By Mike Peek

The Resurrection (Mark 16:1-8) The three women who had witnessed Jesus’ take his last breath came early, on the first day of the week, to anoint his body with spices. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome. When a name like Mary is used for two persons  a modifier is needed to distinguish them. The first Mary mentioned is called Magdalene, “a surname derived from Magdala, the place of her birth.” (Easton Bible Dictionary) The idea that this Mary was the unchaste woman from the story in Luke 7:36-50 comes from a notation. (Mark 16:9) The second Mary mentioned is the mother of Jesus but the text does not say that, it says Mary the mother of James. It was well known in the early church that James, the leader of the church in Jerusalem was the Lord’s brother. The third woman was Salome the mother of the apostles James and John. These women wanted to anoint the Lord’s body but did not know how they might roll the stone away from the entrance but then noticed something mira...

Jesus Before Pilate (Mark 15:1-15) The chief priests with the elders brought Jesus to the Roman governor Pilate and were bringing many charges against him but Jesus gave no answer but when Pilat asked, “Are you the king of Jews?” Jesus answered him, “It is as you say.” Pilot wanted to release Jesus because he knew that he had been handed over out of envy; however, the people requested that he release Barabbas instead, so after having Jesus scourged, he handed over to be crucified. There was nothing that Jesus had done deserving suffering and death, yet suffering and death was what he got. Barabbas was a rebel against the Roman government and had committed murder, yet he was granted freedom in Jesus place. There is no clearer example of penal substitution in this gospel record. The apostle Paul wrote: “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Cor 5:21) Jesus Mocked (Mark 15:16-20) Evil men who are given power are o...

Anger Leads to Murder (Mark 14:1-10) The chief priest and scribes wanted to kill Jesus but decided not do so during the festival of the Passover and Unleavened bread because they feared that the people might rebel. The Passover started the week of eating Unleavened bread in remembrance of the exodus from Egypt. Jesus was reclining at the table of Simon the leper in Bethany when a woman came anointed his head with a vial of very costly perfume but some were speaking against her doing this but Jesus rebuked the indignation. Judas was one of the indignant and he obviously took offense at the rebuke, because he went to the chief priests in order to betray Jesus for money. Jesus taught his disciples that anger is the beginning of murder; therefore, do not be angry and if someone is angry with you, be reconciled to them. (Mt. 5:21-26)  The Passover Become the Lord’s Supper (Mark 14:10-31) Jesus and the disciples ate the Passover meal in a large upper room. While they were eating, Jesus i...

Mark 13 Present Difficulties Jesus told his disciples that the temple would be destroyed and it was destroyed by the hands of the Romans in 70 AD. Between Jesus departure and his return there would be wars and rumors of wars; there would be natural disasters in various places; there will be famines. He said that these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. He was using the imagery of a woman giving birth as a metaphor for this present age and its difficulties. However, these things are only the beginning of difficulties, for the world is not yet in full labor. During this present age and the many years that proceeded us, followers of Christ have been persecuted and will continue to be persecuted until the end. What are they persecuted for?Jesus said, that the gospel must be preached to all the nations. He did not say if they arrest you, but when they arrest you, do not worry beforehand about what to say, say whatever is given to you during that hour. He promises the Holy Spiri...

Mark 12 The Parable of the Vineyard Jesus told a parable about a man who rented his vineyard to vine-growers and went on a journey. At harvest time he sent a succession of servants to receive some of the produce but the vine-growers beat and killed those whom the vineyard owner sent; last of all he sent his beloved son but the vine-grows killed the vineyard owners son and threw him out of the vineyard. The parable concludes with a statement that the vineyard owner will come and destroy the vine-growers and give the vineyard to others. The vineyard owner is God, the vine-growers are the Sanhedrin (Jewish leaders), the Son is Jesus Christ and the others are the church. This parable is evidence of whom Jesus believed himself to be and is evidence of what he thought about the Jewish leadership. Attempts to Outwit Wisdom The different groups of Jewish leaders attempted to out wit Jesus. First, some Pharisees and Herodians tried to trick Jesus with worldly wisdom by attempting to make him pi...

