Archives

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (6/3) Luke 23:26-43

Jun3

A 5-day per week study.

June 3 – Reading Luke 23:26-43

 

Read and believe in Jesus.

“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”  Luke 23:43

.

The Gospel according to Luke 

Review – Jesus stood under the interrogations of Pilate, of Herod, and of Pilate again.  The Roman governor declared him not guilty of anything worthy of death. But the religious leaders and the incited crowds demanded crucifixion.  Pilate gives in and delivers Jesus to their will (not knowing it was GOD’S will for Jesus to die).

.

Vss. 23:26-32.

As they led the weakened Jesus away from the court and up the hill to Golgotha with the heavy cross on His bleeding back, He stopped, unable to continue.  A Roman soldier grabbed the nearest strong-looking guy and made him carry Jesus’ cross the rest of the way.

(Not what HE expected to do on Passover morning! Did he stay and watch Jesus crucified and hear Him speak?)

(Simon of Cyrene evidently told this experience to his sons, Alexander and Rufus.  Paul later references them as believers.)

.

A great multitude followed the procession up the hill. The women in the crowd were mourning and lamenting for Jesus.

Jesus turned to them with this warning.

“Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for ME, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed.’  At that time, they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’

For if they do THESE THINGS when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

(These women were not necessarily believers. More probably, they were professional mourners who attended “high-profile” executions. Jesus’ words to them were a prophetic warning about what was coming to their city and nation.)

Two other criminals were led away as well, to be put to death with Jesus.  We will hear more of them later.

 (NOT the murderer Barabbas, however. He got off scot-free. He was like us.  We were sinners, condemned to death. But Jesus became our substitute, dying in our place.  The sinless for the sinful.  His death and resurrection made it possible for us to then be declared righteous by God when we trust in Him.)

.

Vss. 23:33-38.

(Such a horrible scene, I can hardly write about it.)

When they came to the top of the hill, a place called ‘The Skull,’ they stripped Jesus and the others and nailed Him to the wood. Then they raised those instruments of torture and dropped them into prepared holes.

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” Jesus cried out.

Beneath His cross, the soldiers picked through His clothes and cast lots for them.

(Pitiful garments of His earthly journey.)

People stood around watching.

  • The rulers scoffed at Him, saying, “He saved others, let Him save Himself, if He is the Christ of God, His Chosen one.”

(Such blasphemy!)

  • The soldiers also mocked Jesus, coming up and offering Him sour wine and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!)

(Pilate had put a placard over Jesus’ head with that inscription.)

  • One of the criminals who was also hanged on a cross railed at Jesus, saying, ‘Are you not the Christ? Save yourself AND US!”

.

(Luke gives three of the horrible verbal assaults thrown at Jesus. They remind me of the mocking assaults Satan hurled at Jesus after His 40 days of fasting in the desert.  And, indeed, these, at His crucifixion, were inspired by the devil himself, trying to cast doubt on Jesus’ heredity and mission – the “seed of woman” who would “crush the head of the serpent.” Genesis 3:15.)

.

Then we meet the second of the two criminals on the crosses on either side of Jesus.  He said to the scoffing one, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?  And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds, but THIS MAN has done nothing wrong!”

And turning to Jesus, he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus answered, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

.

(Did you see that beautiful conversion?  A confession of sin and acknowledgment that he deserved death.  A declaration of who Jesus was (sinless, the King of the Jews). A plea for remembrance and forgiveness.  And then …  Jesus’ beautiful acceptance of the saved sinner. 

(And this is how people are born again today, too!  GLORIOUS!!)

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (6/2) Luke 22:66 – 23:23:25

Jun2

A 5-day per week study.

June 2 – Reading Luke 22:66 – 23:25

 

Read and believe in Jesus.

“I find no fault in this Man.”  Luke

.

The Gospel according to Luke 

Review – Jesus is arrested and taken away. Peter, following into the courtyard, denies his Lord three times.  Jesus looks at him, and he remembers, running out and weeping bitterly. Jesus is mocked and blasphemed.

.

Vss. 15:66-71.

At Caiaphas’ house, Jesus was questioned and abused (see Matthew’s account). Witnesses were called, but none could agree. When morning came, the “official” trial began with the full 70-member Sanhedrin meeting. They’d already decided to put Jesus to death; this was simply the formal charge.

Caiaphas: “IF you are the Christ, tell us.”

Jesus: “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer.  But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”

The whole council: “Are you the Son of God, then?

Jesus: “You said it.”

The whole council: “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from His own lips.”

.

(There was at least one member who voted ‘nay,’ Joseph of Arimathea. It’s possible the ‘secret believer,’ Nicodemus, also did not vote ‘yes.’ But they had all they needed in this illegal trial.)

.

Vss. 23:1-5.

