve. This is the picture of what is now occurring in Jesus’ life. He is being anointed by God through the Spirit with power to meet the demands of the ministry upon which He is about to launch.

Ξ APPLICATION

All these things that happened to Jesus can and must happen to us. That is why Jesus, standing with His disciples after the resurrection, said to them, But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you (Acts 1:8).

The Holy Spirit comes upon us not so that we can perform dramatic acts, but, so that we can have a new quality of life that is beautiful and captivating, yet quiet and gentle. Notice the symbol of power that is given here—it is a dove. Athletic teams sometimes use birds as emblems, signs of their power and ability. We have the Falcons and the Eagles, but have you ever heard of a team called the Doves? Probably not. A dove is a gentle, non-threatening bird, one that does not fight back and yet is irresistible.

This is the power that Jesus is describing—the power of love, that can be beaten down and put to death, yet can rise again victoriously – that amazing love Jesus released. So the dove is an apt symbol of the new life our Lord came to teach.

May we also receive the power as the Holy Spirit comes upon us, and be empowered to love others and serve Him in ministry.

Ξ PRAYER

Lord, fill me with the Holy Spirit. May the Spirit Manifest through me the power of love.

Ξ ACTION

Is there someone that you find difficult to love? Pray for the Holy Spirit’s empowerment, to do or say something kind to them.

Ξ SCRIPTURE PASSAGE

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. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

~ Mark 1:16-20

Ξ REFLECTION

Have you ever stopped to think about the reality of what happened in this story? Here are these guys…ordinary hardworking guys going about their daily work. Fishermen doing labor-intensive and very unglamorous work.

How many family members were they trying to support? How long were their days? Did they even enjoy what they were doing? And then comes Jesus. He simply says “Come, follow me.” And they immediately stop what they are doing and follow him!

No arguing, no convincing, no rationalizing the risk versus return of the proposal. They just go “at once” and “without delay”. That took tremendous faith.

It is hard to imagine putting ourselves in the position of those early disciples, but that is not what God is asking of us right now. God only asks us to believe – to have faith that with Jesus as our guide, we really can make a very simple choice to just trust that following Him will make our life better.

Does that mean that life will be easy or trouble-free? Not at all. Each one of us will face obstacles in life. Some of them will seem insurmountable, but with Jesus by our side, all we really need to do is follow and He will help us to do the next right thing. One day at a time.

He will give us the courage to stand up for the marginalized, to comfort the lonely, and care for the sick. To share our faith with those we meet and to look for opportunities to serve.

Ξ APPLICATION

Do you feel fortunate that you have never been asked to walk away from your family or your work to prove your faith? When someone tells you of a sick relative or a difficult family situation, will you have the courage to say “I will pray for you” and then follow through and do just that? When you are asked to serve on a church committee or show up to help with an event, will you prioritize your time and be there when you are needed?

When Jesus calls, will you follow “without delay”?

Ξ PRAYER

Heavenly Father, You call us to listen, to trust, and then to act. Give us the courage to follow wherever you lead, and the strength to walk away from the things in life that distract us and look toward you. Amen.

Ξ ACTION

Ask God to show you one person you can serve today. It could be at home, at work, in line at the grocery store or even on the road.

Ξ SCRIPTURE PASSAGE

As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, 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. 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. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

~ Mark 1:29-39

Ξ REFLECTION

After this full day—and what a full day it was, what a heavy ministry our Lord had that day with all the healing He did in the evening! —Mark records that early in the morning, before it was daylight, Jesus went out on the mountainside, and there, by Himself, He prayed. But even there He was not safe. His disciples interrupted this communion, told Him that everyone was looking for Him. And Jesus reveals the heart and substance of His prayer in what He says in reply: Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. This is what He was praying about—that God would lead Him, doors would be opened, and hearts prepared in the cities to which He would go next.

Why did Jesus seek the Father’s face like this, in these hours of pressure?

He is teaching us—that it was not His authority by which He acted; He had to receive it from the Father.

