Monthly Archives: June 2014

Sabbath, Controversy and More Followers

Posted on June 13, 2014 by Don Merritt

Mark 3:1-6 Parallel Texts: Matthew 12:9-14; Luke 6:6-11 After the scene in the last section where Jesus announces that He is the Lord of the Sabbath, Mark recounts another Sabbath Scene, this time in a synagogue, where Jesus heals a … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Lord of the Sabbath

Posted on June 13, 2014 by Don Merritt

Mark 2:23-28 Parallel Texts: Matthew 8:1-8; Luke 6:1-5 Mark has shifted the scene to the countryside. Jesus and the disciples, and apparently some Pharisees, are walking through grain fields on the Sabbath. They are hungry and the disciples pluck a … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

You Should be Fasting!

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Don Merritt

Mark 2:18-22 Parallel Texts: Matthew 9:14-17; Luke 5:33-39 The next scene Mark jumps to is one in which we find both John’s disciples and the Pharisees fasting, while Jesus and His disciples are going on as normal. Curious about this, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christian Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Jesus and Sinners

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Don Merritt

Mark 2:13-17 Parallel Texts: Matthew 9:9; Luke 5:27-28 Still in Galilee, Jesus calls another disciple, and this time He has a questionable choice: Levi (Matthew) the tax collector. Tax collectors are none too popular in our day, but back then … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Photo of the Week: June 11, 2014

Posted on June 11, 2014 by Don Merritt

  For me, the Capitol sitting up there on its Hill, never quite looks real. Maybe it’s the way the light reacts with the uneven surfaces of the dome, or maybe it’s just the mammoth proportions of it all, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Photo of the Week | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Jesus Meets His Critics

Posted on June 11, 2014 by Don Merritt

Mark 2:1-12 Parallel Texts: Matthew 9:2-8; Luke 5:17-26 In this passage, Jesus has returned to Capernaum from His Kingdom Tour, and the people are excited to have Him back in town. During this period, Capernaum is His ‘home base’. As the crowd … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Kingdom is at Hand

Posted on June 11, 2014 by Don Merritt

Mark 1:29-45 Healing People Mark 1:29-34 Parallel Texts: Matt. 8:14-17; Luke 4:38-41 Galilee Touring Mark 1:35-39 Parallel Texts: Matt. 4:23-25; Luke 4:42-44 Growing Crowds Mark 1:40-45 Parallel Texts: Matt. 8:2-4; Luke 5:12-16   If Jesus were to make a tour … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Bonus Post: A question about baptism

Posted on June 10, 2014 by Don Merritt

The other day, Meredith posted this comment on the post about Mark 1:1-8 in which Mark is talking about John the Baptist: Would you comment on the passages of scripture here and in Acts 2:38, and the many that don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Jesus in the Synagogue

Posted on June 10, 2014 by Don Merritt

Mark 1:21-28 Parallel Text: Luke 4:31-37 Jesus went to the synagogue at Capernaum and taught there. Mark doesn’t tell us what He taught, just that He did teach; the exact content isn’t the issue in this text, the reaction of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Ready aaannnd…ACTION!

Posted on June 10, 2014 by Don Merritt

Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness Mark 1:12-13 Parallels Texts: Matthew 4: 1-11; Luke 4:1-13 Jesus Returns to Galilee Mark 1:14 Parallel Texts: Matthew 4:12; Luke 3:19-20; John 4:1-4 Jesus Teaches in Galilee Mark 1:15 Parallel Texts: Matthew 4:17; Luke 4:14-15 … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments