Travis Bruno

@jralphsmith A note on that word "corban." This is from the Hebrew qorban, it literally means "brought near" (qarob in Hebrew is "near"). It was a vowed gift to God made to the priests in the sanctuar...

Came across a neat reminder in some of my studies that I had not recognized yet. The parentheticals, (that is, a gift of God) were used by Mark to help bring context to the gentile readers. So that th...

@travisbruno3 & @okiebull13 The teaching from Matthew below isn't found in Mark, but I wonder if this is part of what the disciples were supposed to understand: “... I tell you, do not worry a...

@shelley-johnson @travisbruno3 It is fascinating to read the parallels side by side, and see visually how they are used/moved, and what is included and left out among the four (mostly the synoptics). ...

@shelley-johnson lol. Not that I know of. I think I got this originally (back before I came back to NewCov in 2009) on Mark Goodacre's NT Gateway site. I printed a copy at NewCov on mutliple 11x17s an...

That is great info. I also kind of wondered if it had anything to do with the 12 disciples. They doubted/questioned feeding the crowd and it almost seemed like a left over basket for each of them.

If I'm reading Mark correctly, only Jesus walks on water in his gospel, not Peter. So, is this the same walking on water incident? It doesn't read as though it is. 🤷 Second thought, when I hav...

@shelley-johnson The missing stories in Luke that are found in Mark begin with this story of the walking on water and go through the healing of the blind man at Bethsaida. Here is the list of stories/...

The disciples sarcastically respond to Jesus, "should we go and buy bread for 8 months of wages (200 coins) and give it to them to eat?" They knew they didn't have the means to pay for their feeding, ...

I love this story for so many reasons. I envision how desperate for Jesus these people were to come far and leaving home fast without provisions. How Jesus feeds and cares for His sheep. How Jesus gi...

@travisbruno3 @vltaylor1136 The world is a powerful and broken. But "greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4)

Here is the LUMO video (from the ESV translation) for Mark 6, if it helps anyone to watch or listen to the passage:

They cast out many demons and anointed many sick people with ˻olive˼ oil and healed them. Mark 6:13 Though the Greek does not specifically say the oil was from olives (it simply says 'oil'), it is li...

The story of the woman being healed contains interesting interactions between the woman, Jesus and his disciples. But what struck me most was that simple act of healing contained no admonishment fro...

It is so interesting to me that Jesus healed the demon possessed man and told him to share the news with his friends and family and he healed the woman with bleeding publicly. However, the young girl ...

Posted by: @okiebull13 My commentary stated that it was very much the norm for mourners to cry out loudly…and that it was a disgrace to the family of the deceased if it did not happen This might sou...

Maybe how this woman's desperation propels her to action. She doesn't just sit in apathetic acceptance. Maybe how Jesus feels power leaving Him. What!?!?! I want to know more about this! Maybe how a ...

Well really Mark ch. 5 may be a favorite of all. Jimmy I really resonated with what you said. Jesus is bringing rescue and salvation to these people. Death to LIFE. He is SO good! And let us not forge...

Travis, and something I was thinking about after listening to the podcasts was that all these people come to Jesus in my mind desperate. They KNOW He can cast out and heal and I sense this from each o...

Shelley, I just confessed this morning I don’t have much if a natural bent toward research, but I am so grateful for all who do and share with the rest of us. Your post about the Decapolis is so help...

(Post image: Jerash in modern-day Jordan. Jerash was biblical Geresa.) On the last night of our Holy Land trip in 2014, our guide sat us down for a wrap-up, sending us off with these words, “The pil...

Partly because the series we are in but also because of the way it somewhat contrasts from the rest of Mark so far — after being freed by Jesus the man wants to follow Jesus, but instead Jesus te...

@shelley-johnson Shelley, you wrote: The demon possessed man, and I assume it is the demons talking, says “…I implore you by God…”. Is this significant? What god is he talking about? Jesus seems to ...

@fandrewstx Frank you wrote: The demon possessed man, and I assume it is the demons talking, says “…I implore you by God…”. Is this significant? What god is he talking about? The demon is begging ...

