King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. – Mark 6:14(a)

CONSIDER
You can feel it in a small group of friends or in a crowd. It’s been experienced by peasants and kings, introverts and extroverts, shy and outgoing. We all know the pain of being overlooked in plain sight. Jesus is no exception. His earthly ministry was marked by miraculous healings, powerful exorcisms, and profound teaching. Yet his glory was still not recognized by many who were witness to his work. What is God up to in your life and sphere of influence that has gone unnoticed? And what areas of your life feel hidden or overlooked? We look to Jesus who understands. He both brings revelation and speaks to our pain in ways that matter. To go behind the scenes of this brand new series in the book of Mark, check out the video!

APPLY
Take time to write out a prayer of gratitude this week.

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison  – Mark 6:27

GREEK
σπεκουλάτορα/spekoulatora: A looker-out, spy, scout

CONSIDER
In the business world, a lot of attention is given to a theory of work called Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI). This idea states that “where there is an imbalance between work effort and reward, such that the effort is greater than the reward, work stress results.” Simply put, if someone puts more effort into their work than gets rewarded, they feel stressed, unhappy and/or despondent. But the problem with this theory (even though it makes perfect sense) is that both effort and reward are inherently judgment calls. Who gets to decide if these things are in balance? In our modern 21st century culture, the answer is always individualistic. “Only I have the authority to decide if I’ve been properly rewarded for my effort!”  might be overheard shouted from the board room or on the annual review conference call. We live in a world in which we believe the relationship between our effort and our reward should have a direct correlation. But is that how the world really works?
In Mark 6, we read a story that is unique to his gospel. It’s the only passage in which Jesus isn’t the main character, and it may challenge our perception of God’s fairness. John the Baptist had been preaching a message of repentance throughout the Judean countryside. His bravery and boldness in declaring this message even led to him having challenging spiritual conversations with people as significant as King Herod. Yet as a direct result of his obedience (think spiritual effort) he was beheaded by order of Herodias. Talk about not being rewarded for your effort! Herod called for a spekoulatora (a scout, spy, one who looks out for signs of trouble) to execute John and deliver his head on a platter to the royal family. This man was highly trained to hunt down fugitives, war criminals, etc. But here he is sent to overtake someone who can’t escape. Now, if we assume that all reward should be assigned on the basis of effort, we might take offense at this story. There was certainly an Effort-Reward Imbalance in John’s life! But John wasn’t living his life to receive the reward of comfort, recognition or glory. He served the kingdom as the forerunner of the Messiah, even in his death. Just as John was wrongfully accused and executed, so Jesus would willingly experience the same fate. In this sense, John received an incredible reward that no spekoulatora could take away: pointing to Jesus even with the final moments of his life. The apostle Paul would later say it this way: I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death, (Phil. 3:10). When it seems as if life has sent a spekoulatora to scout out what you’re up to, it’s encouraging to remember that even in death Jesus has a reward for you that is better than anything your own effort could achieve.

APPLY
Take time to write out a prayer of gratitude this week.

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her.  – Mark 6:26

GREEK
περίλυπος/perilypos: exceedingly sad, sorrowful

CONSIDER
Gethsemane. No one had ever experienced the weight of that kind of sorrow. And because of that night, no one would ever have to again. The distress even caused him to sweat drops of blood. The emotions Jesus felt in the Garden of Gethsemane led him to inquire whether or not God could choose another way to redeem the world. The word Mark uses in Chapter 14 of his gospel to describe Jesus’ emotion was perilypos. This word is composed of two other Greek words: peri (all encompassing) and lypos (pain, grief or sorrow). Put together, perilyposmeans complete and utter sadness, or total grief.

Surprisingly, this word perilypos is the same word used to describe Herod’s reaction to the request of John’s head on a platter. Why would this foreign leader feel such all-encompassing grief? Simply put, Herod was feeling the weight of his sinful act. Mark 6 shows us that Herod had tried to keep John safe from Herodias in prison, because he was stirred by the word John was preaching. The text even hints that Herod was beginning to be changed by his interactions with John. So when Herod offered to give Herodias’s daughter whatever she asked for because of his pleasure in her dancing, he was perilypos at her response. It may seem as though Jesus and Herod could not be more opposite in how they lived their lives. But the truth is sin led to feel the same emotion. The difference was that Herod felt deep sorrow as a result of his own sin, while Jesus felt deep sorrow as a result of our sin! He willingly carried the weight of our sin with him to the cross, and dealt with it by becoming the atoning sacrifice on our behalf. Now instead of feeling perilypos ourselves, whenever we foolishly act in a way we regret we are able to lay that burden at the foot of the cross.

