Category Archives: Bible Study

MARK’S GOSPEL…TIMELINE OR SIGNS – 31

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Mark 13:3-8, 13 NIV

“As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?” 

Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you.”

Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains…Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭13‬:‭3‬-‭4‬, ‭6‬-‭8‬, ‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A somewhat complicated answer to a simple question! Jesus had just made a bold statement…

“Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭13‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The disciples were marvelling at the massive temple structure they were leaving, a seemingly indestructible monument compared with the other buildings surrounding it. They looked up at its stone walls, huge blocks of rock, cut from a far-away quarry and hauled over rough terrain to be placed, one on top of the other, to form this beautiful “house of God.” How it was done was a miracle of engineering. 

Jesus, always seeing things from a different perspective, interrupted them. “This seeming permanence isn’t permanent. This huge monument to man’s ability will soon be a heap of rubble.” 

“What! How is this possible?”Intrigued by Jesus’ reply, the disciples, no doubt led by Peter, asked a simple question that released a stream of mystifying “signs” that seem impossible to piece together.

Clever humans have tried to create a timeline out of Jesus’ signs, which He didn’t intend. Rather, His clues were meant to show them, not when but that it would happen. 

Woven together into a tapestry of prophecy, Jesus presented His disciples with a picture of events soon to happen, fulfilled by the Roman army under Titus, which destroyed Jerusalem, slaughtered many Jews and scattered the Jewish believers across the Roman Empire, and events that would herald His return. 

Jesus gave them precise instructions for their survival when God’s judgment fell on Jerusalem. 

““When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ standing where it does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the housetop go down or enter the house to take anything out. Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭13‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Run…and pray!

Not long before, with tears streaming down His face, Jesus had predicted this horrifying event. So terrible would be the destruction that Jerusalem would be razed to the ground, the temple included. 

“As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭19‬:‭41‬-‭44‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“These are the beginning of birth pains…” 

These few words hidden in the text are the clue to understanding this prophecy. Not a timeline but signs. All these predictions… deception, wars, natural disasters, persecution…have been a part of human history from the beginning of time.  Nothing new but…the signs lie in the increase in volume of these adversities. 

“Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.”

Every generation has had those who predict the end in their time. Some have even put a date to their predictions and yet… we are still here,  eagerly awaiting Jesus’ return. 

So, how do we respond to these sobering words? I don’t think Jesus ever meant us to try to work out the exact date of these events heralding His return. The danger of doing so is that we might be tempted to live carelessly until the predicted date of His return comes closer. 

At the end of this long discourse He gives us His prescription…

““But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 

It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’ ”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭13‬:‭32‬-‭37‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Be faithful to your assigned task! Then you will be ready. 

“The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭12‬:‭42‬-‭43‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Keep watch! Not for the signs that are being fulfilled but for the enemy who would deflect you and derail you from faithfulness to the Master on your journey to the Father. 

MARK’S GOSPEL…HOW MUCH? – 30

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Mark 12:41-44 NIV

“Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

How often this story shakes and challenges us when we come face to face with the sacrifice of an unknown, unnamed, poverty-stricken Jewish widow, a daughter of Abraham! Why did Mark record this incident?  

What was Jesus thinking when He sat and watched the worshippers coming and going around the temple precincts? Why the temple treasury? What did that tell Him about the inner workings of people’s hearts?

One thing is sure…Jesus always matched what people did on the outside with what went on in the inside. He wasn’t impressed by what people did without discerning motives and attitudes. 

Let’s examine this story against the backdrop of Jesus’ teaching. Since money plays such a pivotal role in human life, Jesus would have had much to say about the way we use and abuse it. How did this woman and the other worshippers measure up? 

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus didn’t say, “Don’t give your money in public.” This wasn’t possible because the temple treasury was in a public space. He  did say, “Don’t make a show of your giving.” How could the people do that? 

To prevent theft, the receptacles, apparently, were shaped like trumpets and made a ringing sound when coins were thrown in with force. To be noticed, the giver would make a show of his gift by tossing it in hard enough to be heard. 

Guess who made use of this phenomenon? Of course, the Pharisees! They were the ones Jesus dubbed as “hypocrites”. The widow, by contrast, dropped her two coins in quietly. They were so small that they hardly made a sound. 

“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What happens when people use their money to serve others? Gain, not loss… more, not less. An amazing thing happens when we give… a record is keep in heaven, a deposit against which we can draw in times of need. What we hoard for ourselves is diminished. What we share with others becomes a heavenly investment.

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭NIV

Jesus used well-known imagery to dig into hearts and attitudes. Just as healthy eyes let light into the body, so a healthy attitude to money reveals an attitude of generosity towards others, lighting up the soul to see beyond the end of its own nose.

