I will never forget when Jesus sat across from me at a table. For months, I had invited him into my life for a coffee in the morning.

Sometimes, I would experience him. His presence would fill a room in what can only be described as a supernatural way. But this time was different.

I was sitting on the floor of a lake house in northern Idaho. Tears were streaming down my face. As a grown man, I had just experienced Jesus in an entirely new way in front of half a dozen other people.

It was as if the decade of my faith had come to a new level. Jesus invited me to the table, and I sat down with him. I felt fully known and fully loved in a way that changed everything.

Sure, I had experienced Jesus in some ways before. Whether from reading scripture or seeing his face in my mind during worship. There have been moments where I could see him.

But this was entirely different because I was on the floor crying and fully present with Jesus at a table in my grandparent’s basement. The room’s smell, the feel of the table, and the sound of his voice saying, “You are always welcome at my table.”

It changed everything for me, and I live to tell that story now.

Experiencing Jesus Through the Gospel of Mark

Shortly after that experience, Jesus seemed to show up everywhere. In my prayer life, there have been times when I feel his hand on my shoulder. And when he comes to me in my quiet times, it is as if he is there.

No, he isn’t there physically, but almost.

When I started reading the Gospels again, I came across the Gospel of Mark and realized something extraordinary. This Gospel draws me to experience Jesus differently.

It is one of the most fast-paced, action-packed books of the Bible. While it is brief, it is also very powerful. This is because we see Jesus as more than a teacher or rabbi. We see him actively stepping into people’s lives.

And I am seeing this in our world today. When we help guide ourselves before Jesus and others, we meet him as I did at the lake house.

The experiences are healing people of pains and hurt that have been plaguing them for years. It is delivering people from addictions and bondage. These experiences with Jesus propel people into a new life they never knew was possible.

I believe that the Gospel of Mark is the perfect book to help you experience Jesus, draw closer to him, and fall deeply in love with him as your Lord and Savior.

What We Can Learn From the Gospel of Mark

I have shared before that the entire Bible points to Jesus and the redemption of humanity. Yet, the Gospel of Mark shares much more about who Jesus is and what he did. This is tremendously important because his actions and teachings touch our lives today.

The Gospel of Mark immediately points us to Jesus and the fact that he is the Messiah by quoting the prophet Isaiah:

“Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you and he will prepare your way. He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!’” — Mark 1:2–3 / Isaiah 40:3

When experiencing Jesus, we need to think about a few things. First, we must remember he is God’s Son, the Messiah. Second, we need to create lives that make a way for him.

How do we do that? How do we create space in our lives to make way for Jesus to step right into our circumstances so that we can experience him more fully?

Well, it starts with believing in Jesus. When we believe that he died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins and was raised so that we may have eternal salvation, we make a way for him.

Then, it is a learning setting space to learn from him and get to know him through scripture. We do this by experiencing him. And we can experience him by observing three things that happen often in this book of the Bible:

• First, what does Jesus say or do?
• Second, how did people respond or react to what Jesus said or did?
• Third, how do you relate to what Jesus says and the reaction he received?

When we read the Gospel of Mark, we can step into every story and experience what Jesus is doing and how it changes the lives of the people around him. Because of this, we can experience Jesus in our lives today and expect him to step into our story.

Experiencing Discipleship with Jesus

When we believe in Jesus, we enter into a relationship with him, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit. This relationship changes us over time through the experiences we have with Jesus.

This is part of our maturity in our faith and, ultimately, discipleship from Jesus directly. Discipleship is our relationship with Jesus and how we are transformed by what he teaches us and how we experience him.

This devotional aims to help you experience Jesus in a way that transforms your life and brings you into a great relationship with Jesus, which will take you deeper into your relationship with God and in walking in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Throughout the pages of this devotional, we will experience Jesus in unique ways.

What Do We Know About the Gospel of Mark?

Before diving into this book of the Bible, we need to understand the background and context of what we read. These details, authorship, dates it was written, and the original audience is essential for reading the Bible and understanding what is happening and why.

Now, we believe that the Bible is inspired and breathed by God. This reminds us that even though the original audience lived differently, there are timeless truths that impact our lives and help us learn more about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and how we relate to all of them.

So, let’s dive into some of the details and get ready to see our lives changed by a more profound experience with Jesus:

• Author: John Mark, cousin to Barnabas and connected to the Apostle Peter. It is widely executed that John Mark is the writer of this book, and it is Peter’s account of the things he saw while he was under the discipleship of Jesus.
• Dates: Based on historical records and references within the book itself, it is commonly believed that the Gospel of Mark was written between 55 AD and 65 AD, making it potentially the first Gospel written.
• Audience: The way the book is written points to a Gentile Christian audience who may have been mostly Roman. It is to the point, draws people through the story, and has some reference to Jewish tradition to help provide context.
• Purpose: It is clear that the purpose of this book is to present the life and deeds of Jesus. What he did, what he said, and how people responded. It is an action-packed book of the Bible that moves very quickly to help give people a holistic experience of Jesus.

When We Read the Gospel of Mark

While I mentioned this earlier, we want to read the Gospel of Mark, focusing on what Jesus does and says, how people respond, and how we relate to the teaching, events, and responses.

What did Jesus SAY?

Reading the stories of what Jesus did and said gives us a clear picture of who Jesus was and what he was about in his earthly ministry. This is essential for us to experience Jesus in our lives today.

How Did People Respond to Jesus?

Did people follow him? Did they mock him? Where the indifferent to him? Things Jesus said and did would elicit a variety of responses. People experienced him differently. These responses share insight into our nature as humanity and how we respond when we encounter things of the Kingdom of God.

How Do We Relate to Jesus?

When we encounter the teachings and deeds of Jesus, they impact us in different ways.

When I was first a Christian, for example, the lessons and teachings were more impactful than healing. Yet, in this new stage of life, the stories of the people he delivers and heals powerfully impact me.

In these three things, we need to read and consider the action-packed Gospel of Mark and how it presents the experiences we can have with Jesus.

As we go from story to story, we learn to experience Jesus and be able to see him in our lives today.

The Gospel of Mark is All About Experiencing Jesus

My experience with Jesus is very different than it was a decade ago. When I first started experiencing Jesus, it felt awkward and almost forced. So often it was like I was King David crying out in the wilderness.

Today, however, it is something remarkable. It’s like sitting down and having coffee with Jesus. When I clear my mind and ask for him to meet me, he does. And in those moments, we talk.

I know it is him because I have been getting to know him for years.

I meet him in the Bible and the Gospel of Mark, where I see his words and deeds. We have cultivated a relationship over the years, even when I am not seeking him directly.

The Gospel of Mark is an easy place to experience Jesus. We see what he does and what he talks about. This book gives insights to set a foundation for us and experience Jesus fully.

This is a book that I will forever point people to read when they feel distant from God and don’t connect with Jesus. Because this is a book of the Bible where Jesus reaches out his hand and says, “Come with me.”

---

J.R. Heimbigner is a #1 Bestselling Christian Author on Amazon who writes about faith, family, and writing books. You can connect with him on Medium, his website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Substack!

Support J.R. Heimbigner by giving on Buy Me A Coffee (one-time or monthly) or by purchasing any of his bible study devotionals on Amazon:

• The Book of Proverbs
• The Gospel of John
• The Gospel of Matthew

***Please note: There may be affiliate links in this post.***