Luke 7:24-50

Jesus talked about John and reminded the crowd that the reason they had gone out to see him in the wilderness was because he was a prophet. But more than a prophet - he was the one who was to prepare the way for the Messiah. Jesus then went on to describe how when John came not eating bread and drinking wine, people thought he was demon possessed. Then, when Jesus Himself came along eating and drinking, they called Him a drunk and a glutton.

People who are looking for truth will find it. Those who do not want to find it will find something wrong with the messenger. If there is more than one messenger, they'll find something wrong with each one even if the reasoning is contradictory. It may be tough to do sometimes, but we have to separate the message from the messenger. This goes both ways: don't accept something simply because you like the look of who's telling you the thing. Also, don't dismiss something out of hand based solely on the fact you don't like where it's coming from or how it's presented. See if the message itself stands up to reason, then make up your mind.


Jesus went to the house of a Pharisee named Simon. While there, a woman came and washed His feet with her tears and hair, kissed them and anointed them with perfume. Simon thought to himself that Jesus couldn't be much of a profit or He would know that He was being touched by this sinful woman and wouldn't tolerate it. Jesus answered him by saying that this woman had done all the hospitable things that Simon himself had neglected to do for Jesus as a guest in his house. He went on to tell Simon a parable about two men who were forgiven debts they could not repay; one had a larger debt than the other. Jesus asked Simon which one would love the forgiving lender more. Simon replied that it would be the one with the larger debt. Jesus pointed out that this woman had more love for Him than Simon because she had a greater sin debt to be forgiven. With that, He turned to the woman and told her her sins were forgiven.

Think of how much you have been forgiven. Now take that and show God your love and gratitude for what He's done for you. The best way to show that love is to get out there and love other people. Meet someone's physical needs, their emotional needs, or their spiritual needs any chance you get. This is what God has commanded us to do.

Luke 7:1-23

While Jesus was on His way to heal a man's servant, He was intercepted with a message from the man saying that he was not worthy to have Jesus come to his home. He said that if Jesus would just say the word, his servant would be healed. Jesus declared that this man had great faith - greater than any He had found in Israel. When the man's messengers returned to him, the servant had already been healed.

On another occasion, Jesus saw a funeral procession for a young man. He saw the man's mother - a widow - and had compassion on her. He comforted her and then commanded her son to rise up. The dead man sat up and began speaking. The people who were there glorified God and news of Jesus spread through the area.

In the first story, Jesus was answering a plea for help. In the second, He saw a need and He did something about it without having to be asked. As we go through our daily activities, we should be looking for people who look like they need something. It may be a smile, a door held open, or all sorts of small, kind gestures. We can't just wait for people to ask us to do things for them.


Messengers came from John the Baptist to inquire of Jesus whether He was the Messiah. Jesus told them to report back to John what they had seen: people were being healed, the dead were being raised, and the gospel was being preached.

We each have to make up our own minds as to who Jesus is based on what we see in our own lives as well as the lives of others. We can't expect someone else to make the decision for us. We now have 2000 years of history to show us how Jesus has worked in the hearts and lives of those who follow Him. What we do with that is up to us. Once we accept Jesus, we need to show others Jesus by how we act and talk.

Luke 6:27-49

Jesus taught about loving our enemies, turning the other cheek and giving to those who wrong us. He said that it's easy to love our friends, to lend to those we know will repay us, and to do good to people who are good to us. As Christians though, we are to show love and mercy to others, just as God shows love and mercy to sinners. He said we are not to judge or condemn, but to forgive and give. Then, it will be given back to us in the same way.

This was and is truly radical thinking. The natural thing to do when we're wronged is to seek revenge - to take back what is ours or inflict the same damage onto the one who wronged us. Jesus says instead we should love our enemies, give them what they take from us and then give them more. This is the kind of love God has shown each of us and it is life changing love. When we respond with God's love, lives can be changed and that's the whole point. That's why Jesus came, and that's why He wants us to show that love to everyone.


Jesus continued by teaching that if we do not know the way to God, we cannot lead others to Him - it would be like the blind leading the blind! Also, we can't help others if we have unresolved issues in our own lives. This doesn't mean we need to be perfect, but if we have sin that we have not acknowledged, yet alone confessed, we are in no position to help someone else with their problems.

