Tag: <span>gospel of mark</span>

Published November 14, 2017

Preaching Mark in Times of Strife (Part 1 of 2)

Summary: The Gospel according to Mark depicts Jesus’ arrival, teaching, and actions as an incursion, as God’s effort to enter the world and defeat hostile foes for the sake of inaugurating God’s reign (kingdom). Mark depicts a Jesus who eludes ordinary means of perception; the Messiah defies conventional expectations. Those who preach from Mark do well to imitate the Gospel’s apocalyptic tenor by seeing their task as making visible the inscrutable activity of God.

Read the full article, the first of two, at Working Preacher.

Bible commentary: preachers & teachers workingpreacher.org commentary

Apocalyptic discipleship gospel of mark Intrusion jesus kingdom of god Mark 3:27 Strong man War of myths

Published March 30, 2015

Daring to Hope in the Stress of Uncertainty (Mark 16:1-8)

Summary: When terrified women flee Jesus’ tomb on the first Easter morning, Mark’s Gospel comes to a jarring end, refusing to let us forget that the prospect of Jesus’ resurrection will deeply unsettle us. This Gospel seems to know that we view Easter from a place situated between hope and fear, between disappointment and fullness. What propels us forward, as we live in the midst of uncertainties and events that remind us how beyond control our lives are, is the promise that Jesus continues to go before us.

Read the full article, which is part of the ON Scripture–The Bible project, on The Huffington Post, Day1, and Patheos.

Bible commentary: general audience ON Scripture--The Bible

easter gospel of mark mark 16:1-8 resurrection

Published February 22, 2015

Commentary on Mark 1:9-15

Summary: According to this biblical passage, Jesus’ public ministry begins with a test, one that gives us hints to suggest God is in the process of reorienting the whole created order. Everything is changing. The time is right for inaugurating the kingdom of God, but it remains a time in which risk hangs in the air.

I wrote this biblical commentary for those preparing to preach or teach on the passage. Read the commentary at Working Preacher.

Bible commentary: preachers & teachers workingpreacher.org commentary

angels gospel of mark jesus kingdom of god mark 1:9-15 satan wild beasts wilderness

Published February 15, 2015

Commentary on Mark 9:2-9

Summary: According to this biblical passage, Jesus’ Transfiguration draws us to him, even as the event makes statements about God and what God will accomplish through Jesus, God’s beloved child. This Transfiguration makes promises about unseen things becoming visible, about God’s love, and about the possibility of our sharing intimacy with God.

I wrote this biblical commentary for those preparing to preach or teach on the passage. Read the commentary at Working Preacher.

Bible commentary: preachers & teachers workingpreacher.org commentary

gospel of mark jesus mark 9:2-9 transfiguration

Published February 8, 2015

Commentary on Mark 1:29-39

Summary: In this biblical passage, Jesus demonstrates his power over illness when he heals Simon’s mother-in-law from a fever. At the same time, Mark’s Gospel prompts us to consider what true service looks like, who gets to perform it, and how.

I wrote this biblical commentary for those preparing to preach or teach on the passage. Read the commentary at Working Preacher.

Bible commentary: preachers & teachers workingpreacher.org commentary

gospel of mark healing jesus mark 15:40-41 mark 1:29-39 service simon peter simon's mother-in-law

Published February 1, 2015

Commentary on Mark 1:21-28

Summary: In this biblical passage, Mark’s first extended glimpse into Jesus’ public ministry, Jesus teaches in a synagogue and is confronted by a man possessed with an unclean spirit. Right away, we learn that this story will concern itself with themes of contested authority and Jesus’ power over the things that resist the inbreaking of God’s kingdom.

I wrote this biblical commentary for those preparing to preach or teach on the passage. Read the commentary at Working Preacher.

Bible commentary: preachers & teachers workingpreacher.org commentary

authority capernaum exorcism gospel of mark jesus kingdom of god mark 1:21-28 synagogue unclean spirit

Published October 17, 2012

Is It Possible to Govern “Biblically”? (Mark 10:35-45)

Summary: Jesus sets his own pattern as a “servant” in contrast to the oppressive, self-serving tendencies of his society’s leaders. Does this passage help us think about government in our time, and about the religious commitments of our candidates?

Read the full article, which is part of the ON Scripture–The Bible project, on The Huffington Post, Day1, and Patheos.

Bible commentary: general audience ON Scripture--The Bible

gospel of mark government mark 10:35-45 servant leadership

Published September 18, 2012

Jesus’ Death and the Future of Violence (Mark 9:30-37)

Summary: “If pondering Jesus’ crucifixion doesn’t make you uncomfortable, you probably aren’t doing it right.”

Read the full article, which is part of the ON Scripture–The Bible project, on The Huffington Post, Day1, and Patheos.

Bible commentary: general audience ON Scripture--The Bible

gospel of mark mark 9:30-37 passion of jesus passion prediction

Published September 16, 2012

Commentary on Mark 8:27-38

Summary: In this biblical passage, when Jesus and his disciples talk about who people think he really is, Jesus begins to describe what it means to follow him. The instructions he gives, to deny oneself and take up a cross, are not easy.

I wrote this biblical commentary for those preparing to preach or teach on the passage. Read the commentary at Working Preacher.

Bible commentary: preachers & teachers workingpreacher.org commentary

cross discipleship gospel of mark jesus mark 8:27-38 self denial

Published September 9, 2012

Commentary on Mark 7:24-37

Summary: In this biblical passage, a woman, named as a Syrophoenician, with a demon-possessed daughter persuades Jesus to heal the girl. As a result, Jesus’ ministry moves in new directions with a new urgency toward an increasingly broad “audience.”

I wrote this biblical commentary for those preparing to preach or teach on the passage. Read the commentary at Working Preacher.

Bible commentary: preachers & teachers workingpreacher.org commentary

exorcism gentiles gospel of mark jesus mark 7:24-37 syrophoenician woman