Today's readings: Gen 34; Mk 5; Job 1; Ro 5
Mark 5:13 Jesus gave them permission. So the unclean spirits came out and went into the pigs. Then the herd rushed down the steep slope into the lake, and about two thousand were drowned in the lake.
Note: Many have discussed why Jesus gave them permission, since the animals were destroyed. However, this is another example of a miracle that is a visual lesson. The demons are destructive: They were destroying the man. They destroyed the pigs. They destroy whatever they touch. The point was to take demonic influence seriously, as well as Jesus' power over it as a picture of the larger battle for human souls. There would be no doubt how the man's transformation had taken place.
Mark 5:19 But Jesus did not permit him to do so. Instead, he said to him, “Go to your home and to your people and tell them what the Lord has done for you, that he had mercy on you.”
Mark 5:25 Now a woman was there who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years.
Mark 5:42 The girl got up at once and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). They were completely astonished at this.
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Monday, January 30, 2017
January 30 - readings for Feb 1
Today's readings: Gen 33; Mk 4; Est 9-10; Ro 4
Mark 4:26-27 He also said, “The kingdom of God is like someone who spreads seed on the ground. He goes to sleep and gets up, night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.
Gen 4:36 So after leaving the crowd, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat, and other boats were with him.
Gen 4:40-41 And he said to them, “Why are you cowardly? Do you still not have faith?” They were overwhelmed by fear and said to one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and sea obey him!”
Note: This section in Mark (4:35-5:43) contains four miracles: (1) the calming of the storm; (2) the exorcism of the demon-possessed man; (3) the giving of life to Jairus' daughter; (4) the healing of the woman hemorrhaging for twelve years. All these miracles demonstrate Jesus' right to proclaim the kingdom message and his sovereign authority over forces, directly or indirectly, hostile to the kingdom. The last three may have been brought together to show that Jesus had power over all defilement, since contact with graves, blood, or a corpse was regarded under Jewish law as causing a state of ritual uncleanness.
Acts 4:17 (as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”). He is our father in the presence of God whom he believed - the God who makes the dead alive and summons the things that do not yet exist as though they already do.
Mark 4:26-27 He also said, “The kingdom of God is like someone who spreads seed on the ground. He goes to sleep and gets up, night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.
Gen 4:36 So after leaving the crowd, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat, and other boats were with him.
Gen 4:40-41 And he said to them, “Why are you cowardly? Do you still not have faith?” They were overwhelmed by fear and said to one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and sea obey him!”
Note: This section in Mark (4:35-5:43) contains four miracles: (1) the calming of the storm; (2) the exorcism of the demon-possessed man; (3) the giving of life to Jairus' daughter; (4) the healing of the woman hemorrhaging for twelve years. All these miracles demonstrate Jesus' right to proclaim the kingdom message and his sovereign authority over forces, directly or indirectly, hostile to the kingdom. The last three may have been brought together to show that Jesus had power over all defilement, since contact with graves, blood, or a corpse was regarded under Jewish law as causing a state of ritual uncleanness.
Acts 4:17 (as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”). He is our father in the presence of God whom he believed - the God who makes the dead alive and summons the things that do not yet exist as though they already do.
Sunday, January 29, 2017
January 29 - readings for Jan 31
Today's readings: Gen 32; Mk 3; Est 8; Ro 3
Gen 32:1 So Jacob went on his way and the angels of God met him.
Note: The phrase angels of God occurs only here and in Gen 28:12 in the OT. Jacob saw a vision of angels just before he left the promised land. Now he encounters angels as he prepares to return to it. The text does not give the details of the encounter, but Jacob's response suggests it was amicable. This location was a spot where heaven made contact with earth, and where God made his presence known to the patriarch.
Gen 32:28 “No longer will your name be Jacob,” the man told him, “but Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have prevailed.”
Note: The name Israel is a common construction, using a verb with a theophoric element (אֵל, 'el) that usually indicates the subject of the verb. Here it means "God fights." This name will replace the name Jacob; it will be both a promise and a call for faith. In essence, the Lord was saying that Jacob would have victory and receive the promises because God would fight for him.
