Memory Text: Mark 6:50 NRSV “for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."”

Sunday, April 24 Confrontation at Nazareth
Mark 6:1-5 NKJV “1 ¶ Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. 2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing [Him] were astonished, saying, "Where [did] this Man [get] these things? And what wisdom [is] this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! 3 "Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?" And they were offended at Him. 4 But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house." 5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed [them].”
Mark 6:3 COMMENTARY BY ADAM CLARKE Among the ancient Jews, every father was bound to do four things for his son. 1. To circumcise him. 2. To redeem him. 3. To teach him the law. 4. To teach him a trade. And this was founded on the following just maxim: "He who teaches not his son to do some work, is as if he taught him robbery!" It is therefore likely that Joseph brought up our Lord to his own trade.
Luke 4:16-30 MKJV “16 And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And, as His custom was, He went in to the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read. 17 And [the] book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And unrolling the book, He found the place where it was written, 18 "The Spirit of [the] Lord [is] on Me; because of this He has anointed Me to proclaim the Gospel to [the] poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim deliverance to the captives, and new sight to [the] blind, to set at liberty those having been crushed, 19 to proclaim the acceptable year of [the] Lord." 20 And rolling up the book, returning [it] to the attendant, He sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your ears. 22 And all bore witness to Him and wondered at the gracious words which came out of His mouth. And they said, Is this not Joseph’s son? 23 And He said to them, You will surely say this proverb to Me, Physician, heal yourself. Whatever [we] have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in your native-place. 24 And He said, Truly I say to you, No prophet is accepted in his native-place. 25 But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land. 26 But Elijah was not sent to any of them, except to Zarephath, [a city] of Sidon, to a woman, a widow. 27 And many lepers were in Israel in the [time] of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian. 28 And hearing these things, all in the synagogue were filled [with] wrath. 29 And they rose up and thrust Him outside the city, and led Him up to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, in order to throw Him down. 30 But passing through the midst of them, He went away.”

