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[Jesus] rebuked Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things. (Mark 8:33).

When Peter refuses to acknowledge that Jesus must suffer and die, Jesus calls Peter demonic, and they get into an argument. To Jesus, the way of suffering and death is God's way to life and peace. To deny that is to deny God.

Where in your life are you, like Peter, fighting against suffering? What difference would it make if you submitted yourself to the suffering as the divine means of bringing life and peace?

--Mark Galli

This is part of Mark Galli's guided journal, "Discovering the Untamable God," a 12-week journey through the Gospel of Mark. Twice a week, you'll receive a new journaling prompt encouraging you encounter the wild, untamable Jesus of the Gospel of Mark and let his radical sayings and actions transform your life. Use these prompts in your own journal or in group discussion. If you're joining this journal mid-way through, you can start journaling at any time, and stay subscribed at the end, when the journal will restart and you can receive the prompts that you missed.

[To the Syrophoenician woman, Jesus said], "Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs" (Mark 7:28).

This woman has just asked that her daughter be healed, but Jesus' response seems rude and insensitive. However, the woman's response -- "Even the dogs under the table can eat the children's crumbs" -- suggests that they are involved in friendly banter, verbally sparing with one another. This is one of many passages where Jesus is willing to use humor in his ministry.

Humor is a great antidote to despair. Even in the gravest situations, joy still has the upper hand. What situations are you or a loved one facing that an appropriate use of humor might communicate joy? What would be other ways the joy -- which arises out of utter confidence in God's power -- can be infused into the situation?

--Mark Galli

This is part of Mark Galli's guided journal, "Discovering the Untamable God," a 12-week journey through the Gospel of Mark. Twice a week, you'll receive a new journaling prompt encouraging you encounter the wild, untamable Jesus of the Gospel of Mark and let his radical sayings and actions transform your life. Use these prompts in your own journal or in group discussion. If you're joining this journal mid-way through, you can start journaling at any time, and stay subscribed at the end, when the journal will restart and you can receive the prompts that you missed.

[To the disciples worried about the hungry crowd of 5,000, Jesus said], "You give them something to eat" (Mark 6:37).

The disciples see a problem and suggest a practical solution: the people are hungry; they should be sent home so they can get some food. Jesus challenges -- even taunts -- the disciples to imagine something beyond "practical." Yes, it is Jesus who miraculously multiples the fish and the loaves, but before he can do that, the disciples have to entrust their meager and inadequate resources to him.

Where in your life do you feel that your resources are inadequate to the problem you are facing? Where is Jesus calling you to trust? Why is this scary? Pray about some specific thing -- time, talent, or treasure -- that you can put into his hands, to see what he can do with it.

--Mark Galli

This is part of Mark Galli's guided journal, "Discovering the Untamable God," a 12-week journey through the Gospel of Mark. Twice a week, you'll receive a new journaling prompt encouraging you encounter the wild, untamable Jesus of the Gospel of Mark and let his radical sayings and actions transform your life. Use these prompts in your own journal or in group discussion. If you're joining this journal mid-way through, you can start journaling at any time, and stay subscribed at the end, when the journal will restart and you can receive the prompts that you missed.

[As he was about to send his disciples out on a mission, Jesus said], "If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, shake the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them" (Mark 6:11).

In most instances, we are called to minister patiently to people even if they regularly reject our love. In fact, this is the history of God's dealing with us. But here Jesus tells his followers that a complete rejection of his word should sometimes signal that it is time for us to move on.

What would signal that it is time to move on? What would signal that it is time to continue to reach out? Where might you find spiritual discernment about such matters? Is there a situation you are facing now that requires such discernment?

--Mark Galli

This is part of Mark Galli's guided journal, "Discovering the Untamable God," a 12-week journey through the Gospel of Mark. Twice a week, you'll receive a new journaling prompt encouraging you encounter the wild, untamable Jesus of the Gospel of Mark and let his radical sayings and actions transform your life. Use these prompts in your own journal or in group discussion. If you're joining this journal mid-way through, you can start journaling at any time, and stay subscribed at the end, when the journal will restart and you can receive the prompts that you missed.

