Mark
Jesus Cursed The Fig Tree And it Dried Up
Jesus and His disciples were staying in Bethany each night (v. 19). The next day the disciples noticed that the fig tree Jesus had cursed the day before was all dried up (vv. 20-21). As they called it to His attention He used it as an illustration to teach them these principles o …
Jesus Rises Early to Spend Time With His Father
After an extremely busy day in Capernaum, we find Jesus rising early the next morning (probably between 3:00 and 4:00 a.m.) to spend time with His Father (vv. 35-39). According to an ancient tradition, a “solitary place†or “quiet place†was on a ridge of h …
Jesus Chooses Matthew as a Disciple
The scene now shifts to the seaside (v. 13). Jesus chooses one man, Matthew to join Him as a disciple (v. 14). He was employed by the Roman government as a tax-gatherer which was a lucrative position. Tax collectors were renowned for dishonesty and extortion. They were detested t …
Possessions Don’t Help You Obtain Eternal Life
Jesus was often criticized for spending too much time with the wrong kind of people. Even the disciples thought He should be spending more time with what they considered the important people. Jewish mothers wanted their children to be blessed by what they considered a distinguish …
Crowds Come to See Jesus Performing Miracles
The news of Jesus performing miracles is spreading rapidly. The more He healed the more the crowds increased. People were coming from all over Palestine and even the lands beyond. The reason so many were flocking to the Lord is clear: Their curiosity had gotten the best of them a …
Pharisees Think There is Merit in Fasting
The Pharisees seemed to think there was real merit in the act of fasting. Only one fast day was prescribed in the Old Testament Law which was the Day of Atonement (Lev. 23:27). However, the Jews added many fast days to their calendar. By the time of Christ, the Pharisees were fas …
Jesus Questioned on His Authority
While Jesus was walking in the temple He was confronted by the priests, the scribes, and the elders who together were known as the Sanhedrin (v. 27). They challenged Him with a question, “By what authority doest thou these things?†(v. 28) which was obviously in reference …
Every Male Jew Must Attend Passover
On this final trip from Galilee to Jerusalem, Jesus and His disciples were passing through Jericho which is in the Jordan Valley about 15 miles from Jerusalem (v. 46). Jericho was a popular resort city in the Judean wilderness, not far from the Jordan River crossing from Perea. I …
Feeding of The 5000
The feeding of the five thousand is the only miracle that is recorded in all four gospels. It takes place right after the disciples return from a successful preaching tour and Jesus had decided they could do with some needed rest (vv. 30-31). He had gotten into a boat with …
Jesus Delegates Responsibilities to His Disciples
Jesus decided to ask some of his disciples to go up on a mountain with Him and it was there that He chose 12 of his Apostles to go out with Him and preach (vv. 13-14). They were Simon Peter, James son of Zebedee, John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Al …