Who is Jesus?

Happy Easter! Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 47 of 47 in our Lent and Easter series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/easter

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 46 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Easter resources at severnvineyard.org/easter

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 45 of 47 in our Lent and Easter series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Easter resources at severnvineyard.org/easter

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 44 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 43 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 42 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 41 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 40 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 39 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 38 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 37 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 36 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 35 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 34 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 33 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 32 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 31 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 30 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 29 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 28 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 27 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 26 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 25 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 24 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 23 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 22 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 21 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 20 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 19 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 18 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 17 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 16 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 15 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 14 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 13 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 12 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 11 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 10 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 9 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 8 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 7 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 6 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. How can something good like healing make people so uncomfortable? What was it about Jesus or what he was doing that made religious leaders not just disagree or ignore him, but plot to kill him? Before dismissing these leaders as rubbish or ignorable, look at how these people made Jesus feel, and why. Mark points to their “stubborn hearts” which produced “anger” in Jesus. Did that mean Jesus wanted to dismiss them? Or that he loved them deeply, and wanted them to see and join in what God was doing which was going to bring about change – in the world, but first in them? Lots of people wanted to be changed because they knew they were ill. What would encourage me to change when I don't think I need or want to? Maybe Jesus wants to show us how we can live differently, perhaps more healthily, today so we don't need to get sick. Why not ask him? More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 5 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. How do you feel about new things and change? It might be a mixture. Perhaps change is exciting, freshening, invigorating. I know how my life was last week, but something is changing this week – couldn't that be amazing, full of fresh possibilities? If you won a “life-changing” sum of money, wouldn't you be overjoyed? That depends. Maybe there are things I don't want to change. Come to think of it, I rely quite a lot on experience, predictability, routines, knowing what's what. Change is a challenge to that, difficult and stressful. If your doctor sat you down and said you needed to change, wouldn't you worry? In these passages, I wonder what made Jesus' challenges of old orders and promises of newness and change sound more welcome to some than others. Does it depend on how much they needed change, or how much they had to lose? Bring yourself and your thoughts about this to Jesus. Where do you know you need change? What will he encourage you to expect? More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 4 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. Yesterday, Jesus might have seemed hard to find. Today, here he is – can you imagine how exciting it would have been in this house, in his presence? Jesus saw faith in the men cutting a hole in the roof to help a paralyzed man. What does that say to you about faith – what is it? Where do you not only believe something could or should happen, but get your tools out and start to change things? Where is your sense so strong about how life should be different that you aren't just waiting and hoping, but knocking through walls and cutting through roofs to get where you need to be? Does any hope draw you in that strongly? Would you like it to? Imagine approaching Jesus like this today. He's been hard to find. Now, you know where he is but there are walls in the way. Name them – what comes between you and time with Jesus? Being busy? Feeling tired, uninspired, guilty or ashamed? Have the faith to cut through those walls now and bring yourself, healthy or not, into Jesus' presence. Let him see how you are and give you whatever you need. More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel on day 3 of our 47 day journey. Music by Bern Leckie. Jesus was “indignant” – really? If that grabbed your attention, you might remember other Bibles saying “filled with compassion”, and scholars can't agree on which is right. It's probably not meant to be both, because the problem is most likely a copying error between two similar Greek words, but no-one is sure which was the original and which was the error. You'll have to ask Jesus! This brings up a big question which is also part of the story here – why can Jesus be so hard to find? Everyone was looking for Jesus, but he didn't go straight to those people who wanted and needed him. Why? You'll have to ask Jesus. Maybe this passage feels like other parts of our faith life – frustrating, ambiguous, impossible to agree on or understand. But here it is. Can you accept it as it is, without fully understanding? Can you reflect on what it means to seek space, like Jesus did, for prayer? If you can find that space today, can you ask Jesus whatever you like, and still be content not to have all the answers? More Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads from Mark's gospel, day 2 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. Jesus is a rare leader who doesn't just talk the talk about making the world better, but walks the walk and demonstrates the power to change things. As you reflect on Jesus and what it's like to follow him, what grabs your in this passage? Are you most impressed by the clarity of his calling, the wisdom of his teaching, or the power of his actions? What would you most like to see more of in your life? It might help to think about who you relate to most in this passage. Are you like one of the people who has been touched by Jesus' healing power, or is that what you need? Or are you more like one of the people who decided to follow Jesus, learn how this works, and get involved? Maybe you are somewhere in the crowd, interested but not sure how to commit yourself right now. Wherever you are right now, if you would like to go with Jesus for a while to see more, ask him what he would like to show you today. Find more Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Claire Lynch reads the opening of Mark's gospel, day 1 of 47 in our Lent series. Music by Bern Leckie. Good news – life can be different! Mark is writing to people who want and need this, who know that carrying on the way things are is not an option. It will lead to death, but they are hungry for life. Are you hungry for change? If it came today, would you hear John's call to repent (which means ‘change your mind') and receive forgiveness as good news or an unwelcome challenge? Would you want to know more? What would you look for to check this call was authentic, and not a scam? At the beginning of Lent, we are invited to follow Jesus into the wilderness for forty days, taking time away from normal things, seeking God, growing trust in him. We might fast and feel more hunger for change. We will also need food. Can you take some time now to ask God how he wants to feed you today? Find more Lent resources at severnvineyard.org/lent

Lots of people love him. So many people admire and respect him. Some worship him. He's been called a teacher, an inspiration, even a saviour. But who is Jesus? How can we know? And what difference could that make to us, how we see the world, and how we live? In this series of big thoughts and questions, discussions and creativity, we are going to look at Jesus through the story of Mark's gospel, what it meant to the people who lived it and heard it first, and what it could mean to us today. If you'd like to get in touch and share what's on your mind, email hello@severnvineyard.org. Follow us here for updates every week and find more at https://www.severnvineyard.org/jesus