We’ve created an acrostic to help us remember some key points to turn this time of study into a time of spiritual growth and personal healing.
Digging deeper into these books will reveal truths that will change the way you view healing, and most important draw you closer to our Heavenly Father. May God bless you as you commit your time and heart to study His word.
Read: As you read and unpack this introduction of Mark, see also supporting scriptures found in: Mark 14:51-52, Acts 12:12, Acts 15:3-9; Acts 15:38; I Peter 5:13.
Introduction: Meeting Mark (Also known as John or John Mark )
Mark was not one of the 12 disciples of Jesus. He was one of the many who had heard of Jesus by His reputation as a great healer, and joined the crowd to witness the mighty works of God. When Jesus arrived in Jerusalem on what we call “Palm Sunday”, Mark undoubtedly found a place among the crowd who welcomed the Savior with palm branches and cloaks laid in the path, as a conquering-hero.
During Passover week, church tradition holds that it was in the “Upper Room” of Mark’s own father’s house that Jesus gathered with His disciples for the last supper, a time of preparation and prayer before Jesus would be arrested in the olive grove known as the Garden of Gethsemane. How did Mark know that there was one young man, wrapped in a sheet, lurking on the side-lines to observe the way by which his hero was ambushed and arrested, and the commotion that followed? Was it Mark who panicked when the soldiers grabbed him, leaving his sheet in their hands, running away naked in fear of his own life?
The next time we see Mark in the Bible, he has joined the Apostle Paul and gone on the very first hazardous trek to spread the Gospel salvation message of healing, love, and eternal life to the world surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. That is, until, overcome by the dangers of the mission, Mark abandoned it, and left for the familiar safety and comfort of home.
Interestingly, the next time Paul set out to visit the young churches they had planted on the first journey, he refused to trust Mark, the quitter, to accompany him. It was Barnabus who took the aspiring young evangelist under his wing, and gave him the opportunity to prove himself an Apostle.
Ultimately, it was the Apostle Peter that Mark attached himself to. He became like a son to Peter. It was from Peter’s sharing of his personal experiences with Jesus that Mark gathered the details of the Master’s words and works, ministry and miracles deciding to spread the Good News in writing.
Thus, we have Mark’s own Gospel, the first account of Jesus Christ put into writing for us to meet, not only Mark, but his hero-Savior and Lord-Jesus. Through Mark’s Gospel, we hear of His power to heal and save those who trust Him as their own saving, healing Lord.
Questions:
Read Mark 1: 21-28
Sick Among Us
Jesus was in the sea-side town of Capernaum on a Sabbath. He went into the local synagogue and began to preach. Can you imagine Jesus stopping by your church to preach one day? He spoke with authority, not as the teachers of the law had taught. That’s because He literally was and still is the Word of God in the flesh. (John 1:1-2).
There was a demon-possessed man in the synagogue that day. Could it be that he had hidden this spiritual affliction? When face to face with the Son of God, the demon could no longer hide for fear of Jesus. Notice how Jesus reacted to this demon-possessed man who was interrupting his teaching. He said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!” And the demon left the man shrieking at that moment. All those attending that day saw Jesus’ power to cast out evil spirits.
Questions:
Read Mark 1: 29-34
Gathering at the Door
Jesus was still in Capernaum and headed to the home of Simon (Peter) and Andrew. Peter’s mother-in-law was sick, so they brought Jesus to her. Taking her hand, He helped her up and the fever left her. She didn’t ask for the healing. Instead, her son-in-law, who personally knew Jesus, brought Jesus to her.
Later that evening, people came to bring their sick loved ones to Jesus. Picture the entire town gathered around the door of Peter and Andrew’s tiny house. These people wanted help for their loved ones and crowded the door where they knew Jesus was staying. The account says Jesus healed many who had various diseases and were demon-possessed.
Questions:
Read Mark 1: 35 – 39
Time with God
After a night of non-stop healings in Capernaum, Jesus got up before sunrise to be alone and pray to God. The night before, He had just ministered to the entire town seeking healing for their sick and demon-possessed loved ones.
It’s refreshing to see that the Son of God placed a priority on being alone with His Heavenly Father. He had just been serving, helping, listening, healing and caring for people, but now this was His time to refocus and regenerate, and how does He do so? He spends time with God. He too needed a time of refreshing.