Mark 11 Jesus came into Jerusalem in the manner of a triumphant king, riding on the back of a donkeys colt with the people shouting:  “Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; Hosanna in the highest!” After looking around, Jesus departed with the twelve disciples for Bethany because it was already late. The next morning, as they departed Bethany for Jerusalem, Jesus was hungry and he cursed a fig tree that had no fruit. When he entered the city, Jesus drove the merchants out of the temple to the consternation of the chief priest and scribes; however, the crowd was astonished at his teaching. Every evening, Jesus and the twelve departed Jerusalem and every morning they returned. Peter noted that the fig tree that Jesus cursed had withered, so Jesus took opportunity to teach his disciples about having faith in prayer and forgiving others. The chief priests, scribes and elders challenged the authority by which Jesus t...

Mark 10 It was Jesus’ custom to teach when a crowd gathered. He taught that it is not God’s will that a wife and husband should separate, for he considers them one flesh. Later, his disciples questioned him about this and Jesus told them that to divorce and marry another is committing adultery. Jesus used the metaphor of how a child excepts as being the way we should except the kingdom of God. Jesus corrected a rich young man’s understanding of good and showed him that to repent and follow Jesus Christ is the only good that a man can do. It is impossible for people to enter the kingdom of God but with God all things are possible. Jesus promised eternal life to all who leave whatever is holding them back from following him. On the journey to Jerusalem, Jesus told his disciples about his coming arrest, trial, humiliation, suffering, death and resurrection three days later. James and John sought honor for themselves at Jesus right and left sides in his kingdom, but he told them, it is for...

Mark 9 Jesus said that some of the disciples would see the kingdom of God come with power. Peter, James and John saw Jesus transfigured into his glorified state and were told by the Father to listen to him before Moses and the prophets. Jesus commanded that they tell no one what that had seen until he rose from the dead. Jesus healed an epileptic boy but more than that, he helped a doubting father have faith. Jesus prepared his disciples for his death at the hands of men and his bodily resurrection on the third day. Jesus taught his disciples that the greatest in the kingdom of God is the one considered last among men because he is servant of all.  Jesus taught his disciples to not be particular regarding persons who think differently but love Jesus Christ and the followers of Christ. Jesus warned his disciples to not be the cause of a weak believers stumbling because stumbling leads to hell. Jesus commanded his disciples to have a purifying influence and be at peace with one anoth...

Jesus had compassion for a hungry crowd of four thousand people; therefore, he satisfactorily feed them, from seven loaves of bread and a few small fish. When Jesus arrived at another village, the Pharisees came out to argue with him, demanding a sign from heaven, so he departed from them. Jesus warned his disciples to beware of the corruption of the Pharisees and Herod. Jesus healed a blind man at Bethsaida and command that he go home and not the village. Jesus questioned the disciples, who the people say that he is and who do they say that he is; the people believed that he is a prophet but Peter answered, “You are the Christ.” Jesus began to tell the disciples about his coming death, burial and resurrection, of which Peter rebuked him, but Jesus told him that he is seeking his own interest and not God’s. Jesus then told the crowd, with the disciples, to deny self and follow him.  The promise of God is to provide for the needs of those who deny self and follow Jesus. There are ma...

The Pharisees questioned why Jesus’ disciples do not wash according to tradition and Jesus replied with a reproof spoken through Isiah; they neglect the commandment of God to hold to their traditions. Then Jesus gave an example of how they violate the fifth commandment but hold to a tradition set by man. Jesus declared that nothing outside a man, even if it enters him, can defile him, it is the evil that comes from a man that defiles him.  Jesus explained to his disciples that food cannot defile a person but evil thoughts, words and deeds do defile. Jesus healed a non-Jewish woman’s child, because she did not put herself as deserving of the grace given to the Jews but willing to receive even a scrap. Jesus gave a deaf man with garbled speech, hearing and comprehensible speech; because of this and other miracles like it, the name of Jesus was being exalted amongst the people. There are three principles that we should take from this text: First, all commandments are love of God and l...

Jesus was not excepted in his hometown; therefore he could do no work of power their except to heal a few sick people. Jesus sent out the twelve to cast out demons, heal the sick and preach that men should repent; they were to trust that their own needs would be provided through hosts in each town. The people were saying that Jesus was either John the Baptist risen from the dead, or Elijah, or like one of the other old testament prophets. Herodias used Herod’s pride to coerce him to kill John the Baptist because she hated him for preaching that her marriage to Herod was unlawful. When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus all that they did and taught. Jesus took them to a secluded place at which he feed five thousand to their satisfaction from five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus sent his disciples away in a boat and sent the people away, so he could be alone to pray. Sometime between 3-6 a.m., Jesus came walking on water to the disciples who were struggling with the wind a...

