Tag: Mark

Welcome to the “But first, Bible” daily devotional podcast with Dave Miers.

Our readings for today are Numbers 34-36 and Mark 10:32-52.

This is our last day in the book of Numbers – and tomorrow we begin the book of Deuteronomy. That means this is a perfect time to encourage others to either start or get back on track with this plan.

Today we will focus in on the second half of Mark 10 and in it we will learn the difference between greatness in the kingdoms of this world compared to greatness in the kingdom of God.

Let me read from Mark 10:35–44,

[35] And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” [36] And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” [37] And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” [38] Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” [39] And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, [40] but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” [41] And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. [42] And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. [43] But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, [44] and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. (ESV)

James and John – they want to be great! That’s why they ask to sit at the right and left hand of Jesus in glory! They recognise something of the importance of Jesus – hence the request. But they’ve still misunderstood what greatness looks like.

Continue reading “Mar 5 – Numbers 34-36; Mark 10:32-52 – WHOEVER WOULD BE GREAT”

Welcome to the “But first, Bible” daily devotional podcast with Dave Miers.

Our readings for today are Numbers 32-33 and Mark 10:1-31.

In Mark 10 we will learn an important lesson about how we can receive eternal life from God. Let’s look at the interaction of Jesus with a man who asks an important question.

Check out Mark 10:17–22,

[17] And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” [18] And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. [19] You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” [20] And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” (ESV)

The man wants to receive eternal life, and so Jesus asks him in verse 19 if he knows a bunch of commandments. The man says he knows them AND he has kept them.

In Exodus 20 we learn about the 10 Commandments that the LORD gave to Israel after he had rescued them from slavery in Egypt. They were called to walk in obedience with the God of their salvation.

Of the 10 Commandments, commandments 1-4 are often summarised as our duty towards God, and commandments 5-10 are often summarised as our duty towards our neighbour.

Did you notice that the only commandments that Jesus mentioned are from the second half regarding our duty towards neighbour?

In response to these the man says: yep, nailed all of them.

What about the first 4 commandments? How has the man gone at keeping those?

Continue reading “Mar 4 – Numbers 32-33; Mark 10:1-31 – POSSIBLE WITH GOD”

Welcome to the “But first, Bible” daily devotional podcast with Dave Miers.

Happy March! It’s a new month – a great opportunity to encourage others to develop a habit for reading the bible. If you’ve been enjoying this podcast, why don’t you share with one person today how it has helped you.

Our readings for today are Numbers 24-27 and Mark 8:12-38.

Mark 8 is the turning point in Mark’s Gospel – we go from asking the question ‘Who is this man?’ in chapters 1-8 and then in chapter 8 we find out who Jesus is: the Christ, and then from chapters 8-16 we understand what it will mean for Jesus to be the Christ and what it will mean to follow Him.

Back on January 23 I gave a whole bunch of my thoughts on this passage during the devotion on the parallel passage in Matthew 16. Go check it out if you’re interested.

I thought today I would turn to my favourite devotional – Through The Bible Through The Year – by John Stott to hear some of his reflections. He’s got a lot of reflections on Mark 8 – a whole week’s worth! But I’ll share one of them.

Continue reading “Mar 1 – Numbers 24-27; Mark 8:11-38 – TAKING UP THE CROSS”

Welcome to the “But first, Bible” daily devotional podcast with Dave Miers.

Our readings for today are Numbers 21-23 and Mark 7:14-8:10.

Just like yesterday, the pattern continues for Israel grumbling against God and against Moses in the book of Numbers.

In Numbers 21, God’s means of judgement for their grumbling and his salvation from it is intriguing.
Have a look at Numbers 21:4–9,

[4] From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. [5] And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” [6] Then the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. [7] And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you. Pray to the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. [8] And the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” [9] So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live. (ESV)

It sounds terrifying to be confronted by many fiery serpents! Many of the people die. But then perhaps even more interesting is the way that the LORD spares his people from the fiery serpents. “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.”

Look to the pole, and you will be healed from your serpent bite! A truly intriguing scenario.

Continue reading “Feb 28 – Numbers 21-23; Mark 7:14-8:10 – THE BRONZE SERPENT”

Welcome to the “But first, Bible” daily devotional podcast with Dave Miers.

Our readings for today are Numbers 16-17 and Mark 6:33-56.

One of the responses that we continue to see in the Gospel of Mark is that the disciples and the crowds are astounded at the things that Jesus is doing and saying.

In Mark chapter 6 – Jesus does some really remarkable miracles. We’ve already seen a number of Jesus’ miracles, but in today’s reading, we see two more.

The first one is the feeding of over 5000 people with just five loaves of bread and two fish. Now he doesn’t cut it all up into tiny crumbs and then shares it out with tweezers. He miraculously multiplies the bread and the fish so that there are literal basket-loads of leftovers at the end! Astounding!

Continue reading “Feb 26 – Numbers 16-17; Mark 6:33-56 – UTTERLY ASTOUNDED”

Welcome to the “But first, Bible” daily devotional podcast with Dave Miers.

Our readings for today are Numbers 7 and Mark 4:21-41.

I’m currently attending the Acts 29 Australia/New Zealand Conference. Acts 29 is a diverse, global family of church planting churches. Our church – City on a Hill: Brisbane – is part of this network and I love being part of what God is doing around the world as Jesus is made known through the planting of churches that plant churches.

Now, the conference is on the Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia… and right now there is a tropical cyclone not far off the coast, with all sorts of severe weather warnings. Yesterday, all the beaches were closed along the strip because of the massive swells.

Extreme weather, wind, and waves is the context for part of our Mark 4 reading today.

Let me read from Mark 4:35–38,

[35] On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” [36] And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. [37] And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. [38] But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” (ESV)

This is a big storm! Remember – many of Jesus’ disciples were seasoned fishermen – they knew these waters, they knew what it was to be on the sea during high winds… and yet on this occasion, they are fearful that the storm will get the better of them.

Where is Jesus in the storm? He’s asleep on a cushion!

And so the disciples wake Jesus up. Did you notice they address him as “Teacher”? They know he has great authority to teach, but they want to know where he cares for them. And they want to know if he has any authority in this situation.

You can imagine the disciples bailing the water out of the boat, frantically trying to keep the boat from plunging to the depths of the sea… and yet now that Jesus is awake look at what happens in Mark 4:39-41

Continue reading “Feb 22 – Numbers 7; Mark 4:21-41 – PEACE! BE STILL!”

Welcome to the “But first, Bible” daily devotional podcast with Dave Miers.

Our readings for today are Numbers 1-2 and Mark 3:1-21.

As we begin the Old Testament book of Numbers I have a challenge for you today. Send a text to 3 Christian friends and ask if they have a bible reading plan. If they don’t have a plan encourage them to join in with the But First, Bible reading plan. Even if they don’t listen to these devotions, get them to start reading Numbers and Mark’s Gospel.

You can find the reading plan at butfirstbible.com, also it’s available in the ESV Phone app in the plan called ‘Read Through The Bible’, and ESV also has a podcast called ‘Read Through The Bible’ where you can listen to the Bible readings as part of this plan.

But now, to the book of Numbers.

I recently highlighted that esv.org and the ESV Bible app has given access to the Global Study Bible for free. It’s a simple companion to use as you read through books of the bible.

Today I thought I’d read to you from the Global Study Bible’s Introduction to the book of Numbers.

Continue reading “Feb 19 – Numbers 1-2; Mark 3:1-21 – THE BOOK OF NUMBERS”