Finally, Jesus taught about the fruits of our faith and the importance of building on a strong foundation. Our faith is seen by the things we do. No one but God can truly see into our hearts and know where our faith is, but by looking at how we live our lives and how we treat others, our faith can be known by some degree by others. That faith needs to be grounded in the truth that is Jesus. We need to know Him so intimately that doing the right thing becomes second nature more and more. Then others will see Jesus at work in our lives.

Luke 6:1-26

Jesus and His disciples were walking through a field of grain on the Sabbath. His disciples were picking the heads of grain and eating them. The Pharisees considered this work and therefore that the disciples were not keeping the Sabbath properly. At this, Jesus reminded them of how David took bread from the temple that was supposed to be only for the priests. Another Sabbath, Jesus healed a man's hand in the synagogue. The Pharisees who were there were outraged that He would heal someone on the Sabbath, again considering this work.

Here were these Pharisees with their made up rules tying to tell Jesus, the Son of God, what was right and what wasn't. They had added so much on top of the laws God had already given them as to be a burden for anyone who honestly wanted to follow all the law. Jesus corrected them by trying to get them to change their thinking about why they thought these things were wrong. Misconceptions get in the way when we are slow to abandon them. Sometimes we need someone else to show us the right way to think because we've gotten so entrenched in one way of thinking. When that someone comes along, we need to be open and listen, then thoughtfully consider what has been said and how it compares to what God's word actually says.


Jesus taught that the kingdom of heaven belongs to the poor. He taught that those who are hungry, mourning (those who weep), or are hated and persecuted are blessed and that they will have rewards in heaven. On the other hand, He said that for those who are rich, well-fed, gleeful (those who laugh), or well-respected by men there would be only grief waiting for them.

Not everyone who is poor will get into heaven, just as simply being rich will not keep anyone out of heaven. The picture here is more that those who put off the worldly comforts in this life for Jesus' sake will be rewarded in heaven; those who put worldly comfort as their first priority will not find comfort in eternity. The choice is ours to make. We can think short term or long term. We each have (usually) sixty to eighty years on this earth, and then we go off to eternity. The rewards this world has to offer pale in comparison to the rewards waiting in heaven for those who serve God. Likewise, the eternal pain caused by not accepting Christ and doing your own thing are far beyond anything we can experience in this world. The momentary pleasures of this world are not worth the eternal pain they earn, but the rewards freely given by God for a life dedicated to Him will more than compensate for any mistreatment or discomfort this world can throw our way.

Luke 5:17-39

One day when Jesus was teaching, some men came with their paralyzed friend for Jesus to heal, but the crowd was so thick they could not get to Him. Not willing to give up, they removed some tiles from the roof of the house where Jesus was and lowered their friend down to Jesus. Jesus healed the man, but before He did, He forgave the man's sins.

Jesus offers us healing and forgiveness today as well. Once our sins are forgiven, the healing process can begin. Since the burden of our sin is the root of so many of our spiritual and emotional hurts, the healing process can't start until that weight has been lifted off of us.


Jesus called Matthew, a tax collector, to follow Him. Matthew left what he was doing and followed Jesus. He then got some of his fellow tax collectors together for a feast honoring Jesus. The scribes and Pharisees expressed concern that Jesus was associating with tax collectors and "sinners". Jesus answered that He came to call people to repent. Just like only sick people need a doctor, only sinners need to repent.

Matthew brought his friends to meet Jesus. He wasn't satisfied to keep this to himself. He didn't just forget about them when he met Jesus. Jesus came to sinners (and we're all sinners) with a message of repentance. This is the same message that we carry to the world today. If we just stay in our Christian circle of friends, who are we taking that message to?


They continued by asking Him why His disciples did not fast like everyone else. He explained that because He was with them, it was not the proper time for fasting. The Messiah that they had been waiting for had come and was among them. That should be cause for celebration. Soon enough He would not be with them and that would be the time for fasting.

When Jesus is with us, it is a time for rejoicing. We are right where we need to be. Sometimes we fall away from Him and it is these times we need to fast (not necessarily from food, but perhaps TV, internet, friends, etc.) and return our focus to Him. That is the purpose of fasting - to put our focus back on God by taking it off of worldly things. Do a checkup: Is there something you need to take a break from and refocus on God?

