Showing posts with label Gospel of Mark. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gospel of Mark. Show all posts

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Prayer Request: An Update

A week ago I came to you all asking for prayer for Scott from Washington D.C. Thank you all!

Scott's lungs cleared up enough that he could undergo surgery, and as far as I know, it went very well. In addition, his broken vertabrae did not do any major damage his spinal cord. He can make a fist and move his feet, even in the induced coma. He will have a long road to recovery ahead. Please continue to pray for Scott, and for his family as they all walk this road together.

I have witnessed the power of prayer in my life and in the lives of my friends and loved ones over and over again. When I think of all of you, from wherever you are around the world, I see the Gospel come alive. Particularly my favorite story from the Gospel of Mark:

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Child, your sins are forgiven." Mk 2:1-5

I've posted about this verse before; one reader even commented about how Jesus saw the faith of the paralytic's friends. Certainly, Jesus has seen our faith, too. He sees it in our actions, as we gather together using this miraculous tool we call the Internet. Haven't we just cut a proverbial hole in the roof and lowered Scott into the presence of Jesus?

What a testament to the power of prayer.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Getting Unstuck

St. Mark the Evangelist, Pray for us.

I'm stuck in Mark. I've been reading it since December. This happens to me all the time. I start reading a book of Scripture, and I read it over and over and over again. I did this with Genesis a few years back.


I picked up a study guide to the Gospel of Mark by Ignatius Press. They're coming out with an entire study Bible (it's about time), but until they have it compiled, they have made available what's completed. There are notes, commentaries and a few questions for each chapter.

(W)hen Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." Mk 2:5

The first application question (pertaining to ch. 2:5) is this: Jesus responds to the faith of the paralytic's friends by forgiving the sick man's sins. As you reflect on your own life, how does sin tend to paralyze you spiritually? How does forgiveness of sin heal that paralysis?

What a sign for someone stuck in this Gospel.

If forgiveness of sin can give a paralyzed man the power to walk, what will it do in me, an able-bodied woman confirmed in the Spirit and desiring to walk with the Lord?

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