Jesus in Context

He Is Risen: Come See the Place Where He Lay

Burial and Mourning

The resurrection announcement is joined to an invitation to inspect the place where Jesus' body had been laid.

Scripture: Matthew 28:5-6; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:5-7

The Women Worship Jesus and He Calls the Disciples His Brothers

Social Context

The women grasp the risen Jesus' feet and worship Him, after which He refers to His disciples as His brothers.

Scripture: Matthew 28:9-10; John 20:17

The Tomb Guards and the Stolen-Body Report

Political/Legal Context

Matthew explains an early alternative account of the empty tomb: the guards are paid to say that Jesus' disciples stole His body while they slept.

Scripture: Matthew 28:11-15

The Mountain in Galilee: Worship and Doubt

Places and Geography

Matthew places the climactic meeting between Jesus and the eleven on a Galilean mountain, where the disciples worship Him even as Matthew acknowledges hesitation among them.

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-17

All Authority and the Great Commission

Discipleship

Jesus grounds the command to make disciples of all nations in His declaration that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him.

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Euangelion: The Beginning of the Gospel

Language and Idiom

Mark opens by describing his account as the beginning of the euangelion, the good news concerning Jesus Christ.

Scripture: Mark 1:1

Jesus in the Wilderness With the Wild Beasts

Places and Geography

Mark uniquely notes that Jesus was among wild animals during His wilderness testing.

Scripture: Mark 1:12-13

Why Jesus Silences the Demons

Historical/Cultural Context

Mark repeatedly portrays unclean spirits recognizing Jesus while Jesus refuses to allow them to publicize His identity.

Scripture: Mark 1:23-25; Mark 1:32-34; Mark 3:11-12; Luke 4:41

Everyone Is Looking for You

Social Context

After crowds gather around Jesus in Capernaum, He withdraws to pray and then refuses to let local popularity define the boundaries of His mission.

Scripture: Mark 1:35-39

Jesus Looks Around With Anger and Grief

Social Context

Mark describes Jesus as simultaneously angry and grieved by the hardness of His opponents' hearts during a Sabbath controversy.

Scripture: Mark 3:1-5

Boanerges: The Sons of Thunder

Language and Idiom

Mark preserves the Semitic nickname Boanerges, which Jesus gives to James and John and explains as meaning Sons of Thunder.

Scripture: Mark 3:13-19

Jesus Family Comes to Restrain Him

Marriage and Family

Mark places concern from Jesus' own people alongside His teaching that those who do God's will constitute His true family.

Scripture: Mark 3:20-21; Mark 3:31-35