Mark 1-3 Dear RTB’ers, Today, reviewing Mark’s first three chapters. STS asks some good questions. I hope you all will spend some time with those. For me, I’m struck again by how fast Mark’s gospel moves, how many different activities in which Jesus is engaged every daily section that we read. I’m also struck by …
Author Archives: Fred
March 13 / Mark 3:19b-35
Mark 3:19b-35 Dear RTB’ers, Today, a verse that’s always been confusing to me: But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house. (v. 27) The verse is straightforward in itself, but its context has confused me. Why …
March 12 / Mark 3:7-19a
Mark 3:7-19a Dear RTB’ers, The naming of the twelve apostles. When we’ve read through the Bible using The Chronological Study Bible Jesus’ naming of His twelve apostles is reported sequentially in Mark and Luke (Lk. 6:13-16), then later for Matthew (Mt. 10:2-4). The three gospels agree on eleven of the names – Peter and Andrew, …
March 11 / Mark 2:13-3:6
Mark 2:13-3:6 Dear RTB’ers, So many stories today – the calling of Levi (Matthew); fasting; “violating” the Sabbath; healing a man with a withered hand – as John and I have noted in years past, we often have to choose what to comment on. Thankfully STS can guide us into further comments and questions! A …
March 10 / Mark 1:35-2:12
Mark 1:35-2:12 Dear RTB’ers, Today’s second incident involves a paralytic being lowered through the roof into a crowded room where Jesus was preaching and healing, and Jesus’ question to the scribes and Pharisees, Which is easier, to say to the paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your …
March 9 / Mark 1:16-34
Mark 1:16-34 Dear RTB’ers, Over the years John and I have worked up our own chronology of Jesus’ early ministry in Jerusalem and Galilee. One of the outcomes of working through those events is that when Jesus calls Simon, Andrew, James, and John in today’s reading, it is likely that this was not the first …
March 8 / Mark 1:1-15
Mark 1:1-15 Dear RTB’ers, We leave Numbers and the Old Testament for three weeks before returning to finish the Pentateuch with Deuteronomy later this month. Our New Testament interlude is Mark’s gospel, arguably the first of the four gospels to be written. We can chat about that tomorrow at our RTB gathering. Today Mark covers …
March 7 / Numbers 33-35
Numbers 33-35 Dear RTB’ers, Israel’s journeying, its geography, new leadership, and cities of refuge. A lot going on in today’s reading! Have you ever heard the phrase, “The devil’s in the details?” Today’s chapters clearly show us that God is in the details! He names some 40 places to where the Israelites sojourned in the …
March 6 / Numbers 32
Numbers 32 Dear RTB’ers, Another Old Testament story that I enjoy, two-and-one-half tribes inheriting the land of the Transjordan. I like it when potential controversy gets resolved by further communication. Moses’ initial reaction is harsh, imagining that the tribes of Gad and Reuben would be abdicating their responsibility of joining their brothers in conquering the …
March 5 / Numbers 31
Numbers 31 Dear RTB’ers, Holy war. We saw a lot of holy war last year when we read Joshua, as the Israelites were claiming the Promised Land. Today’s holy war is different from what we read earlier: The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Avenge the people of Israel on the Midianites…” (vv. 1-2a). This war …