19 October

Bible in 365 Days                        

Mark 10-11

Mark 10

The Pharisees raised a question concerning the marriage relation. The Master went to the root of all things in the words, "From the beginning of the creation." The supreme and final authority is not the permission of a human lawgiver, but the will and intention of God.

It was in this connection that Jesus took the children in His arms and blessed them, laying His hands on them. The story of the rich young ruler reveals the need of control. The way to find it is to follow the Master. The Master told His disciples that riches were always a snare. It is ever hard for a rich man to enter, but with God the impossible is possible.

"Jesus was going before." The disciples followed with an unnamable and awful dread upon them. Jesus was interrupted by James and John. With what tender patience He talked to them! The ten were indignant with James and John. This indignation of the ten is no more worthy of imitation than is the ambition of the two. Indignation and ambition were alike based on selfishness and desire for greatness.

The story of Bartimaeus reveals anew the readiness and power of Christ to aid.

Mark 11

This is the one occasion in the life of Jesus on which He of set purpose, and in such a way as to be understood of the crowds, took the position and accepted the homage of a King.

Afterward the disciples wondered as they saw the withered fig tree (Matthew 21:18-22.) This wonder was caused by Jesus' evident power; they did not question His right. Having in a brief sentence revealed the secret of His power in such a case to be faith, He uttered some most remarkable words on prayer.

There is an underlying consideration in the cleansing of the Temple. The part of the Temple where this traffic was carried on was the court of the Gentiles. His words, "a house of prayer for all the nations," claimed the right of worship for Gentile as well as Jew, and denied the value of service rendered to some at the expense of any. The reputed masters of the Temple approached this newcomer, and demanded to know "in what authority" He was acting. The true Master of that Temple (for, observe, He had spoken of it as "My House") was dealing with men who were not sincere. He took them back to the last voice from heaven, and because they had not heard or obeyed that voice, declined to give them any further revelation.