(Mark 5:1-10) Prayer – Lord Jesus, set me free in the power of your name. Imagination: (Picture the possessed man coming to Jesus and his disciples.) Context: Although this story seems strange, biblical scholars agree that it happened. (Although it probably is two stories joined together). Jesus began his ministry …
(Mark 5:11-20) Prayer – O Jesus, one word from you and I will be restored. Imagination – (Picture Jesus with the freed man. He is now clothed and at peace.) Context: The gospels contain those stories which were easily remembered by the early Church. The unique feature of pigs running …
(Luke 4:21-30) Prayer – O Lord, never let me reject you. Imagination– (Picture Jesus confronted by the angry citizens of Nazareth.) Context: The mood of the crowd changes suddenly from acceptance to rejection because they want to see miracles. Jesus recounts two stories in which the prophets worked no miracles …
(Mark 4:35-41) Prayer – O Jesus, calm the storms in my own life. Imagination: (Picture the fearful disciples in the boat, while Jesus calms the sea.) Context: Mark begins a series of 5 stories showing Jesus’ power. In this first calming of the sea (Jesus does it a second time …
(Mark 4:26-34) Prayer – O Jesus, plant your Kingdom on my heart. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching the crowds). Context: Jesus uses two parables concerning seeds to show the power of the Kingdom. In the first parable, the farmer does nothing but “go to bed”. In the second parable, the tiniest …
(Mark 4-21-25) Prayer – O Lord, put your light on the lampstand of my heart. Imagination: (Picture Jesus speaking to the disciples.) Context: This text is really four different sayings which Mark links by opposite words, like hidden/revealed and given/taken away. They are all teachings about the Kingdom. Gospel Text: …
(Mark 4:1-9) Prayer – O Jesus, let the seed of your word flourish within me. Imagination – (Picture Jesus surrounded by the crowd). Context: Mark’s gospel has very few parables and most deal with seeds (an image of the Kingdom). Parables are central to Jesus’ teaching and express the themes …
(Mark 4:10-20) Prayer – O Jesus, let my heart receive your word. Imagination- (Picture Jesus teaching the crowds). Context: In this part, Jesus explains the parable and a shift takes place. The original parable highlighted the great power of the seed. This explanation highlights the way each person receives the …
(Mark 3:31-35) Prayer – O Jesus, let me be a member of your family. Imagination: (Picture Jesus saying to you, “You are my brother and sister and mother.”) Context: Mark often begins a story, tells another story and then completes the first story. This story begins with the family squabble. …
(Mark 3:22-30) Prayer – O Jesus, by your power, free me from the Evil One. Imagination: (Picture Jesus in his controversy with the scribes.) Context: Mark presents another group of critics, the scribes. However, Jesus does not answer them. Jesus speaks to the crowds to get a fair hearing. He …
(Luke 4:14-21) Prayer – O Jesus, send the Spirit of the Father upon me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching in the synagogue.) Context: Having overcome Satan’s three temptations, Jesus begins his public ministry. Other gospels record this visit to the synagogue but Luke gives it preeminence. This is Jesus’ inauguration address, …
(Mark 3-20-21) Prayer – O Jesus, help me to stand firm. Imagination: – (Picture Jesus surrounded by the crowd and his family.) Context: This text contrasts the crowds, and the relatives. The crowds hardly know Jesus, and yet they acclaim him. His relatives, who think they know him, have the …
(Mark 3:13-19) Prayer – O Jesus, help me to respond to your call. Imagination: (Picture Jesus on the mountain calling his twelve apostles.) Context: The mountain top symbolizes Jesus’ closeness to the Father and the great importance of this decision. These twelve apostles represent the new twelve tribes of Israel. …
(Mark 3:7-12) Prayer: Draw near, O Lord, so I can touch you in faith. Imagination: (Picture Jesus surrounded by the crowds who are healed as they touch him.) Context: In this section, Mark pauses. Jesus tries to get out of the limelight by spending time with his disciples. However, his …
(Mark 3:1-6) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Give me faith in Jesus’ powers. Imagination: (Picture Jesus healing the man with the withered hand.) Context: For a while, Jesus continues his ministry within the synagogue. Unfortunately, this great healing of a withered hand is overshadowed by a controversy. This leads to the …
(Mark 2:23-28) Prayer: O Jesus, be the Lord of my life. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his disciples in the grain fields.) Context: This controversy is not about picking off heads of grain, (which was an accepted practice), but about picking them on the Sabbath. This controversy allows Jesus to pronounce …
(Mark 2:18-22) Prayer: O Holy Spirit, make me a new creation. Imagination: (Imagine Jesus with the disciples and the Pharisees.) Context: Jesus uses two images of cloth and wineskins to show that his Kingdom demands a totally new way of acting and thinking. Nobody sews new cloth on old garments …
Prayer: O Mary, my mother, you help me in all my trials. Imagination: (Picture Mary with Jesus at the wedding feast.) Context: This is an extremely important story because it spells out John’s theme. The hour of the passion, when Jesus sheds his blood, is the world-saving moment. The new …
(Mark 2:13-17) Prayer: O Jesus, call me into your Kingdom because I am a sinner. Imagination: (Picture Jesus at table with Levi and his friends.) Context: Having heard Jesus call him, Levi calls others. When they sit at table, some religious people complain. This allows Jesus to announce that he …
(Mark 2:1-12) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Give me friends with great faith. Imagination: (Picture Jesus healing the paralyzed man.) Context: The next five stories contain controversies which allow Jesus to make a solemn pronouncement (the high point of each story). This reveals Jesus’ prerogatives. In this story, Jesus proclaims that …