APPLY
Take time to write out a prayer of gratitude this week.

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

And they all ate and were satisfied. – Mark 6:42

CONSIDER
God has blessed us with some pretty incredible gifts! His desire is that we enjoy those gifts and leverage them for worship. But when we look to the good things God gives to satisfy us in ultimate ways, our priorities become misplaced and we are left unsatisfied. What does it look like to both reflect thoughtfully and repent honestly? Check out this week’s video to dig deeper!

APPLY
Reflect on where you are not satisfied by Jesus and repent.

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.”  – Mark 6:31

GREEK
Δεῦτε ὑμεῖς αὐτοὶ/Deute hymeis autoi: My command is for you to come here

CONSIDER
As a general rule, humans want their relationship with God to be straightforward. We want to know what he is doing and why he is doing it. In fact, many of us take that concept a step further and assume we know best how God should respond to the events of our lives! However, a brisk study of Mark’s gospel reveals that God doesn’t always work in the way we expect. In Mark 6, we see the disciples return from being sent out by Jesus in pairs to do the work of ministry. It was a wildly successful trip, and most scholars agree that these men believed Jesus was about to reveal himself as Messiah at any moment. If there was any time to “put the pedal to the metal” and ramp up their work with people, this was it! But instead, Jesus implored the apostles to “Deute hymeis autoi (Come away, I command you!) by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” Here all the disciples wanted to do was keep moving forward, and Jesus not only suggested or requested they take a break, he commanded them to get away with him and rest! Imagine what the disciples were thinking at this point: “Bad idea Jesus, we’ll lose momentum!” “This isn’t the time to stop, we can taste victory!” They probably didn’t feel tired and thought they knew what they needed better than Jesus did. But Jesus knew how best to care for his friends, knew what the rest of their time together would require, and so he commanded them to do something contrary to their will.
Has God ever told you Deute hymeis autoi even though you knew it was best to keep on the same successful path? Maybe a change at work or school led you to question what God was up to. It’s likely that God’s command to you was met with more questions than answers. In those moments God is giving us an opportunity to trust his leadership. Will we seek satisfaction in our perception of how God should act or in the nature of his perfect character? Just as Jesus’ command to the disciples was a display of his love, our obedience to his command will be rewarded with the very thing we don’t yet know we need.

APPLY
Reflect on where you are not satisfied by Jesus and repent.

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. – Mark 6:34

GREEK
ἐσπλαγχνίσθη/esplanchnisthē: moved to action by compassion that is felt internally

CONSIDER
The phrase Good Samaritan has found its way into modern culture. Even if we have never read Jesus’ original parable in Luke 10, we likely understand that a Good Samaritan is someone who helps a stranger, especially when there is no expectation to. Jesus uses a unique word to describe why a man from this hated rival people group leveraged his time, energy and resources to help a wounded, vulnerable Israelite. Luke 10:33 records the Samaritan being esplanchnisthē – literally to be moved to action by compassion that springs from your gut! The imagery connected to this word is someone feeling compassion so deeply on the inside that it drives them to act. The word esplanchnisthē is far more than feeling love or empathy. It indicates that significant action is inevitable because of what’s happening to someone internally. What makes this word really unique is that the only other time it’s used in the Bible is to describe Jesus! In Mark 6:34, Jesus sees the throng of people flocking to him in the wilderness and is esplanchnisthē. Only three verses earlier we saw Jesus command his disciples to get away from the crowds, and now here he is welcoming and teaching them. What changed in such a short time frame? Esplanchnisthē. Jesus changed course when he saw people in need of spiritual care. He felt compassion deep in his gut, and it led him to act differently than he intended. Despite the impure motives of the crowds and despite his original intention to get away, Jesus was stirred internally by seeing lost and wandering people. His compassion was on display in the miracle of the loaves and fishes, and soon enough it would be exhibited in his journey to the cross. Even in our wandering and imperfection his perfect love for us is active. His heart is for us, and it leaves us mindful that however he chooses to take action, he is trustworthy to cause it for his glory and our joy.

