Posts
February 15, 2011; Mark 1:1-28
Genesis 1:6; "And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water." Mark 1:3-9a; "a voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way...the people of Jerusalem [way of peace] went out to him...Jesus of Nazareth [Salvation of (the separated or guardian of the dust)]
Scripture notes: Galatians 5:13; "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another in love." Jeremiah 34:17; "Therefore, this is what the LORD says: You have not obeyed me; you have not proclaimed freedom for your fellow countrymen. So I now proclaim ‘freedom’ for you, declares the LORD—‘freedom’ to fall by the sword, plague and famine. I will make you abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth."
Personal notes: There is a lot of question about the geography of Nazareth in Jesus' day - but there is little doubt amongst the linguists of what the name means today. Two etymologies I came across were "separation" and "guardian" or "hill over Palestine."
February 16, 2011; Mark 1:29-2:12
Mark 2:10b; "know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins... 'I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.'" John 20:23a; "If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven" Mat.6:15; "But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
February 17, 2011; Mark 2:13-3:6
Mark 3:4; "Then Jesus [YHWH's Salvation] asked them, 'Which is lawful on the Sabbath [Day of atonement]: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?' Isaiah 22:10-11; "You counted the buildings in Jerusalem and tore down houses to strengthen the wall...but you did not look to the One...who planned it long ago."
Personal Note: For those of you who do not know, the words in [brackets] represent the approximate meanings of words as used in original languages as portrayed by Bible dictionary or Lexicon linguists.
Scripture note: Perhaps its time for the USA and Israel to take a dose of their own medicines in treating their neighbor's as equals by and not labeling them as evil according to the Word, and the Will of God.
Ezekiel 42:20; "It had a wall around it, five h...undred cubits long and five hundred cubits wide, to separate the holy from the common."
Ezekiel 46:12; "When the prince provides a freewill offering to the LORD—whether a burnt offering or fellowship offerings—the gate facing east is to be opened for him. He shall offer his burnt offering or his fellowship offerings as he does on the Sabbath day. Then he shall go out, and after he has gone out, the gate will be shut.
Ezekiel 47:2; "He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was flowing from the south side."
Ephesians 2:4; "he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility"
Revelation 21:13-27a; "were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west...On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful
Mark 12:28-34a;
28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.[e] 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[f] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[g] There is no commandment greater than these.”
32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”
February 18, 2011; Mark 3:7-30
Joel 2:28; "I will pour out my Spirit on all people." Mark3:28-30; "I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin. Matthew 7:1; "Do not judge, or you too will be judged."
Personal Note: This teaching is profound - and worthy of tremendous concern! If we as a religious culture claim that the Spirit of God is not at work within our fellowman - proclaiming they are of the devil - we only serve to condemn our own culture by not seeing the very hand of God! If we claim another culture is going to hell - and choose through war to send them there, We completely ignore the power of YHWH's Salvation and commit the ultimate sin! I cannot interpret this teaching any other way! Help me out if you disagree!
February 19, 2011; Mark 3:31-4:25
Mark 3:24; "'Consider carefully what you hear,' (Jesus) continued. 'With the measure you use, it will be measured to you - and even more." vs.22b; "whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed." John 3:17; "God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world" through him"
February 20, 2011; Mark 4:26-5:20
Mark 4:28; "All by itself the soil produces grain - first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head" vs.38-40; "Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, 'Teacher, don't you care if we drown?' He got up, rebuked the wind...'Quiet! Be Still...Do you still have no faith?"
February 21, 2011; Mark 5:21-43
Mark 5:35b; "some men came from the house of Jairus [whom God enlightens] the synagogue ruler, 'You're daughter is dead' vs.36; "Ignoring what they said,[YHWH's Salvation]... went in where the child was...and said to her..."I say to you, get up!" vs.34b; "faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."
February 22, 2011; Mark 6:1-29
Mark 6:1-6; "Jesus [YHWH's Salvation]...went to his hometown...they asked. "What's this wisdom...that he even does miracles! Isn't this Mary's [bitter water's] son and the brother of James [substitute by superiority]... without honor. He could not do any miracles there... amazed at their lack of faith."
