by Brad Blocksom | May 1, 2018 | Biblical Studies, New Testament, Scripture
Mark 14:3-9 Jesus is Anointed for His Death Last time we began the Passion narrative with the revelation that there was an explicit plot to kill Jesus. This time we see the surety of His impending death become clearer (though few present seem to see this truth). This...
by Kenny Burchard | Mar 17, 2018 | Biblical Studies, Hermeneutics
When I was about 19 years old and a very new Christian, one of my friends who was an older Christian was encouraging me to love Jesus with my whole heart, and to hold nothing back. That is the best kind of encouragement a person can give a young Christian. In order...
by Brad Blocksom | Jan 25, 2018 | Biblical Studies, New Testament, Scripture
Mark 14:1-2 The Plot to Kill Jesus So we’ve finally finished our look at the Olivet Discourse, where Jesus predicts God’s judgment on Israel with the destruction of the Temple. Just prior to that we saw Jesus take on essentially every religious group in...
by Brad Blocksom | Nov 28, 2017 | Biblical Studies, New Testament, Scripture
Mark 13:32-37 No One Knows When This is the final installment (Part 6) of our sub-series (the Olivet Discourse) within a series (Discipleship in Mark – Follow Me). So let’s launch right into it! “But about that day or hour” (the coming of the...
by Brad Blocksom | Nov 15, 2017 | Biblical Studies, New Testament, Scripture
Mark 13:28-31 The Lesson of the Fig Tree And now a Parable about a fig tree. It would seem that this fig tree is being symbolically used by Jesus in a significantly different way from the withered fig tree of Mark 11:12-14 & 20-25. There the fig tree serves as a...
by Brad Blocksom | Oct 10, 2017 | Biblical Studies, New Testament, Scripture
Mark 13:24-27 The Coming of the Son of Man (though we know not when) Verse 24 gives the timing of the coming of the Son of Man in relation to “that tribulation” (what tribulation, you ask? The war in Judea as just described in v. 14-23). The return of...
by Michael Sterns | Sep 7, 2017 | General, Scripture
Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God! Working with people in the context of a local church is hard. I don’t think I have to explain it. If you’ve done anything with people, you’ll know that people sometimes suck. Some people intentionally...
by Brad Blocksom | Sep 5, 2017 | Biblical Studies, New Testament, Scripture
Mark 13:14-23 The Desolating Sacrilege and Call to Flee Judea Jesus now comes as close as He ever will to answering the disciples’ question about when to expect the destruction of the Temple which He just prophesied. Daniel’s prophecy (Dan. 9:27, 11:31,...
by Brad Blocksom | Aug 8, 2017 | Biblical Studies, New Testament, Scripture
Mark 13:3-13 Jesus “Answers” When Will it Happen, and What Will be the Sign? Jesus has just prophesied the destruction of the temple. Now He sits on the Mount of Olives with His disciples (v.3). The view of the Temple from here is absolutely glorious! So...
by Brad Blocksom | May 29, 2017 | Biblical Studies, New Testament, Scripture
Mark 13:1-2 Jesus Prophesies the Destruction of the Temple Finally, Jesus leaves the temple (cf. 13:1 with Mark 11:27). On their way out, they get a view of the temple! Herod’s temple was one of the most impressive sights in the ancient world – an...
by Michael Sterns | Apr 12, 2017 | Biblical Studies, General, New Testament
1st Corinthians 1:18-25 (NRSV) For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will...
by Brad Blocksom | Apr 11, 2017 | Biblical Studies, New Testament, Scripture
Mark 12:41-44 The Widow’s Offering There seems here to be the beginning of a transition. And yet there is also a contrast* between the previous passage (the hypocrisy of the scribes) with the generous sacrifice of the poor widow here (the very group whom the...
by Brad Blocksom | Mar 22, 2017 | Biblical Studies, New Testament, Scripture
Mark 12:38-40 Beware! This is the third consecutive pericope in Mark where the scribes are mentioned. In 12:28-36, a scribe questions Jesus. Then in 12:35-37, Jesus takes issue with scribal interpretation of a Psalm. And finally here, we are told to “Beware of...
by Luke Geraty | Mar 8, 2017 | Biblical Studies, Hermeneutics, New Testament, Old Testament, Scripture
As I have continued studying issues related to women in ministry, gender, and hermeneutics (biblical interpretation), I have come to the conclusion that the Bible requires that Church does all that she can to both encourage and empower women to actively pursue...
by Brad Blocksom | Mar 7, 2017 | Biblical Studies, New Testament, Scripture
Mark 12:35-37 Jesus, man of the people Jesus now turns His attention from answering His critics (religious elite and authorities) to teaching the people (the large crowd, v. 37). The scribes seem to be gone now, as Jesus talks to the crowd about them as if they are...
by Brad Blocksom | Mar 1, 2017 | Biblical Studies, New Testament, Scripture
Mark 12:28-34 What Really Matters Thus far in Jerusalem, Jesus has dealt with the chief priests, the scribes & elders, the Pharisees and Herodians, the Sadducees, and finally here, just one of the scribes. He seems to be impressed with Jesus’ answers in...
by Michael Sterns | Feb 9, 2017 | Biblical Studies, New Testament
Mark 4:35-41 NLT As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were...
by Brad Blocksom | Jan 29, 2017 | Biblical Studies, New Testament, Scripture
Mark 12:18-27 The Sadducees and Resurrection In the previous encounter Jesus dealt with the Pharisees (and the Herodians). Now He is approached by another sect of Judaism, the Pharisees. I find that the best way to understand the distinction between these two groups...
by Brad Blocksom | Jan 10, 2017 | Biblical Studies, New Testament, Scripture
Mark 12:13-17 What about Paying taxes? Verse 13 would seem to indicate that this is a new episode, presumably separate from the previous (Parable of the Tenants). If, in 12:1-12, Jesus was teaching the crowd, here He is back to dealing with the authorities directly....
by Michael Sterns | Dec 22, 2016 | Biblical Studies, General, New Testament
John 15:11 NLT I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! So last week, I skipped over this Advent theme of “joy.” I’m not one of those people that forces myself to speak on something if...
