by Darrell | May 1, 2026 | Articles
Mark 2:1-13
We have finished Matthew and have begun the gospel account of Mark. In chapter 2, we read of Jesus healing a paralytic. Jesus is at Capernaum and people are gathering in a large enough number that there is no more room at all. Jesus is preaching the word and people are listening. Four men arrive carrying the paralytic. I can’t imagine carrying someone a significant distance but it would certainly slow them down and they arrive to see there is no more room to enter. This doesn’t deter them! That tells me 2 things – they were good friends and they had faith in Jesus power to do something for their friend.
These men carrying the paralytic are good friends. Friends that care. I was thinking about this in terms of drawing an application to ourselves. We need friends that will see our needs and work to help us with them. But we also need to BE friends that see needs and help with them. Not just physical things, but spiritual needs. What greater need does anyone have than to be brought to the Savior and have their sins forgiven?
Jesus looks at this paralytic and says, “Your sins are forgiven.” Perhaps everyone expected Him to heal the man and for them to see him get up and walk, but Jesus saw a bigger need than walking (and a teaching moment). Jesus forgave the man’s sins and He had every right to do so. He is the son of God. But in order to prove His authority to forgive sins, He also heals the man. The miracle proved it. This miracle was the witness to who Jesus is.
We need to understand and remember who Jesus is. The lamb of God. the Son of God. The Great Physician. The Good Shepherd. The Savior. The High Priest. And we could keep going. Jesus is of paramount importance. We need to be at His feet and we need to bring others to His feet!
by Darrell | May 1, 2026 | Articles
In Matthew 26:17-29, we read of the Lord and His disciples observing the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which was part of the Passover observance. There are a few things we can think about regarding this time they spent together.
The Feast of Unleavened Bread is described in Exodus 12:15-20. It lasted for seven days. Matthew states that they wanted to prepare for this feast, which came a day after the actual Passover meal. The Passover would fall on Wednesday and this meal would be on Thursday. The preparation mentioned would be finding a suitable place that had already gone through taking out all leaven. They were following Exodus 12.
An occasion that was intended to be a remembrance of that final plague in Egypt and the salvation of the Hebrews from death (a likeness of Jesus’ sacrifice to deliver us from spiritual death) was soured by Jesus telling the disciples that someone would betray Him. None of them could believe it and even asked, “Is it I, Lord?” They couldn’t see their fellow disciples betraying Him and even asked about themselves. A special occasion with love for the Lord and dedication to keeping the law is interrupted with this exchange and they were distressed by it. When Judas asks, “Is it I, Rabbi?” Jesus responds. “You have said so.” Judas had already made an offer to the chief priests (verse 14). He had already thought of it. John adds to this in John 13:30 that Judas goes out immediately.
When we get to Matthew 26:26-29, we read of Jesus partaking of the unleavened bread and also instituting the Lord’s Supper. We learn of the elements – the unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine – from this context. He was taking a special observance from the Passover in the Old Testament and and giving us a new observance that is even more special under the New Covenant. An observance that sees the true Passover in which Christ is our Passover lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7). We partake of that special observance each Lord’s Day (the first day of the week, the day He arose from the dead). The Lord’s Supper is a remembrance of that sacrifice to deliver us from death (Hebrews 2:14-15). What an important thing to remember!
Jesus partook of that unleavened bread and fruit of the vine. He was betrayed, mocked, abused, scourged, and crucified — according to the plan of God (Ephesians 1:9-10). He was 3 days in the earth (tomb) and He arose on the third day, appearing to His apostles and over 500 others (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). Then He ascended to Heaven (Acts 1:6-11) and we await His return. Let’s be ready!
by Darrell | Mar 26, 2026 | Articles
Exodus 36:1-7 has always impressed me. We are often very critical of the Israelites in the wilderness, but here is a case in which we can see them working for God’s glory and celebrate it.
Last week, I wrote about the command of God to build the tabernacle and He gave the details on how He wanted it made. It was a big project. Now, we are reading of the craftsmen undertaking the work and contributions that were made to support it.
Chapter 36:1-2 mentions 2 men by name, but they were not the only craftsmen. There were others. God had given them knowledge and talent to accomplish what He commanded. Perhaps this is a good reminder that God equips us to accomplish what He wants us to do. We all have talents and abilities that can be used for His glory. Those abilities can be honed and sharpened over a lifetime so that as we mature, we serve Him to a greater degree as days go by.
