Mark 3:1 Mark gives us many examples of the love of Christ for people in contrast to an empty religiosity. This is really quite an applicable message. Jesus’ teaching transcends the traditional approach of mankind. He is totally righteous, while at the same time not being even a step out of touch with reality. He…
Mark 2:28 As Jesus had recently established the fact that he had the authority to forgive sins, he also lets these men know that he has complete authority over the Sabbath. It would properly be a day set aside to worship him, as God, anyway. Thus, he could indeed allow anything he wanted on the…
Mark 2:27 What does Jesus mean by this? The fact is that the Sabbath was instituted much like circumcision. God did not command early mankind to keep the Sabbath. Nor did he give such a command to Noah and his progeny. Yet, that the seventh day was and is special is obvious from as far…
Mark 2:26 In this example Jesus makes it clear that what was done was not lawful, and yet it was allowed and not condemned afterwards by God. Thus, Jesus shows that, as he clearly says in Matthew 12:7, mercy outweighs sacrifice. The concern that we find throughout the Old Testament is that the Jews had…
Mark 2:25 Jesus begins to remind the Pharisees of the story of how David and his men partook of the hallowed things.Notice his question. He asks if they had ever read this passage, which is of course a rhetorical question. They had no doubt read it, but obviously they had misapplied it or misunderstood it.…
Mark 2:24 The Pharisees may indeed have been following Jesus around. Or, at the least, it may have been some of the disciples of the Pharisaic rabbis. Either way, their question is intended here to be not just an inquisition, but a condemnation of the disciples of Christ. Comparing other passages from Matthew and Luke,…
Mark 2:23 Here we enter upon a beautiful passage of Scripture. In it Jesus helps us to understand the true weight and significance of the law of Moses. First of all, we find the Lord and his disciples travelling on the Sabbath day. This itself could be seen as an infraction by the narrow definitions…
Mark 2:22 Now I am sure that putting newer wine into much older wine bottles is a bad idea. However, unless those bottles would be exceedingly old and brittle, the wine would likely not make the bottles break. So, what is Jesus talking about? Well, they most likely did not use bottles for wine in…
Mark 2:21 There was to be great difficulty for even believing Jews to accept the truth of the church age. For the Jews, the nation of Israel is the only hope for righteousness in the world. Though God has indeed blessed the Jews, and though they are most clearly a part of his plan for…
Mark 2:20 Fasting is appropriate at this time. However, as Jesus goes on to explain, the reasons for fasting differ somewhat from before. In this day, fasting shows our dependence upon the Lord. Believers have the Spirit in them, but fasting is an outward manifestation of an inward dependence and faith. Bible Reading: John 14:1-16:33 Scripture…