Wednesday in the Word

Jesus heals two blind men and a mute man, but the real question isn’t what he can do—it’s whether we’re willing to believe what those miracles mean. In this final episode of Matthew chapter 9, Krisan Marotta guides us through two striking healings that mark a turning point in Jesus’ ministry. As the crowds grow more amazed, the Pharisees grow more hostile. These miracles are more than moments of c...

When death seems final, Jesus shows that it isn’t. In this episode, Krisan Marotta walks us through the story of Jairus, a synagogue leader who risks everything to beg Jesus for help when his daughter is dying. But before they even reach the house, news arrives that it’s too late—she’s already gone. What follows is not only a demonstration of Jesus’ authority over death, but also a powerful portra...

In this episode of Wednesday in the Word , Krisan Marotta unpacks the quiet but powerful story of a woman who reaches out to Jesus in the middle of a crowd, desperate for healing after twelve long years of suffering. Her faith isn’t loud or dramatic, but it’s real—and Jesus sees it. This moment reveals not only Christ’s power to heal but his desire to restore, comfort, and affirm those the world h...

In this episode of Wednesday in the Word , Krisan Marotta examines one of Jesus’ most striking confrontations with the religious traditions of his time. When questioned about why his disciples don’t fast like the Pharisees or John the Baptist’s followers, Jesus responds with powerful imagery about weddings, wine, and worn-out garments. This passage challenges us to consider whether our religious p...

Jesus didn’t avoid sinners. He ate with them. But not to excuse sin. He came to heal it. In this episode, we reflect on one of the most personal and theologically loaded moments in Matthew’s Gospel: the call of Matthew and Jesus’ decision to dine with tax collectors and sinners. This encounter isn’t just about hospitality. It’s a confrontation with the religious leaders of the day over what righte...

Jesus didn’t just heal a man’s body—he forgave his sins. And that changed everything. In this episode, we look at the moment Jesus heals a paralyzed man in Capernaum. But the real surprise isn’t the miracle. It’s what Jesus says first: “Your sins are forgiven.” This story draws a sharp line between those who come to Jesus in faith and those who stand by in judgment. It reveals not only what Jesus...

Even the darkest forces must bow to the authority of Jesus. In this episode, we explore one of the most unsettling and revealing moments in Matthew’s Gospel. Two violent, demon-possessed men confront Jesus—and the demons inside them immediately recognize his authority. What follows is a strange and unforgettable scene involving a herd of pigs, a frightened town, and a powerful reminder of who Jesu...

When storms hit, our fear often reveals what we really believe about Jesus. In this episode, we explore the familiar story of Jesus calming the storm—but this time, with fresh eyes on the fear behind the fear. The disciples panic not just because of the wind and waves, but because they wonder: does Jesus care? Can he help? Is he really who he says he is? As Jesus sleeps through the storm, their fa...

Following Jesus means more than admiration. It means surrender. In this episode, we look at two short but striking conversations Jesus has with would-be disciples. One wants to follow him “wherever you go.” The other wants to delay following until it’s more convenient. In both cases, Jesus responds with words that are intentionally cryptic—and deeply revealing. These interactions pull us into the...

Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law—and Matthew says it fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy. But how exactly? In this episode, we explore how Jesus’ miracles aren’t just acts of compassion or proof of divine power—they’re signposts pointing to a deeper truth. When Jesus heals the sick or casts out demons, he’s not just solving temporary problems. He’s revealing who he is and what he came to do. And Matthew w...

What kind of authority does Jesus really have—and what should we do about it? In this episode, we explore the turning point between Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount and his powerful acts of healing. As Matthew shifts from words to miracles, a central question emerges: Does Jesus truly speak and act with God’s authority? And how should we respond to that authority? In this week’s episode,...

How did Jesus had to our understanding of what should we do or not do on the Sabbath? He taught that Sabbath is a rest that is given, not earned, and that our “job” is to enjoy it, not to live up to it. Passages: Mark 2:23-3:6; 1 Samuel 21:1-6; Leviticus 24:5-9; Matthew 12:1-8  Series: Sabbath: Why, how and when Most people fail at Bible study because no one ever taught them how. Bible Study Boot...

Sabbath rest is yet to come —the rest we enjoy today anticipates the real Sabbath rest that awaits us in the kingdom. That future rest is granted to those who have saving faith in Jesus Christ. Passages: Hebrews 3:7-13; Psalm 95; Exodus 17; Hebrew 4:1-16  Series: Sabbath: Why, how and when Most people fail at Bible study because no one ever taught them how. Bible Study Boot Camp fixes that: one sh...

