Mark 9:16 “What are you disputing with them?” He asked. 17 Someone in the crowd replied, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a spirit that makes him mute. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked Your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable.” 19 “O unbelieving generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain Read more…

Mark 9:31 For he was teaching his disciples, and said to them, “The Son of Man is being handed over to the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise again.” 32But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him. 33 He came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing on Read more…

Mark 9:38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone who doesn’t follow us casting out demons in your name; and we forbade him, because he doesn’t follow us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Don’t forbid him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name, and be able quickly to speak evil of me. 40 For whoever is not against us is on our side. WEB Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone Read more…

Mark 10:1 He arose from there and came into the borders of Judea and beyond the Jordan. Crowds came together to him again. As He usually did, He was again teaching them. 2 Pharisees came to Him testing Him, and asked Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3 He answered, “What did Moses command you?” 4 They said, “Moses allowed a certificate of divorce to be written, and to divorce Read more…

Mark 10: 17 As he was going out into the way, one ran to him, knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do that I may inherit everlasting life?” 18 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except one–God. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not give false testimony,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your Read more…

Mark 10:32 They were on the way, going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus was going in front of them, and they were amazed; and those who followed were afraid. He again took the twelve, and began to tell them the things that were going to happen to him. 33 “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes. They will condemn him to Read more…

Right out of the gate, Mark identifies Jesus as the Son of God (Mark 1:1). A few verses later we see the baptism of Jesus with the voice from heaven identifying Him as “my beloved Son”. Next is the assertion from a demon (Mark 1:24) who identifies Jesus as the “Holy One of God”. In chapter two, Jesus forgives the sins of the man he is healing. This riles up the Pharisees and scribes because Read more…

John 1:9 The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, but the world did not recognize Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received him, to them He gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in His name, 13 who Read more…

The Sadduccees, Pharisees and Essenes are the three main groups in Israel at this time (although the Essenes are not mentioned in the Bible). The Sadducees were a group of wealthy, aristocratic people who maintained control over the Temple. In contrast, the Pharisees were more working class in nature while the Essenes were a breakaway group opposed to (“disgusted with” is the term used at Jewish Virtual Library) both the Sadducees and Pharisees and who Read more…

Mark 12:13 They sent some of the Pharisees and of the Herodians to Him, that they might trap Him with words. 14 When they had come, they asked Him, “Teacher, we know that You are honest, and do not defer to anyone; for You are not partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15 Should we pay, or should we not pay?” Read more…