Vocabulary
The Prayer in the Gethsemane Garden (Matthew 26:36-46)
Prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane is one of the most painfull prayer in the whole New Testament. This is a very difficult time in the ministry of Jesus. He is struggling in the final moments to take the final sacrificial step in his incarnation.
Crucifixion of Jesus Christ (Matthew 27:32-56)
Matthew 27:32-56 narrates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The passage describes Jesus being led to Golgotha, the place of crucifixion, where he is nailed to the cross alongside two criminals. The soldiers mock Jesus, and onlookers insult him, challenging him to save himself if he is truly the Son...
Resurrection of Jesus (Matthew 28:1-10)
The passage describes the miraculous event of Jesus' resurrection. It highlights the emotions of fear, wonder, and joy experienced by the women who discover the empty tomb and encounter both an angel and Jesus himself. The text emphasizes the divine intervention in the form of an earthquake and the...
Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20)
The Great Commission is the final moment of the gospel of Matthew before Jesus leaves His desciples. Disciples meet risen Lord at Galilee. They fall down on the ground in reverence, but "some had doubts" (Matt 28:17). Jesus is reacting on these doubts and assures disciples about his power, while...
The Beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Mark 1:1-3)
This passage is the opening of the Gospel of Mark, and it introduces the narrative about John the Baptist that follows. Even though it is short, it offers significant theological themes. The first is Jesus' identity. Mark identifies Jesus as the Christ (the Messiah) and the Son of God, unveiling...
Preaching and Baptism of John the Baptist (Mark 1:4-8)
John the Baptist is described as a prophet who prepares the way for the coming of Jesus Christ. His depiction as ascetic and excentric person is a reminisence of a prophetic archetype of Eliah. John preaches a baptism of repentance and forgiveness, calling people to confess their sins and turn...
Baptism and Testing of Jesus (Mark 1:9-13)
Mark 1:9-13 describes the baptism and temptation of Jesus. The Gospel of Mark binds these two events causally close. The story in this passage highlights Jesus' identity as the Son of God and his ability to resist the temptation of Satan. The role of the Holy Spirit, which descends on Jesus upon...
The First Disciples of Jesus (Mark 1:14-20)
Jesus begins his ministry by proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God which is based on repentance and faith. The story, at this point, focuses on Jesus calling his first disciples, Simon (Peter), Andrew, James, and John, to follow him and become "fishers of men."
Defilement comes from within (Mark 7:1-23)
This story questions the very essence of what is really important in our religious life. It would be the mistake to just plain read the story and apply it into our life. Key Greek terms used here are παραδοσις meaning "tradition, something handed down" and κοινος meaning "defiled; ordinary,...
Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ (Mark 8:27-30)
In the passage, Jesus and his disciples are in the region of Caesarea Philippi, and Jesus asks them, "Who do people say that I am?" The disciples respond, saying that some people think he is John the Baptist, others think he is Elijah, and still others think he is one of the prophets. Then Jesus...
Last Supper (Mark 14:12-26)
Markan version of the Last Supper recounts the events surrounding the event, where Jesus and his disciples look for a place to spend and share a Passover meal before his crucifixion. The first thing the text focus on during the Last Supper is that Jesus identifies his betrayer (Judas) in verse...
Great Commission (Mark 16:14-20)
The Great Commission is the final moment of Mark before Jesus leaves His disciples ascending to the right side of God. The discourse starts with reproaching the disciples' faith because they did not believe the witnesses who sow risen Jesus (Mark 16:14). Only after the reproach, he sends them...
The Testimony of Jesus' Acts (Luke 1:1-4)
The prologue to the Gospel of Luke highlights the author's aim to provide a trustworthy and orderly account of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Luke, a physician and companion of the Apostle Paul, seeks to compile an accurate record based on the testimonies of those who were eyewitnesses and...
Mary's Song of Praise: The Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55)
Magnificat refers to a hymn that Mary pronounces before the birth of Jesus Christ. The name "Magnificat" is based on the first word from the first verse in the Latin translation: "Magnificat anima mea Dominum (My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord)" (Luke 1:46).
Song of Zechariah: The Benedictus (Luke 1:68-79)
Benedictus refers to a hymn of thanksgiving that Zechariah pronounces during the circumcision of John the Baptist. The name "Benedictus" is based on the first word from the first verse in the Latin translation: "Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel (Blessed be the Lord God of Israel)" (Luke 1:68).
