Tag Archives: Bible study

You Should be Fasting!

Posted on March 1, 2016 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 →

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Jesus and Sinners

Posted on February 29, 2016 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 →

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Jesus Meets His Critics

Posted on February 29, 2016 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 →

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The Kingdom is at Hand

Posted on February 28, 2016 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 →

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Jesus in the Synagogue

Posted on February 27, 2016 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 →

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Mark Wastes No Time

Posted on February 26, 2016 by Don Merritt

Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness Mark 1:12-13 Parallel 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 →

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Jesus Appears on the Scene

Posted on February 26, 2016 by Don Merritt

Mark 1:9-11 Parallel texts: Matthew 3:13-17;  Like 3:21-22 Mark continues the action, after having described briefly the ministry of John the Baptist, here comes Jesus down from Nazareth to be baptized by John. Since John was operating near Jerusalem, Jesus … Continue reading →

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Off to a Fast Start!

Posted on February 25, 2016 by Don Merritt

Mark 1:1-8 Parallel Texts: Matthew 3:1-12; Luke 3:1-18 As you can see, Mark doesn’t get into the birth of Christ, or the genealogies or anything else, he jumps in right where the action begins with John the Baptist preparing the … Continue reading →

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Introduction to Mark

Posted on February 25, 2016 by Don Merritt

The best way I know to introduce this book is to compare it with the other three Gospels. Of course, it is one of the three synoptic Gospels, meaning that it is written with a chronological perspective, moving logically from … Continue reading →

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The Image of God; a few final comments

Posted on February 24, 2016 by Don Merritt

I think we’ve reached a point where we can bring our journey of exploration to a close… for the present, anyway. I qualify that because the image of God is such a vast subject of inquiry, the implications so huge, … Continue reading →

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