Mark 15
Jesus taken to Pilate verse 1- 5
And straightway in the morning the chief priests
held a consultation with the elders and the scribes
and the whole council – and bound Jesus
and carried HIM away
and delivered HIM to Pilate
And Pilate asked HIM
Are YOU the King of the Jews?
And HE answering said unto him
You said it
And the chief priests accused HIM of many things
BUT HE answered nothing
And Pilate asked HIM again saying
Answer YOU nothing?
BEHOLD how many things
they witness against YOU
BUT Jesus yet answered nothing
so that Pilate marveled
Custom of Pilate verse 6- 8
Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner
whomsoever they desired
And there was one named Barabbas
which lay bound with them that
had made insurrection with him
who had committed murder
in the insurrection
And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as
he had done unto them
Crowd wants Jesus crucified verse 9- 14
BUT Pilate answered them – saying
Will you that I release to you the King of the Jews?
for he knew that the chief priests
had delivered HIM for envy
BUT the chief priests moved the people
that he should rather release Barabbas to them
AND Pilate answered and said again unto them
What will you then that I shall do unto HIM
whom you call the King of the Jews?
And they cried out again
Crucify HIM
THEN Pilate said to them
Why – what evil hath HE done?
And they cried out the more exceedingly
Crucify HIM
Pilate pacified the crowd verse 15
And so Pilate – willing to content the people
released Barabbas unto them
and delivered Jesus
when he had scourged HIM – to be crucified
Soldiers abuse Jesus verse 16- 20
And the solders led HIM away into the hall
called Praetorium
and they call together the whole band
and they clothed HIM with purple
and platted a crown of thorns
and put it about HIS head
and began to salute HIM
Hail – King of the Jews
and they smote HIM on the head with a reed
and they did spit on HIM
and bowling their knees
worshiped HIM
and when they had mocked HIM
they took off the purple from HIM
and put HIS own clothes on HIM
and led HIM out to crucify HIM
Simon carries cross to Golgotha verse 21- 23
And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian who passed by
coming out of the country
the father of Alexander and Rufus
to bear the cross
And they bring HIM unto the place
Golgotha – which is – being interpreted
The place of a skull
And they gave HIM to drink wine mingled with myrrh
but HE received it not
Jesus crucified with two thieves verse 24- 28
And when they had crucified HIM – they parted HIS garments
casting lots on them – what every man should take
AND it was the third hour – and they crucified HIM
and the superscription of HIS accusation
was written over
THE KING OF THE JEWS
And with HIM they crucify two thieves
the one on HIS right hand
the other on HIS left
And the Scripture was fulfilled – which says
And HE was numbered with the transgressors
Jesus mocked by crowd verse 29- 30
And they that passed by railed on HIM – wagging their heads
and saying
Ah – YOU that destroy the temple – and build it in three days
save YOURSELF – and come down from the cross
Religious leaders mock Jesus verse 31- 32
Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves
with the scribes HE saved others
HIMSELF HE cannot save
Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross
that we may see and believe
And they that were crucified with HIM reviled HIM
Jesus cries out to Father verse 33- 34
And when the sixth hour was come
there was darkness over the whole land
until the ninth hour
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice
saying
Eloi – Eloi – lama sabachthani? which is being interpreted
MY God – MY God – why have YOU forsaken ME?
