The Journey
By Don Hatfield
Copyright 2013 Don Hatfield
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Table of Contents:
Introduction
Mark 1 The Road of Meeting
Mark 2 The Road of Authority
Mark 3 The Road of the Followers
Mark 4 The Road of Sowing
Mark 5 The Road of Grace
Mark 6 The Road of Sending
Mark 7 The Road of Hearing
Mark 8 The Road of Rebuke
Mark 9 The Road of Transfiguration
Mark 10 The Road of the Rich
Mark 11 The Road of Entry
Mark 12 The Road of His Warning
Mark 13 The Road of His Return
Mark 14 The Road of Betrayal
Mark 15 The Road of Death
Mark 16 The Road of Resurrection
Introduction:
Take a walk with me using you God given imagination through the Gospel of Mark. Stand on the bank and look down as John baptizes Jesus in the Jordan River. Then walk the dusty roads, wind down the cobble streets and climb the mountain paths as we get to know this man.
Be with Him as He heals the sick, cures the leper and raises the dead. Then follow Him up Calvary's Hill and be there close to Him as He gives His life for us. Yes, use your imagination and get to know your Savior a little better.
There are some blank pages in the book in case something may strike your imagination as you are reading and you would like to write your thoughts down.
The Gospel of Mark 1
The Road of Meeting
John the Baptist prepares the way
The day was sweltering hot and I thought I might go for a swim in the Jordan River. I had heard that there was a lot of commotion going on from the Jews in the countryside as well as at the Jordan River. I had no idea what was going on with them but I thought to myself, perhaps if I go out to the river today they won't be there as it was drawing close to their Sabbath. But as I approached the river it looked as if the whole city of Jerusalem was there. I walked silently up to the edge of the crowd hoping that they would not notice the Gentile among them. Being a little taller than most of them I caught a glimpse of what was going on. There was a wild looking man in the river and it looked like he was wearing clothes made from camel's hair. His hair was black as midnight and his eyes dark and smoldering. I waited a little while for some of the noise to die down so that I could hear what he was saying. He spoke with an authoritative voice, "repent, confess your sins, for there is one coming whose shoes I am not even worthy to tie. I will baptize you with water but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." I must confess that I had no idea what he was talking about. But then again I never did understand what these Jews were talking about when they talked about this one God of theirs. They finally left and I was able to get my swim and washing in, then I went into town to have some supper and get a good night's rest.
The Baptism of Jesus (9 - 11)
I awoke the next morning to a great deal of commotion as people were flocking back out to the Jordan River. I was taking a little vacation from my blacksmith business which I jointly owned with my brother in the city of Bethany. My curiosity got the best of me so I followed them out to the Jordan to find out what all the commotion was about today. I also must admit that the strange man from yesterday fascinated me. Again I walked up to the edge of the crowd and peered out into the river to see what this strange man was doing today. I asked one of the onlookers what the man's name was. He replied, that is John the Baptist son of Zacharias and Elizabeth, he eats only wild locust and honey. We love to watch his antics as you never know what he is going to do next.
As I was looking down at this man named John standing in the middle of the Jordan I saw a man approach John and began to talk with him. I saw John shaking his head over and over again holding up his hands as if in protest. I faintly overheard him say, No! No! No! Then I watched this man put his hand on John's shoulder and John begin to shake his head as if to say okay but he seemed humbled as he shook his head. How can I describe this man that John was talking to, there was nothing unusual about him and yet he seemed so different from everyone else? It was as if he held a magnet in his hand and was drawing people to him. I felt as if I wanted to approach him and speak to him but I stayed back in the crowd where I would not be noticed. Then I watched as John put him under the water, the Jews call this baptizing. Then he came up out of the water and I know this is going to sound strange but it was as if the very sky parted, the heavens open and the sun shone as I never had never seen it shine before. From my place in the crowd I could not quite make out all that was happening but it looked as if a white dove came down and landed on him. Then it was as if the heavens opened up and spoke although I could not make out what was said. The crowd became silent. The strange man then walked into the crowd passing right by me. It was almost as if I could feel his eyes on me. I felt my heart melt within me as He walked by.
