01: The Beginning of the Gospel (Mark 1:1 – 20)

The gospel of Mark starts with ‘The beginning of the gospel.’ What is the gospel? While you read the Mark, try to find the statements of good news and investigate their responses. Why don't you learn more about what happened when the Gospel began?

πŸ‘‰ Read Mark 1:1 - 20

John’s task was to proclaim the coming of the Lord so that people would ‘prepare the way for the Lord.’ How to prepare the way? (two, 4, 8)

Be baptized of repentance for the forgiveness of sins

Expect the baptism of the Holy Spirit

It is to prepare the road for the Lord to come into your life and become your King; thus, His kingdom will come to your life. It is to remove obstacles in your heart that resist the Lord’s reign. It is to surrender to His Lordship. Then, His Spirit starts leading your life, which is the coming of His kingdom. 


What is the voice from heaven when Jesus came up from the water?

“You are my one dear son; in you I take great delight.”

After the baptism, Jesus was driven to the wilderness by the SPIRIT of God. Note the contrast between His prestigious identity and rough ministry in the chaotic wilderness-like world.


This is Jesus’ first proclamation. “The time is fulfilled and the (                  ) is near. (             ) and believe the (            ).”

Kingdom of God, repent, gospel

We can assume that the gospel is something about the Kingdom of God: what the kingdom is, how it comes, and how to enter it.

Jesus’ healing is a foretaste of the Kingdom. And His messages explain how to enter the Kingdom.


What was Jesus’ promise when He called Peter (Simon) and Andrew?

Follow me, and I will turn you into fishers of people.

If you follow Jesus, He will make you the fisher of man. He will save your family and friends.

Becoming a fisher of men doesn’t sound interesting, especially for those in a self-centered culture.


Who did Jesus call? (four)

Simon, Andrew, James, John

When called, they ‘immediately’ followed Jesus, leaving their life behind. When people encounter Jesus Christ, they will follow Him like them. 

Here, we found three things about accepting the gospel: repent, anticipate the Holy Spirit, and follow Jesus upon calling you.  

Interestingly, Jesus started building a group of followers of Jesus, the church, before performing any miracle or preaching.

The first thing He did was to start building up a church. He wanted the church to accompany His ministry from the beginning so that the church would continue His remaining ministry until His return. This was the beginning of the Gospel and the beginning of the church.




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

25: ‘Tell us plainly’ vs ‘The Father and I are one.’ (John 10:22 – 42)

As Jesus announced the Father and Jesus were one, the Jewish leaders tried to stone him. πŸ‘‰ Read John 10:22 - 42 Q1. Why did the Jewish leaders not believe in Jesus? Answers πŸ‘‰ They refused to believe in Jesus, for they were not Jesus’ sheep. ‘you refused to believe.’ This tells their willing refusal.  Note that Jesus Himself doesn’t call Himself the Messiah. Instead, He called Himself the One sent from God. He focused on doing the Father’s works and proclaiming His words. From Jesus’ works, they could have concluded that He was the Messiah sent from God. But they refused to admit it. Instead, they asked Jesus to admit His identity as the Messiah plainly, which Jesus wouldn’t do. Q2. They asked Jesus if He were the (           ). But Jesus claimed that the (          ) and He are one. Because of this, they condemned Him of (             ) and tried to stone Him. Answer πŸ‘‰ They asked Jesus if He were the ( Christ ). But Jesus claimed that the ( Father  ) and He are one
Read more

26: Other Laws concerning human life (#6 no murder) (Deut 21:1 – 22:8)

The command ‘do not murder’ should be extended to its full measure and completeness. They needed to remove the guilt of unresolved murder, keep the dignity of the female slave, respect the patrilineal inheritance, and preserve various lives. πŸ‘‰ Read Deuteronomy 21:1 - 22:8 When a homicide victim is found, and no one knows the murderer, the elders of the nearest town must do a ritual of atonement through the death of a heifer. What is the purpose of doing so? (7-9) If you had made your female slave your wife, you can divorce her but not (             ) her. For a man with two wives, if his less-loved wife’s son is the firstborn, let him inherit the (            ) portion. He should not show favoritism according to his affection for one of his wives. When a son doesn’t listen to his parent, he is like a glutton and (             ). Why should they not leave the corpse on the tree of execution overnight? When you see someone’s lost possession, do not (           ) it. You must not re
Read more

35: I am the True Vine. You are the Branches (John 15:1 – 17)

Image
The vine tree analogy so vividly illustrates our relationship with Jesus. As the branches of a vine share the life of the vine, we share and live from Jesus’ life. πŸ‘‰ Read John 15:1 - 17 Q1. Why do we need to remain in Jesus? (2, 4) Answers πŸ‘‰ To bear fruit. God takes away any branch that doesn’t bear fruit. We might debate the security of salvation: do we lose our salvation if we bear no fruit? However, it is better to focus on how to bear fruit rather than how to get salvation.  “You are clean already.” It would refer to a born-again status, a rightful relationship with the Father, one who bathed (13:10). John uses the imagery of cleanness for salvation. In the OT bible, one should be ritually clean to stand before God.  When we believe Jesus’ gospel, we are reconciled with the Father. Though sinners, we can approach God by Jesus’ blood. The pruning (lit. cleaning) (2) of our life is to make us bear more fruit. “Remain”: You should stay, not stop by. No plant produces fruit
Read more