Ecclesiastes 1:12–18 reminds us that even the greatest wisdom and knowledge can’t satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts. Solomon discovered that chasing understanding apart from God only leads to frustration, pride, and grief. This Advent, we’re invited to lay down the idol of intellect—our desire to find fulfillment in information, insight, or being “right”—and prepare room for Christ, the true source of wisdom. Only in Him are our questions anchored, our desires met, and our purpose restored. As we put away the lesser things that distract us, we make space to behold the wisdom of God in Jesus and to find the joy that worldly knowledge can never give.

Bartimaeus may have been physically blind, but he saw Jesus more clearly than anyone else. In Mark 10:46–52, he cries out for mercy, Jesus stops for him, heals him, and he immediately follows. Spiritual blindness creeps in when we cling to pride, comfort, or old identities. Jesus invites us to admit our need, cast off what holds us back, and follow Him with a clear heart and open hands.

Jesus shows that true greatness isn’t found in status but in service. In Mark 10:32–45, He leads His disciples toward the cross and teaches that the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve—and to give His life as a ransom for many.

In Mark 10, Jesus teaches that only those who receive the kingdom of God like a child will enter it. The rich young man reveals how self-righteousness and self-reliance keep us from fully depending on God, while the disciples show us the beauty of humble, childlike trust. True faith means releasing control, resting in God’s promises, and following Jesus wherever He leads—believing that His way is always best. For in His kingdom, the first will be last, and the last will be first.

In Mark 10:1–12, Jesus lifts our eyes to see marriage the way God intended—from a man-centered contract to a God-ordained covenant. While the Pharisees treated marriage and divorce casually, Jesus points back to creation, reminding us that God Himself joins husband and wife together as one flesh. Sin and hardness of heart may break what God designed to be whole, but the good news is that Jesus—the perfect Bridegroom—redeems and restores what’s been fractured. In Him, we find forgiveness, renewal, and the hope of a love that never fails.

In light of what Jesus accomplished on the cross, we’re called to orient our lives around Him. That means choosing serving over status, Christ over credit, and exchanging pride for purpose. The greatest human to ever walk the earth became the lowest—for you. The economy of God looks radically different from the world’s. How are you living in light of the truth of the gospel?

As we continued our series in Mark this week, we were reminded that God is with us both in the mountain-top moments of life and in seasons of deep grief and desperation. May we remember to stay near to the Father in both seasons and find fullness of joy in His presence.

Even as believers, we’re prone to spiritual amnesia. When we forget Jesus’ past faithfulness, it can distort how we see His character—especially when life feels out of control. That’s why one of the most repeated commands in Scripture is to remember: remember who He is and all He’s done. Spiritual growth happens as Jesus comes into clearer focus when we pursue Him, trusting that He is always faithful. So what might be blocking or distorting your view of Jesus today?

This week, College Ministry Resident Trent Marshall continued our series in the Gospel of Mark, teaching from Mark 8:1–26. In this passage, we see Jesus heal a little girl oppressed by a demon, reminding us that our deepest needs are His highest concerns. Trent pointed us to the Person of our faith, the Power of faith, and the Picture of faith, showing that when we bring our needs to Jesus, He responds with compassion and authority.