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| MARK |
| Explanatory Footnotes - page 2 |
| 8:33), but omits several compliments paid him. For example, compare this passgae (8:29, 30) to a parallel account in Matthew 16:13-20, where Jesus commended Peter highly. Evidently, brash Peter learned a few lessons about humility along the way. 10:2 Teaching on Divorce The Pharisees tested Jesus with questions about common practices of divorce and remarriage. Jesus responded by pointing back to the origin of marriage at creation. His disciples were surprised by his strict views on divorce, and questioned him further in private. For other Bible passages on this topic, see Matthew 19:1-12 and 1 Corinthians 7:1-16. 11:9 Short-lived Acceptance During much of his ministry, Jesus hushed up news about his miraculous power and his identity as the true Messiah. But in this rare scene, large crowds clearly recognized him as the Messiah and honored him as such. The next few chapters, however, demonstrate how tragically short-lived public acceptance proved to be. 12:13 Opposition Heats Up While in Jerusalem, Jesus was surrounded by hostile groups. Mark 12 records a series of attempts to bait him: by the Pharisees and Sadducees, by the political Herodians, and by the teachers of the law. Each group challenged Jesus with a situation designed to trap him and anger the crowd. 14:1 Festival Time in Jerusalem The Passover, celebrating the Jews' deliverance from Egypt, was one of the high points of the Jewish calendar. All males older than twelve went to Jerusalem for the holiday. Thus the city was filled with hundreds of thousands of pilgrims at the time of Jesus' death. |