His Story

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{GOSPEL ACCOUNTS}

[Click on the title below to open an article]


{BEGINNINGS}
  1. Introduction to Mark - {PDF Copy} - (A brief overview of the history and structure of Mark's gospel account)
  2. Son of Abraham - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus is the true “son of Abraham,” the heir of the covenant promises, and the one who implements the inheritance)
  3. Commencement of the Good News - {PDF Copy} - (In the ministry of Jesus, the kingdom of God arrived, beginning with his baptism by John the Baptist)
  4. Voice in the Wilderness - {PDF Copy} - (John arrived in Judea to prepare the way for the Messiah and herald the Good News of the Kingdom of God)
  5. THIS is My Son! - {PDF Copy} - (The Spirit of God and the voice from heaven confirm the calling and identity of Jesus - Son of God and Messiah of Israel)
  6. Kingdom Herald - {PDF Copy} - (Victorious over the Devil and empowered by the Spirit, Jesus appears in Galilee of the Nations and proclaims the Kingdom)
  7. Arrest and Fulfillment - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus began to proclaim the kingdom following the arrest of John the Baptist and in fulfillment of Scripture)
  8. Son of David - (Jesus is the son of David and heir to the messianic throne, the beloved Son of God, and the ruler of the kings of the earth) - {PDF Copy}

{IN GALILEE}
  1. Four Fishermen Summoned - {PDF Copy} - (In Galilee, Jesus summoned four fishermen to leave their livelihoods to become his disciples – Mark 1:16-20)
  2. Authority over Demons - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus demonstrated his authority over Satan by driving his forces out of the children of Israel)
  3. Authority over Disease - {PDF Copy} - (Neither social conventions nor purity regulations prevented Jesus from ministering to the physical needs of men and women)
  4. Authority over Ritual Purity  - {PDF Copy} - (The touch of Jesus cleansed a leper, and the forbidden contact did not render him “unclean”)
  5. Authority to Forgive Sins - {PDF Copy} - (The healing of the paralytic by Jesus demonstrated his authority to discharge sins)
  6. Tax Collector Summoned - {PDF Copy} - (‘Forgiveness’ links the call of the tax collector to the preceding story, his authority to discharge sins)
  7. Authority over the Sabbath - {PDF Copy} - (In response to Jewish leaders, Jesus demonstrated that he is Lord even over the Sabbath Day)
  8. Crowds Press, Demons Confess - {PDF Copy} - (Mark 3:7-12 - Jesus silenced demons that professed him to be God's Son)
  9. Twelve Apostles Appointed - {PDF Copy} - (Mark 3:13-21 - Jesus departs to a mountain to summon his twelve disciples)
  10. Unpardonable Sin - {PDF Copy} - (A line is crossed when the activities of God’s Spirit in the words and deeds of Jesus are attributed to Satan – Mark 3:22-35)
  11. Suffering Son of Man - {PDF Copy} - (In Mark, the Son of Man is revealed and comprehended in his sufferings and death for others on a Roman Cross)
  12. The Sower - {PDF Copy} - (The Son of Man sows the seed of the gospel in the world where it grows into the kingdom of God until the end of the age)
  13. Kingdom Parables - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus taught several parables concerning God’s kingdom, its unexpected ways of expansion, and its status in the world)
  14. Authority over Sea and Storm - {PDF Copy} - (Mark 4:35-41 - Despite a tremendous miracle, the disciples continued to lack faith and did not recognize his identity)
  15. Who is this Man? - {PDF Copy} - (No one recognized who Jesus was except the demons cast out by him. Only in his sacrificial death is his identity be understood)
  16. Jesus and the Demoniac - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus delivered a demonized Gentile while traveling through hostile territory, demonstrating his vast authority over Satan)
  17. Two Women Restored - {PDF Copy} - (Mark 5:21-43 - Christ restores two afflicted women despite barriers raised by the Levitical purity codes)
  18. Rejected in Nazareth - {PDF Copy} - (Mark 6:1-6 - Jesus is rejected by his hometown despite his miracles and wise teaching)
  19. The Cost of Discipleship - {PDF Copy} - (To be his disciple means taking up the cross and following in his footsteps, even if it results in death - Mark 6:7-30)
  20. Miraculous Witness to Israel - {PDF Copy} - (Mark 6:31-56 - The feeding of the 5,000 provided Israel with a miraculous witness yet many Jews still rejected Jesus)
  21. Jesus Confronts Tradition - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus undermined the religious rationale for dietary restrictions. With the Messiah’s arrival, old rituals lost their relevance)
  22. Spiritual Dullness - {PDF Copy} - (Mark 8:1-21 - Mark highlights the unbelief behind the inability of the disciples and others to perceive who he was)
  23. Blind Man Saved - {PDF Copy} - (Mark 8:22-26 - A blind man’s eyes are opened and the man "saved" as Jesus continued on his "way" to Jerusalem)
  24. On the Way - {PDF Copy} - (On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus explains to his disciples just what it means to be the Messiah of Israel)
  25. Embracing the Cross - {PDF Copy} - (To be the Messiah means suffering and death, and he summons his disciples to follow the same path)

