The King of the Jews

Mark 15:1-15 Thank you, Tony, for reading this sad and painful portion of Scripture. Yes, we know Jesus needed to suffer and die, but to see the callous disregard for truth and the lack of respect for human dignity should be painful for us. Let us reflect together on the text titled “The King of […]
Denying Jesus

Mark 14:66-72 Have you ever had someone you considered a friend deny knowing you? I can’t say I’ve had that experience. Years ago, I met a man in another state. He looked familiar, but I had never met him before. I asked him if he was related to a person I knew. He acknowledged that […]
God in the Dock

Mark 14:53-65 C.S. Lewis is well-known in the Christian world. He lived during the latter half of the 19th century and the early 20th century. His journey from Christianity to atheism and back again caused him to ask “hard questions” about faith and life. His writings made a significant contribution to our understanding of how […]
Betrayal!

Mark 14:43-52 There are numerous expressions we use in the English language that, unbeknownst to many, come from the pages of Scripture. Some are quotes like, he’s a “salt of the earth” kind of guy, or “a three-strand cord isn’t easily broken.” Others are implied, like “don’t be a Judas,” or “don’t judge a book […]
Not My Will but Thine

Mark 14:27-42 “Not my will, but thine.” Five simple words so easily spoken, but so challenging to live. Have those words ever crossed your mind, your lips? If so, how have they affected your choices? Were they uttered in response to a specific decision you faced, or were you, as it were, writing a blank […]
Let Us Keep the Feast

Mark 14:17-26 Do you have memorials in your life? What are they? Why do you have them? How important are they? What is their purpose? Memorials are designed to preserve the memory of a person, event, or other significant concept, often in the form of a marker, monument, holiday, or special commemoration. It can be […]
Desire and Destiny

Mark 14:1-16 Human desire is a powerful, motivating force for good or evil. I recall my Dad saying something like this: “Everything in life has its price.” If you want something strongly enough, you’ll find a way to get it, to meet the price. Proverbs 13:19 says, “A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul.” […]
Honor Your Father

Galatians 5:22-23 When I say father, what pictures form in your mind? Are they pleasant, or memories you wish you could forget? No human being, except Jesus, ever had a perfect father, and if you’re a father now, you may feel the weight of your imperfections. But don’t despair, the Bible has clear direction for […]
Watch and Pray

Mark 13:28-37 Our culture has a love-hate relationship with future things. On the one hand, the popularity of horoscopes, astrology, and other ways of foretelling the future is very high. People have always had a hankering to peer into the future. On the other hand, descriptions of divine judgment are met with scorn. Many people […]
The Coming of the Son of Man

Mark 13:14-27 Throughout history, people have desired to know the future. Human beings want to have a sense of control over their destiny. For those who don’t know God or reject His existence, they resort to astrology, horoscopes, divination, omens, and other occult activities. As Christ followers, the details of the future are hidden from […]