Luke 5

Luke 5:18

But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus' feet, saying "Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!"

Peter's initial reaction when he understood who Jesus was was immediate, and appropriate.  For all their faults, the Jewish leaders understood their inferiority to God.  They knew a separation had to be maintained, or those breaching that separation would die.

However, they did not know Jesus, or why He came.  He came to help remove that separation, to make us family instead of servants.  I'll admit, this is a change I don't do well; I still tend to see God as a (benevolent) master, not a Father.

Luke 4

Luke 4:2

for forty days, being tempted by the devil.  And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He became hungry.

So, how much of the Sunday School version of this story fits?  It appears from this that Satan didn't just come at the end of the 40 days to tempt him; he was tempted by him throughout the time.  I wonder how much time went by between the three temptations we know about?

Also, I wonder how Jesus survived this time, if he never ate anything during those 40 days?  Modern science says that a person can go roughly 3 weeks without food before dying of hunger; Jesus did twice that.  So was there some kind of "cheat" where Jesus did eat something and it's not conveyed through the text, or was there some sort of supernatural intervention involved?

Luke 3

Luke 3:15

Now while the people were in a state of expectation and all were wondering in their hearts about John, as to whether he was the Christ,

The people were not asleep at the switch.  They knew that sooner or later someone would be sent by God to save them, and that person would teach with authority.  They saw that John was teaching with authority, and put two and two together.

However, they were wrong.  John was divinely inspired in his message, but he did not have the power that Jesus would.  He was given the words of God's wisdom, and shared them with the people, but that was just the warm-up act.

Luke 2

Luke 2:35

and a sword will pierce even your own soul--to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."

Imagine having been through the most painful (and joyful) experience of your life barely a week earlier.  You then have to walk a couple hours to another city, probably wait in lines to buy required items, and as you're finally almost done with the requirements of the trip, a stranger comes up and says this to you.

How do you take it?  This bundle of joy, who you've been told will save your people, is going to bring you huge pain?  Did Mary experience any questions or hesitations from hearing this, or was she still simply submissive to God's direction?

Luke 1

Luke 1:3

It seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus;

This tells us much about the author.  First, he was a scholar.  He cares about having the correct facts, and was willing to do the hard work in that time to learn from the eyewitnesses what really happened.

Second, he cared about others.  He didn't do all this to satisfy his own curiosity, which I probably would have.  He investigated to know, but wanted others to know as well, and benefit from his work.  He wasn't in this for himself.

Mark 16

Mark 16:8

They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

I can easily understand the ladies' reaction.  They've just seen something impossible, and someone they've never met is telling them to do things that could make others think they're crazy.  They're not even sure if they're crazy.

The human mind was not made to understand what they'd just witnessed.  They had to come to understand what they'd been told.  Obviously they eventually did tell people, but not when they'd been commanded (does that count as sin?).

Mark 15

Mark 15:21

They pressed into service a passer-by coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to bear His cross.

I wonder if Simon ever understood what was happening?  Here he was, just walking along minding his own business, when a squad of Roman soldiers comes up with a prisoner, and makes you carry the condemned man's cross.  The soldiers had the legal authority to make him do it, so he does, but what happens afterwards?

Did he just carry on his way after, glad to get away from them?  Did he ever realize whose cross he was carrying, and why?  Did he become a believer, or was he hounded about his place a story he never wanted?  And what of his children, did they see it happen?  Did they later believe?

Mark 14

Mark 14:27

And Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away, because it is written, 'I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP SHALL BE SCATTERED.'

There's an old saying about courage, and how no one really knows how they will react in a situation until it occurs.  The ones who seem the bravest may crack, or they may stand firm as expected.  The weak may break, or they may find reserves they never knew were possible.

In this case, I wonder how it played out.  Was their fleeing a matter of human frailty following through?  Or was this the prompting of the Spirit in some way, to maintain the prophecy?

Mark 13

Mark 13:7

When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.

I wonder which gospel people like to quote when they say the end times will be shortly preceded by wars and rumors of wars?  Whichever it is (and I don't recall off the top of my head), it only got half the quote.  Unfortunately, the real signs aren't nearly so clear-cut.

Conflict has been part of the story of humanity since Cain and Abel.  Sadly, it's been going steadily ever since, with no sign of abating soon.  To think that fighting, or mere reports of it, is a sign of the end of the world is to be constantly on alert, which isn't sustainable.

Mark 12

Mark 12:25

For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.

I've head several singles' writers go on about how this verse should be great comfort to singles.  It shows how marriage is a temporary condition for this world, and will mean nothing in Heaven.  There, we will all be single, because there is no other state.

I have to admit, I'm not there yet.  I still long for marriage, even though I know the odds are heavily against me.  I have yet to reach any type of contentment, where I'm OK with staying single the rest of my life, even knowing things will be different in Heaven.

Mark 11

Mark 11:14

He said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again!"  And His disciples were listening.

I have to admit, this story sits a bit uneasy with me.  I have to wonder why Jesus cursed it.  He had to have known it wasn't the season for figs.

I hate to say this, but was Jesus anger justified?  He found a tree in its natural condition, and got angry because of it.  If this were not Jesus Himself, I'd be accusing Him of sin.  But if it wasn't sin, what was it?  It doesn't make sense to be only an object lesson for the disciples, not with this reaction.

Mark 10

Mark 10:11

And He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her;

This verse has troubled me for a long time.  I've always felt it should be taken literally as it is directly from Jesus.  Yet the modern church doesn't seem to give it much weight.

