For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

    If you place your hope in mortals, even if it is yourself, death will end those hopes. You may have great power in this life, but you cannot escape death. No mortal can exert power over anything after they have died.

    Another psalm that exceeds my ability to put into words what it speaks to me. The psalmist remains faithful to God, even though he has been betrayed by one of his closest friends. Despite the deep betrayal the psalmist does not turn from following God. Let us show similar strength and courage.

    The oldest manuscripts of the Gospel of Mark end with verse 8. The verses which follow are consistent with the accounts given in the other Gospels. I do not know if the additional verses were in the original document written by Mark, but I agree with those who say that they have a different grammatical feel from the rest of Mark. Many people think that the original cannot have ended with verse 8 because it is such an abrupt end. However, I find such an ending consistent with the rest of this Gospel.
    If the original ended with verse 8, the statement the angel made to the women becomes much more emphasized. They went to the tomb looking for Jesus. The angel told them in no uncertain terms that He was not there. Jesus is unique among all of the great religious teachers of history in that there is no grave where His body can be found. One of the complaints that “multiculturalists” (There is probably a better term to be used for this group) is that we spend too much time studying the works of “dead, white men”. That particular terminology is often used to win the argument with emotion, but there is a point. All too many of our lessons on proper behavior are dead. They do not have any life to them and are easily interpreted to allow loopholes like the ones for which Jesus condemned the Pharisees. However, Jesus’ teachings are not dead, because Jesus is not dead.
    I have tried before to express this idea. I still do not think that I have found the words to express the idea correctly. Those who already understand the point I am trying to make will understand what I am saying, but those who do not will not get it from this. I will continue to work at this idea and pray that the Holy Spirit will give me the words to get it right.

    Korah’s rebellion revealed some more deep-seated resentments among the Israelites which needed to be addressed. Korah, even though he was a Levite, was able to use the resentment of the Levites as the people who cared for the Tabernacle to gather support for his rebellion against Moses. God chose to demonstrate that He had chosen the Levites for that role. The Levites did not gain the role as the tribe which cared for the Tabernacle because Moses chose his relatives for the job. They gained the job because God chose them for the task.

    I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day, or more. in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

    Those who place their hopes for the future on wicked mortals will discover that their hopes come to nothing because no matter how powerful everyone dies. Only by when we place our hopes in God can we see lasting results.

    The psalmist warns that while we may guard against external dangers, the real threats to a country is the wickedness within it. When we as a people no longer turn to God, wickedness rises up within us to destroy us. Friends and companions turn against each other. It is no longer possible to trust those who should be our closest, most trusted companions. People think nothing of breaking promises and using smooth words to fool others into trusting them, then betraying that trust when it suits them. This happens when people do not fear the Lord. Yet even though people do not fear God, He will hold them accountable. Those who give their burdens to God will be cared for. God will care for the godly. He will not permit them to slip and fall.

    The most reliable early manuscripts of Mark end with verse eight. The ending seems abrupt and many think there must have been more, although none are sure if any of what later manuscripts contain is that more. Today, I like the way the passage ends at verse eight. When the women were confronted with the announcement that Jesus had risen from the dead, they were bewildered and frightened. The same thing often happens to us when God begins moving in our lives. We are bewildered and frightened. God takes us out of our comfort zones and we find that disconcerting. Oftentimes we would prefer staying in a place of grief and depression rather than accept what God is doing if it means leaving where we are comfortable. The good news of the Gospel is that if we are willing to listen to God, He does not leave us trembling and bewildered.
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    Despite the way in which Moses handled Korah’s rebellion the people blamed him for the deaths. As a result of their continued rebellion, a plague broke out among the people. Aaron and Moses acted quickly to stem the plague getting in among the people, between those with the plague and those who were still healthy. Once this crisis had been averted, God instructed Moses on how to settle the problems for people. The people were to bring Moses twelve wooden staffs, one for the leader of each tribe of Israel. They inscribed the name of the leader of each tribe on a separate staff, with Aaron’s name being inscribed on the staff representing the tribe of Levi. Moses then placed the staffs in the Tabernacle in front of the Ark of the Covenant. In the morning, Moses retrieved the staffs. Each of the leaders claimed his staff. Aaron’s staff had sprouted, budded, blossomed, and produced ripe almonds. The rest of the staffs were still staffs.