Mark

This opening chapter of Mark jumps to the start of Jesus’ public ministry. It tells how John the Baptist was preaching and Baptizing which was prophesied in the Old Testament. Jesus came and was baptized by John and when He was baptized, the Holy Spirit ascended on Him like a dove. A Voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly beloved Son, and You bring Me great joy.”

After being baptized, Jesus went into the wilderness to fast and pray for 40 days.

Then Jesus began preaching starting in Galilee.

Jesus calls His first disciples as well which include (in order): Simon (Peter), Andrew, James, and John.

Jesus began preaching in the synagogues. He preached with authority that the people didn’t see in the religious leaders. He cast out demons and healed the sick.

Jesus tells his disciples that He needs to go to other towns as well.

Jesus tells those who are healed not to tell anyone about it but they do anyway. People come to see Jesus and crowds grow.

Principles: Reverse psychology or genuine request, Crowds followed Jesus because He was the real thing.

Jesus returns to Capernaum and has crowds of people coming to him. At one point the house he’s in has so many visitors that they are going out their door and people can’t get in. Four men bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus wanting him to be healed. They can’t get in. So they go up on the roof and dig a whole in the roof to let the man down through the ceiling to where Jesus is preaching. Jesus sees the man and the faith of his friends and tells the paralyzed man that his sins are forgiven. The religious leaders who were in the crowd were upset at that statement thinking it was blasphemous because only God can forgive sins. (They were right in that but they didn’t believe that Jesus is God.) Jesus knew what they were thinking and called them out on that thought process. He asked if it was easier to forgive sins or heal someone. Then to prove He had the authority (that He is God), Jesus also heals the man.

Later, Jesus is preaching by the Sea of Galilea. He sees Matthew the tax collector at his table collecting taxes and says that Matthew should follow Him and be His disciple. Matthew does. Later on, Matthew invites Jesus and His disciples to a dinner at his home with other tax collectors and “other disreputable sinners” (per the religious leaders). The religious leaders question why he eats with “such scum.” Jesus, knowing their thoughts, says that healthy people aren’t the ones who need a doctor. Jesus says He hasn’t come to call those who THINK they are righteous but those who know they are sinners.

In the other two sections (about fasting and working on the sabbath). Jesus challenges the traditions of the day by His disciples not fasting all the time and by His disciples plucking and eating grain on the sabbath ( which resulted in then working on the sabbath).

Principles: recognizing that we are not righteous without Jesus and that our efforts don’t add up is where Jesus can work in us.

This chapter opens with Jesus teaching in the synagogue on the sabbath. The religious leaders were there hoping to catch Him working on the sabbath. A man with a deformed arm was there and Jesus, knowing the thoughts of the religious leaders, called the man up asking if it was acceptable to do good on the sabbath or if it was a day for evil. The religious leaders wouldn’t respond. Jesus was saddened by their lack of response. Jesus healed the man and the religious leaders immediately left to plot against Jesus.

Later Jesus is preaching at the Sea of Galilea and people had come from all over. He had asked His disciples to have a boat available for Him so He wouldn’t be crushed by all the people because the sick would press up against Him to be healed by touching Him.

In this chapter, Jesus chooses His 12 apostles (also called disciples).

The religious leaders try to disparage Jesus by saying He is casting out demons through Satan’s power. Jesus points out that it is logically false to think that would work because it would be a civil war. He instead says someone stronger than Satan is the source of His power.

Jesus was preaching and the place was crowded. His family came to see Him and went word in to Him that they were there and for Him to come out. Jesus responded that His family was anyone who does God’s will.

Principles: when you are doing the will of God, there are those who will come against you based on law and technicality because they are threatened. However, when you’re doing God’s will, He is your family.

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This chapter continues along the same line as the previous and tells what happened on the other side of the Sea of Galilea. Jesus and the disciples arrive on the other side and are met by a man possessed by demons. The man was uncontrollable by anyone and lived in tombs of the town. The man comes up to Jesus and the demons in the man ask Jesus why He is bothering them before their time. Jesus commands them to come out asking their name. The demons reply “legion” because there are so many demons. The demons beg not to just be cast out and left to wander but instead to go into a herd of pigs. Jesus permits it and they cause the pigs to run into the lake and drown. The herdsmen run into town and a group of people come back. The man who had been demon possessed was sitting fully clothed and sane. The townspeople begged Jesus to go away. Jesus got into the boat and the man who was was previously possessed asked to go with Jesus. Jesus told him to stay and go back to his family. The man did and also visited the surrounding towns telling them what Jesus did.

