(NKJV) Mark 13: 1-20

Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, "Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings [are here!"] 2 And Jesus answered and said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not [one] stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down."

(Jesus predicted the destruction of the temple building. In other verses, Jesus predicted the destruction of His body on the cross.)

3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple,

(I love how cinematic this all is. The opening shot shows Jesus coming out of the temple building. In the next sequence, He is seen sitting on the Mount of Olives, which was across from the temple.)

Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, 4 "Tell us, when will these things be? And what [will be] the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?" 5 And Jesus, answering them, began to say: "Take heed that no one deceives you.

(I love this. The very first thing Jesus says in response to a question about Bible prophecy is: be careful that no one DECEIVES you. If you've watched any late-night prophecy shows on TV, you know how confusing and deceptive it all can be.)

6 "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am [He,'] and will deceive many.

(Those who know the Bible, however, will not be deceived.)

7 "But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for [such things] must happen, but the end [is] not yet.

(Jesus straight-out tells us not to be worried or scared ("troubled"), when we hear about wars that are brewing. These wars must happen.)

8 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

(As has happened throughout history.)

And there will be earthquakes in various places,

(Natural disturbances.)

and there will be famines and troubles.

(Food supply problems.)

These [are] the beginnings of sorrows. 9 "But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues.

(The disciples, and perhaps you and I, would suffer violence for the Name of Jesus.)

You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them.

(Jesus' followers will deliver testimony to kings from the King of Kings.)

10 "And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations.

(The Gospel WILL be preached to all nations.)

11 "But when they arrest [you] and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak.

("When," not "if," for the disciples.)

But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

(So the disciples were speaking the very inspired Word of God out of their mouths. God's inspired words therefore are more than those that are found printed in Bibles.)

12 "Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father [his] child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.

(Close family members will betray and have each other killed. Just because someone is in your family does not mean that he is not also a child of Satan.)

13 "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake.

(Get used to it. People hate believers because we bring news of God's moral law, sin, judgment, Hell, and Jesus' authority over their lives. People hate the Gospel because it implies God's authority and the desperate situation of man.)

But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

(All believers in Jesus are saved. Believers are NOT saved because they endure. They are, and will be, saved because they are believers. Jesus here is emphasizing that even though they are abused and persecuted and killed, that is not the end of the story. Christians will be SAVED. Christians will go to Heaven, baby!!

14 " So when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not" (let the reader understand), "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 "Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his house. 16 "And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 17 "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 18 "And pray that your flight may not be in winter. 19 "For [in] those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be. 20 "And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days.

(This is ""The Great Tribulation.")

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for giving us wisdom and protecting us. Amen.

(NKJV) Mark 12:28-44

Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, "Which is the first commandment of all?" 29 Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments [is:] 'Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one.

(There is only one God. He is a Trinity.)

30 'And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This [is] the first commandment. 31 "And the second, like [it, is] this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

(Love. That's it. I got it.)

32 So the scribe said to Him, "Well [said,] Teacher. You have spoken the truth,

(Jesus always speaks the truth.)

for there is one God, and there is no other but He. 33 "And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." 34 Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."

(But he was not yet in the kingdom of God.
He did not yet believe in Jesus. There a are some people who are close to the kingdom, and some people who are far from the kingdom. I think it is important to realize this.)

But after that no one dared question Him. 35 Then Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, "How [is it] that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David? 36 "For David himself said by the Holy Spirit:

(King David was inspired by the Holy Spirit.)

'The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool." ' 37 "Therefore David himself calls Him 'Lord'; how is He [then] his Son?"

(In other words, how could David call the Messiah "Lord", and also call Him his descendant, his "Son"?)

And the common people heard Him gladly.

(The common people are often among Jesus' followers because they are more humble than the religious know-it-alls.)

38 Then He said to them in His teaching, "Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, [love] greetings in the marketplaces, 39 "the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, 40 "who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation."

(See? Jesus says that these men were NOT saved, and that they would receive "greater condemnation."
"Condemnation" is a word to indicate Hell. These religious self-righteous hypocrites are not getting away with anything.)

41 Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many [who were] rich put in much.

(As it should be. The rich were given much monetarily. There is no "flat offering" policy in the kingdom.)

42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans.

(She threw in her two cents, and taught them a lesson in giving.)

43 So He called His disciples to [Himself] and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury;

(Isn't the way of Jesus beautiful? In His kingdom, giving from the heart counts more than giving a "large" amount from your abundance.)

44 "for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood."

(Give from your heart. Give till it hurts. It is more blessed to give than to receive.)

PRAYER: Fill us with Your love, Jesus. And keep us from over-valuing money. Amen.

(NKJV) Mark 12: 1-27

Then He began to speak to them in parables:

(Jesus told many stories to convey truths.)

"A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around [it,] dug [a place for] the wine vat and built a tower.

(Jesus did not disapprove of the alcoholic beverage of wine--He only disapproved of alcohol's abuse: drunkenness.)

