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40 days through mark

The 40-Day journey through Mark is an opportunity for daily reading and reflection through the the Gospel of Mark. Participants will individually read each day’s scripture selection from the reading schedule. A guest facilitator will share a brief reflection about the day’s reading that will be posted on New Life Assembly’s website and social media pages.

We are excited to share this journey together; feel free to invite others to take this journey with us! Click the button below to download the PDF with instructions and the full reading schedule.


40_Day_introduction_and_guide_MARK.pdf



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  • How it Works
    Simply follow the reading schedule and read daily passages from the Gospel of Mark. After you’ve read the passage, visit the website or social media post and read the reflection from the facilitator for that day. Within the social media posts, you can engage in moderated comments and discussion with others who are on the reading journey with you. It will be a great opportunity for participants to share insights and encouragement from God’s word with each other.

    Daily Reflections
    The heart and soul of this journey can be found in the daily reflections. We believe that God’s word can and does speak to us, both individually and corporately. Sometimes a particular verse, Bible character, or story leaps out to us from the pages of our Bible in very real and meaningful ways. Daily reflections are a way to capture those moments of significance for ourselves and then share with others. We encourage believers from all places along the spiritual path to write down their insights and inspirations in a reading journal. Seasoned believers, youth, new believers, those called to ministry – all have something meaningful to share.

    A reflection may come in a wide range of expressions. It may be something very specific to one’s life. It may be connecting this passage with other truths in the Bible. It may be seeing something interesting about God’s nature and how He moves and works in the world. The most important thing about these daily reflections is that they help the reader to find meaning in God’s word that is relevant and applicable to his or her life.

    A reflection doesn’t need to be long. It may be a sentence or two; two or three paragraphs are plenty. Take one big idea from the passage and share a thought or two about it. Sometimes the most powerful reflections are questions. Feel free to ask “what does this mean?” if you’d like. Or perhaps a particular story has special meaning to you because you see yourself in it. Testimonies are also a great way to reflect on God’s word.

  • As you take this 40-day journey with us, we need you to pick a day to be a facilitator and share your reflection with the other readers. We are all blessed and encouraged when we share together what God is saying to us through His word. Sign up for your day by contacting Pastor David or adding your name to a time slot on the 40 Days poster in the church foyer. You will receive confirmation of your chosen day with instructions about when and how to submit your reflections.

  • Day 1

    Mark 1:1-15; Jesus' ministry begins


    Ralph Bradshaw
         

    The opening statement of the Gospel of Mark proclaims that Jesus is the Son of God.


    Mark lived in one of the most exciting yet terrifying eras in human history. Mark was probably a teenager at the time of Jesus’ ministry.


    Mark begins his book introducing John the Baptist, known as the forerunner of Jesus (this is a fulfillment of OT Scriptures found in Isaiah and Malachi).


    John the Baptist preached a baptism of repentance and obedience to water baptism.  Jesus came to him to be baptized in the Jordan River. During His baptism, God acknowledged His own Son calling Him “my Beloved Son!” Notice that the “Trinity” was present at the baptism of Jesus (verses 10, 11). Today, we as Christians follow Jesus’ example in water baptism and we are recognized as “God’s own sons and daughters and God is well pleased with us.”


    Mark then tells of Jesus’ going into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan for 40 days. He was not alone. The angels ministered to Him. We, too, must sometimes go through the wilderness in life experiences and are tempted. But we are never tempted beyond what God has allowed. And never doubt that God will send you help!. We never go through them alone.


    After Jesus had overcome Satan’s temptation, He began to immediately preach “the Kingdom of God is near.” “Repent and believe the Good News.”


    Each one of us has a testimony to share how God has saved us and changed us and how we can know He is always near.

  • Day 2
    Mark 1:16-34; ministry in Capernaum

    Ralph Bradshaw


    Jesus demonstrated His need for workers to invest in the harvest. The first He called were fisherman, Simon and his brother Andrew. Later Jesus called other fishermen and they too followed Jesus. It’s interesting that most of these “callings” happened by the sea. Mark uses the word “immediately”, recognizing the urgency to respond to the call. Jesus needed them to help Him rescue men and women who were perishing in “the sea of sin and death.”


    In Capernaum, Jesus Healed several people. One had an evil spirit, and Simon’s mother-in-law had a fever. Many came to the home that evening with all kinds of sickness, various diseases, and the demon-possessed. Jesus healed them ALL, proving His authority over sin, illness, and demons. In doing these miracles of healing and deliverance, Jesus overwhelmingly demonstrated the Power that His Father had given to Him for ministry.


