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Sermon series

Mark

Meet Jesus in Mark's Gospel as the authoritative Son of God and suffering Servant who gives his life as a ransom for many.

55 sermons in this series

The King's Victory

Bryan Schneider

March 29, 2024

Mark 16

Mark

Do You Believe

Bryan Schneider

March 22, 2024

Mark 15:33-47

This is a text that absolutely requires us to stand up and do something with it. Either we walk away from this and say, "I need this Priestly King Who was willing to die for me" – or we say, "I am in control of my own life." The question we should be asking ourselves is, "Did Jesus die for me?" It was because of our sin that He died and experienced the displeasure of His Father. And His death caused open access to be given us to God. Do you believe that Jesus was the Son of God, as the Scriptures say, Who dies to take away our sins? Do you believe that He died for YOU? Are you ready to exclaim, "Worthy is the Lamb!"

The King of the Jews

Bryan Schneider

March 8, 2024

Mark 15:16-32

Throughout the entire Gospel of Mark, Jesus has been talking about the coming of His Kingdom. Now it looks like that has failed. But the irony is that when He seemed to be defeated, He was actually receiving His crown. Even when He was mocked and ridiculed and tortured, He was really the true King. And the cross was not the end of the story! He did not fail in His mission; He fulfilled His mission. He loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and He made us kings and priests. He came to seek and save the lost, and that is why He died for us. Are we still trying to be "good enough," or are we placing our trust in His already-finished work of redemption? We have been bought with the price of Jesus' blood, and we are members of His royal household. Our King lives today, and we are His sons and daughters if we have faith in Him alone!

Tried by Gentiles

Bryan Schneider

February 23, 2024

Mark 15:1-15

Mark 15:1-15 shows the innocent King Jesus condemned in the place of the guilty, calling sinners to see God's sovereign purpose and trust Christ's substitution.

Will You Deny Me?

Bryan Schneider

February 16, 2024

Mark 14:66-72

Mark

The King is Judged

Bryan Schneider

February 9, 2024

Mark 14:53-65

Who is Jesus? That was the basic question that the high priest put to Jesus when He was on trial. Many people try to mold Him into an image that they like instead of who He says He is. In the presence of the high priest, Jesus declared Himself to be the long-awaited Messiah, the Anointed Son of God. He was the One Whom David himself would call Lord in Psalm 110. And He not only claimed Divine Personhood, but He also identified Himself as the Judge. Moreover, He is both our High Priest and our perfect Sacrifice. We don't deserve to be called His sheep, but He truly did humble Himself, suffer, and die. The Messiah of Scripture is our King, High Priest, and Sacrifice; and in Him, we have everlasting life!

Alone and Abandoned

Bryan Schneider

February 2, 2024

Mark 14:26-52

How do you escape the snare of besetting sin? Like Peter, who grew self-confident in his own abilities, there is no way that we can free ourselves from our sinful situations. We need to look to Jesus alone as our Savior and Source of strength. We are not the hero of the story. If we fight the devil in our own strength, we will always lose the battle. We are not by nature virtuous, but Jesus is. He was tempted just like us, but He never sinned. He filled the role of the victorious Hero that we need. And we can access His strength by confessing to Him who we are and trusting in Him. Let us look to Him and find the strength that He freely gives to us!

The Last Supper

Bryan Schneider

January 26, 2024

Mark 14:12-26

The Passover had been celebrated for centuries. The people of Israel would remember the Lord's work of redemption that He had done for them, year after year, as they waited for the coming of the Messiah. Every year they would remember and long for the Suffering Servant to come and the New Covenant to be established. Jesus stepped into this Passover tradition but said and did some things that are different. This Last Supper was a new redemption celebration for Jesus' disciples. God has redeemed us from the wages of sin and death. The redemption that He purchased was greater than anything connected with the Israelites' Exodus from Egyptian slavery. God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Our Passover Lamb has been sacrificed for us, and we are no longer a slave to sin and death. Our King laid down His life for us. And we can sing the words of Psalm 118 because we know that our Redeemer lives and we can have the hope of true freedom!

Jesus’ Last Days

Bryan Schneider

January 19, 2024

Mark 14:1-11

In this passage, we have various persons all playing a part as Jesus is about to fulfill ultimately the office of the Messiah. We have Simon the leper, who reminds us that Jesus does not enter into perfect situations, but into believing homes. We have Mary, who valued Christ above all the riches of the world and anointed His head with precious oil, in spite of those criticized her sacrifice. We also have Judas, who spent much time close to Jesus, but loved the world more and betrayed Him for money. We have the chief priests and elders, who believed their ends promoted their wicked means. And we have Jesus Himself, who told the disciples to leave Mary alone. He knew He was about to suffer and die, and He knew that the work of redemption would cost His own precious blood. But He chose to go to the cross as the unspotted Lamb of God. He sacrificially gave Himself to redeem those who believe in Him! Do you believe in Him?

Watch Out! (Part 5)

Bryan Schneider

January 12, 2024

Mark 13:33-37

Sometimes in life we fall asleep at the wheel and drift on auto-pilot, even though we know we are supposed to be alert and awake. There is one clear application from this section of the Olivet discourse: watch! We don't know when the day of Christ's return will be, so we have to be vigilant and on guard. How are we taking watch over our lives? Are we neglecting our duties? What do we take pleasure in? The shadows of the world or the things of light? Are we watching over our relationships and our families? How are we using our money, time, home, and resources? Are we doing our daily tasks and callings for God's glory? Failure to stay on guard has serious consequences. We must be vigilant in prayer with thanksgiving. The Christian disciple is never off-duty. Pray, watch, and be alert so that when the King returns, He will be able to say "Well done" to us!

Watch Out! (Part 4)

Bryan Schneider

January 5, 2024

Mark 13:23-32

We have to be humble when approaching a passage like this because we are not the director of the story. This passage is speaking about more than Jerusalem and the Temple. Jesus is talking about His Second Coming. When He returns in glory, all the nations of the world will see. It will be loud and open, not a hidden secret; and it will be a glorious reunion of all God's elect. We don't have all the answers, but we do know Christ is coming back; and until He does, we must be on guard, watchful, and ready. Jesus died in humiliation, was raised in power, and will return in glory – openly and dramatically. In the meantime, let us live our lives with His heavenly Kingdom in mind!

