Matthew 14:1-12 “Notice what you notice.” The death of John the Baptist… There is a lot of reflecting someone could do about all the elements of this story. John speaking out and challenging Herod… The whole issue of Herod’s and Herodias’ relationship… Herod having the authority to imprison John, presumably without trial… Herod’s ability to …
Category Archives: RTB 2019 – Gospels – Notice What You Notice
May 11 / Matt. 10:32-11:1
Matthew 10:32-11:1 “Notice what you notice.” Today we again continue Matthew’s account of Jesus’ instructions to His disciples. And again, Jesus has some harsh words for them – not harsh toward them, but harsh toward the world and their enemies. This is especially true of the paragraph beginning with Jesus saying, Do not think that …
May 10 / Matt. 10:16-31
Matthew 10:16-31 “Notice what you notice.” Two days ago we interrupted Matthew’s very long account of Jesus’ sending out the twelve apostles so that we could read the more parallel passages in Mark and Luke. Today we continue Matthew’s account of Jesus’ instructions to His disciples. Although we might have imagined our own version of …
May 9 / Luke 9:1-6
Luke 9:1-6 “Notice what you notice.” Today is Luke’s account of Jesus sending out the twelve apostles – also much shorter than Matthew’s. My Study Bible points to this reading as beginning a new phase in Jesus’ Galilean ministry. In the first phase He travels Galilee with Peter, Andrew, James, and John (see Mark 1:1-20, …
May 8 / Mark 6:7-13
Mark 6:7-13 “Notice what you notice.” Today is Mark’s account of Jesus sending out the twelve apostles – much shorter than Mathew’s!! Matthew has a long teaching session by Jesus as He sends out the twelve; Mark and Luke have only a few verses each. But Mark (and Luke) has closure that Matthew does not …
May 7 / Matt. 9:35-10:15
Matthew 9:35-10:15 “Notice what you notice.” A number of observations… First, it’s not clear where today’s account takes place. Matthew, Mark, and Luke (presumably) have Him in Galilee, while The Chronological Study Bible most recently had Him in Jerusalem. However, going about in the “cities and villages” (v. 9:35) is more consistent with Jesus’ operations …
May 6 / John 5:31-47
John 5:31-47 “Notice what you notice.” Continuing with Jesus back in Jerusalem in John’s Gospel and the healing at the pool of Bethesda… So Jesus has four witnesses as to His divinity – John the Baptist, His works (miracles), His Father, and Scripture. Jesus responds directly to three of these. As to John the Baptist, …
May 5 / John 5:24-30
John 5:24-30 “Notice what you notice.” Continuing with Jesus back in Jerusalem in John’s Gospel and the healing at the pool of Bethesda… Today’s first verse is one of those verses that David alludes to when he says that we can know that we are saved: Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My …
May 4 / John 5:16-23
John 5:16-23 “Notice what you notice.” Continuing with Jesus back in Jerusalem in John’s Gospel and the healing at the pool of Bethesda… I readily confess that Jesus’ words in John’s Gospel leave me confused. Today is no different. So often Jesus seems to go “off topic”. In yesterday’s and today’s readings the Jews were …
May 3 / John 5:1-15
John 5:1-15 “Notice what you notice.” Today we go back to Jerusalem in John’s Gospel. Jesus asked the man at the pool, “Do you want to be healed?” Time and again I have read Jesus’ question and wondered why Jesus would ask that. Surely the man would want to be healed, having spent 38 years …