Bible Reading Plan

Author: Austin Brewer

  • Acts 4

    Acts 4

    Read Acts 4

    Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin

    1 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day.4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.

    5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

    8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed,10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is

    “‘the stone you builders rejected,
        which has become the cornerstone.’

    12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

    13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”

    18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

    21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

    The Believers Pray

    23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:

    “‘Why do the nations rage
        and the peoples plot in vain?
    26 The kings of the earth rise up
        and the rulers band together
    against the Lord
        and against his anointed one.’

    27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

    31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

    The Believers Share Their Possessions

    32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

    36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

    Go Deeper

    One of the main lessons of Acts 4 is that God can use anyone, anywhere, at any time. Nobody is too shy, too sinful, or too broken to be used in a mighty way by the Holy Spirit. One of the most intriguing (but a little insulting!) verses in the entire book of Acts is verse 13: “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” The religious leaders were shocked that these men spoke with such power because they were ordinary.  Peter and John were just run of the mill people with no degrees and no money, just a powerful message.  

    The people there that day couldn’t help but conclude that the only difference was Jesus.  These men had spent time with the crucified Christ. If Jesus could transform these two, well, then He could transform anybody! This transformation would happen in more and more lives, even as the religious leaders tried to put an end to this movement. Thousands came to know Jesus and created a unified family the likes of which the world had never seen. These men and women created habits of prayer and generosity that literally shook the foundations of the earth. God was on the move through everyday, ordinary people who simply didn’t know any better. May we be desperate for Him to do it again!

    Questions

    1. What characteristics of these early believers do you wish marked Harris Creek today?

    2. Words like “courage” and “boldness” are frequently used to describe the early church. Why do you think they had such confidence?

    3. In Acts, one of the main qualities of Christians was their generosity. Who in your life could God impact with your generosity?

    Did You Know?

    The Sanhedrin clearly had little respect for Peter and John. They weren’t wealthy enough to have received formal training, nor were they part of the religious class to have studied under a scholar. However, God took these two fishermen and empowered them to present a case in front of chief priests and scribes, because they’d been with Jesus and could testify on His behalf.

    Think About It.

    A pastor teaches you what to look for while reading Acts 4.

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  • Acts 3

    Acts 3

    Read Acts 3

    Peter Heals a Lame Beggar

    1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

    6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

    Peter Speaks to the Onlookers

    11 While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

    17 “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. 21 Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. 22 For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. 23 Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.’

    24 “Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days. 25 And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’ 26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

    Go Deeper

    As the story of the early church continues to unfold, we see another instance of Peter explaining to all who will listen who Jesus was and why His life, death, and resurrection is so important. After healing a man as he and John approached the temple, word started to spread that Peter was healing in Jesus’s name. Peter then takes the situation at hand, just like he did one chapter before, and uses it to explain the spiritual implications for everyone who is watching. Peter’s message will ultimately gain the attention of the Sanhedrin, which we’ll read about in the very next chapter. 

    We can learn a lot from Peter’s approach here. We live in a world that is broken. There is a consensus amongst believers and nonbelievers that things aren’t as they should be, and people feel unsettled. On top of that, people are desperate for hope. The more you watch the news, scroll through Facebook, or check the news app on your phone, the more hopeless you ultimately feel. As followers of Jesus, we believe that Jesus is the solution to the problems people are facing. Much like Peter did, we have a unique opportunity right now to take the situation in front of us and point people back to the message of the Messiah who came to the earth to reconcile the world to Himself. In a world full of questions, we have the opportunity to provide the Answer. Let’s continue to lean into the Spirit, go where we are called to go, and engage the people around us with the story of Jesus. 

    Questions

    1. What sticks out to you about Peter’s conversation with the man he heals? 

    2. Peter takes advantage of the platform he has as he’s sharing with the crowd to spread the gospel. What do you take away from Peter’s message? 