APPLY
Reflect on where you are not satisfied by Jesus and repent.

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”  – Mark 6:50

CONSIDER
None of us are ever eager to get into difficult situations, and yet it’s difficulty that reveals the care of God. Our perspective changes when we commit to looking back at where God has worked in the past and allow that to inform our present. To go deeper into the text, as well as the application statement, check out this week’s video!

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Tell someone a time you saw God’s hand in a situation now that you’re looking back.

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out,  – Mark 6:49

GREEK
φάντασμά/phantasma: An apparition, ghost, phantom

CONSIDER
One of the most stressful positions in the CIA is the role of “Disguise Chief.” This person is responsible to hide agents in plain sight all over the world. When Jonna Mendez held this position from 1991-1993, she felt the weight of the reality that her decisions could be the difference between life and death. Mendez would have to study the nuances of each of her agent’s faces, bodies and movements and find ways to alter or conceal key details. The CIA even went so far as to categorize the way people stand, and asked their agents to cycle through various standing positions. The reason the role of Disguise Chief is absolutely critical is because, as a rule, people are observant. Humans have the ability to take the composite of exceptionally minute details and piece them together almost instantaneously to determine who someone is. Because of this, disguising a person who is being looked for is a tricky task.
This truth is a primary reason why it seems so easy to shake our heads at Jesus’ disciples. They have been with Jesus for some time now, and have had a front row seat to his most impressive miracles. Yet when he arrives on the scene walking on the water, they mistake him for a phantasma (ghost or apparition). While it’s true that water walking is not a typical occurrence, these Israelite men would have been immersed in the Old Testament stories of the God who walked on or through the waves (Job 9:8; 38:16; Psalm 77:19; Isaiah 43:16). They would also have been well acquainted with stories of their ancestors being fed in the wilderness with bread from a heavenly source, much like the event they witnessed first-hand at Jesus’ side. When these two occasions are taken together, we see an unmistakable picture of God, revealed in Jesus. Why couldn’t his closest friends see it? It’s almost as if they weren’t looking for him.
To give the disciples some grace, remember their situation. It’s the middle of the night, the wind is howling and the waves are crashing. They’re struggling just to stay afloat! When Jesus shows up, they aren’t able to focus on the details of his presence, so a phantasma makes the most sense to them. With this truth in mind, we might be more like the disciples than we care to admit. In the midst of struggle and fear, we become distracted by the storms of life and aren’t able to perceive the contours of his face or the gait of his stride. We mistake his work for that of an apparition. But even when we miss it, Jesus’ care for us never changes. He chooses to get in our boat with us, revealing his affection through his character and presence. May we be people who know our Savior so well that even in the waves and wind we search for the distinguishing features of the One who is our ever present help in times of trouble.

APPLY
Tell someone a time you saw God’s hand in a situation now that you’re looking back.

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. – Mark 6:52

GREEK
καρδία πεπωρωμένη/kardia pepōrōmenē: to petrify; render callous or unresponsive

CONSIDER
Isaiah received a dramatic call to preach to Israel’s hardened of heart. Pharaoh violently pursued the Israelites and tried to commit genocide due to a hardened heart. Daniel linked King Nebuchadnezzar’s call to kill anyone who wouldn’t bow to his image to the hardening of his heart. It may seem obvious, but scripture equates atrocity and evil with a petrified heart. If that’s true, what is going on with the disciples in Mark 6:52? They have been with Jesus, listening to his direction and obeying his commands. They have even seen much fruit from being sent on mission by him! They may not always respond appropriately, but certainly they can’t be included in the same category as Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar. Yet here we see them not comprehend the lesson of the loaves, and their kardia pepōrōmenē (hearts were rendered unresponsive, calloused or petrified).
It’s important to know the differences in cultural understanding between ancient Judaism and our modern world. While we think of the heart as the seat of our emotions, in Hebrew thought the heart was the seat of understanding and wisdom. A soft heart described a person of discernment and understanding, while a hardened heart led to foolishness and folly. So the disciples weren’t guilty of being destructively evil, but Mark is accusing them of being sadly imperceptive. After encounters with healings, exorcisms and teachings, they still have trouble connecting the dots to comprehend what Jesus is up to. They even miss the significance of his presence in their lives, choosing instead to focus on the difficulties they face. Because their kardia pepōrōmenē, God’s work in and around them went largely unnoticed. It turns out that a hard heart has less to do with wickedness and more to do with spiritual perception. What would it look like to become people who refused to let kardia pepōrōmenē happen to us? What if we spent less energy trying to derive joy, hope and peace from the situations around us, and instead sought to become aware of how Jesus was working in and among us? It turns out reflection and perception go a long way toward keeping our hearts pliable.

