Numbers 5-6, Mark 4:1—20 • Key Verses: Numbers 6:24-26 Today when I read these verses, I think of pastors in my youth who concluded the Sunday service with these words or those of other benedictions found in the Bible. As a child, I usually perceived the benediction as the beginning...
Numbers 3-4, Mark 3:20-35 • Key Verse: Mark 3:30 In the first part of this chapter, Jesus gave the evil spirits strict orders not to tell people who He was. While their message was true, those messengers could cause confusion. Some would think that Jesus was associated with demons. Some...
Numbers 1-2, Mark 3:1-19 • Key Verses: Mark 3:11-12 One of the confusing situations in the Gospels is when Jesus instructed someone to keep what He did quiet. In this chapter the evil spirits are given strict orders not to tell that Jesus was the Son of God. Why would...
Leviticus 26-27, Mark 2 • Key Verse: Mark 2:5 In the account of the healing of the paralytic, attention is immediately drawn to the actions of his friends. They are determined enough to dig through the roof in order to get the man to Jesus. Mark writes that “Jesus saw...
Leviticus 25, Mark 1:23-45 • Key Verse: Leviticus 25:17 As God instructed His people in how they were to live, He gave them reasons. At times the reason was one of relationship. “I am the LORD your God.” Other times the reason was one of righteousness. “Be holy because I...
Leviticus 23-24, Mark 1:1-22 •Key Verses: Mark 1:14-15 The preaching of Jesus is described as “proclaiming the good news of God” (v. 14). The Gospel is the Good News of God. Specifically, it is what Jesus preached about God. What He had to say is indeed good news. David Garland...
Leviticus 21—22, Matthew 28 •Key Verse: Matthew 28:9 Pilate had ordered the tomb in which Jesus was buried to be made secure (Matt. 27:65). Three things were used to accomplish this. One, a big stone was already in place that covered the entrance securely. Two, a seal of Rome was...
Leviticus 19-20, Matthew 27:51-66 • Key Verse: Leviticus 19:2 Is there a child who has not at some point looked at his parent and asked, “Why?” And is there a parent who has not replied, “Because”? Sometimes when one reads the Old Testament, particularly the sections with various laws, the...
Leviticus 17-18, Matthew 27:27-50 Key Verses: Matthew 27:28-29 The imagery of the crown, that was set on Jesus head is much fuller than the English translation conveys. It was a crudely and cruelly fashioned crown, the branches of a thorn bush hastily twisted together. The blows to Jesus’ head undoubtedly...
Leviticus 15—16, Matthew 27:1-26 • Key Verses: Matthew 27:3-4 Peter's actions are tragic enough, but ultimately he served Jesus courageously and faithfully. Yes, he denied and deserted Jesus, but he found forgiveness and restoration. The actions of Judas are tragic but in a far more intense way. Ultimately he faced...