Chris Marshall Resources

As we return to Mark 13-16, we read the events that led to Jesus’ death, His death, and His resurrection.  These are such powerful events for the course of history and eternity!  Without Jesus’ perfect life, He could not have died in our place.  Without His death in our place, we would still be under the Law of Moses!  Because Jesus rose from the dead, we know we have the hope of resurrection as well.  Jesus Christ is the hope of the world, and we have the opportunity to let people in our spheres of influence know that every single day.

In Mark 9-12 Jesus’ ministry turns toward Jerusalem.  Mark 9 was literally the “high point” of Jesus’ earthly ministry, as He was transfigured on a mountain top with Moses and Elijah.  As we continue forward Jesus tells the disciples a second and third time He is going to be betrayed, arrested, condemned, crucified and buried, but He will rise on the third day.  Each time the disciples fail to understand and show more concern for their own benefit than what Jesus was telling them.  In Mark 11, we read of Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, and of the moment when the people recognized Him for who He was–the Messiah, and Son of God.  This marks the beginning of “Holy Week,” the last week of Jesus’ life before His death and resurrection. 

Again, I don’t need to offer extensive explanation of Mark 5-8, because we’ve read it six times now.  I will add once again, that Mark 5 is one of my favorite chapters in the entire Bible, because it shows Jesus’ tremendous compassion and power to heal.  Compassion and power aren’t always combined in our world, but when they are the statement it makes is so amazing.  Jesus combined the two every day of His ministry, because He was reminding us of what the Kingdom of God is like: love (and compassion) and power! 

This is our sixth time through Mark’s Gospel, so my hope is you don’t need me to comment on chapters 1-4.  You know without looking that Mark 1 tells us about John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus, and the start of Jesus’ ministry. Mark 2 tells us about the healing of the paralytic, which leads to Jesus’ first run in with the religious leaders.  We also find the call of Levi, and another run in with the Pharisees when Jesus’ disciples pick heads of grain on the Sabbath. Mark 3 offers us more examples of Jesus’ run ins with the religious leaders and of their decision to get rid of Him.  Jesus also calls the twelve disciples to be with Him, and to be equipped to carry His ministry to the nations.  Mark 4 offers us the first extended teaching section in Mark’s gospel, and Jesus offers us the Parable of the Sower (or the Parable of the Soils), and other parables of God’s Kingdom. If you have questions about any of these chapters, you can go back through the posts from this year, or by this time you might have notes in your own Bible to which you can refer.  (As we read through Mark this time, you might want to read it in a different translation than the one you’ve been using. It’s helpful to see how the English translators translated the Greek into our language.  The nuances and differences can sometimes add extra insights to our understanding.)

Matthew 26-28 record the events leading to Jesus’ arrest; the Last Supper; Jesus’ arrest, trial and condemnation by the Jewish leaders, His condemnation by the crowd, which led to Pilate’s condemnation of Him; His crucifixion, death, and burial; His resurrection and ascension (return) to heaven.  We have read these chapters several times now, but every time we turn to them, we are reminded of the amazing love God had for us that He permitted Jesus to endure what He did for us.  As the God of the universe in the flesh, Jesus endured the weight of every sin past, present and future on the cross.  When He rose from the dead, the miracle of the stone being rolled away from the tomb and the angels who accompanied it, tell us it came from heaven.  The guards at the tomb were overwhelmed to the point of “becoming like dead men,” at the coming of the angel and the earthquake.  Jesus proved His resurrection by appearing to a handful of people the day He rose from the dead. But the Apostle Paul tells us at the end of 1 Corinthians, Jesus was seen by 500 people after He rose, certainly an adequate number to convince us of the reality of the resurrection.  Before Jesus returned to heaven, He charged us to go into all the world and make disciples of all the nations.  That “Great Commission” is repeated in some manner in all four gospels and the book of Acts. That tells us how important it is and how necessary for us to pursue it.

As the book of John closes in John 21, John offers us the account of Jesus reinstating Peter. In a powerfully simple scene, Jesus takes Peter aside and asks him three times, “Simon, Son of John, do you love me?”  Each time Peter tells Jesus he does.  When Jesus asked the third time, Peter was cut to the heart, because he realized this was the number of times, he had denied Jesus.  As the conversation drew to a close, Jesus told Peter a powerful truth: He would die bearing witness to Jesus.  He would be known not as the one who denied Jesus, but the one who stood fast even to death.  John closes the book by telling us Jesus did many other things not recorded in the book, and if everything were written down, all the books in the world wouldn’t contain them.  While that might sound like an exaggeration, think about it for a moment.  Jesus was with God the Father from the beginning.  In John 1, we’re told He created all that exists.  Imagine everything Jesus has done from then until now!  It wouldn’t be possible to write down each detail.  The great news for us is: That same Jesus loved us enough to die and rise again for you and me, so we, too can experience being reinstated from our sins, and given opportunities to love and serve Him now and forever. 

