Mark 16:8  

Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid: the women went to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body, devastated that their Lord had been crucified. To their surprise the stone was rolled away and an angel told them that Jesus had arisen. Fear and confusion gripped their spirits and they told no one for they were perplexed and afraid.

Application: getting a glimpse of the supernatural sparks fear. The people seeing Jesus heal the demoniac and then watch their pigs be destroyed caused them perturbation, resulting in the community begging Jesus to leave Mt 8:33,34. Understanding that Jesus conquered death should instill reverent fear and lead us to repentance with a desire to serve God.

Mark 15:21 

A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross: why would Mark mention the names of Simon’s sons? Only if they were significant to the story. Mark’s gospel was recorded for the people of Rome, and when Paul wrote to the Roman church, he greeted a Christian named Rufus, whose mother was motherly to Paul Ro 16:13. Could this be Simon’s wife and son? This would make sense of why Mark included the names of Simon’s sons. Simon’s experience in carrying Jesus’ cross seemed to have been life changing for him and his family, as Mark noted the son’s names as if the church knew all about this family.

Application: Simon was travelling from northern Africa to Rome when he was inconveniently thrust into duty by the Roman soldiers and had to bear Jesus’ cross. By Paul mentioning Rufus and his mother, in positive terms, it seems that God used this circumstance to enlighten the family of the gospel truth. When you find yourself in an inconvenient circumstance, remember that God may be giving you an opportunity to carry your cross for Jesus.

Mark 14:29  

Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” Peter trusted in himself, believing he could never fail. His self-confidence led to his defeat Pr 16:18. Jesus had warned his disciples to watch and pray Mk 14:38. To watch meant to have discernment about your present circumstances and to pray was acknowledgement that one needed God to accomplish anything.

Application: the world teaches you to believe in yourself but the Bible teaches one to trust in God Pr 3:5. We don’t need self-confidence but God-confidence 2 Co 12:9,10.

Mark 13:37  

What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’ Jesus warned us not to be sleeping for He is going to return at an unknown hour and expects us to be awake and working for the Kingdom. We can use discernment to determine when the time is near for He left us with signs to watch for.

Application: Jesus left us with many warnings, and for those who are unprepared, they would suffer the consequences Mt 25:11,12. We are seeing many signs that summer is near, so now is not the time to believe the world’s propaganda, but use discernment given in God’s Word to determine the present times.

Mark 12:26  

Now about the dead rising—have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the account of the burning bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? Jesus gave us insight into the Trinity with the titles: God of Abraham, God of Isaac and God of Jacob. Abraham was a type of God the Father, as Jesus acknowledged Abraham as the father of the Jews Jn 8:56 and he was told he would be the father of many nations Gen 17:4.  Isaac was Abraham’s son who was to be sacrificed to God Gen 22:9,10, a perfect portrayal of sinners, who deserve death but can be saved because the Son of God became our substitute and laid down His life for the world 1 Jn 3:16. Jacob chose a gift to give his brother Esau Gen 32:13 just as the Holy Spirit distributes His gifts to each believer 1 Co 12:4,11. His role is to conform us into the image of Christ Ro 8:29 by changing our character through the fruit of the Spirit Gal 5:22,23. Jacob’s name meant deceiver Gen 25:26 (Jacob means he grasps the heel, a Hebrew idiom for he deceives) but after wrestling with God all night and overcoming, his name was changed to Israel Gen 32:28. The Father called Abraham to go to a foreign land in which he obeyed Ac 7:3. The Son saved believers (represented by Isaac) through His sacrifice Jn 3:16 and the Holy Spirit changed Jacob from a deceiver to an overcomer 2 Co 3:18.

Application: God the Father wants to call you into fellowship with His Son 1 Co 1:9. God the Son wants to save you Lk 19:10 from the wages of sin Ro 6:23 and God the Holy Spirit wants to change you after giving you spiritual life Jn 3:8.

Each Person of the Godhead is fully God, but have different roles. A “C chord” is made up of three notes: C-E-G (fully God), but each triad can be played in higher or lower register (pitch) on an instrument (the Persons’ different roles). God the Father is the Architect, the planner of salvation Eph 1:11. God the Son is the General Contractor, the builder of the house Heb 3:3; (New Jerusalem Heb 11:10) while God the Holy Spirit is the Real Estate agent, (convicts us of the truth of the Gospel Jn 16:8,9 NASB) the one who sells the house Heb 3:6.

Mark 11:2  

Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here: this would be Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. When a nation had a military victory against its enemy, it would engage in a joyful parade through the city, with the crowd cheering the conquering general, as he rode on a majestic horse, followed by the spoils captured, including prisoners. Jesus soon would defeat the enemy Satan and deliver mankind from the bondage of sin. He received a worthy welcome as the people praised Him and threw down their cloaks and placed branches on the pathway. However, Jesus didn’t come riding on a mighty war-horse but a lowly foal donkey Zec 9:9 to demonstrate that He had come humbly as the Prince of Peace, God’s Servant, on a foal never ridden previously. The unbroken colt symbolised rebellious mankind, going his own way Isa 53:6 until Jesus became his praise and broke him to become His willing servant, a lowly beast of burden submitting to the Holy Spirit’s leadings.