Crowd thinks HE is crying out to Elijah verse 35- 36
And some of them that stand by – when they heard it – said
BEHOLD – HE calls Elijah
And one ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar
and put it on a reed and gave HIM to drink
saying
Let alone
Let us see whether Elijah
will come to take HIM down
Curtain of Temple rent top to bottom verse 37- 38
And Jesus cried with a loud voice – and gave up the ghost
and the veil of the temple was rent in twain
from the top to the bottom
Centurion makes statement verse 39
And when the centurion – which stood over against HIM
saw that HE so cried out
and gave up the ghost – he said
Truly this man was the Son of God
Women watch from distance verse 40- 41
There were also women looking on afar off – among whom
was Mary Magdalene and Mary
the mother of James the less and of Joses
and Salome
(Who also – when HE was in Galilee – following HIM
and ministered unto HIM)
and many other woman which came up
with HIM unto Jerusalem
Jesus buried verse 42- 47
And now when the even was come
BECAUSE it was the preparation – that is
the day before the Sabbath – Joseph of Arimathea
an honorable counselor
which also waited for the kingdom of God
came and went in boldly unto Pilate
and craved the body of Jesus
And Pilate marveled if HE were already dead
and calling unto him the centurion
he asked him whether
HE had been any while dead
and when he know it of the centurion
he gave the body to Joseph
And he bought fine linen – and took HIM down
and wrapped HIM in the linen
and laid HIM in a sepulcher
which was hewn out of a rock
and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulcher
And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses
BEHELD where HE was laid
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 15 And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified. ( 2425 “content” [hikanos] means satisfy, act in a pleasing manner, befitting, or gratify)
DEVOTION: People pleasers have been around for generations. Here we have a political leader who wants to please the people with whatever they want even when he was warned of his wife to not get involved with this innocent man. Jesus was innocent but to a politician that didn’t made it hard because popular vote was all that was necessary. He washed his hands of guilt but it was still there.
Pilate gave the people a murderer that they chose because the religious leaders told them what to do. So it was not only the politician but also the religious leaders who wanted to keep their power with the people. So, we find, that religious leaders can be people pleasers too.
Jesus was crucified because that was the Father’s will regarding the salvation of souls. The people who yelled didn’t know this fact. They were just pleasing their religious leaders who wanted to influence their political leaders to do what they wanted to an unwelcome guest.
The problem today is that we have religious leaders give wrong instructions to their people. The problem today is that our political leaders are following the course of lease resistance and are willing to sell out the people for a raise in pay they don’t really need.
People pleasing is still happening in our pulpits. The Bible warns that there will be a group of people who will come to church to get their ears tickled. They only want to hear what makes them not fall under the conviction of the Holy Spirit that they are not living the way the LORD wants them to live.
CHALLENGE: Jesus doesn’t want us to be people pleasers, HE wants us to be God pleasers in our message to the world.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him. (3679 “reviled” [oneidizo] means to reproach, taunt, upbraid, heap insult upon, reprimand, denounce or cast in teeth)
DEVOTION: Remember when Christ entered the city all the people were shouting in HIS favor. Now we come to a time when the chief priests had stirred up the people to yell “Crucify HIM.”
Pilate didn’t want to displease the people. He allowed his soldiers to abuse Christ before they took HIM to the cross. Jesus allowed HIMSELF to be abused. Here we have God allowing man to abuse HIM. We have never stopped.
We find that while Jesus was on the cross HE had many people walk by and say bad things to him. They commented on his being able to help others but not himself. They commented about what he said would happen in the future. They made fun of him. This included the religious leaders. They were heaping on the insults. They were taunting HIM. They were denouncing HIM.
One of the things that this verse brings out is that the thieves on the crosses on either side of him also took part in the abuse. In another Gospel we learn that one finally repented and asked the LORD to remember him when he came into this kingdom. Jesus promised him that he would be in paradise that day.
How about us? When someone is down, do we pick on him/her too? When we see someone in our world having a hard time, do we help or think that they deserve what they are getting? What is our reaction to other’s problems? Are we help or a hindrance? We have to always remember that if we have a friend that is sinning we have a ministry of reconciliation. If we have a friend who is going through a hard time, we have a ministry of encouragement. If we have a friend that has a need and we do nothing, the LORD will judge us for that. We don’t have to follow the example of the religious leaders of Jesus day. We don’t have to follow the example of the two thieves on the crosses next to Jesus.
We should follow the example of the woman and Joseph. The centurion at the cross saw all that was happening and made the comment “Truly this man was the Son of God.” That should be our comment.
What are we doing with the people in our world who are going through tough times? Are we help or a hindrance? Our pray that we are a help. They don’t need more critics!!!