The opposite is also true. Just as blindness shuts out the light, so selfishness and greed shut out hearts to the needs of others. Selfishness is essentially darkness…the realm from which God is absent.

Now, here is the crux of the matter. 

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It’s not about what we own. It’s about who or what owns us! Money is a good servant but a terrible master. What we do with our money depends on who we serve, who we honour. 

When Jesus watched the widow drop in her two measly coins, He also saw what was left in her pocket…nothing! This does not mean that He requires that we give away all our money. He did , of the rich young ruler because money, not Jesus, was his master. What He saw in the widow was someone who was prepared to trust God for her livelihood when she had done what was required of her. 

All the other givers who threw in many coins, according to Jesus, had plenty left over for themselves. Nothing wrong with that but…how did they view their giving? Self-satisfied because of the amount they had given or at peace, like the widow, because she had obeyed her Lord?

I know I’m reading into this story what is not written but, judging by Jesus’ response to what He had seen, we can assume that she was at peace because money was not her master but her servant. 

Jesus is not concerned about whether we are rich or poor, how much we have or don’t have. When He is entrenched in our hearts as Lord, He is in charge of our material and physical well-being. What little we have will always be enough when we use it as currency to keep the flow going by giving and receiving, because that’s the way God’s kingdom works. 

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭33‬ ‭NIV‬‬

MARK’S GOSPEL…LOVE AND OBEDIENCE – 29

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Mark 12:28-34 NIV

“One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” 

“Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.”

Once again, Jesus was on the witness stand! The judge and jury, His perpetual opponents, the religious leaders, were on His case from morning until night, trying to catch Him unawares.  They were waiting for Him, in an unguarded moment, to incriminate Himself by His words. One word out of place would be enough to destroy Him. 

So, they schemed, they plotted, they questioned Him on every subject that could get Him into trouble. Taxes to Caesar was a hot potato! What about marriage in heaven?…Then, the greatest commandment.  If He was parading the idea that He was the Son of God, what, to Him, was the greatest commandment? Where did He fit in?

Jesus unerringly quoted the Shama, Israel’s declaration of faith. To be sure, without actually saying so, He is an integral part of “the Lord is one”, since He is of the one God in three persons. 

The command to love God wholly and completely is, however, part of the Mosaic Covenant that Israel found impossible to obey. Only one, Jesus Himself, ever and fully obeyed this commandment as He did every other commandment that constituted perfect righteousness according to the law. He alone was the only human ever qualified to stand in the presence of the Father as fully righteous by His obedience to the law. 

So, what Jesus accurately quoted as the greatest commandment,  and its companion, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself,” was the summary of all 613 commandments of the Old Covenant. What we, as participants in the New Covenant need to understand that this commandment, as all-encompassing as it was, became obsolete with all the other laws of the Mosaic Covenant. 

“For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. But God found fault with the people and said: “The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.” 

…By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭8‬:‭7‬-‭8‬, ‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Before you argue with me about the eternal nature of this commandment, let me assure you that Jesus introduced His “new commandment” replacement for this law. 

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.””

‭‭John‬ ‭13‬:‭34‬-‭35‬ ‭NIV‬‬

And…in summary, the greatest commandment of the New Covenant…

“And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The Apostle Paul confirms John’s words…

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Our love to Jesus is only real if and when we obey His commandments…

“Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…and, again…

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters…Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬, ‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God’s Word is simple and clear. The greatest commandment in the New Covenant is to love one another in deed and truth. Only in this way can we truly show our love for Jesus because all who believe in Him are “in Him” as members of His body. It is, therefore, impossible to love Him without loving His body. 

To the teacher of the law who asked Jesus the question, “ What is the greatest commandment?” Jesus’ reply was given in context…not the all-encompassing requirement of the Old Covenant. It was part of that which would be replaced by His new commandment to love one another, which the Jewish religious leaders failed to do. 

‭‭

MARK’S GOSPEL…THE POWER OF WORDS – 28

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Mark 11:12-14, 20-23 NIV

“The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it…In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!” 

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.”

‭‭

What puzzling behaviour! What had the fig tree done to deserve being cursed? In the course of nature, it was not the time for fruit, so why destroy it for that?

Jesus had other ideas. Always alert to opportunities to teach His followers spiritual truth, He did a symbolic act as a visual aid for them to remember. 

The first mention of the fig in Scripture was in Genesis…after Adam and Eve’s defection. They tried to cover their nakedness with fig leaves, but they could not hide their sin from God.

So, not only was the effort of Adam and Eve to cover their sin with fig leaves futile, but the story of the whole nation of Israel was also that of a barren fig tree. 