[Jesus said to those mourning the death of a child], "Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him (Mark 5:39-40).

Sometimes followers of the resurrected Jesus see life when others just see death. And if we announce our hope, we may only get derided as dreamy optimists. At such times, we're not only tempted to keep quiet, but we're also tempted to adopt "realistic" despair.

Where in your work, home, neighborhood, or school do you see hope while others see despair? How are you called to bring hope in this situation?

Perhaps you find yourself dragged down by discouragement about some matter. Speak of this concern to Jesus in prayer, and then spend a few minutes listening. What is his word to you?

--Mark Galli

This is part of Mark Galli's guided journal, "Discovering the Untamable God," a 12-week journey through the Gospel of Mark. Twice a week, you'll receive a new journaling prompt encouraging you encounter the wild, untamable Jesus of the Gospel of Mark and let his radical sayings and actions transform your life. Use these prompts in your own journal or in group discussion. If you're joining this journal mid-way through, you can start journaling at any time, and stay subscribed at the end, when the journal will restart and you can receive the prompts that you missed.

And the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and were drowned in the sea (Mark 5:13).On his way to healing a demoniac, Jesus...

Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. [Jesus] said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" (Mark 4:40).After a display of Christ's power--the stilling of a deathly storm -- the disciples are not...

And [Jesus] said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand all the parables? (Mark 4:13).Though Jesus goes on to explain the parable of the sower, he continues to speak in parables that puzzle his...

And [Jesus] said, "Let anyone with ears to hear listen!" (Mark 4:9).Jesus is not afraid to warn people, and sometimes rather sternly (see Matt. 7:24-27 as another of many examples).But we're not comfortable doing that lest we be accused of...

[Jesus] appointed twelve, whom he named apostles, to be with him.... Simon ... James... John ...[etc.], and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him (Mark 3:19).Being a disciple means loving those who may betray us. This doesn't mean we have to whitewash...

The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against [Jesus], how to destroy him (Mark 3:6).Though Jesus commands us to be peacemakers (Matt. 5:9), it's also clear that if we pattern our lives after his, we will stir...

Join author Mark Galli for "Jesus Mean & Wild: Discovering the Untamable God," a 12-week journey in Christian parenting. Twice a week, you'll receive a new journaling prompt encouraging you to think about the Jesus in the Gospel of Mark...

[Jesus said to the scribes of the Pharisees], "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners" (Mark 2:17).Jesus doesn't really think the...

After sternly warning [the healed leper], he sent him away at once (Mark 1:43).Jesus often spoke sternly to people--see Mark 5:40, 43; 8:32-33; and 9:19 for three other examples.Even though we have these instances of Jesus speaking sternly, we tend...

[The companions of Jesus] said to him, "Everyone is searching for you." He answered, "Let us go on to the neighboring towns...." (Mark 1:37-38).In this juncture of his ministry, Jesus shifts from giving himself to his immediate neighborhood--his family and...

Jesus rebuked [the unclean spirit within a man], saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" (Mark 1:25)In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is portrayed as if he is making a military assault on the forces of evil, casting out...

Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news" (Mark 1:14-15).The first response Jesus expects of his listeners...

And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness...." (Mark 1:11-12). Put yourself in the place of Jesus. The same Heavenly...

So [the women] went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid (Mark 16:8).Why would the women's first reaction to Jesus' resurrection be one of...

Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34)Although God never actually deserts us (he is omnipresent, after all), he does allow us, like Jesus, to experience a sense of his...

[Jesus said to the disciples], "In those days . . . the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken" (Mark 13:24-25).Jesus...

And [Jesus] overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves (Mark 11:15).This is Jesus at his most violent. For Jesus to get this angry -- well, there must have been a constellation of...

[Jesus said], "If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go to hell" (Mark 9:43).This arresting hyperbole of Jesus reminds us that we...

[Jesus said to a crowd], "You faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you?" (Mark 9:19).This is one of the few times that Jesus expressed deep frustration with the...

Jesus said to the crowd], "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me" (Mark 8:34).The first sentence in Jesus Mean and Wild is this: "God loves you and has...