Watch Out! (Part 3)

Bryan Schneider

December 15, 2023

Mark 13:14-22

Jesus' mention of the "abomination of desolation" in this part of the Olivet discourse would have struck fear in the minds of the Jews of His day. They thought that this had already passed forever in the 160's BC when Antiochus Epiphanes tyrannized over the Jews and offered a pig to Zeus in the Lord's Temple. And now Jesus spoke of this as coming back and happening again. Jesus' reference to the "abomination of desolation" was in regard to the Romans besieging Jerusalem and finally destroying it in 70 AD. And just as Antiochus' terrible dealings were a foretaste of the Roman siege, we need to be warned that we have not yet seen the worst to come. We need to watch out and not be deceived. We need to be on our guard against people who claim that Jesus has returned and the Resurrection is over. We need to not be fooled by false Christs who are lying charletans. And we need to not be deceived by signs and wonders. We must keep our eyes fixed on the Jesus of Scripture so that we don't become the prey of these predators.

Watch Out! (Part 2)

Bryan Schneider

December 8, 2023

Mark 13:9-13

This past month, Christ's Church on earth has been under attack, just as it has been in every generation. And the main point of this passage is not about end times and apocalypse; it's an exhortation to watch out. There were famines and troubles when Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD, and there continue to be famines and troubles now. But Jesus also tells us to watch out for persecution. Christians have been and still are hated by the people of the world. However, if we suffer for righteousness' sake, we will be blessed. In the strength of Christ, we must not give up but endure to the end so that we can enjoy the heavenly Kingdom.

Watch Out! (Part 1)

Bryan Schneider

December 1, 2023

Mark 13:1-8

This is a hard passage that is immensely complex. How you interpret this passage will largely affect how you approach eschatology. We need to ensure that as we endeavor to understand this passage, we are letting the Scriptures themselves speak, and not just our preferred school of thought. We are called to be Christians, not end-times zealots. Jesus has packed this chapter with exhortations to "Watch out!" and "Take heed!" Deceivers have come throughout church history and they will continue to come. They prey upon gullible people who don't listen to Christ's words. Jesus reminds us to not be troubled. He wants us to make sure our homes and families are ready for His return. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus Christ so that we are not deceived and robbed of our peace with Him!

Selfish Leaders

Bryan Schneider

November 17, 2023

Mark 12:38-44

One of the big dangers that the Church faces today is bad pastors and selfish leaders. We must beware of those who want respect because of the clothes they wear, or who makes long prayers for pretense. A pastor is nothing more than another redeemed rebel whom God has given the gift of teaching. Those pastors who are intent on their own aggrandizement and fleecing widows are not God's shepherds. The Jewish scribes only saw what everyone was able to give, but Jesus wants only a faithful heart – as was demonstrated by the poor widow who gave all she had to the Lord. Jesus does not act like these scribes. He – the King of kings – humbled Himself and came to serve others and die for sinners. That's who we need to follow and worship – the One Who is our Good Shepherd.

Love Commanded

Bryan Schneider

October 20, 2023

Mark 12:28-34

What is the most important of all the commandments in the Law? This is the first instance we have in the Gospels of someone coming to ask Jesus a question in sincerity. He replied to the scribe who asked this question by quoting the Shammah from Deuteronomy 6, which teaches us that we are to love God and love our neighbor. This is more important than any number of burnt offerings or animal sacrifices that we could ever offer. If you kept all the Lord's commandments – loving God and loving your neighbor, you'd be perfect and you'd go to heaven. That's terrifying news, though, because none of us can do this. We fail at it. So what hope do we have? The answer was standing right in front of the scribe in the Temple that day. Jesus, the embodiment of true love – was standing there and fulfilling the work of redemption for us, who could never keep the Law. Not only does He tell us that we are not far from the Kingdom of God, He also brings us into it!

The Resurrection

Bryan Schneider

September 29, 2023

Mark 12:18-27

The Sadducees come to Jesus and ask Him about the resurrection, even though they don't believe in the Resurrection. They think they will be able to trap Him, but Jesus tells them they were wrong because they did not know the Scriptures. He took them back to school and told them what they should have known. In the historical narrative of Moses and the burning bush, the Lord had told Moses that He was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In other words, He is the God of the living and not the dead. The Saducees' minds were restricted to the here and now. They assumed that if there was a resurrection, it would look just like on earth – complete with marriage and everything. They didn't believe in anything they couldn't see. They couldn't imagine anything after death. But that limits the scope of the power of God Who made the heavens and the earth. In heaven, our relationships – including our marriage relationship – will be different than they were here on earth. They will be perfect and much better than even our best days here below. In heaven, there will be far better things for us to worry about. We must make up our mind. Do we belive in Jesus as the only way, truth, and life? Do we believe that even in the resurrection, He has great plans for us? The resurrection is real because our Savior said it is. Will we believe in it, or reject it?

Testing God

Bryan Schneider

September 15, 2023

Mark 12:13-17

It seems that more and more these days, people are hyper-interested in politics. Often we hungrily gobble down all the political talk we hear, without stopping to ask, "Where is my heart in all of this?" Here in this passage, the Herodians and the Pharisees band together to try to trap Jesus in His words. They asked Him if Caesar had a right to impose taxes. Sadly, they call Him Teacher, but they don't want to be taught; they say that He is true, but they don't believe it. After making them admit that the denarius had a mark of Caesar's authority, Jesus made it clear that paying taxes was a necessary part of the civil government that they were living under. But there was more in Jesus' answer than a political lesson. These men were not paying to God what rightfully belonged to Him. They were willing to pay taxes to the government, but they also owed obedience to Jesus – the icon or image of the Father. Yet they were rebels against Him and refused to love the Lord and their neighbor. You can be obsessed with politics and your own power, but all you are doing is building your own kingdom instead of God's. He puts rulers in power, whether for our good or for our bad, but always for His glory. Does your obedience to God depend on your political party winning? Jesus Christ is still King, even today. He still sits on His throne. Kingdoms rise and fall, but His Kingdom is not of this world. Do not put your trust in any political leader, or you will be sadly disappointed. Give to the Lord what belongs to Him!