Settled in their own minds and law, they also needed to ensure the death penalty.  The Council took Jesus to the Roman governor, Pilate, for this.

The Council: “We found this man misleading our nation…”

The Council: “…and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar…”

The Council: “…and saying that He himself is Christ, a king.”

Pilate: Are you the King of the Jews?”

Jesus: “You said it.”

Speaking to the chief priests and the crowd, Pilate declared, “I find no guilt in this man.”

The Council: “He stirs up the people…”

The Council: “…teaching throughout all Judea…”

The Council: “…from Galilee even to this place!”

Pilate: “Galilee?”

.

Vss. 23:6-12.

When Pilate heard that, he asked if Jesus was a Galilean. And when he heard that Jesus belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod… who himself was in Jerusalem at the time.

When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see Him, because he had heard about Him, and he was hoping to see some miracle done by Him.

Herod questioned Him at some length, but Jesus made no answer.

The chief priests and scribes stood by, vehemently accusing Him.

But no deal. Jesus remained silent.

Miffed, Herod, with his soldiers, treated Jesus with contempt and mocked Him. Then, arraying Him in splendid clothing, he sent Jesus back to Pilate.

(“And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.”)

.

Vss. 15:13-17.

Pilate then called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people (the Sanhedrin and a growing crowd).

“You brought me this Man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining Him before you, behold, I did not find this Man guilty of any of your charges against Him. Neither did Herod, for he sent Him back to us.

“Look, nothing deserving death has been done by Him.  I will therefore punish and release Him.”

.

Vss. 15:18-25.

But they all cried out together, “Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas.”

(Now Barabbas was a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city, and for murder.)

Pilate tried to release Jesus instead.

The crowd: “Crucify, crucify Him!”

Pilate: “WHY? What evil has He done?  I have found in Him NO GUILT DESERVING DEATH. I will therefore punish and release Him.”

The manic crowd chanted: “CRUCIFY! CRUCIFY! CRUCIFY!”

So, Pilate granted their demand. He released Barabbas and delivered Jesus over to their will.

.

(Ultimately, this was God’s will and plan (see Acts 2:23). The true Lamb of God was killed for the sins of the people.  Jesus, indeed, had ‘no guilt deserving death.’  But he carried our sin to the cross and was killed in our place.

2 Corinthians 5:21: “For our sake God made Jesus to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him, we might become the righteousness of God.”)

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (6/1) Luke 22:54-65

Jun1

A 5-day per week study.

June 1 – Reading Luke 22:54-65

 

Read and believe in Jesus.

“And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.”  Luke 22:60

.

The Gospel according to Luke 

Review – Judas led a virtual army of Jews and Romans with clubs and swords to arrest Jesus.  Their intent was to convict Him of a capital crime.  Judas’s intent in kissing Jesus was to earn 30 silver pieces.  Jesus was calm, but Peter was not. He drew his sword and sliced off an ear of the nearest man.  Jesus stopped that and healed the man.

.

Vss. 22:54-60.

They (probably part of the Sanhedrin’s guard under the high priest) seized Jesus and led Him away (out of Gethsemane, into Jerusalem), to the high priest’s house.

Annas was the “official” high priest that year, although his recently deposed father-in-law, Caiaphas, held the real power. They took Jesus first to Annas’ house. It may have been that Annas’ and Caiaphas’ houses shared the same courtyard.

Peter (and John) followed Jesus at a distance.  John, being known in the household, went in first, then got Peter into the courtyard (see John 18:15-16).  He sat down with some others by the fire. The servant girl who questioned Peter first was probably the doorkeeper to Annas’s house and the one who let him into the courtyard.

“This man also was with Him,” she accused, after looking at Peter closely when he sat down in the light.

“Woman! I do not know Him!”

Later, someone else saw Peter and said, “You also are one of them!”

“Man, I am NOT!” said Peter vehemently.

An hour later, another person insisted, “Certainly this man also was with Him, for he too is a Galilean.”

“Man, I do not know what you are talking about!”

 

And immediately, WHILE he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.

.

Vss. 22:61-52

And at that minute, Jesus was being led over to Caiaphas’ house. He turned and looked at Peter. (This was a fixed, intent look.)

“And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how He had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.’”

And the devastated disciple went out and wept bitterly.

.

Vss. 22:63-65.

After this, the abuse begins with Jesus. The men holding Him blindfolded him and punched Him again and again.

“Prophesy!  Who struck you?”

.

(Imagine being blindfolded, not knowing where the next strike would come from. A fist to the stomach, a blow to an ear, a kick to the groin…)

.

“And they said many other things against Him, blaspheming Him.

.

.

“Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death…” Philippians 2:6-8 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (5/29) Luke 22:47-53

May29

A 5-day per week study.

May 29 – Reading Luke 22:47-53

 

Read and believe in Jesus.

“Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”  Luke 22:48

.

The Gospel according to Luke 

Review – Jesus had just spent hours in agonized prayer about His upcoming ordeal, to the point that He was sweating blood.  He despised the shame of the cross, but for the joy set before Him, He would endure it. (Hebrews 12:2)  He stands and awakens His disciples, scolding them for not praying too.  He knows the crowd was coming – not for His teaching or healing this time – but for His life.

.

Vss. 22:47-48.

First to walk up the path from the Holy City to Gethsemane was Judas.  He had promised the Jewish religious leaders that he would betray Jesus to them “in the absence of a crowd.”

He knew the quiet place where Jesus often came to rest and be alone with His disciples. So, he led them, “a great crowd with torches, swords, and clubs,” to the place.

This crowd included a “cohort” of (600) Roman soldiers (the ones with swords) and armed temple guards from the Sanhedrin (with clubs). (The religious leaders had included the Roman soldiers because they needed permission to arrest a man for the death penalty.)

Judas had promised. Now he was delivering.

Judas had told them exactly how they would know which man to arrest.  He would go to Jesus and greet Him with a kiss. That would be the sign.  They could then move in and arrest Him.

But when Judas grew near to kiss Him, Jesus quietly asked his wayward disciple,

“Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”

Judas may have hesitated, but both Matthew and Mark tell us he followed through with an embrace and kiss on Jesus’ cheek, usually the most intimate and affectionate demonstration of love.

The guards moved in quickly after this “sign.”

.

Vss. 22:49-51.

The other disciples were thoroughly awake now. They took in the situation and decided it was time to act, to defend their Master.

“Lord, shall we strike with the sword?”

Surely this was Peter who spoke. He immediately withdrew his short sword and took a swing at the closest person.  It was the servant of the high priest (Caiaphas).  Peter missed lopping off his head, and instead, the man’s ear was sliced off.

“No more of this!”  Jesus cried. He then turned and healed the servant’s ear.

.

Vss. 22:52-54.

This startling incident briefly paused the arrest as they stared at the healed man. Jesus turned to the chief priests and officers of the temple and the elders who’d come up from behind and said,

“Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs?  When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me!”

Then it was as if Jesus sighed.

“But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”

They could have arrested Him at any time while he was in the city, but they chose to do it in the night, reflecting the darkness of their hearts.

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (5/15) Luke 19:1-10

May15

A 5-day per week study.

May 15 – Reading Luke 19:1-10

Read and believe in Jesus.

“Today, salvation has come to this house.”  Luke 19:9

.

The Gospel according to Luke 

Review – On the road outside Jericho, Jesus healed a blind beggar, who already believed He was Israel’s Messiah. Now that faith blossomed, and he was able to see again. His first sight? The Messiah of Israel. After that, the seeing beggar followed Jesus, glorifying God. He would probably not be a beggar much longer.

.

Vss. 19:1-4

Jesus and the rejoicing crowd now entered through Jericho’s gates. Inside, there lived a wealthy, shrewd chief tax collector named Zacchaeus. Zach was a short guy. Maybe his small stature was what led him to become an important and very rich tax collector. Instead of being mocked for his size, he would get “some respect” (or fear) from the people.

But Zach was curious about the uproar in his city. Why the crowd? What for the noise? He just HAD to see.

Of course, being barely over 4 feet tall among much taller people, he’d probably been used to climbing trees to see better. There, he could get a good look at the crowd and who was at the center. Yes, it was a bit embarrassing. He had to make sure his gorgeous robes covered his “nether parts” and that he did not lose a sandal when astride a fat limb. Perhaps there was a certain tree that he knew well that he could scurry right up and be among the leaves before anyone noticed.

But someone noticed.

.

Vss. 19:5-7.

“And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.'”

WHAT? WOW!

“So Zachhaeus hurried and came down and received Him joyfully.”

Wow, Someone actually wanted to fellowship and dine with this tax collector … someone who obviously was not wealthy himself. This man looked plain and even, poor. But oh, that face! Love seemed to shine out continuously.

OF COURSE, there were those – probably most of the crowd that followed – who did NOT APPROVE of Jesus eating/staying with a “sinner,” a hated Tax Collector (even IF one of his own disciples was a former collector for Rome).

But Jesus came for sinners. He saw the emptiness in Zach’s soul, the dissatisfaction of all that money (which could not buy love or even friendship), and He LOVED him.

Zachhaeus became a believer in Jesus, the Messiah, the Son and Lamb of God. As proof, well, take a look at what he did that proved his changed heart.

.

Vss. 19:8-10.

“Behold, Lord (Yes, Jesus must be your Savior AND Lord), the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold!”

You might think, well, what is so amazing about this?