Personal Note: Perhaps a stretch between the passage and the video - however, I believe both represent the point: Ownership of "MY" Salvation destroys the power of His Saving grace! Please say a quick prayer for our world and - pass it on! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ko_VSKn1DAE (Seven Percent Only on Youtube)
February 23, 2011; Mark 6:30-56
Exodus 18:25; "He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens." Mark 6:40b-42; "they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties...He (Jesus) gave thanks and broke the loaves...gave them to his disciples to set before the people"
Personal Note: No one wants Israel to disappear, we just want to end apartheid and oppression. We need Israel's leadership - The King of the Jews has inherited the dust of the earth!
February 24, 2011; Mark 7:1-23
Leviticus 15:11a "Anyone the man with a discharge touches without rinsing his hands with water must wash his clothes and bathe with water" Mark 7:13b-23; "you nullify the word of God by your tradition...For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts...theft, murder,...greed, malice, deceit...slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.'"
Personal Note: (Col. West has become prominent politically as he condemns Muslims) Col. West; Psalm 149:6-7 states "May the praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands, to inflict vengeance on the nations" Although that speaks of the Word of God, your country has used that verse just like Israel - and you have condemned Islam and continue to do so as though your ideologies were any different!
Personal Note: Due to Col. West's challenge and others, I am in the process of reading the Qur'an. I seriously doubt Col. West has ever read the book. Although Muhammad also spoke of "self defense" as He and his people were attacked, He speaks often of Peace, Grace, and Mercy. He states his followers must not attack those who do not attack them.
In "The Bee vs.37-38", the Qur'an reads: "God does not guide those who misguide [others], nor will they have anyone to help them. They have sworn by God with their strongest oaths that He will not raise the dead to life. But He will - it is His binding promise, though most people do not realize it." (Translation by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem, published by Oxford University Press).
For me, this brings to mind Isaiah 45:23-24a (NIV1984): In that passage, Isaiah claims God revealed these words to Him: "By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. 24 They will say of me, ‘In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.’” This closes a revelation of three chapters revealing all Man's madness in creating images and likeness of who He is to no avail.
Many Christians leaders and lay people would like to argue that when this day comes (when every knee bows and every tongue confesses), it will be too late! However, to date, no one can show me any scripture which backs up that claim. Therefore, it is my understanding that Muhammad was right! God our Father has saved the worst of sinners through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ and His resurrection from the Dead - firstborn of a new creation! In that moment, He has raised the dead to life! I doubt any of us will understand fully His strength and His righteousness before that final hour! We all remain on equal footing in our humanity, drudging up the dust of the earth in our theological prowess! Until that day then, the best we can do is to Love our fellowman and follow our Father's example given us through Christ by praying for those that persecute us; "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do".
Personal Note: Too political? My apologies, the attitudes propelling this man into power concern me greatly! His comments on the world stage have been extremely damaging to over a billion of God's children - and are of the nature that lead countries into civil war - destroying even the American ideals of One Nation under God.
February 25, 2011; Mark 7:24-8:10
Mark 7:33-35; "Jesus put his fingers into the man's ears. Then he spit and touched the man's tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, 'Ephphatha!' (which means, 'Be opened!'). At this, the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly."
Personal Note; (following Wikipedia link to Fatah) the "Palestinian National Liberation Movement". From this was crafted the reverse acronym Fatḥ (or Fatah), meaning "opening", "conquering", or "victory"" Mark 7:28b; "Yes, Lord," she replied, "but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." Luke 8:48; "“Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
Interestingly, Ephphatha and Fatah have the same meaning - perhaps no other correlation to this scripture, or perhaps...; This story is followed by 7 loaves and seven baskets perhaps referring back to Beersheba (well of the 7 fold oath), then Jesus went to the region of Dalmanutha [the cold fountain] where the Pharisees asked for a sign.
Reading the meanings of fatah and Ephphatha, it is tough not to recognize the roots to the word "Faith." That brings up two verses:
I Corinthians 13:2b; "if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing."
Matthew 13:15; "For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’"
I do not fully understand the "Fatah" group, but I know enough to be concerned that America, Israel, and Islam cherish this violent group.
February 26, 2011; Mark 8:11-38;
Mark 8:11-34; "The Pharisees came...to test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. He sighed deeply...the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law...If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow"
Personal Notes: This seems easy - but when you have to go against the house of your religion proclaiming His Peace for the world, it can be a very lonely road. Mark 8:15 states: "Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees. He then gave them a lesson that I believe must be based on the Hebrew numerical alphabet in Mark 8:19-21. This is the best I can do to decipher the message today:
5 (He) often feminine (almost silent) meaning the or that;
12: Yod Beit; "Beit is close to "Beth meaning "house". The Yod can mean "my" or "His". We must remember the house of God is God's House! When facing the Holy of Holies, there was a table with 12 loaves of bread to the right. Those 12 loaves symbolically represented the 12 tribes of Israel - symbolically representing the divisions of man.