Jesus stresses this because this is what He wants us to learn. We are to operate on the same basis. Our response to the normal, ordinary demands of life and the power to cope with those demands must come from our reliance upon Him at work within us. This is the secret: All power to live the Christian life comes not from us, doing our absolute best to serve God, but from Him, granted to us moment by moment as the demand is made upon us. Power is given to those who follow, who obey. The Father is at work in the Son; the Son is at work in us. As we learn this, then we are given power to meet the demands and the needs that are waiting for us in the ministry yet to come.

Ξ APPLICATION

What is the source of authority and power we need to respond to the ordinary and extraordinary demands of life? Shall we try to wing it, or expectantly pray for this gift?

Ξ PRAYER

Thank You, Father, that the same power is available to me today, making me ready to be your instrument in any and every situation in which demand is laid upon me. Amen.

Ξ ACTION

Write down your to-do list for the day/week. For each item on the list, spend one minute in prayer to power up for the day/week ahead!

Ξ SCRIPTURE PASSAGE

A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

~ Mark 2:1-5

Ξ REFLECTION

The obvious thing Mark underscores for us here is the determined faith of these men. They stand as an encouragement to us to exercise this kind of faith. There are three remarkable and beautiful aspects of it here.

1. These men dared to do the difficult.
That is where faith always manifests itself. It was not easy to bring this man to the Lord. They had to carry him, perhaps a great distance, through the streets of the city. When they found the doorway blocked, they had to carry him up an outside stairway to the roof. We do not know how heavy he was, but it is not easy to carry a full-grown man up a flight of stairs. Yet these men managed this difficult task. They dared to do the difficult. What an illustration this gives us of bringing people to Christ!

2. They dared to do the unorthodox.
They were not limited by the fact that it was not at all customary to break up a roof. When they found that the door was blocked, they did not sit down, as we probably would have done, and appoint a committee to research the various ways to get to Jesus. No, they just did what was necessary and risked the disapproval not only of the owner of the house but also of every person there by interrupting the meeting in order to get their friend to Jesus. The remarkable thing is that Jesus never rebuked them. There is never an incident recorded in which Jesus got uptight or disturbed about an interruption by someone intent on receiving something from Him and pressing through to Him despite the disapproval of those around. These men dared to do the unorthodox.

3. They dared to do the costly.
Somebody had to pay for that roof. Imagine the face of the owner, sitting there at the feet of Jesus, when he hears this scratching on the roof. He looks up, and, to his amazement, the tiles begin to move. Then daylight appears, and suddenly he has a large hole in his roof! I do not know what his thoughts were. He probably wondered if his homeowner’s policy would cover it. Or maybe he was mentally adding up the bill to present to these men. But somebody had to pay that bill, somebody repaired that roof, and surely it was one, if not all, of these men. They dared to do the costly. That is faith! They laid it on the line–at cost to themselves. What a witness this is to what it takes to bring people to Christ!

Ξ APPLICATION

A life lived by faith has at least three identifiable characteristics. Are we growing up into the quality and vitality of faith that can be used to bring others to Jesus?

Ξ PRAYER

Lord, grant me the faith to move out in ways that are difficult, unorthodox, and even costly to bring men and women to you, the only true healer of hurts. Amen.

Ξ ACTION

Is there someone that you need to be a stretcher bearer to? List down some difficult, unorthodox and costly actions you can do for him/her, and prayerfully find the opportunity to carry it out.

Ξ SCRIPTURE PASSAGE

Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.

While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

~ Mark 2:13-17

Ξ REFLECTION

We, the sons and daughters of God, are called to share the word of the Lord. God gave us the authority to proclaim His message. We are not ordinary people; we are His disciples. Every Sunday we go to church to pray and to listen to Him. We desire to live our lives in the centre of God’s will. When Jesus says “follow me”, he calls us to a full and abundant life (John 10:10), but he also calls us to “take up our cross, deny ourselves and follow him” (Luke 9:23). Life may be full of different choices and paths, but we need to stick close to Jesus and follow Him, trusting that He has a good and perfect plan for our lives. As long as we follow him, we will never go astray. We may wonder why things happen, and we may only find the answer many years later. We are all sinners in need of Jesus. We should not forget to pray and thank Him for giving the blessings we already had and what will come. When was the last time we inspire other people to follow Jesus?

