Meditations on Mark

16 JUN 09

While assimilating the Gospel of Mark, I have observed several "threads." Overall, I noticed a change in Jeus' ministry.

At first, we see His teaching as instructive, and His works emphasize miracles of healing and deliverance. Then after the Transfiguration, His teaching is more corrective, and His actions are similar in His corrective aim.

In particular, His correction is aimed at unbelief, in both His teaching and works. This book is a good one to read if you need your unbelief exposed.

The other thread I noticed is the specific miracles that Jesus performed became more challenging. Some of the miracles mentioned were examples of the kinds of miracles He did all the time, and the rest were exceptional miracles. These exceptional miracles are the ones that became more challenging over time.

I'll have to research and give scripture references later.

24 JUN 09

I've begun to notice that Jesus walked and spoke as one having authority. Early in His ministry, people remarked that He taught as one having authority, and not as the other "leaders" of the day. They spoke with speculation, or, if they spoke with any confidence at all, they spoke only on the authority of others. But Jesus spoke with authority because, as the Creator, He knew what He was talking about.

Then Jesus followed up His words of authority with deeds of authority. He commanded diseases, demons, and storms, and they all obeyed Him.

Meditation on Titus

It's been a while since I posted anything from my "meditations" that come from assimilating the New Testament. Actually, it has been too long, since April of last year! Some of these are not real meditations, for they did not come from the meditation process. They are things that I have noticed from reading a particular book over and over. Maybe I have noticed them on my own, or the Holy Spirit has either shown them to me, or He has brought them to my attention and by focusing on them my mind or my spirit has come to see a truth. I offer them as food for your own meditation. With that said, I must now post the next entry in my meditation notebook:

TITUS 31 MAR 09
Paul's letter to Titus serves as a "bridge" between his writings and the letter from Jude. They have similar themes: Warnings about false prophets and false doctrine, exhortation to food works. The major difference is Paul's emphasis on the leadership of the Church. Even though we have the Holy Spirit as our Teacher, we still need sound leaders in Church to contrast with the false leaders and to counteract their deception.