“When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert; when I saw your ancestors, it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree. But when they came to Baal Peor, they consecrated themselves to that shameful idol and became as vile as the thing they loved.”

‭‭Hosea‬ ‭9‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

As a healthy fig tree, God had expected Israel to bear the luscious fruit of obedience to His covenant but, instead, their “fruit” was disobedience and idolatry. 

Therefore, just as the fig tree Jesus cursed was barren, so, the first pairs’ self-effort to cover their unrighteousness was useless and Israel’s disobedience left them spiritually barren. 

In a vivid demonstration in nature, Jesus showed His disciples the fate of those who bore no fruit for God. Israel’s religion bore no righteousness and must die. 

 We must understand Jesus’ next words in the context of His action. 

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭11‬:‭22‬-‭24‬ ‭NIV‬

The disciples were astonished that Jesus’ words had produced such a radical result. Not only had the tree died at His word, but it had died so quickly. Overnight, it had dried up from the roots!

“Why are you so surprised?” Jesus responded. “Don’t you understand the power of words?” In context, Jesus’ words to the tree had produced death. Their words, spoken in faith, could also produce miraculous results. Look at the scope of believing prayer…if anyone says…whatever you ask for… can prayer be more all-encompassing than that?

Now, before we go off at a tangent by speaking words that fall outside the context of Biblical prayer, we must understand that prayer has definite and specific boundaries, which we can glean from many other parts of Scripture. 

…”In my Name”…”according to His will”…”in the Spirit”…are some protections, as well as the motives and attitudes prescribed in the Word. However, in this context, the prerequisite is “faith in God”.  These three words open up a whole new window on prayer too big to deal with here.

However, to summarise, words spoken from God’s mouth, under God’s authority, have the power to achieve what God says. 

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Believing prayer, then, is not merely about blurting out anything that comes to mind. Believing prayer is about speaking what God has already spoken. These words carry the weight of His authority, if we speak them from hearts that are fully submitted to Him. God acts when we relay to earth what has been spoken in heaven.

MARK’S GOSPEL…PANDEMONIUM – 27

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Mark 11:15-18 NIV

“On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭11‬:‭15‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In an instant, Jesus’ peaceful donkey-ride into Jerusalem turned into chaos. What did He think He would was doing? He was supposed to be leading a celebration, claiming the title of “King of the Jews”, and setting up His rule of righteousness and peace over His people but, instead, He was literally setting the cat among the pigeons. 

A one-man show! His disciples were aghast! They could not believe what they were seeing…sheep and goats running wild, birds flapping and flying in glee, men diving after coins rolling everywhere, chairs and tables tossed about like matchboxes…and Jesus was acting like He was having fun!

Except He wasn’t! He was angry, livid in fact, shouting as He sent animals, birds and furniture flying, and men scattering, “Get out of here! This is a ‘house of prayer’. How dare you turn it into a market, you bunch of thieves!”

What was Jesus’ case…this “gentle Jesus, meek and mild”? Has he suddenly morphed into a revolutionary? Yes, in a sense He had but no, not in the sense we humans think! 

From His earliest years, Jesus had always been “about His Father”. He was indifferent to people’s opinions. He had a one-track mind. No one was going to trample on His Father’s honour, not even the highest authority in the land, without His reaction. 

It was quite clear that these people who were bargaining and bartering right in the temple courts were there by permission. The religious authorities were in cahoots with them, obviously getting their cut of the profits. Jesus was not fooled by their so-called “service” to the people…declaring the sacrificial beast “imperfect”, confiscating it to sell to the  next worshipper…guess what, yes, the very animal previously confiscated and declared “unfit” for sacrifice! It was a clever, money-making racket…carried out in the only part of the temple where Gentiles were permitted to come and pray, and Jesus saw through it. 

Do you suppose, for a moment, that the religious hierarchy would let this challenge to their authority pass without reacting? Would they perhaps ignore this terrible exposure, embarrassment, humiliation…let it pass without reaction? Not a bit of it! They were nailed and Jesus must pay! 

“The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.”

Knowing full well that His action would have drastic consequences, Jesus did what He had to do! This was no act of uncontrolled rage. Jesus’ anger was righteous and justified. His Father’s “house”, intended to be the place where Gentiles could also connect with God through sacrifice and prayer, had been degraded into a shop run by crooks. 

And so, the die was cast. Jesus must die, and He knew it! Once again, He was working in tandem with the Father’s plan and timetable, not a random act of emotion but a calculated  response to evil that would trigger the countdown to the cross. 

Passover, in a few days time. was the moment when history, prophecy, time, and eternity would meet at 3 pm, when the Passover lamb and Jesus would die in perfect synchrony to take away the sin of the world.