  1. First, his WILLINGNESS to admit his crimes and make amends for his greed and fraud.

2. The Law required 20% extra when restoring money that a Jew defrauded from others. Zach offered 400%!

3. AND, on top of that, he pledged – not 10% – but HALF his wealth to go to the poor. (And he was very rich.)

Zachhaeus’ heart had been changed. The Bible doesn’t say that he left all to follow Jesus as Matthew had done. But his salvation had greatly improved his standing in the eyes of the people. His money gladly flowed to them, the cheated and the poor. Perhaps he remained as a Roman Tax Collector, but I believe his fees were now true and fair. And… he “maybe” even regularly hosted meals for the poor (just conjecture on my part.)

We DO know that this short-statured man must have become “taller” in the eyes of the people. He had a new attitude and a new life within him… Jesus.

.

(Did our lives change so much when we became believers? The gentle, loving Savior living in us surely must have made us love and share with one another more. “Beloved, let us love one another. For love is of God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” “God IS love.” 1 John 4:7-8)

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (5/6) Luke 16:1-15

May6

A 5-day per week study.

May 6 – Reading Luke 16:1-15

Read and believe in Jesus.

“No servant can serve two masters… You cannot serve God and money.” Luke

.

The Gospel according to Luke 

Review – Jesus told the parable of the Prodigal (wasteful) Son and the hardworking son, and a loving father who welcomes wanderers and disgruntled children alike, but who seeks repentance.

.

Vss.  16:1-2

Jesus told this parable to the disciples (not the religious leaders), though it links to the one before. The prodigal son wasted his father’s inheritance, and the manager wasted his master’s possessions.

THIS story is about dishonesty, deception, retaliation, bribery, greed, and shrewdness.  And Jesus seems to condone them all, right?  Yeah, NO! This is the perfect, sinless Son of God.  So let’s try to dig out what He meant with this unusual parable.

.

‘There was a rich man who had a crooked manager, and charges were brought against him…”

The rich man called the manager and told him to turn in the books, for he was fired.

So far, so good.

.

Vss. 16:3-7.

At first, the manager was in panic mode.  Yikes! “I’m not strong enough to dig!  And I’m ashamed to beg!

Being a day-laborer was out – he’d spend his days with his feet up on a desk, scrolling on his phone, drinking iced sweet tea, and not paying attention to his boss’s assets.

And sitting in the local market, with an alms cup held out to strangers, also did not appeal to him.  Now what?

(He basically didn’t WANT to work.  He liked the ease. Then he got an idea!)

“I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into the houses.”

(Notice his reason, beginning with “so that…”  This was bribery. ‘I do this for you; you will reciprocate this to me.’  No thought for his employer.)

So, that’s what he did.  He went around to all his employer’s debtors and lowered the amounts they owed.  Notice that BOTH parties are complicit. None of the debtors said, ‘Well, that wouldn’t be fair to your employer.’  Nope, they all agreed.

And we presume, if this were a TRUE story, these debtors would have made life easy for that manager.  BUT this is a parable, a story with a lesson to be learned.  And this is the hard part.

.

Vss. 16:8a.

Notice the master’s reaction. Totally shocking,

“The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness.”

This shows, first, that the master was also a crook.  One crook to another, he admired his manager’s criminal genius. Perhaps he would have considered re-hiring him if this were a true story.  

It’s clear now that ALL the characters in this story are corrupt/dishonest: the master, the manager, and the debtors.   

Huh!

What does Jesus want His disciples to ‘see’ in this crazy parable?

.

Vss. 16:8b-9

First, Jesus says, “The sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.”

Sons of this world – unbelievers.

Sons of light – believers.

(Most unbelievers are wiser in the ways of the [financial] world than some believers are toward the things of God.

Even the most wicked are shrewd enough to provide for themselves against coming evil.  Believers ought to be more ‘shrewd’, because they are concerned with matters of eternity.)

.

Jesus continues with true advice to His disciples about what to do NOW to ensure a more fruitful, glorious eternity.  

He says, “Make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails, they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.”

“Unrighteous wealth” = money in this world.

“Make friends” = share the gospel, pray for unbelievers, support missions and ministries for evangelism.

“The failing world and its economy” = At the (or your) end, when Jesus comes, or you die.

“THEY may receive you” = all those you had a part in bringing to Jesus will welcome you into glory.

“The eternal dwellings.” = Heaven, for all eternity.

Invest yourself in promoting the kingdom of God, with what earthly money and work you can. You will have a living “treasure” in Heaven to meet you when you die or when Jesus comes.

.

Vss. 16:10-13.

Jesus sums it up, looking at the negative side. 

“If then you have NOT been faithful in unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you true riches.  And if you have NOT been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?

“No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other … OR he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.

“You CANNOT serve God and money.”

