John 7:1-9 “Notice what you notice.” Now we are leaving the Synoptics for a while. For the rest of this month we are in John’s Gospel. Today we have Him in Galilee talking with His “brothers” about travel to Jerusalem for the Feast of Booths. They want Him to go, but He says no and …
Author Archives: Fred
June 16 / Luke 9:46-50
Luke 9:46-50 “Notice what you notice.” Today from Luke… John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” (v. 49) A very short comment, given that it’s late in the day and we’ve had a full day! So, short …
June 15 / Mark 9:33-50
Mark 9:33-50 “Notice what you notice.” Three short vignettes today from Mark, repeating two from Matthew and one repeated in Luke tomorrow. So for today, “Who is the greatest?” Matthew has the disciples coming to Jesus (location uncertain) and asking Him that question. Mark has them all in Capernaum in “the house”, having been discussing …
June 14 / Matt. 17:24-18:9
Matthew 17:24-18:9 “Notice what you notice.” Three short vignettes today from Matthew – the temple tax, becoming like children, and temptations to sin. Two of these are also covered in Mark and Luke, but only the temple tax is covered in Matthew. Later Jesus again deals with taxation in Matthew (the former tax collector) and …
June 13 / Luke 9:37-45
Luke 9:37-45 “Notice what you notice.” Luke has two interesting twists to the story that we have been reading the past two days. First, for Luke, this boy is an only child. Matthew and Mark only mention the boy as “my son”. Second and more striking to me, however, was the Jesus’ quote in the …
June 12 / Mark 9:14-32
Mark 9:14-32 “Notice what you notice.” WOW! A number of good items to report on today, including, for every one of us, our favorite Bible verse: Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (v. 24) “I believe, Lord, help my unbelief.” How often have I cried out …
June 11 / Matt. 17:14-23
Matthew 17:14-23 “Notice what you notice.” Is Jesus as exasperated as it might seem in this reading? We have Him twice asking, …how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? (v. 17) It seems fully out of character for Him. Yet, even if He is exasperated, He …
June 10 / Luke 9:28-36
Luke 9:28-36 “Notice what you notice.” Luke’s account of the Transfiguration… Posting from the plane – you’ll get it Tuesday morning. I’m always intrigued by what’s different in the Synoptic Gospel writers’ accounts. Two items come out in Luke’s account. First, Luke tells us that Jesus went up to the mountain to pray. The other …
June 9 / Mark 9:2-13
Mark 9:2-13 “Notice what you notice.” Mark’s account of the Transfiguration… Carol and I are on the road to Maryland (thank you, Mobile HotSpot!), then tomorrow on a plane to Prague and more. We’ll be 16 days in CZ, SK, and Ireland, then back to MD for an undetermined number of days. Suffice to say …
June 8 / Matthew 17:1-13
Matthew 17:1-13 “Notice what you notice.” The transfiguration. The first thing that I noticed was the disciples’ fear. But the fear came, not at the bright light or Moses and Elijah or the cloud, but only when the Father spoke, when He spoke the same words that He had spoken at Jesus’ baptism. I’m trying …