Category: Bible

March 11, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

Today there are only 2 chapters to read, the beginning of Holy Week in the gospel of Mark, and the conditional promise of entering into the promised land in Deuteronomy.

March 11: Mark 11, Deuteronomy 4 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Mark 11 starts what is called the Holy Week with the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. Jesus entered, riding on an unbroken foal of a donkey. This was the sign. The next day Jesus cursed a fig tree (symbol of Israel) and cleared the Temple of the money-exchangers (You don’t want to give too much, you know). Following morning the fig tree was withered, and all marveled. Finally, Jesus authority was questioned by the religious authorities.

In Deuteronomy 4 God promised the people they will enter the promised land, but if they are disobedient they will be scattered all over the earth. Obedience means no idolatry “for the LORD, your God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God”. Three Cities of Refuge are mentioned.

March 10, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

Today’s chapter in the gospel of Mark deals with marriage, salvation and servanthood. Then we read two historical chapters of Deuteronomy.

March 10: Mark 10, Deuteronomy 2, Deuteronomy 3 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

In Mark 10 Jesus explained the Christian concept of Marriage: One man, one woman, one lifetime,“6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. 7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; 8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. 9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Then  Jesus blessed the little children and said: “Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.” A Rich Young Ruler asks what he must do to receive eternal life, but he cannot make himself do what Jesus required of him, so Jesus commented: ”It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” The disciples were astounded and said: “Who then can be saved?” upon which Jesus answered “With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” Yes, that’s how it is with salvation. Jesus then  predicted his resurrection. James and John wanted to be great, but Jesus pointed out that greatness comes by serving. The chapter finally ends as Jesus healed Bartimaeus.

Deuteronomy 2 tells of the first 38 years of wandering in the the Desert, the generation entering the desert had died off, then with the help of God King Sihon was Defeated.

Deuteronomy 3 tells how King Og Defeated and the Israelites conquered the land East of Jordan, but Moses was forbidden to cross the Jordan and enter the Promised Land.

March 9, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

Today there are only one chapter of the gospel of Mark and the first chapter out of Deuteronomy.

March 9: Mark 9, Deuteronomy 1 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Mark 9 begins with the Transfiguration and gives an explanation regarding Elijah, he had already come. Then a boy with an evil spirit was healed and the disciples asked Jesus why they could not drive out the evil spirit. He answered: “This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.” After that Jesus predicted his death and resurrection but the disciples did not understand, instead they argued among themselves who was the greatest. To give a perfect object lesson Jesus picked up a little child and explained what it means to be a servant of all. Jesus tought unity, not division, “whoever is not against us is for us,” and warnof of the dire consequences of offenses and told them to be “salt with savor” and be at peace with each other.

Deuteronomy 1 starts with the LORD’s command to leave Horeb and enter Canaan. Leaders were appointed and spies sent out, but Israel’s refused to enter the land. The penalty for Israel’s rebellion was that no one would enter the promised land except Caleb and Joshua.

March 8, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

In the reading for today Jesus in the chapter of the gospel of Mark Jesus is full of action, teaching and preparing the disciples for the future. The four chapters in Numbers is good historical reading.

March 8: Mark 8, Numbers 33, Numbers 34, Numbers 35, Numbers 36, (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Mark 8 begins with Jesus as he fed the four thousand, the Pharisees were still looking for a sign, but Jesus warned of the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod, all very confusing for the disciples; they were still not thinking in the spiritual realm. Jesus healed a blind man at Bethsaida, then followed Peter’s Confession and  Jesus predicted his death.

Numbers 33 is a reciting of Israel’s Journey from Egypt, and provides instructions on how the Israelites were to conquer Canaan.

Numbers 34 defines the Boundaries of Canaan and mentions all the leaders appointed to divide the land.

Numbers 35 names the Cities for the Levites and defines the six Cities of Refuge.

Numbers 36 tells about the Inheritance of Zelophehad’s Daughters and why the Israelite women must marry within their tribe.

March 7, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

Today there are four chapters to read.

March 7: Mark 7, Numbers 30, Numbers 31 , Numbers 32, (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Mark 7. Jesus explained what is clean and what is unclean. Jesus went to the region of Tyre and Sidon and gave an  example of Great Faith: The Canaanite woman, and the healing of her daughter.  Then Jesus healed a deaf-mute man, and the people say: “He has done everything well.”

Numbers 30 is short, and it deals with what the Law says about vows.

Numbers 31. The Israelites executed vengeance on the Midianites, returned from the war and dividied the spoils.

Numbers 32, The Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh decided to settle East of Jordan.

March 6, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

The three chapters chosen for today’s reading is one chapter of Mark and two chapters in Numbers.

