Mark 12:1-27 Dear RTB’ers, An STS note tells us that the Lord was using Isaiah 5:1-7 as backdrop for this parable. You might want to go to Isaiah and read that short section. {Copying John: “Go ahead, I’ll wait.”) So as Jesus began this parable, especially the first two verses, he clearly has his audience …
Monthly Archives: April 2025
April 24 / Mark 11:20-33
Mark 11:20-33 Dear RTB’ers, Yesterday I asked questions about Jesus cleansing the Temple and cursing the fig tree. And I probably showed a bit of sympathy with the Jewish leaders as I reflected their thinking: “They wonder, who is this guy??!! What right does He have to do these things?” And today, at least for …
April 23 / Mark 11:1-19
Mark 11:1-19 Dear RTB’ers, It’s easy for me to say, “God is God and I am not.” I can even fully believe it. I can easily say, “Your will be done.” No problem. I might wonder, but I move on. And when it comes to Jesus, if He said it, I believe it. And if …
April 22 / Mark 10:32-52
Mark 10:32-52 Dear RTB’ers, And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them … and those who followed were afraid. (v. 32a) Two days ago I highlighted the first verse from this chapter as the turning point in Jesus’ life. Today we see that played out – Jesus …
April 21 / Mark 10:17-31
Mark 10:17-31 Dear RTB’ers, Mark calls him “the rich, young man”. Luke adds that he was a “ruler” (Luke 18:18) and Matthew agrees that he was young (Matthew 19:20, 22), but all three of these gospels agree that he was wealthy. While none of us is a ruler and most of us are not young, …
April 20 / Mark 10:1-16
Mark 10:1-16 Dear RTB’ers, HAPPY EASTER! “Hallelujah! The Lord is risen! He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!” Jesus’ Resurrection is the turning point in our lives! As St. Paul writes: … if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, your faith also is in vain. Moreover, we are even found to be …
April 19 / Deuteronomy 32:48-34:12
Deuteronomy 32:48-34:12 Today Search the Scriptures gives us this little note: “Chapter 33, like Gn. 49, requires for its full understanding much research.” Indeed. I rather doubt that many of us have undertaken such research. I know I haven’t. What might we be missing out on as a result? After all, Deuteronomy 33 is here …
April 18 / Deuteronomy 32:1-47
Deuteronomy 32:1-47 Today we have the Song of Moses. As with the blessings and curses of Deuteronomy 28, here we can anticipate the entire history of Israel — and the world. I’m guessing we should pay attention.
April 17 / Deuteronomy 31
Deuteronomy 31 It is the LORD Who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:8 That is as true for us today as for Joshua and the people of Israel when embarking upon the conquest of the Promised Land. …
April 16 / Deuteronomy 29-30
Deuteronomy 29-30 We should all read Deuteronomy 30 again and again. Come and see God’s heart here. Despite the caricature of God as somehow delighting in punishing the smallest infractions, we see here a God Who longs to bless His people, if only they (we) would turn to Him with their (our) whole hearts. Even …