Category Archives: Opening the Bible

Real, Right & Rewarding

1And God spoke all these words: 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:1-3) During their time in Egypt, Israel had been exposed to a multiplicity of gods. Now they were on their way to Canaan, the land of milk and honey—andContinue reading “Real, Right & Rewarding”

Is He Amazed By Us?

Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’tContinue reading “Is He Amazed By Us?”

When A Little Water Gets In Your Boat

The familiar story of Jesus calming the storm is presented by Mark through a series of contrasts (4:35-41). There is an initial contrast in the early actions of the story (Jesus is asleep while the disciples are afraid). Then there is the contrast between their question (“Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”) and Jesus’Continue reading “When A Little Water Gets In Your Boat”

Mark And Chronology

Although Mark follows a general chronological approach in recounting of the story of Jesus (as do the other gospel writers), he’s not married to it. More to the point, he never claims to be.   So, it’s a serious error to think that Mark somehow isn’t inspired because absolutely every detail isn’t arranged chronologically. Though weContinue reading “Mark And Chronology”

It Is All Connected!

I’m saying nothing new to anyone to note that in the West there has been a marked drift away from the acknowledgement of, the worship of, and service to, God. The trivialization of Him, secularism, materialism, and other forces have contributed to this. What’s less acknowledged is that seemingly paralleling this decline, there has beenContinue reading “It Is All Connected!”

The Glories Of God’s Kingdom

The story featuring the question to Jesus about fasting is the third in a series of five stories of conflict (Mark 2:1-3:6). The first two stories (the healing of the paralyzed man, Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners) celebrate the power and scope of forgiveness in the kingdom (2:1-17), while the last two (theContinue reading “The Glories Of God’s Kingdom”

There’s Within My Heart A Melody

Our church had a singing recently. It was one of those where we had the opportunity to request our favorites. Only instead of calling out the name of the song, we called out the number in the songbook (as we always do). So on this particular occasion there was a flurry of “number calling” asContinue reading “There’s Within My Heart A Melody”

Kingdom Authority

One of the things Mark wants us to see in the first chapter of his gospel has to do with the kingdom authority Jesus possesses. The people of Rome knew all about kingdom power in the sense of “might makes right,” but Mark shows them something radically different in Jesus. With his quote of IsaiahContinue reading “Kingdom Authority”

Not Even Close!

The ecosystem Mark constructs in chapter one of his gospel is . . . well, it’s overwhelming. While chapters weren’t part of original text (they came later), nonetheless, what the Spirit guided Mark to include in the portion of his gospel we refer to as the first chapter is nothing short of amazing. If youContinue reading “Not Even Close!”