Blaze Culliton \\ The crowd continues to grow around Jesus, people coming from all directions to receive His healing. The unclean spirits testify to Jesus’ identity as the Son of God and are ordered not to make Him known. Jesus creates the twelve apostles, establishing His church, so that they might be with Him and He might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons (ministering spiritually to those around them).

Caleb Drahosh \\ Two things happen in this passage: the disciples pluck heads of grain because they are hungry and Jesus heals a man with a withered hand. Both events take place on the Sabbath. The Pharisees challenge Jesus in both instances. But Jesus shows us that God's good gifts shouldn't be turned into a burden, rather they should point us to God's abundant grace. Jesus determines the intent of the Sabbath.

Caleb Drahosh \\ Jesus came not to call the righteous, but sinners. The Pharisees and scribes relied on works of the law to be justified. The Pharisees demanded that Jesus' disciples fast, but Jesus challenges their attitudes. The Bridegroom had arrived; why mourn? Jesus Christ, the Righteous One, had arrived; why look for righteousness elsewhere? Self-righteous religion and Jesus simply don't mix.

John Baumgartner \\ Jesus continues His mission to preach the gospel. Four faithful friends interrupt His preaching by lowering a paralytic right in front of Him. Jesus uses this as a sermon illustration to prove that He as the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. Jesus deals with everyone there: eager disciples, skeptical scribes, the four friends, and the paralytic. They all leave thunderstruck at Jesus, glorifying God for His healing of the paralytic.

Ray Delaurier \\ After a long day of ministry Jesus is met with a multitude of people seeking healing from disease and freedom from demon possession. After a long night, Jesus departs early to a solitary place and prays to the Father. He is directed to leave the area and its needs to preach elsewhere. Sometime later Jesus is approached by a man with leprosy begging for healing. Jesus touches him, cleanses him, and changes a major traditional spiritual dynamic.

Caleb Drahosh \\ Jesus begins His work after calling the first disciples by teaching, casting out demons, and healing the sick. Jesus' authority is a kind that has never been seen before. Unclean spirits and sickness obey Him. Both are spheres that cannot be touched by even the most authoritative in the world. Now is the time to rethink everything.

Caleb Drahosh \\ With no hesitation, Mark tells us about Jesus' baptism, wilderness temptation, gospel proclamation, and call of the first disciples. The gospel carries urgency, but it is not frenetic. When God, who is three persons and One divine nature, stands to take action, the momentum builds quickly. And the call is clear. Jesus says: "Follow me."

Caleb Drahosh \\ John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus. He proclaimed a baptism of repentance, looking ahead to One who would baptize not with water, but with the Holy Spirit. John knew a greater One was coming and his task was to lay the groundwork for the good news of Jesus Christ.

John Baumgartner \\ We use our riches to avoid unpleasantness: unpleasant circumstances, unpleasant people, and pains. The richer we are, the less likely we are to be willing to give it up. But the Lord is so rich that he became poor for us. The Lord who is higher than the heavens and the earth is able and willing to—and did in fact—stoop down below everything else in order to raise us up.

Caleb Drahosh