Serve the Lord! Use the world’s money to further the Kingdom. Put the Lord first in your life, love Him, serve Him.

.

Vss. 16:14-15.

Oh, it seems that the richly clad Pharisees WERE still there, around the peripheral, probably.  These “lovers of money” ridiculed Jesus when they heard these things.

Jesus answered them harshly, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.”

Whoa!

.

.

 Oh, Lord, please let my heart be towards You and not the things of the world. Help me to be wise in how I handle the money You give me.

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (4/15) Luke 10:25-37

Apr15

A 5-day per week study.

April 15 – Reading Luke 10:25-37

Read and believe in Jesus.

“And who is my neighbor?”  Luke 10:29

.

The Gospel according to Luke 10:25-37

Review – Jesus sent out 72 disciples to towns on His way to Jerusalem, to prepare them for His coming. The 72 return, with joy. Woe to the cities in Galilee that He ministered in for 3 years, and who remained indifferent. REJOICE THAT YOUR NAMES ARE WRITTEN IN HEAVEN!

.

Vss. 10:25-29.

Perhaps this next section takes place in a synagogue on the Sabbath.  We see a “lawyer” (a Scribe, expert in The Law) STAND UP to speak.  It’s as if Jesus has been teaching, and he stands up to argue.

To TEST Jesus, this knowledgeable man asks, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

He had no interest in eternal life, only to catch Jesus in His words.

Jesus turns it back on him.  After all, he IS an educated man. “What is written in the Law?  How do YOU read it?”

The man answers quickly, proving that indeed he DOES know the law of Moses. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”  (Deuteronomy 6:24-25.)

The scribe must have preened when Jesus said, “You have answered correctly.”

Then to answer the man’s original question, which HE had probably forgotten all about, Jesus continued, “Do this and you shall live.”

This pompous scribe just could not let Jesus have the last word.  Maybe standing a little straighter, the lawyer looked around at the listeners and said with a smirk. “And WHO is my neighbor?”

(Jesus will answer the lawyer’s query in true debater’s form, with another question, forcing him to a begrudging answer. Then Jesus will speak AGAIN to this lawyer’s initial question.)

.

Vss. 10:30-37

“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho…” Jesus began.

As soon as the people realized Jesus was going to tell a story, they settled back to listen. Probably even the contentious lawyer sat down.  All of them were familiar with that dangerous road through the Judean wilderness.

“… and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.”

Several nodded, clicking their tongues. Yep.

“Now by chance,” Jesus continued, “…a priest was going down that road.

You could feel the listeners’ tension rise. A priest? That poor man was … bloody! The priest couldn’t touch him without becoming ceremonially ‘unclean!’

“When the priest saw him, he passed by on the other side of the road.”

They nodded.  It was tragic, but it was the way of things.

Jesus continued. “So likewise, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.”

The listeners were uncomfortable, but, well, a Levite had to also stay ceremonially clean to minister in the Temple. It was a sad situation. They looked at their hands in their laps.

“But a Samaritan…”

Heads flew up.  What?  How dare Jesus speak of a despised half-breed Samaritan!

“…as the Samaritan journeyed, he came to where the man was, and when he saw him … he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 

“And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back’.”

Grumbling began among Jesus’ listeners; outrage mingled perhaps with a touch of guilt?  No one spoke.

Jesus looked to the pretentious lawyer and said, “Which of these three, do YOU think, proved to be a ‘neighbor’ to the man who fell among the robbers?”

Hardly able to get the words out, the learned man said, “The one who showed mercy.”

Jesus leaned back, softly answering the man’s FIRST question about what he should do to have eternal life.  “You go and do likewise.”

.

Wow.

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (2/27) Mark 15:1-20

Feb27

A 5-day per week study.

February 27– Reading Mark 15:1-20

Read and believe in Jesus.

“Are You King of the Jews?”  Mark 15:2a

.

The Gospel according to Mark 15:1-20

We’ve read how Jesus was arrested, hauled into a mock hearing and trial in front of the High Priest of Israel and the Sanhedrin, who deemed Him worthy of death. He was knocked around a bit (for fun). Now, at dawn, the Sanhedrin “formally convened” and “officially sentenced” Jesus to death.

Problem:  THEY could not execute Jesus.

Under Roman rule, the Jews could not execute someone  (although later, they DID stone Stephen).  Also, to fulfill scripture, Jesus could not be stoned. He had to be “hanged” on a “tree,” and so become “cursed” by God for us.  (See Galatians 3:13, with Deuteronomy 21:23.)

Solution to the problem?

They had to convince the Roman Governor Pilate, who was in Jerusalem for Passover, that Jesus was worthy of Roman capital punishment.  It wouldn’t be simple (as you know, if you read all the Gospel accounts together), but they would succeed!

.

Vss. 1-5.

