March 31, read the Bible in a year in PowerPoint; commented

Mark 3:20-35. After being accused of being possessed by Beelzebub (The lord of flies, also the demon of gluttony and envy) Jesus began teaching in parables. He issued a strong warning: “All sins can be forgiven except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.” Jesus mother and brothers tried to meet him, but Jesus reminded all: “Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother”.

Joshua 7. After the tremendous victory over mighty Jericho, Joshua was humiliated at Ai. Why? Was it because they tried to do it in their own strength or was it the sin of Achan?

Joshua 8. Finally, after a bitter fight Ai was conquered. Joshua renewed the Covenant at Mount Ebel..

Joshua 9. Without consulting the LORD, the leaders of Israel made a treaty with the Gibeonites, a very bad idea.

In today’s scriptures the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is addressed. The battle of Ai was originally lost, and Joshua and company found Achan had sinned and so he was the cause, when the real cause was that they thought they could do it in their own strength without consulting the LORD first. This error was then repeated in the treaty with the Gibeonites. When trouble, sickness or even accidents come our way we sometimes tend to blame God for our troubles, even when it is done in God’s perfect will, and instead of being angry at God we should be thankful in everything, even if it seems unfair. The blasphemy occurs when we attribute to Satan what God is doing or to God what Satan is doing. But with God, nothing is impossible, so if we come to God honestly and ask what is happening, and take God’s advice and rebuke;and repent, reconciliation and restoration will happen.

March 30, read the Bible in a year in PowerPoint; commented

Again, in Mark 3:1-19 Jesus did heal on a Sabbath, this time He healed a man with a withered hand. The powers that be hated it, but more and more people followed him. Then Jesus appointed the 12 apostles.

Joshua 5. While camped at Gilgal the second generation of Israelites were circumcised. Joshua met the Commander of the Army of the LORD.

Joshua 6 describes in living detail the Fall of Jericho. (One of the many musical renditions of this event is with the Delta Rhythm Boys from many years ago.) Enjoy!

Psalm 27 of David. “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

March 29, read the Bible in a year in PowerPoint; commented

Mark 2:13-28. Jesus called Levi, the tax collector, also called Matthew. To associate with a tax collector was controversial and the Pharisees objected, since tax collectors were held in deep disregard, but Jesus assured them he came to save sinners. Then Jesus was questioned about why he and the disciples did not fast as they should, and worse yet, they picked food from the head of the grain on a Sabbath! To this Jesus claimed that he is also Lord of the Sabbath!

In Joshua 3  the Israelites were finally crossing the Jordan.

Joshua 4. After crossing the Jordan Joshua commanded the Israelites to take twelve stones as Memorial Stones to remind them they crossed Jordan on dry ground even though the Jordan River was flooded. (When the Levites finally had passed over the Jordan River with the Ark the waters returned to flood stage.)

Psalm 25, of David. “Unto Thee, o LORD do I lift up my soul.”

Psalm 26, of David. A Psalm where David asked God to judge him on his merits based on faith.

March 28, read the Bible in a year in PowerPoint; commented

In Mark 2:1-12 Jesus healed a paralytic man, and he also forgave the man his sins. This caused quite a stir, since nobody can forgive sins but God alone.

Joshua 1 tells of  God’s Commission to Joshua. The LORD gave the order to Cross the Jordan, “Only be strong and of a good courage”.

Joshua 2 tells the story of the innkeeper Rahab and the spies. From this story we get the idiom “a scarlet thread”.

Psalm 24, of David. Here the Psalm is illustrated with beautiful pictures. Enjoy!

March 27, read the Bible in a year in PowerPoint; commented

Mark 1:12-45 . Immediately after Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist, he was tested in the wilderness for forty days. After the temporary victory over Satan, Jesus began calling his first disciples, and went to Capernaum, starting his ministry. Jesus drove out an evil spirit while teaching in the synagogue. As had become his habit, Jesus healed many and many people started to follow him, and as always Jesus prayed in a solitary place, but continued to teach and heal many, including a man with leprosy. This is a chapter full of action.