    3. In what ways have you looked for hope in the wrong places? How did that turn out for you?

    4. Think about the typical, day-to-day interactions you have. What opportunities do you have to share hope with others? How can you take the situations in front of you and use them as an opportunity to share the gospel with others?

    Did You Know?

    A short time before this, Peter and John were scared to even go to the temple out of fear of the Jewish leaders (John 20:19), so instead they hid out in a locked room. Now that they have the Holy Spirit, they’re emboldened to go into the temple, armed with the message of Jesus.

    Think About It.

    We’ve read a lot about them in Mark and now Acts, but you can learn even more about Peter and John.

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  • Acts 2

    Acts 2

    Read Acts 1

    The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

    1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

    5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

    13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

    Peter Addresses the Crowd

    14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

    17 “‘In the last days, God says,
        I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
    Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
        your young men will see visions,
        your old men will dream dreams.
    18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
        I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
        and they will prophesy.
    19 I will show wonders in the heavens above
        and signs on the earth below,
        blood and fire and billows of smoke.
    20 The sun will be turned to darkness
        and the moon to blood
        before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
    21 And everyone who calls
        on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

    22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25 David said about him:

    “‘I saw the Lord always before me.
        Because he is at my right hand,
        I will not be shaken.
    26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
        my body also will rest in hope,
    27 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
        you will not let your holy one see decay.
    28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
        you will fill me with joy in your presence.’

    29 “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,

    “‘The Lord said to my Lord:
        “Sit at my right hand
    35 until I make your enemies
        a footstool for your feet.”’

    36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

    37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

    38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

    40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

    The Fellowship of the Believers

    42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

    Go Deeper

    We pick up in Acts 2 right where Acts 1 left off. There are 120 or so followers of Jesus in a room trying to figure out where to go and what to do next, when the Holy Spirit arrives. All of a sudden, their worlds are completely changed. Peter, often the spokesman for the group, stands up and tries to explain to a skeptical crowd exactly what’s going on. He boldly tells them about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. As he’s talking, it’s starting to click in the minds of the crowd: Jesus was the Messiah. We killed the Messiah. Then, Peter calls them to repentance and tells the crowd that they, too, can have the same Spirit living inside of them. Scripture then tells us 3,000 were added to their number that day! 

    Next, we see the first picture of the church really acting like the church. They studied Scripture together, they ate meals together, and they sold property and possessions so that they could be generous to one another. They prioritized gathering together, and God blessed all that was going on and this, too, added to their numbers.

    So how did Peter go from denying Jesus three times to boldly proclaiming the Good News about Jesus? And how did this group of thousands of people, who previously weren’t connected to one another, become part of a movement that’s still going 2,000 years later? They all had the Spirit of God living inside of them–the same Spirit that we can have living in us. We have the ability to live by the Spirit in the same way that Peter and the rest of the Acts 2 church did. But will we?

    Questions

    1. What does this passage teach us about the Holy Spirit? 

    2. What does it mean for you to live a life that’s led by the Spirit? What would look different in your life if you followed the Spirit’s prompting all throughout the day?

    3. What stands out to you about the functions of the church that we read about in Acts 2:42-47? Of the early church’s behaviors, which are present in your Life Group? Which are absent? How can your group go about functioning more like the early church during such a unique season in the life of the church?

    Did You Know?

    Pentecost was the next major feast on the Jewish calendar, falling 50 days after the Passover. Jews from as far as 20 miles would descend on Jerusalem for the feast, swelling the population in Jerusalem to as many as 3,000,000 people.

    Think About It.

    The Bible Project: The Holy Spirit

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  • Acts 1

    Acts 1

    Read Acts 1

    Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven

    1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

    6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

    7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

    9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

    10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

    Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas

    12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

    15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus.17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”

    18 (With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 19 Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

    20 “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms:

    “‘May his place be deserted;
        let there be no one to dwell in it,’

    and,

    “‘May another take his place of leadership.’

