We have finished Judges but still remain in the time of the Judges with this next book. Ruth is a personal rather than a national story. It looks deeply into the goings on of a specific family.

Ruth 1 and 2 introduce the people in this family. A man from Bethlehem named Elimelech takes his wife Naomi and their two sons to Moab during a famine. Elimelech dies. The sons marry Moab women and live there 10 years until they also die.

In the intervening years, the famine in Israel ends and Naomi decides to go back home to Bethlehem.  Naomi speaks to her daughters-in-law Naomi and Orpah encouraging them to go back to their family homes. Orpah does this but Naomi pleads with Naomi that she be allowed to stay with her. In words that are often used at weddings Ruth says that she will go wherever Naomi goes. Naomi’s people will be Ruth’s people and Naomi’s God will be Ruth’s God.

Naomi and Ruth return to Bethlehem during the time of the barley harvest. Ruth asks permission to go and glean the fields after the reapers are finished. This is consistent with the commandments concerning helping the poor.

While she is gleaning the field Ruth is spotted by a man named Boaz, who a member of Elimelech’s family. He learns about who Ruth is and what she has done to take care of Naomi. He tells Ruth to glean only from his land and instructs the reapers to allow her to glean from crops that still need to be harvested. When she tells Naomi what happened Naomi tells her who Boaz is and encourages her to stay in his fields.

In Mark 8 Jesus feeds another crowd. Again, the disciples doubt whether the people can be fed. The Pharisees ask Jesus for a sign to tell them who he is. He leaves them and warns the disciples about the Pharisees by comparing them to yeast. The disciples have only brought one loaf of bread with them and are concerned that this is the reason that Jesus is warning them. Jesus becomes frustrated that the disciples are still concerned with how they would eat.

Jesus meets a blind man and heals him. At first the man could only see shadows but Jesus puts his hands on him and he can then see clearly.

Jesus and the disciples come to Caesarea Philippi. He asks them who others say he is. Peter says that Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus begins to tell them that he will have to suffer. Peter tries to stop him but Jesus says that Peter is concentrating on human things. Jesus openly continues to teach about the things that are going to happen to him.

This is the halfway point of the book of Mark. Up until now Jesus has been secretive about why he is here. After Peter sees clearly that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus begins teaching about who he is and what it means to be the true Messiah. The disciples may not be ready to hear the truth but Jesus begins to open their eyes.