CHALLENGE: Find someone who is hurting around you and help them out. If they are down, lift them up spiritually.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying Eloi, lama sabachthani” which is, being interpreted, My God, My God, why have YOU forsaken ME? (1459 “forsaken” [egkataleipo] means abandon, leave helpless, totally abandoned, to refuse to accept or acknowledge something, conceived of as leaving it behind or forsaking it, desert, or neglect)
DEVOTION: God’s wrath is what our Savior was feeling on the cross. HE died as a substitute for all those who would become followers of HIM in the future. The price of sin had to be paid. The only sacrifice that was acceptable to the Father was a perfect lamb without blemish. Jesus Christ was the Lamb of God that took away the sins of the world.
It is because of Christ’s death on the cross that we have hope. It is the only reason we have assurance that the debt we owe because of our sin was forgiven. Jesus did it all on the cross.
There was darkness because our sin was darkness. There was the tearing of the view because there was no longer going to be any animal sacrifices. Jesus ended the old system of offering animals on the Day of Atonement. The final blood was shed on the cross. It was finished.
The perfect sacrifice was offered and Jesus felt the sins of the world. HE shed enough blood to save everyone but only those who accept the call of the Holy Spirit will be saved. All others will be lost, not because there was not a proper sacrifice but because of their refusal to accept the sacrifice.
CHALLENGE: Most of the world will reject a free gift of salvation. Don’t be one of them.
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: 39 And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God. (230 “Truly” [alethos] means indeed, surely, of a truth, most certainly, pertaining to be real and not imaginary, or actually)
DEVOTION: Here was a man who witnessed all that occurred on that day. He witnessed the darkness. He witnessed all that happened around the cross. He witnessed the comments of Jesus from the cross. He witnesses the interaction between the LORD and the two thieves.
His conclusion was that he had witnessed the death of the Son of God. He witnessed a life changing event. He believed what Jesus Christ had said about HIMSELF.
After we review all the facts we have learned about Jesus Christ, what is our conclusion? If HE truly is the Son of God come in the flesh to die for our sins what type of servants should we be?
HE gave HIS all to offer salvation to us. We should be willing to spread the message and give our all to HIM. It is easier said than done.
The Holy Spirit illuminates the truth of this passage. HE wants the truth of this event to not only be known but understood. The only way anyone can truly understand this event is through the illumination of the Holy Spirit to the individual’s heart. We can know the facts but not understand without the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our life.
CHALLENGE: Is the Holy Spirit working in your heart today?
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Temple verse 29
Veil of the temple verse 38
Sabbath verse 42
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Scripture was fulfilled (Is.53: 12) verse 28
Elijah verse 36
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Christ’s cry – My God – My God verse 34
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Jesus verse 1, 5, 15, 34, 37, 43
King of the Jews verse 2, 9, 12, 18, 26
He answered nothing verse 3- 5
Numbered with the transgressors verse 28
Three days verse 29
Christ verse 32
King of Israel verse 32
Christ the King of Israel verse 32
Man verse 39
Son of God verse 39
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Kingdom of God verse 43
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Pilate verse 1, 4, 5, 9, 12, 14, 15, 43, 44
Barabbas verse 7, 11, 15
Soldiers verse 16
Hall called Praetorium verse 16
Simon a Cyrenian verse 21
Alexander verse 21
Rufus verse 21
Golgotha verse 22
Centurion verse 39, 44, 45
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Falsely accused verse 3
Insurrection verse 7
Murder verse 7
Envy verse 10
People cried crucify Jesus verse 13- 15, 20
Evil verse 14
False worship verse 19
Mock verse 20, 31
Thief verse 27
Transgressors verse 28
Railed verse 29
Wagging their heads verse 29
Reviled verse 32
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Save verse 30, 31
See verse 32
Believe verse 32
Follow Jesus verse 41
Minister verse 41
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Chief priests verse 1, 3, 10, 11, 31
Elders verse 1
Scribes verse 1, 31
Whole counsel verse 1
Elijah verse 35, 36
Mary Magdalene verse 40, 47
Mary the mother of James the less verse 40
Joses verse 40
Salome verse 40
Galilee verse 41
Jerusalem verse 41
Joseph of Arimathaea verse 43, 45
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Kingdom of God verse 43
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DONATIONS:
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QUOTES regarding passage
15:34. Jesus made seven key statements when he hung on the cross. Mark records just one, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (see Ps. 22:1). Jesus Christ was feeling the full wrath of God, his Father, against all the sins of mankind—past, present, and future. Jesus cried out in agony as he bore the sins of the world and was separated for the first time from his Father because of this sin. Jesus expressed horror at being separated from God, his Father. Jesus’ death on the cross fulfills the saying, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree” (Deut. 21:23; Gal. 3:13). Jesus expressed the incredible pain of abandonment by God. Paul later said, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us” (2 Cor. 5:21). Yet, in all of this pain and agony Jesus did not renounce his Father but submitted to his will. Hallelujah, what a Savior! (Cooper, R. L. (2000). Mark (Vol. 2, p. 260). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
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15:34. Mark (and Matthew) recorded only this one of Jesus’ seven sayings from the cross. At the ninth hour (3 p.m.), Jesus cried … Eloi, Eloi (Aram. for the Heb., ’Ēlî, ’Ēlî), lama sabachthani? (Aram.; from Ps. 22:1) Mark translated the saying into Greek for his readers, which in English means, My God, My God, why (lit., “for what [reason]”) have You forsaken (lit., “did You abandon”) Me?