The meaning then of the feeding of the 5 loaves to the 5000 with 12 basketfuls may be the same message as the cleansing of the temple! "the house is My House, meant to be for all people".
7 (Sheva) close resemblance to Sheba which again refers to the sevenfold oath - including all the significants and the insignificants of the Bible - those with Holy Power - and those without! Righteous and wicked, believers and unbelievers. Blessed and those to be blessed by!
4 (door or fish) Behold, I stand at the door and knock; I will make you fishers of men. Interestingly, Mark 8:22 begins "They came to Bethsaida [House of Fish] (notice the similarity of saida with Sidon [Hunter's lodge]). Unfortunately, a hunter or a fisher hunts, kills, or destroys; Thus, too often, after conversion - we are filled with theology regarding hell and end up serving the power of "hellish" theologies rather than "Salvation" theologies. In sharing the Love of God, I do not feel it is important to even consider the power of hell - it has been destroyed in Jesus Name - and we ourselves must recognize that power of salvation as we share His Good News!
The Good Shepherd calls, and the sheep hear His voice; Open Babylon [gate of deity]. We often must leave our house, go out into His World and share the Good News of what Our Father did for all of His Children! We must beware of the "yeast" (partiality) of the Pharisee, open the door and serve the weak, the oppressed, the widows and orphans within God's Kingdom - Those lost souls seeking the Love of God.
February 27, 2011; Mark 9:1-29
Mark 9:1b-10; "I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power... His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them... coming down the mountain... They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what {it (rising from the dead)} meant"
February 28, 2011; Mark 9:30-10:12
Mark 9:50; "Everyone will be salted with fire... Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other" Isaiah 66:23b-24; "all mankind will come and bow down before me...they will go out and look upon the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me; their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched"
Scripture Note: Amos 6:12b; "you have turned justice into poison (fear of the fire) and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness (wormwood)." Proverbs 9:10; "The fear of the LORD (Hell/fire) is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One (Love/ Justice/ Salvation/ His Righteousness) is understanding"
Personal Note: If we read the Bible in light of spirituality, it may well be that we look on ancient theologies which have become abhorrent to humanity. His Spirit continues to guide us into the truth of His Salvation.
March 1, 2011; Mark 10:13-31
Mark 10:18b-31; "'No one is good-except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony'... 'With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God... But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
March 2, 2011; Mark 10:32-52
Mark 10:46-52a; "Then they came to Jericho [fragrance, rose garden, city of palms]. As Jesus [YHWH's Salvation]... together with a large crowd was leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus [highly prized]... began to shout... have mercy on me... said Jesus, 'your faith has healed you'"
Personal Notes; Socrates and Timaeus Philosophy "Atlantis": Timaeus; "...in speaking of the copy and the original we may assume that words are akin to the matter which they describe; when they relate to the lasting and permanent and intelligible, they ought to be lasting and unalterable, and, as far as their nature allows, irrefutable and immovable-nothing less. But when they express only the copy or likeness and not the eternal things themselves, they need only be likely and analogous to the real words. As being is to becoming, so is truth to belief."
Timaeus; "...God desired that all things should be good and nothing bad, so far as this was attainable. Wherefore also finding the whole visible sphere not at rest, but moving in an irregular and disorderly fashion, out of disorder he brought order, considering that this was in every way better than the other."
Timaeus; "Once more, then, at the commencement of my discourse, I call upon God, and beg him to be our savior out of a strange and unwonted enquiry, and to bring us to the haven of probability. So now let us begin again." Bartimaeus; ("Rabbi, I want to see." Mark 10:51b)
March 3, 2011; Mark 11:1-25
Genesis 49:11a;"He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch" Mark 11:4-9a;"They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway...brought the colt to Jesus...people spread their cloaks... others spread branches...Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted Hosanna!"
March 4, 2011; Mark 11:27-12:17
Mark 12:2-17; "At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard... They came to him and said, 'Teacher... should we pay or shouldn't we?... Jesus said to them, 'Give to... God what is God's" Genesis 1:27b; "God created man in his own image, in the image of God"
Personal Note: I find it amazing that when you consider a chapter long enough, all the stories have to do with the same thing. The question about taxes was who's image was on the coin - the question about the vineyard also was about who carried God's image - all of us. Our Father...