APPLY
Tell someone a time you saw God’s hand in a situation now that you’re looking back.

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” – Mark 7:23

CONSIDER
Jesus made it clear that we need to be aware of and careful to avoid evil. But he tells us a significant source of evil is internal. How do we deal with darkness in such close proximity? Thankfully, Jesus both revealed and became the answer to this question! To go a little deeper into this week’s text, check out this week’s video!

APPLY
Evaluate what comes out of your heart and what it reveals.

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

(For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders, – Mark 7:3

GREEK
πυγμῇ/pugmē: with the fist, with a clenched hand or up to the wrist

CONSIDER
In 2020, hand sanitizer became an essential household item. Demand outstripped supply and businesses from labs to distilleries stopped production of their typical goods to manufacture their preferred recipe of the stuff. Over the months we’ve become hyper-aware of the role clean hands play in avoiding germs, keeping healthy and protecting ourselves from viruses. So when, in Mark 7, we see some of Jesus’ disciples eating with unwashed hands (especially because in their day it was common to eat with your hands and share the same bowl) we have nearly the same question as the Pharisees: “Why do your disciples eat without washing their hands?” This doesn’t seem like a spiritual issue as much as it is a hygienic issue. But the Pharisees weren’t concerned with the physical health of the disciples, nor were they concerned with their spiritual health. What they were concerned with was why the disciples didn’t do things the way they did!
Mark mentions that the Pharisees and all the Jews don’t eat unless they wash their hands pugmē, which is an incredibly difficult word to translate. The ESV renders this word properly, but pugmē literally translated means “with the fist” or “up to the wrist.” Many scholars believe that whatever it means specifically, pugmē was the preferred method of hand washing for the spiritual elite. It was a ritual, not a demand from scripture. Jesus’ response to these Pharisees proves the point well: He chastises them for caring more about external methods than internal holiness. These men would rather make sure everyone was relating to God using their processes than worry about the condition of their soul. It can be easy to put so much emphasis on the way we prefer to do non-essential things that we judge others who have a different preference. We can hold onto the methods we use to serve God so tightly that we elevate them to the place God should rightfully have. In those moments may we be brave enough to honestly assess whether our external actions reflect our internal reality, and display a willingness to fight against any method coming between us and the people we’re surrounded by.

APPLY
Evaluate what comes out of your heart and what it reveals.

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,  coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. – Mark 7:21-22

GREEK
Ὀφθαλμὸς πονηρός/ophthalmos ponēros: envy. Lit. an evil eye; evil vision

CONSIDER
From 2007 to 2013 the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) registered a 65% increase in the number of black cats taken to shelters each year. Their inquiry into the reason for such a big increase led to this official finding: black cats are not “selfie-friendly.” That’s right, we live in a world in which we increasingly choose our pets based on whether they will look good on Instagram! We would rather give up a less-than photogenic animal than risk not comparing favorably with others. It’s no secret that social media gives us the ability to compare our lives to the best version of someone else’s. However, knowing this is true and feeling differently as a result have not gone hand in hand. For all of our attempts to bring awareness to the dangers of comparison, things have not gotten better. According to the National Institute of Health, from 2007 (the year the iPhone came out) to 2012, anxiety disorders in children and teens increased by 20%. The American Academy of Pediatrics has conducted research suggesting that these numbers are caused, in part, by social media induced envy.
The Greek language hits on an important aspect of envy. Jesus says in Mark 7 that “from within, out of the heart of man comes… ophthalmos ponēros.” This phrase literally means eyes of evil, or evil vision! Simply put, envy begins when you take your eyes off of Jesus and the gifts he has filled your life with. Jesus was right when He tells us that this sin comes from within, because just seeing the good things that someone else has doesn’t make us ophthalmos ponēros. It’s when we allow those good things to warp our heart that we are guilty of envy. Envy attacks our hearts in two different ways. First, like the Greek implies, it drives our focus away from what matters, leaving us dissatisfied with our current reality (think black cats in our Instagram photos). But secondly, envy drives a wedge between us and others, keeping us from caring for the very people God has placed in our sphere of influence. Allowing Jesus to repair our hearts and redirect our gaze will reveal to an increasingly disquieted world where true contentment can be found.

