How Well Do You Know Yourself?

In a spiritual context, the question posed in my title can be a little discomforting. How close are we to God? What are our limits? What am I capable of doing that no one else is, good and bad? These are very thought-provoking questions about our soul and our eternal destiny. In reading the last few chapters of Mark I observe Peter and the rest of the apostle's reaction to Jesus' words in Mark 14:29-31. Peter promises he would not deny the Christ, but his actions proved otherwise (see Mark 14:66-72). Likewise compare Jesus' most trusted disciples reactions when Jesus said that they would betray him in Mark 14:18-21,27-31 to when they actually did betray him (Mark 14:50). How could someone even as strong as Peter deny the Lord? Do I deny the Lord? Though, I attend a religious university, read the Holy Bible, and pray often, can I sometimes be guilty of denying Jesus Christ? Or rather, the question could be could I be capable of turning against Jesus Christ? My message to the readers is to ask yourselves these same questions. Evaluate your answers carefully.

A List of Good WebSites

LDS Church's Online Gospel Library

Tony Melendez An Inspirational Video About Faith and Overcoming Trials

Here is The Joy Movie

Finding Faith in Christ (4-part series)

What the Gospel of Mark means to me

My class has been studying The Gospel of Mark in my class for the last month. I have also personally read it. The results have been quite inspirational and surprising. I have come to know some simple facts about the book, context, and authorship:

1. The Gospel of Mark was written by a man named John Mark who, as far as we know, had no significant role in the Jewish world in his time to make his work so famous. He is NOT one of the chosen apostles of Jesus Christ. His work is credible however, as scholars understand that his primary source was Peter, the chief apostle, and that it was the first of the gospels to be written.
2. The work was written to believing Jews and Romans to help them cope with persecution. These believing audiences were facing intense persecutions from other Jewish sects and fellow Roman officials. Mark draws attention to the apostles "straightway" leaving their engagements to follow Jesus Christ.
3. The more I study Jewish customs and religious practices and correlate with the history of antiquity the more sense the stories, parables, and idioms make sense. Everything falls into perspective and fits in context.
   

What does all of this me to ME? I have a few answers. First, I read the Gospel of Mark with more attention as to what the author is trying to convey. Whereas previously (and for many people) I read scripture like I would a history textbook. Second, I am more keen to digest both explicit details and implicit details. This kind of thorough attention yields greater insights into the mortal life of Jesus Christ. Finally, I am trying to do as our professor challenged us: to come to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Messiah on a personal level. The writings of Mark and other New Testament writers do this, but we are still just seeing the Savior through some one else's eyes. I believe it was indeed Jesus Christ who paid for the sins of the whole world, all so that we could have a better life--eternal life--in heaven.