S – So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God

Mark 16:19 ESV

O – Commentary:

On the one hand (Gr., men) the Lord Jesus—a compound title not found in the Gospels except in Luke 24:3—after His post-resurrection ministry (a 40-day period; cf. Acts 1:3) was taken up into heaven (by God the Father, implied). There He sat down at the right hand of God, His place of honor and authority (cf. comments on Mark 12:36–37a). The reality of this was confirmed to the early believers by Stephen’s vision (cf. Acts 7:56). In one sense Jesus’ work on earth was finished.

John D. Grassmick, “Mark,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 196.

A – While on earth, Jesus fulfilled so many roles – teacher, rabbi, healer, deliverer, friend, son, etc.  Those roles are completed just as his work on earth was finished.  His reestablished role is God, Lord, Son, Savior and a new one – Advocate (I John 2:1).  He sits at the right hand of the Father and advocates for us.  

R – Heavenly Father, we worship and surrender to you.  You are Lord of all and we exalt you to the highest place of honor.  Thank you for Jesus, who sits at your right hand and advocates for us as we live our daily lives for you.

S – So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself.

Mark 15:31

O – This was a true statement. Jesus could save others but he could not save himself from death.  The cross was the reason he came to earth.  He needed to complete “his mission” and give himself as a sacrifice for our sins.

A – This is simple and profound at the same time.  When you think of how many times Jesus could have saved himself from the cross, it is astounding that he did it.  He was sinless yet took all of our sins to the cross.  He did everything to fulfill scripture and took it to the cross.  He saw a world of people yet to be born who could come to know God in a personal relationship and took it to the cross.  No love has ever been expressed in such a manner – he love each us in an amazing way.

R – Heavenly Father, you are Love.  Thank you for embodying love by Jesus coming to earth as a man and going to the cross for our sin.  Help us to remember what the cross means to us today.  Fill us with a desire to align with your heart as we model that same love with others.

S – But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” ⁶² And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” ⁶³ And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? ⁶⁴ You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death. ⁶⁵

 Mark 14:61–65 ESV

O – With all the chaos and inconsistency of the accusers, the high priests asks the basic question – “Are you the Messiah?”  This is the question that sends Jesus to his death.  He answers it truthfully and honestly.

A – How many times has God given us a truthful statement or response in our relationship and we rejected it?  Maybe it spoke to our ego, pride or rejection and we didn’t want to let it go.  Or, maybe it addressed our attitude, behaviors and actions and we didn’t want to change.  We are like the Pharisees if we do not take the truth of God, apply it to our lives and change our will and alignment to match His will and character.

R-  Heavenly Father, you are the truth and you are Holy.  We surrender our thoughts, words, actions and will to you today.  We do not want to reject your truth.  We invite it to work in us to make us more like you.

S – And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. ¹¹ And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

Mark 13:10–11 ESV

O – Commentary:

Such trials (13:9, 11) would be a means through which the Good News would be preached to all nations (or all peoples). This would all take place first—i.e., before the destruction of Jerusalem…

13:11 A word of encouragement follows the warning of 13:9. Jesus’ followers need not fear what they should say in these circumstances. The early followers of Jesus were generally uneducated and without political influence (see Acts 4:10–17; 1 Cor 1:26), so this assurance would have comforted them. Believers are not prohibited from thinking about what they will say, but they need not worry about it

 New Living Translation Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008), Mk 13:10–11.

A – In sharing out faith with others today, we recognize that we are like the disciples.  We are instruments of the Holy Spirit for others to hear about the gospel.  We do not need to fear it but feel free to share what we are thinking with confidence.

R – Heavenly Father, you are all powerful.  Help us today to walk with the leading of the Holy Spirit.  We want our words to be directed by you.  Give us a boldness to share our faith with confidence and humility.

S – And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” ¹⁷ Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him. 

Mark 12:16–17 ESV

O – Commentary:

The picture and title on the coin was almost certainly that of Tiberius Caesar, who reigned from ad 14–37. The inscription read, “Tiberius Caesar Augustus, Son of [the] Divine Augustus” on one side and “High Priest” on the other.

12:17 give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar: Jesus’ words cannot be taken as those of an anti-Roman zealot opposing Jewish taxation by Caesar. Jesus clearly indicates elsewhere that he was opposed to the zealot cause (see Matt 5:9, 39, 41; 26:52). However, Jesus’ statement cannot be understood as pro-Roman, either, because service to God is fundamental, and God is ultimately over Caesar. Like the evil farmers in the previous parable, the religious leaders had not given God what belonged to him.

 New Living Translation Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008), Mk 12:16–17.

A –  This is an amazing story!  Jesus comes up with such a perfect answer that satisfies both questions and leaves no room for offense by the the religious leaders and the Jewish people.  When we ask God to give us wisdom, this is what we want.  The ability to navigate the natural world with supernatural insight, discernment and application. We are able to do this by inviting the Holy Spirit into our days to give us the spirit of wisdom and understanding as depicted in Isaiah 11:2.