In Matthew 24 Jesus speaks of the coming destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem.  It would happen about forty years after His death and resurrection, yet the details are uncannily accurate.  He also continued to talk about various signs of the end of the age, or of His return.  While the details seem to apply in some manner to every era of history the key truth for us is Jesus tells us to be ready.  Being ready is a vital call and challenge for each of us as Jesus’ followers.

In Matthew 25 we read two parables about Jesus’ coming and one illustration of what will happen when He returns.  The first parable is the Parable of the Ten Virgins.  Each of the virgins awaited the return of a “bridegroom,” who is an image for Jesus.  Five were wise, and brought extra oil, in case the bridegroom came later than expected.  The other five were foolish and brought no extra oil.  When the foolish virgins’ lamps went out, they went to look for more oil.  That would have been impossible in the middle of the night.  As they were out looking, the bridegroom arrived.  The five wise virgins were permitted into the wedding banquet.  This is another way Jesus said, “Be ready!” The second parable is often called the Parable of the Talents, because a master went on a trip and left his money in the trust of three of his servants.  The measure of money was called “talents.”  The master apportioned the money differently.  One servant received five talents of gold, another two, and the third received one.  We’re told the master did this to account for variations in their abilities.  While the master was away, the first two servants worked diligently and doubled their master’s money.  The third buried the money.  When the master returned home, the first two servants were praised equally for their faithfulness and invited to share their master’s joy.  The final one was condemned for being lazy and wicked and cast out into outer darkness.  The point of the parable is not that we must work to be praised by God, but we must be faithful and ready when He returns.  In the final illustration, Jesus tells us when He returns the people will be divided into two groups: the “sheep”, and the “goats”.  The sheep are those who did Jesus’ will in small, everyday ways.  The goats are those who did not.  The illustration shows us Jesus values our daily efforts to meet the needs of His children, and rewards those who carry them out faithfully.

As we return to John 20, we read the account of Jesus’ resurrection. The key points of John’s account are: 1) Jesus appeared alive first to Mary Magdalene; 2) Jesus appeared to ten of the remaining eleven disciples (Judas had hanged himself) at one time; and 3) Jesus appeared to Thomas, who was missing during Jesus’ first appearance to the disciples, and Thomas fell before Him in worship. John tells us at the end of the chapter why he wrote his gospel: so that we might believe Jesus is the Messiah, and that by believing we might have life in His name! 

Matthew 21 records Jesus’ “Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem.  As we have seen in reading through all four gospels, only Matthew records Jesus riding on two donkeys at once.  The point is the same: the people recognized Jesus for who He was–the Messiah.  But as we know, this acclamation wouldn’t continue.  By Good Friday, the same crowds called for Jesus’ death.  Next, Jesus cleansed the money changers out of the Temple, which was another major challenge to the religious leaders’ authority.  The next morning Jesus cursed a fig tree for not having fruit. He used the moment to point out the importance of faith in our lives.  After this, the religious leaders went on the offensive asking Jesus to tell them the source of His authority.  He responded with a question for them: Where did John the Baptist get his authority–from God or people.  The leaders knew they were trapped, because if they said from God, Jesus would ask why they didn’t listen to him, but if they said from people, the crowds would attack them, because the crowds believed he was a prophet.  When they said, “We don’t know,” Jesus said He would not tell them where His authority originated either. After this, Jesus told a parable of a man with two sons.  He asked both of them to do some work for him.  One said, “No,” but later did go to work, while the other said, “Yes,” but then didn’t.  Jesus asked which did the will of his father?  They responded, “The one who did his father’s will.”  Jesus told them in the same way the tax collectors and sinners would go to heaven before them, because of their response to Jesus.  The chapter closes with Jesus telling a parable of a vineyard owner whose tenants abused and killed the servants he sent to collect his prophets at the time of harvest.  Finally, the man sent his son, thinking they would respond to him, but they killed him, too.  The message wasn’t lost on the religious leaders, so they decided it was time to get rid of Jesus.