Ξ APPLICATION

As Christ ambassadors, we are called to spread the good news of the Lord. We are taught to reach out to people who need help, those on the wrong path and those drifting far away from Him. As Jesus said, He did not call the righteous but the sinners. Thus, we do not judge other people, but welcome each one as members of one community of God’s family. We are also called to the ministry of reconciliation. We proclaim that it’s not too late to follow Him or turn back to Him. This is our mission: to live our lives patterned to the life of Jesus Christ and serve as an inspiration to others.

Ξ PRAYER

May we help others understand that You will accept them no matter what, that in You, there is endless hope, peace and forgiveness. Please use us to spread your word and bring the lost back into Your kingdom. This we pray, in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Ξ ACTION

Do you know someone who is considered a “sinner” or “tax collector”? Find an opportunity to eat with them, and sow a seed of the Gospel through your conversation. Pray for them that they might be brought into His Kingdom.

Ξ SCRIPTURE PASSAGE

Mark 2:18-22

Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?”

Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.

“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.”

Ξ REFLECTION

Which comes first, fasting or feasting? The disciples of John the Baptist were upset with Jesus’ disciples because they did not fast. Fasting was one of the three most important religious duties, along with prayer and almsgiving. Jesus gave a simple explanation. There’s a time for fasting and a time for feasting (or celebrating). To walk as a disciple with Jesus is to experience a whole new joy of relationship akin to the joy of the wedding party in celebrating with the groom and bride their wedding bliss. But there also comes a time when the Lord’s disciples must bear the cross of affliction and purification. For the disciple there is both a time for rejoicing in the Lord’s presence and celebrating his goodness and a time for seeking the Lord with humility and fasting and for mourning over sin. Do you take joy in the Lord’s presence with you and do you express sorrow and contrition for your sins?

Jesus goes on to warn his disciples about the problem of the “closed mind” that refuses to learn new things. Jesus used an image familiar to his audience — new and old wineskins. In Jesus’ times, wine was stored in wineskins, not bottles. New wine poured into skins was still fermenting. The gases exerted gave pressure. New wine skins were elastic enough to take the pressure, but old wine skins easily burst because they were hard. What did Jesus mean by this comparison? Are we to reject the old in place of the new? Just as there is a right place and a right time for fasting and for feasting, so there is a right place for the old as well as the new. Jesus says the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old (Matthew 13:52). How impoverished we would be if we only had the Old Testament or the New Testament, rather than both.

Ξ APPLICATION

The Lord gives us wisdom so we can make the best use of both the old and the new. He doesn’t want us to hold rigidly to the past and to be resistant to the new work of his Holy Spirit in our lives. He wants our minds and hearts to be like new wineskins — open and ready to receive the new wine of the Holy Spirit. Are you eager to grow in the knowledge and understanding of God’s word and plan for your life?

Ξ PRAYER

Lord, fill me with your Holy Spirit, that I may grow in the knowledge of your great love and truth. Help me to seek you earnestly in prayer and fasting that I may turn away from sin and willfulness and conform my life more fully to your will. May I always find joy in knowing, loving, and serving You.

Ξ ACTION

Wear a rubber band on your wrist today, as a reminder to stretch yourself to see new things that God is doing! And be ready to spring into action when he calls.

Ξ SCRIPTURE PASSAGE

Mark 2:23-28

One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grain fields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”

Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.

x x x x x

Mark 3:1-4

”Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.” Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.

Ξ REFLECTION

Jesus never violated God’s command to observe the Sabbath or approved of His disciples violating God’s command to observe the Sabbath. But He often broke man’s legalistic additions to that law, and He sometimes seemed to deliberately break them.

The Pharisees were the elite liberal Jewish power group of their day. They believed their mission was to uphold the man-made rules of the synagogue regarding the Sabbath. Enter Jesus, he often hung with the “wrong” crowd (sinners) and stressed God’s love and forgiveness, over the established rules of the day. Therefore, it is not surprising that he was perceived as a threat, by the self-righteous rule followers.

