Margin Notes From the Gospel of Mark

I have a hard time highlighting the Gospels, as there is so much good stuff. But I do extensively mark my Bible. Here I have shared a few verses where I have written margin notes, and also added some expanded comments on my notations

Margin Notes From the Gospel of Mark

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"And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him" Mark 1:20

Margin Note: Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, John & Matthew (Levi) Five prosperous businessmen become Christ's students. I don't think this was such an impulsive action.

Expanded: A time of choice. Jesus chose them & they chose Jesus. These men wanted to follow a godly teacher. Peter, Andrew, James & John were devout men, they must have been seeking a teacher to follow.

     They were subjects of Rome, a very cruel and dangerous government. If you didn't agree with the government, or the social religion, you were in peril of arrest and the threat of death. These men jumped ship and willingly went against the social patterns of selfishness, self-righteousness, and self-love by following Jesus.

     Nothing much has changed. Today's Christ's followers look for God to move in our government and social norm. Are we willing to follow Him even against the religions of society around us?

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"Then He said to them, 'Take heed how you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. For whoever has, to him more will be given; but to whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him" Mark 4:24,25

Margin Note: The one who wants to know more of God--God will give more and more knowledge. & cross referenced 1 Corinthians 2:10-16

Expanded: A Christian really has no excuse for not learning something from reading the Bible alone. It is God who personally teaches His children what the Bible says about Himself. Either you believe God can teach you or you can say "It's too hard for me" and reject the supernatural aspect of God's teaching.

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"Also He said to them, 'In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place. And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the Day of judgement than for that city" Mark 6:10 & 11.

Margin Note: I'm not responsible for the people who reject Jesus. Let it go. Plant seeds.

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"So they went out and preached that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them" Mark 6: 12 & 13.

Margin Note: Went with very little training for something unfamiliar.

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"So they answered and said to Jesus 'We do not know.' And Jesus answered and said to them, 'Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.'" Mark 11:33.

Margin Note: Jesus doesn't have to explain Himself to stubborn disbelief. They were asking, almost demanding, He show His credentials even after they had seen and heard everything He was already doing.

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"Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes" Mark 13:15,16.

Margin Note: A life saved is more important to God, and to us, than any material thing.

Expanded: This is Mark's (or possibly Peter's) account of The Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is primarily speaking of the nation Israel when He foretells of the signs of coming troubles. And when the Antichrist takes over world power, they are to flee without hesitation. Drop everything and run for their lives.

     Yet, the lesson for today's Christians is the same...lives are more important than our stuff.

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And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, "Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You? But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, "Are you the Christ. the Son of the Blessed?" Jesus said, "I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "What further need do we have of witnesses?" "You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?" And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death" Mark14:60-64.

Margin Note: Even in the mock trial Jesus had to give them an excuse to condemn Him. Jesus had to give them their excuse . They could find no other way to kill Him.

Expanded: They had interrogated Him all night and yet his accusers could find no corroborating testimonies from their list of witnesses at this kangaroo court. They at least agreed with the Law that two or more witnesses had to testify the same crime to condemn a man.

     But for all their witnesses testimonies, they weren't given the hard evidence they needed to take to the Roman court to get Him publically executed.

     So Jesus speaks up and hands them His life with the statement that He is God. In truth, a claim like that would ordinarily be blasphemous if a man claims such a name for himself. Such a blasphemy is worthy of death. 

     One small factor--- in Jesus the claim is true!

     What an amazing thing for Jesus to do knowing He would die on the cross in a few hours, yet He came to do just that----Die for the sin of the world!

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"but he (the angel) said to them, 'Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him" Mark 16:6.

Margin Note: The happiest angel in the world at that time! & cross referenced it with 1 Peter 1:12.

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What are some of the verses you have purposefully marked, or some notes you have written in your Bible?

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Father's Day---Not Very Good Memories

My earth Father worked hard and played hard.