    21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

    23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

    Go Deeper

    Is the book of Acts the start of a new section in the story of Scripture, or a continuation of the Gospels? The answer is probably yes. Yes, the book of Acts ushers in a brand-new season for the disciples. In this chapter, we see that Jesus leaves them and commissions them to start the Church. However, He doesn’t leave them all alone. He promised that God would give them the gift of His Holy Spirit. So while Jesus was leaving, He was also going to be present in a new way. With this in mind, yes, the book of Acts is really just a continuation of the Gospels. The Good News will continue to advance and Jesus will still be changing lives. The main difference is that the disciples are now empowered to go out and change the world when Jesus isn’t physically present. You can almost feel their uneasiness and nervousness as they stand staring into the sky in verses 10 and 11. Jesus has left them and they have no idea what to do next. In their confusion, two angels appear and ask them, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky?” For many of us, in times of uncertainty, we can’t help but stand and stare as we try to take it all in. As we read this chapter, we can be encouraged that even in times of dramatic change, we are still empowered to go out and live with a mission. We don’t have to stand and wait for directions. The directions have already been given. Go and make disciples of all nations! As the chapters unfold in the book of Acts, we’ll see that’s exactly what the disciples will do.

    Questions

    1. What are some things you notice the disciples doing in the second half of the chapter, after Jesus has left?

    2. When the disciples asked if Jesus was now going to restore the kingdom of Israel, why do you think that Jesus told them that was not for them to know? Why does He leave them in the dark?

    3. What do you notice about Peter’s leadership in this chapter? How has he changed from the moment he denied Jesus?

    Did You Know?

    Casting lots was a traditional way of determining God’s will. This is the last instance of casting lots recorded in Scripture, because once the believers received the Holy Spirit, they were able to follow the Spirit as a guide instead.

    Think About It.

    Watch this video: Overview of Acts 1-12

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  • Mark 16

    Mark 16

    Read Mark 16

    Jesus Has Risen

    1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”

    4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

    6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”

    8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

    [The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses 9–20.]

    9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. 11 When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.

    12 Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. 13 These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.

    14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.

    15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

    19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

    Go Deeper

    This is it! All of history hinges on the event we read about in today’s passage: the resurrection. It’s the foundation of our faith. The Good News. It is finished. Our sins are paid in full. The empty tomb is our receipt. Death defeated. Jesus is risen! Just as He said. 

    The first witnesses to the resurrection were the same women who witnessed His death and burial (15:47). These women had proved to be the most devoted followers of Jesus. We can only imagine the weight of their grief and disappointment as they walked in the early morning hours on the way to anoint the body of not only their teacher, but their dear friend. 

    To their amazement, they are met by an angel with a message—The Message. Look again at verse 6: “Don’t be alarmed, you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. BUT go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” These devoted women were expecting a conclusion to a moment, not an invitation to a movement. 

    In one verse, we learn so much about the power and grace of our Savior. “He is going ahead of you.” Jesus always leads us. He goes before us. He’s a good Shepherd who leads His flock. 

    We learn that Jesus’s word can be trusted. “Just as He said.” Not one word spoken from the mouth of the Messiah has been untrue. His promises never fail. He is incapable of lying. We can trust what He says. He is true and what He says is true. 

    Perhaps the most astonishing of all is that we learn that Jesus is a reconciler. He invites us to a right relationship with Him through grace. The invitation wasn’t only for the most devoted followers. The invitation is extended, specifically, to arguably the biggest deserter and runaway, Peter. “Go and tell his disciples AND PETER.” Jesus redeems our wasted moments and foolish failures. He pursues liars, cheaters, failures, adulterers, prodigals, and misfits and offers them hope, forgiveness, and freedom. 

    It is the invitation extended to all of us. Will we believe Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified, is risen…just as He said? That He died as a payment for our sins and made a way for us to have new life?

    Let’s go and tell that Good News.