Monday, April 25 The Death of John
Mark 6:14-22 ESV “14 ¶ King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15 But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” 16 But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” 17 For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly. 21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.””
Mark 6:14 COMMENTARY BY JAMIESON, FAUSSET, AND BROWN -The murdered prophet haunted his guilty breast like a specter, and seemed to him alive again and clothed with unearthly powers, in the person of Jesus.
Matthew 27:11-30 KJ21 “11 ¶ And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked Him, saying, "Art thou the King of the Jews?" And Jesus said unto him, "Thou sayest." 12 And when He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing. 13 Then said Pilate unto Him, "Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?" 14 And He answered him never a word, insomuch that the governor marveled greatly. 15 Now at that feast, the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. 16 And they had then a notable prisoner called Barabbas. 17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, "Whom will ye that I release unto you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" 18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered Him. 19 When he had sat down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, "Have thou nothing to do with that just man; for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him." 20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said unto them, "Which of the two will ye that I release unto you?" They said, "Barabbas!" 22 Pilate said unto them, "What shall I do then with Jesus, who is called Christ?" They all said unto him, "Let him be crucified!" 23 And the governor said, "Why, what evil hath he done?" But they cried out the more, saying, "Let him be crucified!" 24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail, but rather that a tumult was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just person. See ye to it." 25 Then answered all the people and said, "His blood be on us, and on our children!" 26 ¶ Then released he Barabbas unto them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified. 27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto Him the whole detachment of soldiers. 28 And they stripped Him and put on Him a scarlet robe. 29 And when they had plaited a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head and a reed in His right hand, and they bowed their knees before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" 30 And they spat upon Him, and took the reed and smote Him on the head.”
Mark 15:2-20 KJ21 “2 And Pilate asked Him, "Art thou the King of the Jews?" And answering He said unto him, "Thou sayest it." 3 And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing. 4 And Pilate asked Him again, saying, "Answerest thou nothing? Behold how many things they witness against thee." 5 But Jesus yet answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled. 6 Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired. 7 And there was one named Barabbas, who lay bound with those who had made insurrection with him, and who had committed murder in the insurrection. 8 And the multitude, crying aloud, began to desire Pilate to do as he had ever done unto them. 9 But Pilate answered them, saying, "Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?" 10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered Him out of envy. 11 But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. 12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, "What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?" 13 And they cried out again, "Crucify him!" 14 Then Pilate said unto them, "Why, what evil hath he done?" But they cried out the more exceedingly, "Crucify him!" 15 ¶ And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged Him, to be crucified. 16 And the soldiers led Him away into the hall called the Praetorium, and they called together the whole detachment. 17 And they clothed Him with purple, and they platted a crown of thorns and put it about His head, 18 and began to salute Him, "Hail, King of the Jews!" 19 And they smote Him on the head with a reed and spat upon Him and, bowing their knees, worshiped Him. 20 And when they had mocked Him, they took off the purple from Him, and put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.”
Luke 23:2-25 KJ21 “2 And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this fellow perverting the nation and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ, a king." 3 And Pilate asked Him, saying, "Art thou the king of the Jews?" And He answered him and said, "Thou sayest it." 4 Then said Pilate to the chief priests and the people, "I find no fault in this man." 5 And they became the more fierce, saying, "He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place." 6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the Man were a Galilean. 7 And as soon as he learned that He belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time. 8 And when Herod saw Jesus he was exceedingly glad, for he had been desirous to see Him for a long time, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. 9 Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing. 10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. 11 And Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, and arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him again to Pilate. 12 And on the same day, Pilate and Herod were made friends together, for before that there was enmity between them. 13 ¶ And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14 said unto them, "Ye have brought this man unto me as one who perverteth the people. And behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man concerning those things whereof ye accuse him. 15 No, nor yet Herod; for I sent you to him, and lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. 16 I will therefore chastise him and release him." 17 (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the Feast.) 18 And they all cried out at once, saying, "Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas," 19 (who had been cast into prison for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder). 20 Pilate therefore, desiring to release Jesus, spoke again to them. 21 But they cried, saying, "Crucify him, crucify him!" 22 And he said unto them the third time, "Why? What evil hath he done? I have found no cause for death in him. I will therefore chastise him and let him go." 23 But they were instant with loud voices, requiring that He might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. 24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. 25 And he released unto them the one who for sedition and murder had been cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.”
John 18:28-38 KJ21 “28 ¶ Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment. And it was early, and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. 29 Pilate then went out unto them and said, "What accusation bring ye against this man?" 30 They answered and said unto him, "If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee." 31 Then said Pilate unto them, "Take ye him and judge him according to your law." The Jews therefore said unto him, "It is not lawful for us to put any man to death," 32 that the saying which Jesus had spoken, signifying what death He should die, might be fulfilled. 33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus and said unto Him, "Art thou the King of the Jews?" 34 Jesus answered him, "Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of Me?" 35 Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me. What hast thou done?" 36 Jesus answered, "My Kingdom is not of this world. If My Kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews. But now is My Kingdom not from hence." 37 Pilate therefore said unto Him, "Art thou a king then?" Jesus answered, "Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice." 38 Pilate said unto Him, "What is truth?" And when he said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and said unto them, "I find in him no fault at all.”
John 19:1-16 KJ21 “1 ¶ Then Pilate therefore took Jesus and scourged Him. 2 And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe 3 and said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they smote Him with their hands. 4 Pilate therefore went forth again and said unto them, "Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him." 5 Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said unto them, "Behold the man!" 6 When therefore the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" Pilate said unto them, "Ye take him and crucify him, for I find no fault in him." 7 The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God." 8 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid. 9 And he went again into the judgment hall and said unto Jesus, "From whence art thou?" But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 Then said Pilate unto Him, "Speakest thou not unto me? Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?" 11 Jesus answered, "Thou couldest have no power at all against Me, unless it were given thee from above. Therefore he that delivered Me unto thee hath the greater sin." 12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, "If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend. Whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar." 13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14 And it was the preparation of the Passover and about the sixth hour, and Pilate said unto the Jews, "Behold your king!" 15 But they cried out, "Away with him, away with him! Crucify him!" Pilate said unto them, "Shall I crucify your king?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar!" 16 ¶ Then he delivered Him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus and led Him away.”

Tuesday, April 26 The Turning Point
Mark 6:33-46 God’s Word “33 But many people saw them leave and recognized them. The people ran from all the cities and arrived ahead of them. 34 When Jesus got out of the boat, he saw a large crowd and felt sorry for them. They were like sheep without a shepherd. So he spent a lot of time teaching them. 35 When it was late, his disciples came to him. They said, "No one lives around here, and it’s already late. 36 Send the people to the closest farms and villages to buy themselves something to eat." 37 Jesus replied, "You give them something to eat." They said to him, "Should we go and spend about a year’s wages on bread to feed them?" 38 He said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see." When they found out, they told him, "Five loaves of bread and two fish." 39 Then he ordered all of them to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 They sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41 After he took the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed the food. He broke the loaves apart and kept giving them to the disciples to give to the people. He also gave pieces of the two fish to everyone. 42 All of them ate as much as they wanted. 43 When they picked up the leftover pieces, they filled twelve baskets with bread and fish. 44 There were 5,000 men who had eaten the bread. 45 ¶ Jesus quickly made his disciples get into a boat and cross to Bethsaida ahead of him while he sent the people away. 46 After saying goodbye to them, he went up a mountain to pray.”
Mark 6:34 COMMENTARY BY JAMIESON, FAUSSET, AND BROWN At the sight of the multitudes who had followed Him by land and even got before Him, He was so moved, as was His wont in such cases, with compassion, because they were like shepherdless sheep, as to forego both privacy and rest that He might minister to them. John 3:14 20th Century NT “And, as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up.”
John 7:8 NKJV “"You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come."”
John 18:36 NIV “Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."”