A farm boy with an 8th grade education, my father was very smart. He was a superb machinist, and could draw in 3D any machine design inside and out. If he had the right tools he could build it to any scale needed or build the tools needed to build the machine!...

He was a superb auto mechanic and metal body builder/customizer.

He dreamed big and wanted the best things.

Six feet tall, he was ruggedly handsome with shoulders and chest of a body builder. His hair was thick, black and wavy. He was a great dancer, even on roller-skates. His singing voice was a deep tenor. He could sit in on a 'red-neck' band, playing the spoons, mouth harp, harmonica, washboard and the saw blade. He was a wonderful cook.

He married a sweet, dark haired girl, who matched his wisdom. When she helped my brother Mike with a paper he had to write for school, his teacher failed him for it, stating it was obviously written by a college graduate and not a sixth grader. (Mother also an 8th grade graduate.)

Together they raised 5 very smart children.

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I hated my father.

My father was a pedophile who molested his own daughters, messed up the lives of his sons, and battered his wife.

I didn't attend his funeral and I have never been to my father's grave.

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If there was ever a dysfunctional family, we were it. But today, I have a great Christian family at Grace Bible Church.

I've had to learn to love. And I have found love.
God has shown me love and has helped me love Ivan as I have never loved anyone before.

I have forgiven my father. I do hope he asked Jesus to forgive him before he died. I would love to have my father greet me in heaven.

He was asking for a priest on the day he died in Togus but he died before the man came.

A priest cannot absolve anyone of their sins, only God can do that when you ask Him, so that information has little meaning, but if my father was thinking he needed forgiveness, he may have cried out to God at the end.

God is that loving and gracious and would have forgiven my father. God died on the cross for the sins of my father. All he needed to do was ask Jesus to save him.

Praise the Almighty Lord Father God!!!

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God is my Father in heaven. I am born into God's family through Jesus Christ. He has made me one of His daughters and loves me much more than any earthly father ever could.

"For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out "Abba, Father." Romans 8:15.

But.......

Father's Day doesn't have good memories.

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Today's Christians are Modern Daniels

The way the majority of Liberals want to suppress Christianity in America by making laws against us and our worship of God, has similarities to the way the leading rulers of Daniel's day attempted to kill him by making his faith in God illegal.

"Then these men said, 'We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.'" Daniel 6:5.

The modern pantheologist know they cannot be rid of true Christianity attacking us through our law-honoring live-styles, so they attack us through our worship of our God. So like these men set a trap for Daniel in making his worship of God illegal, so today's American Liberal community are attempting to do to us.

"All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisers have consulted together to establish a royal statue and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions."

"Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which does not alter"

"Therefore King Darius signed the written decree."

Daniel 6:7,8,9.

Since it is impossible to eliminate God from the earth, it is only reasonable for pantheologists to attempt to eliminate the people of God from the earth.

So what are we to do in defense?

"Now when Daniel knew the writing had been signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days" Daniel 6:10.

As difficult as it is sometimes, today's Christians need to be as steadfast as Daniel in our faith. We must know we will be attacked for our faith, yet our faith is in Almighty God, the Savior. Let us go into our rooms and pray to our God every day as habitually as Daniel.

Daniel's adherence to his faithful prayers, did result in being thrown into the lion's den, yet God saved him from the people who hated him. We have no guarantee of not being eaten by lions, but God is will intercede for us, making a distinction between us who worship Him and those who work to harm us. (Hebrews 11)

Let our faith be known as our witness. And may our God give us the strength and peace to do so.

"For without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" Hebrews 11:6.

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Leaven Once Allowed

"Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the LORD. You shall bring from your dwellings two wave loaves of two-tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven. They are the first fruits to the LORD" Leviticus 23:17.

Leaven is forbidden in almost every Jewish feast and festival. It is a representation of corruption or sin. But in the Feast of the First Fruits leaven is one of the elements God commands eaten during this feast.

The Feast of the First Fruits comes 50 days after The Feast of Passover and today we know it as the Day of Pentecost. 

