O. Addison Gethers
e-mail address [email protected] [email protected] twitter URL http//:twitter.com/OAddisonGethers Messenger contact window live/msn messenger: [email protected] aim: durangoadd64 skype: cowboys62 yahoo messenger: OADDISONGETHERS rs ----- Original Message ----- From: "Donnie Parrett" <[email protected]> To: "Donnie Parrett" <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2009 12:10 AM Subject: Daily Bible Reading For Thursday October 22 > Mark 10-12 (The Message) > > Mark 10 > Divorce > 1-2 From there he went to the area of Judea across the Jordan. A crowd of > people, as was so often > the case, went along, and he, as he so often did, taught them. Pharisees > came up, intending to give > him a hard time. They asked, "Is it legal for a man to divorce his wife?" > 3Jesus said, "What did Moses command?" > > 4They answered, "Moses gave permission to fill out a certificate of > dismissal and divorce her." > > 5-9Jesus said, "Moses wrote this command only as a concession to your > hardhearted ways. In the > original creation, God made male and female to be together. Because of > this, a man leaves father and > mother, and in marriage he becomes one flesh with a woman-no longer two > individuals, but forming a > new unity. Because God created this organic union of the two sexes, no one > should desecrate his art > by cutting them apart." > > 10-12When they were back home, the disciples brought it up again. Jesus > gave it to them straight: > "A man who divorces his wife so he can marry someone else commits adultery > against her. And a woman > who divorces her husband so she can marry someone else commits adultery." > > 13-16The people brought children to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. The > disciples shooed them > off. But Jesus was irate and let them know it: "Don't push these children > away. Don't ever get > between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the > kingdom. Mark this: Unless > you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you'll never get > in." Then, gathering the > children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them. > > To Enter God's Kingdom > 17As he went out into the street, a man came running up, greeted him with > great reverence, and > asked, "Good Teacher, what must I do to get eternal life?" > 18-19Jesus said, "Why are you calling me good? No one is good, only God. > You know the commandments: > Don't murder, don't commit adultery, don't steal, don't lie, don't cheat, > honor your father and > mother." > > 20He said, "Teacher, I have-from my youth-kept them all!" > > 21Jesus looked him hard in the eye-and loved him! He said, "There's one > thing left: Go sell > whatever you own and give it to the poor. All your wealth will then be > heavenly wealth. And come > follow me." > > 22The man's face clouded over. This was the last thing he expected to > hear, and he walked off with > a heavy heart. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and not about > to let go. > > 23-25Looking at his disciples, Jesus said, "Do you have any idea how > difficult it is for people who > 'have it all' to enter God's kingdom?" The disciples couldn't believe what > they were hearing, but > Jesus kept on: "You can't imagine how difficult. I'd say it's easier for a > camel to go through a > needle's eye than for the rich to get into God's kingdom." > > 26That set the disciples back on their heels. "Then who has any chance at > all?" they asked. > > 27Jesus was blunt: "No chance at all if you think you can pull it off by > yourself. Every chance in > the world if you let God do it." > > 28Peter tried another angle: "We left everything and followed you." > > 29-31Jesus said, "Mark my words, no one who sacrifices house, brothers, > sisters, mother, father, > children, land-whatever-because of me and the Message will lose out. > They'll get it all back, but > multiplied many times in homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and > land-but also in troubles. > And then the bonus of eternal life! This is once again the Great Reversal: > Many who are first will > end up last, and the last first." > > 32-34Back on the road, they set out for Jerusalem. Jesus had a head start > on them, and they were > following, puzzled and not just a little afraid. He took the Twelve and > began again to go over what > to expect next. "Listen to me carefully. We're on our way up to Jerusalem. > When we get there, the > Son of Man will be betrayed to the religious leaders and scholars. They > will sentence him to death. > Then they will hand him over to the Romans, who will mock and spit on him, > give him the third > degree, and kill him. After three days he will rise alive." > > The Highest Places of Honor > 35James and John, Zebedee's sons, came up to him. "Teacher, we have > something we want you to do for > us." > 36"What is it? I'll see what I can do." > > 37"Arrange it," they said, "so that we will be awarded the highest places > of honor in your > glory-one of us at your right, the other at your left." > > 38Jesus said, "You have no idea what you're asking. Are you capable of > drinking the cup I drink, of > being baptized in the baptism I'm about to be plunged into?" > > 39-40"Sure," they said. "Why not?" > > Jesus said, "Come to think of it, you will drink the cup I drink, and be > baptized in my baptism. > But as to awarding places of honor, that's not my business. There are > other arrangements for that." > > 41-45When the other ten heard of this conversation, they lost their > tempers with James and John. > Jesus got them together to settle things down. "You've observed how > godless rulers throw their > weight around," he said, "and when people get a little power how quickly > it goes to their heads. > It's