Mark 8:27-9:1 (AD 29) This is arguably the hinge passage in Mark’s gospel, marking the transition between establishing the identity of Jesus (chapters 1-8, covering about 34 years), and charting the consequences of that identity (chapters 8-16, covering less than a year). One can’t read too much into it, but it’s notable that the disciples’ … More Day 58: ‘Get behind me, Satan!’
Mark 8:1-26 (AD 29) Alcoholic fermentation involves the digesting of sugar by yeast. It produces ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide, which is how bread gets some of its flavour and all of its not-flatness. Trapped by the flexible dough, all the gas doesn’t disperse or break it’s surroundings, it just pushes it out. That’s the … More Day 57: Beware the single-celled fungi
Mark 7:24-37 (AD 29)\ There was a seeming contradiction in Jesus’ ministry. Aspects of his work that seemed in conflict with each other. On the one hand, he came to preach, teach, heal, save, and generally be about the gathering of the lost sheep of Israel to be saved for their Father in heaven. For … More Day 56: In search of unfamous fame
John 6:22-7:1 (spring, AD 29) In Part Two, we looked at three reasons that contribute to our knowing that Jesus was being metaphorical in John chapter six about eating his body and blood. Here are another eight reasons: Eucharist is never coupled with repentance and faith in Scripture as being part of salvation. Elsewhere in … More Day 55: Jesus isn’t bread, Part 3
John 6:22-7:1 (spring, AD 29) Yesterday we thought about why it’s important to understand Jesus’ teaching here, and his instructions at the Last Supper, to be an important memorial and not a literal flesh-eating. Today and tomorrow we will look at ten Biblical reasons (because they’re the only valid ones), that contribute to our certainty … More Day 54: Jesus isn't bread, part 2
John 6:22-7:1 (spring, AD 29) According to the doctrine of the Eucharist, taking the Lord’s Supper is not only a memorial, but also part of how we receive salvation[1][2][3]. It claims that the bread and wine literally turn into Jesus’ body when and because the priest prays over them (known as ‘transubstantiation’). It also states … More Day 53: Jesus isn't bread, part 1
John 6:22-7:1 (spring, AD 29) We’re going to hang out here for three days. For today, here’s my summary version – in script form – of the passage: Narrator: Jesus had cross the Sea of Galilee by boat, where he fed the 5,000. After that he slipped away under cover of darkness, walked half-way across … More Day 52: Jesus the bread of life
Matthew 14 (spring, AD 29) King Herod really loved the sexy dancing of his niece, and made a drunken offer to her that resulted in the beheading of John the Baptist to please her Mum. It’s tragic to see that Herod was “distressed” (v.9) at the idea but went along with it anyway, more concerned … More Day 51: Jesus and John the Baptist’s death
Mark 7:1-23 (AD 29) Why did Jesus speak so harshly to the religious leaders in this incident? They asked a question that seemed, from the words alone, to be a genuine enquiry: why were Jesus’ disciples not following one a tradition established by previous leaders. Jesus’ response of immediately calling them hypocrites showed that, as … More Day 50: Hypocrites & legalists
Matthew 10:26-11:1 (AD 28) ‘Peas on earth.’ ‘Give peas a chance’ (my favourite piece of graffiti, which was on a railway bridge over a motorway outside London for 20 years). Or as the famous Christian song/hymn says, ‘PEEEEEEEAAAAAAA…son earth’. But what does the Bible say about peace? Compare these three passages from three different gospels, … More Day 49: Peas on earth?
Paul T Reynolds 