March 5, 2011; Mark 12:18-37
Mark 12:24-33a; "[YHWH's Salvation] replied, 'Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?... God is one and there is no other but him... To love him with all your heart...all your understanding... and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings"
March 6, 2011; Mark 12:38-13:13
Mark 13:1b; "What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!" Isaiah 41:15; "I will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth. You will thresh the mountains and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff." Daniel 12:7b; "power of... holy people... finally broken" I John 3:14b; "Love remains"
March 7, 2011; Mark 13:14-37
Mark 13:30-31; "I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away... my words will never pass away" Colossians 1:24b-27; "I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions... for the sake of his body... to present to you the word of God in its fullness... Christ in you, the hope of glory."
Personal Note with video: Close your eyes and recoup from the video above and allow this to bring you back to face this new day. (Appropriate worship shall heal our sorrow - but let us not forget that sorrow, nor our sin.) Eva Cassidy "How Can I Keep From Singing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRMLvgjPd60
March 8, 2011; Mark 14:1-21
Proverbs 25:18; "Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is the man who gives false testimony against his neighbor." Mark 14:21a; "The Son of Man will go just as it was written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man!" James 4:11b-12; "do not slander one another-who are you to judge"
Personal Note: A surprise to many Christians is that Muslims also preach from the Bible: Jesus was not a Christian or a Muslim - but both religions preach the teachings of Jesus Christ! We cannot lay claims to the "Right" Christ as long as we imagine a God that plays favorites - except when it comes to choosing between (His) judging between the oppressors and the oppressed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqPdNsjQxGQ
March 9, 2011; Mark 14:22-52
Mark 14:48-50; "'Am I leading a rebellion,' said Jesus [salvation], 'that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me?'" Zechariah 13:8-9a; "'In the whole land,' declares the LORD... one-third will be left... This third I will bring into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name"
Scripture notes: Mark 14:24a; "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many"
Psalm 75:8; "In the hand of the LORD is a cup full of foaming wine mixed with spices; he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to its very dregs."
Proverbs 31:8; " “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute."
Psalms 79:11; "May the groans of the prisoners come before you; by the strength of your arm preserve those condemned to die."
Hebrews 9:27; "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,"
Job 14:14; "If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait for my renewal to come."
March 10, 2011; Mark 14:53-72
Numbers 12:14; "The LORD replied to Moses, "If her father had spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days?" Mark 14:64b-65a; "They all condemned him as worthy of death. Then some began to spit at him; Isaiah 53:4b; "we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted."
March 11, 2011; Mark 15:1-47
John 18:31; "judge him by your own law." "But we have no right to execute anyone," they objected. Mark 15:3-31a; "The chief priests accused him... the chief priests stirred up the crowd... "Crucify him" they shouted... "Crucify him!"... the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves"
Personal and Scriptural notes: It is commonly believed today that the holocaust took place as one religious body judged another - to judge another, or to deny such an event took place causes catastrophe. Unfortunately, today, the Christian Church is absolving Judaism of ...their character at the crucifixion and the Muslim culture is denying Jesus ever died! All these political and theological ploys carry tremendous weight in light of the fulfillment of Old Testament scripture. Salvation shall come when Christians forgive the shortcomings of others and stop killing their fellowman in the name of their faith. Salvation shall come for the Jews when they look upon the one they have pierced. Salvation shall come for the Muslims when they realize that everything had to take place that day exactly as it did to fulfill the very plan of the creator revealed through Isaiah the prophet in Isaiah 53.
Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression[a] and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished.[b]
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes[c] his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life[d] and be satisfied[e];
by his knowledge[f] my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,[g]
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,[h]
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
Scriptural notes: Zechariah 12:9-10; "On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem. (the way of peace)
"And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son."
(kind of sounds like the blood of the lamb brought Israel back into the fold, following the night they were passed over).
March 12, 2011; Mark 16:1-20
Mark 16:2b-7; "just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, 'Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?'... 'You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene who was crucified. He has risen... and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him."
Personal Notes: Are we lying to the world by telling them the price of Salvation was paid for them through an Almighty Love or not? Too many "believers and non-believers" have given up and decided they are not loved by our God based directly on our theological partialities! Do we, then, dare to be intolerant of His inspiration of Love within our fellowman?
Personal thought: "You're going to Hell" is absolutely a statement of judgment! It is false testimony about our Creator and Savior! It has no bearing on the gospel of Good News which has come to all people. It is the very sting of death erased by our Messiah as He was nailed to the cross for us.