    Questions

    1. What’s the implication of Jesus’s desire for Peter, specifically, to know Jesus is alive? Reread Mark 14:66-72 for more understanding.

    2. Who do you most relate to in this passage? What do you learn about the character of Jesus? 

    3. Is there a situation you’re experiencing into which you need Jesus to breathe new life? Spend some time in prayer asking Him to restore that which you think is broken.

    Did You Know?

    The gospel of Mark is written by John Mark, who spent time with Peter. Mark is Peter’s account and perspective from his time spent with Jesus. After the resurrection, Peter went on to pen these words: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). Church history tells us that Peter was crucified, a martyr’s death, for the sake of the gospel.

    Listen to this.

    Watch this video: An Unexpected Letter

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  • Mark 15

    Mark 15

    Read Mark 15

    Jesus Before Pilate

    Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.

    2 “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate.

    “You have said so,” Jesus replied.

    3 The chief priests accused him of many things. 4 So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”

    5 But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.

    6 Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. 7 A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. 8 The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.

    9 “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate,10 knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.

    12 “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.

    13 “Crucify him!” they shouted.

    14 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

    But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

    15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

    The Soldiers Mock Jesus

    16 The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. 17 They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. 18 And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” 19 Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

    The Crucifixion of Jesus

    21 A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. 22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 23 Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.

    25 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews.

    27 They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. [28] 29 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 come down from the cross and save yourself!” 31 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! 32 Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

    The Death of Jesus

    33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

    35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”

    36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.

    37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.

    38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

    40 Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome. 41 In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.

    The Burial of Jesus

    42 It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. 45 When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.

    Go Deeper

    One of the most upsetting moments in today’s reading, besides Jesus’s death, is the action of the soldiers who called Jesus King, put a crown on His head, and bowed down to Him… but all as a joke. He was/is the true King, and He deserved their true praise, yet, they taunted Him in mockery. How dare they?! But, as much as we want to angrily hurl that question at the soldiers, we can’t let Easter weekend go by without asking the same of ourselves: How dare we?

    Because while we may not physically mock Jesus in fake worship, when we sit at lunch after church on Sunday and gossip about someone we saw that morning, are we not the same as the soldiers crowning Jesus with a crown of thorns? Is our worship as big of a joke as that of the soldiers when we strive to find our worth in success rather than in identity given by God? Do we mock Jesus when we say that He is Lord but confine that to an hour a week on Sundays? You see, just like the soldiers, we may have the right words and posture and some of the right actions, but if our heart isn’t in it, then our worship is just as fake. 

    This fake worship means that we prioritize everything else in our life first, and Jesus second. Idolatry consumes us as our hearts become too busy worshipping ourselves–our careers, kids, successes, looks, and possessions–and we end up unable to acknowledge the true King right in front of us, just like the soldiers. Simply put, we miss Him, just like they did. This Easter weekend, let’s slow down, reflect, and confess in order to make sure we don’t miss Him again. 

    Questions

    1. What person in this story do you most connect with today? Are you an idolator like the soldiers? A skeptic like Pilate? The disciples, who are no-shows in today’s chapter? The faithful women who followed Jesus to the very end? Why?

    2. What are your idols? In what way is your worship of Jesus falsified at times by your heart or your actions?

    3. Easter weekend, coronavirus style, probably looks a bit different this year than normal–less loud, less busy, maybe even less “fun.” How can you use the extra stillness of this weekend to reflect on your role in putting Jesus on the cross?

    Did You Know?

    The scourging (the whipping, beating, flogging) that Jesus received was very common practice at that time. It was so intense that oftentimes the criminal who was to be crucified didn’t even make it to the cross. The entire company of soldiers normally joined in, which means that there could’ve been up to 600 people mocking Jesus before His crucifixion.

    Think About It.