The Jewish leaders (with the Temple guard) bound Jesus and took Him to the Pretorium, where Pilate judged cases.  The Governor would not have listened to a charge of blasphemy, so they came up with three accusations that were sure to catch Pilate’s attention (See Luke 23:2)

  1. Misleading our nation
  2. Forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar
  3. Saying that He is Christ, a King.

Pilate jumped on that last one, because if Jesus was proclaiming Himself a King, that meant He was a rebel and insurrectionist against Caesar – a crime worthy of execution.

“ARE You a King?”  he asked Jesus.

“You have said so,” He answered.  By saying that, Jesus was indeed agreeing that He was the King of the Jews, but that Pilate had no “earthly” idea of what that meant.  Jesus answered no more questions, and Pilate seriously doubted He was a terrorist.

.

Vss. 6-10.

It was a custom that, during Passover, Roman Governors would sometimes grant amnesty for a prisoner at the people’s request.  Pilate saw this as a possible way to release the harmless Jewish “wannabe king.”  Not a dummy, he KNEW that the Jewish leaders had accused Jesus of such a serious crime, because they were jealous of Him.  Pilate did not want to play up to them.  And … conveniently, he had in his dungeon right then a very vile criminal, who was really guilty of insurrection, as well as murder. His name was Barabbas (which weirdly means “son of the father!!”)

So, when the crowd outside asked him to do as he usually did and release a prisoner, Pilate asked them, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?

(Remember, just five days earlier, Jesus had ridden triumphantly into Jerusalem to the cries of “Hosannah!” and “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord,” and “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosannah in the highest!”)

But the chief priests went through the crowd, stirring them up so much that they would as for Barabbas instead!

Surprised and confused, Pilate asked, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?”  He was not ready for their startling and brutal answer.

.

Vss. 11-15 

“Crucify Him!” they shouted, responding to the urging of the Jewish leaders.

“Why?  What evil has He done?” Pilate asked.  He KNEW that crucifixion was “the cruelest and most hideous punishment possible.”

“Crucify Him!  Crucify Him!  Crucify Him!”  The riotist chant was repeated over and over.

.

So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd (and not stir up a complaint against him to Rome),  released Barabbas for them.

(A lucky day for this criminal.  I wonder if he ever considered the Man who actually took his place on the cross … a visual of what Jesus did for each person who would ever believe in Him.)

Pilate then had Jesus scourged and condemned Him to be crucified.

(Scouraging was also a fearful thing.  It was done with a whip of metal-tipped leather thongs, which cut the flesh down to the bone and caused severe bleeding.  This torture would weaken the prisoner (sometimes to death) and intensify the pain for the following ordeal.)

.

.

Oh, Jesus!  Thank You!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 332

Nov28

Day 332 – Reading – Acts 18 – 19

Read and believe in Jesus!

Acts 18.

Paul leaves Athens for Corinth and stays there a long time.

In Corinth, Paul (a tentmaker himself) meets and stays with a Jewish tentmaking couple. Aquila and Prisilla had fled from Rome because of Emperor Claudius. Paul earned a living during the week and “reasoned” each Sabbath in the Synagogue, trying to persuade both Jews and Gentiles that Jesus was the Messiah, slain and resurrected.

Silas and Timothy finally arrived from Macedonia to help in the ministry.  But the Jews were resistant, so the missionaries “shook out the garments,” saying he was on to the Gentiles. 

Next store to the synagogue lived Titus Justus, a worshiper of God. Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, also believed in the LORD with his entire household and was baptized. Paul based his ministry there, and one night had a clear vision from the Lord.

  • “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.”

Paul stayed in Corinth for another 18 months, teaching the word of God among them. 

During the time Gallio was the Proconsul of Greece, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him to court, saying,

  • “This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the Law.”

But Gallio had no time for them.

  • “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint. But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves.  I refuse to judge on these things.”

The angry Jews then seized Sosthenes, another believing ruler in the synagogue, and beat him in front of the court. But Gallio paid no attention to all of this. 

.

Paul visits Ephesus for a short time.

After this incident, Paul stayed in Corinth for many days. Then he said goodbye and set sail for Ephesus, taking Priscilla and Aquila with him. He spent a short time reasoning with the Jews in the synagogue, then he left the tentmaking couple there and sailed on to Caesarea.

He traveled up from there to Jerusalem to complete the vow he’d made. After that, he returned to his “sending” church in Antioch and spent some time there.

.

Acts 18b.

Paul travels back to Ephesus.

Paul visited the original churches in Galatia and Phrygia to strengthen them, then kept going toward Ephesus.

While Paul was on the way, a man from Alexandria named Apollos arrived in Ephesus. He was an eloquent speaker, competent in the Scriptures, instructed in the way of the Lord, and fervent in Spirit.  He began speaking boldly in the Synagogue, but not the “whole story.”  Aquila and Priscilla took him aside and “caught him up” about the ‘Way” more accurately.

