Lesson 5283

 (Lesson 5283)(07-25-26) Mark 14:1-9 

   “After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death. But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people. And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.” 

 

     Today’s quote relates that, as the leaders of the Jews secretly plotted to execute Jesus without setting off a public riot, a woman in Bethany honored Jesus by pouring costly perfumed ointment over his head. When Judas criticized the gesture as wasteful, Jesus defended her, explaining that she was anointing His body in advance for His upcoming burial and commanded that what she had done for Him be told wherever, and whenever the gospel is preached. When is the last time you heard your preacher mention that woman and the act that she performed for our Savior? 

Lesson 5283

 (Lesson 5283)(07-24-26) Mark 13:31-37 

   “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” 

 

    In today’s quote, Jesus emphasized that His words are permanent, outlasting heaven and earth, but noted that no one except God the Father knows the exact timing of His return. Using the illustration of a homeowner who goes on a journey and assigns tasks to his servants, Jesus commands His followers to stay alert, be diligent, and spiritually prepared so they are not caught unprepared when He returns. ~ 

 

Lesson 5282

 (Lesson 5282)(07-23-26) Mark 13:21-30 

   “And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things. But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.” 

In today’s quote, Jesus warned against being deceived by false prophets before His glorious return to power to gather the saved from all of heaven and earth. By using the example of a budding fig tree in spring, Jesus explained that there will be obvious signs that will indicate that his second coming is near. Jesus guaranteed that all those events will certainly take place before His return to reclaim His kingdom. ~

Lesson 5281

 (Lesson 5281)(07-22-26) Mark 13:12-20 

   “Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house: And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment. But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter. For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.” 

 

    In today’s quote, Jesus warned that the tribulation of the end times will cause severe betrayal, even within families, but that remaining faithful God during that time will to salvation. Out of mercy for his chosen people (the Jews), God limits the duration of that horror to ensure their survival. ~