Jan 22, 2023
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January 22, 2023
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Desperation
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up, went out, and made his way to a deserted place; and there he was praying. Simon and his companions searched for him, and when they found him they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”
Mark 1:35-37
The whole town was assembled at the door, and he healed many who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons…
Mark 1:33-34
And he said to them, “Let’s go on to the neighboring villages so that I may preach there too. This is why I have come.” He went into all of Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
Mark 1:38-39
Then a man with leprosy came to him and, on his knees, begged him, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched him. “I am willing,” he told him. “Be made clean.” Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.
Mark 1:40-42
…with the result that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly. But he was out in deserted places, and they came to him from everywhere.
Mark 1:45
When he entered Capernaum again after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many people gathered together that there was no more room, not even in the doorway, and he was speaking the word to them. They came to him bringing a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they were not able to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and after digging through it, they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying.
Mark 2:1-4
Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Mark 2:5
But some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts: “Why does he speak like this? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Right away Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were thinking like this within themselves and said to them, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat, and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he told the paralytic—“I tell you: get up, take your mat, and go home.”
Mark 2:6-11
Jesus went out again beside the sea. The whole crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. Then, passing by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me,” and he got up and followed him. While he was reclining at the table in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who were following him. When the scribes who were Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard this, he told them, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Mark 2:13-17
If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our dead bodies. If they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees. Let no one go there unwarned or unprayed for. – Charles Spurgeon
We’re heading to Cancún, Mexico to spend a week with our partners at Back2Back Ministries. If you’re excited about the idea of hanging out with kiddos while serving and encouraging the staff there, we’d love for you to sign up and join the team! If you’re looking for more info before signing up, you can email [email protected].
The deadline to sign up is March 15, 2023.