Genesis 1:6; "And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water." Mark 1:3-9a; "a voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way...the people of Jerusalem [way of peace] went out to him...Jesus of Nazareth [Salvation of (the separated or guardian of the dust)]
Scripture notes: Galatians 5:13; "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another in love." Jeremiah 34:17; "Therefore, this is what the LORD says: You have not obeyed me; you have not proclaimed freedom for your fellow countrymen. So I now proclaim ‘freedom’ for you, declares the LORD—‘freedom’ to fall by the sword, plague and famine. I will make you abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth."
Personal notes: There is a lot of question about the geography of Nazareth in Jesus' day - but there is little doubt amongst the linguists of what the name means today. Two etymologies I came across were "separation" and "guardian" or "hill over Palestine."
February 16, 2011; Mark 1:29-2:12
Mark 2:10b; "know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins... 'I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.'" John 20:23a; "If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven" Mat.6:15; "But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
February 17, 2011; Mark 2:13-3:6
Mark 3:4; "Then Jesus [YHWH's Salvation] asked them, 'Which is lawful on the Sabbath [Day of atonement]: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?' Isaiah 22:10-11; "You counted the buildings in Jerusalem and tore down houses to strengthen the wall...but you did not look to the One...who planned it long ago."
Personal Note: For those of you who do not know, the words in [brackets] represent the approximate meanings of words as used in original languages as portrayed by Bible dictionary or Lexicon linguists.
Scripture note: Perhaps its time for the USA and Israel to take a dose of their own medicines in treating their neighbor's as equals by and not labeling them as evil according to the Word, and the Will of God.
Ezekiel 42:20; "It had a wall around it, five h...undred cubits long and five hundred cubits wide, to separate the holy from the common."
Ezekiel 46:12; "When the prince provides a freewill offering to the LORD—whether a burnt offering or fellowship offerings—the gate facing east is to be opened for him. He shall offer his burnt offering or his fellowship offerings as he does on the Sabbath day. Then he shall go out, and after he has gone out, the gate will be shut.
Ezekiel 47:2; "He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was flowing from the south side."
Ephesians 2:4; "he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility"
Revelation 21:13-27a; "were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west...On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful
Mark 12:28-34a;
28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.[e] 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[f] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[g] There is no commandment greater than these.”
32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”
February 18, 2011; Mark 3:7-30
Joel 2:28; "I will pour out my Spirit on all people." Mark3:28-30; "I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin. Matthew 7:1; "Do not judge, or you too will be judged."
Personal Note: This teaching is profound - and worthy of tremendous concern! If we as a religious culture claim that the Spirit of God is not at work within our fellowman - proclaiming they are of the devil - we only serve to condemn our own culture by not seeing the very hand of God! If we claim another culture is going to hell - and choose through war to send them there, We completely ignore the power of YHWH's Salvation and commit the ultimate sin! I cannot interpret this teaching any other way! Help me out if you disagree!
February 19, 2011; Mark 3:31-4:25
Mark 3:24; "'Consider carefully what you hear,' (Jesus) continued. 'With the measure you use, it will be measured to you - and even more." vs.22b; "whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed." John 3:17; "God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world" through him"
February 20, 2011; Mark 4:26-5:20
Mark 4:28; "All by itself the soil produces grain - first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head" vs.38-40; "Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, 'Teacher, don't you care if we drown?' He got up, rebuked the wind...'Quiet! Be Still...Do you still have no faith?"
February 21, 2011; Mark 5:21-43
Mark 5:35b; "some men came from the house of Jairus [whom God enlightens] the synagogue ruler, 'You're daughter is dead' vs.36; "Ignoring what they said,[YHWH's Salvation]... went in where the child was...and said to her..."I say to you, get up!" vs.34b; "faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."
February 22, 2011; Mark 6:1-29
Mark 6:1-6; "Jesus [YHWH's Salvation]...went to his hometown...they asked. "What's this wisdom...that he even does miracles! Isn't this Mary's [bitter water's] son and the brother of James [substitute by superiority]... without honor. He could not do any miracles there... amazed at their lack of faith."
Personal Note: Perhaps a stretch between the passage and the video - however, I believe both represent the point: Ownership of "MY" Salvation destroys the power of His Saving grace! Please say a quick prayer for our world and - pass it on! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ko_VSKn1DAE (Seven Percent Only on Youtube)
February 23, 2011; Mark 6:30-56
Exodus 18:25; "He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens." Mark 6:40b-42; "they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties...He (Jesus) gave thanks and broke the loaves...gave them to his disciples to set before the people"
Personal Note: No one wants Israel to disappear, we just want to end apartheid and oppression. We need Israel's leadership - The King of the Jews has inherited the dust of the earth!