Luke 5:1-16

While Jesus was teaching by the lake of Genesaret, the crowd began to press in around Him. He had Simon Peter take Him out in his boat and continued teaching from there. When He was done, He had Peter go further out on the lake to cast out his fishing net. Even though he had been fishing all night and caught nothing, he did as Jesus said. When the net was pulled back up, there were so many fish that the net almost broke. Peter had to get his partners back on shore to come help with the fish and when they were pulled back up, they filled both boats to the point that they began to sink. Peter fell down and worshiped Jesus, saying he was not worthy to be in His presence. Jesus told him that from now on he would be catching men. Peter, along with James and John, left what they had followed Jesus.

Peter probably didn't understand exactly who Jesus was at this time - he only saw that Jesus had remarkable power, power from God. Based on the event with catching the fish (and listening to Jesus' teaching) Peter decided that Jesus was a holy man and decided to accept the offer to become a follower of His. It's OK if you don't understand everything about who Jesus is when you first accept His offer of salvation. Just know that He has the power to offer you salvation and the rest will be revealed to you in time. Too often, people want to have the whole thing figured out before they make the decision to accept Christ's offer of salvation, but we each need to act upon whatever information we have.


A man with leprosy asked Jesus to heal him, if He was willing. Jesus said He was willing and healed the man. Once again, we see someone stepping out in faith with what little He knew about Jesus. He humbled himself to ask to be healed and he was healed. Each time we do this, our faith is increased and we learn to trust Christ more.

Luke 4:31-44

Jesus went to Capernaum to continue in His ministry. While there, He cast a demon out of a man in the temple. The people were amazed and word spread quickly. Later, Jesus went to Simon's house where He cured Simon's mother-in-law of a high fever. More people were brought to Him to be healed and have demons cast out and He healed them as well.

This is still the model for spreading the word about Jesus today. Jesus touches each of our lives and we in turn tell someone else who comes to Jesus because of the wonderful things they've heard. Jesus works in that person's life and then they go and tell someone else. For nearly 2000 years, the good news of Christ has been traveling around the world by word of mouth. How awesome is that?

Luke 4:1-30

After wandering in the desert for forty days with no food, Jesus was tempted three times by the devil. Jesus did not give in to the temptations, but countered each temptation with scripture supporting why He would not do each thing.

Jesus lived in every way as a human being - including enduring temptation. Because Jesus also lived a sinless life, we can see that being tempted is not the same as sin. Everyone is tempted. Everyone has moments where an opportunity to do the wrong thing is presented and we need to choose between doing the right thing and doing the wrong thing. The important thing is what we do in these situations. These are the decisions that shape us and determine what kind of person we become. It is important that we prepare ourselves for these situations by knowing the right thing to do before hand. Just like Jesus, we need to decide what is right in the light of scripture, and to do that we must know scripture. The best defense we have against our enemy is the mighty sword that is the word of God.


In the synagogue of His hometown, Nazareth, Jesus read a prophetic passage from the book of Isaiah about His ministry of preaching and healing. After He closed the scroll, He told them that they had witnessed the fulfillment of that prophesy. At first, the people were accepting of what He said, but when He told them He would not perform miracles in Nazareth, they became enraged and kicked Him out of town.

Everyone loves to hear about the God who loves people, comforts them, and heals them, but when they see what they perceive as an injustice that God does not do these things for all people (or specifically them), they tend to turn on God or the whole idea of God. We cannot judge God by our standards. We do not know the whole story. God deals fairly with everyone based upon their individual circumstances. God blesses those who are in right standing with Him.

Luke 3

John began his ministry, preaching about repentance and baptizing people. He realized that some were coming without repentant hearts. He warned them they couldn't rely on their Jewish heritage to save them, but that true repentance would show through in their lives. He told them to deal fairly with others and to share with those in need.

You're not a Christian just because your parents were Christians. Becoming a Christian requires a spiritual rebirth that has nothing to do with your physical birth. When we have repented and given our lives to Christ, people should be able to see the change. The way we treat others is a reflection of what is in our hearts. If Christ is in our hearts, we will treat others with respect and compassion. Instead of figuring out how we can get ahead, our focus is turned to helping others get further along. We cannot come to God for the benefits He offers without also accepting the work He has given us.