    I mentioned the word “IMMEDIATELY” earlier in how the disciples responded to the call to help Jesus in His ministry. That word is mentioned 7 times in these 19 verses. That is how important it is that we respond to the call to repentance, the call to service, and a call to have a relationship with Jesus. Our response is important to the work of the Gospel.

  • Day 3
    Mark 1:35-45; ministry in Galilee

    Charles Umphress

    Part 1 of 2

    Sunday my wife told me I should sign up for a passage one day this week. I'm pretty sure where this devotion led me is not what my wife, or even my pastor, envisioned when he requested people to share some thoughts about the scriptures. God has been showing me some really great things recently. Every morning I read my Bible over breakfast. I usually eat breakfast alone because everyone else, including the dog, is still asleep. Recently the French-speaking people I know, both at work and at church, have been encouraging me to learn more French. I decided to listen to the Louis Segond 1910 French translation (“LS”) while I follow along in the English Standard Version (“ESV”). This has truly been an amazing experience. There are a lot of French words we use in English. However, following two different Bible translations at the same time is a new perspective. I see things like I have never understood them before. Out of the 11 verses in this text, I want to explain 5 points. You should read through today’s passage in your FIRST language before reading these explanations. I'll wait.

    Now, look at v. 40. In the ESV, see the word “implore”? In the LS, the word is “suppliant”, with the same root as “supplication” in English. Do you get the same intensity and passion when you hear the word “supplication” as you do when you hear the word “implore”? I think about “implore” as a more serious level of request than “supplication”. It isn't a command; it’s a request. However, it is a different degree of request. If something is my choice and someone is trying to influence my decision, they may ask, which is how I think of supplication (same root as suppliant). If they IMPLORE me, maybe to them this is a life-or-death discussion and my decision will have huge consequences for them. When my wife and I decided to move, it had huge implications on the lives of our teenage children. It wasn't their decision, but like all decisions of parents, it impacted the children. Children always live with the choices of their parents. They might have “implored” us not to move.

    Part 2 of 2

    Look at v. 42. The ESV says “made clean”, but the LS says “purifié”. Made clean is what we do when we vacuum or take a shower. Purify is what we do when we sterilize bottles for the baby. Yes, it kind of means the same thing, but there just seems to be a difference of degree.

    In v. 43, ESV says “sternly charged him”, but in the LS “sévères recommandations”. Severe recommendations seems to be a much stronger connotation than “sternly charged him”. Sternly charged him is what I tell my grandson when he is not supposed to eat dessert before dinner. He shouldn't do it, but it won't kill him. However, a severe recommendation might be to stay away from drugs or it will ruin your life and your eternity. Yes, it is a recommendation, you still have a choice, and you live with the consequences of your choice. The sad part is, others live with the consequences of your bad choices too.

    In v. 44, the ESV translates “priest”, but LS “sacrificateur”. This word looks very much like the English word sacrifice, or the one who sacrifices. I have never thought about the word “priest” meaning “one who sacrifices”.  Have you ever heard men are supposed to be the priests of their home? Have you ever heard men are supposed to sacrifice for their home, for their wife, for their family? That is a whole different paradigm in modern English, and the modern world.

    Lastly, look at v. 45. The ESV translates to “spread the news”, but the LS translates to “divulguer”. Google translates “divulguer” as “to divulge”. You probably already figured that out. The connotations are much different for “divulge”. Divulge usually means to tell something you were supposed to keep quiet. We divulge secrets, and that is exactly what this man did.

    The leper implored Jesus to heal him. Jesus purified the leper, but then made a severe recommendation to keep it to himself and give the appropriate sacrifice to the priest. The consequences for divulging the secret the leper was implored to keep cost Jesus dearly. Jesus could no longer enter the towns nearby and tell them of the good news.
  • Day 4

    Mark 2:1-17; the paralytic; Levi


    Tony Ballard


    Mark 2:1-17 At this time in Jesus' ministry, no one really knew Him personally. They knew about Him because of the miracles. They chased after Him in hopes of benefiting in some way. But Jesus knew their hearts and thoughts.
  • Day 5

    Mark 2:18-28; fasting & the Sabbath


    Pastor Juliana Barnett

    The Pharisees were known for strictly following the rules of fasting. They were perplexed as to why Jesus’ disciples did not follow the same fasting regimen. Jesus answered this question with a question - “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them?”  In the days of Jesus some Jewish leaders declared that if the observance of any Jewish law hindered a celebration, then the Jewish people did not have to keep the law. Jesus clearly indicates that He is the symbolic bridegroom – the Messiah – and whenever Jesus is present, it should be a moment of celebration.

