Bartimaeus had nothing to lose. He knew what he was... a blind beggar ostracized by his community. Bart was a social outcast. He could have no lesser status. Compliance with the local ‘noise ordinance’ meant nothing to a blind beggar. Bartimaeus was desperate, and with Jesus nearby, he fully recognized the chance of his pathetic lifetime. 

“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10.46-48). 

Jesus demands “salt” and “peace.” He has no plan to meld all believers into one indistinct, collective, anonymous mass. The restaurant that put all its selections in a blender and served only nutritious, unsalted protein slurpies would quickly go out of business. Jesus enjoys the variety. He created it. Jesus understands that some members of His body don’t mix well, but each menu option has salt, and that is enough.

“Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another,” (Mark 9.50). 

Most misunderstandings begin innocently. What one party meant is not what the other heard. Both leave confused. They fume and friendships end with the silent ritual of avoidance. Time passes and hurt festers. When confrontation does occur, each erupts defensively spilling their pain like bags of marbles on a hardwood floor. Personalities collide, conflicts escalate, and relationships come to a permanent end.

Peter had a misunderstanding with Jesus: 

“And He [Jesus] was stating the matter plainly. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him.  “But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter, and said, ‘Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man’s,’” (Mark 8.32-33). 

This podcast is an overview of week 8 in the Word Traveler Bible reading plan and covers the following chapters in the Old and New Testaments: Numbers 1 – 11; Mark 8 – 12.

Jesus taught His followers to say less, not more, about their experience with Him. Jesus clearly understated Himself and His identity. In Mark’s account, Jesus prefers the title “Son of Man” to “Son of God.” Some scholars have accused Jesus of keeping a “Messianic Secret.” According to Mark 7, verses 24 and 36, He warned devils, disciples, and those He healed not to tell others who He was. Why?

“Jesus…entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret.”

The woman I married lovingly removed stumbling blocks and helped me remain true to my convictions. To me, she was the most beautiful woman on planet earth. Now she’s in heaven and she’s still beautiful. I still love her and, in a sense, I still have her. By God’s grace, I will not dishonor Adonica’s memory. I will keep following Jesus and be the man she always wanted and deserved and expected and helped me to be.

“Then He [Jesus] went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him,” (Mark 6.1). 

Tell Jesus and trusted confidants the “whole truth” and that’s exactly how you will leave your encounter with Him… whole.

“But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your affliction,’” (Mark 5.33-34).

Jesus knew how to relax. He took a nap at the back of a boat threatened by “a fierce gale of wind” with waves “breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up” with water (Mark 4.37). In this very moment Jesus is “seated at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3.1). He is not on His feet peering over the edge of His heavenly cloud, shaking a fist at those crazy humans. Things are under control. Jesus knows how to relax a little.

“Then Jesus said, ‘God’s kingdom is like seed thrown on a field by a man who then goes to bed and forgets about it,’ ” (Mark 4.26-29). 

Jesus had expectations of His disciples. He sent them out to “proclaim the message” and “cast out demons.” They were to perform in the arena of faith and crush the demonic competition for the souls of men and women. But it was not all about winning with Jesus and it’s not all about winning with our Father God. Jesus called “those whom he wanted.” We are “wanted” whether we win or not.

He “appointed twelve… to be with him.” We are called by Jesus “to be with him.” You and I are among “those whom he wanted… to be with.” It’s about relationship, not performance. A loving and caring relationship is more important to a good father than breaking records or winning notoriety, (Mark 3.13-15).

This podcast is an overview of week 7 in the Word Traveler Bible reading plan and covers the following chapters in the Old and New Testaments: Leviticus 13 – 27; Mark 3 – 7.