We're looking at the book of Mark this evening. And just to mention, we will be traveling I'll be going to an ordination so we'll be leaving Friday and we'll be back Saturday night so we'll be here Sunday but just be a prayer for us we'll be on the road quick little trip okay so the last time we looked at the book of Matthew so what is in the book of Matthew Right, yeah, the genealogy of Jesus. Sermon on the map? Certainly. A variety of miracles, parables, obviously Jesus' crucifixion and His resurrection. All right, so our summary of Matthew. Matthew was written to show that Jesus is the Son of David, King of Israel, and the long-awaited Messiah of Old Testament promises. So what are some of the ways that Matthew speaks to us today? Victory over sin shows He has power over the devil and his enemies. Right. So great plans are held. Yes. Shows God's mercy to Gentiles. Uh huh. Yeah, obviously Matthew shows us the fulfillment of promises that had been even up to the end of the Old Testament, so 400 years of no new revelation, no progress made, but we do have fulfillment of promises during that gap of time. And then Matthew shows us the fulfillment of a number of promises as well, so showing us God's faithfulness. And also helps us understand how to follow Jesus as His disciples. Okay, so we're gonna go to the book of Mark. What are some things in the book of Mark? Right, yeah. Probably should have had Dave do this one tonight. I forgot about that. Y'all been going through Mark, haven't you? So I expect a lot of good answers then on this one. But yeah, that's excellent. Yeah, it does show Jesus that way as a suffering servant. What else do you think about stands out in the book of Mark? In Mark we have the only parable of the growing seed. Right. Chapter 4, verses 26 to 29. It's the only parable of the growing seed. The only place that that occurs is in Mark 4. Chapter 7, we have the dealing of the man with the speech impediment. Right. There's one more where it came across the dealing of the blind man with trouble. Chapter 8, verses 22 to 26, that does not appear to be what we're called to do. Right. Obviously, it's the story of Jesus, so you have various healings, parables to various teachings, and his crucifixion and resurrection, as we would expect in a gospel. Of course, all four gospels go that way. Okay, so our summary for Mark here on the board. Mark was written to show that Jesus is the Son of Man, highlighting his humanity and role as the suffering servant. All right, so let's go to our observations on Mark. Mark is the second book of the Gospels as far as in our order of our Bibles. Most likely, Mark was the first Gospel that was actually written. It would have been somewhere around the middle of the first century, so somewhere in the 50s, mid to late 50s. Most likely, some dated a little earlier into the 60s, Most likely it was the first gospel written. Who was the author of Mark? Yeah, John Mark. John Mark was the cousin of Barnabas. He was the one that set out with Barnabas and Saul. Obviously, we've been in Acts for a while, so we've covered a lot of that. He went out on the first missionary journey with Barnabas and Saul, and then later when Paul was going to go on the second missionary journey, he and Barnabas disagreed about taking John Mark, and so they actually split up at that point. Although we know in later years that Paul spoke highly of John Mark and that he was a very useful minister or servant, one that was a great helper. Mark, we don't have any record of him being a preacher or teacher. He's never listed that way, or a prophet, or a pastor, or an elder, or an apostle, or any of those things. He essentially was just one who was a helper, one who was a servant. And Paul speaks of him in his later years, obviously, as being a useful helper and fellow worker with him. He wrote to the Colossians on behalf of John Mark, a letter of recommendation for them to receive him later on. Now, we figure that he met Peter. At least we know that the church in Jerusalem at the time was meeting in John Mark's mother's house. His mother's name was Mary. So we know that he met Peter at least at that point. And we know that by Peter's letter in 1 Peter, we know that John Mark was with Peter later in life. And undoubtedly, Peter was the eyewitness source and account for this gospel. It is possible that John Mark may have personally seen Jesus. That's not confirmed. He would have been very young. But it is possible that he did personally see Jesus at some point or at least witness some of the events recorded in the gospel. There are some that think that the young man mentioned in Mark's gospel was John Mark. There's no evidence that that is so. It certainly is possible. But anyway, so it's possible he could have been a witness to some of these things, but no doubt Peter was the primary source. for this gospel. All right, so Mark is a gospel, so it's a historical narrative, it's