Matthew 22 starts with Jesus telling the Parable of the Wedding Feast, in which all of the invited guests turn the Master down when told it is time to come.  He then invites the poor, the lame, and any who will come.  This again shows how the Kingdom of Heaven will be received by those the religious leaders would never have expected.  This is followed by three “tests” set before Jesus by the religious leaders.  The first was to ask Jesus whether it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar.  The leaders thought they had Jesus, because whether He said yes or no, they “had” Him. The problem is Jesus didn’t say yes or no. He had a coin brought to Him and asked whose inscription and picture were on it?  When the leaders responded it was Caesar’s, Jesus told them to give to Caesar what was Caesar’s and to God what was God’s.  Next, the Sadducees came with a question about the resurrection.  Because we’ve all read it a number of times at this point, we know they didn’t believe in the resurrection, and their question involved a woman who had been married to seven brothers, and whose wife she would be in the resurrection.  Jesus pointed out we are not married in heaven but are “like” the angels.  He also pointed out that when God confronted Moses’ in the burning bush, He told Moses, I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  The present tense verb makes it clear the three patriarchs were alive and with God, thus verifying the resurrection of the dead.  Finally, Jesus was asked what was the greatest commandment in Moses’ Law?  Jesus answered without hesitation: It is to love God with everything we have, and to love our neighbors as ourselves.  This shut up the leaders.  Jesus ended this encounter by asking them whose son the Messiah is.  He asked this because everyone knew the answer was supposed to be King David, yet David called the Messiah “Lord.” After this no one dared asked Jesus any more questions.

In Matthew 23, Jesus pronounced seven “woes” over the Pharisees. The word used in the original Greek, which is translated “Woe to you” is a strong word that could be translated “damn you”, so Jesus was moving toward His final conflict with the leaders, which would end in His arrest, condemnation, and crucifixion.  The chapter ends with Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem.  He knew the inevitably of this being the place of His crucifixion, even though it was the center and heart of Israel.

As we return to John 19, we read the record of Jesus’ being handed over for crucifixion by Pilate, even though Pilate knew Jesus was innocent.  Then Jesus is crucified, and in John’s account Jesus ensured that John would care for His mother, Mary, after Jesus’ death.  When the soldiers went around breaking the legs of those who had been crucified, they found Jesus was already dead, so they pierced His side with a spear, rather than breaking His legs.  This is significant, because a prophecy in the Old Testament had said not one of His bones would be broken.  Finally, Jesus’ body was placed in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, who was a Pharisee, but who had apparently believed Jesus was the Messiah.  Nicodemus assisted Joseph as they buried Jesus and started the embalming process.  As the chapter ends, it seems all hope is lost.  But we know the rest of the story!

Matthew 18 offers us several brief teachings from Jesus.  First, He told the disciples the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven is the one who is like a child–childlike, not childish.  Childlikeness means being trusting, loving and filled with wonder. Childish means immature, short-tempered and filled with self.  Next, Jesus warned us not to be the ones who put temptation to sin in the way of one of His little ones.  Then, Jesus tells the Parable of the Lost Sheep, and how it isn’t His Father’s will for even one person to perish.  The chapter closes with Jesus telling us how important it is to forgive those who sin against us.  After telling us of its importance, He offers a powerful parable about a servant who owed his master vast sums of money.  The master showed compassion on the servant and forgave him.  But then the servant went out and failed to forgive a fellow servant who owed him a small sum of money.  When the other servants brought this servant’s action to the master, the master had the servant and his family thrown into prison!  This shows us how important it is for us to forgive others as Jesus has forgiven us.

In Matthew 19 we read a similar account to that in Mark 10, where the Pharisees question Jesus about divorce.  The next two aspects of the chapter are also the same. It was likely the same moment.  Jesus asked the Pharisees what the Law of Moses said about divorce.  They told Him the Law permitted it.  Jesus told them that was only because of human hardness of heart, but from the beginning God’s intention was for a man and woman to be married for as long as they lived.  That is still His intention for us!  Next, Jesus is approached by some families with their children for Jesus to bless the children.  The disciples attempted to stop them, but Jesus rebuked the disciples, laid his hand on the children and blessed them.  Finally, we read of a rich young man who came to Jesus seeking eternal life.  When the man had told Jesus, he had followed the Law since his youth, Jesus told him to go sell all he had, give it to the poor, and he would have riches in heaven.  Then he could come and follow Him. The man went away said, because he couldn’t give up his wealth.  The disciples were astonished, because they assumed worldly wealth was a sign of God’s favor.  Often it is.  In this case it was the prison that kept the young man from being free to serve Jesus.