How do we keep the Sabbath? The simple command is not to work. We stop the activities we do that sustain our lives and instead we do the things that most foster our relationship to, understanding of and dependence on God. Passages: Exodus 16;  Exodus 35:1-3; Numbers 15:32-36; Nehemiah 13:15-22; Psalm 46  Series: Sabbath: Why, how and when Most people fail at Bible study because no one ever taught...

Sabbath is about who God is. It’s not about what we need to live healthy lives. It’s not about making sure we get our rest so that we can be productive at work, be nice to our family and stay awake during Bible Studies (though none of those things are bad things). Sabbath reminds us who God is. Because as we’ll see, on the Sabbath, we rest to remember God. Passages: Exodus 20:8-11; Genesis 2:1-3;...

What if God has called me to something and I'm just plain afraid to follow?  What if the path He has put before me seems too frightening or overwhelming? Passages: 2 Kings 6  Series: When God Calls: 5 ways to run your race well Most people fail at Bible study because no one ever taught them how. Bible Study Boot Camp fixes that: one short email a day for a week, plus a worksheet you can use o...

How do you accomplish great things for the kingdom of God and quiet that inner voice that says whatever you're doing, it's not enough? In 2Kings 5 we see a series of contrasts between how the world measures greatness and God measures greatness. Passages: 2 Kings 5  Series: When God Calls: 5 ways to run your race well Most people fail at Bible study because no one ever taught them how. Bi...

When God called Elisha to be succeed the prophet Elijah, Elisha was a farmer with no apparent qualifications. Yet Elisha burned his ox and followed. Then Elisha refused to leave his mentor's side, humbly asking that God equip him for the journey ahead. Passages:  1 Kings 19:19-21; 2 Kings 2:1-6;  2 Kings 2:7-14  Series: When God Calls: 5 ways to run your race well Most people fail at Bible st...

Habakkuk 3 records a prophet who has heard God’s terrifying answer, trembles to his core, and yet chooses to rejoice in the God of his salvation. In this episode, Krisan Marotta walks through Habakkuk 3:1–19 as a prayer set to music—a vision of God’s majestic coming in judgment and salvation that leads Habakkuk from anxiety and dread to quiet, settled trust.  In this week’s episode, we explore: Ho...

Habakkuk 2:1–20 records God’s second answer to a worried prophet: yes, He will use the Babylonians to discipline His people, but He will also hold them accountable for every act of violence, greed, and idolatry.  In this episode, Krisan Marotta traces how God exposes the pride of the Babylonians, contrasts it with “the righteous [who] will live by his faith,” and anchors Habakkuk—and us—in the cer...

Habakkuk opens his book with a bold, unsettling honesty: he looks at the injustice in Judah, cries out to God for help, and is stunned when God’s answer seems even worse than the problem. In this episode, Krisan Marotta walks through Habakkuk 1:1–2:1, tracing the prophet’s first complaint, God’s shocking response about the Babylonians, and Habakkuk’s decision to keep watching and waiting even when...

Habakkuk is a short prophetic book born out of long, anguished questions: How can a loving, righteous God allow His people to suffer under corrupt leaders and violent empires—and why keep trusting Him when the answers seem worse than the problem? In this introductory episode, Krisan Marotta sets the stage for Habakkuk’s struggle by walking through Israel’s history, the rise of Assyria and Babylon,...

Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount with a powerful call to action. In this final section, he summarizes everything he's been teaching through two essential themes: love your neighbor as yourself (the Golden Rule) and choose the narrow road that leads to life over the wide road that leads to destruction. This isn't just good advice for being nice. It's Jesus describing what savi...

When Jesus says "ask and you will receive," is He promising to grant every request we make? Not quite. In this episode of Wednesday in the Word, we examine one of Scripture's most encouraging yet misunderstood passages. Jesus isn't offering a blank check for our wishes. He's making a profound promise to those who pray with genuine saving faith—those who humbly recognize Go...

Most Christians think Matthew 7:6 warns against sharing the gospel with hostile, unworthy people. But what if that popular interpretation completely misses Jesus' point?  In this episode, Krisan Marotta challenges the traditional reading of "don't cast pearls before swine" and offers a minority view that better fits the context of the Sermon on the Mount. Instead of identifying...