What Jesus Did

Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant.
He replied, "You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, ..."


—Mark 4:10-11 NLT

Key Thought


Why would Jesus conceal his message from outsiders? First, they couldn't understand it properly. If his disciples had a hard time understanding Jesus, then how...

 

[Jesus said,] "I tell you the truth, all sin and blasphemy can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. This is a sin with eternal consequences." He told [the teachers of religious law] this because they were saying, "He's possessed by an evil spirit."

—Mark 3:28-30 NLT

Key Thought


So many people have shared a concern that they may be guilty of an unforgivable sin. Take heart, dear friend, and let Jesus' word come to you clearly...

 

These are the twelve [Jesus] chose:

Simon (whom he named Peter), James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them "Sons of Thunder"), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon (the zealot), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).

—Mark 3:16-19 NLT

Key Thought


People in God's family have names, histories, futures — and failures. They are different in their interests and their vocations. Yet they all have one...

 

Once again Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore. A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore. He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: ...

—Mark 4:1-2 NLT

Key Thought


I find it interesting when a good preacher or Bible teacher is criticized for telling too many stories. Yes, there are some speakers who go only for the emotional tug on...

 

Then Jesus' mother and brothers came to see him. They stood outside and sent word for him to come out and talk with them. There was a crowd sitting around Jesus, and someone said, "Your mother and your brothers are outside asking for you."
Jesus replied, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" Then he looked at those around him and said, "Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."


—Mark 3:31-35 NLT

Key...

 

But the teachers of religious law who had arrived from Jerusalem said, "[Jesus is] possessed by Satan, the prince of demons. That's where he gets the power to cast out demons."
Jesus called them over and responded with an illustration. "How can Satan cast out Satan?" he asked. "A kingdom divided by civil war will collapse. Similarly, a family splintered by feuding will fall apart. And if Satan is divided and fights against himself, how can he stand? He would never survive. Let me illustrate...

 

One time Jesus entered a house, and the crowds began to gather again. Soon he and his disciples couldn't even find time to eat. When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away. "He's out of his mind," they said.

—Mark 3:20-21 NLT

Key Thought


Sometimes those people who are the most difficult for us to reach with the grace of Jesus can be found in our own families. Fortunately, we are not alone in that challenge. The early Christians found themselves...

 

Then [Jesus] appointed twelve of [his disciples] and called them his apostles. They were to accompany him, and he would send them out to preach, giving them authority to cast out demons.

—Mark 3:14-15 NLT

Key Thought


Jesus selected the twelve apostles for several clear purposes:

1. They were to be his companions — they would learn by being with him.
2. He sent them out to do what he had been doing — preaching the gospel of the Kingdom.
3. He gave them authority and...

 

Afterward Jesus went up on a mountain and called out the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him.

—Mark 3:13 NLT

Key Thought


When we meet the twelve apostles of Jesus in the subsequent verses, we need to know that they were not an accidental band of misfits. Jesus chose them prayerfully (Luke 6:12-13). They answered his call and followed him. He chose them carefully because he was about to invest much of his remaining time in training them. They would go...

 

Jesus instructed his disciples to have a boat ready so the crowd would not crush him. He had healed many people that day, so all the sick people eagerly pushed forward to touch him. And whenever those possessed by evil spirits caught sight of him, the spirits would throw them to the ground in front of him shrieking, "You are the Son of God!" But Jesus sternly commanded the spirits not to reveal who he was.

—Mark 3:9-12 NLT

Key Thought


Jesus is more than a miracle worker...