Mark 16:1-8  For Christ-followers, the resurrection of Jesus is not a debatable issue. By faith, we accept the Bible record as accurate and authoritative. We have embraced Romans 10:9, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” ESV. We believe Jesus is alive today!  But many in our world today deny the resurrection.  Some do not accept the Biblical record because it would convict them of sin. Accepting the authority of Scripture would make them accountable to someone other than themselves, and […]

Mark 15:42-47  When you die, where do you want to be buried? In Brunswick, New Jersey, in the 1790s, Mary Ellis fell in love with a sea captain. As he was leaving on a voyage, he left his favorite horse with her and promised to return to her as soon as he could.   Every day, Mary awaited his return at the same spot where he gave her his horse. Years passed, and in 1813, Mary purchased a plot of land by the Raritan River to continue her perpetual watch. Finally, in 1828, she died. She had never been reunited with […]

Mark 15:33-41  Have you ever considered the remarkable gift bestowed upon us by God in our human voice? It is one of the likenesses of being made in His image. We use our voices to speak or to sing. With the same voice, we can both bless God and curse men, as James 3:9 reminds us.  Our human voice is a unique characteristic that each of us possesses. It provides insight into our condition or personality. It changes throughout our lifespan and in response to external stimuli, or due to misuse. Our voice is a complex and not fully understood […]

Mark 15:16-32  Do you know how many Messianic prophecies Jesus fulfilled during His earthly ministry? Mathematician Peter Stoner counted the probability of one person fulfilling “just” 48 of the prophecies found in the Tanakh (Old Testament) would be one in (10 followed by 157 zeros)! Yet, Jesus (Yeshua) fulfilled not just the 48 specifically Messianic prophecies. He fulfilled more than 300 individual prophecies that related to the Messiah! The first calculation was impressive enough. So, the probability of one man fulfilling 300+ prophecies must be a number beyond comprehension for anyone!   This is more than a matter of random interest. […]

Mark 15:1-15 Thank you, Tony, for reading this sad and painful portion of Scripture. Yes, we know Jesus needed to suffer and die, but to see the callous disregard for truth and the lack of respect for human dignity should be painful for us. Let us reflect together on the text titled “The King of the Jews.” Observing the REACTIONS of the participants in this scene from Jesus before Pilate, we are motivated to reevaluate our embrace or rejection of The King of the Jews. The First REACTION is,  The Leaders’ Calumny Some of you might be saying to yourself, […]

Mark 14:66-72 Have you ever had someone you considered a friend deny knowing you? I can’t say I’ve had that experience. Years ago, I met a man in another state. He looked familiar, but I had never met him before. I asked him if he was related to a person I knew. He acknowledged that he was. Later, I found out that he was not only a brother to the man I knew, but also a twin. He chose to omit both of those details in answer to my question. His silence, in a way, denied that connection.   When Jesus […]

Mark 14:53-65 C.S. Lewis is well-known in the Christian world. He lived during the latter half of the 19th century and the early 20th century. His journey from Christianity to atheism and back again caused him to ask “hard questions” about faith and life. His writings made a significant contribution to our understanding of how to integrate truth into daily living. In his essay, “God in the Dock,” C.S. Lewis wrote, “The ancient man approached God (or even the gods) as the accused person approaches his judge. For the modern man, the roles are reversed. He is the judge: God […]

Mark 14:43-52 There are numerous expressions we use in the English language that, unbeknownst to many, come from the pages of Scripture. Some are quotes like, he’s a “salt of the earth” kind of guy, or “a three-strand cord isn’t easily broken.” Others are implied, like “don’t be a Judas,” or “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Speaking of Judas, his betrayal of Jesus gave us the idiom, “the kiss of death.” It is used to describe something (such as an act or association) that ultimately causes harm or ruin. No treachery is worse than betrayal by a family […]

Mark 14:27-42 “Not my will, but thine.” Five simple words so easily spoken, but so challenging to live. Have those words ever crossed your mind, your lips? If so, how have they affected your choices? Were they uttered in response to a specific decision you faced, or were you, as it were, writing a blank check to God, giving Him freedom to bring all of life under His authority? Most Christ-followers are aware that Jesus spoke these words during His prayer in Gethsemane, before His arrest, trial, and crucifixion. But wasn’t Jesus always surrendered to the will of His Father? […]

Mark 14:17-26 Do you have memorials in your life? What are they? Why do you have them? How important are they? What is their purpose? Memorials are designed to preserve the memory of a person, event, or other significant concept, often in the form of a marker, monument, holiday, or special commemoration. It can be a statue or another object built to commemorate a unique event or a famous person who has passed away. Most countries in the world observe a variety of “memorial” days. They commemorate events such as independence and other significant milestones in their history. Memorials are […]