Through Paul’s letters, we learn that Luke was a companion and co-laborer with Paul, who calls Luke, “the beloved physician” (Col 4:14). Unlike every other writer in the Bible, Luke…
Those who have spent a long time studying Mark bracket verses 9-20. The scholarly consensus is that Mark’s own original account ends with verse 8. At some later time—not necessarily…
Big things happen in little Bethany. Bethany was on the road up to the Mount of Olives. From the top of the Mount of Olives, you could see Jerusalem spreading…
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (13:32). Which doesn’t stop people from speculating or…
The Lord sets a limit. We’ve all had acquaintance with suffering, pain, sorrow, grief. Some of us have been there for what felt like a long time. Maybe a few…
The lectionary that several denominations use—the order of Scripture readings for the year—is organized in such a way that, around this time of year each year, we hear Jesus speaking…
Prestige, status, honor, respect, deference—marks of power and authority. The authority comes by virtue of the office, the position. We tend to show respect and deference to a police officer…
Mark presents what’s happening over these Sundays as a consecutive series of encounters, sharp arguments and stunning responses, all in the Temple, in the course of a single day, just…
The resurrection—one of the essentials of the Christian faith. I’m not really sure that a person can properly call him or herself a Christian without believing in Christ’s resurrection and…
Talk about biting the hand that feeds you! Rank ingratitude. Now, a parable isn’t supposed to cover all the details. It’s supposed to get across at least one, clear, main…