August 1, 2025
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in 1 Samuel and Mark? Here’s today’s reading:
Mark 14 (NIV)
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
1 Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. 2“But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.”….Continue Reading
So much in this chapter from a poor woman giving all that she had to Jesus all the way to disciples who thought they were giving all that they had and ended up running away from Him in fear! We can probably all identify time in our lives where we found ourselves in many of these places. At times we may have been like Judas putting earthly wealth above our relationship with Him. We have had times of complete devotion like this woman giving our all to Him. We have had times where we defend God like the disciples and even times when we shy away because the opposition becomes too strong.
This chapter reminded me of our humanity and our imperfections but always with a steady, constant God! Even Jesus knowing the plan cried before His father and looked to Him for His strength and peace. It is not about trying to be perfect but knowing that when we keep our eyes on God we can face it all.
Jesus was in much agony while He was praying in the garden of Gethsemane. He has prayed for hours, and His disciples have fallen asleep. In Luke 22 there is mention of an angel coming to minister to Him. Luke also mentions that His sweat drops were like blood. Luke was a doctor and realized how great Jesus`s agony was. John doesn`t seem to mention the garden of Gethsemane but he puts in the prayers that Jesus prayed during that time. At least that is how it appears. I looked it up. Another thing of great importance is when the high priest asked Jesus if He is the Christ and Jesus said “I AM”, and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” The high priest knew actually what Jesus meant for when God appeared to Moses in Ex. 3 at the burning bush, He told Moses to tell the people that “I AM” has sent you. Just by saying “I AM” Jesus made it very clear what He was saying. The high priest couldn`t and wouldn`t believe that Jesus was the Messiah. He was not what they were looking for. They were looking for a conquering King, not a humble Saviour.
I am always amazed reading these accounts of Jesus last days on earth to see His commitment to His mission, His willingness to still minister to His disciples and yet be true to His human feelings about what is going to happen to Him. He spends His time thinking about others, and yet when the disciples have a chance to think about Him, they fall asleep. But even in that, Jesus is disappointed but undaunted. And in His arrest and trial, He just maintains His composure. He never tries to defend Himself even though it is a mockery of a trial, but just chooses the questions to answer and speaks the truth. And we can all understand what it is like to be in Peter’s shoes and how saddened he must have been to do the very thing he was sure he would never do. What a glorious plan of salvation that God had and to think all the things going on here were part of the plan.
Mark 14
Mark 14
Mark 14
Mark 14
Psalm 139:7-17
Jonah 1:1-17
Jonah 2:1
mark 4:35-40
I read these along with a sermon “podcast”: “when God gives a thought to you” pastor Steven Furtick.
This sermon resonated with me in this time while I’m working on studying the concept of the things we think about- Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things”
Have to love Mary. She understood much more than the apostles. Her anointing of Jesus was probably something past down for generations. She knew a king was deserving as he entered into a city. But she knew and remembered Jesus words. That he would suffer and die. She was anointing the body of Jesus in preparation of what she knew was coming. She cared nothing about what the apostles thought. Good lesson for us. Been in Maine for a week. My daughter’s family. And another family came for the weekend. One of the women had terrible anxiety. We were able to share and pray. Not caring what anyone else’s opinion was. She needed Jesus to calm her spirit. Her circumstances were much more important than what people thought. 10 people believers and non and we are praying together. So love when our Lord puts us in these opportunities
Mark 14
Mark 15 and 16
I was thinking of the emotional intensity relayed in this chapter. When the woman breaks a flask of costly oil on Jesus, it struck me as brazen worship and recognition of Who Jesus is. Also a prophecy of His impending death.
Then the Last Supper and Jesus establishing a ritual representing what was accomplished on the cross and how we remember and participate in it.
And Peters betrayal, what a gut-punch to recognize you have betrayed the Son of God. Thank God for Jesus and the forgiveness He extends even for our worst sins.