The Cornerstone

Bryan Schneider

September 8, 2023

Mark 12:1-12

Why didn't things go differently when Jesus entered Jerusalem? Why didn't the leaders of the people acknowledge Christ as the Messiah? It was part of God's sovereign plan, and they did not want to give up their authority. After Jesus would not answer their question about His authority, He told them this allegorical parable. The man in the vineyard (representing God) went to great expense to set up this vineyard, and He rented it out to tenant-farmers. These men were blessed to be stewards of the vineyard, but they went from enjoying the blessing to thinking they were entitled to owning the place. When the owner sent for his portion of the wine – which was contractually obligated – they became defensive and wouldn't give it up. They persecuted and killed the servants (the prophets); and when God finally sent His well-beloved Son into the world, they killed Him too. With ridiculous logic, they thought they would kill the heir and then receive his inheritance. This is what sin does; it twists our thinking and causes us to rationalize and justify what we have done. Jesus took the scribes to school and asked them if they had ever read the 118th Psalm, which speaks of the rejected stone becoming the Chief Cornerstone. They had tossed this stone aside and built up a crooked system of their own. But Jesus now stands before them and says He will bear the weight of the structure and make it square and sturdy. Jesus is still the Chief Cornerstone today! And the vineyard is God's. The Church does not belong to any pastor or man. Every pastor will fail somehow, but Christ is our Head – and we need to keep our eyes on Him!

The Authority of Jesus

Bryan Schneider

September 1, 2023

Mark 11:27-33

Authoritarianism seems to be on the rise. People and organizations want control. And it was the same way back during Jesus' earthly ministry, too. The Sanhedrin had been struggling up and down for centuries to maintain their power; and now, by overturning the tables and merchandise in the Temple, Jesus had come in and put a death blow to their power. They came and demanded Him to explain Himself and tell them whose authority He was under. It wasn't that being a scribe or a high priest was evil in itself. The problem was that these men had taken their God-given power and used it for their own purposes. And they failed to see and acknowledge that the Messiah Himself was standing right there in front of them. Jesus asked them a question in return concerning John's baptism – whether it was from God's authority or men's. But they preferred to shuffle around instead of dealing with the honest question and have their tyranny be impaired. Jesus had authority from heaven to judge the Temple because He was the Lord of the Temple. Who do you think Jesus is? Either the Bible and Jesus' testimony concerning Himself are a big lie, or else they really are true – just as they claim to be. Who is Jesus to you?

Cleansing the Temple

Bryan Schneider

August 25, 2023

Mark 11:12-26

In this part of Mark's Gospel, we are shown that what was going on in Jerusalem at the time was empty ritualism, not living faith. Jesus looked for the little berries on the fig tree that would have proceeded the flowers and fruit, but He found none – and so He cursed it. Then He walked into the Temple in Jerusalem. It was an externally beautiful building, but the interior was corrupted with greedy people who had set up a marketplace and were talking advantage of even the poorest of God's people. Sadly, this still goes on today. It is God Who needs to be worshiped, not we who need to be entertained. Jesus was righteously angry at all this. Just like the fig tree, He found no spiritual fruit within the glorious and beautiful Temple. After seeing the dead fig tree again, He used this as an opportunity to teach His disciples a lesson about faith. He was not saying that the Lord will just dump blessings on you if you pray hard enough. But God did move heaven and earth to procure the forgiveness of our sins. Do we believe that? Jesus came for us to have a living faith, not just a trust in signs and symbols.

The King Arrives!

Bryan Schneider

August 18, 2023

Mark 11:1-10

Whether we like it or not, we will be inundated with ads from politicians over the next year or so. But the real question we should be asking is, "Who is our King?" Who is the One that we can place our hope and trust in? This scene here in Mark 11 is full of symbolism from the Old Testament. The Jews had been promised that their Messiah would come riding on a donkey's colt. God had assured David that he would one day have an heir who would sit on his throne forever. Jesus' public entry into Jerusalem was a pivot point. He had usually told the people whom He healed to not say anything about Him, but He was not staying hidden forever. And now the people shouted with the trumpets of their own lungs, proclaiming that this was their King Who would sit on the throne! But they expected Him to be a political king Who would overthrow the Romans and give them freedom and wealth. However, Jesus has a much better spiritual Kingdom. We can't be sure who will be our President next year, but we can rest assured that Jesus will be our King! Things will keep happening to shake up our government, but our King in heaven reigns forever. Let's not put our hope in presidents or politicians, but in the Prince of peace!

The Servant of All

Bryan Schneider

July 14, 2023

Mark 10:35-45

Jesus came as the King of kings, walking on the royal road of service. And He is calling each one of us to walk on the same road. The other ten disciples were displeased with James and John because they had all wanted the seats of honor that those two had asked for. Jesus took the opportunity to teach them all a lesson. He talked to them about how the leaders of the world act. All around us, we see leaders who are only in the game for what they can get out of it for themselves. We see this in the workplace, sports, academia, politics, and sadly, even in families and churches. This is the way the world does things, but it shouldn't be that way among God's people. Some of the best leaders are those who love their people and serve them. They see the needs that people have, and they help them – sometimes even when other people can't see it. Even the Son of Man Himself did not come to earth in order to be served – although He was the King of kings! He showed His love by serving even to the point of death. What should our response be to that kind of leadership? Go and love others. What act of selfless love can you do for another person today?

The Cup of God's Wrath

Bryan Schneider

July 7, 2023

Mark 10:35-41

How can God be merciful and gracious, and yet at the same time, He does not by any means justify those who are guilty? The answer to this mystery was not revealed to the Lord's people for centuries. But here we see the answer made clear! In this passage in Mark's Gospel, we see the love of Jesus for us. The disciples clearly didn't understand any of what Jesus had said about His coming suffering and death, as is evident in James and John's question. They asked if they could have the seats of the guest of honor and the second-in-command in Jesus' Kingdom. But Jesus told them they didn't know what they were asking. They claimed they could drink the cup that He was about to drink, but they didn't understand. That cup was the full cup of the righteous wrath of God against sin. Jesus drank down the contents of that cup so that we would never have to do so. Jesus loved us, and that is why He drank that cup and endured the baptism of God's fiery wrath. When we think of this, it should not only make us hate sin more, but it should also encourage us to love Jesus more. This is the message of the Gospel. Let us rest in it, receive it, praise God for it, and find peace for our souls!

Jesus - Willing to die for you

Bryan Schneider

June 30, 2023

Mark 10:28-34

Who chose for Jesus to die? Jesus willingly sacrificed His own life. And He did this in full knowledge of the cost that it would involve, but He did it because He loved us – His people. The rich young ruler had gone away and now the disciples asked Jesus, "What about us? We've left everything to follow You." jesus made three promises to them. He promised that they would receive back a hundredfold what they had left behind, that they would encounter persecution, and that they would be given everlasting life in the world to come. Jesus was willing to pay the ultimate price to purchase this for us. He took His 12 disciples aside and told them what was really about to happen to Him. He told them that He would be betrayed, condemned to death, handed over to the Gentiles, mocked and scourged and spit upon, and put to death. But the story wouldn't end there, because He would also rise from the dead! On the cross, the price was paid for our salvation. But in the Resurrection, we are justified! In the Resurrection, we have hope. And in the Resurrection, we have the assurance that the Lord's promises are true. Will you trust in Jesus and live out a living faith? He deserves our allegiance and love. Will you sacrifice for Him? This is part of the cost of discipleship. But the new heavens and new earth – where we will join the myriads of redeemed souls who are singing and praising Jesus – will make those sacrifices worth it in eternity!