John wanted to make sure people didn't think he was the coming Messiah. He told them that he baptized with water, but there was one coming who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

John didn't want to steal the attention away from Jesus or take credit for being something he wasn't. Likewise, we need to give credit to God when people recognize His work in our lives. Serving God is not about elevating ourselves, but about glorifying God and pointing people to Him. When we grab the glory and honor for ourselves, we are stealing from God.


Luke gives Jesus' genealogy through Joseph all the way back to Adam. While Joseph was not Jesus' biological father, he acted as His earthly father and was considered by most everyone to be His father. This genealogy shows the lineage of the man God chose for this important role back through David, Abraham, and all the way back to Adam. Before the foundation of the world, God knew He was going to send Jesus as the sacrifice for our sins. Even as He was creating Adam, He knew the family line that would be followed to Jesus.

Luke 2:21-52

Jesus was brought to Jerusalem to be circumcised and dedicated to the Lord. There, a man named Simeon had been promised by the Lord that he would see the Christ before he died. When he saw Jesus, he recognized Him as the Christ He blessed Mary and Joseph and prophesied of things to come regarding their Son. A prophetess named Anna also recognized Jesus as Christ, giving thanks to God when she saw Him. When Mary and Joseph had done what they needed to in Jerusalem, they returned to Nazareth where Jesus would grow up.

Some people recognize Jesus immediately and react accordingly. Others must meet Him again and again before they recognize Him for who He is. Simeon and Anna both knew who Jesus was when they first saw Him. God had revealed this to them in a special way that others did not see. More importantly, their hearts were open to receive the message.


When Jesus was twelve and His family was returning from Jerusalem after the Passover feast, Mary and Joseph could not find Him. They went back to Jerusalem looking for Him and found Him in the temple having a discussion with the teachers.

Even at this early age, Jesus was showing His divine nature. He was not only able to talk on the same level with the teachers in the temple, but Mark says that everyone who heard Him was amazed. He showed understanding of God's word that was far beyond most twelve-year-olds and was probably beyond the temple teachers as well.

Luke 2:1-20

Mary and Joseph had traveled to Bethlehem for the census decreed by Caesar Augustus. While they were there, Mary gave birth to her Baby, Jesus. Some shepherds in nearby fields were told of Jesus' birth by an angel, and went to see Him. Once they had seen Him, they told others about Him. They then returned to their flocks praising God for what they had seen.

These shepherds heard a message from God and acted on it. They were excited to be a part of this historic moment. Once they saw Jesus, they had to go tell others. This was much too good of news to be kept secret. Today, we have this same good news along with the rest of the story of Jesus' teachings and His sacrifice for us. We also know that He rose from the grave to show His power. This is much too good to be kept secret. Jesus is the answer the world is looking for. Even if they don't know the question yet, the answer is still Jesus. We need to take that answer to as many people as we can.

Luke 1:57-80

Elizabeth gave birth to her son. When he was circumcised, their friends and family assumed he would be named after his father, which was customary. Elizabeth said he was to be named John. Everyone looked to Zachariah to see what he wanted his son to be called. Zachariah wrote down that his son was to be called John (as the angel had said) and at that moment, his speech returned. The people were astounded, and figuring that John must have been a special child, they wondered about what he would do. Zachariah prophesied about the coming Messiah and how John would prepare the way for him, preaching about repentance and the forgiveness of sin.

With the prophecy revealed to Zachariah by the angel fulfilled, his speech was returned to him. He began by using his regained speech for the Lord. Whatever we have, for as long as we have it, should be used to glorify God. He has given us every good thing we have; the least we can do is return some portion back to Him. This is good stewardship - using what we have been given responsibly and to honor the One who gave it to us to begin with. By recognizing the source of our talents, abilities, and possessions, and using them to praise God and do His will, we realize our purpose in life and draw closer to Him.

Luke 1:26-56

Mary was visited by an angel who told her that she was going to have a Child conceived of the Holy Spirit who would be given the throne of David and reign forever. She was also told that her cousin Elizabeth was pregnant. She went to see Elizabeth and when Elizabeth's baby heard Mary, he leaped in her womb. Mary's response to the news that she was to give birth to such a special Child was one of great joy. She felt blessed to have been chosen for such an honor.