    Watch this sermon: Not Forsaken

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  • Mark 14

    Mark 14

    Read Mark 14

    Jesus Anointed at Bethany

    1 Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. 2 “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.”

    3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

    4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

    6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

    10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11 They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

    The Last Supper

    12 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

    13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”

    16 The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

    17 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18 While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.”

    19 They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely you don’t mean me?”

    20 “It is one of the Twelve,” he replied, “one who dips bread into the bowl with me. 21 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

    22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”

    23 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.

    24 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. 25 “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

    26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

    Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

    27 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written:

    “‘I will strike the shepherd,
        and the sheep will be scattered.’

    28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

    29 Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”

    30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.”

    31 But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.

    Gethsemane

    32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”

    35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

    37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

    39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.

    41 Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

    Jesus Arrested

    43 Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.

    44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” 45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him. 47 Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

    48 “Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” 50 Then everyone deserted him and fled.

    51 A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, 52 he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.

    Jesus Before the Sanhedrin

    53 They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. 54 Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.

    55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. 56 Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.

    57 Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’” 59 Yet even then their testimony did not agree.

    60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.

    Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

    62 “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

    63 The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. 64 “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”

    They all condemned him as worthy of death. 65 Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.

    Peter Disowns Jesus

    66 While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.

    “You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.

    68 But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,”he said, and went out into the entryway.

    69 When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” 70 Again he denied it.

    After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”

    71 He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”

    72 Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

    Go Deeper

    This chapter has to be the saddest in the entire Bible. In it, we see Jesus deserted by His very closest friends. Friends that He has spent the previous three years traveling with, teaching, pouring into, and loving all desert Him in His hour of need. It starts with Judas, full of greed, who agrees to betray Jesus to the chief priests in exchange for 30 pieces of silver (a value of around $200 today). His disciples then betray Jesus by falling asleep while they’re supposed to be praying, and then, once the chief priests come, they all scatter. One follower of Jesus even flees naked rather than be caught! Finally, Peter, the last disciple to stay with Jesus, ends up denying Him three times, just as Jesus predicted. At the end of this chapter, Jesus is all alone. 

    It’s painful to read, even more painful to imagine. Not only was Jesus about to withstand the physical torture and pain that would end up taking His life, but first He was rejected from the very people who were supposed to be with Him to the end. And why? Because they were afraid. They loved being with Jesus for the healings and miracles, for the walking on water, but the moment it got hard, they scattered. They were afraid to be seen with Him, because they didn’t want to have to endure the pain He was about to go through. But before we judge the disciples, what would we have done? Do we only follow Jesus in the good times, when life goes our way? The second the seas get choppy, do we abandon ship? While following Jesus does guarantee us eternal rest and happiness and joy forever in Heaven, in this world Jesus promises us that we will have trouble (John 16:33). When trouble comes, let’s be people who follow Jesus into it, through it, and beyond it, because trouble with Jesus is still better than anything without Him.

    Questions

    1. What is the first thing that stands out to you about the character of Jesus in this passage?

    2. In verse 8, when Jesus is defending the woman who anointed Him with oil, He says, “She has done what she could.” Could Jesus say the same about you right now? In what ways are you/aren’t you doing all you can to serve Him?

    3. When things get tough, what is your tendency–to follow Jesus or abandon Him? In what ways has God remained faithful to you even in the hard times?

    Did You Know?

    The reference to the young man who fled naked (Mark 14:51-52) is only included in Mark’s gospel. While no one knows for sure, the fact that it was only in Mark’s account led many of the early church fathers and scholars alike to assume that Mark himself was the young man.

    Listen to this.

    Watch this sermon: Jesus or Judas

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  • Mark 13

    Mark 13

    Read Mark 13

    The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times

    1 As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!”

    2 “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

    3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?”

    5 Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

    9 “You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. 11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

    12 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 13 Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

    14 “When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ standing where it does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let no one on the housetop go down or enter the house to take anything out. 16 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 17 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 18 Pray that this will not take place in winter, 19 because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again.

