MARK at a glance

PURPOSE: Mark’s reason for writing this gospel was to present Jesus as God incarnate, our Messiah, who entered history as a servant. This gospel reveals Jesus, the person ... his ministry and his teachings.

AUTHOR: John Mark, who was an associate of Peter and Paul, was not one of the 12 disciples hand-picked by Jesus. His lasting impact on the Christian church came from his writing rather than his life.

GOSPEL defined: The word itself can mean “good news” or “good tidings”.  A gospel is more than a biography intended to provide information about a historical character. It’s the presentation of the life of Jesus to show His saving significance for all people and to call them to faith in Him.

SETTING: The Roman Empire under Tiberius Caesar, with its common language, excellent transportation, and communication system, was ripe to hear Jesus’ message, which was spreading quickly from nation to nation.

ABOUT THIS GOSPEL: Mark was probably the first Gospel written. The other Gospels quote all but 31 verses from Mark. Mark records more miracles than does any of the other Gospels.

 

THE BLUEPRINT:

 

A) The birth & preparation of Jesus, the servant

            The OT prophets clearly and concisely predicted the coming of a savior ... a Messiah. Because of this Jesus birth was not unannounced or unexpected. Just as people back then rejected this prophetic proclamation, so they do even today. The bible is the main witness of his coming. You either believe and accept as fact its’ message or you ignore it.

 

B) The message & ministry of Jesus, the servant

            Jesus had all the power of God: He raised the dead, gave sight to the blind, restored deformed bodies, and quieted stormy seas, but with all this power, Jesus came to humanity as a servant. We can use his life as a pattern for how to live today. As Jesus served God and others, so should we.

 

C) The death & resurrection of Jesus, the servant

          Jesus came not as a warrior king, but as a servant. As a result, man didn’t recognize or acknowledge him as the Messiah. Neither did the religious leaders of the day. Their presumption that God would send a Warrior King like David caused them to be blinded by the fact that in reality, the Messiah came as a baby. Hardly fit to defeat the Roman Empire, yet God had different ideas. We must be careful that we also don’t reject God or his will because he doesn’t quite fit our image of what God should be.

 

            Up next are the Mega-Themes from Mark. Until then walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The New Illustrated Bible Dictionary; The Life Application Study Bible.

MATTHEW: The illegal trial of Jesus

            The last thing the religious leaders wanted to give Jesus was a fair trial. In other words, there was no ‘innocent till proven guilty’ approach to this trial at all. It had been predetermined that Jesus must die for he was a threat to the religious leaders way of life. 

            So what happened that made this trial illegal?  First of all, false witnesses were sought out to testify against Jesus _{[Matthew 26:59]} The usual practice was that the religious leaders would go thru an elaborate witness screening process to ensure justice for the person on trial. 

Jesus was allowed no defense ... it was neither sought or allowed _{[Luke 22:67-71]}. The trial was conducted at night _{[Mark 14:53-65; 15:1],} which was illegal according to the religious leaders own laws. The high priest put Jesus under oath, but then incriminated him for what he said _{[Matthew 26:63-66]}. Cases involving such serious charges were to be tried only in the high council’s regular meeting place, not the home of the high priest _{[Mark 14:53-65]}.

The blind obsession to kill Jesus led the religious leaders to pervert the justice they were appointed and sworn to protect. The trial was illegal according to their own laws. 

 

Concluding our look at the Gospel of Matthew.

 

            Matthew’s gospel was written specifically to the Jews. Its purpose was to prove to them that Jesus was the Messiah, the eternal King. Matthew was a Jewish tax collector who became one of Jesus’ disciples. The gospel formed a connection between the Old and New Testament mainly because of its strong emphasis on the fulfillment of scripture found in its pages.

            As you read thru this gospel, take note of Matthew’s clear message: Jesus is the Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Let Jesus victory over evil and death give you peace, knowing they have no hold on you. Climb the mountain of faith, learning and growing in the knowledge of Christ and most importantly, make Jesus the Lord and Savior of your life.

 

            Up next we embark on our look at the Gospel of Mark. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible

MATTHEW: Spotlight on Peter

                Peter was a plain fisherman. Rough around the edges, coarse in his mannerisms ... by all appearances one would think Peter might be one of the last people Jesus would approach. But Jesus knew the real Peter and obviously saw immense potential in him. Peter wasn’t flawless, in fact, he failed quite often. Once changed by Christ he was still Simon Peter.

                  It’s interesting to note that Jesus first words to Peter were “Come, follow me” [Mark 1:17] and the final words he said were “Follow me” [John 21:22]. One thing can be sure, in spite of his stumbles and missteps, in the end he was still following the Master. He left his business of fishing to fish for the souls of men. 