    Jesus uses the term “wineskins” to explain the difference between the old, religious law and customs and the new promise of salvation that Jesus offers. In verses 21 & 22 Jesus explains that it is not reasonable to sew a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment because the patch will tear away and make the tear much worse. Likewise, Jesus explains that no one puts new wine into old wineskins because the same thing will happen; the wine will burst the old skins and the wine will be useless. Jesus’ point is that one needs new life which can only come from Jesus’ salvation. One can’t fit a sanctified new life into the old forms. In essence, Jesus offers His salvation and creates new life within us!

    In Mark 2:23-28, Jesus’ disciples are chastised by the Pharisees for eating grain on the Sabbath. Jesus challenges the Pharisees and recalls the time when David and those traveling with him were hungry. David enters the temple and eats the Bread of Presence. Jesus’ point? God desires mercy before sacrifice and love over religious tradition. Jesus was not bound by Jewish rules. If Jesus wasn’t offended by his disciples’ actions, then nobody else should be offended either.

  • Day 6

    Mark 3:1-19; great crowds


    Tony Ballard


    MARK 3:1-6
    Jesus was in synagogue and was being tested by Pharisees and Herodians about healing a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. Jesus, of course, healed the man but confronted their hardness of heart. Why would He not heal on the Sabbath? They got very angry and looked for a way to destroy Him.

    REFLECTION:  Jesus is always compassionate to those in need. He was not about to let this man lose his healing because these men were being religious and political instead of compassionate. Jesus can get angry but His was always a righteous anger.  Too many times mankind just did not see things as God does, they looked through eyes of flesh, whereas Jesus always saw God’s will.

    Mark 3:6-12
    Jesus was healing and casting out demons, and the crowds were becoming too much. He had to separate Himself and go to a boat. But even the unclean spirits begged for mercy knowing He had authority over them.

    REFLECTION:  Jesus was being physically torn to pieces and needed to separate for some peace, but Hhe made sure the evil spirits knew He was in charge of them and they were to be quiet.

    MARK 3:13-19
    Jesus appointed 12 men to preach and have authority to cast out demons.

    REFLECTION: It was time that these men helped the ministry, even Judas. It is amazing that the authority from Jesus could give these men such wisdom to preach the gospel and have authority over demons.

  • Day 7

    Mark 3:20-35; a house divided


    Lynn Stanley


    Jesus speaks a parable after being called Beelzebub by the scribes because He healed people.


    The first line He speaks to them on this issue is: “How can Satan outcast Satan?” (NKJ) Talk about getting right to the point!


    Through the age of time houses have been divided. These days, I would say it’s an epidemic. Houses are divided because of divorce, alcohol, drugs, infidelity, and a host of many other sins. Each member of the household is affected by a divided house, especially children.


    Jesus ends this teaching with the unpardonable sin; which is blaspheming the Holy Spirit. This is the only sin that is unforgivable. Some of us may not know what the unpardonable sin is exactly. Because of that, Satan will hold us in bondage convincing us that we have committed that sin. Satan is a liar!


    This is how the unpardonable sin was described to me: you turn your back on the Holy Spirit, rejecting Him to live as the world lives. Completely disregarding who you once were in Jesus Christ.

  • Day 8

    Mark 4:1-20; parable of the Sower


    Charity Rummel


    Every “seed” has a different journey. Don’t compare where your “seed” is or has been to others. We all live life in such different ways which makes it so much more beautiful when we get to testify how awesome our God is. How can you use where you were first planted to show how your life has fully changed? Are you able to forget about where you may have been planted in order to grow in a new foundation? You must confront your past that made you unclean, repent, and ask for forgiveness. Live your life off of Him and His guidance, not the worlds.


    Mark 4:13-20: (16) The enemy is able to take full control over this one’s life; however, when they have the opportunity to learn of Him they accept it with joy. (17) We MUST listen and read the word and LIVE IT. DWELL IN IT. Without knowing power of scripture, what will you do in times of trouble or persecution? (18) Idols. Idols. Idols. I believe that most basis for sin is an idol. What do you think of and value more of than the Lord that created you and everything around you? Are you reading the word and not living it out? (20) THIS should be our goal. We need to have a firm foundation (a.k.a.: HIM). Bear your fruit and show His love off to everyone around you.”