When you are chosen to serve God, be joyful. Depending on the task, it can be seen as something too difficult or something you just don't feel like doing it. If God has given you a task though, you can be sure that it is something that needs to be done. Respond to God with thanks and humility and pray for the strength, wisdom, and fortitude to complete the task. God wants us to do His will without grumbling or complaining. When we serve God with gladness and a grateful heart, He blesses us in return.

Luke 1:1-25

Zachariah was in the temple one day when the angel Gabriel appeared to him to tell him his wife, Elizabeth, was going to have a son. This son was to be John the Baptist and the angel went on to describe what John would do. Since Elizabeth was barren and they were both old, Zachariah wanted to know how he could know this for certain. Because of his doubt, he was struck mute until John was born.

How much of a sign should we require from God? Shouldn't an angel be enough? God is still sending us signs today. We just need to be ready to see or hear them and then believe. Asking for sign after sign shows that we are lacking in faith. God will give you everything you need to know to do His will if you honestly seek Him in faith. Then it's just a matter of accepting His instructions and acting on them.

Mark 16

As He said He would, Jesus rose on the third day. He appeared to many people after that, including His disciples. He told the disciples to go out and preach the gospel to the whole world. After that, He ascended to heaven and the disciples began to go out and preach just as they were told. Jesus the Lord is risen! If His story had ended at the tomb, He could well have been just another man, but He rose again to prove He had power even over death. The Bible says that the punishment for sin is death. Jesus showed He had power over death which means He has power over sin too. He can take away your sins. All you need to do is believe in Him and pray to Him to make you clean.

Mark 15:22-47

Jesus suffered a criminal's death on a cross. Hung between two robbers on a wooden cross, He died. The people who were there mocked Him, saying if He were truly the Messiah, He should save Himself and come down off the cross. Even the robbers who were being crucified next to Him mocked Him. The noblest man to ever live died an ignoble death to save sinners - you and me. He suffered through not only death, but the insults and the taunting as well. During all of this, He didn't try to fight back. He didn't hurl insults back at them. All through this, His heart was still filled with love for these people. Even as they were having their sport making fun of Jesus, He was dying for their sins.


Joseph of Arimathea took the body of Jesus, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb. He probably didn't know the tomb would only be used for a short time. He was willing to give it up so that Jesus would have a proper burial. We all have something we can give to God, in our time, talents, and treasure. Ask the Lord what you can give Him today.

Mark 15:1-21

Jesus was brought before Pilate to be tried. Although Pilate tried to set Jesus free, the chief priests had riled up the crowd to demand He be crucified. Pilate realized that the high priests were just trying to get rid of Jesus because they felt threatened. And although he couldn't find anything wrong what Jesus had done, he caved in to the demands of the crowd. Today, the crowd is saying reject Jesus. What will you do? Will you give in to the crowd or will you give your life to Jesus?


Before being taken to the place where He was to be crucified, Jesus was beaten, mocked and humiliated. He endured all of these things so we could be free from sin. He took all of that abuse so we could be reconciled to God. Take a moment to think about that. He loved you so much that He was willing not only to die for you, but to suffer through all of this. Thank Him for what He's done. Show your gratitude by living for Him today.

Mark 14:53-72

Jesus was brought before the high priests to be tried for blasphemy. Witnesses were brought forth to testify against Him, but they couldn't get their stories straight. The high priest asked Jesus directly if He was the Christ. When Jesus answered that He was, this was all the high priest needed. He and the rest of the high priests pronounced Jesus guilty and deserving of death.

Jesus was telling the truth. He was not guilty of any blasphemy because He actually is who He said He was - the Christ, the Son of the living God. The thing is, when someone is out to get you, they're going to take whatever you say or do and try to use it against you. How easy would it have been for Jesus to say, "I'm not the Christ"? But He didn't because it wasn't the truth. We should remember this as well. When challenged about our faith - who we are as Christians and what we believe - we need to stand for the truth no matter what the consequences may be.

We see the opposite side of this lesson in Peter. Three times he was asked if he was a follower of Jesus; three times he said no. Mark says that he cursed and swore when denying Jesus. He was afraid what the consequences would be if he was found out as one of Jesus' disciples. Following Jesus isn't always easy, but pretending to be someone we're not doesn't make it any easier.