And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country.

(God gives us some control, under His authority and will.)

2 "Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the vinedressers.

(God wants us to produce fruit as we remain connected to Him.)

3 "And they took [him] and beat him and sent [him] away empty-handed. 4 "Again he sent them another servant, and at him they threw stones, wounded [him] in the head, and sent [him] away shamefully treated. 5 "And again he sent another, and him they killed; and many others, beating some and killing some.

(Notice the progression of response to the messengers God sent: beating, stoning, killing.)

6 "Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, 'They will respect my son.' 7 "But those vinedressers said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.'

(This is an analogy to killing Jesus on the cross by the unbelieving Jews..)

8 "So they took him and killed [him] and cast [him] out of the vineyard. 9 "Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others.

(God destroys unbelievers.)

10 "Have you not even read this Scripture: 'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. 11 This was the LORD's doing,

(It was God's plan to have His Son killed, for the forgiveness of sins.)

And it is marvelous in our eyes'?" 12 And they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He had spoken the parable against them.

(They knew Jesus was talking about them and their evil in the parable. So right after Jesus told the parable about evil people trying to kill the son of the king, the evil Jews immediately tried to kill the Son of the King. So, they were kind of agreeing with Jesus. Kind of humorous, and of course these fools posed no danger at all to God Almighty in human flesh.)

So they left Him and went away. 13 Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in [His] words.

(Reinforcements: send in the religious clowns.)

14 When they had come, they said to Him, "Teacher, we know that You are true,

(They are lying already. If really thought that Jesus was "true," they would believe in Him.)

and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth.

(The butter-up and set-up.)

Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15 "Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?" But He, knowing their hypocrisy,

(Jesus immediately knew their hypocritical motives. Hypocrites. The definition of a hypocrite is not someone who sins, but someone who claims to believe, but really does not believe. The Sadducees claimed to believe that Jesus was "true," but they really did not believe this. This is why they were hypocrites.)

said to them, "Why do you test Me?

(Immediately Jesus knew they were trying to trap Him in words. The devil's disciples are no different today. The children of Satan (unbelievers) are always like this. Get into a debate with them, and you will quickly find out how evil their hearts and minds really are.)

Bring Me a denarius that I may see [it."] 16 So they brought [it.] And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription [is] this?" They said to Him, "Caesar's." 17 And Jesus answered and said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they marveled at Him. 18 Then [some] Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection,

(They didn't believe in the resurrection. That is why they were sad, you see. :) )

came to Him; and they asked Him, saying: 19 "Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies, and leaves [his] wife behind, and leaves no children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.

(Imagine if we did this today!)

20 "Now there were seven brothers.

(Seven brides and seven brothers.)

The first took a wife; and dying, he left no offspring. 21 "And the second took her, and he died; nor did he leave any offspring. And the third likewise. 22 "So the seven had her and left no offspring. Last of all the woman died also. 23 "Therefore, in the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be? For all seven had her as wife." 24 Jesus answered and said to them, "Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God?

(This is why we are often mistaken, too. We do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.)

25 "For when they rise from the dead,

(Not "if," but "when.")

they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.

(There is no marriage in Heaven. That's why it is called "Heaven." Hey, just kidding. It's just a joke!)

26 "But concerning the dead, that they rise,

(Jesus takes this opportunity to criticize the theology of the Sadducees, who taught that there was no resurrection. That is why they were sad, you see. That is why Jesus proved them wrong from the Scripture. The Bible is the only authority on truth.)

have you not read in the book of Moses, in the [burning] bush [passage,] how God spoke to him, saying, '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 the God of the living. You are therefore greatly mistaken."

("Greatly mistaken." They made a huge theological mistake. They will realize the depth of their mistake when they are forcibly risen from the dead to be condemned and thrown into Hell for all eternity! (The play-by-play is found in Revelation 20: 10-15.) Yes, I see why Jesus said that this was a "great mistake, indeed!)

PRAYER: God, help us to know the Scripture and the power of God. Help us to know the truth, not the lies of our own opinions and imaginings and wrong-headed emotional hopes. Amen.

(NKJV) Mark 9:30-50

30 Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know [it.]

(Big emphasis on Jesus not wanting to be known until it was His time.)

31 For He taught His disciples and said to them, "The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day."

(And He kept repeating this prediction.)

32 But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.

33 Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, "What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?" 34 But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who [would be the] greatest.

(They probably "kept silent" because they were embarrassed.)

35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." 36 Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms,

(Jesus takes us all in His arms.)

He said to them, 37 "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me." 38 Now John answered Him, saying, "Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us." 39 But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. 40 "For he who is not against us is on our side. 41 "For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.

(Every little thing believers do will get a reward from Jesus.)

42 " But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. 43 "If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched --

44 "where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.'

45 "And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched --

46 "where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.'

47 "And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire --

48 "where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.'

(Three times Jesus says that it would be better to lose body parts than to go to Hell. And they didn't have anaesthetic in those days.)

