Bible Readings

Mark 13
² “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

I thought it was interesting that Jesus decided to destroy all of the temple, as it had turned corrupt, and that he told the disciples that it would happen.

His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?”

⁵ “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.

“Seven,” they replied.

⁶ He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so. ⁷ They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. ⁸ The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 

I thought it was interesting how Jesus not only fed the 4000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish, but even made 7 basketfuls of broken pieces.

Mark 3:2-6

 2 Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. ³ Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”

⁴ Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.

⁵ He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. ⁶ Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

I thought it was intriguing how the Pharisees were already looking to kill Jesus.

Mark 2:4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. 

I thought it was interesting that they lowered him through the ceiling, as there was no room for them, and that they knew that Jesus would heal the paralyzed man.

Mark 1:40
 A man with leprosy^[h] came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

I thought it was interesting that the man knew that Jesus had immense power.

¹⁴ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” ¹⁵ So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

I thought it was interesting how Matthew said that people still believed that the disciples stole Jesus’s body at the time of the writing of this book.

³ When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. ⁴ “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”

“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”

⁵ So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

I thought it was interesting than Judas realized what he had done by betraying Jesus.

Matthew 25: 20-21:
²⁰ The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

²¹ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

I think these verses are a good reminder to do good things with everything God has given you, and in return God will give you so much more in heaven.

Matthew 6:1:
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

I think this is a good practice, because if you give only so that other people are watching, you are not truly giving from your heart.

Matthew 5:44:
“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”

I think this is a very good lesson that we should all strive to follow, even if it is hard.

I found it interesting how Jesus called Peter and Andrew in Matthew 4:19, inviting them to follow Him and become “fishers of men.”

Matt. 4:19: “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”