Verses 3-5 show the generosity of those contributing to the work. They were bringing free-will offerings, but continued to bring those offerings as the work was being done. Imagine the excitement in their hearts as the work began and as they watch everything begin to take shape. They brought so much that the workmen came to Moses and said they had more than enough. We should all be excited about the work of the Lord! We offer Him of our resources, our labors, our time, and our energy for His kingdom. We should feel a sense of excitement.
“Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.” (Romans 12:11)
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:11–14)
We should feel a sense of hope and anticipation as we wait for the appearing of our Savior. That should translate over to an excitement and zeal about doing His work on this earth and bringing glory to Him.
by Darrell | Mar 13, 2026 | Articles
Jesus had a way with words, and no wonder…He is the Word (John 1:1). His parables are perfect illustrations for His listeners to understand spiritual concepts. Here in Matthew 21:33-46, it is titled the parable of the tenants, but it’s more than a story about people renting. Those in this parable are those whom the owner has left his vineyard under the care of. Their job was simple: care for the vineyard as the owner would and at harvest he will send someone to collect it. We might understand this arrangement as share-cropping.
So here is the premise: the owner did his job. He provided everything necessary for success. He was faithful in the arrangement. The tenants, however, were not. I assume that they did in fact plant and harvest, though I can be wrong in that assumption since it is not stated. However, when the owner sends servants, they do not respect his authority and they beat one, killed another and stoned yet another. That’s bad enough, but then the owner sends his son and they killed him. Our sense of justice is peaked by the story – how dare they kill servants and then the son! So, Jesus puts the question to the hearer – What will the owner do when he comes? The answer is obvious – put them to death and find new tenants!
This parable is an illustration. It’s not about a vineyard, but about God and his relationship with those who are supposed to be His people. However, they have not been faithful. They did not keep their end of the covenant, and they will be judged accordingly. The Jews thought they were God’s people and nothing could take that away, but they have not been faithful, and they WERE going to kill the Son, Jesus. They were the tenants, which is why Jesus quotes Psalm 118. They will give false witness and set Jesus up to be killed by the Romans, but they are the ones guilty. They are not going to win. The stone they rejected will crush them! Jesus will be victorious!
We must be covenant keepers. God is faithful to keep His end. In fact, He is so faithful in that covenant that He will forgive us when we breech it, provided we are walking in the light (1 John 1) and repenting when we sin. We do not want to live a life thinking we are in that covenant, only to find out we didn’t take it seriously and are rejected!
by Darrell | Feb 27, 2026 | Articles
Matthew 7:14-20 presents us with a story of a desperate father. A father who has watched his child be tormented over and over. He has watched him be harmed over and over. I imagine that there have been times he has held onto his child desperately trying to protect him. Any parent would be desperate to solve this problem. He first brings him to Jesus’ disciples. They were unable to heal him, so he brings him to Jesus.
Stepping back from this specific situation, we can realize that parents everywhere face desperate situations. A friend of mine has a son with stage 4 cancer in young adulthood. I can’t imagine the shock and the pain they went through as they tackled that problem. Knowing them I do know the first place they went for answers — prayer to their heavenly Father! That should be our answer to the darkest hours and the desperate times we can face, as parents or not. Having the right source of comfort can make all the difference, even when things don’t work out the way we would want. Our faith should be placed in the ability and faithfulness of our God and not in our own ability.
Jesus uses an interesting comparison in this passage with a mustard seed. It’s small; small enough that if one was by itself along your path, you probably wouldn’t even notice it. It does, however, have great potential. It can grow into a tree that you would notice, that could give shade to you and refuge for the birds. It would be significant. Jesus tells them that if they had faith like the grain of a mustard seed, nothing would be impossible for them. Faith that is not placed in themselves, but in God and in His power. We need genuine faith in the one power that changes everything!
From desperation to coming face to face with Jesus…this father found what he was looking for. Jesus healed his son. No more stress of watching to see what happens next. No more holding on tightly to keep him safe. This is the kind of change that Jesus brings to our lives. If we will have faith in Him, trust Him, and follow Him, He will change our lives. We will look back and see such a stark difference that we wonder how we ever lived that way. Follow Jesus, walk in the light, find salvation in Him. That is His invitation.