Ecclesiastes 9. Death comes to all, and wisdom is better than folly.

Ecclesiastes 10. Yes indeed, wisdom is better than folly.

Psalm 23, of David. Probably the most memorized Psalm of all. Memorize it it if you can.

March 26, read the Bible in a year in PowerPoint; commented

Mark 1:1-11 starts, not with the birth of Jesus, but with the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus, baptized many for repentance and the forgiveness of sins, and he also baptized Jesus.

Deuteronomy 33. Moses’ gave his final blessing on each of the tribes of Israel.

Deuteronomy 34. Moses died on Mount Nebo. Epilogue: “And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face”. This ends the first five books of the Bible, also called the Torah.

March 25, read the Bible in a year in PowerPoint; commented

Matthew 28 begins with Jesus being in the grave for the two adjoining sabbaths, the first day of unleavened bread followed by the normal sabbath. There was an earthquake and the stone was rolled away. Jesus was no longer in the grave. The guards were bribed to tell the story that the disciples took the body, but two  women, the two Marys met the resurrected Jesus. He told them to tell the remaining disciples that he was risen from the dead. The Gospel of Matthew ends with Jesus giving us the great commission: “All power (authority) is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Deuteronomy 32 gives us the Song of Moses. At the end of the chapter the LORD told Moses he would only see the promised land from a distance and die on Mount Nebo.

March 24, read the Bible in a year in PowerPoint; commented

Matthew 27:32-66,  After Jesus was flogged he was too weak to carry his own cross, so the Roman soldiers forced Simon from Cyrene to carry Jesus cross all the way to the place of the skull, and there Jesus was crucified together  with two criminals. To identify Jesus they put an  inscription on the top of the cross: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” A number of prophecies were fulfilled during the crucifixion, and Jesus died on the cross. At that very moment the Temple veil was torn in two, from top to bottom and for the first time the holy of holiest was revealed. Jesus, now being dead was taken down from the cross and put in a tomb, a stone was rolled in front of the entrance and the tomb was sealed, and – this is important, they put up a guard to secure the tomb. Why did they do that? Think about that.

Deuteronomy 30, The Blessings of turning to God is pro-life, but if not, God is pro-choice with all its consequences.  See v 15:   “I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil“. (KJV)

Deuteronomy 31 Moses declared Joshua to be the new leader of Israel, “Be strong and of good courage”. The Law was to be read every seven years, Israel’s rebellion was predicted and, as a reminder Moses recorded his song, which is recited in the next chapter.

March 23, read the Bible in a year in PowerPoint; commented

Matthew 27:1-31 depicts the first half of the longest day, beginning with Jesus being handed over to Pilate, the Roman governor; since the Jews did not have right to execute capital punishment. Judas hanged himself and the thirty pieces of silver given him in exchange for the betrayal of Jesus was used to buy the Potter’s field. Pilate tried to wiggle out of his role as judge; his wife had warned him, so he used his privilege to release one prisoner at Passover which was the custom at that time. Pilate chose Jesus or Barabbas to be released and of the two the people chose Barabbas; a known insurrectionist to be released and Jesus to be crucified. Pilate acquiesced to the mob and so Jesus was flogged by the soldiers for a public spectacle and then he was led away to be crucified.

Deuteronomy 29. In preparation of the tribes entering the promised land God renews the Mosaic Covenant in Moab.

March 22, read the Bible in a year in PowerPoint; commented

In Matthew 26:31-75 Jesus predicted Peter’s denial. After finishing the Last Supper they all moved on to the Mount of Olives, and there lies the garden of Gethsemane. In the garden Jesus prayed “Not my will, but yours be done.”  Jesus prayed this prayer three times, and every time the disciples fell asleep. After that is recorded the betrayal and arrest of Jesus as he was taken to the Sanhedrin to be interrogated. The chapter ends with Peter’s denial.

Deuteronomy 28. The LORD through Moses specified many blessings for obedience and even more curses for disobedience.