His alone time was cut short when His disciples told Him everyone was looking for Him. But Jesus said, “Let’s go somewhere else.” Although physical healing was part of Jesus’ ministry, what did He say was his reason for coming? He had more preaching to do.
Questions:
Read Mark 1: 40-45
If You Are Willing
“If you are willing, you can make me clean.” This is what a man with leprosy said to Jesus. Jesus had compassion for the man, touched him and said, “I am willing.” He healed him right there, giving him instructions to tell no one of his healing but to go to the priests, offer sacrifices for his healing as a testimony to them. Instead, the healed man went around telling everyone his good news. Would you blame the man for spreading the word?
This account is where we see an immediate healing due to this man’s faith. He believed Jesus could heal him and begged for it. He sought Jesus as the one who could heal him. No matter if Jesus heals immediately or over time, we are to learn from this man’s faith that Jesus is willing!
Questions:
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Do you have the will to live?
Maybe you don’t, and that’s okay, but if you have the will to live, you MUST adopt the beat cancer mindset and these other aspects Chris shares in this quick clip from our 2023 10 Year HealingStrong Conference.
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True or true?
We are all about the next step. This is why we share a Good, Better, Best approach in our holistic curriculum as well. We are not here to overwhelm anybody, but instead, support you where you are and encourage you no matter what your diagnosis or prognosis is.
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We believe there is always HOPE. We believe healing happens at home (our choices matter). We believe we heal better together - DO NOT JOURNEY ALONE!
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to find a group or 3 to join😉
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be encouraged through stories on our podcast:
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We’d recommend starting with episodes 1, 71, 89 (3 of our TOP 5 most downloaded episodes).
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When a vegetarian realizes she knows nothing about nutrition...
listen to the second episode of @christinacooks share her story plus encourage the listeners with some simple, and practical tips.
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Episode #92 - part 2 of 2
Deficiencies and what to do...
with the food, soil, air pollution, toxic load we all encounter on a day to day basis, it ends up lending to there being deficiencies within each of us. This is why we discuss supplements inside our groups and holistic group curriculum...
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Physical healing is necessary, BUT...
there is a component to healing that must NOT be ignored.
Your emotional and mental well-being. What we think, who we need to forgive, all matter just as much.
Find resources and support by going to:
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#healingstrong #renewthesoul #cancersupport #cancer
Our food has changed... no doubt about it...
and we discussed how it has changed, in what ways, and what we can do about it to help ourselves live a healthier, more empowered life, especially for those in the United States of America.
Much more was shared beyond these slides, so make sure to register for the next and FINAL Q&A and don’t miss out... come learn alongside others in our next and FINAL summer holistic Q&A webinar...
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Maybe you serve at your local food bank, as a coach for a child’s sports team, for your church or elsewhere?
Did you know HealingStrong is mostly made up of volunteers? In fact, we’re MORE than 95% volunteer-led!
Each Group Leader is a volunteer who has taken a leap of faith to bring hope to their community, whether in-person or online. Our Group Leaders are made up of cancer survivors / thrivers, caregivers and those living for prevention. Some even volunteer with a friend and run their HealingStrong support group together.
In case you can’t tell, we LOVE to be in community... we truly believe we HEAL better together, and should NOT journey alone!
In this quick clip, listen to Denise who co-leads a group in North Dallas about a gift she loves to receive while in her Group Leader role. It’s probably not a gift you’re thinking...
📧 If you’d like to contact Denise, and you’re in the North Dallas area, you can reach her and her co-leader at:
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Have you ever heard of Valerian root or Vervain?
Jane from @barlowherbal and also a partner of HealingStrong, shares what they are, why to add them, and how they have helped her.
We’re so excited about this partnership with Barlow Herbal because Jane is not only a wealth of knowledge, a very kind, loving and generous soul, but offers amazing products that our community loves.
#healingstrong #barlowherbal #herbs #planthealth #stressrelief #insomnia
Don`t hold on to bitterness...
Renew the Soul, YOUR soul.
#forgive #healingstrong #cancersupport
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Terminal leukemia...
listen to this part 1 of 2 podcast interview with emmy-winning celebrity chef and a very unique journey to health... Christina Pirello of @christinacooks shares what led to her diagnosis and how her journey toward holistic healing began...
you don`t want to miss this episode...
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“I will be spreading the word about your plans, for they really have guided me and given me encouragement in my job search..."
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Refresh your spirit in Gods Word today and everyday…
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