Category Archives: Bible Study

Day Thirty-Eight with Mark: Mark 10:1-12 and 13-16

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Today we look at Mark 10: 1-12:

10 He left that place and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan. And crowds again gathered around him; and, as was his custom, he again taught them.

2 Some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3 He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” 4 They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.” 5 But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. 6 But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ 7 ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

10 Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. 11 He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; 12 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

Ok, today’s passage is one of those tough passages, one that can really be a challenge to understand.  That’s why I think it’s good to read it in context with what follows, Mark 10:13-16:

13 People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. 14 But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. 15 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.

jesuskidsHere’s the importance of context, we can see a bigger picture of what Jesus is doing.  When we look at passages that are tough and hard to understand, that context is key.  In both of these passages, Jesus is lifting up those that were forgotten and taken advantage of.

In the first passage, first we see that Jesus was being tested, the religious leaders wanted to see if they could trip Him up, so they asked about divorce.  What was happening in that day was this.  Men would marry and after a few years, divorce their wife and remarry because they could.  In that culture, that would leave the wife basically poor and powerless.

And what Jesus is saying is this.  No!  That’s not the way it’s supposed to be.  You can’t do this to your wife.  It’s not the way that God intended.  She’s made in His image.  You can’t, you shouldn’t do that to her.  It’s wrong.

This passage is about affirming the worth of the wife, of the female, of the one that in that culture didn’t matter.  Jesus is saying, this – she matters!

And the same thing with the child.  Children (like women) in that culture were little more than property.  And Jesus is telling the people this, these children matter.  Welcome them.  They count. They are important.  Welcome these little ones.

Jesus is telling us today that everyone matters.  Everyone is important.  Everyone has worth.  Even those that we are tempted to miss or tempted to ignore.

They matter to Jesus.

So, today and each day, they should matter to us.

Tomorrow we’ll look at Mark 10:17-31.

What questions do you have?  How does this strike you?  Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.

If you’d like to receive these thoughts by email, be sure to click here and join my email devotional group!

Day Thirty-Seven with Mark: Mark 9:42-50

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Sorry for missing last week!  My week began with me not feeling well and then spiraled out of control from there!  Thanks for your patience, we are back up and going this week.

Today we close out Mark 9 by looking at verses 42-50:

42 “If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.  45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell.  47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, 48 where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.

49 “For everyone will be salted with fire.  50 Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it?  Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

Today in this passage Jesus speaks with some great hyperbole.  He says if you hand causes you to sin, cut it off!  If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out!  If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off!

sin-kills1Is Jesus advocating mutilation?  No, He is not doing that.  Across scripture, we see that the body is good and we are called to take care of it. By the way, real quick, when the Bible talks about “the flesh” it isn’t talking about our literal body, it’s talking about the sinful desires that we all have.  The “body” is good, it was created good.  But after the fall, our desires were corrupted.  So, when you hear “flesh” in scripture, know it’s not talking about the actual body, but the sinful desire.

The point Jesus is making here is this, sin is a big deal.  It really is.  It is destructive.  It hurts.  It causes pain, it causes ripples.  It hurts you, it hurts others.  Don’t, through your actions, cause others to fall.  Especially one of the little ones.

I spend a lot of time talking about grace, because it all comes down to grace.  Everything.  But we need to be aware of the power of sin.  Sin is destructive.  Sin is harmful.  Sin hurts so many, it hurts us, it hurts others, it hurts our walk with God.

Jesus is saying here, because with sin.  Sin is not a play thing.  It is not something to be ignored.  It is something to take seriously.  It is something to be aware of.  Don’t ignore it, don’t play with it, don’t think it’s not a big deal.

It is.  It is destructive.  So, better to get rid of something that allow sin to run wild.

So, while maybe we don’t need to cut off a hand or a foot, is something in our lives we need to “cut” off or get rid of?  Because if something is causing us or leading us to sin, it’s not a good thing.  It’s a destructive, bad thing.

Today, may we look within and find the things that are destructive to us, to our souls, and to others.  And may God give us the grace to get rid of them within our lives!

Tomorrow we’ll look at Mark 10:1-12.

What questions do you have?  How does this strike you?  Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.

If you’d like to receive these thoughts by email, be sure to click here and join my email devotional group!