a biography of Jesus Christ. Mark develops the identity of Jesus as Messiah in two primary ways. First of all, the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, as he shows in a number of places, you know, thus it was fulfilled, and the scripture was fulfilled, and according to the prophets, what have you. And he also develops the identity of Jesus as the Messiah through the mighty acts of Jesus, the various signs and wonders that he worked, showing them to be the power of God. He's working with the power of God as the Son of God. So Mark is the shortest gospel, obviously. fewer parables than Matthew or Luke. Matthew has about 20, Luke has about 25, Mark has about 7. So it does have fewer of parables. Only about 10% of the material in Mark is not covered in any of the other Gospels. Only about 10% of Mark is what you might call new or unique material. It certainly is not in conflict with other Gospels, but just having some material that's not covered by the others. I understand that it's the material in Mark, is about 90% of it is covered in Matthew's Gospel. Somewhere about 50% of that is covered in Luke's. But about 10% of it is new and unique to Mark. As far as the style of this book goes, it's a very fast-paced book. It moves quickly. Mark focuses on action and he moves quickly from episode to episode. In fact, one of the most common words that recurs is immediately or straightway or forthwith or something like that. It just moves from scene to scene to scene to scene from beginning to end. Mark focuses on action. He has fewer of the lengthy teaching sections. So what is a lengthy teaching section that's not in Mark? A what? A lengthy teaching section in the other Gospels that's not in Mark. Sermon on the Mount, most notably. Matthew and Luke both have lengthy section on the teaching of Sermon on the Mount, and Mark does not have the Sermon on the Mount. In fact, the only lengthy teaching sections that Mark does include would be in Chapter 4, a section of parables, and in Chapter 13, the Olivet Discourse. Those would be the longest teaching sections that Mark has. And he doesn't, the rest of it is interspersed with various actions, scenes of miracles that are performed and what have you. Okay, so what is different about the way that Mark starts his gospel? No genealogy. No genealogy. no account of the birth, no detailing of any of the early years of Jesus' life. Mark starts what is known as in medias res. That's a term that means basically in the middle of the action. So he starts right in the ministry of Jesus. He just has this short section where he talks about John the Baptist, but he gets right to it. He opens with that brief section. He does cover Jesus' baptism and the wilderness temptation and the beginning of His ministry, but by verse 16 in chapter 1, Jesus is already calling disciples. So that's the quickest start to a gospel. Who were these disciples that he calls in chapter one? Peter, Andrew, James, and John. Peter, Andrew, James, and John. Who were Peter, Andrew, James, and John? Fishermen. Fishermen. And? Brothers went to the first two. Right. They're two sets of brothers. Not brothers in the same family, obviously, but Peter and Andrew and James and John were two sets of brothers. Right. So, the first eight chapters of Mark covers the Galilean ministry of Jesus, which is primarily the last two years of Jesus' three-year ministry. So, really, by the time you get to Verse 16, I'm sorry, verse 14, after the John was put into prison, Jesus came into Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God. From that point, you're in the latter two years of Jesus' ministry, which primarily took place in Galilee. Now, the end of chapter 8, it marks the turn. It's the center of the book. and it marks the turn of this gospel. What happens at the end of chapter 8? After chapter 8. It's the central turn and Matthew has the same central turn. No, not the transfiguration. It's with Peter is involved. He's central to this episode. It's what's referred to as Peter's Confession. When Jesus asked the disciples, who do men say that I am? They answer him, and he says, but who do you say that I am? And Peter says, thou art the Christ. Peter's Confession. So, Book of Matthew, that's a turning point in the Gospel of Matthew. It's also a turning point in the Gospel of Mark. So, up to that point, Jesus is shown as the servant. He's shown healing and teaching and various things, but from that point forward, so from the end of chapter eight forward, the focus is on Jesus' coming suffering and ultimately culminating in his suffering and death and resurrection that ends the book. So from that point forward, that's the focus. It's on the suffering servant. in chapters 9 to 10. So, right after, you'll notice even if you read there in chapter 8, right after Peter's confession, Jesus immediately starts talking about his upcoming suffering. It's like immediately after that section in