I've had an Epiphany!

Mark 3:1-6 Jesus entered the synagogue again, and a man was there with a withered hand. 2 They were watching Jesus closely to see if he would heal the man on the Sabbath day, so that they could accuse him. 3 He said to the man with the withered hand, “Step forward!” 4 Then he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath day to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5 Then he looked around at them with anger, deeply grieved at the hardness of their hearts. He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” The man stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 The Pharisees left and immediately began to conspire against Jesus with the Herodians, plotting how they might kill him. “God made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in trespasses.” (Ephesians 2:4) The opposition against Jesus is mounting. The devil has sent his demonic horde to torture poor souls in Galilee and Judea. The money changers in Jerusalem hope to never see Jesus again. Mark tells ...

Mark 2:1-12 When Jesus again entered Capernaum some days later, people heard that he was home. 2 So many people were gathered together that there was no more room, not even by the door, and he was speaking the word to them. 3 Some people came to him bringing a paralyzed man, carried by four men. 4 Since they could not bring the man to Jesus because of the crowd, they dug through the roof above where he was. When they had made an opening, they lowered the stretcher on which the paralyzed man was lying. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”   6 But there were some experts in the law sitting there and thinking in their hearts, 7 “Why does this fellow speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins except God alone?”   8 Jesus immediately knew in his spirit that they were thinking this way within themselves. He asked them, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier: to tell the paralyz...

Mark 1:12–15 12 The Spirit immediately sent Jesus out into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels were serving him. 14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God. 15 “The time is fulfilled,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near! Repent, and believe in the gospel.” “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) Amen. You may have noticed that we received a little bit of snow this week. It probably took you a while to shovel 17 inches of snow out of your driveway and sidewalk. Or maybe you had a really nice neighbor who helped you with his snowblower. If he helps you, I’m guessing you’re going to be appreciative. Not so with a reporter named Virginia. She wrote an op-ed for a major newspaper on how upset she was with her neighbor for snowblowing her driveway. Because Virginia and her neighbor support different political candidate...

Mark 9:2-9 2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him and led them up a high mountain where they were alone by themselves. There he was transfigured in front of them. 3 His clothes became radiant, dazzling white, whiter than anyone on earth could bleach them. 4 And Elijah appeared to them together with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 He did not know what to say because they were terrified. 7 A cloud appeared and overshadowed them, and a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him.” 8 Suddenly when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus alone. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. “We do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselve...

Mark 1:29-39 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. 32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was. 35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!" 38 Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else-- to the nearby villages-- so I can preach there also. That is why I have come....