Where is Your Heart?

Bryan Schneider

June 23, 2023

Mark 10:17-31

Where is your heart? What do you love most? The rich young man came running to Jesus and asked what he needed to do to be saved. Jesus loved this man, and He did the loving thing by pointing out the idol in his life and the one thing that was lacking. But the man went away sorrowful because he had great riches. How much do we love our wealth? It's not that material wealth is evil in itself, but to love that stuff is to make an idol out of it. The mindset of Jesus' disciples when they thought of the Kingdom of God was something like the riches and plenty in the days of Solomon. But Jesus told them that they would have a hard time getting into that Kingdom with that mindset. It's like trying to put a camel through a needle's eye. The disciples asked who can be saved then... and Jesus said it's impossible! You can't save yourself. But it is possible for the Lord to change someone's heart so they have something to actually live for besides worldly wealth. Get ready to count the cost. What are you living for and working for? What things are keeping you from reading your Bible and praying? Be honest and evaluate your heart. Is Jesus Christ worth it? He loved you so much that He gave up everything for you to be a part of His Kingdom. WIll you count the cost for Him?

Bring Your Children to Jesus

Bryan Schneider

June 16, 2023

Mark 10:13-16

When we think of the great Apostles like Paul, Peter, or John, we think it's only right that the Kingdom of God belongs to people like that. But is it true that the Kingdom of God also belongs to little children? Jesus says yes! The most loving thing a parent can do to their children is to bring them to Someone Who cares for their souls. Sadly, there are some who are still like the disciples in Jesus' day, and they try to keep the children away from Jesus and out of the Church. No wonder, then, that the Church is losing more and more children every passing generation. Jesus was angry at this. This is not how His Kingdom operates. Jesus cares for children and loves them; He has chosen them to be a part of His Covenant. Yes, they sin like everyone else, and they need the grace of Christ like everyone else. But they belong to the Lord and we want their faith to bloom fully from the little bud to the full blossom. Never give up on your children! Come to Christ with the humility and faith of a child, for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these – and bring your children with you to Him!

Confusion about Marriage

Bryan Schneider

June 9, 2023

Mark 10:1-12

There were different schools of thought among the Jewish Pharisees and rabbis in regard to divorce. They asked Jesus about divorce in an effort to trick him into saying something they could catch Him on. But He answered their question with a question and basically took them back to what Moses wrote in the very beginning of the Bible about marriage. Gender, marriage, and the family are all God's design. He made human beings male and female, complementary to each other. Marriage is not a human construct; He "glues" together a man and his wife, and no one should separate that union. God's original plan for marriage was one man and one woman for life. Marriage is not about one spouse making the other happy; it's about helping and serving one another in love. Marriage is meant to be a picture of Christ's relationship with His Church. Nothing shall be able to separate Jesus' Bride from His love. Therefore, Christians should imitate Him and love their spouse.

Jesus Hates Pedophilia

Bryan Schneider

June 2, 2023

Mark 9:42-50

"But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched — where 'Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.' And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched — where 'Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.' And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire — where 'Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.' "For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another" (Mark 9:42-50).

Biblical Christian Unity

Bryan Schneider

May 26, 2023

Mark 9:38-41

Jesus is teaching us here what it means to be unified in Him. He calls us to pursue Jesus-focused unity. But how? We need to realize that the focus in on Jesus, not us. It is He Who needs to be followed. The disciples had been unable to cast out a demon, but they stopped one who was doing just that because he wasn't a part of their group. This man could do this because he had faith in Christ, Whose power did not stop with the 12 disciples. There is power in Jesus' name, but only for those who believe in Him. How do we forge a unity with one another? In an army, there is a uniform, a flag, and an anthem. What is our anthem? Is it the glory of the Lamb? But we must beware of a false unity or an ecumenicalism where everyone is tolerant of anything and no one stands up for the truth. We live in an age where people invent a God of their own making. We ought to love Jesus and be united with each other, but we need to know who is actually on Jesus' side. We don't necessarily have to lock-step with everyone; but we do need to realize that there are some who are indeed Christians, even though they may not be part of our denomination. We should be on the lookout for fellow believers to show love to – not for their own sake, but for the sake of the Master whom we both serve.

The Irony of Leadership

Bryan Schneider

May 19, 2023

Mark 9:30-37

There is a vast difference between authority and authoritarianism. We tend to have an allergic reation to authority these days, and it's largely due to bad experiences with authoritarian leadership. Jesus calls us to a better way: leading by service. The disciples had been arguing about which of them would hold the highest rank among the others. And Jesus took that opportunity to teach them the paradox of leadership. The key to leadership is that a true leader must be a servant. Jesus illustrated this concept with a little child, turning the world's idea of leadership on its head. "Do you want to be the greatest in the Kingdom?" He was asking. "Then go and love a little child." That is a picture of true selfless service. The Bible itself gives examples of leaders who were authoritarians and cared more for their own pleasure than for the glory of God and the people whom they ought to have served and cared for. If you want to be a true leader in God's Kingdom, it doesn't start with you. It starts with those around you – your wife, your children, your church family, your employees, etc. But Jesus wasn't just content to say what a leader should be. He actually showed it. He illustrated true servant leadership by humbling Himself, serving others, and dying for His people. What kind of leader are you? Service takes sacrifice, but the Holy Spirit will enable you to do it!

The Power of Jesus, Part 1

Bryan Schneider

May 5, 2023

Mark 9:14-29

Fix your eyes on the power of Jesus! When Jesus came down from the mount of Transfiguration, he was met by a father of a young man who was desparate for help. He had asked Jesus' disciples to cast out the demon in his son, but they did not have the strength to do it. The father doesn't just ask for help, but also for compassion. Our Jesus is not a stoic philosopher who just tells us to "get it over." And He is also powerful. He has the power to not only cast out the demon, but also to forbid him to ever come back. We need to be careful to not take the idea of demon possession as just an ancient superstition. There is a spiritual realm and a spiritual battle that our physical eyes cannot see, and much of what we call mental illness today is a visible manifestation of the devil at work, trying to destroy people's lives. This passage gives hope to praying parents who may not be understanding what is going on in their children's minds. Jesus reminded the disciples that the strength to deal with these demonic forces did not come from themselves. It was derived from prayer and fasting, as part of their relationship with the Lord. The power is not in us, but we have a compassionate Father that we can come to!

