In Mark 7 Jesus is challenged by the Pharisees about ceremonial washing, He teaches on the importance of the heart, He minsters to a Gentile woman and heals her daughter, and He heals Gentile man. The rejection of Jesus by the Pharisees is immediately followed by ministry to Gentiles, thus showing that Jesus’ mission was […]
In Mark 6 Jesus is not well receive in Nazareth, he sends out the 12 to do ministry, the beheading of John the Baptist is recounted, Jesus feeds the 5,000 and He healed many in Gennesaret. The main thing that stood out to me in this chapter is what Jesus instructed the 12 to take […]
In Mark 5 Jesus continues to show His power over everything as he heals the Gerasene Demoniac, the woman with the hemorrhage and raises Jairus’ daughter from the dead. The before and after condition of the Gerasene Demoniac is dramatic. Before Jesus cast the demons out of him, he was out of control. After Jesus […]
In Mark 4 Jesus tells multiple parables to the multitudes who are gathered around Him. He begins with the parable of the sower and seeds. In each case the sower and seed are the same. The difference is the soils. The word of God is presented and there are all different kinds of results in […]
In Mark 3 Jesus heals on the Sabbath, appoints the 12, is accused by His family of being crazy, is accused by the scribes of being from Satan, teaches on blasphemy of the Holy Spirit and stresses that it is those who do the will of God who are part of His family. The truth […]
In Mark 2 I am struck by two things. First, I am humbled and convicted by the four men who brought their paralyzed friend to Jesus. They knew that only Jesus could restore this man’s brokenness and they would not let anything keep them from getting their friend to Jesus (not even a roof). When […]
In Mathew 28 Jesus is risen from the dead, appears to His disciples and gives them the great commission to make disciples. In Mark 1, Mark begins his gospel with John the Baptist followed by the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. Jesus’ resurrection in Matthew 28 shows that His death on the cross was not […]
In Mathew 27 Judas’ false repentance is recorded, Jesus goes before Pilate, the crowds ask for Barabbas over Jesus, Pilate is passive, soldiers mock Jesus, Jesus is crucified, soldiers gamble for Jesus’ clothes, Jesus is insulted by those passing by, the chief priest and scribes mock Jesus, the criminals mock Jesus and the fellowship of […]
In Mathew 26 God through Matthew records the plot to kill Jesus, Jesus’ anointing by the woman, Judas’ betrayal, the Last Passover/First Lord’s Supper, the Garden of Gethsemane, Judas’ betrayal kiss, Jesus’ arrest, Jesus’ before Caiaphas and Peter’s denial. Each of these events is building toward the cross, burial and resurrection – which is the […]
Mathew 25 begins with Jesus presenting the Parable of the Ten Virgins to emphasize the importance of being ready for His return. Jesus says 5 were ready and 5 were not. The 5 who were ready represent those who have rejected their own good works and have trusted Jesus to save them and make them […]