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Reading the Gospels in 2026: (2/9) Mark 10:17-31

Feb9

A 5-day per week study.

February 9– Reading Mark 10:17-31

Read and believe in Jesus.

“What must I do to inherit eternal life?”  Mark 10:17b

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The Gospel according to Mark 10:17-31

Last time, Jesus taught about divorce, man’s hardness of heart, and adultery. Then He gathered up children into His arms and taught that His Kingdom was made up of such tender souls as these, who openly desired and received Him.  His disciples were confused.  They will be even more confused after the encounter they watched in today’s reading.

(NOTE: Having a list of the ten commandments before you today might be helpful. Exodus 20.)

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Vss. 17-18

The man who met Jesus today is the kind of person that society admires and envies.  He is generally referred to as “the rich young ruler.”  Think about that.  He had mega wealth.  He had youth.  He had power. He had it ALL.  Most of us would be happy to have just one of these.  And yet, this man had a discontentment in his heart.  He knew he lacked something.  Something that he couldn’t buy, achieve through his strength, or demand to be given to him.

“Good Teacher, what must I DO to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus answered him with a question, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.”  

Jesus was not saying that HE, Himself, was not good. In this statement, Jesus was pointing the young, rich, and powerful man to the first commandments.  #1 Thou shalt have NO OTHER gods before the LORD, and #2 Worship only God, never any idols you make.  God alone is good and due our worship.  We’ll find out later just what this man “worshipped.”

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Vs. 19 with Romans  13:7-10

Then, Jesus points this young man to the other commandments. #6 Do not murder, #7 Do not commit adultery, #8 Do not steal, #9 Do not bear false witness, and skips to #5, Honor your parents.

In both Matthew’s and Luke’s accounts, #10 is omitted altogether, but Mark says, for #10, Do not defraud.  Defrauding someone is causing shame or dishonor to be brought upon them, their reputation (name), or their integrity.  (Basically, this is commandment #3. Do not take the NAME of the Lord in vain. 

Jesus probably didn’t say, “Do not covet,” because that was actually the young man’s basic sin.  He coveted wealth and the power it brought.

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Take a minute to read the verses in Romans, where Paul says, Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes, revenue, respect, and honor. “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments (he names some) are summed up in this word: ‘Love does no wrong to (doesn’t DEFRAUD) a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.'”

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Vss. 20-22.

Okay, back to Mark.  The rich, young ruler looked at Jesus sincerely and said, “Teacher, all these I  have kept from my youth.”  He saw no fault, no sin in himself.

Jesus looked at this man, so blessed in life, and “trying” to be a good person, and He loved him.  But it’s clear that the young man missed what Jesus said at the beginning, “Only God is good.”

“You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, AND YOU SHALL HAVE TREASURE IN HEAVEN, and come follow me.”

Now, selling all our possessions and giving the proceeds to the poor does not make us eligible for Heaven.  Jesus knew the man’s weakness.  His wealth, greediness, covetousness… and of course, the power all that wealth brought was VERY IMPORTANT to him.   TOO important for him to give up… EVEN to have eternal life.  Wow.

Disheartened, the young man walked away with his head down and shoulders slumped.  He was sorrowful … because of his “great possessions.”

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(What about us?  The “thing” we lack before coming to Jesus is the acknowledgment, confession, and forsaking of our sin. HE must be the most important thing to us.  After we confess and forsake sins, we can joyfully “follow Him.”

I John 1:9: “If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin, and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.”

Romans 10:9-10: “For if you confess with your mouth that JESUS IS LORD (in your life, not possessions, etc.) and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

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Vss. 23-31.

The disciples had watched this scene silently (perhaps enviously), but I’m sure their thoughts were now all over the place.  They viewed that young man as a blessed and law-keeping, righteous person.  His walking away confused them.

“How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God,” Jesus said, shocking those twelve men around Him. The belief of that day was that wealth was a BLESSING of God to show He was pleased with you.  Now, Jesus was saying it was a “hindrance.” They just couldn’t take it in!

So, Jesus repeated for them, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God!  It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

Astonished at this concept, they cried out, “Then WHO can be saved???”

Jesus must have just looked at them until they quieted down.  Then, “With man it is impossible.  But not with God.  For all things are possible with God.”

Peter blurted out the mixed feelings of his heart, “Well, WE have left everything and followed You….”

Jesus smiled at his chief disciple, then looked around to the others.  “Truly, I tell you, there ia no one who has left house, brothers or sisters, mother or father, children, or lands for MY SAKE and for the Gospel’s …. who will not receive a hundredfold NOW in this time, houses, bothers, sisters, mothers, children, and lands (WITH persecutions,) and in the age to come… eternal life.

Did the disciples feel better?  Understand more?  Feel assured?   A hundredfold, NOW??   Their minds buzzed.  Did they think of their homes and families back in Galilee?

Unknown to them, these disciples (except Judas) would travel a whole lot farther for the Lord and for the Gospel before they died. They would feel the sting and cut of persecution, but God would supply all their needs in the houses and provisions of other believers on their travels.  And then… ETERNAL LIFE with Him!

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Did the rich young ruler ever forsake all and believe in Jesus?   I hope so.  

 

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (2/6) Mark 10:1-16

Feb6

A 5-day per week study.

February 6– Reading Mark 10:1-16

Read and believe in Jesus.

“Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter in.”  Mark 10:15

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The Gospel according to Mark 10:1-16.

Vulnerable people: unwanted wives, little children.  Who will love and care for them? Are adult men the only ones suitable for the Kingdom?   Jesus teaches otherwise.

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Vss. 1-2.

Jesus and the disciples now move south into the region of Judea, then east across the Jordan River. This area is the jurisdiction of Herod Antipas (who murdered John the Baptist). Crowds flocked to Him as usual, and He taught them.

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Vss. 3-12.

Some Pharisees came from Jerusalem to “test” or “trap” Jesus. The posed the question, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”  

This is not a question THEY really wanted to know the answer to, for they had well made up their minds already.  There were two schools of thought among the famed rabbis about divorce.  1) Divorce was allowed for ANY reason. (The wife was a bad cook, or the man found another, more desirable woman, etc.)   Or, 2) Divorce was allowed ONLY in the case of her adultery.   The Pharisees thought Jesus would side with one group, angering the other.

Jesus would NOT be trapped by any of their trick questions.  He asked one in return. ‘What did Moses command you?”  Jesus did not abide by rabbinical interpretations, but by the Scripture alone.

They piously answered, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.”  (See Deuteronomy 24:1-4).

Jesus agreed and told them why.  “Because of your HARDNESS OF HEART, he wrote you this commandment.”  (Because otherwise, men who were dissatisfied with their wives could simply (and cruelly) send them away with no home or financial protection. That “certificate” served as her formal release from the marriage, and allowed her to remarry, assuming she was not guilty of immorality.)

Jesus then quotes Genesis 1:27 and 2:24.  “But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.”  and  “Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh.” 

Regarding His stand on divorce as the Creator, Jesus says, “What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Jesus had not answered the Pharisee’s trick question.  He had sided with neither of the extolled rabbis.  He, as the Son of God, spoke with divine authority.  The Jewish leaders had nothing to say in return. (Foiled again!)

But later, in the privacy of the house where they were staying, Jesus answered the disciples’ question.  He told them that whoever divorces his wife (or her husband) and marries another person commits adultery. (Because in God’s sight, they are still one with the first spouse.)

In the times when women were often considered merely as “chatel”, this was God’s hand of Fatherly care and protection on those who were also created in His image.  Praise God!

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Vss 13-16.

Later, when Jesus was again outside, teaching and healing, parents brought their little children (Luke calls them “infants”, 18:15) to Him so He could lay His hand on them and bless them. (A practice parents often did with prominent rabbis.)  The self-important disciples rebuked these parents and tried to send them away. (THIS, after Jesus had just recently told them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me…” See Mark 9:37.)

Jesus was indignant with their actions.  He told them, “LET the children come to me, do NOT hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.  Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child, shall not inherit it.”

Then Jesus tenderly took them into His arms and blessed them.  (What a glorious sight for these parents, and us!)

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(When we feel insignificant in God’s kingdom, perhaps useless, impotent, and helpless, these words of Jesus should encourage us.  God cares for each one of us! )

 

 

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (2/5) Mark 9:30-50

Feb5

A 5-day per week study.

February 5– Reading Mark 9:30-50

Read and believe in Jesus.

And He said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”  Mark 9:35

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The Gospel according to Mark 9:30-50.

Jesus and all his disciples are together again when Jesus heals the boy with the unclean spirit. This demon had been tormenting him with violent and murderous assaults, and the nine disciples alone could do nothing to help.  But Jesus released him and encouraged the father’s small belief.  Afterwards, Jesus told the disciples that this kind of spirit would come out only through totally concentrated, selfless prayer.

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Vss. 30-32.

Jesus leads His disciples (a few elated by the incident on the Mount, and the rest subdued by their inability to help the boy) back through Galilee.  He didn’t want anyone to know He was there, because He had more to teach them. His time with them was growing short. He is heading more and more towards Jerusalem and His death.

For the second time, as they walked along, Jesus said, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him.  And when He is killed, after three days He will rise.”

This is very understandable to us, 2000 years AFTER the fact, but to the Twelve who believed Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, this was nonsense.  Die?  No, their Messiah was to establish the Kingdom, defeat the Romans, and rule from Jerusalem!  They did not understand! And it seems they especially did not grasp what Jesus said about resurrection.

But after Jesus’ rebuke of Peter the last time He told them about His death, they were afraid to ask about it now.

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Vss. 33-37.

As they walked, some of the disciples were arguing about another topic.  Again, it was related to the soon and hoped-for setting up of the Kingdom by their Messiah. When they were once again in Capernaum and safely ensconced in Peter’s home, Jesus quizzed them about it.

“What were you discussing on the way?”  (Wow, is there nothing that Jesus did not know about them??)

Again, they were silent, which was foolish because He already knew.  They had been arguing over who was the greatest.  Surely Peter was a contender, but the brothers, James and John, were also in the inner circle.  Did any of the other nine think they should be on top, too?

Jesus must have been so discouraged with them.  Hadn’t they learned anything about Him? Had they ever seen Him elevating Himself above everyone else?  Hadn’t they observed the Messiah as meek and lowly?  Sure, He taught the scriptures with authority! Sure, he commanded sickness and legions of demons, and they instantly obeyed Him. But had He asked any followers to bow to Him?

“If ANYONE would be first, he must be LAST of all … servant of all.

