MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - In the EVENING
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - In the EVENING
by BRF - Dick France
In the EVENING MARK 1: 29-34 Straight after the first exorcism comes the first healing. The contrast is remarkable. The first was a dramatic confrontation with evil in a very public arena; the second is the healing of a sick woman in private in her own home…
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - In the WILDERNESS
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - In the WILDERNESS
by BRF - Dick France
In the WILDERNESS MARK 1: 12-13 At this point in the story both Matthew and Luke offer us a blow-by-blow account of Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness, with the familiar threefold question and answer between Satan and Jesus…
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - TWELVE GOOD MEN & TRUE
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - TWELVE GOOD MEN & TRUE
by BRF - Dick France
TWELVE GOOD MEN & TRUE MARK 3: 13-19 This was an important moment, the selection, from among the many people who were following Jesus, of the task force on whom the extension of his mission would depend, not only while he himself was still there to supervise them (6:7–13, 30–31) …
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - BESIDE the SEASIDE
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - BESIDE the SEASIDE
by BRF - Dick France
BESIDE the SEASIDE MARK 3: 7-12 The ‘sea’, here as elsewhere in Mark’s story, is of course the Lake of Galilee, a large fresh- water inland lake, enclosed by hills, and the scene of the thriving fishing industry from which Jesus has already drawn four of his followers…
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The SECRET
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The SECRET
by BRF - Dick France
The SECRET MARK 4: 10-12 These three verses go to the heart of the problem of the divided response to Jesus and his message. They raise acutely the problem of why, when the same gospel is preached, some believe and others do not. But it is another matter how far they offer an ans…
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - SPELLING IT OUT
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - SPELLING IT OUT
by BRF - Dick France
SPELLING IT OUT MARK 4: 13-20 Mark will tell us in verse 34 that Jesus explained everything in private to his disciples. In that case, this detailed spelling out of what the imagery of the parable represented must be typical of many other such explanations; but this is the only o…
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - WHAT HAPPENED to the SEEDS?
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - WHAT HAPPENED to the SEEDS?
by BRF - Dick France
WHAT HAPPENED to the SEEDS? MARK 4: 3-9 The Parable of the Sower draws on the familiar experiences of a Palestinian farmer, even if not every farmer was so unlucky as to have all these types of problem ground on his farm at once…
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - MORE PREGNANT SAYINGS
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - MORE PREGNANT SAYINGS
by BRF - Dick France
MORE PREGNANT SAYINGS MARK 4: 21-25 Before we come to the two other ‘story-parables’ of chapter 4, Mark offers us a collection of short sayings which together explore further the nature of revelation and how we must respond to the truth revealed…
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - PUTTING the CART before the HORSE
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - PUTTING the CART before the HORSE
by BRF - Dick France
PUTTING the CART before the HORSE MARK 7: 9-13 ‘Making void the word of God’ The unexpected accusation which Jesus has launched against the scribes in verse 8 is repeated in different words twice more, in verses 9 and 13…
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - ASKING for a SIGN
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - ASKING for a SIGN
by BRF - Dick France
ASKING for a SIGN MARK 8: 10-13 When Jesus left Galilee in 7:24 he had been engaged in sharp debate with the Pharisees and scribes, and the dialogue had ended with Jesus making a radical pronouncement about purity which must have left his opponents seething, since he was apparent…
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - NO HOPE for the RICH?
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - NO HOPE for the RICH?
by BRF - Dick France
NO HOPE for the RICH? MARK 10: 23-31 The eye of a needle The disciples are shocked, and Jesus does nothing to soothe their feelings, but rather makes things worse by the stark statement, twice repeated, that the way into the kingdom of God is hard for the wealthy…
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - WHAT about ELIJAH?