Mark 11

Mark 11

1-3 When they were nearing Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany on Mount Olives, he sent off two of the disciples with instructions: “Go to the village across from you. As soon as you enter, you’ll find a colt tethered, one that has never yet been ridden. Untie it and bring it. If anyone asks, ‘What are you doing?’ say, ‘The Master needs him, and will return him right away.’”

4-7 They went and found a colt tied to a door at the street corner and untied it. Some of those standing there said, “What are you doing untying that colt?” The disciples replied exactly as Jesus had instructed them, and the people let them alone. They brought the colt to Jesus, spread their coats on it, and he mounted.

8-10 The people gave him a wonderful welcome, some throwing their coats on the street, others spreading out rushes they had cut in the fields. Running ahead and following after, they were calling out,

Hosanna!

Blessed is he who comes in God’s name!

Blessed the coming kingdom of our father David!

Hosanna in highest heaven!

11 He entered Jerusalem, then entered the Temple. He looked around, taking it all in. But by now it was late, so he went back to Bethany with the Twelve.

The Cursed Fig Tree

12-14 As they left Bethany the next day, he was hungry. Off in the distance he saw a fig tree in full leaf. He came up to it expecting to find something for breakfast, but found nothing but fig leaves. (It wasn’t yet the season for figs.) He addressed the tree: “No one is going to eat fruit from you again—ever!” And his disciples overheard him.

15-17 They arrived at Jerusalem. Immediately on entering the Temple Jesus started throwing out everyone who had set up shop there, buying and selling. He kicked over the tables of the bankers and the stalls of the pigeon merchants. He didn’t let anyone even carry a basket through the Temple. And then he taught them, quoting this text:

My house was designated a house of prayer for the nations;

You’ve turned it into a hangout for thieves.

18 The high priests and religion scholars heard what was going on and plotted how they might get rid of him. They panicked, for the entire crowd was carried away by his teaching.

19 At evening, Jesus and his disciples left the city.

20-21 In the morning, walking along the road, they saw the fig tree, shriveled to a dry stick. Peter, remembering what had happened the previous day, said to him, “Rabbi, look—the fig tree you cursed is shriveled up!”

22-25 Jesus was matter-of-fact: “Embrace this God-life. Really embrace it, and nothing will be too much for you. This mountain, for instance: Just say, ‘Go jump in the lake’—no shuffling or shilly-shallying—and it’s as good as done. That’s why I urge you to pray for absolutely everything, ranging from small to large. Include everything as you embrace this God-life, and you’ll get God’s everything. And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember that it’s not all asking. If you have anything against someone, forgive—only then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean of sins.”

His Credentials

27-28 Then when they were back in Jerusalem once again, as they were walking through the Temple, the high priests, religion scholars, and leaders came up and demanded, “Show us your credentials. Who authorized you to speak and act like this?”

29-30 Jesus responded, “First let me ask you a question. Answer my question and then I’ll present my credentials. About the baptism of John—who authorized it: heaven or humans? Tell me.”

31-33 They were on the spot, and knew it. They pulled back into a huddle and whispered, “If we say ‘heaven,’ he’ll ask us why we didn’t believe John; if we say ‘humans,’ we’ll be up against it with the people because they all hold John up as a prophet.” They decided to concede that round to Jesus. “We don’t know,” they said.

Jesus replied, “Then I won’t answer your question either.”

Mark 10

Mark 10

1-2 From there he went to the area of Judea across the Jordan. A crowd of people, as was so often the case, went along, and he, as he so often did, taught them. Pharisees came up, intending to give him a hard time. They asked, “Is it legal for a man to divorce his wife?”

3 Jesus said, “What did Moses command?”

4 They answered, “Moses gave permission to fill out a certificate of dismissal and divorce her.”

5-9 Jesus said, “Moses wrote this command only as a concession to your hardhearted ways. In the original creation, God made male and female to be together. Because of this, a man leaves father and mother, and in marriage he becomes one flesh with a woman—no longer two individuals, but forming a new unity. Because God created this organic union of the two sexes, no one should desecrate his art by cutting them apart.”

10-12 When they were back home, the disciples brought it up again. Jesus gave it to them straight: “A man who divorces his wife so he can marry someone else commits adultery against her. And a woman who divorces her husband so she can marry someone else commits adultery.”

13-16 The people brought children to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus was irate and let them know it: “Don’t push these children away. Don’t ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.” Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them.

To Enter God’s Kingdom

17 As he went out into the street, a man came running up, greeted him with great reverence, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to get eternal life?”

18-19 Jesus said, “Why are you calling me good? No one is good, only God. You know the commandments: Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t cheat, honor your father and mother.”

20 He said, “Teacher, I have—from my youth—kept them all!”

21 Jesus looked him hard in the eye—and loved him! He said, “There’s one thing left: Go sell whatever you own and give it to the poor. All your wealth will then be heavenly wealth. And come follow me.”

