Exodus 39:1-40:38, Mark 1:1-28, Psalm 35:1-16, Proverbs 9:11-12
Today is the 15th day of February, welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian. It is great to be here with you today, on the Mediterranean coast. We are kind of, we began our journey on the Mediterranean coast south of here in Ashdod, we’re well up into the North, near Caesarea. Had a great day yesterday, kind of migrating out of the Galilee, which is always a little bit sad to leave behind. Made our way to the coast and we could talk about all that in a little bit but we’re here at the beginning, and we have gathered around the Global Campfire today, to take the next step forward together on our journey through the Scriptures, and what a joy it is to be able to immerse ourselves in the actual land of the Bible and go through this together and see some of these places where the Bible happened. Like I said, we’ll talk about that a little bit more in a little bit. In the Old Testament today, we will be moving back to right where we left off, which is in the book of Exodus, where all of the things around the priesthood that need to be made to lead the people into worship are being made and we’re continuing to see that today with the priestly, with the garments that the priests will wear. When we get to the New Testament today, we enter the second Gospel, the Gospel of Mark, and we will talk about that when we get there. But first, Exodus chapters 39 and 40.
Introduction to the Book of Mark:
Okay, so, that concludes the book of Exodus. So, we’ll be moving forward tomorrow, but now we are entering into the second of the Gospels, the Gospel of Mark. So, let’s get our bearings. Mark was not a disciple, one of the 12, he wasn’t an apostle. He was really a long-term follower and disciple of the apostle Peter and Mark first shows up in the Bible in the book of Acts. He’s known as John Mark and he lived in Jerusalem, and it seems that he came from a reasonably wealthy family. According to the book of Acts, his mother’s name was Mary. She had a big house and a servant named Rhoda and Mary was an early believer and she had opened her home to early believers for worship. There are some church traditions, this isn’t in the Bible, but there are some church traditions that…that place her home as the spot where the upper room was, where the Holy Spirit was poured out on the believers after Jesus ascension. So, we get the picture that Mark was around the faith from the beginning, even…even as a boy. In the book of Acts we have this story of the apostle Peter, who had been captured by Herod and we’ll…we’ll certainly read the story when we get to it later, and Herod has the intention of executing Peter. He put some other Christians to death, seemed to make people happy, was planning to execute Peter but an angel came and…and helped Peter escape from jail. And then it was to Mary’s house, to John Mark’s house, that Peter went. And as the story goes, there were a number of believers there in the house, John Mark’s house, and they’re praying for Peter. And then Peter shows up, knocking on the door. And so, Rhoda, the servant girl comes, answers the door. She sees Peter she…she can’t believe her eyes. She slams the door on Peter, runs back in to tell everybody, Peter’s outside. So, this is a wonderful story, but this gives us a little texture, little glimpse about who Mark is. And so, even from a boy John Mark’s been around the Gospel. He has a cousin; his name is Barnabas. Barnabas is a dear friend of the apostle Paul. So, we’ll watch Mark go with Paul and Barnabas on Paul’s first missionary journey. Mark leaves that journey and that causes a little bit of a rift between Paul and Barnabas. And it’s thought that ultimately Mark becomes like a disciple to the apostle Peter, so he travels with Peter, serving as his assistant, his disciple, as his interpreter, everywhere that Peter goes sharing the Gospel of the Lord Jesus. So…so, John Mark has heard what Peter teaches repeatedly, over and over, city-to-city, and he eventually writes it down. So, then what we have in the Gospel of Mark, is, at least in part, what Peter was traveling around teaching, the Gospel that he was teaching. And most scholars agree, Mark was himself, the writer of this Gospel. There is speculation as there’s prone to be like no sets, very few sets of scholars agree on everything. And so, there’s speculation about the time that the Gospel of Mark was written, but most scholars land that this is the earliest of the Gospels ever written, and that is the first of the synoptic Gospels, those being, Matthew, Mark and Luke. And they’re called the synoptic Gospels because they share so much of the same material, and so many of the same stories, that most scholars believe that, for example, that Matthew and Luke used Mark as a bit of a template, even though Mark and Luke tell the stories and add things into the stories, nuances into the stories, details into the stories, that we don’t have in the Gospel of Mark. And so, that’s what makes them the synoptic Gospels. And so, as we read Mark, we believe we are reading the first Gospel written about Jesus. And so, with that in mind, we begin, the Gospel of Mark, chapter 1 verse 1 through verse 28 today.