Then Jesus picked up a child (Peter’s niece or nephew?) and held him in His arms, smiling and perhaps tickling him.  And looking up to His men, He said, “Whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me, receives not Me (only) but Him who sent Me.”

Jesus would say more on this, but John interrupted Him.

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Vss. 38-41.

“Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.”  (Oh man, was John ever looking for a pat on the head and an “atta boy!”  He thought they had done well.  NOPE.  Also, was this a “dig” on the nine disciples who were UNABLE to cast out that demon?)

Jesus said, “Do NOT stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in My name will be able soon afterwards to speak evil of Me.  For the one who is not AGAINST us is FOR us.  For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.”

Huh?  John (or any of them) said nothing to this rebuke.  Truly, Jesus had a lot more to teach them!)

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Vss. 42-50.

Again looking to the little one on His lap, Jesus said, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.”

 

Okay, they understood that. But then, Jesus said,

“If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.”

What??

“And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off.  It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell.”

The disciples must have been stunned!

“AND, if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.  (See Isaiah 66:24)

What were they to make of this?  Surely self-mutilation was NOT what Jesus was teaching.  But sin is serious, whether it involves doing, going, or seeing.  They were to be brutal in eliminating it from their lives.  (Paul would later write, “Present our bodies as a living SACRIFICE, holy and acceptable to God. Do NOT be conformed to this world, but be transformed…  (See Romans 12:1-2)

 

Jesus continued, also thinking of sacrifice, “For everyone will be salted with fire.”

They all would be purified with suffering and persecution – not just Him – like the OT sacrifices that were often accompanied with salt.  Suffering?  Self-denial?  Sacrifice?  What kind of Kingdom was Jesus bringing?

“Salt is GOOD.  Have salt in YOURSELVES. And be at peace with one another.”   

Salt is a good preservative. Let the words of Christ enter and dwell in them (and us), cleansing, cauterising.  Then they will make a difference in the world … for Christ.

And, for goodness sake, STOP ARGUING among yourselves!

 

 

 

 

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Reading the Gospels in 2026: (1/30) Mark 8:1-21

Jan30

A 5-day per week study.

January 30 – Reading Mark 8:1-21.

Read and believe in Jesus.

“And He said to them, ‘Do you not yet understand?'”  Mark 8:21

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The Gospel according to Mark 8:1-21.

Jesus and the disciples are perhaps still in the Decapolis region on the southeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. (See your Bible map.) It’s a mostly Gentile area. It looks as if Jesus has been traveling around, and a crowd of people has been following Him. He’s probably done a lot of healing and hopefully some teaching as well.

It’s a seasonally dry area with barren soil and dried grass (not like the green grassland where Jesus fed the 5,000, see Mark 6:39).  And Jesus has compassion for this crowd. (Those who had come a long distance probably had food to begin with, but now it was all gone.)

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Vss. 1-10.

As in the other crowd-feeding, Jesus asked His disciples what food they had. They were discouraged to find but seven loaves (rolls) and a few small fish. 

(Now, WHY didn’t they remember the miracle Jesus had done not so long ago and EXPECT Him to do likewise?  Did they so easily forget that astonishing miracle??)

After Jesus gave thanks to His heavenly Father and distributed the food in an orderly manner, there were seven LARGE baskets of pieces left over.  These were not lunchbox-sized baskets as before, but BUSHEL baskets.  A whole lot more bread and fish than they began with. 

THEN Jesus sent away the crowd, their bellies now full and their strength renewed.  He and the disciples got into a boat and sailed straight across Galilee to the area of Dalmanutha (near Magadan or Magdala).

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Vss. 11-13.

They’d hardly stepped off the boat when some Pharisees came and began once again to argue with Jesus.  They wanted “a sign from heaven” to prove that He was the Messiah that He claimed to be.  Yes, Jesus had done tons of miracles (signs),  but they wanted something else, something supernatural from on high.  (An astronomical sign? God’s audible voice? What?)

Jesus knew they weren’t struggling to BELIEVE.  No, they were TESTING Him, to find a fault that they could run back to Jerusalem with.

Sighing deeply, Jesus said, “No sign will be given to this generation!”

With that, Jesus led the men back into the boat, and they went north to Bethsaida.

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Vss. 14-21.

On the long sail to Bethsaida, the disciples realized they had once again forgotten to bring the bread. (What IS the matter with them???)

With that on their minds, Jesus’ words confuse them. He said, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”

Huh? 

Truly, the disciples had their minds on physical things, while Jesus was thinking of spiritual truths.

(This is so often my own case. I tend to ponder and worry over earthly problems, while Jesus wants me to “set my mind on things above.” Colossians 3:2)

The disciples were thinking about bread to eat. Jesus was thinking about leaven to avoid. 

So…. what WAS Jesus talking about?  He was thinking about the acid conversation He’d just had with the Pharisees. Their stubborn hearts questioned His mission and denied the good news of the Kingdom He was bringing.  They were like leaven spreading in a lump of dough. Not the good everyday bread, but that of Passover, symbolically His body, free from sin. 

Trying to elevate their thoughts, Jesus fired eight questions at them.

  1. Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread?
  2. Do you not yet perceive or understand?
  3. Are your hearts hardened?
  4. Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear?
  5. And do you not remember?
  6. When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?  Twelve.
  7. And the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?  Seven.
  8. Do you not yet understand?

Did they?  Do we?