Jesus and the disciples went back across the lake and was met by a large crowd that pressed in against him. The local synagogue leader came to Jesus asking Him to come and heal his daughter who was close to death. Jesus agreed to go with him. As they were going, a woman who had been sick for many years came up to Jesus to touch the hem of his clothes. She reasoned that if she could just touch His hem, she would be healed. So she touched His hem and could tell that she was healed. Jesus could immediately tell that healing power had been accessed through His body and he called out to the crowd, “who touched me.” The disciples were a bit incredulous given how people thronged about Him but Jesus kept looking. Then the woman confessed who she was and that she had touched His hem to be healed. Jesus told her to go in peace that she had been healed and her suffering was over.

As they began again to the synagogue leaders house, messengers came from his house saying not to bother Jesus any longer because his daughter had died. Jesus heard what the messengers said and told leader not to be afraid but to have faith. They continued to his house but Jesus kept the crowds back and only the synagogue leader, Jesus, Peter, James, and John continued on. When they arrived at the house, there were mourners and lots of commotion. Jesus questioned why they were mourning because the girl was just asleep. They laughed at Jesus for saying that. Jesus sent them all away and took the mother, father, Peter, James, and John to the girl’s room. Jesus told the girl to get up and she arose from the dead. The parents were amazed. Jesus told them not to tell anyone what happened and you give her something to eat.

Principles: Demons understand eternity and its timing. They have names. Sometimes what we want to do is not the best plan.

Jesus and the disciples return to His hometown of Nazareth. He preaches there and at first the people are amazed but then they reject Him because they know Him and His family. Jesus comments that a prophet is not without honor except in his own country. Because they rejected Him, thinking they knew Him and knew He wasn’t special, not very many miracles happened.

Later Jesus send out the disciples in pairs to preach. He gives them instructions of what to take along (virtually the clothes on their back) and tells them how to act while gone and if they are rejected by a town. He gave them authority over unclean spirits. They went out preaching, healing the sick, and casting out demons.

Herod heard about Jesus and thinks that it is John the Baptist returned from the dead (probably due to his guilty conscience because he had John beheaded). Mark recounts the story of John’s beheading.

When the disciples return from their trip, Jesus tries to go off with them to rest a bit. However, the people see that it’s Jesus and His disciples and are waiting for them. Jesus had compassion on them and teaches them. Late in the day, the disciples encourage Jesus to send the crowds away to go get something to eat. Jesus tells the disciples to feed them. They respond that it would take months for them to have enough money to buy the amount of food that would be needed. Jesus asks how much food they have and they tell Him five loaves and two fish. Jesus had the disciples have the people sit down in groups and then He begins breaking off pieces of bread and fish to give them. 5000 men were fed (not counting women or children) and they took up 12 baskets of leftovers.

Jesus sends the disciples back across the lake while He sends the people on their way home. Jesus then went off and prayed for a while. Around 3 in the morning Jesus sees that the disciples are struggling to row the boat back across the Sea of Galilea. He walks out on the water, intending to pass them by, but they see Him and are afraid thinking He was a ghost. He settles them letting them know it was Him and He got in the boat with them and the wind stopped. The disciples were amazed.

When they landed the boat in Gennesaret, people recognized who it was and began bringing sick to be healed.

Principles: People who grew up with you don’t always appreciate your gifts.

This chapter starts out talking about pharisees coming to see Jesus and complaining that His disciples didn’t complete traditional handwashing before eating. Jesus points out their hypocrisy noting that they sidestep God’s law doing what they want. He noted that it isn’t what goes into the body that defiles a person but what comes from your heart. This dealt with the keeping of traditional, man made practices that shouldn’t be the focus and eating practices held by the Jews.

