The apostle John begins this section by pointing out that it was the time of the Jewish Passover, and therefore Jesus went up to Jerusalem. It is important to keep in mind that John is not recording his gospel in chronological sequence. The other gospel accounts place this event toward the end of Jesus’ ministry. [...]

Unfortunately the second chapter of John is used and interpreted for all the wrong reasons. This text is frequently used as a battleground over whether Christians are able to drink alcohol. The apostle John did not include this story about Jesus turning water to wine so that we could argue over the Christian use of [...]

There are many teachings and commands of Jesus that are simply difficult to consistently obey. Jesus offers one of those challenges in this section of Luke’s gospel. Jesus begins by letting us know that temptations are going to come. Regardless of how much we grow, how much we read the scriptures, and pray, temptations are [...]

Luke continues to tell the scene as Jesus is teaching his disciples about using money to be friends of God. Jesus taught the disciples that everything we have is God’s and we are to be good managers of God’s wealth. The Pharisees were listening to Jesus’ teaching and ridiculed Jesus for teaching this message. But [...]

Introduction: In our last lesson we noticed the preparations being made for the death of Jesus. The chief priests and scribes have been plotting to arrest and kill Jesus and now an opportunity has fallen into their laps. Judas has come into their midst and asked them how much they would pay him to deliver [...]

Introduction: In chapter 14 of the gospel of Mark, we have come to the last two days of Jesus. But instead of following the chronology of events, we have in this section of text some events out of order. According to John 12, the anointing of Jesus by Mary happened six days before the Passover. [...]

Introduction: In the last two chapters we have noticed the teachings of Jesus in the temple complex. From cleansing the temple to dealing with the questions of the Jewish leaders, Jesus has spent His time on this day making His final teachings. It seems that evening has come, probably the Tuesday before His death, and [...]

Introduction: The Pharisees, scribes, Herodians, and other religious leaders have been asking various questions of Jesus in an effort to trap Him in His words so they can arrest Him. Jesus has successfully answered their questions such that Mark 12:34 says that no one dared to question Him any longer. But Jesus now has a [...]

Introduction: In our last scene, the chief leaders of the Jews have come to Jesus asking where He got His authority for the works He was doing. Jesus ties His authority to the authority of John the Baptist, implying that both of them have received their authority from God. Jesus then went a step further, [...]

Questioning of Jesus (11:27-33) What authority to do these acts? Jesus again has come into Jerusalem and is walking about in the temple complex. The chief priests, the scribes, and the elders come up to Jesus. This throng of Jewish teachers asks Jesus two questions: (1) By what authority are You doing these things and [...]