S – “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be healed from your affliction.” 

Mk 5:34 CSB

O – Commentary; 

The affectionate title, Daughter (its only recorded use by Jesus) signified her new relationship with Him (cf. 3:33–35). Jesus attributed her cure to her faith rather than the touch of His clothing. Her faith healed her (lit., “has saved or delivered you”; cf. 5:28; 10:52) in that it caused her to seek healing from Jesus. Faith, confident trust, derives its value not from the one who expresses it, but from the object in which it rests 

“Mark,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – I love this whole story.  Great caveat today – by her faith, the woman is healed.  But so much more than that.  She no longer is an “unclean,” an outcast, a person identified by her issue.  She is given a name (“daughter”) that Jesus only used for her – much like us in our own intimate relationship with God.  And great commentary thought on faith deriving its value from the object of belief and not the one expressing it.

R – Lord, you can do all things and your purpose and will cannot be stopped.  I set my faith on You today.  You can do all things needed in my life today that will draw me closer to you.  In doing so, I want my relationship with you to grow and my trust to go deeper.  You alone are the object of my faith.

S – He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Silence! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ Then he said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 

 Mark 4:39–40 CSB

O – Experienced fishermen (disciples) and others were genuinely afraid.  They were in their own element and experiences and saw the danger of the situation. Jesus does a miracle no one else can do.  He continues to demonstrate his power and authority with the hope that they will believe in Him more than conventional wisdom.

A – We all face “storms” every day in our own lives, elements and experiences.  Jesus wants us to bring him into them and invite his power and authority to be displayed.  The challenge is when you do that and you don’t see any changes.  Or, not doing it because we try to fix it ourselves. Faith is not a formula.  It is us believing even when we don’t see it.

R – Lord, you know all the storms each of us are facing.  Whether physical, mental or spiritual – we have a lot of challenges in our lives.  We invite you into each storm we are in and we activate our faith that you will work your will in each one.  Help us to grow in our faith that you can do more than we can imagine in each storm.

S – After looking around at them with anger, he was grieved at the hardness of their hearts and told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and his hand was restored. ⁶ Immediately the Pharisees went out and started plotting with the Herodians against him, how they might kill him

Mark 3:5–6 CSB

O – Commentary:  

*Pharisees tended to be nationalistic, whereas Herodians were clients of Herod, the Roman vassal; they worked together only in extraordinary situations. Pharisees would be concerned about Jewish legal requirements to have witnesses for a charge but would be ready to investigate charges concerning Jesus’ disloyalty to the *law. That they would try to test his teaching here is not surprising. The Herodians, who hoped for a restoration of Herodian rule in Judea (which *Pilate currently governed), were naturally disturbed by messianic figures who challenged their idea of Herodian rule and might cause Rome to tighten its direct control over the land.

The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament

A – Two different groups with different agendas join together to kill Jesus.  Similar to Pilate and Herod becoming friends to kill Jesus (Luke 23:12).  People who are offended and challenged by Jesus will put down their differences to go against Jesus.  Ironically, Jesus also unites believers who are totally different and brings unity in His followers. 

R – Lord, I pray for unity today.  As a group of believers in you, help us to see past our differences to see You as our unifier.  Help us to love one another as you call us to so that others can your love.  Thank you that our diversity makes us stronger.  

S – Then he told them, “The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath. ²⁸ So then, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” 

Mark 2:27–28 CSB

O  – Commentary:  Since Jesus is the Lord of humanity (Phil 2:9–11; Eph 1:20–22; 1 Cor 15:25–28) and since the Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people (see notes on Matt 12:3–7), he is Lord … over the Sabbath. As with Jesus’ authority to forgive sins (2:7), this was a claim to divine authority.

 New Living Translation Study Bible 

A – Jesus is hitting Jewish commandments, culture and tradition.  Beyond saying He was God, He is challenging a Jewish way of life established back in Exodus.  We need to be “in tune” with God so that we hear His prompting and we don’t fall into the ruts of doing something without meaning.

R – Lord, it is easy to get into a routine.  Help me to be consistent in the areas you desire.  Also, help me to be agile in my ability to hear your voice and obey your promptings.  Let me walk in that freedom as I am led by you.  Give me the courage to do the hard things and the humility to obey your will.

S – “Follow me,” Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for^, people.” ¹⁸ Immediately they left their nets and followed him

Mark 1:17–18 CSB

O – Commentary:

Disciples usually sought out their own teachers. Only the most radical teachers called their own disciples (e.g., 1 Kings 19:19). Because discipleship sometimes involved temporarily laying aside one’s livelihood and being apart from one’s wife and children for a time, the decision to choose a teacher would have normally been made only after much deliberation, especially when the teacher traveled from place to place instead of staying in one town to teach. Galilee was not so large as to require long journeys, however; they would be able to return to stay in their home towns periodically (see e.g., 2:1). Much instruction was also seasonal (especially for those needing to be home for planting and harvest), but it is not clear that this would have been the case with Jesus’ disciples.

