Thinking out loud works better out loud

I have written a commentary on Mark’s Gospel. I have studied it. So I am teaching through Mark in a weekly Bible study at the workplace of an elder in my church. A few weeks ago I read out loud:

And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him.

I had read the passage many times. But in reading it out loud my voice almost went into a singsong rhythm with bind chain bound shackles chains chains shackles. It is poetry. And it hit me: It is Psalm 2. The nations can’t bind this man but Jesus can with a mere word, and no one can escape Jesus’ shackles. Why would anyone want to?

Leading a Bible study is a dangerous thing. No matter how much you prepare you will get hit with things as you go. Hearing and reading the text with your mouth and tongue: there is no substitute.

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