Video Game Cheat Code: How to Read My Mark Series

Video Game Cheat Code: How to Read My Mark Series

Let’s be honest—reading the Bible can be intimidating.

Especially when you realize it’s not just one book, but a library of writings passed down, translated, and interpreted over centuries. But the Gospel of Mark? It’s raw, fast-paced, and deeply intentional. That’s why I created this series—not to simplify it, but to help you experience it more fully. I’m drawing from everything I’ve studied, questioned, and wrestled with, and putting it into a format that feels both personal and grounded. If you’ve ever wanted to read Mark with fresh eyes, or wondered what its author might say if he were sitting across from you, this is for you.

Now let me say something I’ve never said before:

I don’t care what Bible version you read.

Yep—I said it. NIV, NLT, ESV, CSB—whatever helps you engage. I personally recommend the Legacy Standard Bible, but honestly, what matters most is that you read it and let it speak to you.

Just one encouragement:

As you read, don’t get too attached too quickly to what you think it means.

Understanding Scripture takes time, context, and study. Hold your interpretations with an open hand—let the text shape you before you start shaping conclusions. And don’t worry—certainty isn’t a requirement for transformation.

So if you’ve ever wondered, “Which version should I read?”, here’s my honest answer:

Read the one you’ll actually read.

I’m not saying every translation is equally faithful or accurate—there are definitely some I don’t care for. But if a certain version helps you get started, gets you curious, gets you moving toward Jesus—use it. Just don’t stop there.

Eventually, you’ll want to dig deeper. Study the background. Learn the setting. Ask questions about context, culture, and translation choices. That matters. But for now, just read the book. The Gospel of Mark is worth your attention—whatever version helps you begin.

Let’s also acknowledge something important:

The Bible didn’t fall out of the sky leather-bound and fully formed. The New Testament alone is made up of 27 individual books, written at different times, passed along, copied, and eventually translated into what we read today. And every translation—no matter how faithful—includes interpretive decisions. That’s not a flaw; it’s just how language and theology work.

Now, about the blog.

This Mark series is a little different. I’ve written it in the first person, as if Mark himself is narrating. It’s not Scripture, and I’m not pretending to channel the real Mark. This is me, using all my reading, research, and reflection to imagine what he might say about Jesus, the world he lived in, and the Gospel he wrote.

Some might not love that approach—and that’s okay. But I’ve found it deeply moving and creatively honest. I use historical background, cultural insights, and scholarly research to fill in the blanks. I explore things like:

• Why Jesus kept his identity secret (the “Messianic Secret”)
• What the actual charges were that led to his crucifixion
• What his miracles and teachings were trying to say
• Why the ending of Mark might surprise you (spoiler: it probably didn’t originally include snake-handling or poison-drinking—go check the footnotes!)

I’m not trying to be dogmatic—I’m trying to open doors.

Eventually, I’ll step out of the first-person and speak directly—not as Mark, but as myself—to reflect on what I believe Mark was really saying, especially in light of the larger story of Scripture. But for now, I’m letting Mark speak first, through my best understanding of his world, his message, and his Savior.

So whether you read the Gospel and then my blog, or read both side by side, I think you’ll find something worth holding onto.

If anything resonates with you, share it, comment, message me—publicly or privately. I’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, or even pushback.

Let’s keep going.

Let’s reconstruct—together.