49 " For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. 50 "Salt [is] good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another."

PRAYER: Thank you, Jesus, for giving us believers the gift of Heaven. Amen.

Wednesday March 7th, 2007:

"Jesus Is God, not Money"

Mark 10:1-31

(NKJV) Mark 10:1 Then He arose from there and came to the region of Judea by the other side of the Jordan. And multitudes gathered to Him again, and as He was accustomed, He taught them again.

("Multitudes" gather to Jesus today also.)

2 The Pharisees came and asked Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce [his] wife?" testing Him. 3 And He answered and said to them, "What did Moses command you?" 4 They said, "Moses permitted [a man] to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismiss [her."] 5 And Jesus answered and said to them, "Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. 6 "But from the beginning of the creation, God 'made them male and female.' 7 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8 'and the two shall become one flesh'; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 "Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." 10 In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the same [matter.] 11 So He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. 12 "And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."

(Marriage is a sacred lifetime commitment, to be broken only by adultery or death.)

13 Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought [them.] 14 But when Jesus saw [it,] He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.

(Jesus was "greatly displeased." Jesus wants children around Him, because Heaven is filled with children!)

15 "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."

(Jesus is referring to childlike faith.)

16 And He took them up in His arms, put [His] hands on them, and blessed them. 17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" 18 So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one [is] good but One, [that is,] God.

(Yes. And Jesus is God.)

19 "You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Do not defraud,' 'Honor your father and your mother.' " 20 And he answered and said to Him, "Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth." 21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." 22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!"

(What if you had to give up millions of your dollars to get into Heaven? I guess we'd see you in Hell, then, huh? Now you know why God gives riches to so few! Jesus was NOT asking this man to pay his way into Heaven. The man wanted to justify himself with good works. Jesus said, here's the one good work you need to do: you are greedy. Give up all your money to show you are not greedy, and then you will get into Heaven by your good works. The rich young man could not do it. He could not enter eternal life by his good works. Maybe later he repented of His greed and entered Heaven through faith in Jesus. We are not told.)

24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!

(People who trust in the great god Money, The Almighty Buck, have a difficult time entering Heaven. Their trust is in Money, which they love. Their faith is not in God. They will burn in Hell.)

25 "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." 26 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, "Who then can be saved?" 27 But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men [it is] impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible." 28 Then Peter began to say to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You." 29 So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, 30 "who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time -- houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions -- and in the age to come, eternal life.

(Our fellow Christians are our real spiritual family. Those who follow Jesus will have blessings and persecutions.)

31 "But many [who are] first will be last, and the last first."

PRAYER: Jesus, give us faith always to trust You, and not to trust money. Amen.

"The Baptism of the Cross"

Thursday March 8th, 2007

32 Now they were on the road,

(These guys did a lot of walking!)

going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: 33 "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; 34 "and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again."

(The disciples were "amazed" and "afraid." Jesus again predicts His crucifixion and resurrection.)

35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, "Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask."

(Nice try, boys! Wouldn't that make US God, if God had to do all that we ask?)

36 And He said to them, "What do you want Me to do for you?"

(Jesus asks us this question as well.)

37 They said to Him, "Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory." 38 But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?"

(Notice that both "sacraments" are NOT being alluded to here. Both the "cup" and the "baptisms" refer to the suffering of the crucifixion.)

39 They said to Him, "We are able." So Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; 40 "but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but [it is for those] for whom it is prepared." 41 And when the ten heard [it,] they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. 42 But Jesus called them to [Himself] and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 "Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.

(If you want to be great, start serving.)

44 "And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.

(As Christ was the slave, or servant of mankind, washing our feet and dying for our sins.)

45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

(See?)

46 Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

(Every human being should say these eight words.)

48 Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 49 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, "Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you."

(Respond when Jesus calls you.)

50 And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. 51 So Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" The blind man said to Him, "Rabboni, that I may receive my sight." 52 Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well."

(His FAITH made him well.)

And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.

(Once we can see what is going on, we will follow Jesus on the road of life.)

PRAYER: Jesus, make us to see and to follow. Amen.

(NKJV) Mark 11:20-33

20 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.

(Everything starts in the roots.)

21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away."

(When Jesus curses something, that's the end of it.)

22 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. 23 "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive [them,] and you will have [them.]

(Anything can happen in prayer and belief.)

25 " And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.
26 "But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."

(This is not a verse about salvation, but about putting static in our relationship with God and our prayer life, through unforgiveness.)

27 Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him. 28 And they said to Him, "By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?" 29 But Jesus answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: 30 "The baptism of John -- was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me." 31 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?' 32 "But if we say, 'From men' " -- they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed. 33 So they answered and said to Jesus, "We do not know." And Jesus answered and said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."

(Jesus does not have to answer the questions of evildoers.)

PRAYER: Jesus, help us to pray, believe, and receive. Thank you, O God. Amen.