Jesus and His disciples go to Tyre and try to keep it quiet where they are staying so that they can not be away from the crowds. But the people find them. A gentile woman comes to find Jesus begging him to cast the demon out of her daughter. Jesus resists her requests at first because she was Gentile noting that His focus should be on the Jews, His family and that it wasn’t right to take food from the children to feed the dogs. The Gentile woman responded that it was true He should focus on the Jews first but that even the dogs are fed under a master’s table. Jesus said that it was a good answer and told the lady to go home because the demon was gone. The lady went home to find her daughter lying quietly in bed.

Next Jesus went to Sidon and a dead man with a speech impediment came to him to be healed. Jesus put His fingers first in the man’s ears. Then He spit on His fingers and touched the man’s tongue. He looked up to heaven, sighed, and said “be opened.” The man was healed and hear and speak correctly.

Jesus again told the crowd not to tell anyone but they did anyway.

Principles: let what comes out of your heart be pure before God. Most traditions are not commands of God.

This chapter opens with Jesus feeding another large group (4000 men) with only a few loaves and fish. After doing this Jesus and the disciples leave for Dalmanutha and are met by the Pharisees in the area who try to get Him to perform a miracle, ostensibly as proof of who He was and His authority.

They left the area and went back across the Sea of Galilea. As they’re doing so Jesus tells them to beware the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod. Jesus was using a metaphor. However, the disciples had forgotten to bring bread on the trip and therefore thought Jesus was making a dig at them for forgetting. They argue amongst themselves to cast blame. Jesus knows what’s going on though and stops them from arguing, reminding them of how He providing for the large groups with bread and fish. He was talking about a bigger issue.

When they arrived at Bethsaida, they are met by a blind man who wants to be healed. Jesus took him outside the town and He healed the man in two steps. First by spitting in the man’s eyes and laying His hands on his eyes (which helped a little). Then Jesus placed His hands on the man’s eyes again. Then the man was able to see fully. Jesus told the man not to go back into town on the way home.

Jesus asks the disciples who He is. They give Him a summary of what people are saying. Then He asks then who they say He is. Peter replies, “the Messiah.” Jesus warns them not to tell people that.

Then Jesus tells them of His coming betrayal and death on the cross. Peter tries to intervene and correct Jesus saying that it won’t happen and generally reprimanding Jesus. But Jesus calls Peter out saying he was seeing it from a human perspective. He tells the disciples that they must be willing to lose everything for the sake of God’s plan.

Principles: God can use the little we have to accomplish His plan. If you answer a fool according to his folly you will become a fool as well (Prov 26:4).

This chapter continues from the last and has a final lesson for the crowd: Jesus said some would not die before the Kingdom of God arrived in great power.

Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up to a mountain to be alone and suddenly Jesus became very bright and Moses and Elijah appeared and talked with Jesus. Peter, being frightened and not knowing what to say, said, “it’s good that we’re here. Let us build three memorial shelters.” Then a voice from heaven interrupted Peter and said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to Him.” Then suddenly Jesus was back to normal and Moses and Elijah were gone. Jesus told them not to tell anyone until He’d risen from the dead.

As they walked down the mountain, they asked about a story that religious leaders told about Elijah coming before the Messiah. Jesus said it was true but that he’d already come (John the Baptist was a type of Elijah). John prepared the way for Jesus.

When they return to the other disciples, there are people waiting and one man in particular is waiting with his demon possessed boy. The disciples couldn’t cast the demon out. Jesus was able to. The disciples asked why they couldn’t and Jesus said that type only came out through lots of prayer and fasting.

Jesus predicts His death and resurrection to the disciples again.

As the disciples were walking on the road to Capernaum, they were arguing who was the greatest among them. Jesus asked them what they were arguing while on the way. They didn’t want to tell Him. Jesus called them together and told them that to be the greatest, they must be the servant of all. He brought a child over and said whoever welcomes a child on His behalf welcomes Him and His Father.

The disciples found someone casting out demons in Jesus’ name and they told them to stop. Jesus said not to tell them to stop. He said that if they are not against us they are for us.

Principles: when we are frightened and don’t know what to say, it’s best to just listen to God. Servant good is central to greatness.

Principles: when we are frightened and don’t know what to say, it’s best to just listen to God. Servant good is central to greatness.

Jesus responds to Pharisee questions about divorce while they were trying to trap him. The disciples later ask Him more questions about divorce.

