Hope for Today (English)

Why does Jesus instruct us to keep the Lord’s supper? In this episode, J. Mark Horst continues his study of Mark 14:17-26, exploring the last essential elements of communion: initiation and affirmation. Jesus initiates the Last Supper, exemplifying how we should show remembrance of him through this sacrament. He also affirms the reality of a coming feast, when He will gather with His people. This...

Communion is a sacred act practiced by Christians everywhere, and today we are going to look at the Scripture this practice is based on. In today’s episode, J. Mark Horst studies Mark 14:17-26 where Jesus inaugurates what we call the “Communion Service” or “The Lord’s Table.” In this first part of “Let Us Keep the Feast,” we look at the importance of examining our hearts before participating in th...

Mark 14:1-16 Transcript Thank you for being there and looking into the Word of God with us. The timeless, unchanging Word of God- think about the many people down through the ages who have studied these same stories. It is amazing and very humbling to think about. Today we continue our study in Mark. If you can, turn to Mark 14. Our title is Desire and Destiny, and we will look at verses 1-16. We...

What should we do, knowing that Jesus could come at any time? In this week’s episode, J. Mark Horst teaches from Mark 13:28–37, where Jesus focuses on the conditions at the climax of human history. Jesus urgently reminds His hearers to be alert and commands us to be observant, vigilant, and busy so that we are not caught by surprise. Join us in “Watch and Pray” to learn what Jesus desires from us...

What signs point to the coming of the Son of Man? In this episode of Hope for Today, J. Mark explores Mark 13:14-27 where Jesus predicts the events surrounding His return. J. Mark explains the imagery and context behind these prophecies, including how they connect to prophecies in Daniel. This lesson explores the specific signs Jesus gave us to watch for and reminds us of the importance of being p...

Mark 13 brings us to Jesus’ prediction of future events as He responds to observations and questions from His disciples. In this episode, J. Mark guides us through Mark 13:1-13 where Jesus predicts physical destruction, spiritual deception, political aggression, and religious persecution. Join us to learn about these indicators of “The Coming Judgment,” and about how we can live as followers of Je...

In this episode, J. Mark explores Mark 12:38–44, where Jesus contrasts the self-centered worship of the scribes with the worship of a poor widow who gave everything she had. As we examine this passage, we see how pride and recognition reveal a heart focused on worshipping self rather than worshipping God. Through the widow’s example, we’re reminded that true worship is not measured by how much we...

Jesus poses profound questions that illuminate His identity and engage us in a thought-provoking exploration. In this episode, J. Mark Horst explores Mark 12:35-37, where we see that Jesus is more than a human descendant of David—He is Lord, fully God and fully man. But “Who is Jesus?” is not merely theological question, it is personal: Who is Jesus to you?

In this episode, J. Mark Horst examines Jesus’ interaction with a scribe in Mark 12:28-34 and explores the greatest commandment: to love God with all your heart and to love your neighbors as yourself. Rather than reducing faith to a list of rules or religious duties, Jesus shows that God wants a relationship with us that transforms our lives. J. Mark also considers how our love for God flows into...

What happens after we die? In this episode, J. Mark Horst studies Mark 12:18–27, where the Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection, try to trap Jesus with a question about marriage in the afterlife. Instead, Jesus exposes their faulty beliefs through the testimony of Jesus and the testimony of Moses. He reveals the truth of the resurrection and points to God’s declaration that He is the...

In this episode of Hope for Today, J. Mark Horst explores Jesus’ encounter with the religious leaders that led to His statement, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Looking at Mark 12:13–17, J. Mark examines three dangerous aspects of misplaced loyalty to earthly kingdoms: political expediency, willful disobedience, and divided allegiance. While w...

In this episode, J. Mark studies Mark 12:1–12 where Jesus tells the religious leaders the parable about the wicked tenants. Through this parable, Jesus exposes the religious leaders' rejection of God's authority and warns them of the consequences of their rebellion. This passage calls us to examine our own privilege, checking if we respond to His goodness with humble obedience, or if we are compla...