This was more than the cry of a righteous Sufferer affirming His faith that God would cause Him to triumph (contrast Ps. 22:1 with Ps. 22:28). Nor did Jesus merely feel abandoned. Instead, Jesus’ cry combined (a) abandonment by God the Father in a judicial not relational sense, and (b) a genuine affirmation of Jesus’ relationship to God. Bearing the curse of sin and God’s judgment on sin (cf. Deut. 21:22–23; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13) He experienced the unfathomable horror of separation from God, who cannot look on sin (cf. Hab. 1:13). This answers Jesus’ question, “Why?” Dying for sinners (Mark 10:45; Rom. 5:8; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18), He experienced separation from God.
Also Jesus’ cry affirmed His abiding trust, reflected in the words, “My God, My God.” This is the only one of Jesus’ recorded prayers in which He did not use the address “Abba” (cf. Mark 14:36). Far from renouncing Him, Jesus claimed the Father as His God. He died forsaken by God so that His people might claim God as their God and never be forsaken (cf. Heb. 13:5). (Grassmick, J. D. (1985). Mark. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 189). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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15:34 Eloi … sabachthani? The Aram. words of Ps 22:1. Matthew, who also recorded this cry, gave the Heb. words (Mt 27:46). why have You forsaken Me? Jesus felt keenly His abandonment by the Father, resulting from God’s wrath being poured out on Him as the substitute for sinners (see notes on 2Co 5:21). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Mk 15:34). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
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“Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” The words are Aramaic, and are found in the first verse of Psalm 22. They tell us, as nothing else could, what it meant for Jesus Christ to take the sinner’s place and endure in His soul the sense of divine abandonment, which impenitent sinners will yet have to experience.
“Behold, He calleth Elias;” that is, Elijah. These were the words of one who did not understand the Aramaic and thought the cry, “Eloi,” was addressed to the prophet Elijah. (Ironside, H. A. (1948). Expository notes on the Gospel of Mark. (pp. 237–238). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
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Ver. 34. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, &c.] see the note on Matt. 27:46. saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? in Matthew ’tis, Eli, Eli, Both Eli and Eloi, are Hebrew words, and signify the same; and are both used in Psal. 22:1, 2 from whence the whole is taken: which is, being interpreted, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? see the note on Matt. 27:46.
Ver. 35. And some of them that stood by, &c.] The cross: when they heard it; the loud voice of Jesus, and the words he uttered: said, behold he calleth Elias; whom they ignorantly, or wilfully took for Eloi; see the note on Matt. 27:47.
Ver. 36. And one ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar, &c.] Christ at the same time saying, I thirst; see John 19:28 and put it on a reed; an hyssop stalk, John 19:29 and gave him to drink; and so fulfilled a prophecy in Psal. 69:21 saying, or they said, as the Syriac version reads it; not he that fetched the sponge, but the others that were with him, and which agrees with Matt. 27:27, 49 let alone; as forbidding him to go near him, and offer him any thing to drink: let us see whether Elias will come and take him down; from the cross; see the note on Matt. 27:49. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 1, p. 490). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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15:34 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? See note on Matt. 27:46. Jesus utters the opening words of Psalm 22 and in so doing cries out to God in the immense pain of divine abandonment (see Isa. 59:2; Hab. 1:13), which he suffers as a substitute for sinful mankind (see note on Mark 10:45). Yet the following verses of Psalm 22 also anticipate divine intervention on his behalf (cf. Heb. 5:7–9). Jesus knows why he is experiencing God-forsakenness, just as he knows his death will not be the end of his story. (Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 1931). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.)