Some parents brought their children to Jesus so He would bless them but the disciples tried to protect Jesus and scolded the parents. Jesus saw what the disciples were doing and was upset with them. He gave them a lesson in being a child when coming to the Kingdom of God.

While Jesus and the disciples were on their way to Jerusalem, a rich man comes before Jesus, kneeling before Him, and asks Jesus, calling Him “Good Teacher,” what he had to do to receive eternal life. Jesus seems argumentative in His response by saying “why do you call me good? Only God is truly good.” Jesus was challenging the man to make the jump to understand that Jesus was God. Jesus then points him to the commandments. The man responds that he’s kept those commands all his life. However, Jesus recognizes that the man’s possessions are holding him back from a relationship with God. He tells the man to sell his possessions, give the money to the poor, and come and follow Him. The man was saddened by this because of his possessions and left.

Jesus commented how hard it was for the rich to enter the kingdom of God. The disciples surprised by that as it was counter to their thinking. They wondered how it was possible for anyone to enter the Kingdom. Jesus responded that humanly speaking it was impossible but with God all things are possible.

The disciples recognize that they have given up everything. Jesus understand the underlying query. Jesus tells them that everyone who gives up earthly possessions for will receive a hundred fold return now and persecution. They will also receive eternal life. He points out that those that are important now won’t be the focus in heaven.

Jesus again predicts His death and resurrection.

James and John come to Jesus and ask to sit on His right and left around His thrown when He comes into His kingdom. Jesus asks then if they understand the weight of what it will take. They say they do and Jesus lets them know that they will know. However, Jesus points out that that is not His choice to make but His Father’s. Then the rest of the disciples were upset that James and John would ask that of Jesus. Jesus then educates the disciples about leadership as a servant.

As Jesus and the disciples reach Jericho, a blind man named Bartimaeus calls out to be healed. People around him tried to shut him up. But Bartimaeus just called out louder. Jesus heard him and told him to come. Suddenly everyone is all buddy buddy with Bartimaeus telling him to “cheer up because He’s calling you.” Very patronizing. Jesus asks Bartimaeus what he wants of Him. Bartimaeus says he wants to see. Jesus told him that his faith had healed him and suddenly he could see. He followed Jesus down the road.

Principles: divorce is not what God wants. When possessions hold you instead of you holding possessions, they get in the way of your relationship with God. Servanthood is required for Godly leadership.

This chapter starts with what is called the triumphal entry of Jesus. This is memorialized as Palm Sunday today. Jesus prophesies to His disciples about finding a colt for Him to ride into Jerusalem. They find it as He told them down to what they should say if someone questions they’re taking the colt.

Jesus enters Jerusalem as the coming King of the Jews. He rides a colt and people lay down shawls and palm fronds in front of Him in honor. They praise Him as coming King. They recognize Him as a continuation of King David’s line. However, they don’t recognize what kind of King and Messiah He really is.

Jesus goes into Jerusalem and looks around at everything and returns to where He is staying outside of Jerusalem.

In the morning Jesus is hungry and sees a fig tree but it has no figs. He curses it saying it will never have any figs. The next morning the fig tree is shriveled up. The disciples, who had heard Him curse it, are amazed that it is shriveled up. Jesus uses it as a lesson in faith and belief.

When Jesus and the disciples stove at the temple, Jesus clears out the temple of those that were using it as a place of commerce. People were selling animals that could be used as sacrifices. Jesus quotes prophetic scripture that referred to this time.

The next day as they were entering Jerusalem, the leading priests and religious leaders came to Jesus asking by what authority Jesus did what He was doing. He challenged them by saying He would answer them if they would answer by whom John the Baptist’s authority came. They discussed amongst themselves saying that if they answered by God’s authority, Jesus would ask them why they didn’t follow what he said then. But if they said of man, the people would revolt because they believed he came from God. So, the religious leaders and priests said they didn’t know. So Jesus responded that He wouldn’t answer them either.

Principles: God knows what will happen and can prepare you on what to do and say. You don’t have to say everything you know to people that challenge you. People that worship you on Palm Sunday will crucify you on Easter.

