Tag: Christianity

March 4, read through the Bible in a year.

Today there are four chapters to read.

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 provides the explanation of it, the key to the parables. Then the parable of the lamp on a stand, not under a bushel, then the parable of the seed in the ground, or the faith of a mustard seed, all parables relating to the Kingdom of God. Finally Jesus calms the storm and chastises 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 Bible in a year.

Today there are three chapters to read.

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

Again, in Mark 3 Jesus heals on a Sabbath, this time a man with a withered hand. The powers to be hate it, but more and more people follow him. Jesus appoints the 12 apostles, and begin teaching in parables. One warning: All sins can be forgiven except blasphemy against the holy spirit. Jesus mother and brothers try to meet him, but Jesus reminds all “Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother”.

In Numbers 21 the Canaanites are defeated in Hormath. The people keep speaking against God, so God sends venomous snakes and many died. Moses makes a bronze snake, puts it on a pole and the people looking at it got healed. (Does that remind you of a symbol used even today?) The travels continue.

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

 

 

March 2, read through the Bible in a year.

Today there are four chapters to read.

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

In Mark 2 Jesus heals 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 the sinners. Then Jesus is questioned about why he and the disciples do not fast, as they should, and worse yet, they picked food from the head of the grain on a Sabbath! Jesus assures all that he is also Lord of the Sabbath.

Numbers 18 describes 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 should get the best part.

Numbers 19 details the laws and procedures of Purification.

In Numbers 20 Moses commits a major error in Kadesh. Thy are short on water, so God tells Moses to speak to the rock. Water comes forth but God punishes Moses and his people so that generation may not enter the promised land. Why this harsh punishment? The rock was to be smitten only once, next time Moses was to speak to the rock. At the end of the chapter Aaron dies.

 

March 1, read through the Bible in a year.

Today there are three chapters to read.

March 1: Mark 1,  Numbers 16, Numbers 17, (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Mark 1 starts, not with the birth of Jesus, but with the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. John the Baptist prepares the way for Jesus, and Baptizes Jesus.Immediately Jesus is tested in the wilderness for forty days, and Jesus begin calling his disciples. Jesus drives out an evil spirit while teaching in a synagogue. After that Jesus heals many and many people start following him, and as always Jesus prays in a solitary place, but continues to teach and heal many, including a man with leprosy. A chapter full of action.

In Numbers 16 Korah, Dathan and Abiram as well as 250 other men rise up in opposition to Moses. Things do not turn out well for them.

Numbers 17 tells of the budding of Aaron’s rod, a really short chapter.

 

 

February 23, read through the Bible in a year.

Today there are four chapters to read, ponder the significance of Matthew 28.

February 23: Matthew 28, Numbers 2, Numbers 3, Numbers 4 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

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, an earthquake and the stone was rolled away and Jesus was no longer in the grave. The guards were bribed to tell that the disciples took the body, but two  women, the two Marys met Jesus, and he told them to tell the remaining disciples that he is risen from the dead. Matthew ends with Jesus giving the great commission.

Numbers 2 tells how the tribes are to be arranged around the tabernacle, three to the east, three to the south, three to the west and three to the north and the Levites in the middle.

Numbers 3 counts the Levites by clan.

Numbers 4 tells of the duties of the Kohathites, the Gershonites and the Merarites. Then these Levite clans are numbered.

 

 

February 22, read through the Bible in a year.

Today there are only two chapters to read, do it and contemplate.

February 22: Matthew 27, Numbers 1 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Matthew 27 depicts 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, the thirty pieces of silver was used to buy the Potter’s field. Pilate tries to wiggle out of the role as a judge, his wife had warned him, so he comes up with the idea to release one prisoner at Passover which was the custom. Pilate chooses Jesus or Barabbas to be released and of the two the people chooses Barabbas to be released and Jesus to be crucified. Pilate acquiesces to the mob and so Jesus is flogged by the soldiers for a public spectacle and then he is led away, but after the flogging Jesus is too weak to carry his own cross, so they force 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 and inscription on the top of the cross “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” A number of prophecies were fulfilled, and Jesus finally dies on the cross. At that very moment the Temple vail was torn in two, from bottom to top and for the first time the holy of holiest is revealed. Jesus, now being dead is taken down from the cross and put in a tomb, a stone is rolled in front of the entrance and the tomb is sealed, and – this is important, they put up a guard to secure the tomb. Why did they do that? Think about that.

Numbers 1 is by comparison simple, it just lists the heads of the people that left Egypt, the first census.

 

February 21, read through the Bible in a year.

Today there are only two chapters to read, but when you do you’ll understand why.

February 21: Matthew 26,  Leviticus 27 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Matthew 26 is enormous. It begins with the plot against Jesus, continuing with his anointing at Bethany, then Judas agrees to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, continuing with the Lord’s supper being initiated, Jesus predicting who is going to betray him, moving on to the Mount of Olives, Jesus praying in the garden of Gethsemane where he predicts Peter’s denial, and continues in prayer: “Not my will, but yours be done.” Jesus prayed three times and then came the betrayal and arrest of Jesus and he is taken to the Sanhedrin to be interrogated. The chapter ends with Peter’s denial.

Leviticus 27 deals with redeeming people and property and what is to be dedicated to God.

February 18, read through the Bible in a year.

Today there are three chapters.

February 18: Matthew 23, Leviticus 21, Leviticus 22 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

In Matthew 23 Jesus tells of seven woes. Read the chapter carefully and draw your own conclusions.

Leviticus 21 has the regulations for priests.

Leviticus 22 completes the regulations for the priests and tells of acceptable and unacceptable offerings.

 

February 17, read through the Bible in a year.

Today there are three chapters.

February 17: Matthew 22, Leviticus 19, Leviticus 20 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

In Matthew 22 Jesus continues to talk in parables. He is in Jerusalem teaching about the Kingdom of Heaven and tells of the wedding banquet, from which we have the expression “many are called but few are chosen.” Then the Pharisees tries to entrap him with the question “is it legal to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” Jesus answers by the famous quote: “Give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s,” an early call to separation of Church and state. Jesus did not say “let the Romans do it”. The Sadducees also tried to entrap him with the riddle “if there is no resurrection and seven brothers have had a woman as his wife on after another, who would marry her in the resurrection?” Another famous saying: “God is not the God of the dead but of the living.” They continue to entrap him by asking which is the greatest commandment. Jesus answers with the first commandment and adds another: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” One more: Whose sun is the Christ? Answer: “The Lord said to my Lord.”

Leviticus 19 is a continuation of moral and ceremonial laws, and

Leviticus 20 outlines the penalties for breaking the law.

February 16, read through the Bible in a year.

Today there are three chapters.

February 16: Matthew 21, Leviticus 17, Leviticus 18 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Matthew 21 starts with the triumphal entry, and that begins what is called the “holy week” Jesus rides in on an unbroken colt. In Jerusalem Jesus cleanses the temple and throws out the money changers. The spiritual leaders were offended that people sang “Hosanna in the highest” at the triumphal entry, even little children sang it. Then comes the story of the withering fig tree, the symbol of Israel. The spiritual leaders also questioned Jesus authority. Instead of giving an answer Jesus gave two parables, the one about the two sons and the parable about the wicked tenants. Moving on Jesus quotes scripture by saying :The stone  the builders rejected has become the cornerstone” meaning that the kingdom of God will be inherited by another people.

Leviticus 17 deals with the sanctity of blood and why eating of blood is forbidden.

Leviticus 18 defines the laws of sexual morality, and especially to stay away from Molech,  which involves sexual orgies, pass through the fire and child sacrifices.