    20 “If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them. 21 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.

    24 “But in those days, following that distress,

    “‘the sun will be darkened,
        and the moon will not give its light;
    25 the stars will fall from the sky,
        and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’

    26 “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.

    28 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. 30 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

    The Day and Hour Unknown

    32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

    35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”

    Go Deeper

    We’re currently living in a season that absolutely none of us saw coming. A few months ago, when the calendar turned to 2020, no one could have guessed how dramatically our lives would change this year. However, even though none of us could have guessed what was coming, Jesus reminds us in this passage that we should be prepared for times like these. The chapter opens with one of the disciples marveling at the large and powerful temple. Surely these stones would remain standing forever! Yet Jesus replies to His disciple by remarking that not a single one of those buildings would last. Even the sturdiest parts of our society have a shelf life.  

    Jesus then goes on to challenge His followers to be on guard for a whole host of potential difficulties. These are not Jesus’s most quoted or memorable words, and it’s likely because we don’t love the message. Most of us would prefer to be comforted rather than challenged. But in this season of our lives, we’re reminded that Jesus was right: in this world we will have trouble.  The good news is that isn’t how the story ends. We can also trust that Jesus has overcome the world and will one day make all things right. Until that day, though, we have a job to do. We must stand firm in the faith and be on guard for whatever troubles may come our way.

    Questions

    1. What most stands out to you about this chapter?

    2. How did you feel when reading this passage? Nervous? Surprised? Prepared?

    3. What do you think it means to live “on guard”?

    4. If Jesus were to come back next week, what changes would you want to make in your life in order to prepare?

    Did You Know?

    In 20 BC, Herod the Great began to remodel and rebuild the temple. Herod made it one of the most beautiful buildings in Jerusalem to appease the Jews. The magnificent building project would not finish until 64 AD. Jesus’s prophecy in this chapter would come true in 70 AD, when the Romans completely destroyed the temple.

    Think About It.

    Is Jesus Coming Soon?

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  • Mark 12

    Mark 12

    Read Mark 12

    The Parable of the Tenants

    1 Jesus then began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. 2 At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 But they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 4 Then he sent another servant to them; they struck this man on the head and treated him shamefully. 5 He sent still another, and that one they killed. He sent many others; some of them they beat, others they killed.

    6 “He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all,saying, ‘They will respect my son.’

    7 “But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8 So they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.

    9 “What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others. 10 Haven’t you read this passage of Scripture:

    “‘The stone the builders rejected
        has become the cornerstone;
    11 the Lord has done this,
        and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”

    12 Then the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders looked for a way to arrest him because they knew he had spoken the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd; so they left him and went away.

    Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar

    13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14 They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

    But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

    “Caesar’s,” they replied.

    17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”

    And they were amazed at him.

    Marriage at the Resurrection

    18 Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. 19 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 20 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died without leaving any children. 21 The second one married the widow, but he also died, leaving no child. It was the same with the third. 22 In fact, none of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died too. 23 At the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”

    24 Jesus replied, “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? 25 When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 26 Now about the dead rising—have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the account of the burning bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!”

    The Greatest Commandment

    28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

    29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

    32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

    34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.

    Whose Son Is the Messiah?

    35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, “Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David? 36 David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared:

    “‘The Lord said to my Lord:
        “Sit at my right hand
    until I put your enemies
        under your feet.”’

    37 David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”

    The large crowd listened to him with delight.

    Warning Against the Teachers of the Law

    38 As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”

    The Widow’s Offering

    41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

    43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

    Go Deeper

    Every culture has a different way of measuring success. For some, success means money and possessions. For others, success is measured by appearance and status. Still others, it’s education and power. Jesus measures success in Mark 12 like this: Love God, Love People. 

    Jesus reserved some of His harshest critique for the religious people—the ones who turn religion into a game only they can win. The ones who think the measure of success is loving rules more than loving God. The ones who love things more than people. 

