Author: Beth Duncan

Mark 1:23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 

I have so many questions about today’s verses. Why was an impure-spirit-possessed man in the synagogue? Did they know he was possessed by an impure spirit? Could others tell just by looking at him? Had others interacted with the man prior to Jesus’s arrival?

Mark 1:24 “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”

Regardless of all these questions that I can’t answer, Jesus was able to use the situation for the good of the man (he drove out the spirit) and for His own glory (He showed that even impure spirits recognize and obey Him).

Mark 1:25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”

Precious Savior, Thank You for the reminder that there is no way for me to have answers to all the questions of this life, but, even if I don’t know the answers, I can be sure that You are in control, that You are working all things to our good and Your glory. Thank You. Amen.

Mark 1:26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

Have a blessed day.

Mark 1:19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 

Here is another instance of Jesus calling and disciples answering without hesitation, without delay. In this case, the disciples left their own father in the boat and followed Jesus. At first, that seems almost callous, but it’s not. They knew, they KNEW, that God would take care of their father.

Mark 1:20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

God knew us, loved us before we were born. He formed us in our mothers’ wombs.  He loves us fiercely, deeply, completely. That applies to our loved ones, too. In fact, because God is love, He loves our loved ones more than we are even capable of loving. Period. Knowing how much I love my family, that seems impossible, and yet, I know, I KNOW, it’s true.

Mark 1:21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for this reminder that we are to put You first in our lives. Thank You that You love those we love (and all Your children) more than we are even capable of loving. Thank You for Your promise to never leave us nor forsake us. No matter what. Help us to live lives that are pleasing to You. Amen.

Mark 1:22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 

Have a blessed day.

Mark 1:14-15 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

I’ve shared before that I am a planner. The thing with planning is that it often takes time. There is no “drop everything and go” with good, serious planning. But today’s scripture reminds me that there is a time to plan and there is a time to just go at once.

Mark 1:16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.  

Simon and Andrew don’t hesitate. When Jesus calls, there is no, “Hang on a sec” or “Let me put my pole up” or “Just let me say goodbye to….” There is a call (“Come, follow me”) and there is a response (At once they left their nets).

Mark 1:17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”

Precious Savoir, I know that You gave me the ability to plan, to create contingencies to help care for those I love. Thank You for reminding me that there are also times when You call and I need to just answer, no planning. Help me to know when it’s time to plan and when it’s time to follow “at once.” Amen.

Mark 1:18 At once they left their nets and followed him.

Have a blessed day.

Mark 1:9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.  

Two things immediately strike me about today’s verses. First, in verse 11, God tells Jesus He loves Him and is well pleased simply because Jesus did the next right thing–baptism with water. He had yet to perform any miracles. He had yet to begin his ministry. And yet, God was well pleased because he was taking the right steps to begin. We can learn a lesson there.

Mark 1:10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.

Second, immediately after His baptism, immediately after His ministry begins in earnest, the Spirit sends him into the wilderness for forty days to be tempted by Satan. There’s no rest, no period to bask in the glory of God’s praise. The ministry begins with wilderness temptation by the devil. But even then He is not alone. He is “with the wild animals, and angels attended him.”

Mark 1:11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Precious Savior, Thank You for reminding us that we are deeply, fiercely loved simply because we are Your precious children. Thank You for reminding us that it brings You joy when we do the next right thing. Thank You for reminding us that even in the wilderness, You are with us, Your angels attend us. Thank You. Amen.

Mark 1:12-13 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

Have a blessed day.

Mark 1:5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.  

Again, what strikes me is this sense of community, of uplifting each other. John knows that Jesus is coming after him. He knows that Jesus is the Son of God, fully human, fully divine. He knows that in the hierarchy of holiness, he’s not worthy to untie the straps of Jesus’s sandals.

Mark 1:6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 

He knows all of this, yet it doesn’t make him bitter. John doesn’t try to make himself more to outshine Jesus. He’s shining Jesus’s light because he knows that he is baptizing with water, but Jesus will baptize by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Mark 1:7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.

Precious Savior, The world tells us that this life is all about being first, being best. Thank You for showing us another way, a better way, Your way. Help us to shine Your light, lift others up, encourage others. Help us to put You first. Always. Amen.

Mark 1:8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Have a blessed day.

Mark 1:1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, 

What strikes me about today’s verses is that even Jesus–fully human, fully divine–had a support system. Mary and Joseph, John the Baptist, the disciples, so many others all were part of Jesus’s village. Jesus functioned in community and we do, too.

Mark 1:2 …as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way” —

Sometimes being part of community means encouraging. Sometimes it means holding space so that others know they are not alone. Sometimes it means sharing your own testimony of how you’ve seen Jesus show up in your life. Sometimes it means showing up to hug a friend’s neck because there is nothing else you can do. Jesus is in all of that. Wherever two or more are gathered….

Mark 1:3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ”

Precious Savior, You know I have a fierce independent streak. You know I’m a fixer at the core, someone who likes to try to make things better for others. You know that I’m an encourager. You made me that way. Thank You for the need for community. Help me never to underestimate the power of showing up, sharing my story, encouraging others, making space, sharing a hug, just being present in Your name. Amen.

Mark 1:4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Have a blessed day.