Mark 1:1-3 

"[The Roman] was to try whether human power; taking the form of law, regulated by political principles of which a regard for law and justice was most conspicuous, could perfect humanity by subordinating the individual to the state and making the state universal."
   –Key to the Gospels by Dr. D.S. Gregory 

Mark 4 

Jesus, Savior, pilot me
Over life's tempestuous sea:
Unknown waves before me roll,
Hiding rocks and treach'rous shoal;
Chart and compass came from Thee–
Jesus, Savior, pilot me!
   –Edward Hopper 

Mark 5
 
Rabbi begone!
Thy powers bring loss to us and ours.
Our ways are not as Thine,
Thou lovest men, we–swine. 
Oh, get thee hence, Omnipotence!
And take this fool of Thine!
His soul? What care we for his soul?
What good to us that Thou has made him whole
Since we have lost our swine? 
And Christ went sadly.
He had wrought for them a sign
Of love and hope and tenderness divine– 
They wanted swine. 
Christ stands without your door and gently knocks,
But if your god or swine the entrance blocks,
He forces no man's hold–he will depart
And leave you to the treasures of your heart. 
No cumbered chamber will the Master share,
But one swept bare
By cleansing fires, then plenished fresh and fair.
With meekness and humility and prayer.
There he will come, yet coming, even there
He stands and waits and will no entrance win
Until the latch be lifted from within. 
   –Joseph H. Odell