The “leaven” of the Pharisees was their false teaching and their hypocritical behavior. The “leaven” of Herod was his immoral, corrupt conduct. 

How to beware of these?  Keep ourselves buried in God’s Word and the teaching of our Lord Jesus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (1/28) Mark 7:1-23

Jan28

A 5-day per week study.

January 28– Reading Mark 7:1-23.

Read and believe in Jesus.

“There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”  Mark 7:15

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The Gospel according to Mark 7:1-23

Mark begins this section with “defilement” being digested and ends with “defilement” being regurgitated.  (Another nice “Mark” sandwich.)

The ever-watchful Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem begin to harass Jesus, accusing His disciples of not observing the “traditions of the elders.”

Remember, they were not concerned with keeping the Mosaic Law itself, but with the extreme extent to which the ancient rabbis (elders) had padded it and twisted it.

Anyone living through the COVID era has had hand washing drummed into them.  And it IS a good idea to wash your hands before you eat, especially when you’ve been shopping. It was even a better idea in those days when marketplaces openly displayed both live and butchered animals, with their accompanying flies.

But the “elders” had made a ceremonial ritual of the washing.

            Example: Someone had to pour water from a jar onto your hands, with your fingers pointing upward, so the water would run off your wrist. Then another jar would be poured over your hands with your fingers pointing downward.  After this, each hand would be rubbed with the fist of your other hand.   (Notice: no soap.) 

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Vss. 1-5

Jesus and His disciples were probably still in the town of Gennesaret, ministering to multitudes of sick people.  Perhaps they went to a street vendor in the marketplace and bought some falafel-pita sandwiches for lunch.  Maybe they wiped their hands on their robes or on an inside handkerchief. Maybe not. 

Soon they were chowing down on some yummy food.

Like unwanted flies, the religious leaders appear.

“Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders but eat with defiled hands?” the spokesman of the Pharisees and scribes demanded of Jesus.  (At least they were honest about their traditions vs The Law.)

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Vss. 6-16.

They were probably not ready for Jesus’ multi-part answer.

First, He quotes scripture to them.

“’THIS people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of MEN.’”  (Isaiah 29:13)

Then, Jesus nails some of the ways they do that.

  • MOSES SAID: “HONOR your father and mother,” and “Whoever reviles father and mother must surely die.”  (Exodus 20:12 and 21:17)
  • YOU SAY: “If a man tells his father or mother, ‘Whatever you could have gained from me is Corban (dedicated to God).” THEN, you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, thus making void the word of God by your tradition. 
  • And you do MANY other things like this!
  • (NOTE: Jesus was not saying that your possessions or land property can’t be given to God as an offering.  He WAS saying that just slapping a “CORBAN” sign on these things while you are still using and enjoying them, because you are mad at your parents and don’t want to help them, is vile, unloving, selfish, and using God for your own purposes.)

Then Jesus tells the Pharisees and the people a parable.  “It is NOT what goes INTO a person that defiles him, but the things that come OUT of him that defiles him.”

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Vss. 17-23.

Later, in private, Jesus clarifies what He was saying to the religious leaders, who weren’t open to His words.

(Remember that Jesus speaks in parables to those He knows have already closed minds and hearts.)

“Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him since it enters not his heart but his stomach and is expelled?”  

  • (Thus, He declared all foods clean, says Mark, reminding his readers about what later happened to Peter in Joppa when God brought down the sheet of unclean animals and told Peter to “kill and eat.”)

Jesus continues,

“What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the HEART of man come:  evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.   All these evil things come out from within and DEFILE a person.” 

(In Matthew 15: 20, Jesus adds, “To eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”)

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See also:  Matthew 12:34b-35, Galatians 5:22-24, and James 3:17-18, for the “good treasure” that comes out of the hearts of those who belong to Jesus Christ.

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“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

Be acceptable in Your sight,

O LORD, my strength and my redeemer.”

Psalm 19:14

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (1/26) Mark 6:30-44

Jan26

A 5-day per week study.

January 26 – Reading Mark 6:30-44.

Read and believe in Jesus.

(Jesus) had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.” MARK 6:34

The Gospel according to Mark 6:30-44

The Twelve had just returned from their mission journeys. They were excited and wanted to tell Jesus all about it, but the crowd in Capernaum was growing. The message spread, “The ‘Teacher’ is back!”  Some wanted to hear more of his teaching. Most needed to be healed.

But Jesus knew the disciples needed time to decompress from the excitement of ministry. He also wanted quiet time to evaluate their experience and encourage them.

Again, Mark writes a “sandwich.”  This section begins with “…they had no leisure even to eat,” and ends with everybody having eaten their fill and the disciples collecting 12 baskets (lunchbox size) of scraps, one for each of them to ‘chow down.’

(Watch for these in Mark’s Gospel.)

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Vss. 31-34.

Jesus said, ”Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while,” and they got into a boat and headed across the Sea of Galilee.

When the boat left, many people observed it, and the able-bodied decided to “run around to the other side and get there ahead of them.” (This was about 4-5 miles on foot.)  Their timing was perfect.  The crowd (probably the younger and more fit) had begun to arrive just as Jesus stepped off the boat.

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Were the disciples disappointed that their time with the Master been preempted?  Perhaps they had been able to talk on the boat trip, as they slowly made their way, with little or no wind. 

Was Jesus upset or even angry? Nope.

