Preparation

John the Baptist Prepared The Way For Jesus - Mark 1:1 – 1:8 (commentary)

Mark opens this gospel by explaining how John the Baptist was divinely appointed by God to prepare the way for Jesus as a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy (Mal. 3:1 & Isa. 40:3). John was a rugged prophet from the wilderness and a fearless preacher. Large crowds were com …

Jesus Rides a Donkey Into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday - Mark 11:1 – 11:11 (commentary)

We have come to the last stage of the journey. There had been the time of withdrawal around Caesarea Philippi in the far north. There had been the time in Galilee. There had been the stay in the hill-country of Judea and in the regions beyond Jordan. There had been the road through …

The Tabernacle Erected And Arranged - Exodus 40:1 – 40:16 (commentary)

Moses’ obedience to God’s command is a key theme of the final chapter of Exodus. The people provided all the resources and labor but only the Lord’s servant Moses was authorized to erect the tabernacle and prepare it for the Lord’s entry. This chapter brings us to a certain…

The Purpose of the Gospel Unfolds - Luke 1:1 – 1:7 (commentary)

We find that Luke was a very careful and conscientious investigator as he wrote this book. He tells Jesus story from the prospective of a Gentile physician. He sought out those who had known the Lord Jesus personally and learned the facts from their own lips (vv. 1-4). …

Peace Within the Land - Isaiah 62:1 – 62:12 (commentary)

Much of this chapter speaks of preparation being made for the coming of the Lord and for the restoration of His people. The Lord announced that He will continue to work on Jerusalem’s behalf until her righteousness, salvation, and glory are observed by the rest of the wor …

Sennacherib Boasts Against The Lord - II Kings 18:17 – 18:37 (commentary)

In an attempt to deter Sennacherib, Hezekiah paid tribute, but this did not seem to sway the Assyrian’s determination. Instead Sennacherib sent three officers with a large force to Jerusalem (v. 17) to demand complete surrender. At first they presented their demands only to Heze …

Picking a New Queen - Esther 2:1 – 2:11 (commentary)

Some Bible scholars say there was an interval of two to four years between chapter one and this chapter. It appears that the king begins to wonder as to whether he had done the right thing in being so harsh with Vashti (v. 1). His attendants became afraid that the king would take out on them his ...