Peter was seen as a leader once the disciples had been formed and were together with Jesus. His boldness many times led to being brash and impulsive. One example is when Jesus and the disciples were at the Garden of Gethsemane when Judas, along with the religious leaders and Roman soldiers. They were there to arrest Jesus. Peter, illustrating his impulsiveness, reached out and sliced off an ear of the high priest’s slave _{[Matthew 26:50-56]}. Luke 22:51 tells us the following: “But Jesus said, ‘No more of this.’ And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.”

                  Although Peter swore he would never disavow any knowledge of Jesus, when push came to shove, he ended up denying Christ 3x. Jesus predicted this in Matthew 26:33-35, “But Peter said to Him, ‘Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ Peter said to Him, ‘Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.’ All the disciples said the same thing too.”

                  We all know from reading the scriptures that Peter did indeed deny Christ 3x. The gospel of John is the only accounting of Jesus speaking with Peter after the Lord was raised from the dead. John 21:15-17, 19b ... “After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ Peter replied, ‘you know I love you.’ ‘Then feed my lambs’, Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question: ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ Peter said, ‘you know I love you.’ ‘Then take care of my sheep,’ Jesus said. A third time he asked him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, ‘Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Then feed my sheep.’ Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”

                  Notice that Jesus never chastised Peter for rejecting him, for he knew this would take place. In fact Jesus never mentioned the incident again. Instead, Jesus asked him the same question 3x. ‘Peter, do you love me.’ Some scholars think Jesus may have asked the same question 3x as a means of expunging his 3 denials. This is also an example of not bringing up past sins and throwing them up in our face again and again. That’s the devils game, not Gods’.

                  The Lord knew what he had in Peter, and he accepted him in spite of his failures. Have you ever wondered what Jesus sees in you when he calls you to follow him? I have. God’s love is without conditions. You are of immense value to God for he created you in his image to do great things for the kingdom of God. Oh, make no mistake about it, he could have chosen ANYONE to do what he wants done, but he called YOU.

                  Up next, the 6 ways Jesus’ trial was illegal.  Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible

MATTHEW: Spotlight on Mary, sister of Lazarus

             Do you remember the woman who washed Jesus feet with perfume? This woman was Mary, the sister of both Martha & Lazarus, who lived in Bethany. The accounting of this event in the gospel of Matthew speaks as if the woman isn’t known; however, in John’s gospel more specific information is offered. John 12:1-11 says this: “Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him. Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar ^[1] of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.”

The disciples took exception to the use of this expensive perfume saying it could have been used for the poor, but Jesus let them know that Mary was doing a good thing. He rebuked those who chastised the use of expensive perfume for such a task by saying: “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me? You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.” _{[Matthew 26:6-13]}

I have often heard it said that woman tend to be more spiritually in tune and aware than men. Maybe that’s true, maybe not, but Mary sure seems to have been very aware of what was about to happen to Jesus. Martha was unaware of what was happening around her because she made herself busy cleaning and cooking. Are you so busy planning and running your life that you neglect precious time with Jesus? Or do you respond to him by listening to his Word, then finding ways to worship him with your life? 

The worshipful devotion Mary offered Jesus would be remembered throughout eternity, while Martha’s busyness would not. Don’t get caught up doing things that have no eternal value when honoring God with your life is within your grasp. Honor God each day with your life.

Up next is a spotlight on Peter. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible

^[1] The jar used was made of alabaster which was carved from translucent gypsum. These jars were used to hold perfumed oil. Essence of nard was a fragrant ointment imported from the mountains of India. Thus, it was very expensive. The amount Mary used was worth a year’s wages.

MATTHEW: Jesus forgave ...

             Jesus not only taught about forgiveness, but also demonstrated his own willingness to forgive. Here are several examples that should be an encouragement to recognize his willingness to forgive US as well.

 

Jesus forgave... the paralyzed man who was lowered on a mat thru the roof of someone’s home. _{[Matthew 9:2-8]}

 

Jesus forgave ... the woman caught in adultery. _{[John 8:3-11]}

 

Jesus forgave ... the woman who anointed his feet with perfume. _{[Luke 7:44-50]}

 

Jesus forgave ... Peter for publicly denying he knew Jesus. _{[John 18:15-18, 25-27; 21:15-19]}

 

Jesus forgave ... the criminal on the cross. _{[Luke 23:39-43]}

 

Jesus forgave ... those who crucified him. _{[Luke 23:34]}

 

_{THE SEVEN SORROWS}

            

        Our Lord pointed out seven ways to ensure God’s anger when he was speaking to the religious leaders.

 

Matthew 23:13 ... Not letting others enter the Kingdom of Heaven & not entering yourself.