Mark 14:26-52

After sharing the Passover meal with His disciples, Jesus went with them to the Mount of Olives. He went off to pray by Himself, bringing along Peter, James, and John to keep watch. Jesus prayed to God that if it was possible, to allow Him to not go to the cross to suffer and die. Ultimately, He agreed that God had the final say and that He would do what was needed. We have the right to go to God and ask Him for what we want, but we always need to remember to seek His will. In the end, our prayers should line up with God's will as we listen to the Holy Spirit who teaches us how to pray.


When Jesus was done praying, a mob of people led by Judas and sent by the high priests, came to arrest Him. Jesus knew what was going to happen and did not resist. Jesus knew it was His time and that what was happening to Him was necessary to fulfill God's plan. When things aren't going our way, we can choose to fight our circumstances or look to God for guidance and see what He has in store for the situation. We grow through adversity if we remember that we need to depend on God in times of need and look to Him for help.

Mark 14:1-25

A woman anointed Jesus' head with an expensive perfume. His disciples remarked that it was a waste and the perfume could have been sold to help the poor. Jesus responded by saying she had done a good deed by anointing Him for burial. Sometimes we may not understand how someone else worships. They may raise their hands up during a worship song or shout "Amen!" during a sermon, but unless what they're doing is clearly against scripture, we should leave the matter between that person and God. Who knows -- maybe the way you worship looks strange or wrong to someone else.


At the passover meal, Jesus told the disciples that one of them would betray Him and it would have been better for that one to never have been born. Judas had already made a deal with the chief priests to betray Jesus, yet He sat there while each of the other disciples asked if he was the one Jesus was talking about. When we sin, we need to own up to it. By trying to hide it or pretend nothing's wrong, other people can be affected. God already knows what you've done wrong. When you don't ask for His forgiveness, you just get eaten up by the guilt.


Jesus used the bread and the wine in the meal to represent His body and blood that would become the payment for everyone's sin. When we observe the Lord's Supper, we need to remember the symbolism behind the elements. We are commemorating Jesus' death on the cross for our sins and it is a time to reflect on the crucifixion. We also need to remember the resurrection, without which, Jesus' death would have been meaningless. We worship a risen Savior who has conquered sin and death so that we can be set free.

Mark 13:14-37

Jesus spoke of the signs of His return, noting that no one knows the day when that will be. We should therefore always be ready. Christ could return in the next minute, the next hour, day, week, month, year... We don't know when exactly. What do you want to be "caught" doing when He returns? If you knew He was coming back tomorrow, what would you do? Is there someone you would make sure to tell about Him? Don't wait! Live for Christ with a sense of urgency.

Mark 13:1-13

Jesus told His disciples that the temple would be torn down and there would not be one stone lying on top of another. Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him when this was going to happen. Jesus told them what to look for, but also told them to be careful that they not be misled by anyone. We need to familiarize ourselves with truth. There are all sorts of people who want to mislead us. Some of them even use "Christian buzzwords" to make their "teachings" seem authentic. We must guard our hearts and minds against these kinds of deceit by knowing the truth - God's word - well.


He also told them they would be persecuted because of His name, but they should endure to the end. Most of us will never know this kind of persecution, but we still need to stand strong for Jesus. No matter the cost, we must always be willing to witness to others of Christ in our lives. We may lose friends or family, but if we call ourselves Christians, we can't be ashamed of Christ.

Mark 12:28-44

A scribe asked Jesus what the most important commandment is. Jesus answered that the Lord is one and we should love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. He also said that loving your neighbor is the second. These two commands show how we should relate to God and to other people. When we love God and love His people, we will want to follow all the rest of God's commands. All the rest of God's commands hinge on loving him and loving others.


Jesus taught in the temple about the identity of the Christ in relation to David. The Christ was commonly referred to as the Son of David, but Jesus showed that David called Christ Lord. He was showing a misconception about the coming Christ in the people's minds. Until they let go of any preconceived notions about who Christ was, they would never be able to see the real Christ standing before them. We need to seek the true Christ, without bringing our own ideas of who He is to the search.


Jesus also taught about the scribes seeking positions of honor among men and keeping up appearances while at the same time taking advantage of widows. It doesn't matter how good we look to men on the outside. God isn't fooled by the show. If we pretend to be righteous and convince others that we are, and all the while we're not letting God in to change our insides, we will face greater condemnation from God. When we know the right thing to do and don't do it or just go through the motions, we have no excuse for our behavior.


