August 14, 2012
During the first three hours of his execution, Jesus was beaten and then despoiled by Roman soldiers as they cast lots for his clothes, mocked by Jewish bystanders and the Temple authorities for his apparent inability to destroy the Temple or save himself, and scorned by those crucified with him as a naive pretender to […]
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Biblical Texts | Tagged: Crucifixion, Cryo f Dereliction, Elijah, Gospel of Mark, Mark 15:33-38, Psalm 22, Temple |
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Posted by John Mark Hicks
August 1, 2012
The movement of Jesus from Praetorium to the cross is known as the Via Dolorosa among the pious. But for the Romans, and in Mark’s story, it is something quite different. It is not only the depths of Christ’s sorrow and humiliation, but it is also imperial triumphalism and an imperial assertion of power. Crucifixion […]
2 Comments |
Biblical Texts | Tagged: Crucifixion, Empire, Gospel of Mark, Jesus, Mark 15:21-32, Romans, Temple |
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Posted by John Mark Hicks
May 8, 2012
Yesterday I posted on Mark 12:13-17 where jesus encounters the “Caesar tax” question as part of my regular blogging on my Sunday morning Bible Class. It was not an agenda piece but rather part of working through the text of Mark as I understand it. My views, however, are generally similar to those of David […]
3 Comments |
Biblical Texts, Stone-Campbell | Tagged: Bible-Mark, Caesar, Church, Church and State, Civil Government, David Lipscomb, Gospel of Mark, Mark 12:13-17, State, Taxes |
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Posted by John Mark Hicks
April 2, 2012
King Jesus, riding on a donkey, triumphantly entered Jerusalem hailed as the one who would usher in the kingdom of David. Surrounded by an expectant crowd, he entered the temple, looked at everything, and went home for the evening. What did Jesus see? The next morning, Monday of Passion Week, Jesus tells us. The King […]
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Biblical Texts | Tagged: Bible-Mark, Cleansing of the Temple, Fig Tree, Gospel of Mark, Judgment, justice, Kingdom of God, Mark, Mark 11:12-26, Peace |
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Posted by John Mark Hicks
March 30, 2012
As Jesus enters Jerusalem, we enter the last week of Jesus’ life—the passion week. The Triumphal entry on Palm Sunday leads to a cross on Good Friday which is reversed by resurrection on Easter Sunday. Mark 11-16, practically one-third of the Gospel, is devoted to the last week of Jesus’ life. The messianic entourage approached […]
2 Comments |
Biblical Texts | Tagged: Bible-Gospel of Mark, Bible-Mark, Gospel of Mark, Kingdom of God, Mark 11:1-11, Palm Sunday, Triumphal Entry |
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Posted by John Mark Hicks
March 28, 2012
Leaving Perea and nearing Jericho, Jesus led the way towards Jerusalem. This is a determined, focused step in Mark’s description; Jesus is headed to Jerusalem. The disciples are alarmed (amazed) and others accompanying them are afraid. Apparently, they were astonished and concerned that Jesus was headed to Jerusalem where his enemies were numerous and powerful. […]
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Theology | Tagged: Authority, Bible-Mark, Gospel of Mark, Greatness, Kingdom of God, Mark 10:32-45, Power, Service, Suffering |
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Posted by John Mark Hicks
February 17, 2012
Moving from a glorious mountain-top ecstasy to the despairing valley of his disciples’ faithlessness, Jesus experiences a range of emotions. To experience bodily transfiguration, conversation with Elijah and Moses, and hear the voice of his delighted Father was a great delight (Mark 9:2-8), but to come down the mountain to hear his disciples arguing with […]
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Theology | Tagged: Bible-Mark, Demon, Faith, Gospel of Mark, Kingdom of God, Mark 9:14-29, Prayer |
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Posted by John Mark Hicks