Great Prayers

While the Apostle Paul was in prison facing his second trial, he wrote to his disciple Timothy and asked him to bring Mark with him and come to Rome. Mark, he said, was useful to him for the ministry. Most scholars think this is the same Mark who wrote the gospel. It seems that Luke, Timothy, Mark, and probably others were with Paul until his execution about AD 67. Mark stayed in Rome where there was a growing number of believers - some in Caesar’s own household. To help instruct the new believers, Mark wrote about what he learned from Peter, Barnabas, and Paul.

One of the things that make the Gospel of Mark so appealing is the ordinary people the writer describes. They faced issues like those many face today: a man with a debilitating physical condition, someone making a major vocational change, critics and faultfinders, a person with a damaged arm, the pressure of work and time, selecting helpers, and being misunderstood. Each of Mark’s stories contains lessons for the listeners.

Which year of your life was the most impactful so far? One year of my life, God spoke to me in a way I would never experience again. The things I heard and see manifest would forever change my life.