Prayer:
Father, we thank You for Your word. We thank You for every day that You allow us to immerse ourselves in it and allow it to speak and inform our lives. We thank You for these…these times of transition, as we’ve concluded the book of Exodus today, and we prepared to move forward tomorrow into the book of Leviticus. And even as we have begun the gospel of Mark, today, we thank you for bringing us this far into the Scriptures and we thank You for all that you have spoken so far in this year. And we look forward with great anticipation, for all that You have yet to teach us in this year, all that will be touched and transformed by the power of Your Holy Spirit and the counsel of the Scriptures in our lives. And so, as we so often do, we pray, Holy Spirit, come into all that we’ve read today, plant it in our lives, lead us into all truth. We pray, in the precious mighty name of Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Announcements:
Okay so, as I was mentioning yesterday, we had to leave the Galilee and we have, and we worked our way back to the Mediterranean coast, which is where we begin a very early morning as we head inland and southward through the interior, making our way toward Jerusalem, where we should end tonight. But yesterday leaving the Galilee, we went south to the Decapolis City of Beth Chan, which are pretty impressive ruins and it’s really just a fraction of what’s under the ground, maybe 5 or 10% of what’s under the ground, it was a city of the Decapolis. It was a very large, very powerful, very influential city. And even looking at the ruins that exist you can tell that, and it has been a settled civilization for millennia, through many different seasons and different peoples. So, we did some time exploring around there and it really is an impressive sight to see. So, we spent a generous portion of time, beautiful morning another beautiful day to travel, and then after Beth Chan, we began moving through the Jezreel Valley, and I just kind of driving through a valley that we gazed upon from Nazareth, when we were at Mount Precipice, you can really look into the Jezreel Valley and that is an impressive thing to see, incredibly biblical site. Today we’re driving through that valley and pointing out and looking at some of the things that we had gazed upon from Mount Precipice, a little bit more up close, making our way westward toward the coast. So we drove by things like the ruins of…of the ancient city of Jezreel, by the ruins of Megiddo, on our way up Mount caramel and we got to the top of Mount Carmel and explored the story of Elijah, and a showdown with the prophets of Bal, who were serving their Queen Jezebel and about Elijah calling the people back to God and God answering with fire from heaven, and Elijah running away once Jezebel found out that her prophets were dead, she was intent on killing Elijah. And so, we just explored that story there. And then there’s also a fantastic view from the top of Mount Carmel, looking down into the Jezreel Valley, also known as the Valley of Armageddon. So, you look down on that and you think about the prophecies about the Valley of Armageddon and its, you know reconciling those things is really interesting because it’s a beautiful Valley, it’s a fertile valley. It’s a huge Valley, and so, the showdown that is foretold there, it’s just, you look at it and you go wow, wow, this is…this is pretty incredible. So, just processing that, taking it in, is…is…is great and challenging and good. And so, we spent some time there and then started our way back down Mount Carmel, moving through the village populated by the Druze people and we stopped and had lunch with them, a beautiful lunch and filled our bellies. And…and then moved on down Mount Carmel all the way to the coast and then south along the coast, to the ancient ruins of Caesarea Marittima, which was essentially the Roman capital of the region, where the governance of the region took place. This is a city that was conceived of and and…and constructed by Herod the Great and it was meant to be a jewel, a real attraction, a real, legitimate Roman empires city in the region at the other end of the Mediterranean Sea. And those ruins are equally as impressive as any other, and…and they are also, just a fraction of what it was, but enough to get a glimpse, enough to get an understanding that this was a powerful, influential affluence, well established city with all of the modern technologies of that era, that day. And so, we spent another generous portion of time there just really just immersing ourselves in the site, it’s right on the Mediterranean coast. And it was really beautiful day, another really beautiful day for us. When we began our journey, I don’t know how many days ago that is, it seems like of a long time back, we began on the Mediterranean coast in Ashdod, and the remnants of a pretty aggressive storm, that even had a name, the storm was called Deborah, it was moving through and so very windy, very choppy, angry sea. Today, not so much, very calm, serene, beautiful there on the Mediterranean coast. And so, we finished our day, it was quite a good amount of traveling today. And so, we got back on the buses and about another half an hour drive south along the coast to where we had landed for the night. And we got in and got settled and everybody’s feeling fatigued and that’s just the nature, the nature of it. But we got some rest, had to get up early and…and like I said, head inland. And I look forward to telling you about that, after it happens. And so, once again, thank you for your continued prayers. We are moving toward the final phase of our journey, as we base ourselves in Jerusalem and spoke out from there, a little bit. And so that’s a completely new complexion in front of us, as we approached Jerusalem. And just the…the tensions that are there and the history that is there, and the remarkable things we get to see there, all whipped up into a blend. And so, thank you for your continued prayers, as we move into that phase. We love you, and yeah, even as a community we’re talking about you, every day, thinking about everybody, and so thank you for your prayers.
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And that’s it for today, I’m Brian, I love you and I’ll be waiting for you here, tomorrow.