Song of Angels: Gloria in Excelsis (Luke 2:14)
Gloria in Excelsis refers to a short hymn that is pronounced by angels when the birth of Christ and savior was announced to shepherds. The name "Gloria in Excelsis" is based on the first three words from the verse in the Latin translation: "Gloria in excelsis Deo et in terra pax hominibus bonae...
Song of Simeon: Nunc dimittis (Luke 2:29-32)
Nunc dimittis refers to a hymn that Simeon pronounces when seeing a Messiah as he was promised by the Holy Spirit before his death comes. The name "Nunc dimittis" is based on the first two words from the first verse in the Latin translation: "Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine, secundum verbum tuum...
Last Supper (Luke 22:7-38)
The Last Supper coincides with the celebration of the Passover, a Jewish festival commemorating God's deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Jesus is often referred to as the "Lamb of God," symbolizing His role as a sacrifice for humanity's sins. By connecting Jesus to the Passover,...
Gospel of John
The Gospel of John, one of the four canonical Gospels in the Christian Bible, presents a unique and deeply theological portrayal of Jesus Christ, distinct from the synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. This book emphasizes Jesus' divine nature and his role as the Son of God, offering a...
Word Became Flesh (John 1:1-18)
One of the most important verses in gospel of John is John 1:18. It says: "No one has ever seen God: only begotten God who is at the bosom of the Father, He made Him fully known." (translation from Greek). This is how the gospel begins and Jesus is right when He answers Philip, that who ever...
Cleansing of the Temple (John 2:13-22)
The story of Cleansing of the Temple seems to be presenting Jesus in a violent way. In this way, we are not used to imagining him. What happened to the kind and loving Jesus, the Lord of love? It is challenging to find a balance between these pictures. To understand the story we need a little help...
Healing at the Bethesda Pool (John 5:1-16)
In John 5:1-14, Jesus goes to Jerusalem for a Jewish festival and encounters a disabled man at the pool of Bethesda. The man has been unable to walk for several years. The pool is believed to have healing powers, but this man has no one to help him get into the water when it's stirred up, which is...
Authority of the Son (John 5:16-30)
In this passage, Jesus responds to Jewish leaders who are persecuting Him for healing a man on the Sabbath. Jesus begins by declaring that His Father (God) is always at work and that He too is working. Jesus then describes His unique relationship with the Father, emphasizing that the Son only does...
Testimonies About Son (John 5:31-47)
In this passage, Jesus addresses the Jewish leaders, highlighting various testimonies that confirm His divine authority. He first mentions that self-testimony isn't valid but alludes to other witnesses. He references John the Baptist, noting the brief joy the leaders found in his teachings....
Feeding of the five thousand (John 6:1-15)
In the Gospels, there are two separate miracle accounts of feeding the multitude. The first account, "Feeding of the 5,000", is recorded in all four gospels (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:31-44; Luke 9:12-17; John 6:1-15). The second account, the "Feeding of the 4,000", with seven loaves of bread and...
Jesus Walks on the Water (John 6:16-21)
In John 6:16–21, the narrative follows the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000. This passage describes an event where Jesus' disciples go down to the Sea of Galilee, board a boat, and start crossing over to Capernaum. It is evening, and Jesus has not yet joined them. As they are crossing, the sea...
Bread of Life (John 6:22-71)
The passage John 6:22-71 in the Bible is a complex and theologically rich text that encompasses several key events and teachings of Jesus. It begins with the crowd, having witnessed the miracle of feeding 5000, searching for Jesus and finding him across the Sea of Galilee. Jesus seizes this...
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem at the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:1-13)
In John 7:1-13, set after Jesus Christ's various miracles and teachings in Galilee, we find Him at a critical juncture in His ministry, facing mounting opposition, especially from Jewish leaders in Judea. As the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles nears, Jesus initially opts to stay in Galilee due to...
Jesus Teaches at the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:14-36)
In John 7:14-36 Jesus teaches in the Temple during the Feast of Tabernacles, delivering a profound message with theological implications. Midway through the feast, he astonishes the crowd with his authoritative teachings, despite his lack of formal education, underscoring that his insights come not...
Jesus at the Last Day at the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:37-53)
The passage from John 7:37-53 in the New Testament carries significant theological messages and holds a distinct place in Christian doctrine. In verses 37-39, Jesus proclaims during the Feast of Tabernacles that those who are thirsty should come to him and drink, symbolizing the Holy Spirit...