Introduction Mark begins chapter 14 by telling us when the events he's about to describe took place. Do you see that in verse 1? He wrote: Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days away.... Now, Mark includes this information for at least two reasons. Firstly, he tells us this … Continue reading Mark 14(01–11) →

Please see here for a different interpretation of the Olivet Discourse. Introduction Last week we spent our time on verses 1 to 31 of Mark chapter 13. And although the NIV gives those verses the title 'Signs of the End of the Age', I suggested that in those verses the Lord was speaking about, not … Continue reading Mark 13(32–37) →

Please see here for a different interpretation of the Olivet Discourse. Introduction Mark tells us in verse 1 of today's passage how the Lord was leaving the temple where he had been teaching the people; and one of his disciples couldn't help but do what we do whenever we visit a big city. You know, … Continue reading Mark 13(01–31) →

Introduction When I was on holiday recently, we worshipped in another church; and the minister -- in the course of the sermon -- reminded his congregation of the need believers have for discernment. Believers need to be discerning. He added that this was one of his hobby-horses. You know what a hobby-horse is, don't you? … Continue reading Mark 12(38–44) →

Introduction At the end of chapter 11, we saw how the chief priests and the teachers of the law and the elders came to the Lord Jesus and they questioned his authority. They said to him: Who gave you the authority to do the things you're doing? And then in chapter 12 we read how … Continue reading Mark 12(35–37) →

Introduction Earlier in this chapter we read how the Pharisees and Herodians came to the Lord with a question about paying taxes to Caesar. But they weren't really interested in his answer, because Mark tells us that they wanted to catch him in his words; they wanted him to say something incriminating or to say … Continue reading Mark 12(28–34) →

Opposition Today's passage -- like the one last week -- is related to the parable of the wicked tenants which began chapter 12. Remember? The wicked tenants in the parable symbolise the leaders in Israel in Old Testament times; and over the years the Lord God sent his prophets to appeal to them to repent … Continue reading Mark 12(18–27) →

Introduction Do you remember the parable from last week? The Lord told a parable of a man who planted a vineyard; he then rented it out to certain men and went away on a journey. At harvest time, the man sent a servant to collect his share of the crop; but the tenants beat the … Continue reading Mark 12(13–17) →

Introduction The last time we studied Mark's gospel together we read how the Lord Jesus went into the temple in Jerusalem and he overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the benches of those who were selling doves and he wouldn't allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. He complained that they had … Continue reading Mark 11(27)–12(12) →

Introduction Appearances can be deceiving, can't they? You see something and it appears to be a certain way; but on closer inspection you discover that it's quite different. You see a brochure for a holiday and the accommodation looks lovely and there's a big swimming pool out the back and fantastic views. But when you … Continue reading Mark 11(12–25) →