Remarkably, the Day of Pentecost is when the church was born and was the beginning of the Gospel being spread all over the world. 

What God began with making the Jewish nation from Abraham, where all peoples would be blessed through him, was started when the 'leaven' of Gentiles was brought into the Holy of Holies. When the veil was torn in two when Christ died, everyone could worship God directly through Jesus. Gentiles no longer have to be proselytes of Judaism to enter into the very presence of God.

That's Christianity. Christ-followers the world over, from every tribe, peoples and tongue because of the First Fruits of the Born Again Christians on the Day of Pentecost.

"For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation" Ephesians 2:14.

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A Lesson in Ruth's Beautiful Refusal

But Ruth said: "Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.
Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me." Ruth 1:16,17.

Having heard that God has blessed her homeland, Naomi plans to go home to Bethlehem still in her pitiful condition. Even with the good news, she doesn't believe she will be blessed there.The girl, Ruth, knows the same distress that Naomi is going through. She's a widow and she's poor. She's as empty as Naomi. But Ruth has a different goal than Naomi.

Ruth ignores Naomi’s declaration that God has not blessed her and instead makes her own declaration. "I want to go to Bethlehem and worship the God of Israel."

She’s determined to live in Israel and worship their God. And further proof she has come to trust in the LORD as her Savior is recorded in verse 17 when she takes an oath in His name that only death will ever separate her and Naomi.

Ruth’s promise is a wonderful proof of a transformed life in Jesus. God has drawn Ruth to Himself. We know He has saved Ruth because she declares the LORD, God is now her God no matter what. She changed from idolatry to worship the true and living God. If anyone truly seeks to know God, God will come to them and introduce Himself.

Despite Naomi's urging her to stay in Moab, Ruth has set a life-changing goal. Because of that, Ruth is enjoying eternity with God right now.

Ruth's beautiful refusal say's to her Mother-in-law, "I'm making a change and nothing you say can change my mind. We're both going to Bethlehem!"

A person trusting Christ the LORD will trust Him even through the unknown. Ruth had no promise of anything from God. From Naomi's depressed attitude, it seems she hadn’t told Ruth of God’s provision, God’s love, or God’s protection, yet Ruth believes it.

Ruth left the familiarity of her home, her country and her native people because she trusted God to replace all of it. She didn't know what her new life would be like but she knew God would take care of her no matter what happened.

Good advice from Ruth's refusal to stay behind is this: When repenting, don’t just stop doing something, but leave it far behind. And our loyalty shouldn’t hinge on the character of the person we love.

What has God replaced in your new life as a Christian that you once thought was so important in your former life?

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5 Actions That Will Beautify Any Christian Woman

"Do not let your adornment be merely outward

--arranging the hair, wearing gold or putting on

fine apparel--rather let it be the hidden person

of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a

gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious

in the sight of God"

1 Peter 3:3 & 4

This verse has a bad reputation but it's actually a call for Christian women to rejoice in their womanhood.

Christian women should take a stand and say, "Yes, because I love God, I am different. I refuse to let society fads and fashions stereotype me and my styles."

Here are 5 verses that can influence the way women can show off the beauty in Christianity. 

“Judge not, that you be not judged” Matthew 7: 1

     A woman's judgement, either for or against someone or something, many times will be for the safety of herself, her spouse, her children, her extended family or her friends.
     Judgement condemning someone which may forever keep them from God is never the role of a Christian. Condemnation is God’s job but, if this form of judging is your habitual sin, He will absolutely forgive all who ask for forgiveness.
     This verse also warns us when judging to make sure the impact of our choice does not condemn us. If making a decision for or against anyone, use discernment to judge fairly, and strive to deliberately harm no one.
     God gave women a special personality trait of high emotional influence and because of this, when judging someone; you must carefully examine your reasons. Any necessary judgments women make are to improve the good things and destroy the bad things to create safer and cleaner lives.

