September 6, 2024
DAILY BIBLE READING – Mark Chapter 10
1 And he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judaea by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again.
2 And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.
3 And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?
4 And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.
5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.
6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.
7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;
8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.
9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
10 And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter.
11 And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.
12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.
13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,
30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
32 And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him,
33 Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles:
34 And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.
35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.
36 And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?
37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.
38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
39 And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:
40 But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.
41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.
42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
46 And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.
47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.
48 And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.
49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.
50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.
52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
King James Version. Public Domain
Commentary
Introduction:
Mark chapter 10 presents a collection of teachings and events that highlight the radical nature of Jesus’ message. These include not only moral principles, such as the indissolubility of marriage, but also the value of faith and humility. Particularly striking is the reversal of traditional power structures: Jesus emphasizes that true greatness lies in serving others, not in ruling over them. The healing of a blind man at the end of the chapter underscores Jesus’ compassion and his willingness to respond to people’s faith.
Commentary:
Mark chapter 10 addresses significant teachings of Jesus on various topics, including marriage, children, wealth, discipleship, and service. In the first section, the issue of divorce is discussed. Jesus makes it clear that marriage is a union ordained by God and should not be dissolved lightly. The blessing of children highlights the special relationship between children and the Kingdom of God, where trust and humility are central. Furthermore, Jesus warns about the dangers of wealth and emphasizes that eternal life can only be attained through dedication and sacrifice. Finally, the healing of the blind Bartimaeus demonstrates Jesus’ compassion and the power of faith.
Summary:
In Mark chapter 10, Jesus speaks about divorce, emphasizing that marriage is an indissoluble bond willed by God. He blesses children and urges people to receive the Kingdom of God with childlike trust. When a rich man asks about eternal life, Jesus points out that wealth can make it difficult to enter the Kingdom of God. He calls for complete devotion. Jesus explains that discipleship and sacrifice will be rewarded a hundredfold, both in this life and in eternal life. Finally, he heals the blind Bartimaeus, whose faith makes him see, demonstrating the power of faith.
WEEKLY SPIRIT OF PROPHECY READING – Ellen White | The Desire of Ages
Chapter 59—Priestly Plottings
This chapter is based on John 11:47-54.
Read online here
Commentary
Introduction:
Chapter 59 addresses the dramatic events surrounding the resurrection of Lazarus and their immediate impact on Jesus’ life and ministry. This episode, based on John 11:47-54, highlights the growing hostility of the Jewish priests and leaders toward Jesus, culminating in a determined conspiracy to kill him. The chapter illustrates how a miracle that revealed God’s power and grace not only led many hearts to faith but also intensified the hatred and rejection of Jesus by the religious authorities.
Commentary:
The resurrection of Lazarus marks a turning point in the relationship between Jesus and the Jewish religious leaders. This miracle, which undeniably testified to Jesus’ divine nature, pushed the priests and Pharisees to the brink of their patience. They were no longer merely distrustful or skeptical; they saw their power and influence seriously threatened. Particularly noteworthy is the role of the high priest Caiaphas, whose words—”It is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish”—carry a prophetic irony. Caiaphas speaks these words out of political calculation to secure his own position, yet in reality, he unknowingly fulfills the divine prophecy about Jesus’ sacrifice for humanity.
This chapter reveals the tragedy of the blindness in which the religious leaders found themselves. Despite the clear signs and miracles that Jesus performed, they closed themselves off from the truth, seeing him only as a threat to their power and traditions. Their decision to kill Jesus was less a rational choice and more the result of pride, fear, and spiritual blindness. Instead of accepting the light revealed to them in Jesus Christ, they chose the path of darkness, which ultimately led to their own downfall.
Summary:
Chapter 59 describes the immediate reaction of the Jewish priests and leaders to the miracle of Lazarus’ resurrection. While many witnesses of this miracle were led to faith in Jesus, the priests’ hatred of him grew stronger. Pharisees and Sadducees, who had previously been divided in their stance toward Jesus, now united in their resolve to kill him. The high priest Caiaphas argued that it was better to sacrifice one man to save the nation, unknowingly affirming Jesus’ divine mission. The religious leaders, entangled in their intrigues, rejected Jesus’ divine nature and decided to kill him to secure their own power. However, Jesus, aware of his enemies’ plans, withdrew to avoid hastening the time of his ultimate sacrifice. The chapter concludes with the realization that the world could only endure the presence of its Savior for a short time, despite his life being marked by selfless service and suffering for humanity.
WEEKLY SPIRIT OF PROPHECY READING – Ellen White | The Desire of Ages
Chapter 60—The Law of the New Kingdom
This chapter is based on Matthew 20:20-28; Mark 10:32-45; Luke 18:31-34.
Read online here
Commentary
Introduction:
Chapter 60 highlights the deep spiritual lessons that Jesus taught his disciples on the way to Jerusalem, just before he experienced his suffering and death. In this section, Jesus prepares his disciples for the upcoming events and reveals to them the law of his new kingdom, which fundamentally differs from worldly kingdoms. Instead of seeking power and dominion, Jesus calls his followers to humbly serve and sacrifice themselves for others, thereby attaining true greatness in the kingdom of God.
Commentary:
This chapter offers a powerful reflection on the contrasts between worldly notions of power and the spiritual ideal of service in the kingdom of God. Jesus corrects the ambitions of his disciples, who are still influenced by earthly ideas of a messianic kingdom, by revealing to them the true nature of his reign. His response to John and James, who request privileged places in his kingdom, demonstrates that true greatness in the kingdom of God is not achieved through positions or titles, but through self-sacrifice and service to others.
The teachings Jesus imparts in this chapter are radical and challenge the prevailing societal understanding of power and authority. In a world where rank and influence are often exercised through oppression and control, Jesus shows that true authority lies in the willingness to serve others, even at the cost of one’s own life. This teaching not only shapes the disciples but also forms the foundation of Christian ethics, as practiced in the early Christian communities.
Jesus’ words remind us that the pursuit of power and influence in the worldly sense has nothing to do with the nature of his kingdom. Instead, it is humility, service, and sacrifice that matter in the kingdom of God. This is embodied in the life and death of Jesus himself, who paid the ultimate price to redeem humanity.
Summary:
Chapter 60 describes how, on the way to Jerusalem, Jesus prepares his disciples for his impending suffering and the true character of his kingdom. Despite their hopes for earthly power and honor, Jesus teaches them that true greatness in the kingdom of God is achieved through humility, service, and self-sacrifice. John and James, who seek places of honor in his kingdom, are reminded that such positions are not attained through personal ambition but through suffering and bearing the cross. In a world characterized by power and control, Jesus shows that the principles of his kingdom are based on love and selflessness. These teachings not only shape the disciples but also the early Christian community, which is characterized by a spirit of unity and mutual love.
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