not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must > become a servant. Whoever > wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of > Man has done: He came to > serve, not to be served-and then to give away his life in exchange for > many who are held hostage." > > 46-48They spent some time in Jericho. As Jesus was leaving town, trailed > by his disciples and a > parade of people, a blind beggar by the name of Bartimaeus, son of > Timaeus, was sitting alongside > the road. When he heard that Jesus the Nazarene was passing by, he began > to cry out, "Son of David, > Jesus! Mercy, have mercy on me!" Many tried to hush him up, but he yelled > all the louder, "Son of > David! Mercy, have mercy on me!" > > 49-50Jesus stopped in his tracks. "Call him over." > > They called him. "It's your lucky day! Get up! He's calling you to > come!" Throwing off his coat, > he was on his feet at once and came to Jesus. > > 51Jesus said, "What can I do for you?" > > The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see." > > 52"On your way," said Jesus. "Your faith has saved and healed you." > > In that very instant he recovered his sight and followed Jesus down the > road. > > Mark 11 > Entering Jerusalem on a Colt > 1-3When they were nearing Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany on Mount > Olives, he sent off two of > the disciples with instructions: "Go to the village across from you. As > soon as you enter, you'll > find a colt tethered, one that has never yet been ridden. Untie it and > bring it. If anyone asks, > 'What are you doing?' say, 'The Master needs him, and will return him > right away.'" > 4-7They went and found a colt tied to a door at the street corner and > untied it. Some of those > standing there said, "What are you doing untying that colt?" The disciples > replied exactly as Jesus > had instructed them, and the people let them alone. They brought the colt > to Jesus, spread their > coats on it, and he mounted. > > 8-10The people gave him a wonderful welcome, some throwing their coats on > the street, others > spreading out rushes they had cut in the fields. Running ahead and > following after, they were > calling out, > > Hosanna! > Blessed is he who comes in God's name! > Blessed the coming kingdom of our father David! > Hosanna in highest heaven! > > 11He entered Jerusalem, then entered the Temple. He looked around, taking > it all in. But by now it > was late, so he went back to Bethany with the Twelve. > > The Cursed Fig Tree > 12-14As they left Bethany the next day, he was hungry. Off in the distance > he saw a fig tree in > full leaf. He came up to it expecting to find something for breakfast, but > found nothing but fig > leaves. (It wasn't yet the season for figs.) He addressed the tree: "No > one is going to eat fruit > from you again-ever!" And his disciples overheard him. > 15-17They arrived at Jerusalem. Immediately on entering the Temple Jesus > started throwing out > everyone who had set up shop there, buying and selling. He kicked over the > tables of the bankers and > the stalls of the pigeon merchants. He didn't let anyone even carry a > basket through the Temple. And > then he taught them, quoting this text: > > My house was designated a house of prayer for the nations; > You've turned it into a hangout for thieves. > > 18The high priests and religion scholars heard what was going on and > plotted how they might get rid > of him. They panicked, for the entire crowd was carried away by his > teaching. > > 19At evening, Jesus and his disciples left the city. > > 20-21In the morning, walking along the road, they saw the fig tree, > shriveled to a dry stick. > Peter, remembering what had happened the previous day, said to him, > "Rabbi, look-the fig tree you > cursed is shriveled up!" > > 22-25Jesus was matter-of-fact: "Embrace this God-life. Really embrace it, > and nothing will be too > much for you. This mountain, for instance: Just say, 'Go jump in the > lake'-no shuffling or > shilly-shallying-and it's as good as done. That's why I urge you to pray > for absolutely everything, > ranging from small to large. Include everything as you embrace this > God-life, and you'll get God's > everything. And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember that it's > not all asking. If you > have anything against someone, forgive-only then will your heavenly Father > be inclined to also wipe > your slate clean of sins." > > His Credentials > 27-28Then when they were back in Jerusalem once again, as they were > walking through the Temple, the > high priests, religion scholars, and leaders came up and demanded, "Show > us your credentials. Who > authorized you to speak and act like this?" > 29-30Jesus responded, "First let me ask you a question. Answer my question > and then I'll present my > credentials. About the baptism of John-who authorized it: heaven or > humans? Tell me." > > 31-33They were on the spot, and knew it. They pulled back into a huddle > and whispered, "If we say > 'heaven,' he'll ask us why we didn't believe John; if we say 'humans,' > we'll be up against it with > the people because they all hold John up as a prophet." They decided to > concede that round to Jesus. > "We don't know," they said. > > Jesus replied, "Then I won't answer your question either." > > Mark 12 > The Story About a Vineyard > 1-2 Then Jesus started telling them stories. "A man planted a vineyard. He > fenced it, dug a > winepress, erected a watchtower, turned it over to the farmhands, and went > off on a trip. At the > time for harvest, he sent a servant back to the farmhands to collect his > profits. > 3-5"They grabbed him, beat him up, and sent him off empty-handed. So he > sent another servant. That > one they tarred and feathered. He sent another and