A couple years ago, I started writing through Mark. At least that’s what I said I was going to do. When I look back, there are 39 posts in the series, which wandered and then eventually faded away in May. There was a new grandson that year (Happy Birthday today, Ben), and a big research […]

It’s a Jesus story for kids. A man can’t hear and can’t speak clearly. His friends bring him to where Jesus was. Jesus sticks his fingers in the man’s ears. And then Jesus spits on his own finger and touches the man’s tongue. It’s all gross, at least for a kid. Until the man starts […]

Jesus went to Tyre. Up on the Mediterranean coast. Far from the opposition in Jerusalem. When you go to places your opponents won’t go, sometimes you can find safety. But he couldn’t find anonymity. There was always the reputation of who he was. Stories about a wise teacher who healed people spread pretty quickly. But […]

It’s an odd story. Religious leaders come looking for Jesus. The ones who were known for really knowing and applying the law of Moses to daily life. They watch the followers of Jesus take whatever food they had and eat it. And they didn’t follow the ceremonial process for washing hands before eating. (I could […]