1 Peter 1:3-9 Praise to God for a Living Hope Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or…
1 Peter: Intro and Greeting
IntroductionThe readers of the apostle Peter’s letter were confused and discouraged by the persecution they were encountering because of their faith. Peter exhorted them to stand strong, repeatedly reminding them of Christ’s example, the riches of their inheritance in him, and the hope of his returning again to take them to heaven. Peter explained how…
Burial, Resurrection & Postscript
Mark 15:42-47 The Burial of Jesus This all happened on Friday, the day of preparation, the day before the Sabbath. As evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea took a risk and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. (Joseph was an honored member of the high council, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of…
The Crucifixion
Mark 15:16-20 Jesus Is Mocked And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters), and they called together the whole battalion. And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of…
Before the Sanhedrin and Pilate
Mark 14:53-65 Jesus before the Council They took Jesus to the high priest’s home where the leading priests, the elders, and the teachers of religious law had gathered. Meanwhile, Peter followed him at a distance and went right into the high priest’s courtyard. There he sat with the guards, warming himself by the fire. Inside,…
Betrayal In The Garden
Mark 14:32-37 Jesus in Gethsemane They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, “Sit here while I go and pray.” He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he became deeply troubled and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and…
The Last Supper
Preparation for the Meal Mark 14:12-16 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go to prepare the Passover meal for you?” So Jesus sent two of them into Jerusalem with these instructions: “As you go into…
Anointing and Betrayal
Mark 14:1-2 It was now two days before Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The leading priests and the teachers of religious law were still looking for an opportunity to capture Jesus secretly and kill him. “But not during the Passover celebration,” they agreed, “or the people may riot.” When did the events described…
Future Things
(The interpretation of Mark Chapter 13 can be a bit confusing. Some interpret the entire chapter as addressing the Second Coming of Christ; others see a prediction of the suffering to come to Israel with the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70.) Mark 13:1-2 Prediction of the Temple’s Destruction As Jesus was leaving the…
The Greatest Commandment
Mark 12:28-34 The Greatest Commandment 12:28-34pp – Mt 22:34-40 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…