Issues In Perspective

Jesus responds to His opponents and then goes on the offensive, silencing His enemies.

Jesus neutralizes the threats from the Pharisees, the Herodians and the Sadducees.

Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem is followed by His cursing of the fig tree (a metaphor for Israel), cleansing the Temple complex and the challenge to HIs authority by the spiritual leadership.

As Jesus predicts His future sufferings, His death and His resurrection, He teaches His disciples about "greatness" and about servant leadership.

Jesus stresses child-like faith, while emphasizing how wealth can become as a god in our lives.

Jesus issues a call to radical discipleship and to be His salt in a broken world.

In two specific narratives, Jesus teaches the importance of faith in Him.

As Jesus affirms the meaning of discipleship, He takes his inner circle of three to Mt. Hermon and is transfigured before them, manifesting His glory.

Jesus' Messianic miracles are to prove He is the Messiah but also to teach His disciples, who eventually proclaim that "He is the Christ.”

Jesus combats the perverted legalism of the Pharisees and heals Gentiles in Tyre and the Decapolis, all proving He is the Messiah

Because of their faith, Jesus transforms a demon-possessed man, a synagogue leader (and his daughter) and a woman with a disease that made her unclean.

Jesus teaches in parables to reveal truth and to hide truth.

As Jesus calls His 12 apostles, the scribes and Pharisees claim that His miracles are done by the power of Satan, not the Spirit, thereby slandering the Holy Spirit of God.

Jesus' ministry causes conflict and rejection within the Jewish leadership resulting in the plot to kill Him.

Jesus' Galilean ministry causes conflict with the leadership of Israel.

Jesus proclaims the kingdom of God and His Messianinc miracles prove that proclamation.

To prove his thesis that the gospel is about Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Mark presents the forerunner John the Baptist, Jesus' baptism and His temptation in a fast-paced narrative.

In the daily battles of spiritual warfare, rely on God's resources--the Whole Armor of God.

Being filled with the Spirit creates a work ethic honoring to and blessed by God.

Paul discusses the role responsibilities within marriage, only possible through the filling of the Spirit (5:18).