APPLY
Evaluate what comes out of your heart and what it reveals.

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”  – Mark 7:28

CONSIDER
Faith is vital to a life of prayer, but what our faith is based in makes all the difference. When we place our faith in the work that Jesus has done, it positions us to both hear his voice and respond to what he says. To dive a little deeper into this week’s text, check out this week’s video!

APPLY
Write down something you’re believing God to do and pray with faith.

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” – Mark 7:28

GREEK
Ναί/Nai: emphatic “yes”; absolutely true

CONSIDER

The Savior calls; let every ear
Attend the heavenly sound.
Ye doubting souls, dismiss your fear;
Hope smiles reviving round.

Dear Savior, draw reluctant hearts;
To Thee let sinners fly
And take the bliss Thy love imparts
And drink and never die.

from “The Savior Calls; Let Every Ear” by Anne Steele

Anne Steele was a prolific 18th Century English poet and hymn writer, authoring 144 hymns along with 34 versified Psalms. She felt the call of God on her life as a teenager, but the thrill of that call was matched by the pain of personal tragedy. Her mother died when Anne was 3 years old. At age 19 she suffered a debilitating hip injury that left her unable to walk well. Steele rarely traveled outside of her hometown and died at age 62 without a portrait of her ever painted. Yet the difficulties of her life only served to foster a richness in her writing and increased effectiveness in her ministry. Her hymn “The Savior Calls; Let Every Ear” is a prayer that was developed from her personal pain. She wrestled with the reality that her prayers weren’t being answered in the way she hoped, but trusted that her doubting soul would be comforted by a hope that “smiles reviving round.” In many ways, this is what a life of faith looks like when it’s being lived out appropriately.
The Syrophoenician woman interacted with Jesus this way. She positioned herself appropriately in relation to Jesus, and engaged in a respectful but honest conversation with him. When Jesus told this Gentile woman that it wasn’t right to take the children’s food and give it to the dogs, she uses the unique Greek word nai (emphatically agreeing) to respond to him. This is the only time nai is used in Mark’s gospel, and it’s roughly equivalent to our English response, “absolutely!” There have been pockets of Christians who have historically interpreted this story to mean that if you don’t like the way your life is going, you can march right into God’s presence, demand he change his will to suit yours, and if you have enough faith He will see things your way. The truth is, this woman’s faith didn’t demand anything, but it did position her into a respectful space to plead her case with the Messiah. Saying nai to Jesus reminds us who has the authority between us and God, but it also reminds us who has the appropriate perspective. And when we understand this truth, it unleashes faith that can trust him, even in the darkest of times.

APPLY
Write down something you’re believing God to do and pray with faith.

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” – Mark 7:34

GREEK
ἐστέναξεν/estenaxen: to groan because of pressure of being exerted forward (like the forward pressure of childbirth)

CONSIDER
You’d be hard pressed to find a stranger passage than the story of healing found in Mark 7. In order to heal a man, Jesus put his fingers in his ears, then spit and touched his tongue! At the risk of not seeming grateful, how many of us would ask Jesus to do things differently? But the way Jesus restored this man has incredible significance if we know what to look for.
Roughly 700 years before this story took place, a prophet had a vision of the Messiah who would heal deaf ears and loosen stopped tongues. Isaiah 35:5(b)-6 records this prophecy:

…the ears of the deaf unstopped;
then shall the lame man leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.

