by Wells, Steve
6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
(16.6) “He is risen.”
7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
(16.7) “Tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee.”
412 Where did Jesus tell his disciples to go?
8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.
(16.8) “They … fled from the sepulchre … neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.”
407 Did the women immediately tell the disciples?
(16.9-20) These verses are not found in the earlier manuscripts and are therefore considered later additions. So the gospel of Mark ended without anyone seeing the resurrected Jesus or any of the cool stuff about snake handling, drinking poison, or God-damned non-believers.
(16:9-16) Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene (So he was the young man in white in v.5!), but when she told the disciples, they didn’t believe her. So Jesus tried again. This time “he appeared in another form” to two other guys. But nobody believed that story either. Shucks! Finally, he appeared to the eleven apostles and gave them hell for not believing, saying “he that believeth not shall be damned.” And that did it. They believed after that.
408 To whom did Jesus first appear?
9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.
(16.9-11) “Jesus … appeared first to Mary Magdalene … She went and told them that had been with him … And they … believed not.”
12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.
(16.12-13) “He appeared in another form unto two of them … And they went and told it unto the residue: Neither believed they them.”
427 Did the eleven disciples believe the two men?
14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
(16.14) “He appeared unto the eleven.”
413 How many disciples did Jesus appear to in his first post resurrection appearance?
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
(16.15) “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
352 Should the gospel be preached to everyone?
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
(16.16) “He that believeth not shall be damned.”
304 Is Salvation by faith alone?
359 How are people judged by God?
(16.17-18) The signs of true believers
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
(16.17) “These signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; “
344 Who can cast out devils in the name of Jesus?
421 Is casting out devils a sign of a true Christian?
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
(16:18) They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
(16.19a) “After the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven.”
428 When did Jesus ascend into heaven?
(16.19b) “He … sat on the right hand of God.”
349 Is Jesus God?
20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
(16.20) “The Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.”
360 Did Jesus perform any signs?
LUKE
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. — Luke 14.26
Highlights:
God strikes Zacharias dumb for doubting the angel Gabriel’s words. 1.20
John the Baptist says that Christ will burn the damned “with fire unquenchable.” 3.17
The genealogy of Jesus given here is entirely different than that in Mt 1.6-16. 3.23-31
The people of Jesus’ hometown (Nazareth) tried to kill him by pushing him off a cliff. But Jesus got away. 4.28-30
Peter and his partners (James and John) abandon their wives and children to follow Jesus. 5.11
People who are rich, well-fed, happy, or respected are going to hell. 6.24-26
John the Baptist, who is about to die, is still unsure about Jesus. 7.19
Jesus speaks in parables so “that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.” 8.10
He falsely predicts that some of his listeners would live to see him return and establish the kingdom of God. 9.27
Entire cities will be violently destroyed and the inhabitants “thrust down to hell” for not “receiving” his disciples. 10.10-15
The disciples are thrilled that “even the devils are subject” to them. To this Jesus replies, “I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions … and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” 10.17-19
Jesus thanks God that only the ignorant and foolish will listen to him. 10.21
He insults his mother (the Most Holy Blessed Virgin Mary). 11.27-28
He calls his critics fools, thus making himself, by his own standards (Mt 5.22), worthy of “hell fire.” 11.40
He blames all the deaths of the prophets (from Abel to Zacharias) on his generation. 11.47-52
He says that we should fear God since he has the power to kill us and then torture us forever in hell. 12.5
The unforgivable sin: blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. 12.10
God is like a slave-owner who tortures and chops his slaves in pieces. 12.46-47
Jesus says that his disciples must hate their families (mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, children) and themselves. 14.26
If you want to be a disciple of Jesus, you must abandon everything, including your family. 14.33
“That which is highly esteemed among men [love, wisdom, honesty, courage, etc.] is an abomination in the sight of God.” 16.15
Abandon your wife and family for Jesus and he’ll give you a big reward. 18.29-30
God is like an unjust king who takes what is not rightly his, reaps what he didn’t sow, and has those who don’t want to be ruled by him slaughtered in front of him.19.12-27
Jesus says that everyone will hate Christians, and some Christians will be killed, yet no Christian will be harmed in any way. 21.16-18
He says that all that he describes (his return, signs in the sun, moon, and stars, etc.) will occur within the lifetime of his listeners. 21.32
LUKE 1
1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
3 It seemed good to me also, h
aving had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
(1.5-6) “Zacharias … and his wife … Elisabeth … were both righteous before God walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.”
35 Has there ever been a righteous person?
430 Does righteousness come from following the Law?
(1.7-15) Zacharias and Elizabeth were both getting old, too old to have kids. But Zach prayed, so an angel appeared to tell him that God would take care of things for him. God would somehow get Liz pregnant and she’d have a son named John, who would be filled with the Holy Ghost from the moment God, the angel, the Holy Ghost, or Zach (or maybe all of them working together) got his mom pregnant.
7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
(1.7) “They had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren.” Oh God, another barren woman! It’s always the woman’s fault in the Bible.
8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,
9 According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
(1.11) “There appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar.”
12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
(1.13) “The angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.” Whoopie! Another miraculous birth! Did old Zach have sex with Elizabeth or did the angel take care of things for him?
14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.
(1.15a) “He shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink.”
71 Is it OK to drink alcohol?
(1.15b) “He shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.” John the Baptist was “filled with the Holy Ghost” even as a fetus!
431 When was the Holy Ghost given?
16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
(1.17) “The wisdom of the just”
33 Has the ever been a just person?
(1.18-20) Zechariah asks the angel Gabriel how his wife could become pregnant, since she is “stricken with years.” Gabriel makes him “dumb” just for asking.
18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
(1.18) “Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.”
19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
(1.19-20) “The angel … said … I am Gabriel … Thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak … because thou believest not my words.”
21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.
23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
(1.28-31) The angel Gabriel stopped by Nazareth to visit the Most Blessed Virgin Mary and say the rosary with her. OK, not really. He stopped by to tell her that the Holy Ghost would soon be getting her pregnant the way he did her aunt Elizabeth. During his visit he composed the first part of the “Hail Mary.”
28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
(1.28) “Hail [Mary], highly faoroured [full of grace], the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women.”
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
(1.30-31) “The angel said … thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.”
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
(1.34) “Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” Just a few verses earlier (1.17-20), Zacharias is struck dumb for doubting his wife’s angel-assisted pregnancy. Why wasn’t Mary punished for her disbelief?
329 Was Joseph the father of Jesus?
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
(1.35) “The angel … said … The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” Gabriel tells Mary that the Holy Ghost will come on her and she’ll be covered by the power of God, so “the holy thing” that she delivers will be the Son of God.
36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
(1.37) “With God nothing shall be impossible.”
59 Can God do anything?
38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;
40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
&nbs
p; 41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
(1.41a) “When Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb.” John the Baptist, while still a fetus, leaped for joy when he heard the voice of Mary.
(1.41b) “Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost.”
431 When was the Holy Ghost given?
42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
(1.42) “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb [Jesus].” When Elisabeth saw Mary, she completed the first half of the “Hail Mary” that the angel Gabriel started in verse 28.
43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
(1.50) “His mercy is on them that fear him.”
132 Should we fear God?
51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
57 Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.