Read Mark 10:17-31 One day a rich man approaches Jesus with the question that I am sure many have wondered, “What must I do to live forever? (inherit eternal life)”. Let’s face it, this man was probably rich because he had inherited great wealth from his family, and now he wants to know how to add eternal life to his great fortune.…

Read Mark 9:30-37 Throughout history there seems to be a constant quest by individuals to be the greatest. Alexander III of Macedon was called Alexander the Great because of his mighty conquest of the Ancient world. But was he the greatest? Every year Time magazine publishes their person of the year – attempting to declare for that year who was the greatest.…

Read Mark 9:2-13 Six days later, Jesus takes Peter, James and John to the top of a mountain. What happens next would be forever etched into the memories of those three. At the top of the mountain these three disciples witness Jesus as he undergoes a radical change.  The bible tells us that Jesus was transfigured before the disciples. The New Oxford…

Read Mark 8:27-9:1 As Jesus is walking with his disciples he turns to them and asks, “Who does everyone say I am?”  The disciples respond with the words that they had heard from others, “Some say you are John the Baptist, others think you are Elijah and other say you are one of the prophets.” Then Jesus turns to them and asks…

Read Mark 8:14-21 Ever had a conversation with someone and halfway through realized you were talking about two completely different things?  This has happened to me a lot, but more importantly it also happened to Jesus and the disciples. See the disciples and Jesus were in a boat crossing to the other side of the lake just after Jesus had been confronted…

Read Mark 8:11-13 If you grew up in a church you probably automatically associate the word ‘Pharisees’ with ‘bad guys’.  When we read the gospels, it seems to be the Pharisees that Jesus has the most run ins with.  They just don’t get him and they seem determined to get rid of him.  By reading into this we get the picture that…

Read Mark 8:1-10 A movie that particularly annoys me is the Bill Murray classic ‘Groundhog Day’ (parents you may need to explain this one to your kids).  The basic plot of this movie is that the main character, Phil (played by Bill Murray) is forced to relive the same day over and over again until he finally gets it right.  I find…

Read Mark 7:24-30 After confronting the Pharisees on their heart problems, Jesus goes to Tyre.  Jesus heads to a house, presumably for rest, with the aim that no one was to know he was there.  Yet if people are desperate enough for Jesus they will always find him, and so it was for a mother on this day.  Now this woman was…

Read Mark 7:1-23 As Jesus’ popularity grows, so too do the attacks from the religious leaders, the Pharisees.  Pharisees from Jerusalem gather around him and notice that Jesus’ disciples are not appearing to follow Jewish law. I In particular, they are eating without first washing their hands.  See in Jewish culture, washing of the hands was a great ceremony. Yet, Jesus’ disciples…

Read Mark 6:45-56 It’s been a big day. Desperate for some time of rest, Jesus and the disciples had travelled to an area of supposed solitude, only to be greeted by a crowd so desperate for guidance that Jesus could not help but teach.  Then rather than send the crowds away hungry, Jesus had fed this whole crowd made up of at…