32:28 c sn You have fought. The explanation of the name Israel includes a sound play. In Hebrew the verb translated "you have fought" (שָׂרִיתָ, sarita) sounds like the name "Israel" (יִשְׂרָאֵל, yisra'el), meaning "God fights" (although some interpret the meaning as "he fights [with] God"). The name would evoke the memory of the fight and what it meant. A. Dillmann says that ever after this the name would tell the Israelites that, when Jacob contended successfully with God, he won the battle with man (Genesis, 2:279). To be successful with God meant that he had to be crippled in his own self-sufficiency
Gen 32:1 So Jacob went on his way and the angels of God met him.
Note: The phrase angels of God occurs only here and in Gen 28:12 in the OT. Jacob saw a vision of angels just before he left the promised land. Now he encounters angels as he prepares to return to it. The text does not give the details of the encounter, but Jacob's response suggests it was amicable. This location was a spot where heaven made contact with earth, and where God made his presence known to the patriarch.
Gen 32:28 “No longer will your name be Jacob,” the man told him, “but Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have prevailed.”
Note: The name Israel is a common construction, using a verb with a theophoric element (אֵל, 'el) that usually indicates the subject of the verb. Here it means "God fights." This name will replace the name Jacob; it will be both a promise and a call for faith. In essence, the Lord was saying that Jacob would have victory and receive the promises because God would fight for him.
32:28 c sn You have fought. The explanation of the name Israel includes a sound play. In Hebrew the verb translated "you have fought" (שָׂרִיתָ, sarita) sounds like the name "Israel" (יִשְׂרָאֵל, yisra'el), meaning "God fights" (although some interpret the meaning as "he fights [with] God"). The name would evoke the memory of the fight and what it meant. A. Dillmann says that ever after this the name would tell the Israelites that, when Jacob contended successfully with God, he won the battle with man (Genesis, 2:279). To be successful with God meant that he had to be crippled in his own self-sufficiency
Mark 3:21 When his family heard this they went out to restrain him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”
Saturday, January 28, 2017
January 28 - readings for Jan 30
Today's readings: Gen 31; Mk 2; Est 7; Ro 2
Gen 31:42 If the God of my father - the God of Abraham, the one whom Isaac fears - had not been with me, you would certainly have sent me away empty-handed! But God saw how I was oppressed and how hard I worked, and he rebuked you last night.”
Gen 31:42 If the God of my father - the God of Abraham, the one whom Isaac fears - had not been with me, you would certainly have sent me away empty-handed! But God saw how I was oppressed and how hard I worked, and he rebuked you last night.”
Friday, January 27, 2017
January 27 - readings for Jan 29
Today's readings: Gen 30; Mk 1; Est 6; Ro 1
Mark 1:14-15 Now after John was imprisoned, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God. He said, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the gospel!”
Mark 1:32-33 When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered by the door.
Mark 1:37-38 When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He replied, “Let us go elsewhere, into the surrounding villages, so that I can preach there too. For that is what I came out here to do.”
Rom 1:4 who was appointed the Son-of-God-in-power according to the Holy Spirit by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Note: Appointed the Son-of-God-in-power. Most translations render the Greek participle ὁρισθέντος (horisthentos , from ὁρίζω, horizo) "declared" or "designated" in order to avoid the possible interpretation that Jesus was appointed the Son of God by the resurrection. However, the Greek term ὁρίζω is used eight times in the NT, and it always has the meaning "to determine, appoint." Paul is not saying that Jesus was appointed the "Son of God by the resurrection" but "Son-of-God-in-power by the resurrection," as indicated by the hyphenation. He was born in weakness in human flesh (with respect to the flesh, v. 3) and he was raised with power. This is similar to Matt 28:18 where Jesus told his disciples after the resurrection, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."
Mark 1:14-15 Now after John was imprisoned, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God. He said, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the gospel!”
Mark 1:32-33 When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered by the door.
Mark 1:37-38 When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He replied, “Let us go elsewhere, into the surrounding villages, so that I can preach there too. For that is what I came out here to do.”
Rom 1:4 who was appointed the Son-of-God-in-power according to the Holy Spirit by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Note: Appointed the Son-of-God-in-power. Most translations render the Greek participle ὁρισθέντος (horisthentos , from ὁρίζω, horizo) "declared" or "designated" in order to avoid the possible interpretation that Jesus was appointed the Son of God by the resurrection. However, the Greek term ὁρίζω is used eight times in the NT, and it always has the meaning "to determine, appoint." Paul is not saying that Jesus was appointed the "Son of God by the resurrection" but "Son-of-God-in-power by the resurrection," as indicated by the hyphenation. He was born in weakness in human flesh (with respect to the flesh, v. 3) and he was raised with power. This is similar to Matt 28:18 where Jesus told his disciples after the resurrection, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."