Jesus shares a story about a field owner who gets it ready for growing grapes for wine and then leases it to farmers who will grow the grapes. The farmers grow the grapes and as payment for using the field and wine press that the owner has built and leased to them, the owner gets a portion of the crop. When harvest time came and the owner sent someone to collect his portion, the evil farmers wouldn’t give the owner his portion. They beat up and/or killed several servants the owner sent to collect. When the owner sent his own son thinking they would respect him, they plotted and killed him thinking the owner wouldn’t have any heirs to give the land to and it would be theirs. But the owner would not let that happen. Instead he’d come and kill the farmers and lease the land to others.

The religious leaders recognized that they were the evil farmers in the story and wanted to arrest Jesus. However, they were afraid of the people.

The religious leaders sent some of their people with the supporters of Herod (the Roman leader in their area) to try to trick Jesus. They try to butter him up by saying they know He’s honest. They ask Him if they should pay taxes to Caesar. Of course, Jesus knows that they are trying to entrap Him and put Him against either the people or the supporters of Herod. Instead of falling for it, Jesus gives them a completely unique answer that satisfies both. He tells them to give to Caesar what is his and to God what is His.

Later another religious group of Jews called the Sadducees came and tried to trip Jesus up. As a group, they don’t believe in life after death. So their question to Jesus was hypocritical and not a genuine question for discussion. It was just intended to trip Jesus up. They give Jesus a scenario hoping to trip up. Jesus again answers way above their question showing they didn’t understand how things really work. Jesus also goes beyond their question to challenge their belief structure as Sadducees regarding life after death.

After hearing this interchange, a teacher of religious law seems to take interest because he realizes that Jesus is answering well and is legitimate. He asks Jesus what the greatest commandment is. Jesus quotes an Old Testament scripture known as the Schema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). It says that there is one God and that they are to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. Jesus goes beyond that and adds another to love your neighbor as yourself. These two commands summarize the Ten Commandments. The teacher of religious law realizes that this answer, too, is a good answer, confirming the response and noting that what Jesus had said was more important than burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law. Jesus realizes by his response that this teacher understood a great deal and said that he was not far from the kingdom.

Jesus posed a question to the crowd as He was teaching. He asked why the religious leaders claimed that Messiah was the son of King David when David clearly refers to Him as his Lord. Jesus doesn’t specifically answer in the text here. But He gives the crowd something to meditate on from multiple angles and connects scripture being fulfilled for the crowd.

In the final section of the chapter, Jesus and His disciples sit near the collection box in the temple and watch as people put in their offerings. They saw people put in great sums and Jesus highlights a window who puts in a small amount. Jesus notes that hers, though small compared to the others, was greater because it was everything she had.

Principles: We are not owners of what God gives us to manage. We are playing one-dimensional. Jesus is playing 8-dimensional. 😃. It’s not the amount of money we give. It’s the amount of our heart that Jesus has.

Jesus and the disciples are leaving Jerusalem and the disciples are marveling at architecture. Jesus agrees that they are great but notes that they will be destroyed.

Later when they are out of the city back where they are staying, several of the disciples come and ask Jesus when the buildings will be destroyed and what sign will point to that happening. Jesus talks about signs that will lead up to the temple destruction and end of time including war, rumor of war, persecution of believers, etc.

Principles: God knows when time will end. In this world we will have trouble. Just because someone says that they are of God or someone else IS God, don’t believe it.

This chapter really starts to talk about the events of Jesus’ death timeline. It begins with Jesus’ anointing for death. It next covers a Judas going to the priests to work out the details to betray Jesus.

Then the Passover meal called the last supper is outlined. It starts with how Jesus prophesies about where they should have the meal. Then it follows up with Jesus prophesying that one would betray Him.

During the meal, Jesus establishes the practice of what has come to be called communion. It usually considered a sacrament in most churches.

After dinner, Jesus and the disciples go to the Mount of Olives and then to a particular grove called Gethsemane.

Then it tells about Jesus’ prophecy that all the disciples would betray Him and noting that Peter would deny Him three times before rooster crowed.

Jesus asks the disciples to sit in a particular spot while He goes to pray. He took Peter, James, and John a bit further in and began to pray asking God to release Him from what was to come if there was another way but He wanted the Father’s will and not His own. He comes back to the disciples and finds them sleeping. He asks Peter if he could not watch and pray even one hour. Jesus goes again to pray. He comes back again later to find the disciples sleeping again.

