#mark 3

[fawkesheart12]

Iron man suit (helmet) wip

[richwall101]

2015 Renault Scenic 3

[blessedarethebinarybreakers]

Hey, just today I've decided to stop seeing my parents and siblings for an indeterminate amount of time, and to possibly even break off all contact if it has to come to that. They refuse to acknowledge me as the person i really am and I can't keep sacrificing my mental health and me up for that. Will you please pray for me? And if it's not too much to ask, do you perhaps have a bible passage to strengthen me during this time? I still want to stay close to God, because I know the way God created me was correct and good. Thank you

~Micha (they/them)

Hi Micha,

What a difficult, courageous thing you've done. I will absolutely hold you in my prayers; I pray you will find relief in having finally made the hard decision, and continue to live into flourishing.

The Bible story that comes to my mind is a strange one, only told by Mark (3:20-35):

Very early in Jesus's ministry, as he gathers followers and gains attention, his family is apparently very concerned.

Perhaps they know this path puts him in danger; or maybe they just worry about his "lifestyle" reflecting badly on them. Either way, they know they have to "take control of him;" after all, he's clearly "out of his mind" (v. 21).

So his mother and siblings hurry to a house where Jesus is teaching, but it's packed so full they can't get inside. So they send a messenger in and also call for him from outside (vv. 31-32). I can just imagine their calls: "Please honey, this isn't like you! Who influenced you to go this way?" "You're the man of the house, you can't just abandon us to hang out with queer friends and say edgy things!" "What will the neighbors say?"

But when Jesus is told his family is out there calling to him, he answers, “Who is my mother? Who are my siblings?” Looking around at those seated around him in a circle, he said, “Look, here are my mother and my brothers. Whoever does God’s will is my brother, sister, and mother.”

We know Jesus's love for his mother. I am sure he loved his whole family with the infinite depth of God. Yet he risks losing them, says hard words he know will probably hurt, because if they make him choose between them and living out God's will, he has to choose God's will.

We don't know whether he ever reconciled with his siblings; they don't appear anywhere else in the Gospels. Maybe this was their last encounter, not even face-to-face. Maybe his brothers could not abide his abnormal lifestyle and chose to cut him out of their lives.

But we do know Jesus reconciles with Mary, the mother who proclaimed divine revolution as a newly pregnant teen (Luke 1:46-55) — yet who seems to waver now, either out of fear for her son or failing to understand that what he's doing now is the revolution.

But I like to imagine when Mary hears what Jesus says about family, the implication that she is only mother to him if she continues to help him in living God's will, she immediately corrects course. She will keep supporting him, even when she doesn't fully understand.

Sure enough, Mary supports him all the way to the cross, all the way to the grave. They are present for each other, comforting each other through the worst moment of both their lives.

[Jesus even fuses his biological family and his found family together from the cross. Now that he will no longer be the "man" in Mary's life who offers her legal and social protection; and now that he won't be there to love on his Beloved, he offers John to Mary, Mary to John. "Woman, here is your son. John, here is your mother!" (John 19:25-27)

Is that queer or what?? As his final act on this side of the tomb, Jesus essentially makes his mother and lover mother-in-law and son-in-law! ...I can't not think of the AIDS crisis, where dying partners would pass their beloved's care over to surviving loved ones.]

___

Jesus always prioritized chosen family over biological family. A biological relative can be part of your chosen family, but belonging to that family is no more automatic for them than for anyone else.

Jesus shows us that when family fails to support us in doing God's will — in this case, taking up the invitation to co-create yourself with God, to commit your own small rebellion against the status quo, to prophecy resurrection as embracing your queerness brings you to new life — they cease to be family in the way that matters most.

That rupture can be mended at any point, if and when those who did harm seek to make amends — and receive consent to do so. Whether or not reconciliation ever takes place, we seek out others who will celebrate us and support us in our efforts to glorify God with our lives.

