Journey through the Book of Mark

Every Jew at Passover was expected to eat the Passover meal with his family, and if no family was present, with his friends. And, if you were in Jerusalem, you were expected to eat it there, in the holy city. Jesus was in Jerusalem, but he had no family there, and no home in which to eat the Passover meal. Jesus solves this problem in a very interesting way.

We all know the story of Jesus, and we know that his time of ministry doesn’t have an easy ending. And now the time has come. One of Christ’s own provides the trigger for the final events in the ministry of Christ.   "Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an...

Jesus has just defended the woman who has poured perfume over his head, from those who criticised and condemned her. But Jesus doesn’t finish there. He continues to praise what she has done with some of the strongest words of affirmation that he ever spoke. "Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

Some of the guests at dinner at Simon’s house, have objected strongly to this woman who has interrupted the dinner to pour expensive perfume over Jesus’ head. They have been rebuking her harshly. But Jesus leaps to her defence.   “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time yo...

While Jesus was reclining at the table, at dinner in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman has come in with a jar of very expensive perfume. She has broken the jar open and poured the perfume over the head. Some of the others present at this dinner are shocked and horrified.      Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for mo...

When in Jerusalem, Jesus didn't stay in the city itself. He usually stayed in the house of His friend Lazarus, in the town of Bethany, just outside Jerusalem. There He enjoyed peace and companionship. He knows his time at the Cross is drawing near, and at this time, Jesus receives a very special dinner invitation. "And being in Bethany in the house of Simon, the leper, as he sat at meat,...

The high point of the Jewish calendar was the Passover. It was, for the Jews, one of the holiest times of the year. However, while Jesus is encouraging and preparing His disciples for what is to happen, the religious leaders are engaged in a very different activity. "After two days was the feast of the Passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they mi...

Jesus has just told His disciples that He is like a man who leaves his house to go away and puts his servants in charge. He gives each of his servants specific tasks and puts one at the door to keep watch. Now, Jesus draws out the lesson. "Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming sud...

Jesus has been speaking about the end of the world and His return in glory. Now, He gives his disciples a critical warning. "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and t...

At the end of Jesus' sermon about the end of the world, His longest sermon in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus says something that has puzzled people ever since. Let's see if we can "unpuzzle" it. "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away." -...

Do you remember that fig tree that Jesus cursed: the one that withered and died? It wasn't just something pointless that he did out of annoyance. Not at all. He had in mind to use it for an important lesson, in fact, for all time. "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these th...

We have come to the very climax of Jesus’ prophecy. He is responding to the question of his disciples about when the temple would be destroyed. Jesus makes it very clear that he hasn’t been just talking about the destruction of the temple, but of his second coming and the end of the world. "At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will se...

In this verse Jesus is  quoting the prophet, Joel, using typical apocalyptic imagery associated with the end of the world. It shows how the evil people do on earth doesn’t just affect us here on earth, but it disrupts the harmony of the heavens and the entire universe. This was illustrated by the way that a supernatural darkness covered the land at the crucifixion of Jesus, and there was a great e...

"At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time." - Mark 13:21-23 The word “Christ” is simply the Greek translation of the Hebrew word “Messiah.”...

“When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation standing where it does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the housetop go down or enter the house to take anything out. Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that this will not t...

Jesus says that everyone will hate you because of Him. And that’s why Jesus says that the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. This isn’t about believing some intellectual truth. The call of Jesus goes much deeper than that. What do you need to be doing today so that you will be able to stand firm tomorrow?

When Jesus says, “the gospel must first be preached to all nations,” He is speaking in the context of witnessing for Jesus before governors and kings. He is speaking about witnessing for Jesus in the midst of trouble, suffering, and persecution.

Many people are afraid and have questions about how the world will end. Jesus warned that there would be many deceptions regarding the end of the world. If you want to know the truth about what will actually happen, then the best thing to do is find out what Jesus actually said on this subject.

The disciples, as is natural to us human beings, we’re very interested in “when.” But Jesus rarely focused on the “when” of things. He was ultimately much more interested in the “who.” That’s why Jesus touches on the ‘when’ in this prophecy but focuses on the trouble and suffering that his followers will go through. And you’ll see that the climax of this prophecy is the ultimate “Who” – Jesus Chri...

Interestingly, Jesus wasn’t impressed by the things that impress us. The disciples focused on the earthly and the material. But Jesus, who could see all time in a single glance, focused on eternal realities. What one thing can you do that will help you focus less on materialism and more on the things of God?

A poor widow gave two pieces of money called mites as an offering to God. It was not very much money, but it was all the money she had – and yet she offered them to God. If you want to understand the meaning of this parable, watch this video clip.

The only way to protect yourself against false religious leaders is for your first allegiance to be to Jesus Christ and to His Word. If that is where you stand then you won’t be misled, and you won’t be disappointed when the hypocrisy of these people is exposed.

Jesus was trying to lead the people to understand who He was. One of the most common questions in the Gospels is, “Who is this man?” Our salvation depends on our answer to this question. How would you answer it? Jesus isn’t looking for an intellectual answer but He wants us to have a personal relationship with Him.

One of the religious teachers has just asked Jesus which is the greatest commandment in the law. Jesus has answered that it is to love God and that the second commandment is to love our neighbour. Jesus emphasises that this is the central and guiding principle regarding how we should live our lives.

The Jewish people in Jesus’ time loved to debate an infinite number of questions endlessly. They particularly loved to talk about the law and all the various commandments. One of these teachers of the law was impressed with Jesus’ answers, and so he asked Jesus a question that he had been wondering about. Of all the commandments, which is the most important?