His Story

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{GOSPEL ACCOUNTS}

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{BEGINNINGS}
  1. His Name is Jesus! - {PDF Copy} - (The name ‘Jesus’ means ‘Yahweh saves.’ In the Nazarene, the salvation promised to Israel has arrived in all its glory)
  2. Introduction to Mark - {PDF Copy} - (A brief overview of the history and structure of Mark's gospel account)
  3. The Son of Abraham - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus is the true son of Abraham and the heir of the promises. He is the one who confirms and implements the inheritance for his people)
  4. The Messiah Arrives - {PDF Copy} - (In the ministry of Jesus, the kingdom of God arrived, commencing with his baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist – Mark 1:1-3)
  5. John, the Forerunner - {PDF Copy} - (John the Baptist prepared the way for the Messiah, the herald of the Good News of the Kingdom of God – Mark 1:4-8)
  6. In Spirit and Fire - {PDF Copy} - (At his baptism, the Spirit of God descended on Jesus, equipping him for his messianic mission – He is the one who baptizes in the Spirit)
  7. Son, Messiah, Servant - {PDF Copy} - (The Spirit of God and the voice from heaven confirmed the calling and identity of Jesus - Son of God and Messiah of Israel)
  8. Kingdom Herald - {PDF Copy} - (Victorious over the Devil and empowered by the Spirit, Jesus appears in Galilee of the Nations and proclaims the Kingdom)
  9. Opposition and Fulfillment - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus commenced proclaiming the Kingdom following the arrest of John as opposition appeared even at the start of his mission – Mark 1:14-15)
  10. The Son of David - (Jesus is the son of David and heir to the Messianic Throne, the beloved Son of God, and the Suffering Servant of Yahweh) - {PDF Copy}
  11. Servant or Caesar? - {PDF Copy} - (Satan offered Jesus unlimited political power to achieve his messianic mission if only he acknowledged the Devil as his overlord - Matthew 4:8-11)

{IN GALILEE}
  1. Four Disciples Called - {PDF Copy} - (In Galilee, Jesus summoned four fishermen to leave their livelihoods to follow him and become his disciples – Mark 1:16-20)
  2. Authority over Satan - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus demonstrated his authority over Satan’s domain by driving his forces out of the children of Israel – Mark 1:21-28)
  3. Authority over Disease - {PDF Copy} - (Neither social conventions nor purity regulations prevented Jesus from ministering to the physical needs of men and women – Mark 1:29-39)
  4. Authority over Ritual Purity  - {PDF Copy} - (The touch of Jesus cleansed a leper, and the forbidden physical contact failed to render him unclean – Mark 1:40-45)
  5. Discharging Sins - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus healed a paralytic, and by doing so, he demonstrated the authority of the Son of Man to discharge sins – Mark 2:1-12)
  6. THAT Son of Man - {PDF Copy} - (The one like a Son of Man in Daniel’s vision is the source of Christ’s self-designation as the Son of Man authorized to rule the Kingdom)
  7. Tax Collector Summoned - {PDF Copy} - (Forgiveness links the call of the tax collector to the preceding story of the healing of the paralytic - the Son of Man’s authority to discharge sins – Mark 2:13-17)
  8. Authority over the Sabbath - {PDF Copy} - (In response to the Jewish leaders that opposed him, Jesus demonstrated that he is Lord even of the Sabbath Day - Mark 2:23-3:6)
  9. The Son of Man has Authority - {PDF Copy} - (He is the Son of Man foreseen by Daniel, the Messiah who has absolute authority from Yahweh over the Earth)
  10. Crowds Press, Demons Confess - {PDF Copy} - (Mark 3:7-12 - Jesus silenced demons that professed him to be God's Son)
  11. Twelve Apostles Appointed - {PDF Copy} - (Mark 3:13-21 - Jesus departs to a mountain to summon his twelve disciples)
  12. 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)
  13. Suffering Son of Man - {PDF Copy} - (The Son of Man is revealed and comprehended in his sufferings and death for others on a Roman Cross)
  14. Sowing Gospel Seed - {PDF Copy} - (The Son of Man sows the seed of the Gospel in the world where it is growing into the Kingdom of God until the consummation of the age – Mark 4:1-20)
  15. Kingdom Parables - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus taught several parables concerning the Kingdom of God, its paradoxical growth, and its status in the world - Mark 4:21-34)
  16. Authority over Sea and Storm - {PDF Copy} - (Despite his tremendous miracle of calming a tempest on the Sea of Galilee, the disciples still did not recognize the Son of Man – Mark 4:35-41)
  17. 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)
  18. Jesus and the Demoniac - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus delivered a demonized Gentile while traveling through hostile territory, demonstrating his vast authority over Satan)
  19. Two Women Restored - {PDF Copy} - (Mark 5:21-43 - Christ restores two afflicted women despite barriers raised by the Levitical purity codes)
  20. Rejected in Nazareth - {PDF Copy} - (Mark 6:1-6 - Jesus is rejected by his hometown despite his miracles and wise teaching)
  21. 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)
  22. 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)
  23. Jesus and Tradition - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus undermined the religious rationale for dietary restrictions. With the Messiah’s arrival, the old rituals lost their relevance)
  24. 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)
  25. 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)
  26. 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)
  27. Embracing the Cross - {PDF Copy} - (To be the Messiah of Israel meant suffering and death for others, and Jesus summoned his disciples to follow that same path – Mark 8:31)

{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. Discipleship - {PDF Copy} - (To be the disciple of Jesus means living a life of self-sacrificial service to others, especially to the weak and the insignificant)
  4. Faithful or Saltless - {PDF Copy} - (Faithful disciples will receive great rewards, but those who harm their weaker brethren risk condemnation to 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 explained that he was ON THE WAY to Jerusalem where he as the Son of Man would be arrested, tried, and executed – Mark 10:32-34)
  8. Ransom for Many - {PDF Copy} - (His disciple is called to engage in self-sacrificial service for others just as Jesus gave his life as a ransom for many – Mark 10:35-45)
  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)
  11. The Suffering Servant - {PDF Copy} - (Disciples are summoned to adopt the same mind that Jesus had when he poured out his life unto death for the sake of others – Philippians 2:5-11)

{ON OLIVET}
  1. Fruitless Temple - {PDF Copy} - (The cursing of the barren fig tree by Jesus symbolized the coming destruction of the Temple and the fruitlessness of Israel - Mark 11:12-26)
  2. The Desolate Temple - {PDF Copy} - (When he left the Temple for the last time, Jesus pronounced its coming desolation to his opponents, the Pharisees)
  3. In the Temple - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus gave his last discourse on Olivet following his final and symbolic departure from the Temple – Mark 12:41-13:4)
  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 Catastrophes - {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 of the End - {PDF Copy} - (According to Jesus. the End will not come until this Gospel of the Kingdom of God has been proclaimed to all nations – Matthew 24:14)
  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 predicted by him that culminated in the Temple’s destruction – Mark 13:28-31)
  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 unprepared men were destroyed by the Flood, so unrepentant men and apostates will be overtaken by destruction when Jesus arrives)

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