Sep 08
For all those who like to study Bible passages that speak to the end times, one scholar has made a very interesting connection between the “abomination of desolation” spoken of by Jesus in the Eschatological Discourse as recorded in Mark 13.14 and the prophet Jeremiah’s temple sermon contained in Jeremiah 7. When the disciples asked …
Mar 31
When the religious leaders had reached their toleration limit for Jesus’ teachings and actions in the temple during the last week of His life, they confronted him and wanted to know “By what authority are you doing these things?” (see Mark 11.28). In a previous article, I noticed how the gospel writer Mark framed the …
Mar 27
After several days of teaching in the temple, complete with an outburst of righteous indignation that resulted in not only driving out those who bought and sold in the temple but also overturning their tables (see Mark 11.15-16), the religious leaders had reached their limit with Jesus. Enough was enough. And they (Jesus and His …
Mar 22
The essence of the temple sermon that Jesus gave as He was “cleansing” the temple was that God wanted the temple to be a “house of prayer for all nations.” The cursing of the fig tree that frames the temple story informs not only our understanding of the fruitless tree/fruitless temple but it also informs …
Mar 21
When you think of effective prayer, what comes to mind? Saying the right words? Claiming the right promises? Boldness? Moreover, what is “effective prayer”? Is effective prayer “getting what we want” or is there some other standard of measurement? In the gospel of Mark, the story of Jesus cleansing of the temple is intertwined with …
Mar 20
On the one hand, there is nothing more universal and instinctive than prayer. Everyone, regardless of their spiritual maturity, throws up a prayer in time of need. People who never think about God at all still instinctively and reflexively pray in times of need. When tragedy strikes a high school, even the newscasters will say …
Mar 08
When Jesus was in Jerusalem for the last week of His earthly mission, one of the key moments was His “cleansing of the Temple.” While that title is the most often used to describe the event, it is hardly the most accurate. In a previous article, I noted the way Mark told the story. Mark …
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