Focused Devotions

The evil farmers, taxes for Cesar, discussion of the resurrection, the most important commandment, or the widow’s offering, which of these stories catches your attention from this chapter? As you read today, consider these questions. How do you get what you want? Who gets credit for what? Why is understanding so liberating, but misunderstanding so…

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Mark 11 is a chapter of contrasts. It starts with Jesus riding into Jerusalem as a King, with crowds cheering and waving palm branches. But by the end, He’s flipping tables in the Temple, confronting religious leaders, and talking about mountains moving with faith. One of the most striking moments is when Jesus sees a…

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Mark 10 is filled with moments that reveal the tension between what we want and what God desires for us. Over and over, people come to Jesus with their expectations, but He responds in ways that challenge them—and us—to surrender to something greater. First, the Pharisees test Jesus about divorce, hoping to trap Him. They…

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God’s Word should always inspire a sense of awe and challenge. Here we have this breathtaking moment of the Transfiguration—Jesus, shining in radiant glory, standing with Moses and Elijah while Peter, James, and John watch in stunned amazement. It’s a scene that reveals Jesus’ divine nature in a way the disciples had never seen before.…

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This chapter is packed with powerful moments—Jesus feeding the four thousand, healing a blind man, rebuking the Pharisees, and teaching His disciples about true discipleship. But one of the most striking moments comes when Jesus asks His disciples, “Who do you say I am?” (Mark 8:29). Imagine being there. You’ve walked with Jesus, seen His…

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Mark 7 challenges us to examine the difference between outward religion and true, heart-transforming faith. In this chapter, the Pharisees criticize Jesus’ disciples for eating without performing the traditional handwashing rituals. Jesus responds by quoting Isaiah: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” (Mark 7:6, NIV). This statement…

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When you’ve been in any situation, how often have you thought, “I know exactly what (pick somebody) would do?” How well do we know each other? Through the first roughly one-third of this gospel, we’ve seen Jesus in a variety of situations. People have watched Him, challenged Him, and followed Him. Of all those people,…

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This chapter is filled with powerful encounters—each revealing who Jesus truly is. We see Him casting out demons, healing the sick, and even raising the dead. In every situation, one truth stands out: Jesus has absolute authority over all things, yet He meets people with deep compassion. Consider the man possessed by a legion of…

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The last time I posted, I asked, “Who was Mark?” According to biblical researchers, Mark was a companion of Peter. He was the youngest of the authors of the four gospels. My next question was, “What’s his rush?” To answer that question we need to call upon our knowledge of young people. Everything’s a crisis…

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Mark 3 gives us a powerful moment where Jesus calls His twelve disciples. Out of the crowds following Him, He chooses twelve to be with Him and to be sent out to preach. It makes me wonder—what made the difference? Why these twelve? Plenty of people followed Jesus. Some were curious. Some wanted healing. Some…

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