Archive for May 2021
The Shocking Splendor of Sonship: Part 2
Today’s guest post is by Josh Maurer, pastoral resident at College Church in Wheaton and adjunct professor at Wheaton College, where he is also completing a PhD in New Testament. You can read Part 1 here. “The entire Christian life has to be understood in terms of it [adoption]” – J. I. Packer In Part…
Read MoreThe Shocking Splendor of Sonship, Part 1
Today’s guest post is by Josh Maurer, pastoral resident at College Church in Wheaton and adjunct professor at Wheaton College, where he is also completing a PhD in New Testament. Part 2 will follow on May 29, 2021. “In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith” (Gal 3:26, ESV). Christian, when…
Read MoreMay 26-31, 2021
In keeping with the Bible reading plan we are using, the last days of each month are designated as “free days.” May 26-31 then are intended to allow you to catch up on reading you may have missed or to study passages more in depth that intrigued you during the first 25 days of the month.…
Read MoreMark 16: Go, Tell
2 Samuel 23-24, Psalm 118, Mark 16, Galatians 6 Mark 16: The end of Mark’s Gospel is famous for the second half of chapter 16 being—as the modern translations put it—“Some of the earliest manuscripts do not include 16:9-20.” We will focus on the first half of the chapter, therefore, show why it holds its own integrity on…
Read MoreMark 15:42-47: Dead and Buried, but Not the End of the Story
2 Samuel 22, Psalm 117, Mark 15:42-47, Galatians 5:13-26 Mark 15:42-47: This passage informs us of the burial and the burial place of Jesus, showing us where he was buried. It helps us with the apologetic that perhaps the disciples went to the wrong tomb when we realize that his burial place was known. Joseph of Arimathea, a…
Read MoreMark 15:33-41: The Curtain of the Temple
2 Samuel 20-21, Psalm 116, Mark 15:33-41, Galatians 5:1-12 Mark 15:33-41: Every part of this final ultimate moment is filled with significance. The darkness all over the land signifies the momentous event about to take place—the disturbance in the heavens, the wrath of God being displayed against the sin of man, and the atoning sacrifice that Christ is…
Read MoreMark 15:16-32: King of the Jews
2 Samuel 18-19, Psalm 115, Mark 15:16-32, Galatians 3:15-21 Mark 15:16-32: This familiar passage never ceases to shock—and amaze; amazing love, what love is this that thou should give thy life for ours? The soldiers mock him. They dress him in purple, the color of royalty, put a pretend crown on his head, a crown of thorns—long dagger,…
Read MoreMark 15:1-15: The Prince of Life They Slay
2 Samuel 16-17, Psalm 114, Mark 15:1-15, Galatians 4:1-20 Mark 15:1-15: The evil of the religious leaders’ treatment of Jesus is made apparent not only in the hideous, vicious, spiritually malevolent act itself, but also in all the little details. “As soon as it was morning” (15:1): that is, the so-called “trial” had been held at night. A…
Read MoreMark 14:66-72: Denying Jesus
2 Samuel 14-15, Psalm 113, Mark 14:66-72, Galatians 3:15-29 Mark 14:66-72: “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” Pressure does strange things to people, and Peter, so loyal, so bold, is exposed in his weakness as being willing to deny the Lord who a few moments ago he was fighting to protect. Such is fallen…
Read MoreMark 14:53-65: Spit on Him
2 Samuel 13, Psalm 112, Mark 14:53-65, Galatians 3:1-14 Mark 14:53-65: Jesus is brought before the Council. The religious leaders are all gathered together. It is a kangaroo court—not following proper procedure, brought together for the sole purpose of giving a spurious legal rationale for condemning Jesus. Peter has followed “at a distance.” So far, so good for…
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