R – Heavenly Father, you are Truth.  We invite your Holy Spirit to lead and mature us as we grow in our relationship with you.  We ask for the Spirit of wisdom and understanding to give us the ability to lead in the physical and spiritual realm.  We want to display your wisdom in both so others are not offended but drawn to you.

S – Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. ²⁵ And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” 

Mark 11:24–25 ESV

O – There are two concepts connected with prayer – Faith and Forgiveness. Faith is believing in God that he is able to do what is asked.  Forgiveness is letting go of your ownership of a situation with a person and giving it to God.

A – It is interesting that Jesus linked these two principles together.  We need to continue to grow in our faith.  Like a muscle, the more we exercise it, the easier it activates and believes that God is working in situations.  God is working and we can put our trust in his will.  We must forgive others.  When we see the amount of love demonstrated in forgiving us, we must act accordingly.  It frees us from the bondage of staying stuck in actions and attitudes that are not aligned with God.

R – Heavenly Father, you are merciful and gracious.  Thank you for your forgiveness of our sins.  We didn’t earn it – you paid a price we could not pay.  Help us to grow in our mercy towards others.  Help our faith to grow and trust you more.  We invite your Holy Spirt to work in us today to grow.

S – And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” ²³ And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” ²⁴ Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief

 Mark 9:22–24 ESV

O – Commentary:

Jesus took up the father’s words of doubt, If You can, to show that the point was not His ability to heal the boy but the father’s ability to trust in God who can do what is humanly impossible (cf. 10:27). Jesus then challenged the father not to doubt: Everything is possible for him who believes (cf. 9:29). Faith sets no limits on God’s power and submits itself to His will (cf. 14:35–36; 1 John 5:14–15).

The father’s response was immediate (euthys). He declared his faith (I do believe), but also acknowledged its weakness: Help me overcome my unbelief! This brings out an essential element of Christian faith—it is possible only with the help of the One who is its Object

 John D. Grassmick, “Mark,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 144–145.

A – This is a foundational principle in our walk with God.  Our faith has to be in God and not the people he is using.  It is easy to transfer that faith to the person because we can see and touch them.  We are the messengers and God is the power.  When that is in alignment, God can work freely.

R – Heavenly Father, we worship and surrender to you.  You are the one, true God and there is no other that we should believe or put our faith in today.  We invite you to move in our lives as we are conduits of your Holy Spirit ministering to us and others.

S – The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. ¹² 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.” ¹³ And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side. 

Mark 8:11–13 ESV

O – Commentary:

The religious authorities (cf. 3:22–30; 7:1–5) came and began to question (syzētein, “to dispute, debate”) Him. They wished to test (from peirazō; cf. 1:13; 10:2; 12:15) Him, to get Him to prove the source of His authority (cf. 3:22–30; 11:30; Deut. 13:2–5; 18:18–22). They were seeking (from zēteō; cf. Mark 11:18; 12:12; 14:1, 11, 55) from Him a sign from heaven, one with divine authorization. In the Old Testament a “sign” was not so much a demonstration of power as an evidence that an utterance or action was authentic and trustworthy (cf. tdnt, s.v. “sēmeion,” 7:210–6, 234–6). The Pharisees did not demand a spectacular miracle, but that Jesus give unmistakable proof that He and His mission were authorized by God. They believed quite the opposite

 John D. Grassmick, “Mark,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 137.

A – We fault the Pharisees for demanding a sign when Jesus is fulfilling prophecies all through his life and crucifixion.  Yet, in challenging times, we as ask God to “show himself.”  We can be just as guilty as them of looking for a sign to help us.  Like the religious leaders, we need faith that God is who he says he is in all situations.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the one, true God.  Help us to grow in our faith where we don’t look for signs but seek you.  We desire know your heart and character beyond your power and abilities.  

S – ¹⁸ And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, ¹⁹ since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) 

Mark 7:18–19 ESV

O – Commentary:

Jesus amplified the negative truth that nothing … from the outside of a person can defile him morally (cf. v. 15a). The reason is that food (or any other item) does not enter his heart, the control center of the human personality, and thereby affect his moral nature. Rather, it enters his stomach (a nonmoral agent).

The concluding sentence of verse 19 is an editorial comment by Mark (cf. 2:10, 28; 3:30; 13:14), to emphasize the significance of Jesus’ statement for his Christian readers in Rome, some of whom may have been confused over Jewish food laws (cf. Rom. 14:14; Gal. 2:11–17; Col. 2:20–22). He simply pointed out that Jesus declared all foods “clean” for Christians. The early church was slow to grasp this truth

 John D. Grassmick, “Mark,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 134.

A- Unclean foods were a big topic of dissension among the disciples and early believers.  Jesus is sharing the foundational understanding of how God works in our hearts.  People got stuck on foods.  What do we get stuck on that is not foundational to our walk with God.  There are some topics that divide people about God that are not as important as keeping our hearts in a healthy posture with God.

R – Heavenly Father, you are compassionate and gracious.  Help us to focus on the main thing – our relationship with you.  Don’t let us be distracted by things that are not relevant to growing closer to you today.