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FROM MY READING:
Anoint my head with oil
“Sheep can get their head caught in briers and die trying to get untangled. There are horrid little flies that like to torment sheep by laying eggs in their nostrils which turn into worms and drive the sheep to beat their head against a rock, sometimes to death. Their ears and eyes are also susceptible to tormenting insects. So the shepherd anoints their whole head with oil. Then there is peace. That oil forms a barrier of protection against the evil that tries to destroy the sheep. Do you have times of mental torment? Do the worrisome thoughts invade your mind over and over? Do you beat your head against a wall trying to stop them? Have you ever asked God to anoint your head with oil? He has an endless supply! His oil protects and makes it possible for you to fix your heart, mind, and eyes on Him today and always! There is peace in the valley! May our good good Father anoint your head with oil today so that your cup overflows with blessings! God is good and He is faithful!!” (Heart Prints)
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The Heavens Declare
“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” (Psalm 19:1)
This verse has been a favorite of many who recognize God’s creatorship. The vastness of space “declares” His power and sovereign control over all and calls us to worship Him as not only Creator but Savior as well. In what ways do the heavens speak?
The orderly progression of day and night reminds us of God’s purpose in creating the heavenly bodies, that they should be “signs” for us to aid in telling time and the passage of time (Genesis 1:14). The sun’s light energizes Earth’s processes. From photosynthesis to tidal and atmospheric movements, the Creator can be recognized as the great Provider.
The “line” mentioned in Psalm 19:4 is that of a surveyor’s line, true and accurate. It represents the absolute standard by which our conduct is measured. Just as surely as an Earth-encircling line demarcates light and darkness, so God’s holy nature measures and evaluates our behavior.
The sun’s light extends outward in all directions, not just toward Earth. Light generates heat, thus “there is nothing hid from the heat thereof” (v. 6). This life-sustaining light can be compared to a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, anxious to receive his bride, and a strong man, an athlete ready to claim the championship (v. 5). In a similar manner, God delights in supplying every need of His children. He is near and ever-powerful. We can ask Him for anything at any time, He loves us that much.
From this poetic rehearsal of some of God’s immutable attributes, we can learn much of both His nature and our relationship to Him. While Psalm 19 does not teach in a didactic fashion, it can thrill our spirits and motivate us to draw nearer to Him.
(JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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SINLESS PERFECTION?
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning….Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin. 1 John 3:8-9
The man or woman who is righteous will show that by living a righteous life; the one who is not righteous shows it by not living a righteous life. That is why this reference to the devil is so significant: “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.” That is his characteristic, his nature, his habit; that is his way of living. That is the thing that is so true of the devil: He sins from the beginning; he goes on sinning. “And that man,” John says in essence, “who goes on sinning is therefore the man who is proclaiming that he has the kind of nature that the devil has. He does not have the new nature that the Christian has.”
We must remember that the apostle here is speaking about all Christians. Now some of the people who believe in sinless perfection tell us that the apostle here is only talking about some Christians. But at this point they become inconsistent, because they forget the message of verse 6; they say he is only speaking about some, but John is speaking about all Christians: “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not.” If a man does not abide in Christ, he is not a Christian at all; to be a Christian means to be abiding in Christ. Now there are some who would have us believe that you can be a Christian without abiding in Christ, but surely that denies the whole doctrine of rebirth. We are in Christ or we are not, and if we are not in Christ we are not Christians at all. “If any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his” (Romans 8:9); if we have not been born of the Spirit, we are not Christians. You cannot be in Christ one day and out the next; every Christian is in Christ and abides in Him. John is not only speaking to certain Christians—he is speaking to all Christians.