Prayer and Encouragements:
Hi there, Daily Audio Bible family. It’s His Precious Seen One from the UK. It’s been a while since I’ve called, my apologies. Just wanted to come on here and pray for everyone who is out on the trip in Israel. I pray that God will give you a fresh revelation of His glory. I pray that you will experience Him in new way. I pray that you will be blessed in your going out and your coming in and your moving about. I pray that He will cover you with His wings of protection and that in everything that you will just experience God in a truly new way. Amen. I am a little bit jealous. I’m not sure how it works for us in the UK, making it over but anyway, that’s beside the point. Have a wonderful time out there. I pray for everyone else who’s put in a prayer request. I pray that God will meet you all at the point of your needs. And that He will just continue to cover you will His precious arms of love and I pray that you know, you will enjoy His sweetness. In Jesus name. Amen. And also, just a final thing from me, if you could please pray for me concerning my marriage. You know, I’d really appreciate it. Yes, thank you so much. God bless you. Hope to speak to you all again very soon. Have a lovely day. Have a lovely rest of your day and whatever you’re doing. And a reminder, I may not see you, but I hear you and I love you. God Bless you. Take care.
Hello, my name is Tracy. I’ve been married 31 years. My husband’s walked out on me two weeks ago. We have a decent marriage; we’ve had our shares of ups and downs but mostly ups. And we just got off vacation, he was acting strange on vacation but when we got back, he told me that his journey with me ends here. I have been trying to keep my head up and be okay. Have people praying for me but I’ve heard that God has something better for me, things like that. I just don’t know that that’s the kind of God we serve that would be okay with a 31-year marriage ending. We are both Christians. As far as him, I mean that what was portrayed to me from him, so. I pray that you all please pray that whatever’s going on with him that he would come to his senses and talk to me and maybe we can get back to being married. I don’t know. I should be angry, and I am at times. Until I tell myself, fine, I don’t want anything else to do with him. If he can live without me, surely, I can live without him. But I just, I’m not able to do this. I don’t know what to do. So, if you all would just, please pray. Maybe God would hear your prayers, because He doesn’t seem to be hearing mine. So, thank you very much. I love the Daily Audio Bible. I know you’ve been able to help a lot of people. Have a blessed day. Thank you. Bye.
Greetings my dearly beloved DAB community. This is Fill My Cup from California. I hope that February is treating you as well as it can be. If not, I pray that it gets better. I’m calling to pray for a few people. Father, thank You so much for giving us life. Father, some of us maybe in the hospital, at home, traveling, everywhere, but Lord Father, we thank You’ve given us life. Father, that in giving us life, You’re giving us a purpose for each day. Lord, I pray for Webster. I pray that You guide him, as he needs encouragement and he’s feeling, he’s just feeling things right now, but I pray Father, for your comfort and Your guidance and please surround him with a community and friendships that…that help him, Father. And that he feels that he is also contributor to encouraging their faith. I pray for Erica in San Francisco whose mom just passed away and she was the rock of their family. I pray Father, that you comfort them during this time, Lord. And I pray that through this grieving time, dear Lord, they see You at work more and more. And that also, You raise up someone within the family to be that the next builder of bonds in them, dear God. I thank You so much for hearing Duncan Holms, I hadn’t heard his voice in so long and I’m so grateful that he called in. I pray that You help him to bless his concerts as they come and also, the weather, that it gets better. And all his traveling. Father, please be with everyone in Israel and guide them and protect them. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Hello DAB family, this is Skylar from Virginia. Long time listener, first time caller. I’m asking for prayers, financial, I’m having a lot of problems with meeting the bills. And my job is really getting me down. Also, the enemy has been keeping out of church but I’m getting back to it now. And I feel like my walk is starting to get better with the Lord. But, I need prayers. I need spiritual warriors. I need prayers for financial help to meet the bills. And my wife is planning to go in for her third spinal surgery in six weeks. And I don’t know how I’m gonna be able to prepare for it right now. Family, I truly need your prayers. Please, heavenly Father, Hear me. I love you all and thank you for your support. And my God bless and keep all of you. And I’ll keep you all in my prayers. Have a blessed day. In Jesus name I ask these things. Amen.
Hi, this is a prayer of encouragement for Webster. This is Sherrie, By His Grace, Sherrie in New England. And I wanna say, Webster, I believe in you, and I believe that you can conquer sin and addiction and even the mental struggles that you have with those two, you know they’re there. And the Bible tells us that these things are the things that keep us from being close to the Lord, from building a relationship with the Lord. Let me say that you are so, so blessed to have family members and church members praying for you and lifting you up and trying to help you in your healing. But you, Webster, need to do the work and talk to the Lord and observe the addiction or the sins, one, little, tiny one at a time. And I feel like with you knowing that, you know, that you know, that you will grow closer to the Lord. So, give it your best effort, one little step at a time. We will be listening Webster; we will be waiting for that call to come in where you are giving praise to the Lord for His work that you’re doing and the work that He’s putting you on the road to healing. I know it will happen, Webster, you want it, and you know the steps you need to take, and I am praying for you and all the other DAB members, I’m sure are praying for you as well. In Jesus name. Amen.