Some say that it's hyperbole on Jesus' part, that He doesn't really mean it.  Yet that seems to be a very convenient answer.  Particularly, I've latched onto the fact that it doesn't say that divorcing is the sin; it says remarrying is the sin.  It's legal under the Law to divorce, per the previous verses, but here the sin seems to be marrying another, and that's one of my major hold-ups.

Mark 9

Mark 9:1

And Jesus was saying to them, "Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power."

I'll admit it, this verse has always driven me nuts.  Who and what is He talking about here?  All those who were there are long-since dead, so where's the kingdom?

Is the kingdom referred to more of a spiritual existence, where Heaven is available because of Christ's sacrifice, and they can go there without dying in spirit?  But if so, what sort of death are they not tasting?  Or is it because John saw Heaven in as depicted in Revelation, and that counts?  Or something else entirely?

Mark 8

Mark 8:32

And He was stating the matter plainly.  And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him.

I always wondered what the rest of the disciples' reaction to this was.  Did they understand that Jesus was talking about Himself, even though He was speaking plainly?  Or did they think it was still a parable or metaphor, or perhaps that He was referring to someone else?

Also, I always wondered what exactly Peter was saying?  I imagine that he wasn't just telling Him to shut up.  So, was he saying Jesus was lying to them?  Or maybe that He shouldn't be talking about this?

Mark 7

Mark 7:23

All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man."

I guess it's a little weird to me that it was declared that no external item can make one unclean.  In this time, the Jews had many laws for cleanliness.  Many of them Jesus told people to follow, including those for purification after being ill.

However, I guess here he's talking about spiritual cleanliness, rather than physical for presentation at the Temple.  After all, Jesus was pointing us to the future, where the Temple would not be needed or available.  In spiritual matters, it is the heart that determines cleanliness, and we've all sullied ourselves quite a bit.

Mark 6

Mark 6:2

When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands?

It's interesting that the people wondered where Jesus got his wisdom from.  I've wondered at times what Jesus was like as a child.  We know He impressed the teachers at the Temple, but what was the rest of His childhood like?

It appears from this that He wasn't nearly so outgoing in the rest of His youth.  He always had this information, but it seems He didn't flaunt it.  He only revealed Himself now, rather than being the local golden boy at home.  It's a good reminder to always keep an open mind, because you never know when someone has learned something new.

Mark 5

Mark 5:17

And they began to implore him to leave their region.

These people have just seen a great miracle, a man released from the hold of demons.  Yet the first thing they do upon learning about this is ask the miracle-worker to leave. Why turn away such a wonderful person?

I can think of three possible reasons.  First, that miracle cost some locals their livelihood, when the demons went into the pigs and they ran into the sea and drowned.  Second, they were afraid of someone so powerful, especially since He was from a different religion as them.  Third, they considered themselves unworthy to be in his presence, realizing their sinful state.

I don't know which of the three might be true, or maybe some combination of them, or some other reason I haven't thought of; but whichever it is, it's sad for them that they didn't let Him stay.  Who knows what else the might have seen Him do?

Mark 4

Mark 4:17

and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away.

I've for a long time wondered whether it's possible to "lose your faith."  The modern Christian answer is no, but I've never been so sure.  It seems to me that one can believe, but then something happens and they no longer believe, and then their "fire insurance" no longer applies.

This verse from the parable of the seed is one that always comes to mind in that argument.  The seed in rocky soil was on-fire, sprouting early, yet didn't last through the trouble.  It would make sense that some start out on-fire for God, and this may last for years, but sooner or later something pops up that shakes them to their core, and they turn away and are lost forever.  Maybe it's more a matter of never truly having been saved to begin with, but how can we tell?

Mark 3

Mark 3:25

If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.

I worry about the church (as a whole, not my specific church) sometimes.  We seem to be very strongly divided, and the things that separate us appear to be much more potent than those that unite us.  I've heard of multiple attempts at having some kind of unified services or gatherings being rebuffed.

I really wish we remembered more, me included, that we are supposed to be one body.  There may be slight differences in our style preferences, but there must be stronger unity in our agreement of common doctrine.  The issues that split us into so many denominations must be reconcilable, at least to the point of working together for the larger goal of saving the lost.

Mark 2

Mark 2:17

And hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

I often worry about being mis-categorized in this verse.  I think most see me as one of the healthy ones, when I don't feel I am.  Like this crud I'm fighting right now, everything seems fine on the outside, but I know I'm not all right.

Similarly, I know I probably mis-categorize others.  I know I have a tendency to look down on those who I see a lazy or whiny.  They need a doctor, but all I want to give is a tissue or band-aid.

Mark 1

Mark 1:10

Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him;

My mental antenna twanged when I read this verse.  In the past, and it may be this way in other gospels, I've always heard that this was something everyone around saw. They all saw the Spirit like a dove, and in the next verse the voice from Heaven.

However, here it appears that only Jesus saw and heard this.  So which is true?  Was this something God revealed to all present, or was this something private between the Father and Son?

Matthew 28

Matthew 28:17

When they saw Him, they worshiped Him, but some were doubtful.

I hate to admit it, but I'd probably be among those who doubted.  I would have seen this man die, and knew there was no way He could be alive.  This is long before resuscitation techniques existed, so if He died, there was no bringing Him back.

However, that thinking precludes miracles, and disavows who Jesus was.  As the Son of God, normal rules of life may not have applied to Him.  In addition, I'd have seen Him bring others back to life, so I would be wrong to doubt that God could do the same for Him.  Unfortunately for me, that doesn't mean I would've been able to overcome my doubts...