Author Archives: brentsummerhill

Family Mark 3:32-35 His family can’t get in. Mom and brothers are standing outside, evidently worried about his wellbeing. (3:20-21) They send word through the crowd, calling for him to come out and presumably go home with them. Jesus’ response … Continue reading →

An Eternal Sin Mark 3:22-30 Unable to trap Jesus or even to rattle him, the scribes resort to slander. “He is possessed by Beelzebul!” and “By the prince of demons he casts out the demons!” Jesus, they assert, is empowered … Continue reading →

And Judas Iscariot Mark 3:13-21 Judas’ kiss in the garden would not surprise Jesus. Everything Jesus said and did was with Gospel intentionality. The death of Jesus was not Judas’ idea. Nor was it conceived by the Pharisees or Sadducees. … Continue reading →

Lest They Crush Him Mark 3:7-12 The Creator is pressed upon by the created. Rebellious, sinful, fallen men and women push the Holy Son of Man to the sea’s edge, demanding healing and liberation. And he allows it. He knows … Continue reading →

Value People Mark 3:1-6 God’s Sabbath law forbade work on the seventh day. It said nothing about not helping people, about not doing good. But 1st century Sabbath traditions did. You could act to stop imminent death (stop the bleeding), … Continue reading →

To Seek and to Save Luke 19:1-10 I wonder if Levi, aka Matthew, and Zacchaeus ever hung out at tax collector conventions. They pretty much stayed within their own group, known by the religious as the tax collectors and sinners. … Continue reading →

Have You Never Read? Mark 2:23-28 You would think they had. They revered the Old Testament. They could quote from it. They claimed to keep it. They were Pharisees after all. Who would dare question whether or not they had … Continue reading →

Days Will Come Mark 2:18-22 Fasting had become a religious means of righteousness, or self-righteousness. It was prescribed twice a week. And a great show was made of it. Self-righteous religion is always a show. Jesus’ disciples didn’t fast. They … Continue reading →

He Saw Levi Mark 2:13-17 Levi, aka Matthew, was a Jew working for the Roman government as a tax or toll collector. His association with the Roman government and the common shady practices of his ilk left him hated by … Continue reading →

Sins Forgiven Mark 2:1-12 Jesus to the paralytic: “Son, your sins are forgiven.” The scribes in their heart: “He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” They were right about who can forgive sins. And they were right … Continue reading →