{TO JERUSALEM}
  1. The Transfiguration - {PDF Copy} - (The Transfiguration confirms his status as the Messiah and the necessity for Jesus to suffer before receiving glory)
  2. Disciples Stumped by Unbelief - {PDF Copy} - (Unbelief hindered the ability of Jesus to heal some afflicted persons, not the lack of fasting or other ritualistic practices)
  3. Delivered Up - {PDF Copy} - (To follow Jesus means emulating his life of self-sacrificial service for others, especially to the weak and the insignificant)
  4. Faithful and Saltless Disciples - {PDF Copy} - (Faithful disciples will receive great rewards, but those who harm their weaker brethren run the risk of Gehenna)
  5. Question on Divorce - {PDF Copy} - (Opponents question Jesus about divorce to trap him, but he uses the issue to teach the higher ways of the Kingdom of God)
  6. The Young Rich Man - {PDF Copy} - (To follow Jesus means surrendering one’s entire life and following wherever he leads, no questions asked)
  7. His Imminent Death - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus explains that he is “on the way” to Jerusalem where he will be arrested, tried, and executed per the plan of God)
  8. Servant of the Kingdom - {PDF Copy} - (His disciples are summoned to lives of self-sacrificial service to others, just as Jesus gave his life as the ransom price for many)
  9. Blind Bar-Timaeus Saved - {PDF Copy} - (Mark 10:46-52 - Jesus restored the sight of a blind beggar while “on the way” to his death in the city of Jerusalem)
  10. His Triumphal Arrival - {PDF Copy} - (At the end of his journey, his destination was the Temple in the center of the city – Mark 11:1-11)

{ON OLIVET}
  1. Fruitless Temple - {PDF Copy} - (The cursing of the barren fig tree symbolizes the coming destruction of the Temple and the fruitlessness of Israel)
  2. Judgment on the Temple - {PDF Copy} - (When he left the Temple for the last time, Jesus pronounced its coming desolation to his opponents)
  3. The Temple Setting - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus gave his discourse on Olivet following his final and prophetic departure from the Temple)
  4. Geographic Scope - {PDF Copy} - (The Olivet Discourse presents two key events linked to different geographic contexts, one regional, the other global)
  5. Deceivers and False Prophets - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus warns us of coming false prophets, deceivers who will mislead many and disseminate false information about the future)
  6. His Repeated Warning - {PDF Copy} - (On the Mount of Olives, Jesus reiterated key information that is necessary for his disciples to avoid deception by false prophets)
  7. The Sign - {PDF Copy} - (According to Jesus. the end will not come until this gospel of the kingdom of God is proclaimed to all nations)
  8. The Abomination of Desolation - {PDF Copy} - (When disciples see the Abomination of Desolation standing where it ought not, they must flee Jerusalem without delay)
  9. "This Generation" - {PDF Copy} - (The generation contemporary with Jesus witnessed the events that he predicted that culminated in the destruction of the Temple)
  10. Coming on the Clouds - {PDF Copy} - (The whole earth will witness the Son of Man arriving on the clouds to gather his elect to himself)
  11. The Budding Fig Tree - {PDF Copy} - (The parable of the budding fig tree points to the imminent destruction of the Temple predicted by Jesus)
  12. Knowing Times and Seasons - {PDF Copy} - (Instead of calculating times and seasons, followers of Jesus must always be prepared for his sudden arrival)
  13. Days of Noah - {PDF Copy} - (Just as the unprepared were destroyed by the Flood, so unrepentant men and apostates will be overtaken by destruction when Jesus returns)

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