Then Judas and armed guards come to arrest Jesus. Judas had arranged to kiss Jesus as the signal of who was to be arrested. One of the disciples grabs a sword and cuts off the ear of a servant that was with them. Jesus questions why they came to arrest Him like a revolutionary instead of taking Him in temple where He had been teaching. He noted the reason was that it fulfilled prophecy.

Jesus was taken to the high priest’s home and the religious leaders were trying to find evidence to have Jesus put to death. However the witnesses they used all contradicted each other. It wasn’t until they asked Jesus if He was the Messiah that they felt they had any “proof” to convict Him.

Meanwhile, Peter had followed the procession with Jesus to the high priests home and even came into the courtyard. He was asked if he was a follower of Jesus and denied it three times, just as Jesus said. The third time he did, he heard a rooster crow and was reminded of what Jesus said and he wept bitterly.

Principles: Jesus prophesied and fulfilled the prophecy that came through others in the Old Testament. Sometimes telling the truth will not always be accepted as truth and will get you in trouble.

The Jewish leaders take Jesus to Pilate, the Roman Governor over them at the time. Pilate asked Jesus if He was king of the Jews and He replied, you have said it. But when Pilate asked Jesus how he responded to the accusations of the Jewish leaders, Jesus wouldn’t respond which surprised Pilate.

Pilate had a custom of releasing a Jewish prisoner each Passover. He tried to have Jesus released through this practice because he knew they were accusing Jesus out of jealousy. However, the Jewish leaders stirred up the people to select another prisoner, Barabbas. Pilate asked what he should do with Jesus and the crowd cried for Jesus’ crucifixion. Pilate tried to reason with the crowd but finally gave in to the crowd’s demand. He had Jesus scourged and sent off for crucifixion.

In the process of being scourged and crucified, the Roman guards had a number of ways they mocked Jesus including putting on a robe and putting on a crown made of thorns.

As they were leading Jesus away to be crucified, the Roman guards grabbed a man named Simon from the crowd to help Jesus carry the cross. (The author points out that Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus. They may have been known to the readers of the book by the time it was written.) Jesus was brought to Golgotha where He was crucified at 9 am along with two other revolutionaries. The crowd mocked and jeered Jesus as He hung on the cross.

At noon, it became dark over the whole land.

At three PM, Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me.” Then Jesus cried out again and breathed His last breathe. The curtain in the temple that separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple ripped in two. One of the Roman soldiers who had seen everything happen said that Jesus really was the Son of God.

Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate to ask for permission to take Jesus’ body down and bury it. Pilate was surprised Jesus was already dead. Pilate confirmed with a Roman guard that Jesus was dead and then gave Joseph permission. Joseph took Jesus body down and wrapping Him in a cloth put Him in a tomb. Some of the women who had been helping Jesus saw where Joseph had put Jesus’ body.

Principles: Let God manage your reputation according to His plan. God’s plans are not man’s plans.

Principles: Let God manage your reputation according to His plan. God’s plans are not man’s plans.

This is the last chapter of Mark. Multiple versions of this chapter were found with slightly different endings.

After the sabbath, Mary and Salome went to buy burial spices and then on Sunday morning they went to the tomb in order to anoint Jesus’ body. On the way, they were wondering who would roll the stone away to let them in. However, when they got there, the stone was rolled away. When they went inside, Jesus’ body was gone and a young man (an angel) was sitting in there. He told them Jesus had risen from the dead and had gone ahead of them to Galilea and to meet Him there. The angel told the women to go tell Peter and the disciples.

In one version of Mark, the women ran away from the tomb and didn’t tell anyone what they had seen or heard because they were scared.

In another version, the women do go tell Peter and the disciples. Then Jesus comes to the disciples and sends them out to minister.

In the longest version of the ending, it tells of Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene. She goes to the disciples to tell them she’d seen Jesus and they don’t believe her. Jesus then appears to two others walking from one town to the countryside. They rushed back to the disciples but, again, the disciples don’t believe them. Then Jesus appears to all the disciples and He rebukes the disciples for not believing the ones who had seen.

Jesus then sends the disciples out to minister through a charge that has come to be called the Great Commission.

After this commissioning, Jesus was taken up into heaven

Principles: it takes faith to believe the message of Jesus. Evidence from trustworthy sources should be believed.