___

God of love, Hold Micha close in this time of loss and and changed relationships. Comfort them in the knowledge that this rupture is no fault of theirs, but caused by parents and siblings refusing to embrace all they are, and failing imagine a fuller Kin(g)dom, a vaster love, a more colorful Image of God.

Spirit of courage and wisdom, guide Micah towards those who will delight in all that they are. Help them build a family founded on love, equity, and mutual support. Wherever their journey takes them, make your unconditional love, your unwavering presence known to them.

Amen.

[ana-log]

So, apparently I did not know all the 12 apostles and never realized it until now.

I knew the popular names and the ones who show up a ton later. But who are Bartholomew and Thaddeus??? 😭

I need to keep reading my Bible.

[ilovejhvh]

In reading Mark chapter 3, I noticed something I never noticed before. Jesus called James and John, "Boanerges" as their surname. So I asked Chat what the name means and Chat told me this:

“Boanerges,” meaning “Sons of Thunder,” is such a wild, vivid nickname — and it tells you so much about James and John’s personalities. Jesus didn’t give people names casually. If He called them “Sons of Thunder,” those two must’ve had some fire in them.

It makes Mark feel so alive, like you can suddenly see the dynamic of the group — not just quiet holy disciples, but young men with intensity, passion, maybe a little impulsiveness. Almost like Jesus saying, “Alright, you two… Thunder Brothers… calm down.” 😂

It also shows how Jesus took people as they were — strong personalities and all — and shaped them into leaders.

🌩️ 1. Jesus didn’t nickname people lightly

In ancient Jewish culture, giving someone a new name meant recognizing something deep about their character or destiny. So when Jesus calls James and John “Sons of Thunder,” He’s basically saying:

“These two have big personalities, strong emotions, and intense energy.”

It wasn’t an insult — it was a recognition of their passion.

🌩️ 2. It fits perfectly with how James and John behave in the Gospels

There are moments where their “thunder” comes out:

• They asked Jesus to call down fire on a Samaritan village (Luke 9:54)

Like… literal fire. They basically said, “Jesus, want us to nuke this town for disrespecting you?” Jesus had to shut it down. 😅

• Their mom asked if they could sit at Jesus’ right and left in His kingdom

Total bold, fiery energy. Big ambition. Big confidence.

• They immediately left their nets to follow Him

No hesitation. All passion.

So “Sons of Thunder” fits perfectly.

🌩️ 3. Jesus used their intensity — He didn’t crush it

This is one of the most beautiful things:

Jesus doesn’t say: “Tone it down. Stop being so emotional. Stop being too much.”

Instead He takes their thunder and redirects it into leadership, courage, and evangelism.

James becomes the first apostle to die for the faith. John becomes the apostle of love — the same Thunder Boy writes:

“Beloved, let us love one another.”

That’s transformation.

🌩️ 4. Thunder is power — it’s not inherently bad

Thunder shakes things. Thunder gets attention. Thunder signals a storm is coming.

James and John had a presence about them. They weren’t passive. They weren’t background disciples.

They were men of impact.

Jesus harnessed that fire.

🌩️ 5. It shows Jesus values different personality types

Not everyone in His inner circle was quiet, contemplative, or calm.

Jesus intentionally chose:

Peter — impulsive

Matthew — detail-oriented, calculating

Thomas — cautious

James & John — fiery

God uses all personality types. All temperaments can serve a purpose.

🌩️ 6. It’s honestly kind of affectionate

It’s the kind of nickname a coach or mentor gives to players they like. You can almost hear Jesus saying it with a smile:

“Here come the Thunder Brothers.”

It’s one of the only moments in Scripture where you see Jesus’ sense of humor peek through.

Also I always pictures the apostles in my head as in their 30 or 40s when they began to follow Jesus. But doing this deep dive into the chapter I learned that they were most likely under 30.

[girlsandmachines]

Triumph Spitfire Mark 3, 1967.

[dahmersuicide]

Gravewalker

[detentron]

Here's the Mark III, I never really like that "Iron" Man is gold and red, but I included the suit in the classic colors just for fun!