chapter 8. Okay, so chapters 9 and 10. focus on Jesus with his disciples as they're going toward Jerusalem. So really that Peter's confession marks that turning point which really divides the book of Mark into two halves. And so that second half also focuses on Jesus with his closest disciples. That's the focal point throughout the second half of the book. Chapters 9 to 10 are transitional as they're going toward Jerusalem. By chapter 11, you're going to focus on Jesus last week in Jerusalem. So essentially chapters 11 to 16 in Mark all cover about one week of time. And that's Jesus in Jerusalem and all the things that happen there. So you have the Last Supper, you have His arrest and His trial in chapter 14, you have Him being judged before Pilate, His crucifixion, His death and burial in chapter 15, And in chapter 16, which ends the book, is where you have Jesus' resurrection. All right, so our outline that we have here on the board, again, just puts Mark in those two halves. You've got chapters one to eight, which show us the Son of Man in Galilee, and chapters nine to 16, the Son of Man in Jerusalem. And really that passage in Mark 10 is sometimes looked at as sort of a theme when Jesus is there at the Last Supper and when He says to His disciples that the Son of Man came to minister, not to be ministered unto, I'm butchering that, but basically that's sort of a thematic verse of the Son of Man. So the Son of Man in Galilee, chapters 9-16, the Son of Man in Jerusalem. Alright, interpretation. So, Mark's gospel account, though it is the briefest, it does emphasize the sovereignty of God. And does this in a few different ways. He shows us God speaking from heaven. to endorse His Son. And that happens two different times. So what are the occasions when God speaks from heaven to endorse Jesus Christ, His Son? Baptism and Transfiguration. Yes, so in those two scenes, so that's Baptism in chapter 1, which starts the first half of the book, Transfiguration chapter 9, second half of the book, you have God speaking from heaven, You have throughout the Gospel of Mark just continued references to Scripture being fulfilled. And Scripture being fulfilled highlights the predetermined plan of God to purpose these events. So when He says, thus it was fulfilled, or thus it was written, or the Scripture was fulfilled, or as it was spoken by such and such prophet, What he's showing us is God had determined beforehand for these events to come to pass. And Mark is pointing out when they come to pass that they're coming to pass according to God's plan. But also, in addition to that, he's not only showing us God's purpose for them to come to pass, but he's also showing us God's providential acts in history to bring those things about. So when Mark shows us Old Testament Scripture being fulfilled, He's showing us, number one, that God had determined these things to come to pass beforehand, and He's showing us, number two, God acting in history to bring about these things that He had purposed and planned. Again, highlighting God's sovereignty throughout. Also, He shows us God's sovereignty in the manifestations of power, because Jesus makes it plain that His power is of God, that this is the power of God that has come to earth, that is acting and that's doing these mighty things, whether it's the healing of the sick and diseased, the raising of the dead, the power to command demons, what have you. Mark also shows in this gospel the disciples, and particularly the apostles, especially as you look at the second half of the book, because he deals more with those closer disciples that they are near the center of the action throughout the book, particularly again the second half. And he shows us those disciples particularly in weakness. They are misunderstanding. They are lacking faith. They are manifesting fear, being afraid. And so he shows just a real dullness of the disciples. And especially as you get toward the latter half of the book, when Jesus is talking about his suffering, he talks about how he's going to be handed over to the Gentiles, how he's going to suffer and die, how he's going to rise again the third day, and showing how they did not understand that. They did not grasp that as Jesus was telling them that. They just weren't comprehending that. Now, obviously, it's easy to look at those disciples and say, oh, you know, all those dull disciples. That's not to say that any one of us would do any better in their position. But He does show us that truthfully. And ultimately, we know as the story progresses that Christ gives them the Spirit. He opens their understanding so that they come in to understanding. And it's particularly after the cross and the resurrection that then they begin to comprehend that this is what the Old Testament prophets were saying would happen all along, and they had not grasped it. Mark also presents the unbelief of Israel. and particularly with Israel's leaders, leading