@vltaylor1136 You wrote: Would Jesus’s response to each of these people have something to do with the people they would have an opportunity to witness too? There would be three different audiences, ...

There are three stories of healing in Mark 5. With the stories of healing come three different responses from Jesus on how the healed ones in the story should respond about telling others of their hea...

I heard a preacher from Russia use the story of the outcasts and that man who was possessed. When he asked to go with Jesus, he was told to stay and tell his story. The preacher uses this story as an ...

PODCASTS Mark 5.1-20 Mark 5.21-43 VIDEOS

Here are some passages from the scriptures that are similar to some of these ideas in regard to the upside-down, unexpected nature of the revelation/insight into the mysteries and wisdom of God: Danie...

@mallary-malwick @travisbruno3 @shelley-johnson Shelley wrote: ...maybe Jesus really is saying for those on the outside -- those who really have no intention of being part but, perhaps, listen in so ...

These two stuck out to me too, Travis. Even on this side of Jesus’s life, death and resurrection, these passages seem cryptic/confusing. I can’t imagine how they must have felt to those who were prese...

Hey Travis! I've enjoyed hearing you in the podcasts!! Such good questions. To your first one, I had the odd sense as I read it again this morning that I finally understood it. And maybe Jesus really ...

First of all, the most recent podcast that focused on verses in chapter 3 was excellent. Several verses really reminded me of statements Jesus made that (for me) need clarification and context in ter...

A few reflections on today's readings. We gave more in-depth insight in this week's podcast. I encourage you to listen if you're interested in digging a bit deeper. The scene from yesterday's readings...

What is the significance of Jesus renaming Simon, James and John? Why “sons of thunder”? Why not all of the disciples?

@jimmy yes! That too! It's so hard to shake narratives about Jesus that have been part of our growing up experiences -- even if they are false narratives. But, that's why we read Scripture together, y...

If it is helpful to anyone, here are LUMO videos for this week's readings, using the ESV as narration for dramatic representations of the Gospels. They can be good for watching and/or for listening to...

There is a lot to unpack this week with Chapters 3-4. I look forward to unpacking these verses with all of you.

@Travis Bruno, this wineskin metaphor had picked me, as well. But it all clicked this time! 🙌 So glad it did for you too. And your thoughts on the implications of the wineskin and patch compa...

What was God’s intention when he gave us Sabbath? How can we honor God’s original intention for keeping the Sabbath? Many of us use Sunday as our Sabbath but don’t make much difference to it than any ...

I'm glad! In my own search for understanding, I've gained so much by slowing down with passages. I love that we're taking the gospels at this pace!

If you’re like me–after having read Mark 2:18-22–you’re wondering what all the hubbub is about fasting. Using commentaries can be helpful (and challenging!), but there are basic steps any of us can mo...

In Jesus' context meals were not at tables with chairs. Meals were most often with people lying on the floor on pallets or slightly raised benches that would have been called "couches." The food may h...

Two thoughts from the Pillar Commentary on Mark that I thought were great. It is clear that one of the things that the Kingdom of God is defined as, in the life of Jesus, is an upside down understandi...

I love Jay’s comment of the question, do we accept or reject (judge) certain people, because, in our opinion, their “lifestyle” is contrary to our faith teachings? (Sounds like the current conversat...

Today's reading is from Mark 2:13-17. Click here to see a list of each day's readings for the Week 2. Each day's segments of the readings will be posted on this site during the week. Today's Read...

So I am just getting to read all the discussions this AM! It made me think with the whole discussion @Jimmy and @travis were having… so when Jesus says to the paralytic “son your sins are forgiven” wa...

The connection between sinfulness and healing is something I think we actually still have tucked away in a deeper recess of our hearts/brains. Are there ever times where you assume someone's plight is...

@travisbruno3 asked: So then, was it more normal to ask for healing (skipping over forgiveness) then? That's a good question. It's pretty clear in the Gospels that people did just ask for healing. ...

