Nov 15, 2015
In order to understand this passage we need first to understand a thing called the Oral Law (also referred to as the tradition of the elders). The Oral Law was a commentary on the Written Law (the Law of Moses) explaining how its 613 commandments were to be carried out. Certain Jews believe that at the same time that...
Nov 8, 2015
We discovered in the previous passage that Herod Antipas misunderstood Jesus because of his guilt (6:14-29). In the passages before us in this study we discover that the disciples missed a major revelation about Jesus because of resentment.
After being rejected in His hometown of Nazareth (6:1-6) Jesus sent His...
Nov 1, 2015
I hope by this time in our study of the Gospel of Mark we are realizing that Jesus and His 3 1/2 years of public ministry were extremely controversial. Many were looking for the promised Messiah; but that Messiah was completely human. Jesus' claim to be deity - to be a God-Man - was outrageous, blasphemous.
The leaders...
Oct 25, 2015
In this study we discover that Jesus traveled to His hometown of Nazareth, a tiny village in the hills west of the Sea of Galilee. This was His second ministry trip. Luke recorded the first - it did not go well (Luke 4:16-30). His boyhood friends, the neighbors He grew up with and worked for as a carpenter, the elders...
Oct 18, 2015
The Gospel of Mark reveals that Jesus treats adults as ... well ... adults. That is, Jesus holds people accountable for their actions. To those who come to Him with an open heart and mind, Jesus responded with grace and healing and compassion. But to those who were unreceptive and close minded Jesus responded...