Devos in Mark Chapter 2 with Mark

Continuing into Mark Chapter 2 today:

I did not get far as an amazing description of Jesus' ministry jumped off the page:

"And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them." (Vs.2; ESV)

Preaching the word! This is what faithful ministers and missionaries still do today!

"I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. (2 Timothy 4: 1-2; ESV)

The word is now the collection of sacred revelation of God preserved in the Bible --both Old and New Testaments. The Old points to the Cross forward in earth time; the New points back at the Cross.

Who is on the Cross for you and me? Jesus Christ! And if you will believe it, He is the Word as John testified:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. (John 1:1-3; ESV)

The theme of the book of Mark is summed up in one verse:

"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45; ESV)

The "ransom" was the payment of the debt we all owe:

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23; ESV)

This is called the "great exchange" by some!

I recently read a helpful and well-reasoned book that helped clear up some of my cloudy thinking: "Look Around: Ten Observations that Lead to One Conclusion" by Connie Cook.

Have a blessed Lord's Day!