Bookmark Daily Bible Reading Calendar By: Ehimwenma E. Aimiuwu – Please LIKE us on Facebook
Mark 1:
As prophesized by Isaiah, John the Baptist came ahead of Jesus and was baptizing in Judah for the forgiveness of sins. Many came from Jerusalem or all of Judea to confess their sin and and be baptized in the River Jordan. John told the people that Jesus, who was more powerful, would come after him and Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and not with water like him. Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee (Israel) to be baptized by John in Judah, after which God declared that Jesus was the Son of God. The Spirit took him into the desert to the tempted by Satan for 40 days (a test). After John was arrested, Jesus returned to Galilee (Israel) proclaiming repentance and acceptance of God’s kingdom. Jesus begins to choose some of his disciples (peter, James, & John who were all fishermen) and cast out evil spirits. One of the evil spirit called him “Jesus of Nazareth”, which is in Israel. So Jesus was more Israeli than Jew. Jesus also healed a leper and many were amazed at his authority and teaching.
Mark 2:
Jesus was in a crowded house, so a paralytic man was dropped from the roof into the house so that Jesus could heal him, but Jesus forgave his sins instead. Some teachers of the law felt that only God could forgive sin, so Jesus was blaspheming. Jesus told them that he wanted them to know that he, the Son of Man, had power to forgive sin and he healed the man. Jesus called Levi, who was a tax collector, to join him. While having dinner at Levi’s house, the Pharisee asked the disciples why Jesus ate with tax collectors & sinners, and Jesus said he was here for them. Jesus still wants us to fast, but his disciples were not fasting because Jesus was still with them at the time. Jesus and his disciples ate grains they had plucked on a Sabbath and the Pharisees protested. So Jesus explained that the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath. Jesus also said that he was Lord of the Sabbath. Sabbath is a day to rest from work that brings income, so people can eat if they choose as long as they are not selling or buying.
Mark 3:
Jesus healed a man’s hand on the Sabbath, so the Pharisees and the Herodians planned to kill Jesus. People came from the surrounding countries to Israel to see what Jesus was doing, including Judah, Jordan, and Tyre and Sidon. Many were healed and evil spirits testified that Jesus was the Son of God. Jesus chose his 12 apostle and gave them the power to preach God’s Word and drive out demons. The Pharisee who came from Jerusalem charge Jesus of driving out demons with the head of demons, but Jesus told them that they were wrong because a house divided against itself cannot stand. Jesus said all sins can be forgiven, but not blasphemy against the Holy Spirit because it is eternal sin. Jesus was insisting that his Spirit was Holy and not evil spirit. Jesus makes it clear that those who listen to God’s word and lives out God’s will are his family members.