(Mark 6:53-56) Prayer – Jesus, let me seek you, find you and be blessed by your power. Imagination – (Picture the crowds pressing upon Jesus). Context: These crowds in Galilee are enthusiastic. In fact, by their lively faith they somewhat force Jesus to heal. He seems more comfortable in the …
(Mark 6:30-34) Prayer: O Lord, pour out your mercy and draw me close to your heart. Imagination: (Picture Jesus surrounded by the apostles and the crowds.) Context: For a brief moment, Jesus wants to be alone with his disciples. This foreshadows the second half of the gospel where Jesus spends …
(Mark 6:14-29) (Due to its length, this text is shortened) Prayer – Lord Jesus, let me not be swerved by the opinions of others. Imagination – (Picture Herod with his party guests) Context: This section is an interlude, which Mark inserts between the sending of the Twelve and their return. …
(Mark 6:7-13) Prayer – O Jesus, send me forth to bring your gospel to the whole world. Imagination – (Picture the Twelve gathered around, listening to Jesus’ instructions.) Context: Jesus does not have enough time to evangelize all of Israel. So, he sends out the Twelve. This is totally his …
(Mark 6:1-6) Prayer – O Jesus, I honor you as the true prophet who has come into the world. Imagination: (Picture Jesus in the synagogue at Nazareth) Context: Jesus returns to Nazareth, accompanied by his disciples. After his teaching, the crowd asks itself three questions which summarize Mark’s gospel. Jesus …
(Mark 5:21-24; 35-43) Prayer – O Jesus, raise me to new life in Your Holy Spirit. Imagination – (Picture Jesus raising the girl to life.) Context: Mark carefully notes that Jesus returns to Jewish territory and the atmosphere is filled with faith. At Jairus’ home, however, people have little faith. …
(Mark 5:25-34) Prayer – Lord Jesus, let me touch you in faith so your power goes out to me. Imagination – (Picture the crowds pressing upon Jesus while the woman touches his garment.) Context This story has so many details (bleeding, twelve years, many doctors, wasted money and even …
(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 …
(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 …
(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 …
