It's easy to say we would never do this or that, but usually we make those comments from a place of comfort. The disciples never imagined they would be in a place to run away from Jesus either. But when darkness fell and soldiers came, it was a different thing altogether. May God give us grace and help us give that same grace to others. 

In this part of the book of Mark, we are just days away from Jesus's death. Jesus gives his disciples and us the important reminder that earthly things don't matter. One day they will all be gone. Jesus also warns us to be ready for the Last Day, because whether or not we live to see judgment day, our end will one day come. We'll talk about Mary, who anointed Jesus with an expensive perfume, and be reminded that having a heart of adoration toward Jesus is a beautiful thing, even if the people around us don't understand. 

In the days prior to Jesus's arrest, the leaders confronted him in the temple courts. Their aim was to somehow catch Jesus in a trap. His aim was to uphold the law and, even as they came after him, to offer them grace. 

Mark 11 brings us to Palm Sunday and Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Was the adoration of the crowds legit, or did they just get caught up in the emotion of what was going on? We'll discuss why Jesus cursed a fig tree (?!) and the posture of our hearts when we pray. And we'll talk about boundaries and how much access we give the people around us. 

In Mark 10, Jesus is annoyed by the disciples, the disciples are annoyed with one another, Jesus teaches about divorce and childlike faith, and he begins the path to the cross. 

In Mark 9, we see a glimpse of God's glory, the importance of faith, and the constant need to be in the Word to stay on the right path. 

Look for additional resources, including PDFs for discussion and additional study, on Amberalbeeswenson.org.

Jesus again feeds a multitude. Later he warns his disciples about the false religious ideologies of their day. The disciples fail a test that we too often fail: the opportunity to trust God to provide when we can't see the answers to the problems we face. 

In Mark 7, Mark shows us the Pharisees' hypocrisy, the bold audacity of a gentile woman, and the healing of a deaf and mute man. We'll examine traditions, knowing God is doing something even if it isn't what we hoped, and choosing to see God's goodness every day.

With the feeding of the five thousand and Jesus walking on water, Jesus reminds us that our limitations are nothing for him. And these miracles remind us to stop and take note of the amazing things God does in our lives every day. 

Mark 6 takes us to Nazareth where Jesus is amazed, but not in a good way. Jesus teaches his disciples and us to depend on him, not on the security we find in the world. Finally, we'll look at Herod's foolish promise that cost John the Baptist his life.

Look for additional resources, including PDFs for discussion and additional study, on Amberalbeeswenson.org.