Jesus watched as people came to give their offerings. When He saw a poor widow who put in just a few coins, He declared her offering to be the most. Since she gave all she had and the others were giving from their surpluses, her sacrifice was greater than anyone's. It's easy to give when we're doing well. The true mark of faithfulness is how we give when we feel we have nothing to give. Do we dig down deep and find something to give to God or do we keep whatever we have for ourselves? It is in these times that we need to trust God to provide for our needs and step out in faithfulness to give.

Mark 12:1-27

Jesus told a parable of a land owner who rented his vineyard out to some vine-growers. When harvest time came about, he sent one of his servants to collect from the harvest. The vine-growers beat him and sent him away. The land owner sent more servants, and each one was beaten and/or killed. He finally sent his son thinking the vine-growers would respect him, but they killed him as well. Jesus said the reaction of the land owner would be to destroy the vine-growers and give the land to others. This parable showed how the nation of Israel had treated God's prophets and now His Son. They had rejected (sometimes violently) the messengers God had sent. Now here was God's own Son and they were about to kill Him. Jesus told them that even though they were going to reject Him, God had plans to use Him as the cornerstone of a new church.


A group of Pharisees and Herodians (followers of Herod) came to Jesus hoping to trap him with a question. They wanted Jesus to tell them if it was lawful (under God's law) to pay a poll-tax to Caesar. Jesus showed them that it was Caesar's picture on the coin used to pay the tax and told them to "render to Caesar that which is Caesar's, and to God the things which are God's." We have both a civil duty to obey the laws of whatever country we find ourselves living in as well as a duty to obey God. There is nothing in the Bible to suggest that we can ignore our responsibility to earthly government.


A group of Sadducees also came to try to trap Jesus in a question. They wanted to know who a woman's husband would be in heaven if she were married to seven different men on earth. Jesus told them there was no marriage in heaven, but since the Sadducees didn't even believe in the resurrection in the first place, Jesus addressed this as well by telling them that when God spoke to Moses from the burning bush, He identified Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Since these three had all been dead for some time, and God is not the God of the dead, they must have been living at the time God said that (via resurrection). The resurrection is the day we all look forward to. One day, we will each be raised up to face eternity. Whether we spend eternity with God or separated from Him depends on the decision we make to follow Jesus or not.

Mark 11:20-33

Jesus and His disciples came upon a withered fig tree that Jesus had cursed the day before. When Peter brought it to His attention, Jesus told His disciples that if they truly believed, whatever they prayed for would be done. He also told them that if they had anything against someone when they prayed, they needed to forgive that person so that they could be forgiven. These are two very important things to remember about prayer: we must believe that God will answer and we must forgive to be forgiven. If your prayer life doesn't have the power you think it could, ask yourself if you really believe what you're asking for and are you forgiving and seeking forgiveness?


The religious leaders came to Jesus asking whose authority He was operating under. Jesus said He would tell them if they told Him whether the baptism of John was from heaven or men. They were afraid to answer the question because of the implications either way, so Jesus didn't answer their question either. It should have been apparent where Jesus' authority came from. The religious leaders didn't want to acknowledge it though. They also couldn't bring themselves to acknowledge where John's authority came from, but they were too scared of what the people would do if they said his authority was not from God because John had a lot of followers. When we recognize the source of Jesus' authority, the only proper reaction is to worship Him. Praise Jesus for who He is every day.

Mark 11:1-19

Jesus sent two of His disciples to get a colt which He rode into Jerusalem. People spread their coats and branches out for Him as He rode and shouted, "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord." Jesus received a king's welcome when He came into Jerusalem. What were the people who welcomed Him expecting? Were they expecting that He was now coming to set up His earthly kingdom and overthrow Rome? When we praise Jesus, we need to make sure our expectations are correct. If we come to Him with false hope and expectations, we are bound to be disappointed when He fails to meet them.


When Jesus came into the temple and saw the business that was being conducted there, He was angry and drove them out. God's house is not a place to make a profit for ourselves by selling goods. It is for worshiping and honoring God. Any other use is an affront to God and shows that our hearts are not in the right place. We must always remember to show the utmost respect for our churches by behaving appropriately when we are there.