February 24, 2011; Mark 7:1-23
Leviticus 15:11a "Anyone the man with a discharge touches without rinsing his hands with water must wash his clothes and bathe with water" Mark 7:13b-23; "you nullify the word of God by your tradition...For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts...theft, murder,...greed, malice, deceit...slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.'"
Personal Note: (Col. West has become prominent politically as he condemns Muslims) Col. West; Psalm 149:6-7 states "May the praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands, to inflict vengeance on the nations" Although that speaks of the Word of God, your country has used that verse just like Israel - and you have condemned Islam and continue to do so as though your ideologies were any different!
Personal Note: Due to Col. West's challenge and others, I am in the process of reading the Qur'an. I seriously doubt Col. West has ever read the book. Although Muhammad also spoke of "self defense" as He and his people were attacked, He speaks often of Peace, Grace, and Mercy. He states his followers must not attack those who do not attack them.
In "The Bee vs.37-38", the Qur'an reads: "God does not guide those who misguide [others], nor will they have anyone to help them. They have sworn by God with their strongest oaths that He will not raise the dead to life. But He will - it is His binding promise, though most people do not realize it." (Translation by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem, published by Oxford University Press).
For me, this brings to mind Isaiah 45:23-24a (NIV1984): In that passage, Isaiah claims God revealed these words to Him: "By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. 24 They will say of me, ‘In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.’” This closes a revelation of three chapters revealing all Man's madness in creating images and likeness of who He is to no avail.
Many Christians leaders and lay people would like to argue that when this day comes (when every knee bows and every tongue confesses), it will be too late! However, to date, no one can show me any scripture which backs up that claim. Therefore, it is my understanding that Muhammad was right! God our Father has saved the worst of sinners through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ and His resurrection from the Dead - firstborn of a new creation! In that moment, He has raised the dead to life! I doubt any of us will understand fully His strength and His righteousness before that final hour! We all remain on equal footing in our humanity, drudging up the dust of the earth in our theological prowess! Until that day then, the best we can do is to Love our fellowman and follow our Father's example given us through Christ by praying for those that persecute us; "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do".
Personal Note: Too political? My apologies, the attitudes propelling this man into power concern me greatly! His comments on the world stage have been extremely damaging to over a billion of God's children - and are of the nature that lead countries into civil war - destroying even the American ideals of One Nation under God.
February 25, 2011; Mark 7:24-8:10
Mark 7:33-35; "Jesus put his fingers into the man's ears. Then he spit and touched the man's tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, 'Ephphatha!' (which means, 'Be opened!'). At this, the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly."
Personal Note; (following Wikipedia link to Fatah) the "Palestinian National Liberation Movement". From this was crafted the reverse acronym Fatḥ (or Fatah), meaning "opening", "conquering", or "victory"" Mark 7:28b; "Yes, Lord," she replied, "but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." Luke 8:48; "“Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
Interestingly, Ephphatha and Fatah have the same meaning - perhaps no other correlation to this scripture, or perhaps...; This story is followed by 7 loaves and seven baskets perhaps referring back to Beersheba (well of the 7 fold oath), then Jesus went to the region of Dalmanutha [the cold fountain] where the Pharisees asked for a sign.
Reading the meanings of fatah and Ephphatha, it is tough not to recognize the roots to the word "Faith." That brings up two verses:
I Corinthians 13:2b; "if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing."
Matthew 13:15; "For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’"
I do not fully understand the "Fatah" group, but I know enough to be concerned that America, Israel, and Islam cherish this violent group.
February 26, 2011; Mark 8:11-38;
Mark 8:11-34; "The Pharisees came...to test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. He sighed deeply...the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law...If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow"
Personal Notes: This seems easy - but when you have to go against the house of your religion proclaiming His Peace for the world, it can be a very lonely road. Mark 8:15 states: "Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees. He then gave them a lesson that I believe must be based on the Hebrew numerical alphabet in Mark 8:19-21. This is the best I can do to decipher the message today:
5 (He) often feminine (almost silent) meaning the or that;
12: Yod Beit; "Beit is close to "Beth meaning "house". The Yod can mean "my" or "His". We must remember the house of God is God's House! When facing the Holy of Holies, there was a table with 12 loaves of bread to the right. Those 12 loaves symbolically represented the 12 tribes of Israel - symbolically representing the divisions of man.