Thursday, January 26, 2017
January 26 - readings for Jan 28
Today's readings: Gen 29; Mt 28; Est 5; Act 28
Gen 29:10 When Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his uncle Laban, and the sheep of his uncle Laban, he went over and rolled the stone off the mouth of the well and watered the sheep of his uncle Laban. Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep loudly.
Previously seen:
Gen 24:18-20 “Drink, my lord,” she replied, and quickly lowering her jug to her hands, she gave him a drink. When she had done so, she said, “Iʼll draw water for your camels too, until they have drunk as much as they want.” She quickly emptied her jug into the watering trough and ran back to the well to draw more water until she had drawn enough for all his camels.
Matt 28:2 Suddenly there was a severe earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descending from heaven came and rolled away the stone and sat on it.
Matt 28:3-5 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were shaken and became like dead men because they were so afraid of him. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
Matt 28:8-9 So they left the tomb quickly, with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. But Jesus met them, saying, “Greetings!” They came to him, held on to his feet and worshiped him.
Matt 28:18-19a Then Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples
Qtn: how does the "all authority" fit with the "therefore"? - (see note on Rom 1:4, January 27)
Esther 5:13 Yet all of this fails to satisfy me so long as I have to see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the kingʼs gate.”
Gen 29:10 When Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his uncle Laban, and the sheep of his uncle Laban, he went over and rolled the stone off the mouth of the well and watered the sheep of his uncle Laban. Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep loudly.
Previously seen:
Gen 24:18-20 “Drink, my lord,” she replied, and quickly lowering her jug to her hands, she gave him a drink. When she had done so, she said, “Iʼll draw water for your camels too, until they have drunk as much as they want.” She quickly emptied her jug into the watering trough and ran back to the well to draw more water until she had drawn enough for all his camels.
Matt 28:2 Suddenly there was a severe earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descending from heaven came and rolled away the stone and sat on it.
Matt 28:3-5 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were shaken and became like dead men because they were so afraid of him. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
Matt 28:8-9 So they left the tomb quickly, with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. But Jesus met them, saying, “Greetings!” They came to him, held on to his feet and worshiped him.
Matt 28:18-19a Then Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples
Qtn: how does the "all authority" fit with the "therefore"? - (see note on Rom 1:4, January 27)
Esther 5:13 Yet all of this fails to satisfy me so long as I have to see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the kingʼs gate.”
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
January 25 - readings for Jan 27
Today's readings: Gen 28; Mt 27; Est 4; Act 27
Gen 28:18-22 Early in the morning Jacob took the stone he had placed near his head and set it up as a sacred stone. Then he poured oil on top of it. He called that place Bethel, although the former name of the town was Luz. Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God is with me and protects me on this journey I am taking and gives me food to eat and clothing to wear, and I return safely to my fatherʼs home, then the Lord will become my God. Then this stone that I have set up as a sacred stone will be the house of God, and I will surely give you back a tenth of everything you give me.”
Esther 4:14 “Donʼt imagine that because you are part of the kingʼs household you will be the one Jew who will escape. If you keep quiet at this time, liberation and protection for the Jews will appear from another source, while you and your fatherʼs household perish. It may very well be that you have achieved royal status for such a time as this!”
Gen 28:18-22 Early in the morning Jacob took the stone he had placed near his head and set it up as a sacred stone. Then he poured oil on top of it. He called that place Bethel, although the former name of the town was Luz. Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God is with me and protects me on this journey I am taking and gives me food to eat and clothing to wear, and I return safely to my fatherʼs home, then the Lord will become my God. Then this stone that I have set up as a sacred stone will be the house of God, and I will surely give you back a tenth of everything you give me.”
Esther 4:14 “Donʼt imagine that because you are part of the kingʼs household you will be the one Jew who will escape. If you keep quiet at this time, liberation and protection for the Jews will appear from another source, while you and your fatherʼs household perish. It may very well be that you have achieved royal status for such a time as this!”
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