This chapter in Isaiah anticipates a future marked by the healing and wholeness that the Lord will bring. When the supernatural breaks into the natural in such a way, it reveals the Messiah has appeared on the scene. Jesus brought this deaf and mute man healing, and as he did he looked up to Heaven and estenaxen (groaned with the weight of desiring something to change). This is the same Greek word used to describe the groan of a woman in the throes of labor, who desperately desires a resolution to her travail. Knowing he was about to be seen in the light of his Messianic identity, Jesus estenaxen. Scholars debate whether this was because he was desperate to see this man healed, or because he was desperate to begin his global mission of redemption. Either way, Jesus was desperate to see change, knowing that it would cost him his privacy, his anonymity, and ultimately his life. And still, he chose to set his desires aside in order to fulfill the will of his Father. Jesus’ unique act of healing highlighted the truth of who he was, and became a monumental step toward fulfilling the call of God that only the Messiah could accomplish.

APPLY
Write down something you’re believing God to do and pray with faith.

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?” – Mark 8:4

CONSIDER
Have you ever experienced God work in your life in an incredible way, but then need him to work like that again? From the outside looking in, it’s easy to think that faith should come naturally when that happens because you’ve seen him do it before. So then why do many of us sometimes struggle to trust him during those moments? For a unique look into this incredible passage, check out this week’s video!

APPLY
Tell a friend or family member about God’s provision in your life.

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. – Mark 8:2

GREEK
προσμένουσίν/prosmenousin: to remain in place with a person despite difficulty and hardship

CONSIDER
If you’re a fan of the romance genre, you’ve likely seen similar themes develop in the stories or movies that you love. While the narratives may be slightly different, they always include sacrifice of some kind. Why? Because like Elisabeth Elliot said, “It is impossible to love deeply without sacrifice.”
The crowds that accompanied Jesus into the wilderness were devoted to Jesus. He told his disciples that he had compassion on the crowd because prosmenousin (they stayed with someone despite difficulty and hardship) now for three days. Their desire to be with Jesus had caused them to experience hunger and fatigue, and Jesus was moved with compassion. The Greek is interesting to translate, because it indicates that the compassion Jesus felt came from seeing the crowd’s desire to be with Jesus even though they were experiencing hardship. This is what real love looked like to Jesus, and while he was moved to compassion in that moment, his compassion for humanity ultimately led him to the cross. Sadly, the crowd that prosmenousin in this story would reject him in his darkest hour. But in a beautiful reversal of the expected, Jesus’ act of sacrificial love would serve to heal and forgive the unfaithful crowd. His was the ultimate show of prosmenousin, and his presence is now available to a people who don’t deserve the kind of love he gives. This theme of life-changing love continues throughout the New Testament, reminding us that Jesus is still moved to compassion by those who have their heart set on being with him, regardless of the cost.

APPLY
Tell a friend or family member about God’s provision in your life.

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. – Mark 8:8

GREEK
ἐχορτάσθησαν/echortasthēsan: to feed, satisfy or fatten; derived from the word “to gorge”

CONSIDER
Quarterback Ty Detmer had an incredible college career. He passed for over 15,000 yards and tossed 121 touchdowns at BYU, which are both school records. After his senior year, Detmer earned the Heisman Trophy award for the best college player in America. However, for all of the awards and accolades he has received, Ty may be best known for one rough day on the field. In September 2001, Detmer threw a record-tying 7 interceptions in a single game. Three of those turnovers were thrown to the same defender. Needless to say, it took longer than it should have to learn the lesson not to attempt a pass in the vicinity of Anthony Henry!
Stop me if you’ve heard this before: a large crowd of people follows Jesus into the wilderness, and in the process, they run out of food. They are hungry, but they want to keep hearing Jesus teach and experience his miracles. Mark purposely uses similar language in chapters 6 and 8 of his gospel to display a parallel narrative of the feeding of the 5,000 and of the 4,000. And to us, one of the glaring similarities between these stories is the confusion of the disciples. It would be very easy to condemn them for not “getting it” when they had already experienced a similar miracle. But the truth is, there are moments when we need multiple chances ourselves to figure out a particular lesson. Even though both narratives seem to leave the disciples looking as though they still have lessons to learn, we can glean some truth about the character of God from them. A nearly identical phrase can be found in both stories: And they ate and were echortasthēsan (fed, satisfied, or fattened). This word is taken from the Greek word meaning to gorge oneself, and implies that Jesus was not stingy with the portions he provided! Not only was Jesus willing to perform a miracle in a similar fashion, but he also did so in a way that filled up the crowd to satisfaction. Jesus sees those who are in need of filling and regardless of their situation leaves them echortasthēsan. We may be tempted to think that God might keep his blessing from us when we fail to grasp a lesson. But his nature is such that the empty soul who draws near to him can say along with the Psalmist and with Mary, “he fills the hungry with good things” (Psalm 107:9, Luke 1:53).

