Chapter fifteen begins “early in the morning” on Friday (Mark 15:1-5). The Jewish leaders had done all they could do. Rome allowed them to carry out any kind of punishment they wanted against their own people, except for the death penalty. Only the Roman governor could do that. Because of the Passover that day and […]
Introduction The shortest of the four gospels by far, Mark has gained prominence in recent days, especially from modern higher critics. Beginning in the early 1800s, liberal scholars started to insist that Mark was written first (the Church historically acknowledged that Matthew held that distinction), around 60 A.D., and that Matthew and Luke both borrowed
Chapter four opens with a searing insult against the Israelite elites. Although Christians may often feel like calling out people like this, prophets were given latitude that we do not always have. When sharing the gospel of Jesus (including our warning of coming judgment in hell), we are challenged to “do it with courtesy and
