"The Pharisees came out and began to argue with him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test him." (Mk. 8:11, NASB)    It's a classic, and anyone old enough to know who Gilligan is knows the story well. Charlie Brown wants so desperately to kick the football. His desperation is such that he will continue to believe that Lucy will actually hold the ball steady until he kicks it. However, after nearly 50 years of comic strip appearance, it just does not happen. Well, actually she does leave the ball in place on one occasion but he misses the ball entirely. He stubbornly refused to believe that he was going to kick that ball. He believed what he wanted to believe.    In the passage above, Jesus has just finished dismissing the crowd after feeding 4,000 men (not counting women and children) miraculously, and it has only been a page or two since we read of Him feeding 5,000 men (again, not counting women and children). The response of the Pharisees is a...

" And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach, and to have authority to cast out the demons."  (Mk. 3:14-15, NASB)     Many of my friends know that we (my wife and I) have embarked on a new venture of raising and breeding long-haired dachshunds. Currently we have, well, enough, and each one has its own personality. Daphne, our little brown female, loves to mow with me. The other dogs will run away once the mower is cranked up, but not Daphne. She runs towards the mower, wanting me to hold her while I work. Yesterday, as I was mowing, she was contently in my arms as I walked and mowed. She never made a sound, and never made a move. She just quietly rested in my arms as I worked. I was amazed at how she was content simply to be with "her master" while he worked.     I could not help recalling the verse above. Jesus most certainly had a task for the disciples to do, and He would give them ...

"...They began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread...  And He was saying to them, "Do you not yet understand?"  (Mk. 8:14-21, NASB)    The disciples were so . . . human. When we read the gospel accounts we see a group of men that dealt with the same struggles, temptations, and weaknesses that we do. I am not sure if that brings us comfort or not, but it does remind us that we am not alone.    In verses mentioned above, the disciples were a little concerned because they jumped on the boat with only one loaf of bread. Why is this such a big issue? Well, they wanted to eat just like everyone else. So they are just a little concerned that there will not be enough to go around. Here's the real problem though: they still did not get just who Jesus was. Up to this point they had watched Jesus heal people from various diseases and infirmities, and watched Him perform various other miracles including walking on water. In chapter ...

"Jesus took him aside from the crowd, by himself, and put His fingers into his ears, and after spitting, He touched his tongue with the saliva; and looking up to heaven with a deep sigh, He said to him, ' Ephphatha!'  that is, ' Be opened!'  And his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was removed, and he began speaking plainly." (Mk. 7:33-35, NASB)     On Sunday nights at our church I am preaching through the book of Mark, and I have been looking forward to this text. When I read this passage, I am struck by the unique manner in which Jesus healed this man. Throughout the gospels Jesus healed people by speaking to them or about them, touching them, or commanding them to go and do a certain task. Some were healed when they approached and touched Jesus. There was also one incident in which Jesus smeared a mixture of dirt and His own saliva on the eyes of a blind man. And yet, among all of the recorded acts of Jesus in the gospels, this ...

This week marks one year that I have been posting Biblical insights online. "Thank you" to each of you that have read, commented, shared, or have otherwise been encouraged in your faith. As a way of commemorating the first year, I have decided to post some of the most popular posts of 2013, chosen by your interactions with them. I look forward to many more years of encouraging and equipping believers in the Word. "… And Jesus said to him, 'If You can?' All things are possible to him who believes.'" (Mark 9:14-29, emph. v.23, NASB)    The issues of faith and prayer intersect in the passage of Scripture in such a transparent way that it is difficult to find another passage like it in Scripture. Notice how the story plays out. First, the father brings his demon-possessed son to the disciples, who are unsuccessful in bringing relief. He then brings him to Jesus, who has words of rebuke for both the disciples and the father. However, Jesus has no ...

" But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone." - Mark 13:32 (NASB)      There is a lot of talk about "the end" these days, and depending on your eschatological view (end-time theology), there are various ideas even within Christianity. Recently I have read articles from several sources telling us that Jesus' return would coincide with the comet Ison. The Jehovah's Witnesses "prophesied" the return of Jesus at least four separate times in history. Many of us will remember, back in 1988, the book "88 Reasons Jesus Will Return in 1988," and it's companion volume, "99 reasons...."  I can tell you with a high degree of certainty that they were wrong.    The problem is that Scripture is perfectly clear that no one knows when "the end" will be here. Supporters would argue that since Jesus said "day nor hour" that we can know the year, mont...