In Jesus’ answer to the Pharisees, Jesus reminds us to use common sense, be tolerant of others, and not overact to unnecessary man-made rules. The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. God’s love and compassion is our salvation and his son Jesus, is truly the Lord of the Sabbath. At times we are so quick to elevate our prejudices, our rituals, our sense of how things ought to be, that we run the risk of forgetting what they were about in the first place.

Ξ APPLICATION

What are our convictions about the Sabbath? While it is healthy to set boundaries and limits in order to guard our time and make time for rest, let us remember the Spirit of Sabbath – to rest as God rested on the 7th day. Keeping the Sabbath Holy could sound like: “Set aside a day for rest, you need it, and while you’re resting, I’d like to spend time with you. Spend some of that rest time hanging out with me and a few other people.”

Ξ PRAYER

Heavenly Father, bless this troubled world and help us to become more tolerant and accepting of others and their beliefs. Teach us to look beneath rules and laws, and find freedom in the Spirit. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Ξ ACTION

Make a list of restful and life-giving things you can do on your next Sabbath! (they don’t need to sound holy)

Ξ SCRIPTURE PASSAGE

Mark 3:7-19

Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him. Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve[a] that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Ξ REFLECTION

During Jesus’ ministry on earth, there were many people who were part of the crowd. They came to Jesus because they needed His help, or to hear Jesus’ wise teachings. They came, heard, received and went on with their lives. In other words, they were spectators who watched from afar but did not get involved. They never really experienced what it meant to follow Jesus.

However, there were some who became Jesus’ disciples. The disciples shared in Jesus’ life and ministry. They knew Jesus intimately as they lived, ate and travelled with Him. They were taught and often corrected by Him. They followed Jesus everywhere and played important roles in Jesus’ mission on earth.

Jesus wants every Christian to be His disciple, to follow Him and to fulfil God’s will on earth. Because we are created by God for God, nothing will satisfy us more than to live for Him. There is no greater purpose than to know Jesus and to obey Him. In verse 14, it says that the twelve were appointed to be with him so that they could preach, and have authority to drive out demons. Their experience of Jesus was not just for themselves, but to be shared with others. This is the Great Commission – to be His disciples who will make more disciples.

Today, we can decide to be a disciple by learning humbly from Jesus and actively applying what we learn. We learn from Jesus by reading the Bible, listening to others teach from it, and watching others live by it. We model our lives after Jesus’ by putting godly values and principles into practice. We will see our lives changed as we live for a greater purpose – God’s purpose.

Ξ APPLICATION

As someone who professes faith in Jesus Christ, do you think you are a spectator or a disciple that make more disciples? Which one do you want to be? Why?

Ξ PRAYER

Father, thank you for the privilege of walking with Jesus. May we be transformed by Your Word, and be discipled in our thoughts, words and actions, that we may draw more disciples to Jesus. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Ξ ACTION

Have you come across an encouraging verse, impactful sermon or thought-provoking book? Share it with someone, whether through social media, a personal text or in conversation!

Ξ SCRIPTURE PASSAGE

Mark 4:2-20

He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.” 

Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that,

“‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,
and ever hearing but never understanding;
otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’ ”

Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”

Ξ REFLECTION

Have you ever noticed how often the Bible emphasizes the idea of listening? It is a concept that is repeated over and over in a variety of ways. Hearing is the first step to creating change within, and our heart condition towards God’s word is crucial to our spiritual health. The seed represents the Word of God (v14), and the ground represent the different heart conditions of the listeners. The first three grounds – the path, rocky places and thorns – are unsuitable for the growth of the seed. People with such heart conditions include a shallow understanding of the Word, failure to persevere in times of trouble and persecution, and distraction by worries, wealth and other pleasures. Though they receive God’s Word, they are not able to flourish in the faith. The seed that falls on good soil grows and produces crops. Only those who hear, accept and commit to the Word will have a rooted and fruitful faith.

Ξ APPLICATION

Respond to God’s Word with faith. May our hearts be soft and fertile for God’s Word to grow and flourish.

Ξ PRAYER

Thank You, Holy Spirit for dwelling in us, teaching, helping us to be rooted in God’s Word and grow fruitfully in spiritual faith. Amen.

Ξ ACTION

Spend some time in the garden or a park today. Notice the plants, soil, roots and allow God to speak to you through what you see.

