How does Jesus show that he is Lord over the Sabbath? Jesus supports His claim to the lordship of the Sabbath by posing two arguments. In our previous episode, we examined His argument from scriptural precedent. In this second part of “Lord of the Sabbath”, we will discover his second argument—the human predicament. Jesus shows the Pharisees that the Sabbath is not for God, but rather for his creation.

In this first part of studying Mark 2:23-3:6, we will delve into Jesus’ teaching on the Sabbath. Ordinary people flocked to hear Jesus’ teachings, but the Pharisees had begun to openly oppose Him. Jesus confronts them with the statement that HE is the One qualified to decide what constitutes keeping the Sabbath, not them! Several words from His statement became the title for our study: “Lord of the Sabbath.”

One of the things that validates God’s work on the earth is the lives that he changes. The Gospel can change people dramatically. This change is not normal, but when we see it, it reminds us of God’s amazing grace. No one, no matter how evil and brutal, is beyond God’s grace. The characteristic of joy is central to the portion of Scripture we are studying this time. The text we study today is Mark 2:18-22, and I’ve titled our study “The Gospel Pattern.”

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When you put a candle in the flame, it goes from hard to soft, but if you put a piece of bread in the same flame, it becomes stiff and rigid. This illustrates today's lesson: the same flame has an opposite effect depending on the material it burns. Jesus' grace had a different impact on two groups: sinners and religious people. In this episode, “The Offense of Grace,” we look at Mark 2:13-17 and follow the actions and reactions to the grace of Jesus and see how it can both be restorative and offensive.

The forgiveness we experience from Jesus is unique and powerful. Today, we reflect on the story of the paralytic being forgiven and healed in Mark 2:1-12. Jesus uses the healing of a paralyzed man to illustrate how our decisions affect our lives and our relationship with Him. In this episode, “Jesus Forgives and Heals,” we learn about how Jesus redeems and restores broken things.

Last time, we discussed the authority of the servant, and today we will examine a few practical areas of Jesus' ministry that are worth considering and applying to our lives. Jesus was here on earth and lived among us. In this episode, we’ll be looking at Mark 1:35-45, where Mark’s record of Jesus’ early ministry provides a template for us to follow in our service for Christ.

Authority has often been abused. The problem is not authority, but rather our own sinfulness. In Mark 1:21-24, Jesus demonstrates his authority in both the physical and spiritual realms. His authority over three different things—over definition, over demons, and over disease. Join us as we look at “The Authority of the Servant.”

Today, we explore the account of Jesus calling several of His disciples. In Mark 1:16-20, Jesus outlines a series of steps the disciples took to follow Him—the call, the commission, and the commitment. Jesus invites them to follow Him, so they immediately drop what they are doing and go with Jesus. This invitation wasn’t just for those disciples—each one of us is called to follow Him in the same way. Listen to this episode to hear about how we can follow Jesus.

Our episode this week is a continuation of last week’s episode “Preparing the Son of Man.” Last week, we examined how Jesus received approval and praise before His ministry. We will continue to look at the other two processes that Jesus went through—authentication and proclamation. J Mark teaches from Mark 1: 9-15 which shows us a closer look at these processes.

Our episode today examines Jesus and what He experienced to confirm His life here. This lesson, which is divided into two parts, is titled “Preparing the Son of Man,” and it highlights the different processes—approbation (approval), authentication, and proclamation—that Jesus went through to prepare for his ministry. These processes are essential in our preparation for sharing the Good News. Join us as we study Mark 1:9-15.