Mark (Program #27) – The Move of the Slave-Savior’s Gospel Service (16) & (17)

The second half of Mark chapter 10 brings us to the city of Jericho. The Lord Jesus has arrived at this place very near Jerusalem, near the end of the long journey He had taken with His disciples. Jesus knew that the time of His appointed death on the cross to be the real Lamb of God was only days away and He would not be kept from that hour.

Twice before on this journey on the way to Jerusalem the Lord had spoken to His disciples of approaching rejection and death in Jerusalem. But the disciples never seem to hear the words. And so here the Lord mentions it again for the third time. But still the disciples had neither ears to hear nor eyes to see as these verses in Mark 10 so clearly illustrate. Beginning at verse 32-37:

“Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus led the way before them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that were about to happen to Him:  Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and to the scribes. And they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles, And they will mock Him and spit at Him and scourge Him, and they will kill Him. And after three days He will rise. And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying to Him, Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask You.  And He said to them, What do you want Me to do for you?  And they said to Him, Grant to us to sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory.“

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Mark (Program #15) – The Move of the Slave-Savior’s Gospel Service (2) & (3)

Mark chapter 6 presents us with 4 seemingly unrelated cases. To our shallow understanding these 4 cases seems to be merely 4 separate stories of events that took place during the Lord’s earthly ministry. However if we receive even a little enlightenment we can see that once again the sequence in the divine record of how these events are unfolded is really marvelous.  And that when taken together these 4 cases really are layers of meaning and significance.

So here are 4 cases, 2 negative and 2 positive. That individually show us the rejection, hatred and justice even martyrdom that typifies the world’s response to the gospel. But collectively they fill us with encouragement, conviction and even a renewed determination to go forth to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom to the whole inhabited earth.

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Matthew (Program #43) – The Pathway to Glory (1)

The gospel of Matthew presents the kingly Christ unveiling the mysteries of the kingdom in the way of parables.  But it also presents the rejection that this king suffered at the hands of religious and political establishments.  After revealing what the kingdom of the heaven is and is not, the Lord also shows us the way or path required if we are to fully participate in His kingdom.  And that path includes complete and utter rejection.

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Matthew (Program #41) – The Establishment of the King’s Rejection (9)

To outward observation, the kingdom of God today appears as a great an imposing tree.  It also appears as a field with both wheat and tares sown together.   And further, it is as a loaf composed of fine flour but leavened to make it light and airy.  This picture of how God’s kingdom would appear in the future was presented by Christ Himself in Matthew chapter 13.

Today we have not just this prophesy or the doctrine of this kingdom, but we have the practical fulfillment of this word, easily seen before our eyes.  But the question we have to consider is does this practical appearance of the kingdom also match what God’s word reveals of His desire for the kingdom?   We continue to explore this meaningful question for all of God’s people…

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Matthew (Program #40) – The Establishment of the King’s Rejection (8)

What is the kingdom of God like?  Well, the Lord Jesus in Matthew 13 revealed that the kingdom is like a tender delicious herb, and like bread made from fine flour.  Both of these are good things to eat.  But He goes on to reveal that the kingdom is also like a treasure hidden in the earth and a pearl worth selling all for.  From something good to eat to a most precious treasure.   This is the revelation of the kingdom of the heavens from Matthew 13.

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Matthew (Program #39) – The Establishment of the King’s Rejection (7)

After revealing Himself in Matthew 13 as the sower of the seeds of the kingdom, the Lord Jesus then goes on to give 3 parables that together paint a remarkable clear picture of the situation today and the sphere of Christendom.  These 3 parables all point to outward characteristics that seem at first glance to be something positive to help God’s kingdom to grow.  But a closer examination reveals aspects of corruption and abominable practices that have infiltrated God’s kingdom.  Don’t miss this critical, even crucial word today.

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Matthew (Program #38) – The Establishment of the King’s Rejection (6)

Christian workers are almost universally driven, even compelled by the ambition to make their church or their ministry bigger and bigger.  But the parable of the kingdom in Matthew 13 don’t put such positive emphasis on bigger.  There all the values is placed on that which is genuine and growing and healthy in a proper fashion.  Don’t miss our life study today from Matthew 13 and the parable of the tares.

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Matthew (Program #37) – The Establishment of the King’s Rejection (5)

One day Jesus opened up to His disciples and began to speak to them about the kingdom by way of parables.   These parables seems to be simple stories that convey basic aspects of the kingdom of God.  But in truth, they are profound to the uttermost and the truth that they convey are anything but simple.  The rich and deep features of the kingdom of the heavens await any blessed ones with eyes to see and ears to  hear.  As we look at the first of these great parables in Matthew chapter 13.

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Matthew (Program #36) – The Establishment of the King’s Rejection (4)

Matthew chapter 5, 6 and 7 are three very crucial chapters in the New Testament that show us not just proper Christian behavior but the reality of the kingdom of the heavens.  To understand this is crucial when we come to see the kingdom of the heavens in its appearance in Matthew 13.

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Matthew (Program #35) – The Establishment of the King’s Rejection (3)

Matthew chapter 12 is the account among other things of an ongoing confrontation between the Lord Jesus and His reglious opposers.  Their subtle arguments however, simply afford the Son of Man opportunity after opportunity, not only to defeat them but also to reveal more and more about His kingdom.

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