that one they killed. > And on and on, many others. > Some they beat up, some they killed. > > 6"Finally there was only one left: a beloved son. In a last-ditch effort, > he sent him, thinking, > 'Surely they will respect my son.' > > 7-8"But those farmhands saw their chance. They rubbed their hands together > in greed and said, 'This > is the heir! Let's kill him and have it all for ourselves.' They grabbed > him, killed him, and threw > him over the fence. > > 9-11"What do you think the owner of the vineyard will do? Right. He'll > come and clean house. Then > he'll assign the care of the vineyard to others. Read it for yourselves in > Scripture: > > That stone the masons threw out > is now the cornerstone! > This is God's work; > we rub our eyes-we can hardly believe it!" > > 12They wanted to lynch him then and there but, intimidated by public > opinion, held back. They knew > the story was about them. They got away from there as fast as they could. > > Paying Taxes to Caesar > 13-14They sent some Pharisees and followers of Herod to bait him, hoping > to catch him saying > something incriminating. They came up and said, "Teacher, we know you have > integrity, that you are > indifferent to public opinion, don't pander to your students, and teach > the way of God accurately. > Tell us: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" > 15-16He knew it was a trick question, and said, "Why are you playing these > games with me? Bring me > a coin and let me look at it." They handed him one. > > "This engraving-who does it look like? And whose name is on it?" > > "Caesar," they said. > > 17Jesus said, "Give Caesar what is his, and give God what is his." > > Their mouths hung open, speechless. > > Our Intimacies Will Be with God > 18-23Some Sadducees, the party that denies any possibility of > resurrection, came up and asked, > "Teacher, Moses wrote that if a man dies and leaves a wife but no child, > his brother is obligated to > marry the widow and have children. Well, there once were seven brothers. > The first took a wife. He > died childless. The second married her. He died, and still no child. The > same with the third. All > seven took their turn, but no child. Finally the wife died. When they are > raised at the > resurrection, whose wife is she? All seven were her husband." > 24-27Jesus said, "You're way off base, and here's why: One, you don't know > your Bibles; two, you > don't know how God works. After the dead are raised up, we're past the > marriage business. As it is > with angels now, all our ecstasies and intimacies then will be with God. > And regarding the dead, > whether or not they are raised, don't you ever read the Bible? How God at > the bush said to Moses, 'I > am-not was-the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? > The living God is God of the > living, not the dead. You're way, way off base." > > The Most Important Commandment > 28One of the religion scholars came up. Hearing the lively exchanges of > question and answer and > seeing how sharp Jesus was in his answers, he put in his question: "Which > is most important of all > the commandments?" > 29-31Jesus said, "The first in importance is, 'Listen, Israel: The Lord > your God is one; so love > the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and > energy.' And here is the second: > 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' There is no other commandment > that ranks with these." > > 32-33The religion scholar said, "A wonderful answer, Teacher! So lucid and > accurate-that God is one > and there is no other. And loving him with all passion and intelligence > and energy, and loving > others as well as you love yourself. Why, that's better than all offerings > and sacrifices put > together!" > > 34When Jesus realized how insightful he was, he said, "You're almost > there, right on the border of > God's kingdom." > > After that, no one else dared ask a question. > > 35-37While he was teaching in the Temple, Jesus asked, "How is it that the > religion scholars say > that the Messiah is David's 'son,' when we all know that David, inspired > by the Holy Spirit, said, > > God said to my Master, > "Sit here at my right hand > until I put your enemies under your feet." > "David here designates the Messiah 'my Master'-so how can the Messiah also > be his 'son'?" > > The large crowd was delighted with what they heard. > > 38-40He continued teaching. "Watch out for the religion scholars. They > love to walk around in > academic gowns, preening in the radiance of public flattery, basking in > prominent positions, sitting > at the head table at every church function. And all the time they are > exploiting the weak and > helpless. The longer their prayers, the worse they get. But they'll pay > for it in the end." > > 41-44Sitting across from the offering box, he was observing how the crowd > tossed money in for the > collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions. One poor > widow came up and put in two > small coins-a measly two cents. Jesus called his disciples over and said, > "The truth is that this > poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. > All the others gave what > they'll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn't afford-she > gave her all." > > > > > > > > ~~~~~ > Please join us on Skype Monday thru Friday at 8:00 EST for our Morning > Skype Prayer Time. > Also, follow my tweets on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/Donnie1261 > > > Contact Me At: > Donnie Parrett > 1956 Asa Flat Road > Annville, Kentucky 40402 > Home Phone: 606-364-3321 > Church Phone: 606-364-PRAY > Skype Name: Donnie1261 > Email: [email protected] > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. 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