How to Read God's WordНамуна

DAY 1: The context of the passage

Above all, it is crucial to be led by the Holy Spirit, for it is He who reveals God's Word to us. In this way, the Word can resonate in our hearts. Like the disciples at Emmaus, we can feel an inner ardor when Jesus speaks to us through His Word (2 Timothy 2.15).

To explore how to study God's Word, let's look at the story of Bartimaeus, a blind man healed by Jesus (Mark 10.46-52).

The first important point is to understand the context. Before Jesus and the disciples arrive in Jericho, they pass through other places, notably on their way to Jerusalem, where Jesus announces his suffering, death and resurrection. It's essential to grasp these details to better understand the situation.

Let's summarize the context: Jesus is on the move, the disciples are aware that Jesus is heading for Jerusalem, they have left Capernaum, they have gone down the Jordan, they are going to pass through Jericho on their way to Jerusalem.

They know that at the end of this road, Jesus' suffering, death and resurrection await them. The emotional situation may be complicated...

This is the context in which this story takes place. As you can see, it's important to understand the context of the situations, to better realize what's really going on, what the disciples are feeling, and the circumstances in which Jesus finds himself.

Jesus knows he's on his way to suffering, death and resurrection, and on the way he meets the blind Bartimaeus.

Understanding the context allows us to perceive the disciples' emotions and the reality of the situation. This understanding enriches the story of Bartimaeus, which takes place in this specific context.

We therefore need to read the preceding texts (or chapter) to fully grasp the context. We can also observe the following chapter (Mark 11), where Jesus approaches Jerusalem. This chronological follow-up provides valuable historical information.

Understanding context is therefore fundamental to Bible study. It provides an overview that enriches our understanding.

The next step is to explore the actions, once the context is clear.

Let's pray together: Lord Jesus, I want to discover you in Your Word, I want to love Your Word, You are the Word! Lead me in everything I read, I need You! Amen.

Jeremy Pothin