“But I say to you that for every idle word men, (women), may speak, they will give an account of it in the day of judgment” Matthew 12: 36.
     Communication is essential to life. The correct language can open doors and incorrect language can close doors. With a carefully sustained clean conduct, women can control a major part of the language spoken in their homes, work place and in public. Commonality of speech for women doesn’t have to assume coarseness or gutter-talk.
     Women can show off their beauty and attractiveness by their everyday speaking. Clean speech and behavior can especially enhance a woman’s character, style, beauty, and desirability.

“And just as you want men, (women), to do to you, you also do to them likewise” Luke 6: 31
     Rudeness mars beauty. Sometimes called the ‘golden rule’, it is a real fact, if you want people to be polite and nice, show yourself to be polite and nice. Women can be strong leaders in this area of personal and public life. A mother can teach her children how kind words and actions can help them achieve much. On the job, favorable actions and manners will get better reviews. If you want to have any influence, use the ‘golden rule’ and see what can happen around you.

“But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” Matthew 6: 3.
     Visibly heightened emotions are created part of women. Love, joy, anger, sympathy, empathy, and mother's love and protection; women show these traits with more vulnerability than men. If managed well, they can be a part of our hidden beauty that makes us attractive. Women can utilize their God given emotional specialties as wonderful givers, doers, motivators, counselors, and encouragers.
     Have you ever done something for someone who wasn’t expecting it, and you did it just for the joy of giving? While God made men to be subtly appreciative, God made woman with the capacity of giving and receiving with more emotion.
     Is there anyone you can help without thinking of any return for your effort?

“…Esau…took wives, Judith…and Basemath…and they were a grief to Isaac and Rebekah” Genesis 26: 33, 34.
     Family relationships can be a struggle at any time. A woman can trouble her own house or she can make it comfortable. Everyone will admire a woman, whether married or unmarried, who can maintain a good home. Habitual good and bad behavior is something learned or unlearned.
     In former decades, before the push for what is touted as equality, before she left home, most girls were taught the ways of femininity for her own benefit. While a woman can be computer programmers, drive trucks, be CEO of large companies, and run for President of the United States with no condemnation against her womanhood, she should present maturity and good behavior while preforming her public duties and personal actions.
     God gave Christians the closeness of church family. Let the Christian woman seek good friends with sound advice on how to manage her home, business, and her life. A fun circle of close woman-friends can encourage each other in good works.

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Are there any special Bible verses you make an effort to obey to enhance your Christian beauty?

(There are no guarantees that these suggestions will change anyone's situation if implemented. While these descriptions are in general and do not apply to all situations, they can be effectively true in the Christian woman who strives to please God.)

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Recognize Your Adversary For Life

"When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort along the way to settle with him, lest he drag you to the judge, the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. I tell you, you shall not depart from there till you have paid the very last mite” Luke 12: 58,59.

I had thought this verse was talking about the affairs of mankind toward one another. I see it now is about accepting or rejecting Jesus’ salvation. Wow! Scary!

Before salvation, our Adversary is the Lord. We’re the enemy of Jesus. "And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind, by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled" Ephesians 2:1.

The ‘going’ spoken of in Luke 58 is the life we live from birth to death. All mankind is born to stand before God someday, so we are all going toward the Magistrate, God the Father.

We are told to make every effort to get near Jesus. Obviously, Jesus makes every effort to get near to us. Though God came to earth to reconcile every sinful man to Himself, there still is the need for every man to go to Jesus for salvation. If you have doubts of your salvation, there's a verse for you.

"Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified" 2 Corinthians 13:5.

If you need to accept Jesus Christ, then ask Him to save you. Say something like this.

"Dear God, I am a sinner and the death in hell forever

is my fate without you.  I know You are Holy God.

You came to earth and died on the cross to save me

from the fate of my sins, Please, Holy God, forgive

me of my sins and save me for Yourself.

Thank You God for forgiving me, and

saving me. Amen."