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As the verse at the top says, when Jesus saw the bedraggled but excited people, He had compassion on them.  He saw them as sheep without a shepherd.  And HE was “the good shepherd.”

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Vss. 34b.

“Jesus taught them many things.” 

Did He use their eagerness or the surroundings to tell parables? 

Or did He teach them simple truths of the Kingdom, as in the Sermon on the Mount?

Did He call to their remembrance how God had been faithful to them in the Wilderness, that other “desolate” place?

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Vss. 35-38.

The day waned, and Jesus knew the people were getting hungry.

The disciples saw it too.  Or maybe it was THEIR OWN STOMACHS that were growling. 

“This is a desolate place,” they reminded Jesus, “and the hour is late. Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

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(I can imagine Jesus smiling as He looked around at the crowd. He would teach His disciples a bit about “living by faith.” It would be needed later as they journeyed around the world with the Gospel.)

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“YOU give them something to eat,” Jesus said calmly to His disciples.

They must have stared at Him. “Shall WE go and BUY two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat???

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(NOTE: 200 denarii would be 200 days’ wages for a laborer at that time. For a fast-food worker in California today, that would be about $4,000.)

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“How many loaves do you have?  Go and see,” Jesus told them.  They returned shortly with the little boy mentioned in John’s account. (See John 6:9.)  They now had five barley loaves (rolls) and two fish (think sardines).

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Vss. 39-44.

Jesus told the disciples to have all the people sit down in groups of 50 and 100 for an orderly distribution.  They probably still did not understand what Jesus was going to do.  Nevertheless, they obeyed.  Soon, 10,000-15,000 people (including women and children) were seated, with aisles between all the groups. 

Goodness!  Could you even see the people in the back groups???

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Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked to heaven, and said a blessing.  Then He began breaking the loaves and giving them to the disciples to distribute.  Nest he divided the two fish and gave them to the disciples in the same way.

AND they ALL ate and were satisfied!  All those thousands of hungry people ate to their fill!

AND … there were twelve baskets full of broken pieces and fish LEFT OVER!!

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How did that happen?  Jesus, of course.

“Give us this day, our daily bread,” Jesus taught us to pray.

“He shall supply all your needs, according to His riches in glory.”

Ravens brought bread to the prophet Elijah during a drought and famine.

“Do not be anxious, saying, … ‘What shall we eat?’ … for your heavenly Father knows you need it.”
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They may not have been alone, but Jesus DID teach the Twelve a few lessons they would need when they went out to minister in His Name: compassion, trust and obedience, finding opportunities, order, prayer, and abundance repaid.

 

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (1/15) Mark 4:21-34

Jan15

A 5-day per week study.

January 15 – Reading Mark 4:21-34.

Read and believe in Jesus.

“With many such parables He spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it.” Mark 4:33

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The Gospel according to Mark 4:21-34.

Unlike Matthew, but SO like Mark’s style, this short passage in Chapter 4 contains all the parables of Jesus that Mark recorded.  Other than the parable of the Sower, they are all “short and sweet…and pithy.”  (Mark liked action and didn’t spend too much time on Jesus’ discourses.)

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Vss. 21-25.

NOTE: From Mark 4:10 through 4:34, Jesus is in an intimate setting, speaking only to a small group of true followers and “the Twelve.”

Remember that Jesus and the good news about Him and His kingdom are often pictured as “light” to a dark world.  Even though Jesus is speaking to these few believers, the gospel is not meant to be hidden.  Jesus asks them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed…. or put on a stand?”  The answer is to be put on a stand so it will light the house. 

(Remember the little children’s song, “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.”) 

Jesus was telling these men the truth (what the “Sower” parable meant), but they were not to keep it to themselves; they were to share it, eventually with the world. (See Matthew 28:19-20) 

“Pay attention to what you hear,” Jesus said. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added. For to the one who HAS, more will be given.”

These men were key to spreading the gospel throughout the then-known world.  Jesus told them to “pay attention.”  And as they learned, applied, and eventually shared the “light,” more would be given to them.  

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Vss. 26-28.

Only Mark records this Parable of the Seed Growing.  It complements the Parable of the Sower and how the seeds planted in GOOD SOIL grow.   In that good soil, the seed sprouts and grows. First, the blade appears, then the ear, and lastly the full grain in the ear. 

When the Gospel is presented, and the Word enters an open and fertile heart, it produces spiritual growth and, finally, the harvest, when God “saves” the person. 

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Vss. 30-32.

This Parable of the Mustard Seed pictures the kingdom of God. It begins as a small influence, but grows to a worldwide ministry.  

In this parable, Jesus says that “a grain of mustard seed” is the smallest of all seeds on the earth.”  (It isn’t actually the smallest seed in existence, but in comparison to all the seeds the Jews sowed, it was the smallest.)

A mustard seed “can” grow up to a major bush of fifteen feet or so, with branches capable of supporting birds’ nests.  So, Jesus is picturing a smallish sphere of salvation that could grow so large as to shelter and benefit many people. Even unbelievers are blessed by association with the gospel and the power of God in salvation. 

In both the Parable of the Lamp and this one, Jesus is encouraging his true followers that even though their influence seems very small, it will grow and reach many.  They are to be faithful to learn, grow, and apply.

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Vss 33-34.