Day Thirty-Six with Mark: Mark 9:38-41

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Today we look at Mark 9:38-41 and we see Jesus tell us about how we can work together as different churches:

Another Exorcist
38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 Whoever is not against us is for us. 41 For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.

around-the-crossToday we see Jesus giving us a picture of what “church” should be like. We see the disciples saying, we saw people casting out demons in Jesus name, but they weren’t part of their group. And they tried to stop them, because they weren’t part of their group.

And Jesus says no.  If they do good my name (in other words, through me) then they can’t be against me.  In other words, if they are part of Jesus, but not part of us, you know what?  It’s ok.  Jesus’ team, Jesus kingdom is bigger than just you and me.  It’s bigger than just my local church.  Or my denomination.  Or those that worship like I do.  Or believe exactly like me.  Or have my theology.

Jesus team is made up of all those that believe in Him and part of Him.  Even if they aren’t “part” of our group.  Because you know what?  If they are in Christ, they are part of us.

Through Jesus, we are one.  Even if we disagree or have differences of opinions.  If we are in Jesus, we are one.

Imagine what we could do as Christians if we all worked together.  Imagine what could happen in our communities, our world, everywhere, if we all worked together in Jesus name.  We could (and we can) change the world.

Look at the good that was being done.  In Jesus name.

Today, may all of us that are in Jesus name, may we work together for the same goal, the same purpose, the same plan, the same savior.

May we all, no matter what group we are part of, work for Jesus!

Monday we’ll look at Mark 9:42-50.

What questions do you have?  How does this strike you?  Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.

If you’d like to receive these thoughts by email, be sure to click here and join my email devotional group!

Day Thirty-Six with Mark: Mark 9:30-37

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When you read the Gospels consistently, you begin to really get a picture for who Jesus is and see some real things begin to emerge.  Listen to what we read in Mark 9:30-37:

Jesus Again Foretells His Death and Resurrection
30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; 31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” 32 But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.

Who Is the Greatest?
33 Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” 34 But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. 35 He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” 36 Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”

follow-JESUS1When you read about Jesus, from beginning to end of a Gospel, you see what matters to Him, what is truly important, what is essential.  And here’s the deal.  The Bible tells us that Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God.  So when we see Jesus, we see who God is.

Who do we see today, and who have we seen?

Today, we see in Jesus that He knows He must die for the sins of the world.  When you read the Gospels, this is impossible to miss.  He tells them and teaches them that over and over again, and until after the resurrection, they never fully understood it.  But He continued to teach it.  He continued to point to it.  He continued to stress it to His followers.  He must be betrayed, be killed, and be raised again.

It is all heading towards the resurrection.  We can not take this part out of Jesus teaching. It is what it is all headed towards.  That is unmissable in the Gospels.

But look what else is unmissable.  In 33-37, he teaches that to be great in the kingdom of God, we have to be humble.  We have to serve.  We have to understand that it’s not about what we get, but what we give.  It’s about being the servant of all, not seeking power.  It’s about laying down our lives for His sake.

Those things are right there in front of us in the text today, and they are right there in front of us in the Gospels.  They are right there in front of us in the life of Jesus.

And as Christians, we are called to follow in the way of Jesus.  That means laying down our lives.  That means being humble.  That means serving. And that means understand that Jesus died and was raised for me.  And for you.  For all of us.  For the sake of the world.

These things are all over the Gospel.  And let’s not get so busy reading about Jesus that we forget what truly mattered and was important to Jesus.

He laid down His life to redeem us.  And He calls us to love and serve others.  Those things are in the forefront of Jesus’ ministry.  May they be in the forefront of our lives.

Friday we’ll look at Mark 9:38-41.

What questions do you have?  How does this strike you?  Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.

If you’d like to receive these thoughts by email, be sure to click here and join my email devotional group!

Day Thirty-Five with Mark: Mark 9:14-29

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Today we take a look at Mark 9:14-29, where Jesus heals a young boy:

The Healing of a Boy with a Spirit
14 When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. 15 When the whole crowd saw him, they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him. 16 He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 17 Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; 18 and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so.” 19 He answered them, “You faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.” 20 And they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us.” 23 Jesus said to him, “If you are able!—All things can be done for the one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You spirit that keeps this boy from speaking and hearing, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!” 26 After crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand. 28 When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 He said to them, “This kind can come out only through prayer.”

Today we see Jesus heal another child that is possessed by an evil spirit, something we see quite a lot of, especially in Mark.  There are a couple of words of reminder about evil or demonic spirits I want to give when we read texts like this. First, remember, scripture is clear, they are out there, they do exist. But, let us not become overly consumed or worried about them. That is not helpful.  CS Lewis said this in his book The Screwtape Letters:

There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.

exorcism_0So yes, there is evil out there, but no, it is not stronger than Jesus.