  • Day 9

    Mark 4:21-41; parables of lamps and seeds; faith


    Ben Kapuya


    These scriptures are a reminder that we need to focus on God in every step of our lifetime.  As a Christian we need to understand the point below:


    1.     Being sincere. No hypocrisy.

    A Christian must show his true face always. Do not be double faced. In the daylight people are seeing you as a devoted Christian. A good man, a good citizen, amiable and joyful. But once it is nighttime the false Christian arise. GOD is seeing you. They're not secret for God. You better show your true face in front of God, because everything will be revealed and you will be in trouble. God calls us to be sincere and true.


    2.     Do not feed your mind with bad things but listen for God's voice in everything.

    A lot of Christians minimize the impact of listening to bad things. Do not cope with anti-Christian literature, anti-Christian music or anything that is pushing you to go away from God's magnetism sight. Our mind is like a memory card; once you allow a virus into it the device is corrupted. Do not compromise your brain with bad things like pornography or violence. This is a call to regularly read your Bible. Take time to meditate and to pray.


    3.     Trust God in everything.

    Our life with Jesus Christ can start by baby steps but God is in control for the grown. God is telling us that He is a promise keeper. Everything you plant according to His will and guidance is under His responsibility. He asks you to follow His steps. The rest is His business. When you pray for someone or are in any bad situation, you trust God. He is listening. Keep up your faith, God is working. He never lets His children down.


    4. Through the storm when Jesus is on the boat fear nothing.

    Life is made up of difficult times. Even if we have Jesus, our human nature does not let us not to worry. Sometimes this worry can turn to desperation as the issue grows. The disciples tried to solve the problem by themselves but there was no way to stop a storm until it stopped itself. It means for us to stop worrying about something we cannot control. They wake up Jesus. Then He stopped the storm. In difficult times call Jesus Christ.

  • Day 10

    Mark 5:1-20 - a man with a demon


    Pastor David Barnett


    Why did the Gerasenes ask Jesus to leave them after He had delivered the man with unclean spirits? We need to understand the historical/cultural context.


    This people group is mentioned multiple times throughout the Bible with different name variants – Gerasene, Gergesene, Gadarene, and in the Old Testament, Girgashite. Who were these people?


    First, they were one of the Canaanite tribes, frequently mentioned in connection with the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites. Their land was on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, east of the Jordan River, and was disputed territory with Israel’s half-tribe of Manasseh. In other words, they were historical enemies with Israel.


    In the Roman occupation, this area was part of the Decapolis – literally “ten cities” – that were on the trade routes to Damascus. The inhabitants were primarily Arabic. These were not Jewish lands by any measure. These people were Gentiles.


    The significance of Jesus’ trip across the See of Galilee to minister in the Decapolis is that this was Jesus’ first outreach to Gentiles with the message that God’s kingdom had come. Literally as He stepped out of the boat, Jesus was confronted with demonic opposition. He overcame it, and in the process He allowed a significant asset to be destroyed. The herd of pigs were not wild – they were cultivated, tended by herdsmen (v. 14). In Jewish law, these pigs were unclean, just as the spirits that possessed them were unclean. But to the Gerasenes, the pigs were a resource – both to eat and to sell.


    The reason the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave isn’t clearly stated. But the historical context suggests that they would have perceived Jesus as an enemy. Instead of seeing the miracle of a possessed man set free from a life of spiritual bondage, they chose to see Jesus as a disruptor of their business and their lives. They asked Him to leave before He could do any more harm to their way of life. But Jesus left a witness of who He really was and what He could do. The delivered man testified of Jesus throughout the Decapolis (v. 20).

  • Day 11

    Mark 5:21-43; Jairus' daughter


    [Today's reflection is an excerpt from the teaching of the late Chuck Smith, a noted pastor and Bible teacher]


    Jarius, one of the rulers of the synagogue there in Capernaum, came to Jesus, driven by desperation...Probably the easiest way to get to the heart of a man is through his children. To see our children sick, to see them suffering, moves us more than almost anything else. And to see his little daughter dying, we are told that she was about twelve years old. We are also told in another gospel that she was their only little girl. And so, for twelve years she had brought sunshine, life and blessing into the home, as only little girls can do. But now the father's heart is breaking. It's obvious that his little girl is dying, nothing can be done. They have only one hope… “Please come. My little daughter is at the point of death. Just lay Your hand on her and she will be healed.” He knew that Jesus could bring healing even to this condition of the point of death.