Reflect: Which plant best represents my spiritual health? What makes good soil, good?

Ξ SCRIPTURE PASSAGE

Mark4:35-41

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Ξ REFLECTION

1. Does it sometimes seem that God is ignoring you when you need him most?
2. Has a trial you’ve gone through made you stronger spiritually?
3. Do you feel that Jesus should keep you from going through trials?
4. When was your faith most tested?
5. Why does God let us suffer trials if he loves us?

The crises of life have often been compared to stormy seas. They knock us around and threaten to destroy all our stability and security. We don’t know whether we can survive them. And we don’t know how long they will last. Mark tells the story, the disciples were terrified that the boat was going to break up and everyone would die. But Jesus was asleep on a cushion. They wake him and cry, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” . Of course, Jesus quiets the storm with a word, but then he chides the disciples: “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Some of the lessons in the story are obvious. Jesus has power over the storms of life, experiences them alongside us, loves us, saves us from them and wants us to trust him more than we do. Storms don’t worry Jesus. He’s perfectly calm, He isn’t terrified; he isn’t impatient; he isn’t worried.

Maybe that’s why Mark included this story. The not-so-obvious lesson is that Jesus was just as much in control, and the disciples were just as safe in his hands, while he was asleep as while he was awake. Most of the time, life seems like a relentless voyage from one storm to the next. But I’m also learning that I can take heart in knowing that Jesus isn’t scared, and he isn’t depressed. He might be asleep, or he might not be, but either way, like the song says, “He’s got the whole world in his hands.” Even if he doesn’t wake up and quiet the storm, I’m safe with him. And if he does wake up and quiet the storm, he’s probably going to say: “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Ξ APPLICATION

Storm or not, stay calm and know that Jesus is in the boat with you. Call out to Jesus! No storm is too big for Him to quiet and still. He loves us and will never forsake us.

Ξ PRAYER

Lord Jesus, my Captain. You steer the boat of my life. At Your Word, the storms shall be stilled. May I have the faith to trust Your presence, knowing that You are in control. Amen.

Ξ ACTION

Back to Sunday School! Fold a paper boat and remind yourself that Jesus, your captain, is in the boat with you.

Ξ SCRIPTURE PASSAGE

Mark 5:1-18

They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”

Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.”

And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.

A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him.

Ξ REFLECTION

For the Jews, tombs were an unclean place. Demons drove these people to live in this horrific place. Demons seem to take delight in causing misery and torment to their hosts. Satan often makes big promises about the fun and pleasure people can have if they give in to his temptations, but such people are always disappointed and find themselves trapped and enslaved instead. We should resist the devil, never give in and never give any foothold.

Satan and demons are very real and are active in this world. They are actively working against God, the church, and believers. We should not be surprised by opposition in following God. Satan doesn’t want us to follow the Lord. He will put temptations in our path. He also doesn’t want us to tell or teach others about the Lord. We have to be alert, and to resist temptations.

Ξ APPLICATION

We cannot hope to win the spiritual warfare against Satan and his demons by our own power. He is stronger than we are and smarter than we are. If we rely on ourselves, we will lose. We have to rely on the Lord who is stronger than He is. We must be alert and turn to the Lord through prayer and the Word.

Ξ PRAYER

Thank You Lord for the power of the Holy Spirit that is in me that strengthen and help me to overcome the devil. Amen.

Ξ ACTION

Read Matthew 4:1-10. Jesus was tempted in three ways. List down some ways that you may face the following:

– The physical temptation: do what feels right. (v3-4 “Tell this stone to become bread”)
– The emotional temptation: question God’s love. (v5-7 “Throw yourself down”)
– The pride temptation: need for control (v8-10 “All this I will give you”)

Ξ SCRIPTURE PASSAGE

Mark 6:1-13

Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.

“Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.

Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.

These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”
They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

Ξ REFLECTION

The first recorded instance of Jesus raising someone from the dead had just concluded, and Jesus returned to His hometown. Being fully divine and fully human simultaneously, He must have been tired from all the traveling and ministry, but He continued in His Father’s will by teaching in the synagogue that very Sabbath.

