Tag: Jesus Christ

Book of Mark – The Fasting or The Feasting

Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.
Mark 2: 18-20 ESV

Fasting is only told a couple of time in the Old Testament book Leviticus and it’s prescribed for day of atonement. It is done as a symbol of sorrow of sins to show penitence. However in the time of New Testament, among the Jewish religious fasting is a normal tradition and it’s done twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays. The people were astonished that Jesus is not following such tradition, instead He answered with an analogy of the bridegroom. That the bridegroom is now here, so the wedding guests should not fast, because it’s the time for feasting instead. However there will come a day when the bridegroom will be taken away… By saying this analogy Jesus is prophesying about his own death.

His coming brings the grace of God by giving us salvation therefore we should rejoice!

Book of Mark – The First Disciples

Jesus Calls the First Disciples Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. (Mark 1:16-18 ESV)

Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men. The first disciples Simon and Andrew immediately left their current job and identity and followed Jesus, for what is more worth? Getting fish and a full stomach for a day? Or to save souls for eternal life? :)

 

Book of Mark – The Temptation of Jesus

The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him. (Mark 1:12-13 ESV)

Unlike in Matthew and Luke, Mark didn’t expound the temptation in more details, but we do know from those accounts that Jesus wasn’t tempted, a perfect man and God, he didn’t fall into temptation. For he is light and the darkness will not overcome him.

Book of Mark – The Beloved Son

The Baptism of Jesus In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:9-11 ESV)

Unlike the other gospel books, Mark introduces Jesus right on his adult life. So sorry guys, no drawing of baby Jesus today :p

What’s the significance of Jesus’ Baptism and the voice from heaven? It shows that Jesus is the long awaited Messiah, the greater one that John mentioned, the chosen servant that  was mentioned in Isaiah 42!

Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law. (Isaiah 42:1-4 ESV)

I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. (Psalm 2:7 ESV)

TAT Knock Knock

aaaaand the crowd booooo-ed at the knock knock joke.

Sorry for the joke :p

But sorry also to break that the passage ask it will be given to you is not God promising to give you a Ferrari, he promised you better! He promised you the holy spirit! Why ask for something that will not last when you can have something that’s everlasting? :) If you read the context of the passage, Jesus actually is talking about salvation rather than giving you whatever you want.

And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

(Luke 11:9-13 ESV)

TAT Put To Death

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

(Colossians 3:1-11 ESV)

My church is going through series on Colossians, and it’s true as a christian who has been born again, we need to put to death our old way of life, not as a way to be saved, but because we have been saved and been raised with Christ, that’s why we need to change our life :)

Not easy of course :D

TAT Having Faith

For Having faith is not a weird thing :) In our daily life, we have faith in lots of different things, in our parents, in our friends, in our boss, but what matters is the object of our faith, in my case, it’s in a loving God, Jesus. :)