Studying the Gospel of Mark

In preparation for staff orientation taking place this weekend, we wanted to continue to share some excerpts from various Mark studies. This last week the focus has been on conversion stories throughout the book of Mark, below are some of our staff’s favorite conversion stories. These stories are a great reflection of who Christ is and through them we are able to see the power of salvation.

Will Morris chose to study the conversion of the paralytic man in Mark 2:1-12

This whole passage points to the work that Jesus has done in the heart of every believer. When he comes to Jesus, the paralytic can do nothing for himself. In fact, he can’t even come to Jesus on his own but needs other people to carry him to Him. This immobility reflects our lives before Jesus. We are lying on the ground, paralyzed, with Jesus at a distance. Ephesians 2 says that we were dead in our trespasses and sins. Paralytics and dead people have something in common. They can’t move. We were stuck in our situation with no ability to fix it.

Brian Hiney studied the story of the Syrophenesian woman in Mark 7:25-30

Her response to Jesus after is so truthful and reveals to us parts of God’s nature.  Replying to Jesus she says,”Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs,” two things can be drawn from her statement.  First that she didn’t deny she is unworthy just as we can’t deny we are unworthy and don’t deserve anything that Jesus can and does give us.  Secondly that Jesus is over and beyond what we need.  Even the “crumbs” of what we get from Jesus can satisfy us.  Jesus is more than enough for all of us.

Coral Sweatman looks at the healing of the leper in Mark 1:40-45

It says in Mark 1:41 that Jesus was moved with pity. Jesus came to earth to proclaim the good news. He came to preach and proclaim himself. Yet as he goes from town to town we see that he is moved with compassion and pity for the people he has come to save. He knows that in order to save us He will have to die and absorb the wrath of God. Knowing that He was going to be the sacrifice that God used to bring us into a right relationship himself, he still had compassion on earthly weaknesses and sicknesses, which will not live past this life.