APPLY
Tell a friend or family member about God’s provision in your life.

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” – Mark 8:12

CONSIDER
Isn’t it good to know that Jesus provided a template for us to connect to Heaven? Rather than demanding that we pray for a certain amount of time or that we clean up our act before we address God, Jesus provided access into the life-giving presence of the Father. Our prayer at Centerway is that you take full advantage of this reality by beginning or extending prayer time this week. To help with that, we’re providing prayer resources that can be utilized individually or with a group. Check out the video above to get started, then follow the links to connect to more resources!

WEEK 7 PRAYER RESOURCES
[Scroll up this page to link to the resources]

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Begin or extend prayer time this week.

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” – Mark 8:12

GREEK
ζητεῖ/zētei: to pursue or search for diligently; to worship

CONSIDER
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), over 18% of American adults struggle with anxiety disorders. This is a serious issue that often weaves its way through many areas of our lives. The ADAA offers many helpful insights into treatment options and other strategies to combat anxiety, but before they existed, Jesus offered us hope for our disquiet. In his famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives us a way to deal with worry and the daily stresses of the day. His insights led to this encouragement: “But zēteite first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Jesus is showing us that if we actively pursue God’s kingdom above all else, he will provide the answers to the questions that worry us. That same act of active pursuit is what Jesus meant in Mark 8:12 when he asked why his generation would zētei (to pursue or search for diligently; to worship) a sign. This word indicates focus as much as it does action: the Pharisees were so focused on the proof that it was all they desired! In other words, they worshipped the proof of a sign. To them, the sign was more important than the person being healed or the kingdom of God breaking through the pain of life. And Jesus goes on to warn his followers not to zētei for proof of the miraculous in that way. Why? Because Jesus was not motivated by proving his authority or exerting his power to put on a show. Rather, it was his divine love that was on display when the miraculous took place. Yes, Jesus performed these miracles gladly, but it was his concern for people – not a desire to show off – that led him to do so. As we pursue his kingdom and his righteousness, that same divine love is available to soothe our doubts and calm our fears today.

WEEK 7 PRAYER RESOURCES
In addition to the prayer resource links (provided above on this page) that you can put to use this week and engage as a church family, here are two book suggestions (both practical study guide format) to further engage on your own.

Life-Changing Prayer by Jim Cymbala
Praying with Confidence by Jeff Leake

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Begin or extend prayer time this week.

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? – Mark 8:17

GREEK
νοεῖτε/noeite: to exercise the mind

CONSIDER
We may be tempted to think that Jesus was being a bit hard on his disciples in verse 17 for not “getting it.” Who among us hasn’t been in a situation that was confusing or hard to grasp? But Jesus asked questions of those who had been with him as a result of not heeding the warning he gave just two verses earlier. Arguing about not having bread was proof that they were unable to noeite (to exercise the mind, “perceive”) their similarity to the Pharisees. The religious elite demanded a sign that would allow them to turn off their faith, shut down their mind, and fit into their agenda. A sign like that would cause us as Christians to not have to noeite and discover for ourselves how God is at work in the world. The disciples must have been having a conversation that indicated their belief that the miracles of feeding the crowds that they just witnessed were merely intended to show off Jesus’ ability. Or maybe the discussion was more insidious, and based around the thought that these signs were proof that he had come solely to grant our wishes. Clearly, Jesus is concerned that we use our brains in processing his work in the world. When we do, we will be able to see beyond a surface-level perspective of the move of God into a deeper, more meaningful application. If we need a sign as proof that God is good, loving, or devoted to us, we have yet to fully noeite the beauty of the cross! It is in this history-changing act of redemption that the nature and character of God is revealed. Basing our perception of God solely on our experiences does little to exercise our minds or gain access into the profound mystery and beauty of the Godhead.

WEEK 7 PRAYER RESOURCES
In addition to the prayer resource links (provided above on this page) that you can put to use this week and engage as a church family, here are some book suggestions (both practical study guide format) to further engage on your own.

