In Week 10, we'll finish the "Mark track" of our reading by finishing the gospel of Mark and then reading 1 & 2 Peter and Jude.  

Mark 14-16 recounts Jesus’ final days, emphasizing His sacrificial death and resurrection. In Mark 14, Jesus is betrayed, arrested, and tried. Mark 15 details His crucifixion, where He endures suffering to atone for sin. Mark 16 proclaims His resurrection, affirming His victory over death and His call to spread the gospel.

In 1 Peter, Peter encourages Christians facing persecution, reminding them to stand firm in their faith. Major themes include suffering for Christ, living holy lives, and trusting in God’s grace. Believers are called to endure trials with hope, knowing they share in Christ’s sufferings.

2 Peter warns against false teachers and urges believers to grow in knowledge and godliness. Peter emphasizes the certainty of Christ’s return and God’s judgment.

Jude addresses similar issues, warning against ungodly influences and calling Christians to contend for the faith. All these books emphasize God’s sovereignty, grace, and the hope of eternal life.

Let's enter into our rhythm of LEARN, READ, INTERACT.

From How to Read the Bible through the Jesus Lens, Michael Williams makes these points about Mark:

Phrase: Suffering Servant
Theme: Jesus is the suffering Son of Man.
Christ-focus: God became flesh in Christ to suffer for our sakes (Acts 26:22-23).
Implications: We should be ready to suffer as consequence of our faith in Jesus Christ and our service to him (Philippians 1:29).
Questions: Do hard times cause you to question your faith?  How does suffering fit with your understanding of salvation and service?

From How to Read the Bible through the Jesus Lens, Michael Williams makes these points about 1 Peter:

Phrase: Standing Firm
Theme: God equips struggling believers to stand firm in his grace as they live holy lives.
Christ-focus: Jesus shared in our humanity to free us from the power of sin so that by his strength we can stand firm in the face of trials and temptations (Hebrews 2:18).
Implications: We must stand firm in the grace God gives us to lead a holy life (1 Peter 4:19).
Questions: Is your Christian life on shaky ground?  Where are you looking for help?  Have you ever suffered for doing good?

From How to Read the Bible through the Jesus Lens, Michael Williams makes these points about 2 Peter:

Phrase: Holding on to Truth
Theme: God encourages believers in the security and grace of divine truth as they patiently await the Lord's return.
Christ-focus: Jesus himself resisted the devil's temptations by means of the word of God (Matthew 4:1-11).
Implications: Let us make every effort to know the truth so that we may be protected from error and grow in the grace that such knowledge brings (2 Peter 1:3-4).
Questions: Can you explain the basic truths of your faith to someone else?  Can you defend those basic truths against attack?  Do you question those basic truths?

From How to Read the Bible through the Jesus Lens, Michael Williams makes these points about Jude:

Phrase: Secure in Love
Theme: God warns his people against those who encourage them to view his grace as a license to sin.
Christ-focus: Jesus is the good shepherd, who guards his sheep from those who try to steal them away (John 10:26-30).
Implications: By God's love we are kept secure in the faith (Jude 20-21).
Questions: What do you do when your faith is threatened?  How do you know when your faith is being threatened?

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