We begin our new series in the Gospel of Mark studying the transition between John the Baptist's ministry and Jesus's ministry and note that the message of the Gospel never changes, regardless of who's holding the baton.

Satan is the epitome of evil. Yet his fall from Heaven should humble us with gratitude because we, unlike him, still have a chance to reenter the Kingdom.

The Spirit reveals to us that if we don't check our emotions, we may end up doing far greater harm than we could imagine. Rejection of our actions does not always equate to a rejection of our souls.

One situation can cause us to hate an entire people group, casting judgment upon a host of individuals who had nothing to do with the one person's pain cast upon us. This week, the Spirit reveals how unchecked pain can have devastating consequences.

The "Jezebel Spirit" is a myth. In reality, all of us have the ability, given the right motivation, to ruthlessly decimate anything standing in our way of what we want. And we need a Savior to turn that reckless abandon in the right direction.

Judas's betrayal of Jesus highlights the madness of our hearts and our willingness to betray a Jesus who doesn't fit the box we place Him in. We need a Savior to save us from our watered-down version of Him.

We are like Pilate who, when the pressure is on, have to decide what we are willing to give up to do the right thing. We need a Savior to give us hearts so deeply satisfied with Him that we are willing to sacrifice whatever it takes to do what is right.

Manipulation only requires the right motivation. This week, Delilah's betrayal of Samson reveals to us that at any time, our desires can lead us to do things out of character and out of step with God. We need a Savior not just to save us, but to rewire our desires in a way that glorifies Him above all else.

Pharaoh's God-hardened heart challenges us to look within ourselves and ask the Spirit whether we have become the villain in His story through pride, arrogance, abuse, worldly sorrow, and fear.

One of the hardest principles in our faith to live out is forgiving someone who has done something terrible to us. Paul reminds us that forgiveness must be birthed from the finished work of Christ.