Who has the authority to define truth, forgive sin, and call us to obedience? In Mark 11:27-33, the religious leaders challenge Jesus with a simple question: "By what authority are You doing these things?" J. Mark explores what this encounter reveals about the foundation, delegation, and determination of true authority. We discover why all authority belongs to God which He entrusted to Jesus. This...

In this episode, J. Mark dives into Mark 11:22-26, where Jesus commands His disciples to “have faith in God.” Discover the essential components of effective prayer: making God the object of your faith, trusting His will with authentic belief, and maintaining a heart that freely forgives. This passage challenges us to examine the authenticity of our faith and how it shapes our prayer life.

Why were the Pharisees threatened by Jesus? In this episode, J. Mark studies Mark 11:12–21, where Jesus repeatedly confronts the religious system of His day. Through the cursing of the fig tree, the cleansing of the temple, and the religious leaders' plot to kill Him, Jesus exposes a fruitless religion that looked righteous on the outside but lacked true devotion to God. This episode challenges us...

In this episode, J. Mark explores Mark 11:1-11, the account of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. As Jesus rides into the city on a donkey, the crowds welcome Him with cries of "Hosanna!" This moment is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies that reveal Jesus as the promised Messiah. Listen to this episode where J. Mark unpacks these prophecies and shows how their fulfillme...

Do you need to see to believe? In this episode, J. Mark studies Mark 10:46-52, where Blind Bartimaeus is healed. Though a blind beggar, Bartimaeus recognized Jesus as the Messiah, and showed persistent faith. Jesus restored his sight, not only physically, but spiritually. Join us as we explore this passage and discover the depth of Jesus’ compassion.

What is the path to greatness according to Jesus? In this episode, J. Mark walks us through Mark 10:32-45 where Jesus predicts his death for the third time and redefines true greatness. He outlines three steps to being great in the Kingdom of God—embracing suffering, allowing Jesus to correct our misconceptions, and humbly serving others. While the world equates greatness with wealth, power, and p...

Jesus told the rich young ruler, “Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor.” Does Jesus require that of us if we want to receive eternal life? In this episode, J. Mark explores Mark 10:17–31, the account of the rich young ruler who came to Jesus seeking eternal life. As Jesus challenged the young man to sell his possessions and give to the poor, He exposed the true condition of his...

Children are an important part of God's kingdom. In this episode, J. Mark explores Mark 10:13–16, where Jesus demonstrates the high value He places on children. While the disciples and religious leaders did not regard children as important, Jesus showed them that their perspective was flawed. He highlighted both the value and the virtues of children, teaching that we must become like little childr...

In this episode, J. Mark concludes his study of Jesus’ teaching on divorce and remarriage in Mark 10:6-12. In Part 1 of “Maybe I Do,” we explored the confrontation and the concession. In this episode, we return to Genesis with Jesus as He clarifies God’s original design for marriage. Jesus teaches that marriage is intended to be a lifelong covenant that reflects the relationship between Christ and...

What does Jesus teach about divorce? In part 1 of “Maybe, I Do,” we see the Pharisees challenge Jesus with questions on divorce in Mark 10:1-12.  J. Mark explores the cultural and religious views of divorce that the Pharisees had, and Jesus’ response to these views. Jesus takes us back to the beginning, in the Garden of Eden, where God created marriage, and clarifies God’s original plan and purpos...

As followers of Jesus, we are to learn from him and grow more like him. This is discipleship. In this episode, J. Mark takes us through Mark 9:42-50, where we see Jesus lay out the qualities of radical discipleship. We see how when we embrace radical love, radical purity, and radical obedience, we can make a difference in our lives and in the world around us.

In this episode, Bible teacher J. Mark explores the values Jesus taught His disciples in Mark 9:30-41. As Jesus continues preparing the disciples for His coming death and resurrection, He challenges them by emphasizing three values of His kingdom: anonymity, humility, and inclusivity. J. Mark shows how Jesus modeled servant-hearted living as the suffering servant, welcomed the overlooked, and call...