22 The man’s face clouded over. This was the last thing he expected to hear, and he walked off with a heavy heart. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and not about to let go.

23-25 Looking at his disciples, Jesus said, “Do you have any idea how difficult it is for people who ‘have it all’ to enter God’s kingdom?” The disciples couldn't believe what they were hearing, but Jesus kept on: “You can’t imagine how difficult. I’d say it’s easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for the rich to get into God’s kingdom.”

26 That set the disciples back on their heels. “Then who has any chance at all?” they asked.

27 Jesus was blunt: “No chance at all if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you let God do it.”

28 Peter tried another angle: “We left everything and followed you.”

29-31 Jesus said, “Mark my words, no one who sacrifices house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, land—whatever—because of me and the Message will lose out. They’ll get it all back, but multiplied many times in homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land—but also in troubles. And then the bonus of eternal life! This is once again the Great Reversal: Many who are first will end up last, and the last first.”

32-34 Back on the road, they set out for Jerusalem. Jesus had a head start on them, and they were following, puzzled and not just a little afraid. He took the Twelve and began again to go over what to expect next. “Listen to me carefully. We’re on our way up to Jerusalem. When we get there, the Son of Man will be betrayed to the religious leaders and scholars. They will sentence him to death. Then they will hand him over to the Romans, who will mock and spit on him, give him the third degree, and kill him. After three days he will rise alive.”

The Highest Places of Honor

35 James and John, Zebedee’s sons, came up to him. “Teacher, we have something we want you to do for us.”

36“What is it? I’ll see what I can do.”

37“Arrange it,” they said, “so that we will be awarded the highest places of honor in your glory—one of us at your right, the other at your left.”

38 Jesus said, “You have no idea what you’re asking. Are you capable of drinking the cup I drink, of being baptized in the baptism I’m about to be plunged into?”

39-40“Sure,” they said. “Why not?”

Jesus said, “Come to think of it, you will drink the cup I drink, and be baptized in my baptism. But as to awarding places of honor, that’s not my business. There are other arrangements for that.”

41-45 When the other ten heard of this conversation, they lost their tempers with James and John. Jesus got them together to settle things down. “You've observed how godless rulers throw their weight around,” he said, “and when people get a little power how quickly it goes to their heads. It’s not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not to be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for many who are held hostage.”

46-48 They spent some time in Jericho. As Jesus was leaving town, trailed by his disciples and a parade of people, a blind beggar by the name of Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, was sitting alongside the road. When he heard that Jesus the Nazarene was passing by, he began to cry out, “Son of David, Jesus! Mercy, have mercy on me!” Many tried to hush him up, but he yelled all the louder, “Son of David! Mercy, have mercy on me!”

49-50 Jesus stopped in his tracks. “Call him over.”

They called him. “It’s your lucky day! Get up! He’s calling you to come!” Throwing off his coat, he was on his feet at once and came to Jesus.

51 Jesus said, “What can I do for you?”

The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”

52“On your way,” said Jesus. “Your faith has saved and healed you.”

In that very instant he recovered his sight and followed Jesus down the road.

Mark 9

Mark 9

“This isn't pie in the sky by and by. Some of you who are standing here are going to see it happen, see the kingdom of God arrive in full force.”

Mark 8

Mark 8

He then asked, “And you—what are you saying about me? Who am I?”

Peter gave the answer: “You are the Christ, the Messiah.”

Mark 7

Mark 7

Jesus looked up in prayer, groaned mightily, and commanded, 

“Ephphatha!—Open up!” 

Mark 6

Mark 6

“Don’t think you need a lot of extra equipment for this. You are the equipment. No special appeals for funds. Keep it simple.

And no luxury inns. Get a modest place and be content there until you leave."

What are you waiting on? Money? A Pulpit? A team to lead?

Jesus commands us to go as we are and HE will provide all we need, as we are going.

Mark 5

Mark 5

 “If I can put a finger on his robe, I can get well.” 

Oh to have the faith of this woman, that simply by touching the hem of his robe as he walks by.

Mark 4

Mark 4

He told them, “You have been given insight into God’s kingdom"

Mark 3

Mark 3

Then he spoke to the people: “What kind of action suits the Sabbath best? Doing good or doing evil? Helping people or leaving them helpless?” No one said a word.

January 22 -- Mark 2

Mark 2

January 21 - Mark 1

Mark 1

January 20, 2015 -- Psalm 10

Psalm 10

The wicked are windbags,

the swindlers have foul breath.

The wicked snub God,

their noses stuck high in the air.

Their graffiti are scrawled on the walls:

“Catch us if you can!” “God is dead.”

January 19, 2015 -- Psalm 9

Psalm 9

I’m thanking you, God, from a full heart,

I’m writing the book on your wonders.

I’m whistling, laughing, and jumping for joy;

I’m singing your song, High God.

January 18, 2015 -- Psalm 8

Psalm 8

God, brilliant Lord,

your name echoes around the world.