The Temptation of Jesus (12-13)
I watched him as he walked away and about 50 people began to follow him. I also joined in the crowd staying well out site of him. The further we walked the more the others begin to dwindle away until finally there was no one but him and me walking. Then the path we were on began to narrow. The Olive trees which were blooming and so full of fruit begin to wither and become destitute of any leaves or fruit. The branches of the trees had begun to grow over the path as if trying to block out the sun. Even though the sun behind us was shining brightly, it became darker and darker. Darkness like I have never experienced. It was as if you could actually feel the darkness as it began to surround us. The path became so dense that you had to start picking your way through the branches of the trees that overshadowed it. It became so foreboding and oppressive that I finally had to stop. I could go no further and so I watched him as he worked his way up the path. I thought I would just wait here as I could see that the path ended at the precipice of a narrow cliff. I stayed there until it got dark and I could no longer see. I decided to placed twigs and branches on the path so I could tell when He came back down the path and out of the dense thicket. If you were to ask me then why are you doing what you are doing and why did you do it for so many days I could not give an answer. All I can say is I just did it and I did it for 40 days. I would leave when darkness began to creep in. I would then go into town and get something to eat. I would then find a place to sleep and rest for the night. Then early in the morning I would get back up and go back to the thicket. I would look up into that fog that never seemed to lift to see if I could catch a glimpse of Him. Every day for 40 days those branches that I placed over the path never moved. Above that thicket crows, vultures and ravens were always flying about and making screeching noises. Where and how I got the nerve to stay there I will never know. On the 40th day as I looked up the path I saw a figure approaching. I wasn't sure if it was the same man that had gone up because he looked so different. It was as if he had faced some terrible ordeal. He had lost weight, his garments were practically in shreds, his hair was matted to his head and yet he still had that resolute look on his face. I hid back in the olive trees and watched as he walked by. The further he got from the thicket the more the sun began to shine, the brighter the day
became, there were scores of doves flying silently overhead and I know this sounds crazy but it is as if something or someone was ministering to him as his garments seem to mend themselves and become whiter than the whitest white that I've ever seen. I followed him back into town where he stopped at market and got something to eat. Then he sat down to rest and fell asleep and I also fell asleep watching him.
Jesus begins His Ministry (14 - 15)
When I awoke he was still sleeping. I got up to stretch and I heard some men talking about the man called John the one who had been baptizing in the Jordan and the one who baptized the one I was following. They said he'd been arrested and put in prison for telling people to repent of their sins. I thought how ridiculous just because someone was telling someone to stop their wrong doing and do right they were put in prison. After he woke, I begin to follow him again and I heard him saying to others the same thing that the man named John had been saying. "Repent, the time is come, the kingdom of God is near, the good news is here, just believe." I had the most horrible thought. Could this man who was saying the same thing as John had said, could He be put into prison also just for asking people to do right. There must be some misunderstanding, something I did not know. After all are there not laws that would not allow something like this to happen? Are there not good people who would stand up for this kind of wrong? Yes, surely there must be some mistake; good people would not allow this to happen.
Jesus Calls the First Disciples (16 - 20)
I begin to follow him again as he walked down to the Sea of Galilee. He seemed to be in no hurry enjoying the bright morning sun and the gentle waves lapping at the shore. Then as He walked along the shore he stopped at a boat where two rough looking men were getting ready to cast their net out into the small waves. When they saw him, they froze as he began to speak to them. I was almost within earshot and I could make little of what they were saying. I was able to make out the following words "follow me and I will make you fishers of men" They dropped their nets got out of the boat and began to walk along with him. Going probably another 500 feet up the shore he stopped at another boat where two other men were mending their nets along with who I geuss was their father, a man named Zebedee. The next thing I knew the father raised his hands as if to say what you are doing as the two younger men got out of the boat and began to also follow him. From there they made camp as I he hid in the thickets. As I eavesdropped I heard them call Him Jesus.
Jesus Heals a Man with an Unclean Spirit (21- 28)
The next morning they spotted me outside the camp, I have the feeling that He knew that I was there all the time. The man named Jesus came over to me and invited me to follow along with them. I ask him where you are going. His answer, why don't you just follow? For some reason I felt compelled to do so. From there we traveled into Capernaum. It was the Sabbath Day and Jesus entered into the synagogue. Being a Gentile I stood just outside where I could still hear and see what was going on. Jesus began to teach and talk to the people. They looked enthralled as they sat there listening. Jesus spoke about this God of the Jews as if he knew Him personally. When all of a sudden a wild looking man came running up to Jesus falling to his knees and screaming at the top of his lungs," what have you to do with us Jesus of Nazareth have you come to destroy us?" I thought to myself who is us, there's only this one man kneeling there and yet it sounded as if a chorus of men or should I say a chorus of something hideous were all shouting the same thing. Then they screamed out something even more astonishing," I know who you are they screamed". "The Holy One of God," Jesus had started to walk away but when they said this he rapidly turned back to them and said "be silent come out of him" The wild looking man became very quiet and calm. He seemed almost reverent in front of this man who I had just met a few days ago. I could hear the people in the crowd saying," What is this", even unclean spirits obey Him. "He talked to them for a while longer and then he dispersed the crowd. I could hear different groups conversing about him and I knew that it would not be long before his fame began to spread all through Galilee.
