In this episode, David and Sophie unpack the feeding of the 4,000 in Mark’s Gospel and how it echoes and complicates the earlier feeding of the 5,000. Why do the disciples still not get it? Why are they stuck thinking literally when Jesus is inviting them to think symbolically?

We explore what the numbers might mean (5 loaves, 7 baskets), the layers of meaning that never fully exhaust themselves, and Jesus’ pointed warning about the “leaven of the Pharisees and Herod.” What is it about yeast - the tiny agent of transformation or corruption - that makes it such a powerful symbol of spiritual danger?

Join us as we ask: what does it mean to let the symbol speak? And what might we be missing when we stay in surface-level thinking?

In this episode, we explore one of the most striking and boundary-breaking sections of Mark’s Gospel. First, Jesus travels into Gentile territory and meets the Syrophoenician woman - an outsider by every cultural and religious measure. Their conversation, which begins with a challenging metaphor about "dogs" unfolds into a powerful moment of faith, courage, and inclusion, as this remarkable woman claims her place in God’s story.

From there, Jesus moves on to the Decapolis, where he encounters a man who is deaf and has a speech impediment. In a profoundly compassionate act, Jesus physically engages the man, breaking purity taboos and using his own spit to heal him - another dramatic sign that God’s kingdom is for those considered unclean or excluded.

Together, these stories show Jesus deconstructing the purity culture of his day and revealing a kingdom where faith, not ritual status, defines belonging. We’ll dive into the cultural background, the Greek wordplay, and how these encounters might speak to those today who feel like outsiders themselves.

In this week's episode of Mark Unfolded, David and Sophie take a reflective pause to look back on the first 14 weeks of their deep dive into the Gospel of Mark. Each shares five key themes that have stood out to them - threads that have emerged through the stories, questions, and conversations so far.

This episode offers both a meaningful review for regular listeners and an accessible on-ramp for anyone looking for a quick way to catch up. Whether you've been with us from the beginning or you're just tuning in, this is a great moment to step back, reflect, and see where the journey has taken us so far.

In this episode, pastor David Profitt and therapist Sophie Murphy explore one of Yeshua’s most radical teachings in the Gospel of Mark: what defiles a person. As the Pharisees confront Yeshua over tradition and ritual handwashing, we dig into the deeper tension between external religion and internal transformation. Why does Yeshua call out the Corban tradition? What does it mean to be a hypocrite? And what can we learn from the striking list of inner corruptions he names? Join us as we reflect on Yeshua’s call to focus on the inner life.

In this episode, pastor David Profitt and therapist Sophie Murphy dive into one of the most iconic moments in Mark’s Gospel - the feeding of the 5,000 and the mysterious scene of Yeshua walking on the water. We’ll explore the rich symbolism of the wilderness, where Yeshua draws the crowds like a shepherd calling his sheep, echoing the ancient promises of Hosea. We focus on Yeshua's deep compassion and what that says to us today. We'll also reflect on the haunting end of the encounter when Mark declares, “they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.”

What does it mean to misunderstand the loaves? Why does Mark frame this as a critical moment in the disciples’ journey of faith? And how might this parable of the loaves challenge our own understanding of divine abundance, spiritual sight, and the nature of the Messiah? Join us as we unpack the layers of this miraculous scene.

In this episode, Pastor David Profitt and Therapist Sophie Murphy explore the confrontation between John the Baptist and Herod Antipas. We revisit John’s identity as a prophet in the wilderness tradition - a man of deep conviction and ascetic discipline, living out his calling with courage and clarity.

In contrast, we examine Herod’s inner turmoil: a man who hears truth gladly but, like rocky soil, withers when trials come. We explore how themes of fear, false kingship, and prophetic faithfulness reveal the deeper spiritual struggle beneath the surface.

Along the way, we connect this story to the parables Yeshua has taught and see how his teaching is played out in the lives of all who encounter him.

In this episode, Pastor David Profitt and Therapist Sophie Murphy explore two deeply connected movements in Mark’s Gospel: Yeshua’s rejection in his hometown and the sending of the Twelve into the villages of Galilee. We reflect on why familiarity leads to offense, what it means to dishonor a prophet, and how hardened hearts block the work of the kingdom.

Next we turn to Yeshua’s radical act of sending his 12 apostles out two by two, with nothing but authority and dependence on hospitality. Along the way, we consider what it means to "rethink how we think", how to handle the emotional challenge of rejection, and the invitation to work with another person in partnership.

In this episode, Pastor David Profitt and Therapist Sophie Murphy explore the powerful, intertwined stories of Jairus and the woman with the flow of blood. These two “daughters” come from opposite ends of the social spectrum - one the child of a synagogue leader, the other an unnamed, ritually unclean woman — but both are drawn into healing and restoration through bold, vulnerable faith.

This episode continues the central theme we’ve been tracing throughout Mark: what it means to come to Jesus with faith, to move toward him even in fear, and to be among those on the “inside” who receive the secret of the kingdom of God. We reflect on how proximity to Jesus - and what you do with your story, your questions and your fears - is what determines who understands the kingdom and who remains on the outside.

In this episode, Pastor David Profitt and Therapist Sophie Murphy explore two of the most dramatic moments in the Gospel of Mark — the calming of the storm and the healing of the man with the legion of unclean spirits. What do these back-to-back stories reveal about Yeshua's identity, his authority over chaos, and the nature of true faith?

We dig into the powerful symbolism of sea and tomb, exploring how Yeshua confronts forces of chaos both outside and within — from the raging storm to the tormented man among the tombs. We reflect on the meaning of lived parables, where teaching becomes experience, and how the presence of God often shows up where we least expect it. Through all of this, we wrestle with what it means to move from fear to faith, and how restoration calls us not just to follow, but sometimes to stay and testify.

Join us as we ask: What does it mean to trust God when he seems asleep? And how does healing change not just one life, but an entire community?

In this episode, Pastor David Profitt and Therapist Sophie Murphy dive into the parable of the sower, the lamp under the basket, the scattered seed, and the mustard seed. We explore the "secret" of the kingdom of God and what it means to deepen into the mystery of following Yeshua.

We slow down and give time to each parable, asking the same question on everyone's mind who followed him - why does Yeshua speak this way? Why do some walk away unchanged while others find everything? What does it mean to be good soil — and how does that actually play out in real life?

Join us as we puzzle together why God sometimes seems quiet, why growth feels slow, or if the small things you're doing even matter.