Bill's Bible Blog

In this week’s study, Pastor Chan made this observation:

“In the middle of Mark 9 is a heart-wrenching yet comforting moment. The father of a demon-possessed child knows that faith is the key to rescue. But he needs help. So he asks for it.

“Compare that response to a rich man’s over in Mark 10. In many ways it’s the same request—each man asks something of Jesus. Each time the obstacle is the same: to trust Jesus and surrender. But the response is different. The wavering father asked for help in overcoming his unbelief.

“But the young man left discouraged because he didn’t want to divest his riches and surrender his life to Jesus’ call.

“At the end of Jesus’ conversation about rich people entering heaven, Jesus makes a comforting statement,”

In the vein of what is possible for God, but not for us, following is a summary of my study of Mark chapters 8 through 10.

1. First Prediction of His Death – Mark 8:31

Your Messiah telling you that He is going to die soon might sound foolish.

But not to God.

God has chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise…” (1 Corinthians 1:27)

2. Way of the Cross – Mark 8:34-38

Jesus saying, “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me and for the gospel will save it,” might seem ludicrous.

But not to God.

The cattle on a thousand hills are His (Psalm 50:11).

“He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”  attributed to Jim Elliot. 

Mark 10:29 Jesus promised, “No one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for Me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much—and in the age to come, eternal life.”

3. Transfiguration – Mark 9:2-20

You’re so frightened when God shows up, what to do or say seems unknowable.

But not to God.

God made us and He will teach us what to say when He calls us to speak. (Exodus 4:10-12)

Also, when faced with a ‘God moment,’ God will give you the words to say to others. In Peter’s case, he should have just stayed silent. Sometimes that’s the best thing to do, just listen.

4. Father and Demon-Possessed Son – Mark 9:14-29

Expecting Jesus to be able to help you when no one else was able to might seem hopeless…

But not to God!

For with God, all things are possible  if you’ll just believe Him.

Besides, God, our Heavenly Father, delights in giving good gifts to His children.

5. Second prediction of death
and resurrection – Mark 9:30-32

Out of the blue Jesus says, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and after three days, He will rise.”You don’t understand what He means, you’re afraid to find out and you don’t know what to do…

But God does. Trust Him, because-

6. Divorce – Mark 10:10-12

Your marriage has deteriorated to the point where you hate each other and you just want a divorce because you can’t redeem it.

But God can.

God is in the redemption business.

7. Don’t Hinder the Children – Mark 10:13-16

Obstacles in the way of getting to Jesus for a blessing might seem insurmountable.

But not for God!

God helps us overcome the insurmountable.

8. The Rich Young Man – Mark 10:17-31

Giving up all your worldly riches in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven might seem impossible.

But not for God.

God can help you accomplish the impossible.

9. Third Prediction of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection – Mark 10:32-34

That Jesus would die and rise again from the dead on the third day might seem incredible.

But not for God.

God can accomplish the incredible. He does it all the time, and so did Jesus. They’re called ‘miracles.’

In Part 2, I’ll go back through and look at when the answer was not, “Yes.”