January 17, 2015 - Psalm 7

Psalm 7

14Look at that guy!He had sex with sin,he’s pregnant with evil.Oh, look! He’s havingthe baby—a Lie-Baby!

January 16, 2015 -- Psalm 6

Psalm 6:5

I can’t sing in your choir if I’m buried in some tomb!

January 15 2015 - Psalm 5

Psalm 5

January 14, 2015 - Psalm 4

January 13, 2015 -- Psalm 3

Psalm

3

January 12, 2015 -- Psalm 2

Psalm 

2

January 11,2015 -- PSALM 1

Psalm 

1 

A psalm is a hymn of praise intending to be sung to a musical instrument. The Biblical book of Psalms is a collection of 150 of these hymns. The reader does not need to read them in order, they are each a stand alone song or poem.

It seems the collection of the psalms was made by a number of people over a long period of time. 

Psalm 1 is really an introduction to the whole collection. It shows the life of the godly in contrast to the life of the ungodly.

January 10, 2015 -- 2 Timothy 4

2 Timothy 4

Thank you for listening, understanding and passing this along.

January 9, 2015 -- 2 Timothy 3

2 Timothy 3

January 8, 2015 -- 2 Timothy 2

2 Timothy 2

January 7, 2015 -- 2 Timothy 1

2 Timothy 1

January 6, 2015 -- 1 Timothy 6

1 Timothy 6

This concludes the reading of Paul's epistle to Timothy.  So much instruction was given that many preachers devote years to preaching messages to their current congregants on the wisdom that Paul spoke in such simple and straight forward ways.  I only pray that you may listen and seek to find a few nuggets to add the richness of your own faith through the hearing of The Word.

January 5, 2015 1 Timothy 5

1 Timothy 5

The Scientific Death of JESUS

At the age of 33, Jesus was condemned to the death penalty.

At the time crucifixion was the "worst" death. Only the worst
criminals condemned to be crucified. Yet it was even more dreadful for Jesus,
unlike other criminals condemned to death by crucifixion, Jesus was to
be nailed to the cross by His hands and feet.

Each nail was 6 to 8 inches long.

The nails were driven into His wrist. Not into His palms as is commonly portrayed. There's a tendon in the wrist that extends to the shoulder.

The Roman guards knew that when the nails were being hammered into the wrist, that tendon would tear and break, forcing Jesus to use His back muscles to support himself so that He could breathe. Both of His feet were nailed together.


Thus He was forced to support Himself on the single nail

that impaled His feet to the cross.

Jesus could not support himself with His legs

because of the pain, so He was forced to alternate

between arching His back then using his legs

just to continue to breathe.

Imagine the struggle, the pain, the suffering, the courage.

Jesus endured this reality for over 3 hours.
Yes, over 3 hours!

Can you imagine this kind of suffering?

A few minutes before He died,
Jesus stopped bleeding.

He was simply pouring water from his wounds.

>From common images, we see wounds to His hands

and feet and even the spear wound to His side...

But do we realize His wounds were actually made in his body.

A hammer driving large nails through the wrist,

the feet overlapped and an even larger nail

hammered through the arches,

then a Roman guard piercing His side with a spear.

But before the nails and the spear,

Jesus was whipped and beaten.

The whipping was so severe that it tore the flesh from His body.

The beating so horrific that His face was torn

and his beard ripped from His face.

The crown of thorns cut deeply into His scalp.

Most men would not have survived this torture.

He had no more blood to bleed out,

only water poured from His wounds.

The human adult body contains about 3.5 liters
(just less than a gallon) of blood.

Jesus poured all 3.5 liters of his blood;

He had three nails hammered into His members;

a crown of thorns on His head and, beyond that,

a Roman soldier who stabbed a spear into His chest.

All these without mentioning the humiliation

He passed after carrying His own cross for almost 2 kilometers,

while the crowd spat in his face and threw stones

(the cross was almost 30 kg of weight, only for its higher part,

where His hands were nailed).

Jesus had to endure this experience,

so that you can have free access to God.

So that your sins could be "washed" away.

All of them, with no exception!
Don't ignore this situation.

JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR YOU!

1 Timothy 4

1 Timothy 3

1 Timothy 2

2015: The Year of Reading the Bible

During the physical year of our Lord 2015, I will be reading the Bible daily using several formats.

I began  a 90 day Challenge to completely read the Bible online using a plan on YouVersion on December 27, 2014.  If I can stay up to date on that I will complete the first read thru by March 30, 2015.

Next I committed to read daily with my bride, Karen, each day, using a physical Bible I purchased at a local Bible Bookstore in Loveland, CO.

On January 2, 2015 God planted a seed in my brain to read, record my reading, and post to Facebook daily that recording in the Message version.  This Video is the beginning of that year + long journey.  The videos are not edited in any way, nor are they professionally created. It's just me reading while being filmed by my laptop.

I prayerfully will continue this journey with encouragement from friends and family across the USA.