Two things that I think are of great interest in this text are the notion of faith and prayer.  Notice Jesus’ seeming frustration with the lack of faith displayed by everyone involved in this.  No one is able to heal the boy, it seems as though it is at an end.  The father says to Jesus, if you can heal, and Jesus says all things are possible for those that believe.

Then the father has one of my favorite statements in all of scripture.  Lord I believe, help my unbelief.  How often have we all felt like that?  How often have we said I know you can do it Lord, but help me believe.

Belief and faith are not an on/off switch.  When we flip it, doesn’t always stay there. We can believe, but still struggle with doubt and fear and worry. We can have great faith, but still have areas of our life that struggle to trust in.  We can be this father.  Lord I believe, but help my unbelief.

Today, may your faith be stronger than your doubts.  Hold fast to faith.  Hold on.  Jesus can do it. Believe.  Trust.  Hope.  Don’t doubt, only belief.  Give your doubts, your worries, your fears, give them to Jesus.  He can hold them, He can help them.

Trust.

And the second thing that stands out to me is the conversation the disciples have with Jesus following.  They want to know why they couldn’t heal the boy, and Jesus says some things can only be done with great prayer.  Prayer is always the first things that we should do as Christians.  Not the last.

Prayer must always be our frist resort, not our last.  Prayer must be the frist thing that we turn to, not the last.  We have to start all things, all things with prayer.  Jesus says the only way that you can bring forth healing in this situation is through prayer.

Do we pray first?  We have to.  We must.  It’s the only way that we’ll have the power to be faithful.

Prayer.

Tomorrow we’ll look at Mark 9:30-37.

What questions do you have?  How does this strike you?  Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.

If you’d like to receive these thoughts by email, be sure to click here and join my email devotional group!

Day Thirty-Five with Mark: Mark 9:9-13

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Today in Mark we look at Mark 9:9-13:

The Coming of Elijah
9 As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead could mean. 11 Then they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 12 He said to them, “Elijah is indeed coming first to restore all things. How then is it written about the Son of Man, that he is to go through many sufferings and be treated with contempt? 13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written about him.”

urlToday in our reading, we see the disciples continue to struggle to understand what it is that Jesus is doing.  They don’t understand that it means about Him being raised from the dead. That’s not their idea of what a Messiah should do.  They don’t understand who Elijah was in reference to Jesus. They don’t understand what it is that God is doing. They don’t get what is happening.

You kind of hurt for them.  I mean, they wanted to understand.  They left everything to follow Jesus.  If’s always easy for us to make fun of the disciples for not getting it.  But think about the faith they had.  They didn’t get it. They didn’t understand.  But they still left everything and followed. Because while they didn’t understand everything that Jesus was doing or saying, you know what?  They knew that Jesus was life.

Wow, what a testimony of faith.  What a testimony of being faithful when they didn’t understand.

Faith is often the most strong when we don’t understand, but we still follow.

Today, even when we don’t understand, may we have that faith.

Tomorrow we’ll look at Mark 9:14-29.

What questions do you have?  How does this strike you?  Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.

If you’d like to receive these thoughts by email, be sure to click here and join my email devotional group!

Day Thirty-Five with Mark: Mark 9:1-8

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Today we look at one of the more amazing stories in the Bible in Mark 9:1-8.  We see Jesus’ transfiguration:

1 And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”

The Transfiguration
2 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” 8 Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.

transfiguration2003-3This is why I like this story.  In this, we see Jesus for who He is.  He is glorious.  He is powerful.  He is majestic.  He is strong.  He is God.

We see Jesus today in all of His power and might.  We truly see Jesus as is He.  He left the right hand of God to be born of a virgin, to be fully God and fully man, to redeem humanity.  While on the earth, He suffered.  He bled.  He was abandoned.  He was betrayed.  He walked around Israel and Judah with a group of followers.  He lived a tough life.  He did.

He was tested as we were, yet remained without sin.  He was tested and tried.  He experienced the death of friends, He felt rejection from family, He did not have an easy time fulfilling His Father’s plan.

And, by the way, that was for us.  All that He went through was for our sake and for our salvation.  Let us not forget that.