Jesus Heals Many (29 - 34)
As we left the synagogue and begin to walk into the city I learned the names of the other men who accompanied us. There was Simon and Andrew along with James and John. We walked down the narrow streets and stopped in the marketplace where we purchased some dried fish, olives, dates, figs and a loaf of bread. Then we wound down some dusty corridors stopping at a small house which I learned was the house of Simon's mother-in-law. When we walked in the door it was obvious that she was sick with fever as she lay there on her bed. Jesus had remained outside talking to a little boy. I could hear the little boy's laughter although I had no idea what Jesus was saying to him. When told about Simon's mother-in-law Jesus came in to the house took her by the hand pulled her up and the fever left her. She began to smile, our eyes were about to burst out of our heads in amazement. She then prepared food and begin to serve us. We set around the rest of the day and talked of fishing, mending nets and just the common ordinary things people talk about. The man Jesus told us that he was a carpenter by trade. Then we started to hear a commotion outside the door. It sounded as if the whole town had come down to Simon's mother-in-law's house. I thought it's just as I thought it would be his fame has begun to spread all around. He stepped out of the house and talked with the people there. There were at least 100 people gathered there many with different diseases. All of us watched in astonishment as he healed every one of them. There were also wild looking men and women just like the one who had been in the synagogue earlier. Jesus said the same thing to them" come out and be silent." That night as I laid down and tried to go to sleep I wondered what I had gotten myself into.
Jesus Preaches in Galilee (35 - 39)
By this time my brother whom I share my blacksmith business with had caught up with me. Although he did not understand my following this man, he did leave me with some money and went back to the business. During the time that my brother and I were talking Jesus watched us and made no move whatsoever to convince me whether to leave or stay. I made my own free choice to go on with him that day, and I did thank him for not interfering. The rest of the day passed without any unusual events occurring if you could say being around the most unusual man I had ever met was not unusual. That night when I went to bed I again questioned myself as to what I was doing and if the choice I had made was a wise one. About daybreak we all begin to rise and found Jesus missing. Simon, John and the others including myself begin to look for him. At the top of the small hill we stopped and stared in silence as we watched him kneeling in the grass. His hands were spread upward toward heaven and there was a soft hush all around us. Even though it was early morning not a bird or even a rooster was making a sound. The morning sky looked as if it had been painted just for him. After he got up from the place where he was kneeling he came walking back to us. Simon said to him everyone is looking for you. To which he replied, "Let us go on to the next towns and let me speak to them also for that is why I came." We went through all of Galilee as he preached in the synagogues healing the sick and casting out demons.
Jesus Cleanses a Leper (40 -45)
I had never seen a person with leprosy before this night and had only heard about what an awful disease it was. So forgive me if my description is not completely accurate because what happen next happened in the dead of night. It was around one o’clock in the morning, John and the others had chased everyone away so that we could get some rest. We had all gone inside and as Jesus started to come in he turned and waited for a moment. I looked out the window and saw a figure approaching him out of the shadows. Whether the person was a man or woman I could not tell for they had wrapped themselves in a blanket so that their whole body would be covered. As the person came and stood in front of Jesus they dropped the blanket and I must confess that the most pathetic and hideous sight I had ever seen stood there in front of him. Giant boils covered this person's face; the lips looked like they were completely sealed shut from the horri
ble eruptions on the face. The skin around the eyes was so covered with what looked like seeping boils that I wondered how the person could even see. As I looked at the hands, torso, and feet they no longer even looked like hands or feet but just grotesque pieces of flesh. I then heard the person speak in a voice full of more anguish than I've ever heard in my life. It was if every pain, suffering, torment and sorrow was present in that voice. The person only said eight words, " if you will, you can make me clean." Jesus looked at the person with a face full of compassion and pity. He reached out his hand and laid it on the disfigured person's cheek and then He said just four words back," I will; be clean." Before my very eyes what was the most hideous sight I had ever seen turned in to one of the most handsome men I've ever seen. His skin seemed to radiate health. His eyes glowed full of joy. His teeth perfect between his lips and his hands. His feet and torso restored to new. As I stood there with tears streaming down my cheeks I heard Jesus say to him," see that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded as a proof to them." I must confess I did not know what Jesus was talking about when he told the man to go to the priest. But I do not think he went because it was not long before people were coming out of every desolate place and quarter as they heard about this. If I were honest had I been that man I'm not sure I could've kept quiet either. After this, Jesus had trouble going openly into any town. Who could this man be that even leprosy had no power when confronted by him?