Today’s Bible reading from Mark 8 includes the story of Jesus’ feeding 4000 people (Mark 8:1-10). You would think that the disciples would have figured it out already! Just two chapters earlier (Mark 6:30-44), we were given the story of Jesus’ feeding 5000 men (plus women and children?) with five loaves of bread and two…
As I read today’s Bible reading in Mark 7, one word stood out in glaring clarity: tradition. And instantly, I heard Tevye singing the song from Fiddler on the Roof. I can almost hear the First Century Jewish Leaders arguing with Jesus about their traditions. They express their frustration that Jesus’ disciples aren’t upholding the…
There are two things I want to point out from today’s Bible reading from Mark 6. The chapter begins and ends talking about Jesus’ miracle ministry. The end of the chapter is very familiar to those of us who grew up in church. People come to Jesus to be healed and some are trusting in…
In today’s Bible reading (Mark 5), we read about a man who lived in the Gadera cemetery. He was possessed by a legion (3000-6000!) of demons. No one could contain him. He would often break out of shackles. He desperately wanted to be free! Jesus did just that by sending all those demons into a…
In today’s Bible reading, we came across Jesus’ parable of the sower and the seeds (Mark 4:3-9). It’s a familiar story for those of us who grew up going to church. We’ve heard it at least a million times, right? According to the parable, as the sower scattered the seed, some of the seed fell…
In Mark 3:5 (part of today’s Bible reading) we’re told that Jesus was grieved by the hardness of the hearts of the Pharisees. You would think that men who had spent their entire lives studying the Bible and teaching the Bible could grow so hardhearted. But unfortunately, it still happens all the time. It’s so…