A Thought to Ponder: We must remember that the apostle here is speaking about all Christians, (From Children of God, pp. 76-77, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Philippians 2
We are exhorted to be like Christ, who practiced only selflessness.
INSIGHT
Selfishness is the source of most interpersonal conflict. Someone is taking something from us (materially, emotionally, socially, etc.) that we don’t want to give, and we fight to keep or gain our desires. Unselfishness is the source of most interpersonal harmony. Think about the people you really like – even famous people you don’t know personally. Usually the reason you like them is because they are gracious and kind, and give of themselves. If you want to be a harmonious, likable person, you must be unselfish. (Quiet Walk)
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In a strange sort of way, a recent Sky News story reminded me of Luke 11. That’s where Jesus asks whether, if your child asked for a fish, you’d give them a snake? Or if they asked for an egg, would you hand them a scorpion?
Here’s the article’s headline: “Hundreds of young trans people seeking help to return to original sex.” The story featured a woman who, after publicly admitting regret over her so-called “surgical transition,” was contacted by hundreds of people in her part of England who felt the same way.
One of those people, “Ruby,” also struggled with eating disorders. One would think that the combination of gender dysphoria and eating disorders would suggest to medical professionals that Ruby was suffering from body image issues. But, as she told Sky News, the doctors never even suggested there might be a connection there worth exploring.
Instead, it was “Here’s your hormones, here’s your surgery, off you go.” Or, to borrow Jesus’ words, “Here’s your scorpion, here’s your snake.”
This story is far from uncommon. Young people in emotional pain and distress are asking adults for help. But, because of our ideological blind spots, we give them serpents and scorpions instead of what they really need.
Just consider the name given to a new children’s pediatric clinic at Akron Children’s Hospital: “Center for Gender Affirming Medicine.” Since the fundamental connection between gender and biological reality has already been severed by our ideological commitments, it’s safe to assume that doctors there will “affirm,” both in their diagnoses and with their prescribed treatments, whatever gender a child claims they are.
But what about the Rubys of the world? What about the hundreds of people in that one part of England who were given the wrong treatment for their psychological issues? They are victims of our bad ideas, and our blind spots. Too often, they are forced to be invisible victims, ignored because their very existence challenges the new sexual orthodoxy.
Many physicians today simply ignore that up to 80 percent of the children who suffer from gender dysphoria will eventually outgrow those feelings. Even worse, they fail to connect the dots between gender dysphoria and potentially serious mental illnesses that often accompany it—like depression and generalized anxiety disorder. Or, in Ruby’s case, a severe eating disorder.
Multiple issues like this spark the “chicken and egg” questions. Does gender dysphoria cause depression and anxiety? Or is gender dysphoria a symptom of depression and anxiety? The truth is that no one knows with any certainty. But, the new gender ideology is leading many professionals to proceed with treatment as if gender dysphoria is no disorder at all.
So, the best “treatment” (the theory goes) is to affirm the young person’s belief that they are transgender and initiate the transition process as soon as possible. This will supposedly reduce the inner conflict, and in turn help with their other disorders.
This neat and tidy theory has one big problem: There’s no evidence it works. In fact, evidence points the other way. A 2011 study that followed 324 Swedish men who had undergone sexual reassignment surgery found that 10-15 years later, their suicide rate was 20 times higher than that of their peers.
An earlier study in Britain commissioned by the Guardian newspaper found that “There is no conclusive evidence that sex change operations improve the lives of transsexuals, with many people remaining severely distressed and even suicidal after the operation . . .”
Today, affirmation passes for “care,” not because it actually is, but because it affirms gender ideology, even if it leads to life-altering surgery or hormonal treatments. If the patient later regrets it, or hurts themselves, or are miserable, we’ll just blame it on “transphobia.”
Ideas have consequences. Bad ideas have victims. We need to ensure that the victims of bad gender ideology is no longer invisible. Their stories must be heard.
