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In Mark
● notice how Mark jumps immediately to the gospel (1:1), then to Isaiah’s prophecy of a messenger (1:2), and then to John the Baptist as that messenger (1:4),
● notice how Jesus is baptized by verse 9 and the heavens are “torn open” (1:10) with the Holy Spirit descending as a dove and with “a voice” speaking from heaven (1:11),
● tally the continuing references to “the gospel” (1:14, 15),
● consider the cluster of ideas present in Jesus’ opening proclamation: the timeliness (1:15), the kingdom of God’s imminence, and the commands to “repent” and “believe,”
● see how Jesus is already calling disciples and healing people before the first chapter ends,
● reckon with Jesus already challenging critics- “some of the scribes” (2:6)- by purposefully mixing the language of forgiving sins and healing bodies (2:5-12), adding reference to his “authority” (2:10),
● notice Jesus’ readiness to challenge convention in his willingness to eat in exceptional company (2:16) and to keep his focus on his sure purpose, drawing receptive people to his Father’s kingdom,
● see how Jesus continues to see hearts (3:5 and back in 2:6-8),
● register Jesus’ intentions for his newly called twelve: to be with him, to be sent to preach, and to be able to remove demons with authority (3:14-15),
● reckon with Jesus’ challenge to understanding of what makes family (3:32-35),
● remember that the purpose of parables is to separate those who can “hear” and “see” from those who cannot (4:9, 12),
● accept the cautionary reminder that “the measure” (4:24) one uses makes a difference,
● notice Mark’s continued urgency in reporting Jesus’ busyness in healing, and
● delight in the healing story within a healing story (5:25-34 inside (5:22-43), especially the connection Jesus makes between touch and faith (5:30-34).
Thank you,

Randy Tumlinson