In Matthew 20 Jesus tells the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard.  As we know by now, the parable tells of a vineyard owner who went to the town throughout the day at various times and hired workers.  He told the ones hired in the morning he would pay them a denarius, or a day’s wage.  The rest he told he would pay fairly.  As it turned out, the master paid those who worked only one hour a denarius.  When the ones who started first received their pay, they were upset, because they also received one denarius–the amount they had agreed would be their wage at the beginning of the day.  They said the master was being unfair.  He reminded them he had paid them fairly, and he had the right to be generous to the others if he desired.  The point of the parable is no matter when in a person’s life he or she comes to the Lord for salvation, each one receives the same reward–salvation!  Next, Jesus told the disciples of His impending death for a third time.  This time, the mother of James and John came to Jesus and asked Him to put her sons in the positions of authority and power at His right and left when He came into His Kingdom.  Jesus told her He didn’t have the right to make that commitment.  It was up to His Father.  The other ten disciples became upset when they heard of the request, so Jesus took the opportunity to remind them the greatest in God’s Kingdom is the one who serves the most.  Finally, Jesus takes some time while the group is walking along to heal two blind men.  This time Jesus tells them it would be done according to their faith, and their faith was enough, because they were healed. 

As we return to John 18, we return to the account of Jesus’ betrayal, arrest, questioning before Annas and Caiaphas, the high priests, Peter’s denial of Jesus, and Jesus trial before Pilate.  We have read the account in all four gospels, and what stands out to me in each account is Jesus’ calmness while everyone else is in a frenzy.  He knew He was going to beaten and crucified, yet He answered calmly or remained silent.  When the crowds jeered, He stayed calm.  He watched and listened as Peter denied Him, but in Luke’s gospel alone we’re told after the third denial Jesus turned to Peter and looked at Him.  Imagine that: Jesus’ friend, follower, and confidante Peter, denied ever knowing Him, and Jesus looked calmly into His eyes.  Only the Savior of the world could have responded in that way.

As we return to Matthew 14, we read of John the Baptist’s death, of Jesus feeding the 5,000, walking on water, and healing many people in Gennesaret.  John’s death shows us how callous King Herod was.  Jesus miracle of feeding the 5,000 is the only one of His miracles recorded in all four gospels.

In Matthew 15, Jesus and the religious leaders debate over the Jewish ceremonial hand washing.  The religious leaders condemn the disciples for not always making certain they did it, and Jesus condemns the leaders for not following the actual Law of Moses.  Jesus made it clear it isn’t what we eat that defiles us, but what’s in our hearts.  Next, we read of a Canaanite woman’s faith. At first, Jesus wasn’t going to heal her child, because she wasn’t a Jew, but then she offered Jesus a great response to His unwillingness to heal the child, so He does.  Jesus heals many people after this, and feeds four thousand men and their families miraculously.

Matthew 16 offers us another example of the Pharisees demanding Jesus for a “sign” of His authority, which is odd considering He just fed 4,000 people.  Jesus tells them they won’t receive a sign. Then as Jesus and the disciples travel, He warns them of the “leaven” of the Pharisees.  He was not talking about yeast, but about their teaching and lives.  In one of the most important actions of his life to this point, Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ, the son of the living God.  Jesus blesses Peter for this announcement, but shortly after, Peter tells Jesus he ought never die.  Jesus calls Peter “Satan” for such a statement, because it focuses on Peter’s earthly desire, rather than God’s divine plan.  Then Jesus tells the crowd to follow Him, they must deny themselves, take up their crosses and follow Him.

Matthew 17 records Jesus’ transfiguration with Moses and Elijah, which was witnessed by Peter, James, and John. After this amazing time, they return to the rest of the group to find the other nine disciples unable to cast a demon out of a boy.  Jesus casts out the demon after noting His frustration with them.  Jesus again predicts His death, and the chapter closes with the account of Jesus sending Peter to catch a fish that will have coins in its mouth, with which Peter can pay the Temple tax for Him and Peter.

As we return to John 17, Jesus offers His “High Priestly Prayer” on behalf of the disciples.  This closes out the long section of prayer Jesus offers to His Heavenly Father on their behalf.  This also is the last thing that happens before Jesus is betrayed by Judas, arrested and starts the process of moving toward His crucifixion.

Luke’s record of Jesus’ move toward Jerusalem takes longer than Matthew or Mark.  After Peter’s confession of Jesus in the other two gospels, we see Jesus moving intentionally toward Jerusalem and confrontations with the religious leaders that led to His ultimate arrest, trial, conviction and crucifixion.  Here, it takes until chapter 19, before Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.  While He does have some interaction with religious leaders along the way, these chapters are more about Jesus teaching, or Jesus healing people.  The action is straightforward, and intentional on Jesus’ part, but a bit slower in getting to the climactic confrontations with the religious leaders.