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Jesus saw through [the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and supporters of Herod] and said, "Why are you trying to trap me? Show me a Roman coin, and I'll tell you [whether it's right to pay taxes to Caesar]." When they handed it to him, he asked, "Whose picture and title are stamped on it?"...

Later the leaders sent some Pharisees and supporters of Herod to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested. —Mark 12:13 NLT Key Thought "The enemy of my enemy is my friend." This occasion was one where this old saying was true. The Pharisees didn't get along with...

The religious leaders wanted to arrest Jesus because they realized he was telling the story [about the vineyard and the tenant farmers] against them — they were the wicked farmers. But they were afraid of the crowd, so they left him and went away. —Mark 12:12 NLT Key Thought Sadly, rather...

[At the end of the parable of the vineyard and the tenant farmers, Jesus asked:] "Didn't you ever read this in the Scriptures? 'The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord's doing, and it is wonderful to see.'" —Mark 12:10-11 NLT Key Thought Jesus...

"What do you suppose the owner of the vineyard will do [after the tenant farmers killed his son]?" Jesus asked. "I'll tell you — he will come and kill those farmers and lease the vineyard to others." —Mark 12:9 NLT Key Thought There are consequences for rejecting the Son of God. In the case...

[Jesus continued the story:] "But the tenant farmers said to one another, 'Here comes the heir to this estate. Let's kill him and get the estate for ourselves!' So they grabbed him and murdered him and threw his body out of the vineyard." —Mark 12:7-8 NLT Key Thought "We want it for...

[Jesus continued the story:] "The owner then sent another servant, but [the tenants] insulted him and beat him over the head. The next servant he sent was killed. Others he sent were either beaten or killed, until there was only one left — his son whom he loved dearly. The owner finally sent...

Then Jesus began teaching them with stories: ... —Mark 12:1 NLT Key Thought Jesus knew the power of special stories — often called parables. He used them frequently to help convey deep messages that he wanted his followers to remember. These stories would lodge in the minds of the people who...

[Jesus asked,] "Did John's authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human? Answer me!" [The Jewish leaders] talked it over among themselves. "If we say it was from heaven, he will ask why we didn't believe John. But do we dare say it was merely human?" For they were afraid of...

"I'll tell you by what authority I do these things if you answer one question," Jesus replied. "Did John's authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human? Answer me!" —Mark 11:29-30 NLT Key Thought Jesus didn't try to defend his authority. It would be amply demonstrated. In...

[Jesus continued,] "I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too." —Mark 11:24-26 NLT Key Thought...

Then Jesus said to the disciples, "Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, 'May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart." —Mark 11:22-23 NLT Key Thought Jesus did...

The next morning as [Jesus and the disciples] passed by the fig tree he had cursed, the disciples noticed it had withered from the roots up. Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day and exclaimed, "Look, Rabbi! The fig tree you cursed has withered and died!" —Mark...

When the leading priests and teachers of religious law heard what Jesus had done [to clear the marketplace out of the Temple], they began planning how to kill him. But they were afraid of him because the people were so amazed at his teaching. That evening Jesus and the disciples left the city...

When [Jesus and the disciples] arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people buying and selling animals for sacrifices. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, and he stopped everyone from using the Temple as...

Jesus was in the center of the procession [as he was riding on the donkey into Jerusalem], and the people all around him were shouting, "Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our ancestor David! Praise God in highest heaven!"...

"What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked. "My Rabbi," the blind man said, "I want to see!" And Jesus said to him, "Go, for your faith has healed you." Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road. —Mark 10:51-52 NLT Key Thought Isn't that such a simple question...

When Jesus heard [the blind man begging for mercy], he stopped and said, "Tell him to come here." So they called the blind man. "Cheer up," they said. "Come on, he's calling you!" Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus. —Mark 10:49-50 NLT Key Thought Jesus still...

"Be quiet!" many of the people yelled at [the blind man begging for mercy]. But he only shouted louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" —Mark 10:48 NLT Key Thought While we are not told to be quiet as Jesus physically passes by us, peer pressure and social agendas antagonistic to faith...

Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road. When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"...