 

Matthew 23:15 ... Steering others away from God to be like you.

 

Matthew 23:16-22 ... Blindly leading God’s people to follow man-made traditions instead of following God’s Word.

 

Matthew 23:23-24 ...  Ignoring that which is most important: justice, mercy & faith.

 

Matthew 23:25-26 ... Keeping up appearances while your private world is corrupt.

 

Matthew 23: 27-28 ... Acting spiritual to cover up your sin.

 

Matthew 23:29-36 ... Pretending to have learned from past mistakes, while your current behavior shows you’ve learned NOTHING. 

 

            The religious leaders of his day were hypocrites who said one thing and did another. This is why Jesus called them out as being spiritually empty, in spite of the religious show they performed each day. Obviously, they are not whom we should follow. Living as Jesus did each day is the right way to not only live, but please God as well.

 

            Up next is a SPOTLIGHT on Lazarus’ sister Mary. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible

MATTHEW: Temptations in the Wilderness

        “The idea that Jesus was intentionally directed by the Spirit of God into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil is a theologically challenging concept. Yet that is precisely what the Gospels indicate: “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Matthew 4:1; cp. Mark 1:12–13; Luke 4:1–2).

It doesn’t take long in the Christian walk to discover that temptations frequently come. We might wonder, does God deliberately orchestrate such tests, or was the wilderness temptation of Jesus an exclusive experience only for the Son of Man? As we consider these questions, we’ll see that God allows His followers to be tested for a good purpose. Christ’s experience in the wilderness serves as an example for Christian disciples. But as we study the account, an even deeper meaning is revealed. The Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted because God wanted His Son and His followers to understand the Lord’s messianic mission clearly—that Christ had not come to earth as Israel’s Conquering King but as her Suffering Servant.

Temptation itself is not a sin. Jesus was “tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin” (Hebrews. 4:15; see also 2 Corinthians 5:21). The Lord was not tested to see if He would fail. Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted to demonstrate how we can resist the temptation to sin, and how, through Christ’s power, we, too, can overcome (Hebrews 2:18).

Many Bible scholars suggest that the specific temptations Jesus faced in the wilderness represent three main categories of all human temptation. The apostle John labeled these as “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16).

With the first test, Jesus was tempted to depend on His own independent provision of food rather than rely on God. After forty days of fasting, Christ was hungry, so Satan tried to persuade Him to turn desert rocks into bread. But Jesus was determined to do His Father’s will alone (John 4:34; 5:30; Luke 22:42; Hebrews 10:5–7). It was not the Father telling Jesus to transform the rocks, and so our Lord resisted the temptation with the truth of God’s Word (Matthew 4:4). Our Lord’s example shows us that the Word of God is our best defense against Satan’s schemes. At the same time, Jesus affirmed His messianic mission, submissively entrusting Himself to the Father’s plan rather than forcefully paving His own way and meeting His own needs.

The second temptation involved performing a miracle that would show off Christ’s supernatural power and draw attention to Himself. It was the temptation to abuse His power for His own benefit. Again, Jesus voiced God’s Word in response to the temptation (Matthew 4:7). Satan deceptively portrays sin as acceptable and desirable. The solution is to counter his lies with the truth.

In the third test, Jesus was tempted to secure an earthly crown and bypass the suffering and sacrifice He would endure on the cross. Satan offered “all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor” (Matthew 4:8). It was the kingship that Christ was ultimately destined for, minus the suffering. “All this I will give you,” Satan told Jesus, “if you will bow down and worship me” (Matthew 4:9). The tempter repeatedly offers what seems like a better plan or an easy way out. But the liar fled when Jesus stabbed him with “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17), declaring that only the Lord God is to be worshiped and served (Matthew 4:10).

The fact that the Spirit led the Son of Man into the wilderness to be tempted creates an interesting contrast with another event in Scripture. Adam, the first man, was in a lush and fruitful garden when he was tempted. He failed the test, plunging all of humanity into sin and death (see Romans 5:12). In contrast, Jesus, the Second Adam, was tempted in a dry and barren wilderness—our paradise having been lost. Jesus passed the test, thrice over, and it is in Him that the Adamic curse is reversed, and we have eternal life. “For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!” (Romans 5:17).

