In this episode, J. Mark continues our study by looking at Mark 9:9-13. Jesus and His disciples descend from the mountain after the Transfiguration, but what began as a glorious mountaintop experience gives way to the reality of suffering, rejection, and the shadow of the cross. In “Shadows of Suffering,” we explore Jesus’ mysterious command to […]
How was Christ unveiled in Mark 9:1-8? In this episode, J. Mark explores the transfiguration—where Jesus’ glory is revealed to the apostles. For a moment, the curtain is pulled back, giving a glimpse of heaven and revealing Christ as He truly is. This powerful encounter left a lasting mark on the disciples and speaks to […]
In this episode, we continue our study in Mark 8:34-38, exploring “The Cost of Discipleship” and what it means to follow Jesus. Building on our previous discussion, J. Mark unpacks the second and third essential actions of discipleship: taking up your cross and following through on your commitment. Jesus calls us to a life of […]
In Mark 8:34–38, Jesus Christ calls those who desire to follow Him to a life of true surrender, not a comfortable or convenient faith. J. Mark challenges listeners to move beyond the idea of “cheap grace” and embrace the reality that discipleship requires denying self, laying down personal identity, and choosing God’s will above all else. […]
This episode explores the personal question that Jesus asked: “Who do you say I am?” Walking through Mark 8:27-33, J. Mark examines three responses people had to this question: confusion, bold confession, and Jesus’ disapproval. As people throughout history have shaped Jesus into what they want Him to be, this passage calls us back to […]
In Mark 8:11-26, Jesus heals a blind man, but not all at once. Why does Jesus heal this man in stages? In this episode, J. Mark explores how this miracle mirrors the journey of our spiritual sight. From blindness to partial blindness to perfect sight, this passage reflects the different responses people have to Jesus […]
Jesus has compassion on His people. Our Bible teacher, J. Mark, considers Jesus’ feeding of the 4,000 in Mark 8:1-10. In response to the crowd’s obedience and the disciples’ cooperation, Jesus performed this notable miracle, proving that He could be trusted and that they could put their faith in Him. In this episode, we look […]
In this episode, J. Mark studies Mark 7:31-37 where Jesus heals a man who was deaf. The crowd responded to this miracle by saying, “He does all things well.” In this passage, we see the many ways that Jesus does do all things well—by responding in faith, understanding and respecting our feelings, and not doing […]
In this episode, J. Mark explores the remarkable faith of the Syro-Phoenician mother in Mark 7:24-30. The whole of Mark 7 challenges the Jews’ view of purity, and this story highlights this theme as well. Though Jesus initially seems to reject her plea for her demon-possessed daughter, she persists in faith. Jesus honors her faith […]
How do we become impure? Jesus answers this question in Mark 7:14-23, the passage explored in today’s episode. Earlier in Mark 7, the Pharisees accuse Jesus and his disciples of being defiled because they did not properly wash their hands according to tradition. In this passage, Jesus responds to that accusation by revealing that we […]