But today, today we see Jesus in His glory.  We see Him in His power.  We see Him as He is.  King of Kings.  Lord of Lords.  Alpha and Omega.  Beginning and the End.  The First and the Last.

He is the visible image of the invisible God.  He is the firstborn of all creation.  He is God Himself.

Don’t forget that.  Don’t forget who He is.  Don’t take Him for granted.  Don’t forget His grace.  His mercy.

And His strength.  And His power.  And His might.

He is Jesus.

Monday we’ll look at Mark 9:9-13.

What questions do you have?  How does this strike you?  Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.

If you’d like to receive these thoughts by email, be sure to click here and join my email devotional group!

Day Thirty-Four with Mark: Mark 8:27-38

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Today we’ll finish out Mark 8 with verses 27-38:

Peter’s Declaration about Jesus
27 Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” 29 He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.”  30 And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection
31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”

34 He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. 36 For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37 Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 38 Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Today Jesus gives His disciples and His followers perhaps His greatest teaching on what it means to be the Messiah.  As we talked about yesterday, people had in their minds what it would be to be the Messiah.  So, today starts off with Jesus asking the disciples two HUGE questions.

First, who to do people say that I am?  This is important, but not the most important question.  What are others saying about Him.

carrying-the-crossThe important one is this.  Who do you say that I am?  That’s the key question to really all of life.  I mean, everything comes down to the answer of that question.  Who do you say that I am?  Who am I to you?

And in our lives, that really is that key question.  Not what do your parents, your friends, your spouse, your children, your neighbors, your church, not what any of these think of Jesus, but what do you think of Jesus?

Who is He to you?

Friends, that truly is the question that matters more than anything else in all of life, because how we answer that question determines everything else.

Well, Peter answers right.  He says you are the Messiah.  And then Jesus begins to teach about what it meant to be the Messiah.  And it wasn’t what Peter was expecting.  It wasn’t about being an earthly king.  It wasn’t about power or might.  But to be the Messiah was about Jesus laying down His life for the sake and for the sins of the world.  It was about the perfect Lamb of God, the sinless Son of God, redeeming us.

It wasn’t about power, it was sacrifice.  And after the sacrifice, the power of life and resurrection triumph.  But to get the triumph, to get to the empty grave, we had to go through the cross.

Well Peter hears this and says, no.  That’s not right. That’s not what it means.  That can’t be right.

And Jesus rebukes Him.  He says – Peter, you are focused on earthly thoughts, not heavenly ones.  For to follow Jesus is not the way of power, but of sacrifice.  Because true life is not found in receiving, true life is found in giving.  The world tells us to receive and receive and receive and receive.  Jesus tells us to give.  And in giving, we find life.

In laying down our life, we find our lives.

To be a Christian means to follow Jesus.  And that’s the path that Jesus walked.  And that’s the path He calls us to walk.

It is a path of life. Seriously.  It’s the path that gives us life.  Loving.  Serving.  Giving.  There is life.  It’s what our Lord taught us.  May we follow!

Friday we’ll look at Mark 9:1-8.

What questions do you have?  How does this strike you?  Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.

If you’d like to receive these thoughts by email, be sure to click here and join my email devotional group!

Day Thirty-Three with Mark: Mark 8:22-26

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Today in Mark we look at Mark 8:22-26:

Jesus Cures a Blind Man at Bethsaida
22 They came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village; and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Can you see anything?” 24 And the man looked up and said, “I can see people, but they look like trees, walking.” 25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 Then he sent him away to his home, saying, “Do not even go into the village.”

This is the second time we see Jesus heal someone by using spit or saliva.  We talked a good bit in the day about why Jesus chose to use saliva as an instrument of healing.  I think there is much to be said about the notion of Jesus using “modern” understandings of medicine for other’s benefit as well the notion that He is showing illness and disease who is really in control.

But here is the thing that is significant about this text to me.  Notice Jesus takes the man out of town to heal him and then after the healing tells him to not even go back into the town.  Why?  Why did Jesus do this great act in private?  Many of His other miracles, particularly early in His ministry were done in public so everyone could see.

Now, this is in private with the express directions to not ever go into town and tell others.  Why?

Imperial-Crown-IndiaWell, the people of Jesus day were looking for a Messiah. They were looking for a savior. They were looking for a King from the line of David.  In fact at times some people will even call Him the Son of David.  What is happening here is they are saying yes, you are the one that is to come from David’s line.

You will be a king just like David!