@paulmoore405 Paul, I want to be clear: The view that illness was caused by sin was a first-century view. It was part of the context of Jesus' world and the worldview of those living within it. I don'...

In the Greek of Mark 2:2, Jesus is really chatting/speaking with people in the house rather than "preaching" to them, as some translations have (including the NET). Here's a post on the details. A bet...

Forgiveness and Healing It may seem strange to us that Jesus' first response to the paralyzed man was to engage in forgiveness of sins, but, though Jesus' direct act of forgiveness is controversial to...

Daily Readings This week's readings are all from Mark chapter 2: Sunday: Mark 2 Monday: Mark 2:1-5 Tuesday: Mark 2:6-12 Wednesday: Mark 2:13-17 Thursday: Mark 2:18-22 Friday: Mark 2:23-28 Saturda...

Vickie and Nancy (@ndelpha and @vltaylor1136), Bill Parks (@8ill8ook) brought this question up the other day. Here's what I wrote to him: This is quite a textual dilemma for those scholars and transla...

Enjoying reading together and all the comments. Thank you all. Jay I too was struck by the language of the heavens being torn apart as God’s spirit descended on Jesus. Value of this slow reading, seei...

@jimmy good thoughts. And I love how you keep at the forefront not getting caught up in detail "accuracy" but understanding who Jesus is! Amen!

@shelley-johnson I think of it in several ways. One is that this is real history, full of all the consistencies and inconsistencies of someone telling the story, and we are fortunate to have four diff...

Now that I am retired, early morning does not carry the burden of worry or stress associated with working for a tribal government, the long commute and the appointments of the day. Instead, my day st...

I love the pre-dawn hours to sit with Jesus. It's something I try to always do, but I am so thankful for all the thoughts you all shared below because there are times it doesn't happen (like when I've...

@travisbruno3 @jralphsmith Jesus was also interrupted during this experience of prayer. The pressing needs, desires, expectations of others pursued him into this deserted place (the Greek word for Pet...

Passage 'The beginning of the good news of Jesus the Anointed, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way,the ...

I love how action packed the Gospel of Mark is with rapid fire comments. In my ESV bible the word "Immediately" is used 4 times in today's verses and in verse 28, Mark uses the words "at once". It app...

I had the same thought of how quickly the men just dropped everything and followed him. It’s interesting that in other books it didn’t seem as sudden, so it makes more sense with the way Mark writes t...

@travisbruno3 I love that perspective. I think of how some children cling to their parents on the first day of school. So hard for child and parent, but the parent has to force them (or, from the chil...

Something that stuck out to me and I went back and didn’t see anymore info. on it is that the Spirit drove Jesus out into the wilderness. Why?! I guess in my quick reads or maybe it’s elsewhere in scr...

So, it would seem Mark intentionally chose these phrases that had been used to describe Augustus to open his gospel. His statement, I imagine, would've ruffled a few Roman feathers. But it would've al...

A few things of note for me from today's reading (Week 1 Day 1, Mark 1.1-8). The wilderness continues to be a prominent place in the story of God's redemption. A place of repentance and refinement. H...

Posted by: @travisbruno3 What do you think they would have thought of John’s statement about baptism with water vs the Holy Spirit? What was the “Holy Spirit” to Jews of this day?f A general answer i...

WEEK 1 DAY 1 Some interesting things about today's reading (Week 1 Day 1, Mark 1:1-8): Immerse you in Holy Spirit John's description of Jesus feels in a close translation from the Greek: "Is-coming th...

I’m so glad to share this Gospel journey with you all! I love how Mark jumps right in and takes off introducing us to Jesus by what God says about him and by what Jesus does.

Posted by @8ill8ook: The translation of 1:39 was new to me. Jesus was indignant vs. had compassion on the leper. @8ill8ook This is quite a textual dilemma for those scholars and translation committee...

Here we go…looking forward to this year in the gospels…in my reading today from the intro to Mark in my study Bible, I learned that Mark was the first Gospel written and that the other 3 gospels used ...

Welcome to the Gospels in a Year. I am glad you are on this journey with me.