“With many such parables…” (Mark doesn’t feel like putting them all down in writing)  “…He (Jesus) spoke the word to them, as much as they were able to bear.”   And while He explained everything to His close disciples, to the crowds (Mark says), Jesus “did not speak to them without a parable.”

Only if His hearers were interested and asked Jesus to teach them further, would He respond.  Sadly, most of the crowds came to Jesus for what they could get – healing, release from demons, a spectacle to watch, a riddle to ponder, and later, “free bread and fish.”

 

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (1/12) Mark 3:13-19

Jan12

A 5-day per week study.

January 12 – Reading Mark 3:13-19.

Read and believe in Jesus.

“And He appointed twelve (whom He also named ‘apostles’) so that they might be with Him and He might send them out to preach.” Mark 3:13-19

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The Gospel according to Mark 3:13-19.

We left Jesus last time with an ever-growing crowd of needy people following and then almost crushing Him in order to get near and be healed.  He healed the sick of all diseases and cast out the demons who possessed others, silencing them as they left. 

The fishermen disciples had prepared a boat for Jesus, and at the end of the day, he got into it along with them and went to a deserted place. 

 

Vss. 13-15,

From there, Jesus went up on the mountain and called to Him the men whom He had chosen to be the special “Twelve.”  By His sovereign will, Jesus CHOSE these twelve men from among the many who followed Him.  He called them “Apostles” so they might 1) be with Him, and 2) He might send them out to preach and to have authority to cast out demons.

(A ‘disciple’ is a student being taught by another.  An ‘apostle’ is a qualified representative who is sent on a mission.)

These (with the replacement for Judas) are the foundation of His church. (See Ephesians 2:19-21.)

 

Vss. 16-19.

Here are those Jesus called and chose:

  1. Simon (to whom He gave the name Peter),
  2. James, the son of Zebedee,
  3. John, the brother of James (to whom He gave the name “Sons of Thunder”).
  4. Andrew,
  5. Philip,
  6. Bartholomew (or Nathaniel),
  7. Matthew (or Levi), the tax collector,
  8. Thomas,
  9. James, the son of Alphaeus,
  10. Thaddaeus (or Judas, the son of James),
  11. Simon, the Zealot,
  12. Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him. (Iscariot = Ish Kerioth, “a man of Kerioth,” a town south of Hebron. (He was the only disciple from Judea and not Galilee.)

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Believers today are also called and chosen of God. (See John 15:16, and Romans 8:28-30.)

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (1/8) Mark 2:18-28

Jan8

A 5-day per week study.

January 8 – Reading Mark 2:18-28.

Read and believe in Jesus.

“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”  Mark 2:27

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The Gospel according to Mark 2:18-28.

In today’s reading, we see the Pharisees becoming more vocal in their displeasure with Jesus.

When the paralytic man was forgiven and healed, they criticized Jesus “in their hearts.”  When Jesus had dinner with a tax collector and other “sinners,” the Pharisees spoke their criticism aloud, but only to each other. 

Now, they openly confront Jesus with a question that is actually an accusation.  They will get an answer, alright, and it will be outrageous.  But first…

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Vs. 18.

John the Baptist still had some followers as he preached and baptized people for the forgiveness of their sins. These were super loyal to him, especially now that he was in prison.  They would have supplied him with food and carried messages, including the haunting question they later took to Jesus from John and Jesus’ answer. They also told Jesus the news of John’s death. 

These disciples of John adhered to the strict Pharisaic practice of fasting twice a week.  The Pharisees used this unnecessary practice to “promote their holiness” in the eyes of the people.  God only required His people to fast on ONE DAY per year, the Day of Atonement in late autumn. (See Leviticus 16:29, 31).  (Sometimes, in a time of national crisis, a special fast might also be called.)

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Vss. 19-20.

This concerned the people who daily crowded around Jesus. Eventually, they asked Him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast… but YOUR disciples do not fast?”

Jesus’s answer might have confused them at first, but they would have understood what He meant after thinking about it.  “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?  As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and THEN they will fast … in that day.”

Um…. was there a wedding somewhere? 

Was Jesus getting married? 

Who would be taking “this bridegroom” away?   

Then, the people saw the analogy.  A wedding was a time of celebration. No one fasted, but rejoiced and ate and drank.  Jesus wasn’t getting married, but His time among them with His teaching and healing miracles WAS a time for rejoicing … LIKE a wedding. And after He was gone, yes, THAT would be a sad time. Fasting would be suitable. 

(Of course, no one – even the disciples – realized that Jesus was talking about His death on the cross.) 

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Vss. 21-22.

Jesus continues with some illustrations about the “new life” He was bringing to them, and how the “old traditions of the Pharisees” just wouldn’t mesh with it.  The people were certainly acquainted with the examples he gave.

  1. “No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth onto an old garment. If he does, the patch will pull away from it (when washed), and a worse tear is made.”
  2. “No one puts new wine into old (stiff) wineskins. If he does, the wine (as it ferments) will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are destroyed.  New wine is for new wineskins.” (New life is for changed hearts.)

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Vss. 23-24.

We know what “the Sabbath” is. (Sabbath actually just means “seventh.”)  After God’s six days of Creation, He “rested” on the seventh day.  He declared the day “holy,” which just means “set apart for Him.” 

God gave this GIFT to his people, Israel.  No longer would they be required to labor nonstop for seven days per week, month after month, year after year, as they had in Egypt.