March 6: Mark 6, Numbers 28, Numbers 29, (click on the chapter to begin reading)

In Mark 6  Jesus proclaimed ”A Prophet is not without honor, but in his own hometown, and among his own kin.” Jesus sent out the Twelve, and they were amazed they could heal too. John the Baptist was beheaded. By the way – the name Salome is not in the Bible, we know it because beheading fascinates many. Then is retold the feeding of the Five Thousand, and after that Jesus walked on the water.

Numbers 28 is all about offerings, the Daily Offerings, Sabbath Offerings, Monthly Offerings, Offerings at Passover and Offerings at the Feast of Weeks.

In Numbers 29 the specifications for offerings continue, Offerings at the Feast of Trumpets, Offerings at the Day of Atonement and finally Offerings at the Feast of Tabernacles.

March 5, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

The chapter from Mark contains some interesting examples of healing, to say the least. The two chapters from Numbers on the other hand is mostly for historical purposes.

March 5: Mark 5, Numbers 26, Numbers 27, (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Mark 5 is full of action. On a hillside east of the sea of Galilee a demon possessed man met Jesus and recognized him as “The Son of the Most High God” and begged him not to torture him. The demons in the man asked Jesus to send them into a herd of pigs, about 2000 or so. Jesus let the demons go into the swine, and they promptly rushed down the hill and into Lake Galilee and drowned. This was too much for the people living in the area, so they begged Jesus to leave. Jesus did depart, and doing so he met Jarius, who had a daughter that was dying. As they went to Jarius’ house a large crowd followed them, and a woman with a bleeding issue for twelve years touched his garment. This Jesus noticed, and said to the woman “Daughter, your faith has healed you”. While still at a distance from Jarius’ house the news arrived that Jarius’ daughter had died, they were too late for healing. Jesus ignored them, saying: “Be not afraid, only believe.” Then he told the child “Talitha koum”, she rose up, and that is the end of the chapter.

Numbers 26 lists in detail, by tribe, the Second Census of Israel.

Numbers 27 defines inheritance laws, and it was decided that Joshua should succeed Moses.

March 4, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

The four chapter chose for today are one chapter of Mark dealing with Jesus’ parables and three chapters in Numbers dealing with Balaam’s oracles and Balaam’s error.

March 4: Mark 4, Numbers 23, Numbers 24, Numbers 25, (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Mark 4 starts out with the parable of the sower, and Jesus provided the explanation of it, and with that the key to the parables. Then He told the parable of the lamp on a stand, not under a bushel, and the parable of the seed in the ground, followed by the parable of the faith of a mustard seed, all parables relating to the Kingdom of God. Finally Jesus calmed the storm and chastised the disciples for their lack of faith.

Numbers 23 tells of Balaam’s first oracle, his second oracle, and the beginning of his third oracle.

Numbers 24 continues with Balaam’s third oracle, his fourth, and his final oracle.

Numbers 25 finally tells how Israel went astray in Moab.

March 3, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

The three chapters chosen for today, one chapter of Mark and two chapters of Numbers deal with healing, seeing, recognizing and acknowledging.

March 3: Mark 3, Numbers 21 ,  Numbers 22, (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Again, in Mark 3 Jesus did healing on a Sabbath, this time He healed a man with a withered hand. The powers that were hated it, but more and more people followed him. Jesus appointed the 12 apostles, and 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”.

In Numbers 21 the Canaanites were defeated in Hormath. The people kept speaking against God, so God sent venomous snakes their way and many died. Moses made a bronze snake, put it on a pole and when people looked at it, they got healed. (Does that remind you of a symbol used even today?) The travels continued.

Numbers 22 tells the story of how Balak sent for Balaam, and how Balaam’s Donkey behaved when he saw the Angel.

March 2, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

For today we read one chapter of Mark and three chapters in Numbers.

March 2: Mark 2, Numbers 18 , Numbers 19, Numbers 20, (click on the chapter to begin reading)

In Mark 2 Jesus healed a paralytic man, but he also forgave the man his sins. This caused quite a stir, since nobody can forgive sins but God alone. Then he called Levi, the tax collector, also called Matthew. This was also controversial, since tax collectors were held in 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! Jesus assured all that he is also Lord of the Sabbath.

Numbers 18 describes the duties of Priests and Levites, offerings for Supporting the Priests, tithes Supporting the Levites and the tithe of the Levites. As representatives of the LORD they were entitled to get the best part.

Numbers 19 details the laws and procedures of Purification.

In Numbers 20 Moses committed a major error in Kadesh. Thy were short on water, so God told Moses to speak to the rock. Water sprung forth but God punished Moses and his people so severely that that generation was not allowed to enter the promised land. Why did God give them this harsh punishment? The rock was to be smitten only once,  the second time Moses was to speak to the rock, a foreshadowing of Jesus, who was smitten once for our sins. At the end of the chapter Aaron died.