Despised and Rejected

Bryan Schneider

April 14, 2023

Mark 9:9-13

Jesus was the Son of Man Who was promised to receive an everlasting Kingdom. A few of the disciples had recently seen a glimpse of His glory on the Mount of Transfiguration. They knew the Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming Messiah and the future glorious resurrection, but they were confused. Based on some of these prophecies, they knew that "Elijah" was supposed to come and be the Messiah's forerunner. "Elijah" was a core part of the Jews' hope of the Messiah's coming. Jesus explained to His disciples that "Elijah" had already come in the person of John the Baptist. The Jewish thought in Jesus' day missed the key element of the Messiah's suffering and death. They expected that after "Elijah" came, the Messiah would lead them in a revolt against Rome and then they would enjoy a glorious kingdom. But they failed to realize that Isaiah 53:3 had to happen, too. Redemption from sin was going to come at the cost of Christ's own blood. And then the disciples would be called to go forth to the ends of the earth and testify that the Messiah has indeed come! He is alive, and He has fulfilled all the prophecies. Take hope! In His Providence, the Lord lined up eveyrhing for Jesus to come and save the souls of sinners!

The Glory of Christ

Bryan Schneider

March 31, 2023

Mark 9:1-8

There are defining moments in most people's lives when everything changes and they realize that life will never be the same again. This was one of those moments for Jesus' disciples. Jesus emphatically told them that some of them present would not die without a taste of Kingdom of God coming with power. Shortly after this, He took three of His disciples to the top of a mountain and was transfigured gloriously in their presence. He changed before their very eyes. They had known Him as a Man, but now He was showing them that He was much more than a mere Man! He is the glorious God of the universe, and yet He loves us; and He is worthy of our worship – even today! He outshone even Moses and Elijah, the great Lawgiver and Prophet. The Father spoke and recognized the Divine Sonship of Jesus – the Beloved One! And then He gave a command for us to hear Him – that is, not to merely hear His Words, but also obey Him. He is the King of glory! Do you see Him as such?

Who is Jesus?

Bryan Schneider

March 17, 2023

Mark 8:27-30

Jesus Christ is so much more than a good moral Teacher. He is the Son of God Himself! In this part of Mark's Gospel, Jesus was beginnng to teach His disciples that He was more than a miracle-worker. They were in Caesarea Philippi – an area that was filled and surrounded with temples and shrines for idolatrous worship. Jesus asked about who most people thought He was, and then He specifically asked the disciples who they thought He was. In this minute of Holy Spirit-given clarity, Peter answered, "You are the Christ!" He is the Messiah – the Anointed One – that the Old Testament prophets had foretold for so long. He is the Great High Priest Who is without sin and came to put an end to all the animal sacrifices. And He is also the King of kings. People today – even in the Church – are uneasy with the Jesus of the Bible, and so they try to make Him out to be whatever they want Him to be. Who do you say Jesus is? Do you recognize Him as the Son of God? Do you recognize Him as the Lord of your life? Do you recognize Him as your only hope in life and death? Jesus is asking you today, "Who do you say that I am?"

Notice Jesus!

Bryan Schneider

March 10, 2023

Mark 8:22-26

The deepeest spiritual need of every man, woman, and child is to come face to face with Jesus and be healed – body and soul. In this part of Mark's Gospel, this blind man's friends Jesus to just touch him. In our day, we know far more about Jesus than these people did. They went to great lengths to find the Savior and beg Him for help; do we bring our family and friends to the Lord in prayer, and ask Him to lay His healing hands upon them? The King of kings took the blind man's hand and compassionately led him out of the town, just as He draws us away out of the crowds and hustle and bustle of life, so that we can focus all our attention on Him. Then He did something humiliating by putting spit on the blind man's eyes. We need a cure for the spiritual darkness of our eyes, and we need the balm of the Gospel to heal us; but sadly, many people's pride keeps them from the humilating cure of Jesus. His cure is humbling, but the touch of His hands is comforting. Jesus asked the man if he saw anything, but he could not see clearly yet. Too frequently, we are satisfied with seeing spiritual things unclearly; but this man was not. Christianity sometimes works in this way. Jesus sometimes reveals Himself gradually to our hearts; but if He has started a good work in us, He will surely see it through to completion – just as He brought this man's eyesight to perfection. Not everyone comes to Christ in a crisis conversion moment; with some people, it is more like a sunrise that just continues to get more and more glorious. Jesus chose to use a process in this situation to show the perseverance of His miraculous power. Take notice of Jesus, because He surely takes notice of you!

Watch Out!

Bryan Schneider

March 3, 2023

Mark 8:11-21

In this passage in Mark's Gospel, we have two warnings. First, Jesus told His disciples to watch out for the Pharisees. Sadly, they are found even in the church. They are deeply religious and they are deeply engrained in what they believe. But the essence of their teaching is promoting a system of self-righteousness – an "I have done it all perfectly" attitude. The question is, when will you ever be certain that you have become holy enough to get into heaven? And if "make yourself holy" is your theology, why do you even need a Savior? Jesus' second warning to His disciples was to watch out for Herod. He was not an atheist. In fact, he even worshiped at the Jewish temple. He mixed religion into the rest of his wicked life. Unfortunately, the Church is filled with these people, too – people who think that mixing Christianity into their life will enrich them and make everything great. Neither the Pharisees nor the Herodians have any room in their life for Jesus. They are like two ditches on opposite sides of the strait and narrow way, and we need to watch out so that we don't slide into either. We must keep our eyes focused on Christ. The disciples missed the point and thought that He was talking to them about physical bread. But their focus should have been on the One giving them the bread. Jesus is the Bread of life from heaven. It is He, and not we ourselves, who are righteous; and He has clothed us in the spotless robe of His perfect righteousness. Our eyes must be on Him as both Savior and Lord, and then we will be prevented from sliding into the ditches of Pharisaic legalism and pseudo-spirituality without Christ.