to the rejection and the execution of Jesus. So the early going, and of course this is a similar feature in the Gospels because it's just the way that the ministry of Jesus unfolded. But in the earlier stages of His ministry, Sometimes they're referred to as the popular years. He had great crowds that would throng. And Mark talks about that, and he talks about times when, he'll add little details, like they just weren't even able to eat. They didn't even have enough free time to eat because they were so pressed upon by the people. They went without rest, went without food at times because of this. And there was a great press of people around them But that begins to turn. And as Jesus is moving more toward Jerusalem and more toward the end of His life, that begins to turn. It begins, first of all, in the leaders. They're the first ones to begin to turn. and to oppose Jesus, but by the time that he is arraigned before Pilate, and Pilate presents him as a candidate for being freed, the people shout out in mass, away with him crucifying, give us Barabbas. And there we see a more full rejection on the part of Israel as a whole. Mark certainly contributes to the expectation of the Messiah and his kingdom. Obviously, the Messiah coming, this is a major development in the progress of Revelation. So, Mark begins by placing Jesus in the context of fulfilling Old Testament prophecy. So he begins with John the Baptist particularly, and John the Baptist says he's fulfilling the prophecy, particularly in a place like Isaiah 43 and the coming of Christ. And so he's beginning by placing Jesus in the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy and continues to do that throughout the Gospel. He shows Jesus to be the Son of God. chapter 1 verse 11 chapter 9 verse 7 he shows Jesus to be the son of man what's the what's the significance of the title son of man part to say that again so yes his humanity as well as deity so that's one significance of it any other significance It's also an Old Testament title that is applied actually mostly to the prophet Ezekiel. So it's a title that also connects him with Old Testament prophecies or the ministry of the Old Testament prophets. But even more specifically, it is a reference to Daniel chapter number 7. And that Son of Man is coming to reign and to rule. And so to those, in other words, to those that have ears to hear and eyes to see This title son of man, which is as I understand it when Jesus referred to himself He used that title more than any others as the son of man So to those again that have faith those have eyes to see and ears to hear they see in that a a prophecy of the Messiah to come the reigning King the that royal son of David to come We could go on with that, but maybe that's for another time. He's also known as the Suffering Servant, as Mark portrays him, which Suffering Servant is another reference to the prophecy of Isaiah. He's also known as the Davidic Messiah. So he's shown in all these ways in the Gospel of Mark. Mark highlights Jesus' humanity more than the other Gospels. It's not that it's not in the other Gospels, but it's just more in the Gospel of Mark than it is in the others. What are some of the ways that he highlights the humanity of Jesus? Definitely compassion, when it speaks of him having compassion or being moved with compassion toward the suffering of those he encounters. Yes, the ministering to just physical needs, just identifying with those physical needs, having compassion. Mark also probably draws more attention to emotion. within Jesus than the other Gospels. So he shows his humanity in a number of ways and a part of the importance of the humanity of the Messiah is again because the Old Testament prophets have shown that the Messiah must suffer and die. So it's important for him to be a man in order to suffer and die. Right Yeah, it's it is and it's be it and and Mark speaks about him being tired and being hungry Not, you know not having rest all that sort of thing. Absolutely All right, so still talking about this expectation of the Messiah and his kingdom. So obviously Jesus, Mark is showing as each gospel is written to show that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah of promise. But he also speaks to this kingdom. Jesus began his ministry by announcing that the kingdom was at hand. So he comes into Galilee chapter 1 verse 14. Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God and saying, the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent ye and believe the gospel. Alright, so Mark is going to develop the Kingdom of God as you go through the Gospel. Jesus saying that the Kingdom is at hand means that the Kingdom is near. It had come close to them. With the Messiah being present and a taste of the blessings of the Kingdom to come, This was shown through the casting out of demons, the healing of the sick, the cleansing of lepers, restoring sight to the blind, raising the dead. and forgiving sins. All these blessings that are portrayed in that coming kingdom are shown in a foretaste when the Messiah was present with them. It meant that the kingdom was at hand or that it was near. Now ultimately we know that Israel would reject the king and the kingdom and so the kingdom would not be established at this time. Notice as we continue to think about this, Jesus He said, the kingdom is at hand, and then made two statements in particular, repent ye and believe the gospel. So he preached that the kingdom had come close to them and that they ought to repent and to believe. Repentance was preached in relation to the kingdom because without repentance, without that turning from sin, no one will inherit the kingdom. That's a message that comes out in a place like Acts chapter 3 verses 19 to 26. And also, according to the prophets, the kingdom will not come, it will not be established on earth without the repentance of Israel. So obviously it was important as Jesus is preaching, the kingdom is at hand. Repent therefore and believe. So some of the verses, they show that Deuteronomy chapter 4 verses 25 to 31, Deuteronomy chapter 30 verses 1 to 10, Leviticus chapter 26 verses 14-46. These are all verses that we pointed out as we've been going along this study as we were looking at these different books. 2 Chronicles chapter 7 verses 13-14. Jeremiah chapter 3 verses 11-18. Ezekiel chapter 18 verses 27-30. Hosea 5.13-6.3 Zechariah 12.1-14 Isaiah 59.12-21 Again, all verses showing that the coming of this kingdom is accompanied by or with the repentance of the nation of Israel. This message of repentance, though, is not just to Israel. It's also a message to all nations. Now, we also see that in Mark's Gospel as well as seeing that in the Old Testament in places like Psalm 2. Israel's repentance will also bring the blessings of the kingdom upon Gentile nations. All right, so we see that Jeremiah chapter 4 verses 1 to 2, as well as in Romans chapter number 11 and verse 12, particular places. So in other words, this message of repentance is a message that is related to this announcement of the kingdom in Mark's gospel. Well, also there's a message here of faith, believing. Faith is necessary in order, again, to inherit the kingdom. Mark, in chapter 10, verses 13-16 shows that, as well as some other places in the New Testament. So, Jesus taught parables, particularly in chapter 4. And these are parables about the kingdom of God. What he said about those parables is that they reveal the mystery of the kingdom. So you have parables, the seed and the soils, usually referred to as the parable of the sower, the lamp, the growing seed, and the mustard seed. And when you look at all of those parables in connection, in relation to the kingdom, you realize that the common teaching in all of those parables is about the nature of the kingdom. The fact that it comes by the power of God and just like that seed that grows. So Jesus, a mustard seed is sown and a mustard plant grows. Seed is sown in different types of soil, some of which do not bring forth fruit for various reasons, but some that does. What is he showing there? That this kingdom is sown and it will come. It will produce fruit. So it is the nature of the kingdom and the fact that it comes by God's power. The growing seed grows and he says, They know not how. They put the seed in the ground, they don't know how it grows. Now I know about today with our modern equipment and things, we can watch a seed and maybe you've seen a time lapse of a seed growing, which is just a miraculous, wonderful thing. But still yet, can we really say exactly how that seed grows? We know that that's going to need certain conditions and all those kind of things. Well, Jesus is talking about that. In other words, the point of that parable is that God gives life. God quickens. God has established the order of this creation and the fact that that seed goes into the ground and dies and brings forth life. That's how it is with God's kingdom. God brings his kingdom by his power. Jesus spoke of His humiliation in suffering and death as necessary in order for the kingdom to come. And that's in Mark chapter number 10. Chapter 11 has what sometimes is referred to as the triumphal entry. Let's just go there and we'll read a couple of verses. Mark chapter 11. verses 8, and they spread their garments in the way, and others cut down branches off the trees and strawed them in the way. And they that went before and they that followed cried, saying, Hosanna! Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Blessed be the kingdom of our father David that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. So this triumphal entry is shouting praise for the coming of the kingdom. Whose kingdom is talked about there? He says specifically, blessed be the kingdom of our father David that cometh in the name of the Lord. Yes, it's God's kingdom, but Mark is showing us that this kingdom that he's been talking about, that Jesus started talking about, that was at hand, is the kingdom of a restored Israel. It is the kingdom that has been promised by the prophets from time before they even went into exile. So here in chapter 11, we have this triumphal entry And what does it look like? It looks like this kingdom is coming. Here comes the King riding into Jerusalem. So surely, He's going to take David's throne, He is going to tread down the enemies of Israel, and He's going to gather and restore and plant them in the land promised to their fathers. Surely that's what's going to happen. And as you keep going in chapter 13, it reveals that the coming of the Kingdom is yet future. after judgment. There's judgment coming to Israel because of their rejection of the Messiah, specifically in the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple that will come in 40 years after this time, and also in the continuing of the exile, which has never yet been ended, but it will at a future time. So you can see that in chapter 13 in that Olivet discourse that will ultimately culminate in the sun returning in power and great glory. They did miss the point. The point being that the Messiah had to die. So their conception of the coming Messiah is he comes and he sets up this kingdom and destroys their enemies and brings in this golden age that they've been looking for. But Jesus starts in there at the end of chapter eight and he starts speaking to his disciples about why it's necessary the Messiah must die. And they don't grasp that until after the resurrection when they understand This is what the prophets have been talking about the kingdom was not coming with his first coming the kingdom is coming with his second coming and so you look at the Old Testament prophecies and And it looks like it speaks of His coming, and in some things you're like, well, that was fulfilled in His first coming, and this hasn't been fulfilled yet, but it's all spoken just in the same statement, you know, as if it's just all going to come about. But they missed the aspect that said that He must suffer and die. So, yes, absolutely. Okay, application. How that Mark speaks to us today, helps us today, have three of these very similar to Matthew's Gospel. Obviously, first of all, understanding the Gospel of Mark should help us understand who Jesus is. I mean, it's written to show us who Jesus is. He's the Son of Man, who is the Son of God, who suffered and died for the forgiveness of sins for all who believe in him and the one who shall return in power and great glory to rule over the earth. Number two, understanding Mark helps us understand the message of the gospel that we are to take to all the world. In fact, Mark is the only gospel that specifically refers to itself as the gospel. And right in verse number one, it's the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So Mark is the only book that actually refers to itself as the Gospel. So the Gospel, it is that good news of Jesus Christ, His coming to earth, His sinless life, His suffering, His crucifixion, His burial, His resurrection, ascension to heaven and His return, all of these aspects. So it helps us understand the message of the Gospel. So what is it as we talk to people, whether in our family or those we come in contact with in whatever the situation may be? I mean, what is the message that we have for the world. It's the gospel of Jesus Christ. It's the good news of His death, burial, and resurrection for sins. So, and I understand that's a very simple statement, and there's other things involved as far as speaking about our condition before God, and there's various other contexts, but really at the heart of it, that's the message. That's the message that we have. to take to the world. So obviously understanding Mark helps us understand that. Number three, understanding Mark helps us understand what it means to follow Jesus. So following Jesus is going to mean denying ourselves and taking up a cross. That's in chapter 8 verses 34 to 38. Following Jesus is going to mean understanding that true holiness is a matter of heart, that it's within, that we need to be cleansed and not without. Chapter 7 verse 15 to 23. Following Jesus means to love God and to love our neighbors. That's chapters 9 and 10 and 12. Doing God's will is being part of God's family. Chapter 3 verse 35, when Jesus said, that those who do my Father's will, that's my brother and my sister and my mother. And last of all, following Jesus will mean suffering, rejection, and persecution. And that obviously comes throughout particularly the latter half of Mark's gospel as we see the rejection and the opposition growing to Jesus. All right, any questions on Mark? As usual, I'm a little confused here. Let's go back to chapter one, when he calls the disciples, Jesus says, the time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand, and believe the