Wednesday, April 27 Jesus Walks on Water
Mark 6:45-56 NRSV “45 ¶ Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After saying farewell to them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 47 When evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came towards them early in the morning, walking on the sea. He intended to pass them by. 49 But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; 50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid." 51 Then he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52 for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. 53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. 54 When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, 55 and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.”
Mark 6:50 COMMENTARY BY JAMIESON, FAUSSET, AND BROWN "It is I," which from the mouth that spake it and the circumstances in which it was uttered, passes the power of language to express. Here were they in the midst of a raging sea, their little bark the sport of the elements, and with just enough of light to descry an object on the waters which only aggravated their fears. But Jesus deems it enough to dispel all apprehension to let them know that He was there. From other lips that "I am" would have merely meant that the person speaking was such a one and not another person. That, surely, would have done little to calm the fears of men expecting every minute, it may be, to go to the bottom. But spoken by One who at that moment was "treading upon the waves of the sea," and was about to hush the raging elements with His word, what was it but the Voice which cried of old in the ears of Israel, even from the days of Moses, "I AM"; "I, EVEN I, AM HE!"

Thursday, April 28 Confrontation With the Pharisees
Mark 7:1-23 20th Century N T “1 ¶ One day the Pharisees and some of the Teachers of the Law who had come from Jerusalem gathered round Jesus. 2 They had noticed that some of his disciples ate their food with their hands ‘defiled,’ by which they meant unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees, and indeed all strict Jews, will not eat without first scrupulously washing their hands, holding in this to the traditions of their ancestors. 4 When they come from market, they will not eat without first sprinkling themselves; and there are many other customs which they have inherited and hold to, such as the ceremonial washing of cups, and jugs, and copper pans). 5 So the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law asked Jesus this question—" How is it that your disciples do not follow the traditions of our ancestors, but eat their food with defiled hands?" 6 His answer was: "It was well said by Isaiah when he prophesied about you hypocrites in the words—’This is a people that honor me with their lips, While their hearts are far removed from me; 7 But vainly do they worship me, For they teach but the precepts of men.’ 8 You neglect God’s commandments and hold to the traditions of men. 9 Wisely do you set aside God’s commandments," he exclaimed, "to keep your own traditions! 10 For while Moses said ‘Honor thy father and thy mother,’ and ‘Let him who reviles his father or mother suffer death,’ 11 You say ‘If a man says to his father or mother "Whatever of mine might have been of service to you is Korban"’ (which means ‘Given to God’)— 12 Why, then you do not allow him to do anything further for his father or mother! 13 In this way you nullify the words of God by your traditions, which you hand down; and you do many similar things." 14 Then Jesus called the people to him again, and said: "Listen to me, all of you, and mark my words. 15 There is nothing external to a man, which by going into him can ‘defile’ him; but the things that come out from a man are the things that defile him." 16 [Translation omits this verse] 17 When Jesus went indoors, away from the crowd, his disciples began questioning him about this saying. 18 "What, do even you understand so little?" exclaimed Jesus. "Do not you see that there is nothing external to a man, which by going into a man, can ‘defile’ him, 19 Because it does not pass into his heart, but into his stomach, and is afterwards got rid of?"—in saying this Jesus pronounced all food ‘clean.’ 20 "It is what comes out from a man," he added, "that defiles him, 21 For it is from within, out of the hearts of men, that there come evil thoughts—unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, 22 Greed, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, haughtiness, folly; 23 All these wicked things come from within, and do defile a man."”
Mark 7:3 PEOPLE’S NT COMMENTARY So rigidly did the Jews observe it, that Rabbi Akiba, being imprisoned, and having water scarcely sufficient to sustain life given him, preferred dying of thirst to eating without washing his hands.
Mark 7:5 COMMENTARY FAMILY BIBLE NOTES Formal and hypocritical teachers of religion are prone to add to the commands of God traditions and ceremonies of their own, and to be very anxious that men should observe them, while they neglect his appointments, and connive at, if they do not encourage, similar neglect in others.

We had a confrontation in the sabbath school class.

That is very sad!

Confrontation about?

Why ..thanks for asking james...

Basically, I mentioned about sharing one of our doctrines on radio and a sabbath school member criticized the outreach.

That is too bad. I remember years ago mentioning about doing something similar in the public relations line - don't remember specifics now - and one person was worried that it would bring on the Time of Trouble.