Gems from Mark - Part 3 of 4

Mark is a gospel of action. One way a writer keeps readers engaged is by including dialogue. Mark includes some interesting conversations, actual dialogue, that the other writers leave out. Matthew and Luke include alot of parables, which are great teaching tools, but are a monologue from the one teaching. If I'm going to listen to a monologue of anyone, Jesus would be my top pick. But it's cool to see how He interacted with the people He ministered to. Today's gems (found only in Mark) are dialogue with or quotes from Jesus. Starting at the end of the book and working our way back to chapter 1:

• "These signs will accompany those who have believed in My name: they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues, they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing it will not hurt them, they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover." (16:17-18)
• A conversation with one of the scribes who asked Jesus: "What commandment is foremost of all?" Jesus answered, "The foremost is, 'Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." The scribe said to Him, "Right, Teacher, You have truly stated that He is one, and there is no one else besides Him; and to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and will all the strength and to love one's neighbor as himself is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently He said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." (12:29-34)
• Jesus said: "For everyone will be salted with fire.... Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another." (10:49,50)
• Jesus' conversation with the father of the demon-possessed boy includes this great tidbit: And He asked [the boy's] father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us!" And Jesus said to him, "'If You can?' All things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the boy's father cried out and said, "I do believe; help my unbelief." (9:21-23)
• When the apostles returned to report to Jesus what they had done and taught, He said to them: "Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while." (6:31)
• Jesus said: "The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." (1:15)

More gems await! I can't include them all here, but Mark is a quick read. It only takes a couple of hours. This week, skip a movie or some prime time TV and read the whole book of Mark in one sitting. You might be suprised how easy it is to do. Mark hooks you and keeps you reading with his quick, action-packed writing style. Dig in!