Mark 5
January Memory Verse: Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Mark 8:34 (NIV)
Thank you so much for joining us on our Jumpstart Journey! I hope you’re having a good Saturday and that Jumpstart has been helping you focus your attention on Jesus as you get your day started.
Can you think of anyone else who might benefit by doing Jumpstart with us? Would you take a moment right now – it’s Saturday you have time today – and reach out to them and ask them to join you on Jumpstart? You might also consider posting an invitation on your social media. Thanks!
A few days ago we began to read the Gospel of Mark together. Mark is a simple gospel, presented in a way that all of us can understand. Today we’re in chapter 5. Take time right now and read Mark 5.
Jesus focused much of His ministry in the area known as Galilee. It was called that because of the large lake that was there – the Sea of Galilee. In that area were ten Greek cities called the Decapolis – Gerasenes was one of these cities.
Jesus arrived by boat and when He got out, He was greeted by a man possessed by many demons. He was a wild man living in the tombs. They tried to chain him, but he kept breaking their chains. When he saw Jesus, he immediately knew who He was – the Son of the Most High God. Jesus had compassion on the man and cast out the demons into a heard of pigs. Shortly, we find that man changed – sitting, clothed and perfectly sane.
This begs some questions of us today. Who do you know that seems beyond hope – seems beyond the reach of Jesus. Jesus came for the impossible – He came to seek and save the lost. Their freedom is only found in receiving Jesus. Will you have hope for them today and begin to formulate a plan to share the good news of the Gospel with them?
Soon after that, a local leader, pleaded with Jesus to come and heal his little girl who was dying. On the way, a woman touched the hem of His robe, believing that doing so would bring healing to her life. It does – and Jesus recognizing that power had gone out of Him asked who touched Him – a crazy question given the size of the crowd. Her simple act of faith – believing in Jesus and His healing power brought the answer to her prayer.
Do you believe that Jesus will answer your request when you pray? Do you pray faithfully for God to do just that – to save a friend or family member, to bring revival to our land, to grow our church? Faith is the key.
While Jesus was having a conversation with that woman, someone came to the leader and told him that his daughter had died. Jesus, hearing this told him not to be afraid – but to believe. Then Jesus went to her and raised her from the dead.
Jesus brings life to the dead. He did it then, He can do it now. What’s died in you that needs the breath of Jesus? Take a moment right now and ask Him to give you the faith to believe, to heal the part of you that’s died, to restore the joy of your salvation.
Take time today and share your story with us on the comment section. We’d love to pray for you.
By: Tim Parsons
Can you think of anyone else who might benefit by doing Jumpstart with us? Would you take a moment right now – it’s Saturday you have time today – and reach out to them and ask them to join you on Jumpstart? You might also consider posting an invitation on your social media. Thanks!
A few days ago we began to read the Gospel of Mark together. Mark is a simple gospel, presented in a way that all of us can understand. Today we’re in chapter 5. Take time right now and read Mark 5.
Jesus focused much of His ministry in the area known as Galilee. It was called that because of the large lake that was there – the Sea of Galilee. In that area were ten Greek cities called the Decapolis – Gerasenes was one of these cities.
Jesus arrived by boat and when He got out, He was greeted by a man possessed by many demons. He was a wild man living in the tombs. They tried to chain him, but he kept breaking their chains. When he saw Jesus, he immediately knew who He was – the Son of the Most High God. Jesus had compassion on the man and cast out the demons into a heard of pigs. Shortly, we find that man changed – sitting, clothed and perfectly sane.
This begs some questions of us today. Who do you know that seems beyond hope – seems beyond the reach of Jesus. Jesus came for the impossible – He came to seek and save the lost. Their freedom is only found in receiving Jesus. Will you have hope for them today and begin to formulate a plan to share the good news of the Gospel with them?
Soon after that, a local leader, pleaded with Jesus to come and heal his little girl who was dying. On the way, a woman touched the hem of His robe, believing that doing so would bring healing to her life. It does – and Jesus recognizing that power had gone out of Him asked who touched Him – a crazy question given the size of the crowd. Her simple act of faith – believing in Jesus and His healing power brought the answer to her prayer.
Do you believe that Jesus will answer your request when you pray? Do you pray faithfully for God to do just that – to save a friend or family member, to bring revival to our land, to grow our church? Faith is the key.
While Jesus was having a conversation with that woman, someone came to the leader and told him that his daughter had died. Jesus, hearing this told him not to be afraid – but to believe. Then Jesus went to her and raised her from the dead.
Jesus brings life to the dead. He did it then, He can do it now. What’s died in you that needs the breath of Jesus? Take a moment right now and ask Him to give you the faith to believe, to heal the part of you that’s died, to restore the joy of your salvation.
Take time today and share your story with us on the comment section. We’d love to pray for you.
By: Tim Parsons
34 Comments
Hey Tim, i’m so glad I stumbled upon this! I look forward to doing this jumpstart I have the New Testament this year. I love reading about the miracles of Jesus. So faith building! Miss you and your family!
Amanda! This makes my day! I'm SO GLAD to have you on this journey with us! You and your family have been a gift to us for many years - we love you! Please keep posting so I know you're with us and share your ideas and insights. Welcome to the journey!
Great reminders today that with Jesus, nothing is impossible. No one is too far gone, beyond His reach. Nothing is too hard, beyond His ability. Grateful for this power and in awe of this power today.
Thanks Tim, I appreciate you sharing with us today!
Amen! Facts
Right on Thomas! So thankful for you!