    What’s interesting in Mark 12 is how the beginning parable is contrasted so starkly with the end story. In the beginning of the chapter, the servants of a vineyard scheme and plot to acquire more. At the end of the chapter, the widow shares all that she has to the glory of God and the benefit of others. Selfishness contrasted by selflessness. Harsh critique for the servants. Honest commendation for the widow. 

    Psalm 24:1 reads, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” Everything we have is His. How we handle God’s resources reflects our hearts. Whatever our hearts love most, we worship. Which may be why the measure of success is not what we have, but how we Love God and Love People by leveraging what we have. 

    Questions

    1. What is the first thing that stands out to you about the character of Jesus in today’s reading?

    2. Why do you think the widow was able to give all she had? What do you learn from her? 

    3. How do you measure success? What does your heart love most?

    Did You Know?

    The imperial tax we see in Mark 12:13-17 was an annual tax that was established in 6 AD on all men, regardless of what property they owned. The reason the question was a trap was if Jesus said not to pay it, He could be arrested for leading a rebellion against Rome. If He said to pay the tax, it would hurt His image in the eyes of the Jews. Instead, Jesus took a different path, addressing the hearts of the people without a simple yes or no.

    Think About It.

    The Parable of the Tenants

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  • Mark 11

    Mark 11

    Read Mark 11

    Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King

    1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”

    4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,

    “Hosanna!”

    “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

    10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”

    “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

    11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

    Jesus Curses a Fig Tree and Clears the Temple Courts

    12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.”And his disciples heard him say it.

    15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves,16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”

    18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

    19 When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.

    20 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”

    22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” [26]

    The Authority of Jesus Questioned

    27 They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. 28 “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?”

    29 Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 30 John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!”

    31 They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 32 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’ …” (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)

    33 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

    Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

    Go Deeper

    This passage begins the single most important week in history. All of Jesus’s earthly ministry has been building to the next few days and, on top of that, He’s fully aware of what is about to happen. When Jesus arrives on the scene in Jerusalem, He doesn’t come quietly. First, He rides into town on a young donkey as a large crowd watches. He then curses a fig tree, which was a symbol of the large group of unbelievers in Israel. Next, He clears out the temple courts of the people trying to profit off of the worshippers. And finally, He engages in a theological debate about the authority that He has been given. Through each scene in this chapter, we see Jesus acting with a sense of urgency.

    Every action, conversation, and discussion we see from Jesus is well thought out and calculated. He knows what’s coming and He is determined to build the Kingdom of God all throughout Mark 11. So what can we learn from this? The word that marks this chapter is intentionality. Jesus intentionally, throughout each part of this chapter, gives people the opportunity to reject the world and follow Him. We, too, get the same invitation. We have the option to worship all of the things around us, much like the crowd around Jesus chose to do. Status, power, money, our own self-righteousness–it’s all there for us if we want it. Or we can choose a different path. If we do this, it will look different than many of the people around us, but Jesus shows us here that it’s the path that honors God. Which will you choose today?

    Questions

    1. What was the first thing that stood out to you about the character of Jesus in today’s reading?

    2. The crowds welcomed Jesus initially, only to turn around and kill Him a few days later because He wasn’t what they expected Him to be. Can you think of a time recently that you turned your back on God for not fulfilling expectations? What did that look like for you?

    3. Why did Jesus feel the need to clear out the temple courts? What was the point of Him doing that?

    4. Jesus uses the withered fig tree to teach the disciples a lesson about faith. What’s standing in the way of your faith growing and bearing fruit today?

    Did You Know?

    Jesus riding into town on a donkey fulfilled a prophecy in Zechariah 9. Donkeys were a sign of peace, so He was sending a message to the crowd. They would have expected their king to ride in like a warrior on a majestic horse, but Jesus did quite the opposite.

    Listen to this.

    Why did Jesus curse the fig tree?

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