So, there are 40 days between when Jesus was resurrected and when the disciples received the Holy Spirit.
That is our approach for reading of the Gospel of Mark. You are among the Jesus’ disciples and it is AFTER he was raised from the dead. You have seen him. “On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.”’ (Acts 1:4) As we read, we are remembering the story of Jesus, trying to make sense of it.
1) What is life like now in light of Jesus’ resurrection? Doesn’t it make a difference today?
2) How can you live above your circumstances, not under them, and share the hope you have?
3 instructions for reading the Bible
1. Observe – What do I see? (read repeatedly, patiently, prayerfully, questioningly)
2. Interpret – What does it mean? (content and context)
3. Apply – How does this work? (transformation, not information)
Remember, the whole point of following Jesus is to become more like Him in unity with the Father, through the Spirit. We don’t want to gain more knowledge about God, simply managing our sin, we want to become more like Christ through seeing God clearly.
Questions You Can Ask while reading:
What does this say about God?
What does this say about humans and me?
What can I learn about relating to God?
What can I learn about relating to others?
Who is the audience?
Why was it written?
How is God calling me to be more like him?
Jesus called people to follow him. If we could literally follow Him, we would be walking in His footsteps. In effect, doing what He does, saying what He says: becoming like Jesus. My son has several choices about how he will live his life. However, he will never be able to STOP looking or acting like me, even though he wants to.
1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.