Amen! Jesus is awesome. Increase our faith, Lord! Help us to see everything is possible if we believe and seek you!
Amen! God is good!
Thanks for faithfully reading Norma!
Amen brother increase our faith Lord and unify us to encourage each other and keep choosing faith over fear
Yes Lord - increase our faith! Thanks TK
Yes sir! I miss you - are you back tomorrow?
Faith is key. Jesus came for the impossible.
So many great reminders today...also continues the challenge of yesterday’s post for me-continuing to pray for those in my life who don’t know Jesus.
I love that Emily! Thank for faithfully reading!
Im reminded that key components to a prayer are an unflinching trust and belief in God and that God's will will be done.
That right Dan! So thankful for you!
NOTHING is too big, beyond hope, and beyond our great God changing. His faithfulness to save and to change lives IS our hope. Praying for those today with whom I can cross paths and share this wonderful news! Thank you Tim and CPC staff for your commitment in providing Jumpstart daily and encouraging us to carry out God’s mission.
Don’t laugh everybody but I’m going a different direction with this. Imagine you’re the pig farmer and that’s how you make a living and feed your family. Watching 2,000 pigs go over the cliff and drown was an economic disaster for this man. So here’s the question: Would I be willing to suffer great financial loss to see a demon possessed man be healed and come to Jesus?
Mike really enjoyed your comment, really good point. Thanks for sharing
Good point Mike! I wonder what he was thinking... Thankful for you reading and commenting
Thanks Tina! I believe God's really going to use it in our church and beyond. Help us get the word out...
It must’ve been heartbreaking to be Jairus. I mean, there he had gone to get Jesus so urgently, and Jesus got interrupted by an “accidental” healing and wasted precious time investigating to find out who had touched him, only for Jairus’s little girl to die before Jesus could get to her. In the midst of all that, and for Jairus it must’ve been tremendous emotional upheaval, Jesus asks him to believe.
I don’t know, but it seems to me two people were raised from the dead that day—Jairus and his daughter. And I am grateful for the fact that Jesus was unwilling to let the lady go without looking her in the eyes.
Such good stuff, Tim. Thanks.
WOW! Great observation Susan! God has really gifted you as a writer. I'm so thankful for our friendship with your family!
I enjoyed seeing how Jesus took “immediate/at once/as soon as” action in response to the people’s begging and pleading for their desperate needs. He’s an on-time God, and He has the power to save my youngest brother “on time” too (no matter how impossibly impenetrable his heart might seem at present).
I'll pray with you about that Naomi! Thanks for sharing it.
Great reminder today that nothing is impossible with God! He can save anyone, no matter how far gone we think they may be!
Yep - we have a BIG God. I'm sure grateful this week!
It really strikes me that the man whose daughter was about to die came to Jesus, and once the daughter had died Jesus knew this man was probably having the hardest moment in his whole life and Jesus simply says “don’t be afraid, just believe”. It’s a reminder of how simple God has made it for us to receive Him and his blessings of life.
That's right TK. Thanks for reading!
Thank you for this Bible study! About 8 yrs ago, I went through a debilitating time (2 yrs) of depression and severe anxiety. This was shortly after the death of my husband. I prayed and asked God to help me thru it many, many times. He did help me thru my son, Ben Stewart, my sister and a good friend. It was a horrific time in my life and I felt indifferent as to whether I wanted to make it or not. Finally, after much time, prayer and support, I made it thru. I think everything had died in me. My faith is stronger than ever now. I give God all the praise!
It is a good reminder for us to know that no one is too far gone for Jesus to save! Another reminder is for us is to continue to pray for our lost friend or family member no matter how long it takes. Jesus saves!!! Could it be when we fail to pray our faith is a little weak or we forget the urgency? Thank you to all the CPC staff!
Thanks Di - good though! So thankful for you and Skip!
Thanks for sharing your story Kim. It's great to have you with us on this journey, We LOVE your son - he's a gift from the Lord. I'm so glad you made it.
Its amazing that the majority of people were too uncomfortable with what Jesus was doing to see more of His works and experience His miracles.They were too freaked out by what they couldn't explain to get closer to Jesus. That has been so true in my life too, the tides are turning because God is SO GOOD to me. No longer denying the unknown, trying to press into it more and get close to Jesus, even though all that He knows and all He can do is pretty intimidating, He is completely good and I want to be the crazy guy God healed a lot more than the business oriented person God so inconveniently interrupted. His authority is honestly frightening but I am so thankful He is making me aware of it now in my life, the perfect love of the Father is so awesome but its also the perfect love of a complete Master, He has no limits on His ownership. Last year I was learning His father heart and love this year has been His complete Lordship, both are good, one is a lot harder to grasp, and I know I'll never understand or completely get it but He is really showing me a lot. I think we all have the choice in our response to Him and I know from my limited experience that accepting receiving and emulating His love is MUCH better than stiff arming all He can do because its so hard to understand. I used to be so cold to His works but now its undeniable. 🙌 I kinda get the demon posessed guy bc I was giving the enemy so much space in my head, and he wants to destroy everything, to make us even destroy ourselves like those pigs did. No pigs were harmed in my story though haha its not quite as epic 😂 I am loving being part of this study, starting my days off in the word and really trying to meditate on it all day, He is really working in my heart through this so THANK YOU Tim, Bryce, Tyler, Nick, Graham and everyone else who is contributing, y'all are changing lives 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Thanks Mattie! So well thought and said! I hope everyone reads your thoughts.