The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament

A – This puts the disciples’ calling in a contextual perspective.  Jesus boldly asks them to follow him.  They knew what discipleship was but their decision was even more unique. They boldly responded. It would change every aspect of their life.

R – Lord, I want you to affect every part of my life.  I do not want to keep any area from you.  Help me to have the courage and boldness to step towards you when you call something out.  Help me to prioritize you while living my life through relationships and actions.  Like the disciples, I continue to learn and grow.

S – The cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. ³⁵ Moses was unable to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud rested on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 

Exodus 40:34–35 CSB

O – Commentary: The climax of the Exodus occurred when the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle. God’s goal from the outset was not merely to deliver his people from their bondage, but to bring them into a relationship with himself. Their real need was to know God personally in their lives. Without that, the Promised Land would not be a land of promise. Now it would be, because the glory that had been on Mount Sinai was in Israel’s midst; it would not be left behind, but would travel with them wherever they might go.

 New Living Translation Study Bible 

A – God wants a relationship with his people.  I am grateful that we don’t have a sanctuary for God to dwell in.  He lives with us individually. We don’t need a priest to go on our behalf.  Instead, we get to talk with God through prayer and interaction with the Holy Spirit.

R – Lord, thank you that you desired an individual relationship with us.  Thank you for communicating through the Holy Spirit and the work of the cross to us whenever we want.  You are the one, true God.  Thank you!

 S – Then all the artisans who were doing all the work for the sanctuary came one by one from the work they were doing ⁵ and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than is needed for the construction of the work the Lord commanded to be done.” 

Exodus 36:4–5 CSB

O – The people gave more materials than were needed to do work the Lord instructed.  What a great problem!  

A – Everybody is doing their part.  God has a vision for his sanctuary.  Moses gives the vision to the people.  The skilled artist do their part while supported by resources from the people.  It is amazing to see the unity of vision, action and support in this story.

R – Lord, each of us play a part in your story.  Help us to have the sensitivity to know which part and when we should do it.  Help us to be generous with our time, talent and treasure because they all flow back to you.

S – As Moses descended from Mount Sinai—with the two tablets of the testimony in his hands as he descended the mountain—he did not realize that the skin of his face shone as a result of his speaking with the Lord.

Exodus 34:29 CSB

O – Being in God’s presence, Moses was different and other people noticed it.  People knew he had been with God.

A – I want people to know that I have spent time with God.  In my countenance, words and actions.  If my relationship is growing, I should reflect Jesus in my interactions.

R – Lord, I love my times with you throughout the day.  In the good and the challenging, you are there.  I want to reflect our relationship in a way that people can see that I have been with you. Let your glory shine through me today.

S – The Lord would speak with Moses face to face, just as a man speaks with his friend, then Moses would return to the camp. His assistant, the young man Joshua son of Nun, would not leave the inside of the tent.

Exodus 33:11 CSB

O – Moses had a relationship with God that allowed for direct communication.  The challenge was that he was the conduit for communication from God to the people.  They didn’t enjoy a direct relationship and had to trust in Moses.  Moses shared what God said and expected obedience.  A difficult tension.

A – Grateful for the cross that allows us to have a direct relationship with God.  There is no middle entity other than what Christ did on the cross.  This is the relationship we enjoy as a Christian.

R – Lord, thank you for the cross.  Thank you that I can speak and listen to you any time I want to spend time with you.  Thank you for your Word which gives me instruction for living.  Thank you for your presence in my day through your Holy Spirit.  I invite you into every part of my day today.

S – “Tell the Israelites: You must observe my Sabbaths, for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, so that you will know that I am the Lord who consecrates you. ¹⁴ Observe the Sabbath, for it is holy to you

Exodus 31:13–14 CSB

O – Commentary:  The Sabbath was understood to be the unique sign of the covenant (31:13, 16, 17; see also 20:8–11; Isa 58:13–14; Jer 17:21–27; Neh 13:15–22). The Sabbath is also said to figure significantly in the achievement of God’s underlying purpose of making his people holy, that is, set apart for his exclusive use and sharing his character (31:13, 14, 15). Resting from their own work (31:15, 17) was also a practical way of demonstrating genuine dependence on God to meet their needs (see 20:8–11 and notes).

 New Living Translation Study Bible 

A – We need to obey God’s word and grow in His character.  Obeying sabbath was part of that for the Israelites and should be part of our walk with God as well.  The principle of it is to rest ourselves, remember God and replenish our provision.

R – Lord, thank you for calling me to rest in such a busy time.  To pull away from the daily tasks is essential for my longevity.  Help me to rest my mind and body, spend time with you and do the things that refuel me for another week.  You care for my overall health and sabbath is one of the ways you provide for it.