    “And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, and had suffered many things of many physicians…” According to Jewish law, her husband could not touch her as long as she was hemorrhaging. According to Jewish law, everything she touched was unclean. Whoever touched her would be unclean. Whoever would touch anything she touched would be unclean. Finally, according to Jewish law, she could not enter the place of worship as long as she was hemorrhaging. She was ceremonially unclean. And for twelve years, she lived in the shadow of darkness.

    With Jarius, twelve years he had lived in the sunshine of this beautiful little girl, the light she brought into her home. But the light was going out. With the woman, twelve years she was living in the shadow of this ostracized condition, but a ray of light was shining, a hope. “I know if I can just but touch Him, His garment, I will be healed.”

  • Day 12

    Mark 6:1-13; Jesus' ministry rejected


    Pastor Juliana Barnett


    In Mark 6:1-6, Jesus’ journeys took Him and the disciples back to Jesus’ hometown. On the Sabbath, Jesus taught in the synagogue, and many were amazed at His teaching and wisdom. He also performed miracles. Because of their familiarity with Jesus, the people of His hometown took offense and did not believe that one of their own could perform mighty works of healing. Jesus was troubled by their unbelief. The people of Nazareth still thought of Jesus as a lowly carpenter and this label discredited His divine message and abilities in the eyes of His hometown. Jesus, the anointed Son of God, left Nazareth as a carpenter but came back as a Rabbi.

     

    In Mark 6:7-13 Jesus didn’t need the latest technology to preach a simple message. Jesus gave simple yet strict instructions to His disciples as He began to send them to other towns. Jesus was very specific as to how the disciples should accomplish this. Jesus emphasized traveling light and solely trusting on God’s power to accomplish His will. Jesus gave them authority over unclean spirits, told them to take nothing with them except their staff, and not to bring money or food. Jesus also instructed the disciples to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. He told his disciples to stay where they were welcomed, but if anyone would not listen to their message, they should shake the dust off their feet as a testimony against them. In this culture, if Jewish people had to travel through a Gentile city, they would shake the dust off their feet symbolizing their refusal to take anything from a Gentile city with them. Even through adversity, the disciples preached repentance, cast out demons, anointed the sick, and healed them.

  • Day 13

    Mark 6:14-29; death of John the Baptist

  • Day 14

    Mark 6:30-44; feeding 5,000

  • Day 15

    Mark 6:45-56; walking on water

  • Day 16

    Mark 7:1-23; traditions and commandments

  • Day 17

    Mark 7:24-37; Syrophoenician woman; deaf man

  • Day 18

    Mark 8:1-21; feeding 4,000

  • Day 19

    Mark 8:22-38; Peter's confession

  • Day 20

    Mark 9:1-13; the Transfiguration

  • Day 21

    Mark 9:14-29; boy with an unclean spirit

  • Day 22

    Mark 9:30-50; temptations to sin

  • Day 23

    Mark 10:1-16; divorce; little children

  • Day 24

    Mark 10:17-34; the rich young man

  • Day 25

    Mark 10:35-52; request of James and John; Bartimaeus

  • Day 26

    Mark 11:1-11; triumphal entry

  • Day 27

    Mark 11:12-33; the fig tree

  • Day 28

    Mark 12:1-17; parable of tenants; paying taxes

  • Day 29

    Mark 12:18-34; the Great Commandment

  • Day 30

    Mark 12:35-44; Who's son is the Christ? Widow's offering

  • Day 31

    Mark 13:1-23; signs to close the age

  • Day 32

    Mark 13:24-37; coming of the Son of Man

  • Day 33

    Mark 14:1-21; Jesus' anointing and Passover

  • Day 34

    Mark 14:22-31; The Lord's Supper; Peter's denial foretold

  • Day 35

    Mark 14:32-52; prayer in Gethsemane; Jesus' arrest

  • Day 36

    Mark 14:53-72; trial before the Sanhedrin; Peter's denial

  • Day 37

    Mark 15:1-15; Jesus' trial before Pilate

  • Day 38

    Mark 15:16-32; Jesus' scourging and crucifixion

  • Day 39

    Mark 15:33-47; Jesus' death and burial

  • Day 40

    Mark 16:1-20; the Resurrection