The rejection from the locals must have stemmed from jealousy and fear. How could one of us be this wise and used mightily by God? Isn’t He an ordinary man, just like you and I? They were fearful because they lack holy wisdom from God to discern who Jesus really was.

Notice that Jesus could not do any miracles there apart from healing just a few sick people. There are only two situations where Jesus was amazed – when there is a lack of faith, and when there is abundant faith.

Contrast this with the faith of the Twelve who were sent out. The Twelve must have had plenty of faith. Faith in depending on God’s provision wherever they went, faith to believe what Jesus said about their authority to drive out demons and exercise that authority, and faith to heal the sick.

Humans have always shown a tendency to fear what we do not understand and what we are unable to comprehend. Life is unpredictable, and there will be moments when fear looms and threatens to overwhelm us. We will feel all alone at times in life, just like the Twelve who were sent out without Jesus being with them physically. What’s more, we might even be called to minister to others in the midst of aloneness at times, an act that requires supernatural wisdom and strength.

That is when our faith shall become sight as we rely and trust in Jesus and Jesus alone. Our responsibility as Jesus’s disciples is to bring the Good News to others by calling them to repentance. The Holy Spirit will be the one who works in their hearts.

Ξ APPLICATION

Are you currently struggling with life at the moment? Are there difficult decisions to make? Know that Jesus is with you through the midst of everything. Fully trust in Him alone, even through the dark night of the soul, and know that He will see you through life in His time and with His wisdom.

Ξ PRAYER

Lord Jesus, grant me Your wisdom to navigate life the way You want me to. Help shut the doors that you do not want me to go through no matter how enticing they may be in my eyes, and open doors that is in Your will, so that all will know that this is Your redemptive work in my life. In Jesus’s name I pray, Amen.

Ξ ACTION

Stretch your faith today by praying for someone whom you know who does not yet know Jesus. Invite that person for a meal or a cup of coffee and share Christ.

Ξ SCRIPTURE PASSAGE

Mark 6:14; 16-27

King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!”

For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.

Finally, the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.

The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”

She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?”

“The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.

At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison…

Ξ REFLECTION

It is said that a person’s true character is fully revealed during two moments: in times of pleasure and in times of pressure. John the Baptist’s blood was on Herod’s hands, and Herod must have had difficulty sleeping at night after carelessly mouthing a promise that resulted in the beheading of John after an opulent display of wealth among society’s elite.

Herod had two choices when presented with the request for John the Baptist’s head on a platter. He could either rescind his promise and be ridiculed and shamed according to the Ancient Near East culture at that time, or he could follow through with the request at the cost of pride and his tormented soul. Herod chose the latter.

Life throws us a series of choices each day. We will be faced with situations that require us to make decisions, where some are almost no-brainers, while others require a fair bit of thinking. Virtually all decisions have their consequences, some happening earlier than later. Certain decisions are made in private, while others have outward pressure that might sway you away from making the right one.

Hebrews 6:19 says that we have this hope in Jesus Christ “…as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul”. When our lives are centered on Jesus, with a love for God and people and an outlook to make disciples at every opportunity, we will always be able to make the right decisions in accordance to God’s will even while under pressure.

Remember, don’t lose your head!

Ξ APPLICATION

Are you at a crossroads in your life where you are tempted to give in just to gain an edge over another? Are you on the verge of sinning in a particular area ‘just this once’ because you will ask for forgiveness from God later? Heaven forbid! God has enabled us to walk in His light as His children, through the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells within all believers.

May our lives echo the words of Polycarp, the Bishop of the church in Smyrna, when he was asked to apostasise from his Christian faith to escape the pain of execution, he replied, “86 years have I have served him, and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?”

Ξ PRAYER

Dear Lord, help me to remain grounded in life always. Help me let you reign in my heart at all times so that I can always make the right decision. Teach me to let what I say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; as anything more than this comes from evil. Amen.

Ξ ACTION

Take some time to reflect on the promises you have made to people and/or vows to God. Are there any outstanding vows or promises that have yet to be fulfilled? Pray for courage and wisdom to keep to your word.