They would now have a legally mandated day of rest.  Even the women would not be required to cook meals that day.  Rest, glorious rest.  God wanted them to also think of Him, as their Creator and Savior, and have a heart of gratitude.

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Centuries later, the rabbis of Judaism, to protect the commandment to “NOT WORK” on the Sabbath, created 39 detailed restrictions on what constituted “work” on the Sabbath. 

  • You couldn’t spit on the ground, for it might make a groove in the dust, and that would be “plowing,” or it might make a little mud, and that would be “mixing mortar,” which would be “building.” 
  • You could have nothing in your pockets or wear a piece of jewelry, for that would be “carrying a burden.”  
  • Untying a knot was prohibited because it couldn’t be done with one hand.
  • You couldn’t cut your nails or trim your beard. It would be considered “shearing.”
  • AND, you couldn’t pluck grain, rub it in your hands to remove the chaff, and then blow the chaff from your hand.  THAT would be “reaping,” “threshing,” and “winnowing.”

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Vss 25-28.

Well, one Sabbath, Jesus and his disciples were walking by a grainfield.  As they walked, the disciples began to pluck heads of grain to eat.  (God’s law allowed this. See Deuteronomy 23:25).  The “extra” rules of the Pharisees did NOT allow this.

“Look!  Why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath??” they demanded, no doubt pointing fingers.

Jesus, like a ‘mama bear,’ turned to protect his disciples.  He was harsh.  “Hey, you, Teachers of the Law, haven’t YOU read the Scriptures?   David, when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him entered the house of God (the Tent of Meeting) and ate the bread of the Presence (Showbread), which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to his men.

Life or bread. Which is more important?  “The Sabbath was made FOR men, not man for the Sabbath.”

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 Jesus would later emphasize this whenever He healed someone on the Sabbath.  If they could rescue a sheep in a pit on the Sabbath, why couldn’t He “rescue” one made in the image of God who had been suffering long with a disease or demon possession?   “The Sabbath was made FOR men, (for their health and welfare).  It was a kindness from their God.  Having food, helping others – this was good.

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After this incident, the Pharisees and religious leaders kept an eagle eye on Jesus, and pounced on Him for every good deed He did on the Sabbath.  It was part of the case against Him that would later lead to their demand for His crucifixion. 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 364

Dec31

Day 364 – Reading – Revelation 12 – 18

Read and believe in Jesus!

The Revelation 12 – 18

The next seven chapters escalate. Satan, the Beast (Monster), the Antichrist appear. The Tribulation escalates. And there is all-out War in Heaven. Michael and his host of mighty angels battle. The seven bowls of wrath and the seven plagues do their worst, and the “great prostitute, Babylon” (who is a dwelling place of demons) appears and …. falls!

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Revelation 12

“And A GREAT SIGN appeared in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.”

A SIGN:  A symbol pointing to something else. This is the first of SEVEN SIGNS in the last half of Revelation. This first sign, the Woman giving birth, represents Israel. 

(There are three other symbolic women in Revelation. Jezebel (2:20) represents paganism, the Scarlet Woman (17:3-6) represents the Apostate Church, and the Wife of the Lamb (19:7) represents the True Church.

The next sign we see is the Great Red Dragon, which represents Satan. He is the woman’s mortal enemy. He has ceaselessly tried to destroy “her” to keep the Savior from coming, but he failed, and then he was unable to kill the baby, despite using Herod to massacre hundreds of infants at the time. Then Jesus did His redeeming work and ascended back to Heaven.

 

Although Satan and 1/3 of the angels (who are now his demons) fell from heaven after they rebelled, they still had access to it. (Remember Job?)  But now, after fighting with Michael and his host, they are THROWN DOWN to earth.  That old ACCUSER OF BELIEVERS who stood to accuse us day and night before God is cast down (and locked out).

Heaven rejoices, but “Woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down in great wrath, because he knows his time is short.”

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Furious, Satan pursued the Woman/Israel to kill her.  But she was given “two wings” (heavenly protection) and fled to the wilderness, where God kept her safe and nourished her for 42 months.  Frustrated and angry, Satan then went to wage war on the rest of her offspring (believing Jews and Gentiles), “who kept the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.”

Unable to destroy these, Satan went and stood on the sand of the sea………….

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Revelation 13.

…………….. And it seemed he summoned up his strongest and most horrible demon. 

John saw “a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and BLASPHEMOUS NAMES on its heads. And to this monster, Satan (the dragon) gave his power and his throne, and his great authority. 

The whole earth marveled as they followed the Beast. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the Beast, and they worshiped the Beast, saying, “Who is like the Beast, and who can fight against it?”

The Beast was allowed to exercise authority for 42 months.  It opened its mouth and uttered blasphemies against GOD, blaspheming His NAME and His Dwelling Place.  It was also allowed to make WAR on the saints and conquer them – from every tribe, people, language, and nation.

And ALL who dwelt on the earth… were made to worship it.  ALL whose name was NOT written from before the foundation of the world … in the Book of Life of the Lamb, who was slain.

 

John inserts a warning to his readers:  “Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.”

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“Then I (John) saw another beast rising from out of the earth.  It had two horns… like a lamb… and it spoke like a dragon.” 

(We now have an unholy Satanic trinity of despicable evil.)