Compassion and Disbelief

Bryan Schneider

February 24, 2023

Mark 8:1-12

Jesus is compassionate, and yet – despite that compassion – some people will still not believe on Him. This portion of Mark's Gospel reveals Jesus showing compassion to a group of non-Jewish people who had no food to eat. He knows our daily needs, and He knows our struggles – and He shows compassion to us, just as He did in abundance to these hungry people, and also His disciples who apparently had forgotten the last time Jesus performed a similar miracle and needed the same lesson taught to them again. When He returned to the Jewish side of the lake, the unbelieving Pharisees came to confront Him and dispute with Him. They asked Him for a sign, even though He had already done many miraculous things in plain sight. This is like many modern critics who still don't believe in Jesus today, in spite of the historical records left to us from outside sources and (more importantly) from the Divinely inspired, historcially reliable Scriptures themselves. These people come to Christ with the presupposition that they won't believe in Him, no matter what. Why would the Lord be so gracious to us as to draw us to believe in Him? Truly, there is nothing except the grace of God that makes us a believer and not one of the Pharisees. Would Jesus sigh and turn His back on you, as He did to these unbelieving Pharisees? He knows our hearts, and He is our compassionate King and Redeemer. But He will not take it lightly if we refuse to believe on Him and trust in Him for salvation!

He Has Done All Things Well

Bryan Schneider

February 17, 2023

Mark 7:31-37

The Kingdom of God grows by people marvelling at Jesus, meeting with Jesus, and telling others about Jesus. Jesus was in Decapolis, the area where He had formerly healed a demoniac and and told him to go and share the word about what had happened to change his life. So the people in this area had heard about this, and now some of them brought one of their friends who could neither speak nor hear to be healed by Jesus. And when he was healed, they all sang a doxology and proclaimed how Jesus has done all things well! The joy of the Christian life is to marvel at the work of Christ. Has He healed your soul and opened your spiritual eyes and ears? The focus here in this narrative is not on the deaf man; it's on the "they's" and "them's." The deaf man could never have heard the news of how Jesus had healed the demoniac. But his friends had. And they loved their friend enough to bring him to Jesus, because that was the only way in which he could be healed. Pastors can preach all they want, but only you have the direct contact with the spiritually deaf people in your life. God has given you the blessing and privilege of evangelizing and discipling these people. How will the Kingdom of grace expand? By people coming in contact with Christ, marvelling at what He has done, and sharing the good news of the Gospel with others.

Faith Displayed

Bryan Schneider

February 10, 2023

Mark 7:24-30

This portion of Mark's Gospel shows us how Jesus extends His grace even to Gentiles (non-Jews) by faith. He traveled to Tyre, a non-Jewish, fully hellenized city of Phoenicia; and while He was there, He was approached by humility. Against all the cultural and societal barriers, a desparate Greek woman fell at His feet and humbly begged Him to cast out the demon in her daughter. This woman was like Rahab and Ruth. She had humble faith – the same kind that would make you plead to God for the salvation of your own children. Yet Jesus challenged her. He told her that it wasn't right to take food from the children and give it to the dogs. He had come to bring the good news of the Gospel to the Jews, and she was outside of the Jewish community. What would her reaction be? Would she persevere in true faith? In a continued spirit of humility, the woman pointed out that even the dogs are still cared for – even if it is just with crumbs. And Jesus granted her request. We may pray by faith because Jesus actually does care for His children! It is by faith that we are adopted as the Lord's children, even though we are Gentiles and not Jews. Jesus invites us to come as His sons and daughters to the wedding banquet that has been prepared for us. Will we cling to Him by faith and rest in Him?

Religiosity - A damnable mistake

Bryan Schneider

February 3, 2023

Mark 7:1-23

Mark

The God of Creation

Bryan Schneider

January 27, 2023

Mark 6:30-56

Jesus is the only One Who can meet our needs. He is the God-Man Who displays His love and His power for His people. When Mark wrote his Gospel, he wanted to show us that Jesus was God, instead of merely telling us that fact. Mark shows us Christ's Divine glory as He feeds the 5,000 and walks on water. How can these things happen? Because Jesus is God. You can't explain away the miracles behind these narratives! In this passage, the disciples had been straining all night long to row their boat across the Sea of Galilee, against the wind. When Jesus walked on the water, they screamed with terror because they thought they were seeing a ghost. But Jesus spoke to them and assured them that He was there; Jehovah Himself, in human flesh, was with them – and so they did not need to be afraid. Will we be like the people of Nazareth who are too familiar with Jesus, or will we believe Him when He says He knows our struggles and has promised to never leave us nor forsake us? On the other side of the lake, Jesus was met by people who were desparate. They touched the hem of His garment and were made well. Why? Because He is God in the flesh and He cared for them, just as He does for us. Do we see Jesus as nothing more than a miracle-worker, or do we see Him as the Son of God Himself? He is the God-Man Who gives us hope and guides us in the dark hours of the night!

A Loving King

Bryan Schneider

January 20, 2023

Mark 6:30-44

Mark

Hard Hearts

Bryan Schneider

January 13, 2023

Mark 6:1-29

When Jesus returned to His hometown of Nazareth, He was not given a hero's welcome. Instead, He was met with contempt and rejection. Sadly, when we tell our friends, family members, and coworkers about the Gospel, we often encounter the same thing. Jesus warned His disciples about this when He sent them out in pairs to evangelize; not everyone would welcome them and their message. Our job is not to worry about whether or not people will listen to our message about Jesus; we are only called to be faithful to the calling God has given us, and to share His words with those whom He puts in our path – even if we are called hateful bigots and are persecuted, like John the Baptist was. John preached a message of repentance and it cost him his life. So where do we, as Christ's people, find comfort when we go out and tell others the same message? When we preach repentance from sin and salvation by Christ alone, it won't be popular. We must resolve to cling to Christ, no matter what. The Lord is the One Who brings fruit. When we evangelize, it's not our efforts that will make it succeed; it is all the work of the Holy Spirit. Have faith and hope in Jesus Christ! If we know Him, we know that His work is effectual in our own hearts. Our job is to be faithful to the commission that He has given us, and to share the good news of the Gospel!

Don't Be Afraid, Just Believe!

Bryan Schneider

December 9, 2022

Mark 5:21-43

Where do we go when sickness and death knock at our door? In this passage from Mark's Gospel, we see that Jesus does not brush away His people when they come to Him in need, no matter how high or how lowly they may be. The woman who touched the hem of Jesus' garment in the crowd on the way to Jairus' house was desparate for Him. She had been separated and isolated for 12 long years, but now she was healed – physically, spiritually, and relationally – and told to go in peace. Before Jesus arrived at Jairus' home, his daughter was dead. But Jesus told him to not be afraid, and only believe. Despite the words of the professional mourners who were already assembled at the house, Jesus went in and raised the little girl back to life. It is to Jesus that we are to turn in our situations of sorrow! Suffering in this life is often a lonely road, but our suffering is not purposeless! When we are in such seasons of sorrow, how do we get the same hope that Jairus and this woman had? First of all, we need to know Who our God is! It is He Who created all things, including us; and it is He Who gives us all good gifts. We need to realize that it is sin that has robbed us of our health and life; decay and death are sad realities. But we need to sink ourselves in God's Word and promises so that when trials come, we have those promises ready at hand! We may freely go to Jesus in prayer, for He is always ready and willing to hear and help us. It also helps to share our burden with our brothers and sisters in Christ. But be amazed at the sovereign love of Jesus! Not even death can separate us from His love. And every day we wake up is one day closer to spending eternity with Him!