And for the people, David was the greatest earthly king the people had ever had.  He was it.  He was the icon of what a king should be.  All other kings would measure up against him.  And when that promised king from David’s line would come, he would drive out their oppressors.  He would restore the fortunes of Israel and make them great again.

He would restore the kingdom.

But, as Jesus tells us, His kingdom is not of this world.  Yes, He is a king, but it is not of an earthly kingdom.  It is a heavenly kingdom.

So why did Jesus do this in private and tell others not to tell.  Because they didn’t understand the kingdom Jesus was going to bring.  So He did these healings in secret.  He did them in private.  Because they didn’t understand the kingdom Jesus was coming to bring.

We will see tomorrow, that even His closest disciples didn’t get it just yet.

So, when I read these stories, the question I always have to ask myself is this. What do I do when Jesus isn’t what I expect Him to be?  What do I do when Jesus’ plan, His will, His purpose aren’t what I would have done myself?

Do I buck Him?  Or do I trust?  That’s always the question.  What do we do when Jesus doesn’t do what we expect.

Today, and each day, may we learn to trust.

Tomorrow we’ll look at Mark 8:27-38.

What questions do you have?  How does this strike you?  Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.

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Day Thirty-Three with Mark: Mark 8:14-21

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Today we look at Mark 8:14-21:

The Yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod
14 Now the disciples had forgotten to bring any bread; and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out—beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.” 16 They said to one another, “It is because we have no bread.” 17 And becoming aware of it, Jesus said to them, “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?” They said to him, “Twelve.” 20 “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?” And they said to him, “Seven.” 21 Then he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”

Computer-CodeWhat do you see?  Friday in Mark we talked about seeing miracles everywhere when we believe.  Today, we see Jesus talk about something very similar.  Today He’s talking about sight.  But it’s not necessarily the sight of miracles.  It’s the deeper truth that can be found.

And I think today this is especially true with scripture.  I subscribe what Wesley called a simple reading of scripture.  You need to understand context, you need to understand the bigger picture with scripture, but for most of scripture, it simply means what it says.

But, there are times, lots of times, many times, where there is a deeper truth right there in plain sight.  Sometimes there is something right in front of us that we may or may not be able to see.  Look at today’s text. The Disciples are talking about bread and Jesus basically says, guys, you are missing the point.

Do you not see the deeper meaning and deeper truth here.  He recalls the feeding of the 5000 and the 4000. And then He asks how many baskets were left over.  For the 5000, there were 12.  For the 4000 there were 7.  And then He says, do you not understand?

What should they have understood?  What may we be missing?

Twelve and seven are very important numbers in scripture.  Twelve in particular is important in two main places.  There are 12 tribes of Israel (the 12 sons of Jacob).  And there are 12 Apostles.  The Old Covenant and the New Covenant.  So this number is seen many times in scripture (a lot in Revelation) to mean everyone or a completeness.  This number is many ways a number that is almost a code word for “all.”

Everyone that would have seen Him feed 5000 and then see 12 baskets left over would have understood that 12 was a big deal.  He has come, preaching to the Jews first, so that they would complete their calling from Genesis 12 to be a light to the world.  As God’s people, their mission would be the point others to who God is and be that light.  This 12 means that the

The 5000, that crowd was mostly like all Jewish.  The fact that Jesus recovered 12 baskets meant that God would call from His people a group that would finish the calling of Abraham.  And that is what happened.  How many Jewish disciples did Jesus have?

Twelve.

And where did they go?  Everywhere.

And that brings us to the seven.  Seven is another important number in scripture, and is often seen is as the “perfect” number.  Think the seven days of creation.  So it’s a word that associated with that creation account.  The 4000, that crowd would have mostly included Gentiles within it. So on a day when a crowd including Gentiles in it was feed, there were seven baskets left.  The number of creation.  A creation that was made God.  A creation that Jesus was coming to redeem.

In other words, Jesus didn’t just come to feed this crowd, He came to save them, and all (Jew or Gentile) that would believe.

That’s why He says, do you not get it?  Do you not see the bigger truth?

This is why it’s so important to read the Bible together.  Because together we can see the bigger truths that we may miss, just looking at the text.  There are deeper truths that Bible study and shared conversation can teach us.

That’s one of the many, many reasons we need each other and need the church!

Tomorrow we’ll look at Mark 8:22-26.

What questions do you have?  How does this strike you?  Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.

If you’d like to receive these thoughts by email, be sure to click here and join my email devotional group!