Contemplative Bible Reading

Mark 6:49-51 (New Living Translation) 49 but when they saw him (Jesus) walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. 50 They were all terrified when they saw him. But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!” 51 Then he […]

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Mark 5:18-20 (New Living Translation) 18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him. 19 But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.” 20 So the man […]

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Mark 5:22-23 (New Living Translation) 22 Then a leader of the local synagogue, whose name was Jairus, arrived. When he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet, 23 pleading fervently with him. “My little daughter is dying,” he said. “Please come and lay your hands on her; heal her so she can live.” Jairus is […]

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Mark 5: 18-19 (New Living Translation) 18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him. 19 But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.” These verses are near the […]

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Mark 4:2 (New Living Translation) He taught them by telling many stories… This is how Jesus taught. He told many stories. When I was a child (many years ago, or was it yesterday? Sometimes I confuse the two), people read me Bible Stories. My father read me Bible Stories. My teacher (it was a Christian […]

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Mark 14:29-31 (New Living Translation) 29 Peter said to him, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will.” 30 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.” 31 “No!” Peter declared emphatically. “Even if I have to […]

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Mark 1:13 (Holman Christian Standard Bible) He was in the wilderness 40 days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels began to serve Him. Jesus took on human-ness. He was weakened by fasting in the desert. This was not the Las Vegas desert; this was a real desert, called […]

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Mark 2:17 (New Living Translation) When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” There are several (dozen) things I could write about these couple of sentences. Let’s consider the […]

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Mark 2:4 (New Living Translation) They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. In this (hi)story, “they” are friends of a paralyzed man. They have faith that Jesus […]

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Mark 14:33 (Holman Christian Standard Bible) He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be deeply distressed and horrified. I find the words used in this translation to be fascinating. Jesus was distressed and horrified. Horrified? Jesus? He had all power. What horrified Him? I think we could write a dissertation […]

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