And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables.  And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables,  so that “‘they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.”’ Mark 4:9-12

Our ears do not have lids like our eyes, God made them to remain open. We hear many things but we have to choose to listen with our mind and our heart if we want to understand. True listeners look beyond words and search for meaning. Count the number of times Mark writes “listen” and “hear” in chapter four.

Hearing and listening are important in scripture. The Old Testament passage known as the Shema begins with, “Hear O Israel, the Lord your God is one.” In the New Testament, Jesus urges his followers to listen like sheep for their shepherd. They follow him because they’re familiar with the sound of the shepherd’s voice (John 10:3-5). In the Revelation of Jesus Christ, it is written seven times, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 2:7; 2:11; 2:17; 2:29; 3:6; 3:13; 3:22). Jesus’ words are for honest seekers.

Speaking in parables protected Jesus from the accusing Pharisees, while encouraging heartfelt pursuit of God and truth. The purpose of a parable was found in the meaning of the parable of the four soils itself. It illustrated people’s responses to hearing. The point of the parables was not meant to be concealed from the disciples or the curious, but the hard-hearted. What will be your response to God and his word? Greet your day with openness to the Holy Spirit revealing truth to you. Be curious about yourself, others and the events of the day. Listen for the whispers given to you for guidance and for understanding. Wait in anticipation. Proverbs 8:34: Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.

By Donna Burns

 Again, he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand.  And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him.  And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.”  And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent.  And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.  The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him. Mark 3:1-6

Again. And again. It happened often, repeatedly, intentionally. Jesus entered the synagogue, again. It’s easy to pass over this adverb but it is so important to Mark, his writing, to Jesus, and to us. The synagogue is a place Jesus went often, it was his “Father’s house” (Luke 2:49,19:45-47, John 2:16). He knew God made the Sabbath for man (Mark 2:27), and while he was on earth, he would honor it.
In the Old Testament, keeping Sabbath was the distinguishing mark of Israel (Isaiah 56). Their lives looked different than those around them in Egypt and in Exile because they took a day for God. It was life-giving to them individually and collectively. It set them apart. God was their God, and they were his people. It gave them identity among all the peoples of the earth. It still does.

From the New Testament, on this side of Jesus’ resurrection, spending time with God is life-giving and identity forming. Jesus gave us his example to follow (Mark 3:7, 13, 6:46). In this story Jesus is life-giving by healing the man on the Sabbath. Yet the religious establishment didn’t see who he was and turned against him for what they thought was breaking the Sabbath. Then, instead of honoring the spirit of Sabbath themselves, the Pharisees break an even worse law on the Sabbath by plotting to kill Jesus with their enemies!

Whatever day of the week, or however many hours at a time, make time to commune with your Father God. You could get away to spend time with God on a mountain, a garden, a library or private space. Talk, pray, read, study, worship, just be with God.
People will recognize your character from time spent with him.

The “Sabbath” (set apart time with God) is an opportunity to be open and receptive to God. It’s a spiritual practice for you to be restored and filled by him. Look at the pattern of Sabbath in the rhythm of your life. Can you look back and search through what the restorative gift of time with God has done for you? Ask God to give you insight. What can you do in the future to take steps toward receiving even more of this gift of a day of rest and connection to him? Take some time now to just be with God.

By Donna Burns

A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. Mark 2:1

Read Chapter 2 of Mark’s gospel.
Who is in charge here? When Mark wrote about Jesus, the Romans were in charge. Their culture, their gods, their “peace” prevailed. There were Roman soldiers and guards everywhere to make you obey and temples and pagan gods to delude you. To believe in the God of Israel and follow his son Jesus, as a Jew or as a Roman, meant you saw life in a new way. You had a new paradigm, new priorities, new pressures, and were probably persecuted.

Mark couldn’t wait to tell others about Jesus. The new life he tasted and the new life his friends experienced was miraculous. It changed everything about them, their work, their friends, their hearts. They were free and they were forgiven even under Roman oppression. They had peace and purpose in spite of persecution. Mark was excited to tell the things Jesus did, the questions Jesus answered, and the things Jesus taught. Some, like Levi and the crowds were drawn to being with him and asked what Jesus’ new way meant for them, and their future. Others, like the Pharisees, resisted Jesus. .

In our complicated day and age, we also ask who’s in charge here, who’s defining morality and making the decisions. People had questions for Jesus when their way of life was threatened or seemed confusing. Mark let the readers of his gospel know they were not alone in seeking Jesus and it was OK to ask those questions. Perhaps you have questions too. How is following Jesus with a new heart in new ways supposed to work? Write down your questions, ask him in prayer and listen for how he might respond. Pray that this study series in Mark will reveal more of Jesus to you. Keep looking to the Bible for answers, this is a help Mark’s audience did not have. Seek the help of a Christian counselor, pastor or mentor.

By Donna Burns

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Mark 1:1

…Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:14-15

…And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” Mark 1:38

It’s time. The sense of urgency was palpable. Mark the gospel writer passionately wanted to show and tell the world how his mentor Peter was changed by the the incredible Jesus. The time had come. Not only had four hundred years of God’s silence been broken with the coming of Jesus on earth, the good news spread like wildfire. Jesus himself was compelled to go from town to town preaching, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe the good news.”

What is the good news? New life. Jesus brings new life, new connections to God, to others, and to self the way God intended. Restoration to all things is brought through Jesus’ substitutionary life and death. Jesus demonstrated his authority and power by teaching and healing, and rising from the dead.. To Mark it seemed the world he knew dominated by the Romans and wrestling with persecution was being made right. According to Scott McKnight, repent and believe, and then let God’s Kingdom rule and reign in your life, the church and the community. That is the gospel. That is what Peter experienced, and Mark’s heart was burning to share. This is what Jesus still offers us today.

We live in fractured times with broken people who desperately need to hear the good news and experience the wonder of God’s healing in their hearts. Recall the time when Jesus reached into your painful sin, cleansed, restored, brought you new life and helped you to grow in Christian maturity. Or perhaps the time to transfer your sin to his cross and ask for forgiveness is now. God’s Kingdom is at hand, repent and believe. Pray to God asking him to give you passion and urgency and also to whom he would like you to quickly take the good news, to show them his love and tell them how he changed you.

By Donna Burns