Jesus and His disciples have arrived in Jerusalem. Will the events about to take place awaken the disciples from their denial of His coming crucifixion? What did it mean when Jesus cleansed the Temple? Was He more than a reformer? Listen to today’s podcast below:

For the earlier podcasts in this series, click here.

The disciples are in denial as Jesus approaches Jerusalem on his journey to the Cross. Only the crucified and resorted Jesus will be able to awaken them to reality. But there is one person that gets it. Blind Bartemaeus. He acknowledges Jesus as the Messiah and follows Him “on the way” to the cross. Listen to podcast #11 in this series by clicking below.

For podcasts ##1-10 in this series, click here:

What did Jesus mean, anyway, when He told us that, if we would be His disciples, we must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him? Jesus explains this self-denial and cross-bearing in Mark 9:30-50. Then, in Mark 10:1-31 Jesus addresses three of the things most likely to deter us from following Him–sex, power, and money. Listen to podcast #10 in this series for a concise explanation of this Scripture. Click the following link: https://frommangoestomelchizedek.com/a-short-course-in-following-jesus-studies-in-the-gospel-of-mark/

What should we think about a human being who does what only God can do and does it in a way that only God can accomplish? As we have listened to Mark, the insufficient answers have fallen away—Jesus is not demon possessed, He is not insane, He is not Elijah, one of the prophets, or John the Baptist come back to life. Even His disciples, however, have had difficulty in getting their minds around this reality. As soon, however, as they arrive at a right answer, “You are the Christ,” Jesus tells them that he must be crucified in Jerusalem. Furthermore, if they would be His disciples, they must “deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him.” What in the world does He mean? Listen to podcast #9 “Who Do You Say That I Am?” Click below to access all nine podcasts. https://frommangoestomelchizedek.com/a-short-course-in-following-jesus-studies-in-the-gospel-of-mark/

The disciples are now involved in Jesus’ ministry. They have preached, healed, and cast out demons in His name. They passed out the bread and fish when He fed the 5,000. They were in the boat when He came walking on the water. And yet, we are told that their hearts were “hardened.”  The story of their slowness to believe, as told in Mark 7:1—8:21, is the subject of  podcast #8, “He Who Has Ears to Heart, Let Him Hear.” This story awakens us from superficial faith and calls us to embrace Jesus with all we have. All eight podcasts are available by clicking below: https://frommangoestomelchizedek.com/a-short-course-in-following-jesus-studies-in-the-gospel-of-mark/

When we look at the founding the Church at Philippi (Acts 16) and read what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, we come to understand why God chooses to work through human weakness. His working through our weakness is a great mercy. If we come to think that we can build God’s Kingdom or meet our own spiritual needs with our programs, all is lost. “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord!”

Today’s lesson gives us a glimpse of early Christian community by focusing on Priscilla and Aquila and the church(es) that met in their household! This glimpse is enough to make us hungry for that community today.

When the disciples run away, the women who follow Jesus appear–at the Cross, at his burial, and at the empty tomb–with Mary Magdalene at their head. If you listen to the podcast below, you will not only see her as a “Portrait of Discipleship,” you will be drawn to follow Jesus.

Every summer we find spiritual refreshment by attending Camp Sychar in Mount Vernon, OH. This camp takes its name from the well at Sychar where Jesus met the Samaritan woman in John 4:4-42. Just inside Camp Sychar’s gate is a refreshing, ever-flowing well where all can drink. Many, also, have found Camp Sychar a source of the “living water” that Jesus offered the Samaritan on that hot day at Jacob’s well. The Sunday School lesson for tomorrow, Feb 7, is from this passage. Click below to listen to an explanation of this passage and drink once again, for yourself, from this “living water.” 

How should we understand the gift of the Holy Spirit in terms of Joel’s prophecy in Joel 2:28-32? What role does the coming of the Spirit play in the Biblical drama? What does His coming mean for us? Listen to this explanation of Acts 2:14-21, 21:8-9; and Luke 2:36-38, the Sunday school lesson for January 31!