The meaning then of the feeding of the 5 loaves to the 5000 with 12 basketfuls may be the same message as the cleansing of the temple! "the house is My House, meant to be for all people".
7 (Sheva) close resemblance to Sheba which again refers to the sevenfold oath - including all the significants and the insignificants of the Bible - those with Holy Power - and those without! Righteous and wicked, believers and unbelievers. Blessed and those to be blessed by!
4 (door or fish) Behold, I stand at the door and knock; I will make you fishers of men. Interestingly, Mark 8:22 begins "They came to Bethsaida [House of Fish] (notice the similarity of saida with Sidon [Hunter's lodge]). Unfortunately, a hunter or a fisher hunts, kills, or destroys; Thus, too often, after conversion - we are filled with theology regarding hell and end up serving the power of "hellish" theologies rather than "Salvation" theologies. In sharing the Love of God, I do not feel it is important to even consider the power of hell - it has been destroyed in Jesus Name - and we ourselves must recognize that power of salvation as we share His Good News!
The Good Shepherd calls, and the sheep hear His voice; Open Babylon [gate of deity]. We often must leave our house, go out into His World and share the Good News of what Our Father did for all of His Children! We must beware of the "yeast" (partiality) of the Pharisee, open the door and serve the weak, the oppressed, the widows and orphans within God's Kingdom - Those lost souls seeking the Love of God.
February 27, 2011; Mark 9:1-29
Mark 9:1b-10; "I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power... His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them... coming down the mountain... They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what {it (rising from the dead)} meant"
February 28, 2011; Mark 9:30-10:12
Mark 9:50; "Everyone will be salted with fire... Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other" Isaiah 66:23b-24; "all mankind will come and bow down before me...they will go out and look upon the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me; their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched"
Scripture Note: Amos 6:12b; "you have turned justice into poison (fear of the fire) and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness (wormwood)." Proverbs 9:10; "The fear of the LORD (Hell/fire) is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One (Love/ Justice/ Salvation/ His Righteousness) is understanding"
Personal Note: If we read the Bible in light of spirituality, it may well be that we look on ancient theologies which have become abhorrent to humanity. His Spirit continues to guide us into the truth of His Salvation.
March 1, 2011; Mark 10:13-31
Mark 10:18b-31; "'No one is good-except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony'... 'With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God... But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
March 2, 2011; Mark 10:32-52
Mark 10:46-52a; "Then they came to Jericho [fragrance, rose garden, city of palms]. As Jesus [YHWH's Salvation]... together with a large crowd was leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus [highly prized]... began to shout... have mercy on me... said Jesus, 'your faith has healed you'"
Personal Notes; Socrates and Timaeus Philosophy "Atlantis": Timaeus; "...in speaking of the copy and the original we may assume that words are akin to the matter which they describe; when they relate to the lasting and permanent and intelligible, they ought to be lasting and unalterable, and, as far as their nature allows, irrefutable and immovable-nothing less. But when they express only the copy or likeness and not the eternal things themselves, they need only be likely and analogous to the real words. As being is to becoming, so is truth to belief."
Timaeus; "...God desired that all things should be good and nothing bad, so far as this was attainable. Wherefore also finding the whole visible sphere not at rest, but moving in an irregular and disorderly fashion, out of disorder he brought order, considering that this was in every way better than the other."
Timaeus; "Once more, then, at the commencement of my discourse, I call upon God, and beg him to be our savior out of a strange and unwonted enquiry, and to bring us to the haven of probability. So now let us begin again." Bartimaeus; ("Rabbi, I want to see." Mark 10:51b)
March 3, 2011; Mark 11:1-25
Genesis 49:11a;"He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch" Mark 11:4-9a;"They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway...brought the colt to Jesus...people spread their cloaks... others spread branches...Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted Hosanna!"
March 4, 2011; Mark 11:27-12:17
Mark 12:2-17; "At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard... They came to him and said, 'Teacher... should we pay or shouldn't we?... Jesus said to them, 'Give to... God what is God's" Genesis 1:27b; "God created man in his own image, in the image of God"
Personal Note: I find it amazing that when you consider a chapter long enough, all the stories have to do with the same thing. The question about taxes was who's image was on the coin - the question about the vineyard also was about who carried God's image - all of us. Our Father...