gospel. The gospel has yet to be completely fulfilled here, so why is he calling the philistines? Or for his disciples, in this case, us in general, to believe. Well, the gospel is the good news of salvation in the Messiah. And so that is the message that's being preached. Yes, it hasn't happened yet as far as it hasn't been fulfilled yet, but it is being announced. And a part of that also is the fact that the Messiah is here. He is here. So, particularly with Israel, what they are confronted with is that they must embrace Jesus, this Jesus of Nazareth, whom many of them despise for various reasons. They must embrace Him. They must put their trust in Him. Yes, He hasn't died yet. But he's going to. He's going to give his life as a sacrifice for sin. All of the things which he talked about, think about, for instance, like John chapter 10. John chapter 10, he talks about he's going to lay down his life for the sheep. So even though it hasn't happened yet, this is still the message that's being preached. This is the Messiah. This is what he has come to do. This is what he will do. So it's still the same message. It's just the fact of, this is what I came to do, and now the message is, this is what he came to do and he did. So that's really the only difference there, if that makes sense. Any other questions on Mark? Apparently there's some controversy about the very end of the Gospel of Mark. What I mean by that is we get to Gospel 16 Right. Right. Well, the you're getting into what's known as textual criticism. And the fact that when, for instance, when the Bible is translated, it uses all manuscripts that are available at the time, and nowhere is there or was there a complete beginning to end Greek manuscript. In other words, it's pieced together, and similarly with the Hebrew, you know, it's pieced together in the best ways possible. Mark the end the verses 9 to 20 at the end of Mark the account of Jesus and the woman taking an adultery in John chapter number 8 and Those are probably the largest places where they have a collection of manuscripts, of early manuscripts, and some that date earlier, and some that date earlier, and I think really the majority of those that date earlier do not have those sections. So there are manuscripts in existence that do have them. and there are manuscripts in existence that don't have them. And essentially what textual criticism is, is authenticating those manuscripts and trying to determine what is the original reading. And another issue that comes into play with Bible translation is also what are considered scribal errors. So these manuscripts are just copied by hand, and copied and copied and copied and copied. And so you have places sometimes where a different word will appear, or sometimes even just one letter will be different, which may change the meaning in some way, or the tense of it in some way. So yes, that is true. that there are manuscripts that don't have it, and there are those that do. I don't know that you can say that there is a 100% certainty with manuscript differences. So it's a complicated area of study, one that I've not delved into real deeply. So yes, that is true. And so some You know, some translations, in fact, will not have verses 9 to 20. If you turn to Mark 16, they don't have verses 9 to 20. And a lot of people say, oh, well, see, they're just trying to take out of the Word of God. But it's not so conspiratorial as all that. It's based on the various manuscript evidence. And depending on what family of manuscripts that they're using, some that have it, some that don't, and what have you. So that's what makes that difference. And even as you're looking at different Bible translations, that's what makes that difference is those differences between manuscripts and ultimately the decisions that come down to being made of what is deemed to be the best reading, I guess you might say. All right, anything else? Now, last week, a question was asked about Matthew referring to the 30 pieces of silver and the potter, and I did look back at that a little bit, and it's probably one of those really difficult-to-resolve quotations, but what we do know is that you have places where sometimes a quotation is given, but it's not a direct quotation. It's like a blending of other passages. And so, for instance, and I forget now right off the top, I should have wrote it down, but there's a passage that quotes Isaiah, but when you look at the quotes, it's actually part of Isaiah and part of Malachi, I believe, but it just credits Isaiah. And sometimes it'll just say the prophets. We had that instance in Acts chapter 15. So, without doing a thorough investigation of it, my thought would be that the Zechariah is being referred to. but that there must be a connection with Jeremiah there somewhere. And so I just haven't really had time to look into it any more thoroughly. But anyway, I just wanted to mention that. That was a question from last week.