(Break Point by John Stonestreet)
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CHINESE GOVERNMENT DEMOLISHES LARGE CHURCH (Friday Church News Notes, October 25, 2019, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) – The following is excerpted from “China: Authorities forcibly demolish ‘illegal’ church,” Christian Post, Oct. 15, 2019: “Communist officials demolished a church in China’s Henan province for engaging in ‘illegal fundraising’ after forcibly removing congregants, injuring two elderly people in the process. According to Chinese persecution watchdog Bitter Winter, True Jesus Church was razed to the ground completely. A new lawn with saplings was planted in place of the church, bearing no trace of its existence. … After thoroughly searching the church, the police took away a piano and four air-conditioning units. Then, eight excavators began demolishing the church, worth about 10 million RMB (about $1,400,000). Authorities continued to persecute church members even after the church was demolished. … In September, it was reported that Chinese government officials demanded that clergy affiliated with the state-sanctioned Protestant church base their sermons on a new book that blends biblical teachings with the teachings of Confucius, one of the most influential philosophers in Chinese history. … In early 2018, the communist regime passed new regulations on religious affairs in China that banned ‘unauthorized’ religious teachings. … Recently, it was alleged by the China Tribunal at a meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council that the Chinese government has murdered ‘hundreds of thousands’ of members of the Uighur Muslim minority and Falun Gong to harvest their organs. … Open Doors USA ranks China as the 27th worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution on its 2019 World Watch List.”)
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CHRISTIANITY IN AMERICA IN RAPID DECLINE (Friday Church News Notes, October 25, 2019, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) – The following is excerpted from “In U.S., Decline of Christianity Continues at Rapid Pace,” Pew Research Center, Oct. 17, 2019: “The religious landscape of the United States continues to change at a rapid clip. In Pew Research Center telephone surveys conducted in 2018 and 2019, 65% of American adults describe themselves as Christians when asked about their religion, down 12 percentage points over the past decade. Meanwhile, the religiously unaffiliated share of the population, consisting of people who describe their religious identity as atheist, agnostic or ‘nothing in particular,’ now stands at 26%, up from 17% in 2009. … The data shows that the trend toward religious disaffiliation documented in the Center’s 2007 and 2014 Religious Landscape Studies, and before that in major national studies like the General Social Survey (GSS), has continued apace. … The changes underway in the American religious landscape are broad-based. The Christian share of the population is down and religious “nones” have grown across multiple demographic groups: white people, black people and Hispanics; men and women; in all regions of the country; and among college graduates and those with lower levels of educational attainment. Religious ‘nones’ are growing faster among Democrats than Republicans, though their ranks are swelling in both partisan coalitions. And although the religiously unaffiliated are on the rise among younger people and most groups of older adults, their growth Is most pronounced among young adults.”
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Daily Hope
Today’s Scripture Psalm 134 Weekend Scripture: Psalm 135
I believe that we should always worship the Lord! Morning, noon and at night we ought to be ready to exclaim praise to the One who has redeemed us and allowed us access to the Father. Over the years, my favorite service has been the Sunday evening service. I look forward to the opportunity to teach and interact with the people who come. It offers a much more relaxed and informal time; one I enjoy participating in and leading.
The psalmist is concluding the Ascent psalms which began in Psalm 120. This short psalm exalts the workers of the Temple that allow worshippers to enter at night upon arrival in Jerusalem. After traveling from Meshech and Kedar, (Ps. 120:5) the weary traveler is anxious to enter the Temple and worship the Lord. Their praise and blessing are toward the Lord who protected and provided for them on their journey to now lift hands in the sanctuary.
While this little psalm concludes the Ascent psalms, it also acts as a bridge to the remaining psalms that are worship psalms used and sung in the Temple services. We will see that the term “Bless the Lord” and “Praise the Lord” will be a recurring phrase through the remainder of the Psalms. As the travelers’ hearts were prepared to worship in the Temple, the songs of the services resounded in the minds of the worshippers.
Pastors, song leaders, musicians and church leadership put long hours in to give worshippers an avenue to express worship. As Sunday approaches and plans for the service progress, take a moment to pray for those who will be providing the elements to make worship possible. Pray for all the behind-the-scenes people who labor daily in preparation for services. Without this personnel contributing, the services would appear much different and inferior in quality. Like the psalmist, give thanks for those who make worship possible for you as you enter this Sunday!
With an Expectant hope, Pastor Miller
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