Go Home & Tell of God's Mercy

Bryan Schneider

November 11, 2022

Mark 5:1-20

In the beginning of this chapter, there are serious spiritual forces that are in conflict. Jesus crosses the Sea of Galilee and meets a man who was possessed by a demon. He was unconquerable and untameable. When this man meets Jesus, he bows down – not because he loved Him, but because he had come in contact with Someone mightier than himself. Jesus commands the legion of demons to cease their torment of the poor demoniac; and they then continue their reign of chaos, terror, and death on the herd of pigs nearby. What a testimony of Jesus' love for this man! He let 2000 pigs die because he valued the life and soul of the one man who was now freed forever from the power of the devil! Of course, the local population was upset about the loss of their pigs and they responded to Jesus with fear. Even though they saw the demoniac now in his right mind, they just wanted Jesus to leave and go away before He cost them any more financial loss. But the man whom Jesus had rescued from the devil wanted to go with Him! However, Jesus told him to go home and tell his friends and family the good news of what He had done for him. Have you come in contact with the One Who can change everything about your life? Don't let the memory fade! Stick close to Jesus, and go and tell others all about what He has done for you!

The God-Man

Bryan Schneider

November 4, 2022

Mark 4:35-41

A mega-storm had come up on the Sea of Galiliee and was swamping the boat that was carrying Jesus and His disciples. The disciples awakened Jesus and asked Him if He didn't care that they were perishing. But Jesus arose; and with a word, He stopped the wind and waves! He speaks, and all of Creation listens. His Word is more powerful than the terrifying waves that we encounter in the storms of life. Jesus is not any mere man. He is the God-Man! Colossians 1 tells us that He is the very image of the invisible God! He created all things by speaking them into existence with a word; and His Creation obeys His Word, because He made it. He is the Sovereign Creator and that is why He can also take our stony hearts and give us hearts of flesh. We all enjoy being a Christian when things are going well, but hardships come up in life. However, Jesus doesn't abandon His people! If He can save our souls, then why do we seem to imagine that He can't also take care of the storms in our physical lives? Do you trust that Jesus actually has a Kingdom in Paradise, that He arose from the dead, that He ascended into heaven, and that He has a place prepared for you there? Do you believe in Him as the God-Man and your Savior?

The Kingdom of God

Bryan Schneider

October 28, 2022

Mark 4:21-34

The Kingdom of God starts small, but it doesn't stay that way! We may be discouraged by the apparent lack of progress that we sometimes see in the work of the Church, but we may rest assured in knowing that the Kingdom is growing and the day of harvest is coming. When Jesus preached His parables to the crowds that gathered to hear Him, He knew that He was speaking to a mixed crowd. His message was – and still is – veiled to some of His hearers. According to the way people listen to and receive Jesus' words, the Kingdom is revealed to them in the same measure. The time of full revelation has not yet come, but eventually the day will arrive when the Gospel Kingdom will be unveiled for all to see. In His perfect Providence, Jesus knows the right timing to make this revelation full. As laborers in the Lord's work, we are like farmers planting seeds. We can do all the right things in a perfect way; but at the end of the day, it's the Lord of the harvest Who determines the final yield. There is no magic program that we can implement that will grow the Church. But our evangelistic efforts are not failures, even if people persecute us and turn a deaf ear. God's Kingdom will still grow like a tiny mustard seed that takes over and balloons out all over the world! Even now, the Gospel of Jesus is not done working in our lives, our families, and our communities!

The Seed and the Soils

Bryan Schneider

October 21, 2022

Mark 4:1-20

As we look at this parable, Jesus is telling us about the Kingdom of God and the different responses that people give to it. We need to examine the gardens of our own hearts and see what entrance the Word of God has made therein. Jesus spoke about the seed on the dry ground, which was eaten by the birds; the seed on the rocky soil, which was killed by the extreme heat of the sun; the seed in thorny places, which was choked out by the weeds; and the seed on the good soil, which brought forth an abundantly fruitful harvest with exponential growth. As we read and study this parable, let us pray for grace that the seed of God's Word may not be snatched out of our hearts by the devil. We need to ask the Lord to help us respond in a Biblical and Christ-like manner if we are called to endure persecution for His sake. Let us also strive to leave behind a spiritual legacy with deep roots – a legacy of ordinary things that are blessed by God in extraordinary ways. And we must pray for grace to not fall in the snares of the deceitfulness of the riches of this world, and to not worry so much about how much money we have coming in, as on what Jesus has done for us. Let's pray that the Lord's Word may fall on good soil in our hearts, and that the Holy Spirit may work in the garden of our souls, so that we may leave behind the legacy of a faithful saint who has brought forth much fruit – not that their fruit was what saved them, but only as an evidence of the good seed being sown in good ground!

Plundering Satan's Kingdom

Bryan Schneider

October 14, 2022

Mark 3:7-35

Who really is Jesus? Why is He doing all the things that Mark has recorded here in his Gospel? He is the Son of God, and He is plundering the kingdom of Satan! Jesus' fame is spreading like widlfire. The crowds know that He can heal physical ailments and they crowd in around Him, almost crushing Him. But He did not want the cast-out demons drawing attention to the fact that He was the Son of God because that would have short-circuited the Lord's plan and let everyone know that He was the Messiah – thereby launching their expectiations of a political deliverer from Roman rule. The next time Mark uses the phrase, "Son of God," he records it from the lips of the Roman centurion at the cross. Jesus called His twelve disciples and gave them a message to deliver as the heralds of the Lord, as well as power to cast out demons and heal people. Again, He was showing His authority as the Son of God. But not everyone was a fan of what Jesus was doing. His own family members thought He was out of His mind, and the scribes thought He was in league with the devil. To counteract this, Jesus gave three parables that show how foolish it is to imagine that Satan could be fighting himself. You can't plunder a strong man until you've tied him up. Far from being in partnership with Satan, Jesus came to defeat him and plunder his kingdom! As He calls, saves, and redeems people's souls, He is snatching away the riches that the devil has had in his possession wrongfully. Are you one of Jesus' family members? How do you view Jesus? As a crazy man? As being in league with Satan? Or as the King Who has come to plunder Satan and pluck you – one of His rich jewels – out of the devil's hands?