When Apollos desired to go across to Greece to minister there, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the believers there to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Messiah was Jesus.

.

Acts 19.

Paul’s 3-year stay in Ephesus was eventful.

He first ran into twelve converts of Apollos and asked them if they’d received the Holy Spirit when they believed.  They hadn’t, Paul explained that John’s baptism was only for repentance.  Paul explained Jesus more clearly, and they believed.  He then baptized them in the name of the Lord Jesus, and they received the gift of the Holy Spirit and spoke in other tongues.

Paul went to the synagogue again and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them.  But when some were stubborn and continued in unbelief, even speaking evil of “The Way,” Paul withdrew and afterwards spoke daily in a community center called the Hall of Tyrannus.  This continued two years, and ALL THE RESIDENTS of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.  WOW!

.

Miracles and Exorcists.

Amazing miracles verified the spoken word by the hands of Paul.  Even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched him were carried away to heal the sick and send out demons.  Then, as in Samaria, seven exorcists, all sons of one man, wanted that power.  They tried to cast out devils, too. Their words did not come with Holy Spirit power, however. They said,

  • “We adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims, come out.”

The evil spirits said, 

  • “Jesus, we know, and Paul, we recognize, but who are YOU?”

Then the demons attacked the exorcists, stripping them and beating them up.

Seeing the weakness of human spiritualism, many former exorcists and magicians in the city, who had now come to believe in Jesus, came forward to confess and divulge their practices. They brought their books of spells and black arts and burned them in the sight of all. (Worth 50,000 silver pieces!)

So the Word of the Lord continued to increase and prevailed mightily.

.

A Riot at Ephesus

The increase in the number and power of believers, along with the witness of the Holy Spirit and miracles, led many devotees to lose trust in the idols they had worshiped.  Ephesus was the center of the worship of Artemis (Diana), and the Silversmiths’ Union was powerful. When fewer people bought their little silver statues and shrines, their business began to hurt. 

The Union leader, one Demetrius, gathered together workmen of similar trades and roused them against Paul and the other believers. With more tradesmen and spectators gathering every minute, a great disturbance rocked the city.  The mob called, chanted, and screamed.

  • “Great is Artemis of Ephesus! Great is Artemis of Ephesus! GREAT IS ARTEMIS OF EPHESUS!!”

For two hours, the rioters shouted, pumped fists, and threatened to rage out of control. Confusion reigned. Then some of the rioters dragged out Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonian men who were traveling with Paul.  Paul wanted to go help them, but the believers there held him back.

A Jew named Alexander tried to make a defense, but they overpowered him with their continuous chanting.  Finally the town clerk was able to quiet them down.

  • “Men of Ephesus, who is it that does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky?  Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. 
  • For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemous of our goddess. If Demetrius and the craftsmen have a complaint, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring a legal charge.  For … we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause to justify this commotion!”

And he dismissed the assembly.

.

North to Macedonia.

(After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell, and they departed for Macedonia.)

WHEW!

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 296

Oct23

Day 296 – Reading – John 7 – 8

Read and believe in Jesus!

John 7.

After the transfiguration of Jesus and His strong teaching about the Spirit and the flesh, and that no one could come to Him unless the Father drew them ….. many of His disciples turned away. (Only the Twelve remained, and one of them was a traitor.) So for six months, Jesus concentrated on teaching His chosen disciples, who would become the spiritual leaders once He was gone.

Now it’s October, and the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths) has come, when Israel remembers their 40 years in the wilderness and how God cared for them. It was a fun week of living outdoors in the simple “booths” they built in their yards. 

However, Jesus knew that in just six months, at Passover, He would be crucified. Things were getting “hot” for Him in Judea and Jerusalem, so He chose not to go to the celebration with the crowds, as his family urged Him.  It was not His “time” to be arrested and killed, so He remained in Galilee until the roads had cleared. Then, He slipped in privately. 

Jesus was right, of course, because in Jerusalem, “the Jews were looking for Him at the feast, asking everyone, ‘Where is he?'”  Even the general population argued about him. “He is a good man!”  “No, he’s leading the people astray!”

.

About the middle of the Feast week, Jesus went up to the Temple court and began to teach.  The Jews, while seeking to get rid of Him, could not help but be amazed at His teaching. “How is it that this man has learning when he never studied?’

Jesus, hearing their thoughts, said, “My teaching is not mine, but His who sent me. If anyone’s heart truly wants to do the will of God, he will KNOW whether my teaching is from God or myself.”

Then, turning the conversation to what the Jews really wanted, Jesus said, “WHY DO YOU WANT TO KILL ME?”

