And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of … More J. C. Ryle: Why take our bodies to church, if we leave our hearts at home?
Mark 6:45-56, our passage for today, contains the section telling of Jesus walking on water: Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. … More The one who had previously commanded the sea, now walks on it.
J. C. Ryle on Mark 6:35-46 Of all our Lord Jesus Christ’s miracles, none is so frequently described in the Gospels, as that which we have now read. Each of the four Evangelists was inspired to record it. It is evident that it demands a more than ordinary attention from every reader of God’s word. … More J. C. Ryle:This Jesus still lives, never changes, and is on our side
J. C. Ryle comments on Mark 6:14-29 An unjust imprisonment and a violent death, were the last fruit that John the Baptist reaped, in return for his labor. Like Stephen and James, and others, of whom the world was not worthy, he was called to seal his testimony with his blood. Histories like these are … More J. C. Ryle: Your best life now? or later?
J.C. Ryle on Mark 6:5-6 And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief. Two remarkable expressions are used in teaching this lesson. One is, that our Lord “could do no mighty work” at Nazareth, by reason … More J.C. Ryle: How exceedingly sinful is the sin of unbelief
In Mark 5:21-43 we read that Jesus healed two different women, one a young girl and one who had suffered for years with a disease that doctors could not cure. J.C. Ryle’s insightful comments: The main subject of these verses is the miraculous healing of a sick woman. Great is our Lord’s experience in cases … More Disease, Distress and Delivery
Mark 5:18-20 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has … More Do you have anything to tell?
J.C. Ryle comments on “The Parable of the Seed Growing” in Mark 4:26-28 And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the … More Grace beyond comprehension and control
J. C. Ryle on Mark 4:1-20 These verses contain the parable of the sower. Of all the parables spoken by our Lord, none is probably so well-known as this. There is none which is so easily understood by all, from the gracious familiarity of the figures which it contains. There is none which is of … More J.C. Ryle: This parable needs application, not exposition.
Kim Riddlebarger asks, “What, then, should we take with us from this section of Mark?” [Chapter 3:20-35] The very fact that so many different and diverse people witnessed the miracles of Jesus with their own eyes and yet did not understand his mission or understand who he was, should remind all of us that unless God … More Grant us eyes to see Jesus!
Knowing God through His Word ... Day by Day 