Unlikely as it looked, this lamb-appearing beast is the “enforcer” for the Beast.  It made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast.  It also performed great miracles, even making fire come down from Heaven to earth in front of people. It deceived those who dwelled on earth.  It told the people to create an image of the Beas.  And it gave the image … speech.

All who did not worship the image were killed.

All who would not receive the mark of the Beast on forehead or right hand could neither buy nor sell… anything.

 

John again inserts a warning to his readers. “This calls for wisdom; let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is …. 666.”

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Revelation 14.

Then John looked, and in his vision he saw THE LAMB of God standing on Mount Zion, with the 144,000 who had NOT taken the mark of the beast. On THEIR foreheads was written the name of the LAMB and the name of His Father.  These 144K are the first fruits for God and the Lamb.  And a special song was sung to them and about them by the hosts of Heaven.

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Next, John saw three flying heralding angels, each with a message.

  • The first – “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come, and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
  • The second – “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.”
  • The third – “If anyone worships the Beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or hand, he also will drink of the wine of God’s wrath … and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.”

 

John again inserts a warning. “This is a call  for endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.”

 

Then, a voice from Heaven spoke a chilling statement.  “Write this: “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”

“Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them.“

 

Then came angels and One, like the Son of Man, with sickles.  It was the time of THE REAPING OF THE HARVEST OF THE EARTH.  (Remember those parables Jesus told of just such a thing!)  

  • “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.
  • So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 
  • And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress as high as a horse’s bridle for 184 miles!”

 

You might be reminded of that old song, The Battle Hymn of the Republic right now.

“Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord. 
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:
His truth is marching on.

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Revelation 15.

Then John saw another great and amazing SIGN in heaven – seven angels with seven plagues.  

Here’s how it went down…..

John saw what looked like a sea of glass mingled with fire… and standing next to this sea were those who had conquered the Beast and its image and the number of its name.  They had harps and they sang “The Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb.”

  • “Great and amazing are Your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty!
  • Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations!
  • Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name?
    All nations will come and worship You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed.”

And as they sang, the Holy Place was opened in Heaven and out from the Santuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues.  One of the four living creatures gave the seven angels the seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God.

And the sanctuary was filled with the glory of God and His power, and no one could enter it until the seven plagues were finished.

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Revelation 16.

The voice came from the Temple, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”

  • The first angel – poured out harmful and painful sores on the people who bore the mark of the Beast.
  • The second angel – poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became like blood, and every living thing died in it.
  • The third angel – poured out his bowl into the rivers, and they became blood.

“Just are You, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments.

For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. 

It is what they deserve!”

  • The fourth angel – poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fierce heat.  (And they cursed the name of God. They did not repent. They did not give Him glory.)
  • The fifth angel – poured out his bowl on the throne of the Beast, and its kingdom plunged into darkness. People cursed God for their pain. They did not repent of their deeds.
  • The sixth angel – poured out his bowl on the great River Euphrates, and its water was dried up — to prepare the way for the kings from the east.

(Then John saw coming out of the mouths of the Dragon, the Beast, and False Prophet, demonic spirits that looked like frogs.  They did miracles and went to all the kings of the whole world to assemble them for battle on THE GREAT DAY OF GOD ALMIGHTY.  And the assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called … ARMAGEDDON.)

  • The seventh angel – poured out his bowl into the air. And a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, “IT IS DONE!”   

 

  • Followed by lightning, thunder, and a great earthquake.  And the great city – Jerusalem – split into three parts, and the cities of the earth fell. 
  • And God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath.
  • And great hailstones – 100 pounds each – fell from on heaven on the people and they cursed God.

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Revelation 17.

One of the seven angels then came to John and said, “Come, I’ll show you the judgment of The Great Prostitute (remember this represents the Apostate Church) who is seated on many waters (the nations of the world), with whom the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality.”

  • The angel carried John away in the spirit to a wilderness. He saw the Prostitute sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of blasphemous names.  The woman wore purple and scarlet, gold, jewels, and pearls.  In her hand, she held a golden cup FULL of abominations and impurities and immorality. 
  • On her forehead was written: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” 
  • And she was drunk with the blood of the saints and the martyrs of Jesus…….

The angel then explains the “mystery” about this woman and the beast with its multiple heads and horns,  and what they mean.

  • The multitude of the nations and people hate her and plan to kill her and burn her with fire, and hand over her royal power to the Beast until the Words of God are fulfilled.  That woman is … the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth … Babylon the Great.
  • These kings also plan to make war on the LAMB, but the LAMB will conquer them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those fighting with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

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Revelation 18.

After that private lesson from one of the angels, John saw another bright and mighty angel descended from heaven and call out,

FALLEN, FALLEN IS BABYLON THE GREAT, the haunt for every demon, every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, every unclean and detestable beast!

 

And the rest of the chapter goes on to describe this great and evil nation…. her sins, her false evil glories, her deceptions, her evil fruit, jewels, and gold with which she deceived the nations, and made them rich. How the world will mourn her destruction, and how they will miss her wealth.

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Then the mighty angel said,

“And so Babylon, the great city, will be thrown down with violence and will be found no more.” 

“Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her.

 

Whew!

 

Tomorrow we finish THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST.  It is a beautiful ending of what heaven will be like without the devil, sin, and sorrow.  The glorious new Jerusalem. Seeing God face to face.  I can’t wait.

The last book in the chronological study/reading, and the end of the year.