Gospel

bread with hand
Commentary on John 6:1-21

The opening of John 6 includes Jesus’ miraculous provision of food and his crossing the [...]

landscape painting depicting Jesus on lakeshore
Commentary on Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

So much for subtlety and secrets. Jesus has a way [...]

Detail from painting depicting Herod's banquet, by Pedro García de Benabarre, ca. 1470
Commentary on Mark 6:14-29

The story of John’s murder is dreadful throughout. The Bible includes a number of tales [...]

dusty sandals
Commentary on Mark 6:1-13

One of the more unnerving aspects of Mark’s narrative is that people we might expect [...]

Hand reaching out to touch a rough surface
Commentary on Mark 5:21-43

Mark skimps on detail and storytelling flourishes—except when it doesn’t. This passage offers us one [...]

waves in darkness
Commentary on Mark 4:35-41

Unlike Matthew (8:23–27) and Luke (8:22–25), Mark 4:35–41 clocks this episode at evening (verse 35), [...]

Flowering plant
Commentary on Mark 4:26-34

Working Preacher published an essay of mine on humor in Mark’s parables, which I’m sure [...]

Snake in dimly lit foliage
Commentary on Mark 3:20-35

Mark 3:19b–35 is among the evangelist’s subtlest intercalations: the insertion of one story inside another, [...]

field of grain
Commentary on Mark 2:23—3:6

This Sunday’s pericopae conclude five that Mark carefully collocated: 2:1–12; 2:13–17; 2:18–22; 2:23–28; 3:1–6. The [...]

Sculpture with bearded figure surrounded by three angels
Commentary on John 3:1-17

The Gospel of John is rich with language exploring the relationship between God, the Son, [...]