There were 613 laws in the Old Testament! Most people have trouble naming all of the 10 commandments in Exodus 20, let alone remembering over 600 in what is called the “Levitical Law”. Try memorizing those this week! In Mark 12, Jesus is asked the question, “Of all of those laws, which one is the most important. This week on CrossHope, we discuss the answer Jesus gives. Hopefully, the most important law to Jesus will matter to us. Does it matter to you?

Did you know that Jesus spoke about heaven and marriage in the same verses? He did, in a passage that you may not be familiar with. Many people are actually surprised or “put off” by this passage where Jesus says that there will not be marriage in heaven as we know it! We will be like the “angels of God” in heaven. What in the world does that mean? Listen this week to CrossHope!

I’ve never heard or read of anyone calling a parable of Jesus “explicit”. And yet the parable we study as a part of this series in Mark is indeed explicit in terms of what it describes. A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Jesus talks about life and death issues in this story or parable. Why? It’s about His upcoming death on the cross! Maybe you could read the passage, before you even begin listening to this message. It may help your understanding of this explicit passage!

Have you used the word “hyperbole” in conversation lately? Probably not, but Jesus often used what the word means in His parables. Hyperbole is the intentional and obvious use of exaggeration in conversation or story. You’ve used hyperbole even if you’re not sure what the word means. Have you ever said, “I’m so hungry, I could eat a horse!” Or have you said, “That sermon lasted forever!” I think you know what I mean. Jesus used hyperbole when talking about prayer. We talk about it all this week!

The story of Jesus cleansing the temple in Jerusalem is not only interesting, to some it is perplexing. Jesus acted in anger; but He was angry on behalf of His heavenly Father. Maybe that is the definition of “righteous” or godly anger, when we are angry on behalf of our Father in Heaven. Maybe this message will help us understand what Jesus was doing in what Jesus called, “My Father’s house”.

What makes a person great in your eyes? What would make you feel great or superior to others in your eyes? Jesus deals with these issues because of the desire of two disciples, James and John who asked for positions of honor in the Kingdom of God! Matthew even mentions that their mother came along with them to “make the ask”! It’s an incredible story out of the New Testament!

Does the Bible ever direct a message to an entire nation? Absolutely, Jeremiah 18:1-8 is the prime example. God refers to Himself as the “potter” shaping the clay at the potter’s wheel. The clay is not only any life; it’s any nation like ours! Claiming to be the potter, God is claiming authority and power over that which is being formed or reformed. It’s a great passage for July 4, 2019!

What matters to you in life? What really matters more than anything? Maybe you know right this moment the answer to those questions. We study a passage that many people thinks was a “blanket statement” for all Christians. It’s not! It was a specific command that Jesus gave to a particular man. Jesus tells a man called the “rich, young ruler”, to sell everything he had and give the proceeds to the poor!

What you are going through at this time in your life will probably impact what you believe or don’t believe about the resurrection of Christ. Did you know that? Our current situation comes to bear in our belief system. A health challenge, a death in the family, a marital or family crisis can all have a bearing in what we believe! The ultimate miracle is what we study this week: the resurrection of Jesus from the dead!

Have you ever thought of the quality of humility being a “miracle”? It probably is if you’ve ever known a really proud man or woman. It’s hard to imagine an extremely proud person exhibiting humility, and yet by the grace of God, they can! God has the capacity to make a proud person humble. For some, that truly is a miracle! Even for you and me!