Text: Mark 5 Jesus sent out a multitude of unclean spirits from a possessed man who lived in a city on the east shore of the sea of Galilee. The man wanted to go away with Jesus right then and there, but Jesus sent him to be a witness to his people of the great things that Jesus had done and how God had mercy on him. On the other side of the sea of Galilee, a synagogue official asked Jesus to come heal his daughter, Jesus went with him and a crowd followed. A woman who had suffered a hemorrhage for twelve years, reached out and touched the outer garment that Jesus wore and she was healed because of he faith in Jesus. In the mean time, the synagogue official’s child died, but Jesus said that she is asleep and when he commanded that she get up, she immediately got up and began to walk. While reading this text I felt the wait of it. A non-Jewish man was healed from about two thousand demons (for that was the number of swine); a Jewish synagogue official implored Jesus to come and heal his...

Jesus spoke to the crowd of people from a boat, launched just off the shore. Jesus told his disciples that they have been given the mystery of the kingdom but those outside get everything in parables, less they return and be forgiven. Jesus explained the parable of the sower of seed and the soils to his disciples but did not explain the meaning to those outside the kingdom. Jesus told his disciples take care, listen and more shall be given you, but for those on the outside, even what they have shall be taken away. Jesus related the kingdom of God to that of a farmer sowing and harvesting his crop. Jesus related the kingdom of God to a very small mustard seed that grows larger than all the other garden plants. Jesus publicly spoke in parables but privately explained the meaning to his disciples. Jesus commanded the wind and sea. The main point of this chapter is not the parables but who is in the kingdom and who is not. Jesus chose his disciples and they left all to follow him. He expla...

The Pharisees angered that Jesus would heal a man, in a synagogue, on the Sabbath, conspired to destroy him. After this, Jesus withdrew to the sea and a boat was prepared for him to allow a bit of separation from the large crowed who gathered because of his healings. Jesus went up on a mountain where he called the twelve to be with him, to preach and cast out demons. The crowds made it difficult for Jesus and the twelve to even eat a meal; therefore, his family believed that he had lost his senses but the scribes were saying that he was possessed by the ruler of demons. However, it was not logical for Satan to cast out Satan; therefore, Jesus said that all sins shall be forgiven men except for blasphemes against the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ declared that whoever does the will of God is his brother and sister and mother. The Pharisees had no compassion for others but were strict legalist. They wanted the law observed no matter what the outcome meant for individuals. The main point of Jesus’ ...

Mark 2 Jesus returned to Capernaum where he forgave the sins of a paralyzed man, to the consternation of the scribes; therefore, Jesus healed him, the man picked up the pallet that he had been brought in on and walked out in the sight of everyone. Jesus called Levi who had been near by and he followed him. Jesus ate in Levi’s whom with Levi’s friends but the Pharisees questioned his eating with sinners. Jesus indicated that people fast when they are in great need. People who are use to the old way cannot except the new. The Lord of the Sabbath declared that the Sabbath was made for the good of man.  A man can forgive sins that are committed against him but not the sins committed against another man. However, all sin is against God, therefore, God can forgive all sin. The Scribes being versed in the Scriptures understood this, so when Jesus forgave the sins of this man who had done nothing wrong to Jesus’ they called it blaspheme. The man had not stolen from Jesus, he had not commit...

Mark 1 The gospel of Mark begins with a quote from Isaiah about a messenger being sent before the Lord. John, who baptized people with water was that messenger. When Jesus was baptized by John, the Spirit of God descended upon him and God said, “This is my Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Jesus compelled by the Spirit, went from there into the wilderness for forty days, tempted by satan but ministered to by angels. After John’s imprisonment, Jesus began preaching about the kingdom of God and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Jesus called his first disciples who left all to follow him. In Capernaum, on the Sabbath, Jesus taught in the synagogue where he rebuked an unclean spirit and cast it out of a man. Jesus healed the fever of Simon-Peter’s mother in-law and she served him. That evening, Jesus began healing illnesses and casting out demons. In the morning, Jesus went out to pray but when his disciples found him, they...