Mark 15 ended with Jesus being laid in the tomb, and this chapter begins with Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome heading for the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body (Mark 16:1-8). These women have no idea how they will roll the stone away – they simply act out of love for Jesus and go […]
Unfolding Scripture: Mark 11
In Mark 11, things are coming to their pivotal point: Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection. This chapter begins with the scene we celebrate on Palm Sunday: Jesus enters Jerusalem to cheering crowds (Mark 11:1-11). He also curses a fig tree that bore no fruit (Mark 11:12-15 & 20-25), chases the money changers from the temple […]
Unfolding Scripture: Mark 8
Mark 8 begins with Jesus again miraculously feeding a large crowd (~400o people) using only seven loaves of bread (Mark 8:1-10). While last time (Mark 6:33-44), he feed them from compassion, this time He feeds people who have followed Him for three days without any care for themselves. It shows us how Jesus
Unfolding Scripture: Mark 6
Mark 6 is a longer chapter (fifty-six verses) that contains six notable stories: Jesus’ rejection at Nazareth (1-6), a sending forth of the Twelve apostles on mission (7-13), the death of John the Baptist (14-29), the miraculous feeding of five thousand (30-44), Jesus walking on the sea (45-52), and miraculous healings in Gennesaret (53-56).
Unfolding Scripture: Mark 5
The fifth Chapter of Mark’s Gospel deals with three miraculous healings performed by Jesus, First, a Gerasene man freed from His possessions, second, a woman healed from a lifelong battle with hemorrhages, and finally, a little girl restored to life. Each of these healings offers us insight to the benevolent heart of God who does not leave us alone […]
Unfolding Scripture: Mark 4
The fourth chapter of Mark’s Gospels focuses a great deal on parables – stories Jesus used to reveal the Kingdom in a gradual but deliberate manner. He uses stories from ordinary life – often relating to work – so that we might also seek holiness in these ordinary places. The first parable in Mark is the […]