The Son of Man is LORD

Bryan Schneider

September 30, 2022

Mark 2:18

Every time a new President is elected, there seems to be a fight as old things are kicked out and new things are brought in. And it is a similar case when Jesus makes His presence known in a heart that has been previously ruled by sin and darkness. Here we find the Pharisees questioning Jesus as to why His disciples refused to fast like they themselves did. Jesus told them that it would not be approprioate for them to do such activities at this time since He – the spiritual Bridegroom and Messiah for Whom they had waited so long – was with them, and this was a time for gladness and rejoicing and feasting! Then the Pharisees took issue with the disciples picking grain to eat, and rubbing it in their hands on the Sabbath Day. Although it was a good thing for them to desire to honor the Sabbath, Jesus made it clear to them that He was the One Who made the Sabbath for us to slow down and enjoy our relationship with Him. The Pharisees twisted the gift of God as a mark of how holy they were, instead of how good our God is. If we want to find rest for our hearts, then we need to spend time with Jesus on the day that He has given us. In the synagogue, the Pharisees were wondering whether or not Jesus would actually help a man and heal him on the Sabbath. He was righteously angry at their self-righteousness, and He healed the man's hand. And this is not a fable – it is real history! Are we rejoicing in Jesus? Our Savior has ushered in a new era of grace – are we rejoicing in how merciful He is? And are we looking for situations of need that we can help in, like Jesus did, even when it's uncomfortable?

Authority to Forgive

Bryan Schneider

September 23, 2022

Mark 2:1-17

In this chapter, we come face to face with Jesus, the Great Physician, Who heals both our bodies and our souls. The account of the paralytic who was lowered through the roof to be healed by Jesus shows us a picture of desperate faith. The man's friends were willing to go to great extremes because they knew that this Teacher would heal him. This was faith in action. All suffering originates from sin against the Lord. But Jesus didn't just come to heal us from the symptoms of our sin. He came to heal us from the real problem. Hence He pronounced the paralytic man's sins forgiven! But the scribes were displeased at this! They declared that no one could forgive sins except God Himself – and theologically, they were correct. Since all sin is ultimately committed against God, only He can forgive sins, technically speaking. Neither forgiveness of sins nor physical healing can be done by a human alone. The difference is that one is verifiable and visible on earth, whereas the other is written in heaven. Be amazed at Jesus! This is not a mere story; this is true history! Are you amazed by your Savior? The rest of this portion of Scripture details how Jesus called Levi – a hated, traitorous tax collector – to follow Him. Remarkably, the Holy Spirit worked in his heart and caused him to make the irreversible decision to leave his career and become Christ's disciple. The scribes and Pharisees were upset when they saw Jesus eating with such sinful people! But again, the Great Physician was getting to the root of their sin problem. No cardiac surgeon on earth can take away a heart of stone and give a heart of flesh. Jesus is the only One Who can heal both body and soul!

A Teacher with Authority

Bryan Schneider

September 16, 2022

Mark 1:14-45

Today we will get a fast-paced glance at what Jesus was doing, and how people responded to Him. He came and preached the good news of the Gospel. He came to show compassion to those who have been wild and disobedient, as well as to those who patiently longed and looked for the coming Messiah. Will those whose lives have been filled with sin turn and repent and receive the Lord Jesus and believe the Gospel? How would you have responded to Jesus? How are you responding to Him now? These are good questions to ask ourselves as we consider the nine responses to Jesus that we find in this chapter – from that of Peter and Andrew who left their jobs to become fishers of men, to that of the leper who proclaimed abroad how Jesus had touched and healed him. Are we willing to leave things and even people behind in order to follow Jesus? Would you follow Him immediately? Do you love Jesus, or do you just love the stuff He gives you? Do you live under His authority? Do you live life for Jesus' mission? Do you learn from Him and listen to Him? Do you follow Him and obey Him? Do you repent of your sins and turn from them? Do you respond to Jesus with faith?

The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus

Bryan Schneider

September 9, 2022

Mark 1:7-13

Today we will be introduced to the most important Person Who has ever lived: the Lord Jesus Himself! Here in this passage, Jesus is presented to us as the Mighty One. When we are baptized, we are united with Him and His perfect obedience. He was One Who came from a place of no important reputation, and He was born to an average working family. He humbled Himself to point of becoming a human being like us, and He was baptized to identify with His people. The Holy Spirit worked through Jesus' life to accomplish the Father's will of reconciling sinners to Himself. At His baptism, the heavens were ripped open and the Father openly declared Him to be His beloved Son. He is the Messianic King (Psalm 2) that the Father had promised for so long. And He is also the victorious One Who was tempted by the devil, battling face to face with our spiritual adversary for 40 days; but He passed the test that Adam and every other human being has failed! Will we receive, rest on, and learn from this Jesus as He offers us salvation and redemption in the good news of His Gospel?

The Last Old Testament Prophet

Bryan Schneider

September 2, 2022

Mark 1:1-8

Mark has two things that he wants us to learn above all else as we read his Gospel. First, he wants us to know that Jesus is the Christ – the Messiah, or Anointed One. And second, he wants us to consider what it means to be a disciple or follower of Him. After 400 years of silence from the Lord, Jesus came to earth in human flesh! Centuries earlier, David had been anointed by the Lord and given a promise that one day, one of his descendants would be born as a King Who would live and reign forever! This came to pass in Jesus, Who was born of the Virgin Mary and was the Son of God – fulfilling the Messianic prophecies of Psalm 2. Mark quotes from Isaiah 40, where the Prophet declared the Lord's promise that Mankind would see His glory revealed – in the face of Jesus! And it is Jesus that Mark wants us to see! He comes with strength and might; yet He treats us gently, just like a shepherd cares for his lambs. If we walk away from the Gospel of Mark with a small view of Christ, we've missed the whole point. John was the last prophet of the Old Covenant. He was a man of the wilderness who preached repentance and baptized. The people came to be baptized by him in the Jordan River, but he was reminding them that One was coming to fulfill the promise of Ezekiel 36 and baptize people with the Holy Spirit. John was fulfilling the role of the Second Elijah – pointing the way to Jesus, Who was far better than himself. He declared that he was not even worthy to untie His sandals. What is Jesus to You? Are you ready to meet the King of the Universe, the Head of the Church, and the Promised Messiah? And what does it mean to follow Him? It's costly – but it's glorious!