The backdrop to Jesus being led into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted is found in Deuteronomy 8:1–5. Moses remembered how the Lord God led the people of Israel in the wilderness for forty years “to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”

It’s important to understand that God does not tempt anyone to sin (James 1:13). But He does allow us to be tested and evaluated (Hebrews 11:17–19; 2 Corinthians 13:5; James 1:12; Psalm 17:3; 139:23; Malachi 3:3). God tested our Savior’s character through adversity in the wilderness, and He applies the same initiative in our lives today. Through trials and temptations, we grow in faith and understanding of our mission as servants of His kingdom (Deuteronomy 13:3; 2 Chronicles 32:31; James 1:3; 1 Peter 1:6–7). Through every test, we develop spiritual muscle memory, helping us to depend on Him and His Word to overcome life’s difficulties and challenges.” ^[1]

            Up next is a look at “Jesus & Forgiveness”. Until that time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: http://gotquestions.org

MATTHEW: Spotlight on the Essenes & the Zealots

THE ESSENES ... pronounced ĕ-sē′nē-ən

 

The Essenes were a Jewish mystical sect in some ways resembling the Pharisees. They lived lives of ritual purity and separation. They originated about 100 B.C. and disappeared from history after the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. The Essenes are not directly mentioned in Scripture, although some believe they may be referred to in Matthew 19:11-12 and in Colossians 2:8, 18, and 23. Interest in the Essenes was renewed with the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, which were likely recorded and stored by the Essenes.

It has been popular among some scholars to claim that John the Baptist was an Essene. There are some similarities between John and the Essenes: 1. John was in the desert (Luke 1:80). The Essenes were in the desert. 2. Both John and the Essenes used Isaiah 40:3 to describe themselves as the voice in the wilderness. 3. The baptism (or washing) practiced by John and the Essenes required a change of heart. At the same time, there are significant differences between John the Baptist and the Essenes: 1. The Essenes hid themselves away from society in the wilderness. John was a very public figure. 2. John had a much stricter diet (Luke 7:33) than did the Essenes. 3. John preached Jesus as the Messiah. The Essenes did not recognize Jesus as Messiah, but they thought that the Teacher of Righteousness would himself be an Essene. 4. There was a strong organization among the Essenes that was missing among John the Baptist’s disciples. So, was John the Baptist an Essene? While it is possible, it cannot be explicitly proven either biblically or historically.

The Essenes as a sect of Judaism do not exist today. However, there are still some fringe groups today that call themselves Essenes. One such group is the Essene Church of Christ, which declares itself to be “the authorized custodians and chief disseminators of the true teachings of Lord Christ and Lady Christ.” They share similarities with all cults and false religions: their “holy book” is something other than the Bible; they rely heavily on mysticism and occult revelation; they believe they and they alone possess truth; they deny the Trinity; and they deny biblical doctrines including original sin, heaven, hell, and salvation through Christ. As purveyors of false doctrine, modern "Essenes" are to be avoided. ^[1]

 

THE ZEALOTS ... pronounced zĕl′ət

 

In the New Testament, one of the disciples of Jesus Christ was named Simon the Zealot ^[2].  What was a Zealot?

The Zealots were members of a first-century political movement among Judean Jews who sought to overthrow the occupying Roman government. The word zealot derives from the Greek zelotes, meaning “emulator or (zealous) follower.”

According to the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, three main Jewish religious groups existed at the time of Christ—the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Essenes. He also mentions a fourth group called the Zealots who were founded by Judas of Galilee and Zadok the Pharisee. Josephus notes that the Zealots “agree in all other things with the Pharisaic notions; but they have an inviolable attachment to liberty and say that God is to be their only Ruler and Lord"(Antiquities 18.1.6) ^[3].

Of importance in New Testament history, the Zealots led a rebellion when Rome introduced imperial cult worship. The Great Jewish Revolt began in A.D. 66. The Zealots successfully overtook Jerusalem, but their revolt was ultimately unsuccessful. In A.D. 70, the Romans destroyed the city of Jerusalem and the temple. A remnant of the Zealots then took refuge in Masada ^[4].

Because of their often-violent tactics, the Zealots have been called some of the world’s first terrorists. Though the label is only partially true (not all Zealots were violent), the reputation of Zealots as forceful, aggressive agitators carries a significant lesson for us. Jesus chose Simon the Zealot, a man who likely desired to forcibly remove the Roman government, and He also chose Matthew, a tax collector working for the Roman government. Both Simon and Matthew, though natural enemies, were part of the Twelve. What a beautiful illustration of the peace Jesus brings! Today, God still brings healing and changes lives. Those with a violent past or extremist tendencies can be transformed as God uses them to spread the good news of Christ’s love for all people. ^[5]

Up next is a deep look into the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness by Satan. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: 

^[1] https://www.gotquestions.org/Essenes.html

^[2] Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; & Acts 1:13

^[3] Antiquities was the title of the historical work of Flavius Josephus.

^[4] Masada is a famous mountain fortress above the western shore of the Dead Sea in Israel. https://www.gotquestions.org/history-of-Masada.html

^[5] https://www.gotquestions.org/Zealots-Bible.html