Mark 10:32-52

On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus was again telling His disciples how He was going to be arrested, put to death, and rise again. James and John asked Jesus if they could be granted the positions on His right and left when He came into His glory. Jesus told them it was not up to Him to give out positions of power like that. When the others became upset that James and John asked this in the first place, Jesus reminded them again that to have a position of importance in His kingdom, they had to be servants. God does not reward those who seek after power and glory for its own sake - He rewards those who humble themselves and serve Him by serving others.


Jesus healed a blind man, Bartimaeus, on the road who began to follow Him. Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was passing by and called out to Him, even when people were telling him to be quiet. When we have a need, we can call out to God for help. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks or if someone tries to tell us to stop. We know that God will hear us if we have faith in Him.

Mark 10:1-31

Some Pharisees came to Jesus and asked if it was lawful for a man to divorce his wife. Jesus told them that God ordained marriage and no one should separate what God put together. He also told them Moses had permitted divorce because of their hard hearts. Modern wedding vows usually include the phrase "'til death do us part" or "so long as we both shall live." This is the way that God intended it to be. Divorce breaks that part of the vows by dissolving the marriage prematurely. When we make our vows, we are promising not only our spouse, but also God to be committed for a lifetime.


Jesus told the disciples to let some children come to Him and that the kingdom of heaven belongs to "such as these." We need to be like children in many ways to come to Jesus. Children love and trust unconditionally. They are teachable and humble. These are the qualities Christ wants in us when we come to Him. If we come with an attitude of haughtiness or self-importance, we need to be emptied of those things before we can be filled up.


Jesus taught that it is difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. We need to be ready to give up everything to follow Jesus and the richer we are, the more we have to give up. We can also begin to rely on our earthly possessions more than on God. If we feel all our needs are met, why would we feel a need for God? This doesn't mean that rich people can't have a relationship with Jesus, but it is more difficult. The more things between us and God, the harder it is to see Him.

Mark 9:30-50

Jesus said that whoever wants to be first should put themselves last and be a servant. There is no room for egos in the kingdom of God. God's first priority is people and if we want to have importance in His eyes, our priorities need to come in line with His. The priorities of the world won't get us anywhere with God. Look for someone to help, because when you do, you honor Christ who gave everything for us.


Jesus told His disciples that whoever helps out in His name is on His side and will be rewarded, but whoever causes problems for His followers will be punished. He said if there is something in your life causing you to stumble, get rid of it. There is nothing in your life worth holding onto if it causes you to fall away from God. Check your priorities. What are you holding onto for dear life? Friends? Family? Possessions? If there is anything keeping you from God, get rid of it. It's pointless to hang on to things in this life if it means you're going to miss out on the glories of heaven in the next one.

Mark 9:1-29

Peter, James, and John went with Jesus up to a high mountaintop where they saw Him transfigured with Elijah and Moses on either side. On the way down the mountain, Jesus told them not to tell anyone what they had seen until He rose from the dead. Not understanding, they discussed among themselves what that meant. They also asked Jesus about the teachings of the scribes that said Elijah must first come before the Messiah appeared. Jesus told them this was correct and that Elijah had already come. We can be sure that God will fulfill all prophecy in His time and in His way. Even if we can't see it, God is working out His plan in the lives of believers every day. He has not forgotten us or His promise to return one day.


After Jesus came back, there was a crowd of people waiting. One man had brought his son to be cured, but the disciples could not help him. Jesus healed the son and when the disciples asked Him later why they couldn't do it, He said that it could only be done by prayer. We need to remain connected to God if we want to make a difference in His name. If we try to do things of our own strength, we will always fail.

Mark 8:22-38

Jesus asked His disciples who they thought He was. When Peter correctly answered that He was the Christ, He warned them not to tell anyone. He then went on to teach them about His coming death and resurrection. Peter took Him away to rebuke Him, but when He did, Jesus answered him by saying, "Get behind Me Satan." Peter thought he could tell Jesus the way it was going to be. Even though he had correctly identified Him as the Christ, he still hadn't fully grasped what that meant. We need to listen to what Jesus has to say even when we don't like the outcome. There is no point in arguing or trying to say we know best.


Jesus said anyone who wants to follow Him must deny himself and take up his cross. The path to Christ is not an easy one and it is not one we can travel alone. We must put our own personal desires behind us and focus solely on Christ, who makes the path known to those who honestly and selflessly seek Him.