Ξ SCRIPTURE PASSAGE

Mark 6:32-44

So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.

But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”

They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”

“How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.”

When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”

Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

Ξ REFLECTION

The miracle feeding of 5000 appears in all four gospels, signifying its importance. In Mark, this is the first time Jesus involved his disciples in a supernatural event. Prior to this, the disciples were merely witnesses of the miracles Jesus did. Now, they were given the opportunity to be directly involved in searching for food, organizing them in groups, distributing the elements and collecting the leftovers.

What is significant is that Jesus ‘had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd’ (v34). The word ‘to have compassion’ appears 12x in the New Testament, and all in the Synoptic Gospels. Each time the word is used (including the three times that they appear within the context of parables i.e., Matt 18:27, Luke 10.33;15.20), it is used only in reference to Jesus where he had compassion for people in desperate situations where divine intervention was required.

In this miracle, Jesus demonstrated his deep compassion for a group of helpless people who were not only hungry physically but spiritually as well. They ‘were like sheep without a shepherd’. The religious leaders of the day had disappointed them and had not fed them with manna from heaven. Because of this, Jesus taught them, and also fed them with food, satisfying both their spiritual and physical hunger. In doing this, Jesus provides for them.

(Note: The reflection is adapted from “Following Jesus” written by Rev Dr Lim Kar Yong)

Ξ APPLICATION

1. Do we also have the same compassion on those in our midst that are like sheep without shepherd?
2. Why do you think Jesus finally involved the disciples in the miracle of feeding the 5000?
3. When was the last time you thanked God for his provision? Have you encountered God in providing for you ‘miraculously’? Give thanks to God, and share His goodness with others.

Ξ PRAYER

Almighty God, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord had compassion on the people and fed them with the bread of life and the word of his kingdom. We look into our lives and we recognize the same ‘miracle’ you have done for us too. Thank you for providing for our every need, and we pray that you will continue to sustain us by your living bread, Jesus. Amen.

Ξ ACTION

Have some bread/roti canai, and thank God for 5 ways that He has provided for you. Buy an extra portion and ask God who you can share it with.

Ξ SCRIPTURE PASSAGE

Mark 6:45-56

Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified.

Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

Ξ REFLECTION

The disciples had just witnessed the feeding of the 5000, and were now escaping the crowds for some quiet moments. Instead of peaceful rest, they got hit by strong winds, and were struggling to steer the boat. This time, there was no sleeping Jesus to wake, for He was on the mountainside, praying. They had been rowing for hours, their muscles were strained, and they were probably screaming instructions at each other, trying to row the boat to shore.

It is interesting to note that Jesus did not rescue them immediately, but waited until “just before dawn”, which means that they were struggling for quite a long time! He was even “about to pass by them”, until they mistook him as a ghost – only then did He speak peace over them, climb into their boat with them and the storm was calmed.

Why did Jesus wait? Could He have been praying too intensely? Or was He waiting for the disciples to cry out for help? Or did He just know the perfect timing to step in?

Having experienced the calming of the storm earlier, and how Jesus fed the 5000, did they not see that Jesus could have helped them again? Mark says that the disciples “had not understood about the loaves” because their hearts were hardened, and they failed to grasp the truth. But when they saw Jesus walk on water, they connected the dots! They relearned the lesson that Jesus was indeed the true God in control of nature, and were truly amazed!

After the private miracle, they then arrived at Gennesaret where they were back in the crowds, and Jesus was again demonstrating His divinity by healing the sick just by means of cloak contact! They were slowly but surely recognizing Jesus’ amazing and divine power.

Ξ APPLICATION

Is there a challenge that you are facing, where you are straining your arms and striving in your own strength? Have we invited Jesus to climb into our boat?

Do we need to be reminded of God’s amazing and divine power? May God turn our terror into amazement, as we experience more of His miracles in our lives.

Ξ PRAYER

Dear God, I may sometimes be slow to understand what you are teaching me about who You are. Open the eyes of my heart to know and experience You more fully. May I not strive in my own strength, but work from a place of full trust in You, knowing that You are in control. Amen.

Ξ ACTION

Write or memorize this verse: Colossians 1:11 “being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience”.