Mark Today’s passage can tend to feel like it’s dropped into the story out of nowhere. Here you have Jesus trying to help his disciples see what the Kingdom will look like. Jesus has been traveling around healing people and casting out demons, and then here come the Pharisees to talk about divorce? What’s going on here? Why are they trying to test Jesus and why with questions about divorce?Well, remember back in chapter 6 when Herod had John the Baptist beheaded? That happened because John was calling Herod out. This puppet king who was sold out to Rome was marrying his own brother’s wife. So clearly Herod was not the true King of Israel. So then here's today’s passage, back down near the Jordan where John the Baptist preached, and the Pharisees were interested in what Jesus had to say about Herod. After all, if you are claiming to be the Messiah, you are going to have to deal with Herod, who the Pharisees didn’t like either.The Pharisees put Jesus is a no-win situation on purpose, and Jesus wisely turns it on them by pointing out their hard hearts. And then gets right back to calling his disciples to keep their hearts soft too!----------REFLECT----------1. What word or phrase stood out to you? Why might that be?2. Watching Jesus in this passage, what do you learn from him about dealing with moments when you’re asked about current controversial events?3. Jesus knows that the Pharisees hearts are hardened, and the story after this episode illustrated what it will take to enter the Kingdom. As an antidote to their hardened hearts he’s offering the Kingdom of God. They don’t want Herod, but they don’t want the way of Jesus either. In what ways might you ask the Spirit to soften your heart today?----------GO DEEPER----------Bible Project: Mark Overview >>Bible Project: The Gospel >>Bible Project: Gospel of the Kingdom >>Divorce and Remarriage in the Church >>----------CONNECT----------Find an InterVarsity Chapter >>Start an InterVarsity Chapter >>Learn More >> --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dailyread/message