Episode 253: The teachings of Jesus

Mark 9-13

What's up with Elijah?

9 ¹¹ The disciples asked Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

¹² Jesus answered, “Elijah must come first and restore everything.

¹³ He’s already come and they did to him what was prophesied.”

Who's for Jesus?

³⁸ John said to Jesus,

We saw someone casting out devils in your name.

We told him to stop, since he doesn't follow us.

³⁹ Jesus said,

Don't tell him to stop.

Whoever does a miracle in my name, won't say bad things about me.

Whoever isn't against us, is for us.

And whoever gives you a cup of water in my name will be rewarded.

Everyone will be salted with fire (salt is good)

⁴⁹ Everyone will be salted with fire.

⁵⁰ Salt is good. But if it loses it's flavor, what will it be seasoned with?

Divorce

10 ² The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”

³ Jesus replied, “What did Moses say?”

⁴ The Pharisees said, “Write a bill of divorcement and send her away.”

⁵ Jesus said,

He did that because your hearts are so hard.

⁶ But from the beginning of creation, God made male and female.

⁷ That's why a man leaves his parents and gets married.

⁸ And the two become one flesh.

⁹ No one should separate what God has joined together.

¹⁰ Back at the house, the disciples asked Jesus about it.

¹¹ Jesus said to them,

Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her.

¹² And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery

James and John ask Jesus for a favor (special seats in heaven)

^35-37 James and John came to Jesus and said,

We'd like to sit on your right and left hand when you are in your glory.

³⁹ Jesus said, “I don't get to choose who will sit on my right or left hand.”

⁴¹ The other disciples weren't happy about it when they heard about James and John's request.

⁴² Jesus said to them,

Among the gentiles, one person rules over others.

⁴³ But it won't be like that with you.

⁴⁴ Whoever wants to be great among you must be the servant of all.

⁴⁵ The Son of man came to serve, not to be served by others. And to give his life as a ransom for many.

Blind Bartimaeus

⁴⁶ Jesus and his disciples were followed by a large crowd as they entered Jericho, while blind Bartimaeus sat on the side of road begging.

⁴⁷ He cried out, saying, “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me.”

⁵¹ Jesus said, “What would you like me to do?”

He said, “Help me see.”

⁵² Jesus said, “Go on your way. Your faith has healed you.”

And immediately he could see and followed Jesus.

Jesus rides into Jerusalem

11 ¹ When Jesus and his disciples neared Jerusalem, he sent two of them ahead with these instructions:

² When you enter the village, you'll find a colt tied, upon whom no one has ever sat. Bring him to me. If anyone says, "What are you doing?" say, "The Lord needs him."

⁴ So they found the colt, draped their clothes on it and Jesus sat on it.

^8-10 The people spread clothes and branches in front of Jesus, and said, "Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest."

Jesus curses a fig tree

¹² The next day, when they were coming from Bethany, Jesus was hungry.

¹³ They came upon a fig tree, but it had nothing but leaves. (Because it wasn't the season for figs.)

¹⁴ Jesus said to the fig tree, “No one will eat fruit from you forever.” And his disciples heard it.

The cursed fig tree dies

²⁰ The next morning, as Jesus and his disciples passed by, they saw that the cursed fig tree had died.

²¹ Peter said to Jesus, “The fig tree that you cursed is dead.“

²² Jesus replied,

If you believe in your heart and have no doubt, you can say to a mountain, "Move!" and it will be cast into the sea. Whatever you believe will happen, will happen. You'll get whatever you want if you pray for it and believe that you'll get it.

The great commandments

12 ²⁸ One of the scribes asked Jesus, “What is the first commandment?”

^29-30 Jesus said,

Love God will all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. This is the first commandment.

³¹ The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. There are no greater commandments than these.

^32-34 The scribe agreed, and Jesus said, “You're not far from the kingdom of God.”

Beware of scribes (they'll get the worst damnation)

^38-40 Jesus said,

Beware of the scribes who love to wear long clothing, get the best seats, devour widows' houses, and make long prayers.

They'll get the worst damnation.

The widow's mite

⁴¹ Jesus sat and watched as people put money in the treasury.

Many were rich, and gave much.

⁴² A poor widow threw in two mites.

⁴³ Jesus gathered his disciples and said to them,

This poor widow gave more than everyone else put together.

⁴⁴ Because they gave from their abundance, but she gave all that she had.