Application: the celebrating crowd was fickle and a few days later their praise turned to judgment—crucify Him Mk 15:13. Soon, Jesus will return, but this time riding a magnificent white horse Rev 19:11,15 as the conqueror, not as the lowly Servant. Will you be judged as the one praising or condemning Jesus?

Mark 10:18  

 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone: a rich man asked Jesus what one must do to acquire eternal life. In answering the man, Jesus asked him why he had called Him good, for no man was good except God. Did this man know that Jesus was God or just a great teacher? If he knew Jesus was God, he would have obeyed Jesus’ request and sold all he had and followed Him Mk 10:21.

Application: Jesus wasn’t denying His deity, for He had previously said, “I am the Good Shepherd” Jn 10:11, acknowledging He was God. His motive was to find out if the inquirer had revelation of His divinity and thus would obey His command. Similarly, he had questioned others: Why do you call me Lord and don’t do the things I say? Lk 6:46.

Mark 9:23  

“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Jesus told the epileptic son’s father that everything is possible for those who believe in God. He is the Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth and nothing is too difficult for Him  Jer 32:17.

Application: It is our unbelief that prevents God from intervening in our circumstances Mt 13:58. This boy’s father understood the problem and asked Jesus to help him overcome his unbelief  Mk 9:24. If we want to see the power of God in our prayers then we must believe God will answer Heb 11:1 and that our request is in line with His will 1 Jn 5:14,15.

Mark 8:29  

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” Jesus had asked His disciples who the people thought He was. They all fell short, but when Peter was asked, he hit the mark by responding, “You are the Messiah.”

Application: this is the most important question you will ever answer, for your eternity hangs in the balance. If you don’t believe that Jesus is the Savior of the world, no one else will be able to grant you eternal life Ac 4:12. I pray that you consider this question carefully, for you will choose the location where you will spend eternity.

Mark 7:8  

You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions: Jesus was rebuked by the teachers of the law for allowing His disciples to eat food without washing their hands and thus breaking the ceremonial law. Jesus reminded them of their hypocrisy—voiding God’s command to honor parents by obeying their made-up law Mk 7:10,11,12. He then explained that sin does not originate from the outside of man, but emanates from his heart Mk 7:15.

Application: It is our evil thinking that causes us to sin, unseen by others and thus must be given over to the Holy Spirit to convict and renew our minds Ro 12:2. We may be able to fool man but impossible to deceive God Gal 6:7.

Mark 6:31  

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest: there is a time to work but then there is a time to rest Ecc 3:1. Jesus exhorted His disciples to come with Him to a quiet place to rejuvenate their bodies.

Application: Busy people, especially, need a spiritual time out communing with the Lord to re-charge or they will eventually burn out. Pressure situations require additional strength and that power to overcome any circumstance is found only in the presence of God Ps 62:1 through prayer Php 4:6,7.

Mark 5:13 

He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned: the demons asked Jesus to allow them to go into the pigs which He did. Then, they caused the pigs to rush down the steep bank and drown in the lake. The demons are like their master, Satan. They only want to steal, kill and destroy Jn 10:10. Jesus allowed them to murder the pigs to demonstrate to the people the evilness of Satan. Yet, instead of rejoicing to see the demon possessed man delivered, they asked Jesus to leave their district.

Application: it is strange when man is more fearful of someone doing good than demons doing evil. If you reject the truth of the Gospel, then you will experience the consequences of your decision—separation from God forever Mt 7:23.

Mark 4:24  

“Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more: Jesus warned his disciples to consider carefully what they hear and what they do with what they hear. If they put the information into practice, they will receive more truth Mt 7:24, 25 but if they ignore the instruction, they will lose the little knowledge that they previously had Mt 7:26, 27.

Application: just like a miner digging for precious rocks, the one who digs deeply into God’s Word will be rewarded with hidden truths. If he applies God’s principles in his life, he will continue to grow and be conformed more and more 2 Co 3:18 into the image of Christ Ro 8:29.

Mark 3:25

If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand: Jesus stated a long-time principle that united we stand, divided we fall. At the tower of Babel, God confused the people’s language and therefore, all construction stopped Gen 11:9.

Application: today, Satan is striving to organize a one world government and a one world currency. When that is accomplished he will be able to rule over all the people. Unfortunately, the Bible predicted that this will occur and the people of the earth will experience much suffering. The good news is that Jesus will come back and deliver the world from Satan and his wickedness Ro 16:20.

Mark 2:22  

And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins: Jesus was teaching that the Gospel of Grace could not be mixed with the Law. They both had a specific purpose just as an acorn is to die of itself as it becomes a tree. The Law could not be mixed with Grace since the purpose of the Law was to show man that he was a sinner in need of a Savior Gal 3:24. On the other hand Grace is full of joy, freedom and love.

Application: the Law has done its work when we agree with God that we deserve death because of our sins and Grace welcomes us to eternal life with Christ Ro 6:23.