Much more can be said about Goliath’s sword, of which David remarked, “There’s none like it.” Last time we explored Mark’s hyperlinking the Lord’s body wrapped in a linen shroud to Goliath’s sword wrapped in a cloth. That was breathtaking enough. That was all from just one Old Testament hyperlink. Mark didn’t fabricate this outContinue reading “Mark’s Hidden Gems: Goliath’s Sword, Royal Psalm”
Category Archives: Gospels
Mark’s Hidden Gems: Goliath’s Sword
David’s sling? Oh yeah, we hear about that all the time. Goliath’s sword? Not so much. But it didn’t escape Mark’s notice. “I don’t remember Goliath’s sword being in Mark’s Gospel.” Well, it’s there! I’ve gotten the impression from some that Mark’s Gospel is the Gospel for dummies. Of course, no one says that. ButContinue reading “Mark’s Hidden Gems: Goliath’s Sword”
Mark’s Hidden Gems: Abiathar the High Priest?
“Have you never read?” Last time we discovered, through Mark’s ingenious literary links, that Jesus, the Son of Man, is ready to do miracles for us. He has authority on earth to forgive sins! Praise God for that! He miraculously heals our spiritual paralysis so we can walk in obedience to His commands. Mark alsoContinue reading “Mark’s Hidden Gems: Abiathar the High Priest?”
Mark’s Hidden Gems: Have You Never Read?
Reading the Bible is a big part of cultivating our relationship with God. But how we read is of utmost importance. Is the Bible boring to you? It probably has a lot to do with how you’re reading. Even more critical is reading wrongly. Conceptualizing God wrongly has disastrous consequences for how we live ourContinue reading “Mark’s Hidden Gems: Have You Never Read?”
Mark’s Hidden Gems: Sons of Thunder is Not a Nickname!
I’d always imagined James and John, the Sons of Thunder, as these brash, swashbuckling, Elijah wannabes itching to call down fire from heaven on people. That’s why Jesus called them Sons of Thunder, right? But as I’ve been carefully reading Mark’s Gospel, I’m seeing it far more momentous than a witty nickname. Here’s the sceneContinue reading “Mark’s Hidden Gems: Sons of Thunder is Not a Nickname!”
Mark’s Hidden Gems: Tax Collectors or Gift Givers?
Has the name Levi the son of Alphaeus caused you to marvel at Jesus Christ? Who? He’s better known as Matthew. Recently I’ve been plying the waters of Mark’s Gospel, stunned by spectacular gems hidden in the seabeds of masterfully crafted literary designs. Mark’s buried treasure in this Levi son of Alphaeus is super cool!Continue reading “Mark’s Hidden Gems: Tax Collectors or Gift Givers?”
Sweat for the True Bread
God delights to turn curses into blessings! Even in severe judgments He remembers tender mercies. Mercy triumphs over judgment (Jas 2:13)! We can see His shining heart of mercy right from the earliest glimmers of His relating to mankind. Adam and Eve’s terrible tragedy plunged the whole human race into chaos, darkness, and ruin forContinue reading “Sweat for the True Bread”
The Apostle of Love’s Cherry Tree Pt. 2 – Bound with Gravesclothes
The apostle of love’s cherry tree is my playful pun on John’s “cherry picking” of six words clustered around raising Lazarus from the dead. So far we’ve tasted the first cherry. John’s cherry picked words surprise us. They lead us along a path into God’s heart we might not otherwise take. They serve as aContinue reading “The Apostle of Love’s Cherry Tree Pt. 2 – Bound with Gravesclothes”
The Apostle of Love’s Cherry Tree Pt. 1 – Lord, He Stinketh
My earliest recollections of being in a church was when I was in third or fourth grade. A school friend of mine, Ray, invited me to a summer vacation Bible school in my then hometown of Duluth, Minnesota. It was in a little white Baptist church within walking distance of Grandma and Grandpa’s house. InsideContinue reading “The Apostle of Love’s Cherry Tree Pt. 1 – Lord, He Stinketh”
Giving Treasures to Jesus by Following
There’s a popular song nowadays among many churches whose melody and lyrics I enjoy worshiping the Lord with, but one particular line gives me heartburn. It goes like this: So I throw up my hands And praise You again and again ‘Cause all that I have is a Hallelujah, hallelujah And I know it’s notContinue reading “Giving Treasures to Jesus by Following”
Glory Unveiled: Discovering Jesus 