Keep watch Mark 13:33-37 The 16th century German reformer, Martin Luther, was allegedly once asked, ‘What would you do if you knew that Christ was returning tomorrow?’ You might have expected him to answer in a similar way to the church stewards in the cartoon who on hearing that Jesus is returning run around the church shouting, ‘Jesus is coming! Look busy!’ But no. Luther is supposed to have reacted, ‘I would go out and Read more…
Summer is near Mark 13:28-31 This is not the first time we have encountered a fig tree in Mark’s Gospel. In day 33, chapter 11: 12-14 Jesus discovers a fig tree which has leaves but bears no fruit, a symbol of a religious establishment and way of living which is empty. The imagery in chapter 13 is subtly different: here the picture is of a fig tree breaking into leaf, the first sign of the Read more…
All will hate you because of me Mark 13:1-27 and Mark 13:32 Do you know a song called The Scientist by Coldplay? At the end of the chorus, Chris Martin sings, ‘Nobody said it was easyNo one ever said it would be this hard’ It’s a song about a relationship but the sentiment may be one reflected in other aspects of our lives. Ever found yourself in a place of struggle? Ever wanted something to Read more…
With all your heart? Mark 12:28-34 Surrounded by the whole Bible and all the Church’s teaching, it can be hard to answer simply ‘What is the nub of our Christian faith?’ Here is a story that might help! Jesus has had to face many tricky questions. Now, finally, we have a straight inquiry from a serious scribe: ‘Which commandment is the first of all?’ Such questions were commonplace to Jewish teachers. Faced with the 650 Read more…
Whose portrait is this? Mark 12:13-17 So, there we have it. The answer to the age-old conundrum about religion and politics. The two are quite distinct spheres. Give Caesar what is Caesar’s and God what is God’s. Simple! Well – maybe! A book appeared many years ago entitled ‘The Hard Sayings of Jesus’s. It recognised that some of Jesus’s teaching is hard to practice but also difficult to understand. Chapter 12 records a chess game Read more…
The stone the builders rejected… Mark 12:1-12 Some stories, initially entertaining, end with a sting in the tail. That’s what the Jewish leadership felt about this final parable when they realised Jesus had told it against them! This final showdown is between Jesus and the Jewish authorities. The Temple was the very heart and identity of the nation’s life and it’s there that the action takes place. The conflict between the leaders and Jesus, simmering Read more…
John the Baptist We read about John the Baptist in several places in Mark 1:1-13, Mark 6:14-29 and Mark 11:27-33. The opening verses of Mark focus on another man, the messenger, John the Baptist. It isn’t odd to start a story about one person by first introducing another to the reader. These people lay the foundations for what is to follow and give us a context to frame the wider story in. As we will Read more…
The withered fig tree Mark 11:19-25 After the clearing of the Temple, Jesus and his disciples made their way out of the city. Just before this we are told of the response of the Temple priests and those that looked after the law to Jesus’s actions. This very public protest had caused the religious and political leaders to worry about the repercussions. What if Jesus encouraged the people to rise up? What would Rome do? Read more…
A house of prayer for all nations Mark 11:12-18 Why curse a tree that shouldn’t be in fruit? This is the question many have asked of Jesus’s actions in this passage. It seems so out of character, like a petulant child who throws a tantrum when they haven’t got what they want. This action of Jesus follows on from his entry into Jerusalem and his brief visit to the Temple the previous day. The first Read more…
The Lord needs it Mark 11:1-11 Chapter 11 introduces us to a new form of parable, not told to gathered crowds but instead acted out for all to see. These moments follow in the tradition of the Old Testament prophets who sometimes used their actions to speak louder than their words (see Ezekiel 4:1-16). It’s a tradition we still see today in the kneeling of sports men and women before a football match, or during Read more…