March 5, 2011; Mark 12:18-37
Mark 12:24-33a; "[YHWH's Salvation] replied, 'Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?... God is one and there is no other but him... To love him with all your heart...all your understanding... and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings"
March 6, 2011; Mark 12:38-13:13
Mark 13:1b; "What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!" Isaiah 41:15; "I will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth. You will thresh the mountains and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff." Daniel 12:7b; "power of... holy people... finally broken" I John 3:14b; "Love remains"
March 7, 2011; Mark 13:14-37
Mark 13:30-31; "I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away... my words will never pass away" Colossians 1:24b-27; "I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions... for the sake of his body... to present to you the word of God in its fullness... Christ in you, the hope of glory."
Personal Note with video: Close your eyes and recoup from the video above and allow this to bring you back to face this new day. (Appropriate worship shall heal our sorrow - but let us not forget that sorrow, nor our sin.) Eva Cassidy "How Can I Keep From Singing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRMLvgjPd60
March 8, 2011; Mark 14:1-21
Proverbs 25:18; "Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is the man who gives false testimony against his neighbor." Mark 14:21a; "The Son of Man will go just as it was written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man!" James 4:11b-12; "do not slander one another-who are you to judge"
Personal Note: A surprise to many Christians is that Muslims also preach from the Bible: Jesus was not a Christian or a Muslim - but both religions preach the teachings of Jesus Christ! We cannot lay claims to the "Right" Christ as long as we imagine a God that plays favorites - except when it comes to choosing between (His) judging between the oppressors and the oppressed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqPdNsjQxGQ
March 9, 2011; Mark 14:22-52
Mark 14:48-50; "'Am I leading a rebellion,' said Jesus [salvation], 'that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me?'" Zechariah 13:8-9a; "'In the whole land,' declares the LORD... one-third will be left... This third I will bring into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name"
Scripture notes: Mark 14:24a; "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many"
Psalm 75:8; "In the hand of the LORD is a cup full of foaming wine mixed with spices; he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to its very dregs."
Proverbs 31:8; " “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute."
Psalms 79:11; "May the groans of the prisoners come before you; by the strength of your arm preserve those condemned to die."
Hebrews 9:27; "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,"
Job 14:14; "If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait for my renewal to come."
March 10, 2011; Mark 14:53-72
Numbers 12:14; "The LORD replied to Moses, "If her father had spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days?" Mark 14:64b-65a; "They all condemned him as worthy of death. Then some began to spit at him; Isaiah 53:4b; "we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted."
March 11, 2011; Mark 15:1-47
John 18:31; "judge him by your own law." "But we have no right to execute anyone," they objected. Mark 15:3-31a; "The chief priests accused him... the chief priests stirred up the crowd... "Crucify him" they shouted... "Crucify him!"... the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves"
Personal and Scriptural notes: It is commonly believed today that the holocaust took place as one religious body judged another - to judge another, or to deny such an event took place causes catastrophe. Unfortunately, today, the Christian Church is absolving Judaism of ...their character at the crucifixion and the Muslim culture is denying Jesus ever died! All these political and theological ploys carry tremendous weight in light of the fulfillment of Old Testament scripture. Salvation shall come when Christians forgive the shortcomings of others and stop killing their fellowman in the name of their faith. Salvation shall come for the Jews when they look upon the one they have pierced. Salvation shall come for the Muslims when they realize that everything had to take place that day exactly as it did to fulfill the very plan of the creator revealed through Isaiah the prophet in Isaiah 53.
Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression[a] and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished.[b]
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes[c] his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life[d] and be satisfied[e];
by his knowledge[f] my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,[g]
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,[h]
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
Scriptural notes: Zechariah 12:9-10; "On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem. (the way of peace)
"And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son."
(kind of sounds like the blood of the lamb brought Israel back into the fold, following the night they were passed over).
March 12, 2011; Mark 16:1-20
Mark 16:2b-7; "just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, 'Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?'... 'You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene who was crucified. He has risen... and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him."
Personal Notes: Are we lying to the world by telling them the price of Salvation was paid for them through an Almighty Love or not? Too many "believers and non-believers" have given up and decided they are not loved by our God based directly on our theological partialities! Do we, then, dare to be intolerant of His inspiration of Love within our fellowman?
Personal thought: "You're going to Hell" is absolutely a statement of judgment! It is false testimony about our Creator and Savior! It has no bearing on the gospel of Good News which has come to all people. It is the very sting of death erased by our Messiah as He was nailed to the cross for us.
