BRF - Mark 9-12

I must say that I found this book challenging. I think because I have read, not studied, the book a few times that I tend to read over the words but not spend time thinking about what I read. I was reminded of a few things though, so I will share these.

In Chapter 9:24 Jesus teaches us about the importance of believing Him. It is not a difficult thing to believe in Jesus when everything is going well, but my belief is most certainly tested when the difficult times come. I can say with this boy's father, "...Help thou my unbelief".

Also we see the blessing of children and the lesson we can learn from them. Little children don't have a problem believing and because of this Jesus uses children as His illustration to us for entering into the Kingdom of God. "Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein". Jesus said, "Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not...". God sees children as a blessing and of importance.

I noticed in chapter 10 that Jesus again talks of the hardness of the hearts of the Pharisees. He has already talked about the disciples having hardened hearts in Mark 6:52 and Mark 8:17. It seems to me that Jesus is warning us about having hardened hearts that we will not hear the truth of His Word and be willing to let Him change us to be conformed to His image.

We are also told that we are to forsake all the things that pull us away from Christ if we want to be His disciple. The rich young ruler had many riches, that is not necessarily a bad thing as long it is not more important than Christ, it is plain that the rich young ruler did not have the proper attitude concerning his riches because they were more important than following Christ. I don't believe that God says we can not have money, but I do believe He expects us to keep money and the material things of this world in prospective. I need to ask myself, "What good will money and material things be to me in eternity?"

In Chapter 11, I am reminded again of how quickly we forget as the people in Jesus day did. They saw His miracles they walked with Him, they saw Him personally but we see Him through His Word. The people were praising Jesus and treated Him as a King crying,"And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest". Then not many days later they were crying Crucify Him,Crucify Him . I wonder would I have been any different, this flesh would like to believe that I would have been different!

Jesus also teaches in this chapter the importance of His house, vs15-17, "And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves". These people were making money off the people that had travelled many miles and could not bring their sacrifice with them. We are to be careful to treat His house with respect and not make it common.

Jesus teaches in Chapter 12 in this parable about Himself and the chief priests and scribes were upset with Him because they knew that it was of them that He spoke and what they would do to Him in a short time. They tried very hard to find something to tempt Christ, but nothing worked for them. You would think that they would have gotten the message by now.

Another thing I found to share in this review is in 10:38 where Jesus tells us again to be aware of false teaching. I am to know His Word so well that I will not fooled by false doctrine. This definitely encourages me with our BRF to keep going and study His Word. It helps to have all you ladies to keep me on track.

It is encouraging to me that as the song says,"Little is Much When God is in It". The widow lady with two mites is a testimony of how God sees a surrendered life to Him. She gave her all.

I hope this review is not too disjointed and that it will encourage you ladies. Until next Friday, keep trusting our Lord! Now I off to read other reviews:)