“You’re crazy and have a demon! Who is trying to kill you?”

Jesus spoke aloud (so the people could hear) that they sought to kill Him because of the miraculous healings He did on the Sabbath.  “YOU circumcise a baby on the eighth day, so as not to break the Law of Moses …. even if it is on the SABBATH DAY.”  And Jesus told them to ‘judge with right judgment.”

The common people didn’t really know their scriptures either.  Some thought Jesus might just be the Messiah, but others argued that “no one will know where the Messiah comes from, but we know that Jesus comes from Nazareth.“ (WRONG on both counts!)

But some did believe in Him, saying, “When the Messiah comes, will He do more signs than THIS man?”  When the Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things, they sent officers to arrest Him. 

Jesus said, “I’ll be with you a little longer, then I am going to Him who sent me. You will seek me, and you will not find me.” 

The Jews asked one another, “WHERE does He intend to go?  To the Dispersion among the Greeks?  What does He mean???”

.

At the end of the week, Jesus gave them a wonderful object lesson.

On the last day of the feast, a golden vessel filled with water from the Pool of Siloam would be carried up to the Temple mount in a joyous procession. There, three trumpets (ram’s horns) would blast, and the people would shout in unison; Isaiah 12:3. “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”  The vessel would be carried around the altar and eventually offered in sacrifice to God.  It symbolized the blessing of the plentiful rainfall for the crops.

It was at that point that Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'” (Ezekiel 47:1)  (Jesus was talking about the Holy Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive.)

Some of the people who heard him said, “This really IS the Prophet,” and “This is the Christ!”  But others scoffed, saying, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee?“

The officers that the Pharisees sent to arrest Jesus returned to them empty-handed.

“Why did you not bring him?” the Jews demanded.

“No one ever spoke like this man!” said the officers.

“Have YOU also been deceived?  Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in Him?

Then Nicodemus stood up and said, “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?”

The other Pharisees answered Nicodemus, “Are YOU from Galilee too?  Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”

…

John 8.

(We’ll return to 8:1-11in a minute.)

Another time at this Festival, four large lamps were lit in the Court of the Women. Then an exuberant celebration with dancing throughout the night to the music of the Levitical orchestra took place under the light of those lamps. 

As the lamps were being lit, Jesus called out, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me shall not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life!” (Referencing scriptures like Psalm 27:1 and Isaiah 60:19-21, etc.) 

The Pharisees called back, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony IS NOT TRUE.” (Jewish law required TWO witnesses.)

Jesus: “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going. I bear witness about myself ….  AND the Father who sent me bears witness about me.”

Pharisees, “Where is Your Father?”

Jesus, “You neither know ME nor my FATHER. You are from the world; I am not of this world.  And you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am He.”

Pharisees, “WHO ARE YOU?”

Jesus, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He.”

Hearing this conversation, MANY believe in Jesus.  He turned to them and said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

The Pharisees argue with Jesus about their heritage (Abraham) and His (a Samaritan or the devil).  He eventually tells them that He knows Abraham, and they wildly protest. Jesus answers, “Truly, truly, before Abraham was …. I AM.

And they picked up stones to kill him for blasphemy.  But Jesus hid himself and left the temple.

.

John 8:1-11

Back to the beginning of the chapter. It seems this event was inserted here to show more conflict with the Jewish leaders and the Law. But it probably happened at another time, as Jesus was on the Mount of  Olives.

Early in the morning. they brought a woman to Him who had been “caught in the act of adultery.” They had probably invaded the home in the middle of the night on a tip …. or, having followed her …. or, even having set her up.  The question is: Where is the man? In Mosaic Law (see Leviticus 20:10), BOTH PARTIES caught in adultery were to be stoned.

This, of course, was a “test” to trap Jesus in a legal dilemma. 

“Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. So what do you say?” You can almost see their arrogant, smarmy smiles.  Did each of them also have a stone in hand?

Silence.

Finally, Jesus stoops and begins writing in the dirt with His finger.

What did He write?  We don’t know.

Perhaps it was Leviticus 20:10.

Perhaps it was a list of a few secret sins that each of THEM was hiding.

Finally, He stood. “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”

Jesus again stopped and wrote on the ground.

Was it a list of sins THEY were guilty of?

Was it a list of THEIR names, from the eldest down?

We don’t know, but slowly, beginning with the older ones, they left, one by one, silently.

Finally, Jesus spoke. “Woman, where are they?  Has no one condemned you?

The woman: “No one, Lord.”

Jesus: “Neither do I condemn you: go, and from now on, sin no more.” 

Such compassion and forgiveness, for truly, Jesus was THE ONLY ONE without sin.

…

Interestingly, this scene ends WITH NO ONE BEING STONED, just as the chapter ends with these same men picking up stones to kill Jesus.  HE ALSO was NOT STONED.