Mark's Story

by Jerry B. Jenkins

  “It appears you’ve gotten more than your money’s worth out of these,” the cobbler said, introducing himself as Atef, a family man. It made Mark smile to hear him mention his loved ones reminding Mark of his own family. He told Mark, “You would be better off to invest in new ones, rather than pay me to fix these.”

  “Unfortunately,” Mark said, “I am currently without means. I have only enough to pay you to perhaps reattach this strap.”

  “If you’re sure.”

  “I am, but I will make you a solemn promise. Because you showed concern for my expense, when I have settled and have my affairs in order, I will return and buy sandals from you.”

  “I sell only used and remade ones, sir, but if that is your wish, I will accommodate you.”

  “Do you mind if I watch while you work?”

  “Not at all! Was it your hope I would repair this right now?”

  “Oh, pardon me. I am sure you have other work ahead of it. I am willing to wait.”

  “No! I can do it!”

  The good-natured Atef grabbed an awl from his rack and pulled a small piece of metal from a bin. “If I pierced it right there and fastened it with this, how would that be?”

  “I wouldn’t begin to tell you your trade, sir, but I envision it being more than adequate.”

  Atef lay the strap over his wood workbench, placed the point of the awl carefully over the leather, and smacked it three times. He held the strap up to the sunlight and asked Mark to move close. “See the light peeking through?” he said. “You don’t want it too big before the brad is forced through. Let the metal stretch the leather, and it will hold longer.”

  “”You should be a teacher, Atef.”

  “Ach!” Atef pressed the metal close to the tiny hole and attempted to push it through. “Sometimes I make the hole too small.”

  He sat and pressed his elbows close to his body, steadying the leather while pressing hard on the metal with his thumbs. Still it would not budge. Atef grabbed the awl and held the top to one end of the brad, slowly increasing the pressure. Mark saw the veins in his neck and forehead stand out, and he watched with interest to see how much force it would take to press the metal through.

  But suddenly the awl slipped and the point tore all the way through the web of skin between the man’s thumb and index finger. He leapt from his chair as blood spattered everywhere, holding the wound with his good hand and hopping about, swearing by every Egyptian god Mark had ever heard of.

  “Oh, my!” Mark said. “Atef! Let me see it!”

  “No! It has torn all the way through! Oh, my business will be ruined!”

  “Please, sit down and let me see.”

  “Go get me some help!”

  “I will, but you must show me first.”

  Grimacing, his eyes pressed shut, Atef finally sat and Mark knelt next to him. He gently put his hands over Atef’s and urged him to release his fingers so he could assess the wound. It was worse than Mark feared. The tool had not just pierced him, but it had also ripped the skin apart. Blood poured onto the ground.

  “Now please, sir, get me some help!”

  “Be still,” Mark said quietly, surprised himself by the calm in his tone. He held the man’s wounded hand in his own, then spat in the dirt next to where the blood was pooling. He reached with his free hand and mixed the spittle and blood and dirt to make a paste.

  Atef stiffened and tried to pull away when Mark brought the cool mixture up. Mark held the man’s wrist tight and pressed the clay directly into the wound, saying, “In the name of Jesus Christ who lives eternally, be whole.”

  Mark let go and leaned back, and Atef leapt to his feet, staring at his hand and turning it this way and that in the sunlight. There was no wound, not even the hint of a scar.

  “Who are you?” he demanded. “And who is this Jesus Christ you speak of?”

  “If you will introduce me to your family, I will tell you all about Him, from the first time I met Him until today.”

  “I will do better than that, sir! You shall have the best sandals I have available, free! And you shall have dinner with me and my family this very night.”

  Atef and his entire household listened raptly to the story of Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection, and return to heaven, and then to the story of the spread of the gospel. They all became believers and helped Mark start a church in Alexandria that soon grew so large it attracted the attention, and the ire, of local pagan leaders who specialized in idol worship.

  The church of Christ grew so large that its worship services conflicted with a festival honoring the pagan god Serapis. The local leaders led a mob into the sanctuary and seized Mark, binding him with ropes and dragging him through the streets. His captors exulted, “We’re taking the ox to the stall!”

  Mark was thrown into prison with deep lacerations all over his body from the stones over which he had been pulled. That night an angel appeared to him and told him that he would soon “rejoice on with the powers on high.”

  The next morning he had a rope thrown around his neck and was again dragged through the streets. When finally the rope cut off his breath, Mark surrendered to death. But the pagan leaders were not satisfied. They built a bonfire to consume his body.

  Before they could incinerate him, however, lightning flashed, thunder rolled, and the earth shook as God sent a hailstorm to snuff out the flames. As his tormentors scattered, Atef led a group of Christians who gathered up his remains and ensured he would be properly buried and his bones preserved.

  THE WORDS OF MARK

  MARK

  John the Baptist Prepares the Way

  1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2As it is written in the Prophets:a

  “Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,

  Who will prepare Your way before You.”b

  3 “The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

  ‘Prepare the way of the LORD;

  Make His paths straight.’”a

  4John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

  6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. 8I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

  John Baptizes Jesus

  9It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And immediately, coming up froma the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. 11Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

  Satan Tempts Jesus

  12Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. 13And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.

  Jesus Begins His Galilean Ministry

  14Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdoma of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

  Four Fishermen Called as Disciples

  16And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 17Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

  19When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. 20And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.

  Jesus Casts Out an Unclean Spirit

  21Then t
hey went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. 22And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

  23Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

  25But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” 26And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. 27Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authoritya He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” 28And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.

  Peter’s Mother-in-Law Healed

  29Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. 31So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.

  Many Healed After Sabbath Sunset

  32At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. 33And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.

  Preaching in Galilee

  35Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. 36And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. 37When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.”

  38But He said to them, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.”

  39And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.

  Jesus Cleanses a Leper

  40Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”

  41Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” 42As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. 43And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, 44and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

  45However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.

  Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralytic

  2 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. 2Immediatelya many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. 3Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. 4And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.

  5When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”

  6And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7“Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

  8But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? 9Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? 10But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, 11“I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 12Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

  Matthew the Tax Collector

  13Then He went out again by the sea; and all the multitude came to Him, and He taught them. 14As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.

  15Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi’s house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him. 16And when the scribes anda Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?”

  17When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”a

  Jesus Is Questioned About Fasting

  18The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”

  19And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. 20But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days. 21No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; or else the new piece pulls away from the old, and the tear is made worse. 22And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.”

  Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

  23Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain. 24And the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”

  25But He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him: 26how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?”

  27And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”

  Healing on the Sabbath

  3 And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. 2So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. 3And He said to the man who had the withered hand, “Step forward.” 4Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent. 5And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.a 6Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.

  A Great Multitude Follows Jesus

  7But Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea. And a great multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judea 8and Jerusalem and Idumea and beyond the Jordan; and those from Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they heard how many things He was doing, came to Him. 9So He told His disciples that a small boat should be kept ready for Him because of the multitude, lest they should crush Him. 10For He healed many, so that as many as had afflictions pressed about Him to touch Him. 11And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out, saying, “You are the Son of God.” 12But He sternly warned them that they should not make Him known.

  The Twelve Apostles

  13And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to H
im. 14Then He appointed twelve,a that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, 15and to have power to heal sicknesses anda to cast out demons: 16Simon,a to whom He gave the name Peter; 17James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder”; 18Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite; 19and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. And they went into a house.

  A House Divided Cannot Stand

  20Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. 21But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, “He is out of His mind.”

  22And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebub,” and, “By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.”

  23So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end. 27No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house.

  The Unpardonable Sin