The Place of the Skull

The place where Jesus was crucified They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). Mark 15:22 Jesus was crucified just outside the walls of Jerusalem at a place called Golgotha. This is an Aramaic word, which gruesomely means “the place

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39 Lashes

The horrific practice of flogging Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 2 Corinthians 11:24 In this passage in 2 Corinthians, Paul recounted a litany of the many ways he had suffered for the sake of the Gospel. Perhaps foremost on the

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The Holy Grail

Was there just one cup at the Last Supper? Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness

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Snakes and Poison

Is Jesus condoning life-threatening activities? They will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well. Mark 16:18 The last part of the book

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Mites, Minas, and Talents

Understanding some currency of Jesus’ day “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others.” Luke 21:3 The Bible talks a lot about money – hundreds and hundreds of verses in fact. One could easily conclude, then, that God

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Phylacteries and Tassels

What Jewish men wore and why Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long. Matthew 23:5 Let’s stay in this same passage as yesterday where Jesus was scolding the Pharisees and teachers of the

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Sit Down, Moses

What was the purpose of the Seat of Moses? Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.” Matthew 23:1-2 Jews gathered in the synagogue or house of assembly, where the people met for

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Sad, You See

Who were the Sadducees and Pharisees? “Be careful,” Jesus said to them (the disciples). “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Matthew 16:6 Jesus spoke against two groups of people primarily mentioned together in Matthew 16. They were two religious parties that

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Mustard and Mulberry

How further study deepens understanding If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you. Luke 17:6 Today’s topic may be somewhat familiar to you, but I want

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