February 16

Mark 1:1-22

The author of this book is not named; however, from early church history, it was accepted that Mark wrote this Gospel. Mark, also known as John Mark, was a close associate of Peter (1 Peter 5:13) and a companion of Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. In 64 AD, Nero set the city on fire and blamed the Christians. This caused an uprising in persecution against the church, leading to Paul and Peter’s death. It is said that Mark wrote this Gospel after Paul and Peter were martyred and before the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. Mark had heard the stories of Christ firsthand from Peter, and we’re so glad he wrote them down. 

The first three Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are called the synoptic Gospels, meaning they are very similar. Many say that Matthew and Luke wrote their Gospels based on Mark’s account. Unlike Matthew and Luke, Mark does not share any genealogies, nor the birth of Christ or His early Judean ministry. Mark is the shortest of the Gospels. 

Mark hits the main points without much description. When Matthew and Luke wrote their Gospels, they added more to what Mark shared. In the first 22 verses, Mark includes John the Baptist, Jesus’ baptism, Jesus’ temptation, the beginning of His Galilean ministry, and the calling of the disciples.

Leviticus 22-23

In chapter 22, the Lord gives more instruction on priests and offerings. We see the value God puts on freewill offerings, offerings that come from a heart willing to give, not given out of obligation. 

In chapter 23, the Lord speaks to Moses about seven feasts the Hebrew nation is to observe. The feasts are grouped into three groups.

The group of feasts happen in the month of Abib between the first and the sixteenth (March and April). Jesus fulfilled these feasts during His crucifixion and resurrection. They are:

1. Passover
2. Unleavened Bread
3. Firstfruits (which take place on 1 Abib and also 3 Sivan (May-June)

The second is one feast is on the 3 of Sivan (May-June). Jesus fulfilled this feast on the Day of Pentecost when He sent the Holy Spirit:

1. The Feast of Weeks (Harvest or Pentecost), fifty days after Passover

The fall feasts happen on the 7th of Tishri (Sept- Oct). These feasts will be fulfilled at the rapture. Many believe the rapture will occur around Rosh Hashanah because of the Feast of Trumpets where we know a trumpet-like instrument will sound. 

1. The Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year)
2. The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)
3. The Feast of Tabernacles (Booths or Ingathering)

All Jewish males had to return to Jerusalem for these feasts:

• Unleavened Bread
• Weeks
• Tabernacles

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