Life-Changing Prayer by Jim Cymbala
Praying with Confidence by Jeff Leake
Prayer by Timothy Keller
(If you’re looking for a specific resource, like praying over your family or praying through the Psalms, email us!)

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Begin or extend prayer time this week.

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” Mark 8:29

CONSIDER
In his confession that Jesus is the Christ, Peter established that regardless of what anyone else thought, Jesus would change his current reality. Peter didn’t always achieve this goal, and there are a few concrete examples of his folly coming up in our study of Mark. But despite these shortcomings, Jesus showed his grace by using Peter to establish his church in its infancy. Journaling about how Jesus changes our current reality will go a long way toward solidifying this truth for us internally. To explore more about the application, check out this week’s video!

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Journal: How does who Jesus is change my current reality?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. – Mark 8:25

GREEK
ἀπεκατέστη/apekatestē: to restore to its original position, to enjoy again

CONSIDER
One of our Because and Therefore statements at Centerway reads like this: Because of what Jesus has done we value CELEBRATION therefore we talk about Jesus a lot, rejoice over life-change, readily affirm and honor one another, and uplift our local communities. It’s our conviction as a church that enjoying the gifts God has given us is a vital part of our existence! Without celebrating what the Lord has done, we would desire to keep our eyes focused on ourselves and may even be tempted to think that we have generated the good gifts we possess all by ourselves.
In Mark 8, Jesus encounters a blind man who begs to be healed. Jesus has compassion on him, places his hands (and some spit) on him, but when he asks the man what he sees it becomes evident that his eyesight is not fully restored. Jesus then lays hands on him again, and this time his eyesight apekatestē (to be restored to its original position, to enjoy again). How is that possible? Was Jesus not powerful enough to heal on his first attempt? This account may mess with our theology unless we are willing to see that God takes his own time with us. He could have apekatestē the moment he met this man, but there was something he wanted his followers to learn. Without a doubt, there are endless lessons to be learned through this story, but one unique element is Mark’s use of this verb’s tense. It’s the only time in the Bible this specific word is used, and it denotes a singular past action that reverberates into the future. In our limited perspective we are sometimes prone to misunderstand God’s timing as a lack of caring, power, or both. The reasons may not always be apparent, but the result is that we will be apekatestē when the time is right. Regardless of how we feel, that hope gives us a reason to celebrate!

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Journal: How does who Jesus is change my current reality?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him. – Mark 8:30

GREEK
ἐπετίμησεν/epetimēsen: stern warning to prevent something from going wrong

CONSIDER
As we approach the end of our Unnoticed series, we finally get a glimpse of a moment of clarity and perception. Jesus had just asked his disciples who they think he is, and Peter correctly responded “You are the Christ.”
“Right answer!” Jesus said. “Now your job is to let everyone know the truth because many have articulated false assumptions about me.” This response would have made sense, right? The disciples finally got it and the truth needed to be revealed. But that’s not how Jesus responded at all. In fact, he epetimēsen (a stern warning to prevent something from going wrong) them to tell no one about him. The title Christ means the leader who will usher in the kingdom of God, so it would seem as if Jesus would want his loyal followers to show their allegiance by preaching the truth. This seemingly bizarre reaction makes more sense when we understand the context around our Greek word.
Epetimēsen is the exact same word that Jesus used in Mark 4 to rebuke the wind when a storm threatened to capsize the boat he and the disciples were in. It’s a strong word of warning spoken in order to prevent something from going wrong, similar to what we would yell if a child wandered too close to a busy street. Jesus knew something dangerous would happen if people discovered his true identity before the proper time. Perhaps it had to do with the misguided idea that a political revolution was taking place. Maybe the crowds would have tried to prevent Jesus from going to the cross at all costs if the truth was known too soon. Whatever the reason, this issue serves as a microcosm of the concerns of this entire series: God’s reasons often go unnoticed when our perspective trumps his. Are the disciples able to trust that Jesus has a reason to epetimēsen them about something so critical to their mission, or will they refuse to heed his warning and lean into their own perspective on how things should unfold? When we are willing to heed the voice of God even though his admonition generates questions for us, we demonstrate that Christ is the leader of our lives.

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Journal: How does who Jesus is change my current reality?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!