Bible Reading Plan

Mark recounts opposition to Jesus ranging from unbelief, to plots, to destroy and kill Him. This comes not only from Herod’s camp and religious elites, but also from Jesus’ own people. Jesus returned to His hometown of Nazareth and taught in the synagogue. Given His reputation, one would expect Him to receive a hero’s welcome.…

In the Gospel of Mark, there are eight parables, stories to illustrate a profound, valuable moral lesson. Jesus uses parables to reveal mysteries to His followers and to conceal truth from those opposed to Him.  However, His parables are not always easy to understand. Even His own disciples often asked Jesus to explain the stories…

The question of Jesus’ identity dominates the first half of Mark’s Gospel. Jesus begins answering this question by revealing His authority and power. He has the authority to teach God’s Word, forgive sins, and call disciples. He has the power to drive out demons, heal diseases, and bring the dead back to life. The ultimate…

Jesus’ ministry begins and is summarized in His proclamation, “The time promised by God has come at last! The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” The kingdom of God had come near in the person of the King. It is indeed Good News, and it calls for…

With God, every significant event is preceded by a time of intense preparation. Mark tells us that God sent John the Baptizer to “prepare the way of the Lord.” John proclaimed the need for spiritual cleansing in preparation for the Messiah and His kingdom. Jesus, Himself, is prepared for ministry through baptism and temptation, orienting…

The lesson of Job mimics the Passion of Christ, who remained faithful to God even as He was being betrayed, mocked, tortured, and crucified.  These seven days are called Holy Week because without the crucifixion, there would have been no Resurrection Sunday. Had Christ not hung on the cross, taken on our sins, and defeated…

God finally shows up and reminds Job of everything he does not know about Him. Through a series of questions, He reminds Job of the type of God He is— incomprehensible, all-knowing, all-powerful, and the ultimate arbiter of good and righteousness. He is beyond all comprehension, and He deserves our trust and praise. This is…

The search for wisdom has been a constant in mankind’s history. It is in almost every one of our religious texts and many of our stories, and it is a running question throughout Job. Job does not know why he is suffering. His friends do not know why he is suffering. And everyone wants an…

God is Job’s hope for vindication against his friends lambasting his integrity. God is Job’s hope for restoration of community. God is Job’s hope for the redemption of everything that sin, death, the curse, and Satan have broken, stolen, and destroyed in his life.  Though God’s redemptive plan for His people includes provision and protection…

Job’s friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar, and Elihu initially did not speak a word to Job. His suffering was too great. They remained silent for a week. But once they started speaking, telling Job what they really thought, Job probably wished they had remained silent. From their speeches, we see that for them the reason for…