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)

The Book of Mark – The Greater One

Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 1:6-8 ESV)

Who is John?

Some say he’s the messenger, just like Elijah, his garment is even similar with him.

The messengers returned to the king, and he said to them, “Why have you returned?” And they said to him, “There came a man to meet us, and said to us, ‘Go back to the king who sent you, and say to him, Thus says the LORD, Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’” He said to them, “What kind of man was he who came to meet you and told you these things?” They answered him, “He wore a garment of hair, with a belt of leather about his waist.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.” (2 Kings 1:5-8 ESV)

John the Baptist is not the Messiah (The Saviour), he washed people, but someone greater than him will wash people with the spirit :) as prophesied in Joel 2

The LORD Will Pour Out His Spirit “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit. (Joel 2:28-29 ESV)

And who’s the greater one? Find out in the next comic!

 

The Book of Mark – The Messenger

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,

“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way,
the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”

John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

(Mark 1:1-5 ESV)

The Book of Mark – Introduction

Hi there! Christmas is approaching! I’d like to tell a story about Jesus :D The reason why we have a reason to celebrate Christmas, only in his death and resurrection we find forgiveness from God. Most of us think that we know who Jesus is, most of people might have heard the name Jesus, we might think that we know who Jesus is, some of us think he is a good teacher, a lunatic, a fiction, a good person, God, son of god but that’s not necessarily who he is or a complete picture of who he is. And the best place to find out the truth is of course to read from the original source. That’s why, let’s dig deeper into the book of Mark, I hope this will pique your interest to know more about who Jesus is and whether his existence has any impact to our life or not, or even important, your life. :)

What can you do:

Leave a comment, my hope is that people will discuss about who Jesus is, our faith is not a blind faith, God gave us reason for a reason, we’re invited to discern the truth, and if God is the truth, what do we do?

Share

Is there any friend that you feel they should read this? Then share it :) Underneath each comics there are share buttons.

Ah also you’re free to download these comics and use it anywhere as long as its not for commercial purpose. Send it to a friend in an email, share it on facebook, etc you don’t need to ask permission for that :)

Follow Us

Book of Mark will be updated daily, if not every other day, to make sure you won’t miss a post get notification updates by following Tatcomic:

TAT His Eye Is On The Sparrow

I sing this hymn again and again with my wife, such a great encouragement when you feel lost and nothing is going the right way. When the future looks bleak, and the present looks disappointing, trust in God, for He knows you and is in control over everything :)

“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
(Matthew 10:26-31 ESV)

This christian comic strip is based on a beautiful song by Civilla D. Martin’s gospel hymn :)
Her inspiration behind the lyric was beautiful too:

Early in the spring of 1905, my husband and I were sojourning in Elmira, New York. We contracted a deep friendship for a couple by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle—true saints of God. Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for nigh twenty years. Her husband was an incurable cripple who had to propel himself to and from his business in a wheel chair. Despite their afflictions, they lived happy Christian lives, bringing inspiration and comfort to all who knew them. One day while we were visiting with the Doolittles, my husband commented on their bright hopefulness and asked them for the secret of it. Mrs. Doolittle’s reply was simple: “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.” The beauty of this simple expression of boundless faith gripped the hearts and fired the imagination of Dr. Martin and me. The hymn “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” was the outcome of that experience.
— Civilla Martin

Sing the hymn, it’s beautiful and really tells us how great and loving our God is!

Why should I feel discouraged and why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart be lonely and long for heaven and home?
When Jesus is my portion, a constant Friend is He,
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.

I sing because I’m happy;
I sing because I’m free;
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me.

Let not your heart be troubled; these tender words I hear;
And resting on his goodness I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.

I sing because I’m happy;
I sing because I’m free;
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me.

Whenever I am tempted; whenever clouds arise;
When songs give place to sighing; when hope within me dies;
I draw the closer to Him; from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.

I sing because I’m happy;
I sing because I’m free;
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me.

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