(reference verses for this salvation prayer)

(Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, John 3:16, John 14:6, Romans 10:9-11, Revelation 3:20, 1 John 5:13)

"But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers" 1 Peter 4:7. A simple prayer to God asking for forgiveness will erase the separation between you and Him because Jesus death on the cross took all the wrath of the fate of sin.  "and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven; having made peace through the blood of His cross" Colossians 1:20. So settle the differences with Jesus in this life.

God the Father is the Judge. Anyone not covered with the blood of Jesus is standing in front of the Judge in Revelation 21:11. "Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and heaven fled away. And there was no place found for them."

Anyone covered by the blood of Jesus has this promise from God, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the Spirit"Romans 8: 1.

The unsaved and condemned have to face the officer and then into prison. "Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire" Revelation 21:14.

And they will be there until they have paid the very last mite! That is eternal death! ETERNITY!

How’s your witness to the lost around you? Do they know you’re a Christian? Do you look at them and see they need to make peace with their adversary now?

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Did They Really Believe Him To Be More Than A Man?

Have you ever wondered what the disciples were doing when Jesus came into Jerusalem on the donkey? What they were thinking? Do you think they really understood?

Just a few days before Jesus entered the city, Peter had answered Jesus' question “Who do you say I am?" with “You are the Christ, the Son Of God” but none of them were thinking of the prophecies of Isaiah, even after Jesus explains it to them.

On the way to Jerusalem, James and John asked for the two seats on either side of his throne, but they are thinking of an earthly throne. We can assume that Judas might be thinking of the monies he would have to hand; about having permanent place in the court next to the king. However, what were the others thinking; Andrew, Simon the Zealot, Bartholomew; what of the women?

It appears from the texts, they believe they’re on the way to Jerusalem to see the Deliverer of the Hebrews take over the kingdom of Rome. They know he has the power. For three years he’s shown them incredible things. But do they really believe him more than a man?

I doubt anyone was surprised by this entrance. Jesus has a big crowd of followers and the news of his coming has probably been circulating for days. What everyone is waiting for is a powerful leader charging in to defeat Rome.

They're most likely thinking Isaiah's prophecy is being fulfilled right in front of them. "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given. And the government shall be upon His shoulders and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. but they stopped at the Government shall be upon His shoulders."

Jesus enters the city with great fanfare. No Jewish person has ever been welcomed into Jerusalem with such spontaneous celebration. During this cheering and praise there were Romans on the streets, watching and probably at arms ready, Red Alert. But the first thing Jesus does is go into the temple and chase out the religious cheats. Jesus stays at the temple the rest of the week. He doesn’t go anywhere near the Romans or the seat of power of Rome in Jerusalem. The soldiers probably relax.

But the Disciples are still waiting, all week, for him to attack Rome. Judas is getting disgusted but are the rest getting perplexed? Wondering?

What the people got was a quiet man with one thing on his mind, of which they failed to understand.

They just didn't get it.

The night of his betrayal, his disciples are so unaware, they go to sleep. They’ve completely forgotten that Jesus came there to die. He’d told them. But nothing has happened and they’re not paying attention. To them, at what we call the last supper, the cup and bread didn’t mean what it does to us. Christians know what it means.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him, will not die but have eternal life." John 3:16.

His broken body and spilled blood is our salvation. That whole week of Jesus in Jerusalem was the examination of the Lamb for Passover. The Priests examined Him and in the end could find no fault. They had to accept a lie to kill him.

We have to accept his death to be saved. The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23.

We look on the beautiful, perfect Lamb of God at the end of that week, broken and bloody for our salvation. Jesus rode into quietly Jerusalem on a donkey and at the end of the week died horribly on a cross to give us the kingdom.

What the Disciples thought was going to happen that particular Passover week, ultimately happens, at the end of times. And this ride into Jerusalem means just as much to us today in bringing in the kingdom.

Later, they fully understood Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, but just then, they were blind.

Jesus is fully God and fully Man.
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