Tag: Salvation

July 21st 2024: Gary Brady

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“Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” (Zechariah 3:2b)

A brand from the burning.

A similar phrase is found in the book of Amos chapter 4 verse 11. It paints the same picture. It is a striking image of fire, like a campfire. A stick has gone in and started to burn. It shouldn’t be there, so you find a way of rescuing it. You say, ‘Is this not a burning stick plucked out of the fire?’

Zachariah comes towards the end of the Old Testament. He is one of the later Old Testament prophets. The first part of his book is a series of visions he had all in one night. Here, Joshua the high priest stood before the angel of the Lord, Satan at his right hand to accuse him. The Lord rebukes Satan, “Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” (Zechariah 3:2b). At the start of the vision Joshua is dressed in filthy, dirty rags. The angel orders that these should be removed and be replaced with clean clothes. Joshua is then given a charge; God tells him, “If you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts and I will give you a place among those standing here.” Joshua and those with him are told that they are men symbolic of things to come. There is the prophecy that God is going to ‘bring my servant, the branch.’ The Messiah is pictured as a branch.

“Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” (Zechariah 3:2b). This verse could be taken as a cry of victory. The phrase carries a tone of affirmation. The man was in the fire but snatched out of it.

Think who this language may be applied to. In context, Joshua the high priest is a representation of his people after they have come back from exile in Babylon. It points forward to when the Messiah will come and remove sin in a single day – at Calvary, when sin is removed from His people. If we know the Lord Jesus as our Saviour, we are ‘sitting pretty’ and inviting others to know the joy of sins forgiven. It applies to all true believers. We are like a stick snatched out of a fire. This probably applies more to some than others. Some go a long way in their sins, they look as if they’re going to hell but then they are certainly snatched to safety and all is well, “And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.” (Jude 22-23).

Even those who come to Christ have no smell of burning on them but are sticks snatched from the fire. Some people who have been converted are notorious for their sins, but God converts them. Jesus was crucified with two criminals either side of Him, one who was converted at the end of his life. The apostle Paul hated Christians and did everything possible to hinder the gospel. Yet he was suddenly converted. This fire brand is snatched from the flames, then he was preaching the faith he had tried to destroy. C.S. Lewis was a complete atheist who had no time for God. Yet, quite unexpectedly, he was converted. God worked in his heart. Another example of a burning stick snatched from the fire is Mitsuo Fuchida. He was one of the top pilots in Japan, a Great War hero.

Sometimes, God works in the worst people. Manasseh was the worst king of Judah. But if you read 2 Chronicles chapter 33 you will see that in his distress, he humbled himself and prayed to God. After 54 years of evil reign, Manasseh knew the Lord God and told Judah to serve the Lord.

Luke Short was 100 years old when he was converted. He sat in a field contemplating the end of his life, and remembered a sermon he had heard 85 years before, when he was 15 years old. He was converted and became an elder of a local church until his death, when he was 117! Death bed conversions also occur. Other unexpected conversions include Onesimus and John Newton.

Some have known an overwhelming sense of guilt – in the fire but snatched out. This includes the jailer in Philippi. Martin Luther, John Bunyan and Spurgeon were all in great distress before being converted.

Note how appropriate the phrase is, “Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” (Zechariah 3:2b).

  1. Judas and Peter were both equally sinful (Ephesians 2:3) and deserving of wrath. God’s salvation is the only thing that makes a difference.
  2. A burning stick snatched from the fire was once very near to be burning up.
  3. A burning stick from the fire retains some evidence of its dangerous situation. There is evidence that it was once in the fire. When we sin we think how can we be like that when we are saved.
  4. A burning stick from the fire does not save itself. It doesn’t jump out of the fire itself. We do not save ourselves. We will only be saved if God snatches us from the flames.

June 9th 2024: Peace Choi

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Matthew 28: 16-20. Keep Fulfilling

The Great Commission is one of the most well-known passages in all the Bible. All missional organisations have this passage somewhere. Today, I have two questions: why and how?

Why? Why did Jesus come?
There are three verses in Matthew’s gospel which give us clear answers:
“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Mattthew 1:21). This is what the Angel of the Lord spoke to Joseph before his wife, Mary, gave birth to a son.
“Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:13).
“Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28).

Jesus came to save sinners from their sins, to make us righteous before God. He came to make us right with God. He came to reconcile us to God. The purpose of Jesus’ coming was for you and me. He came for your salvation and for my salvation. He came to save us – not because we deserve it but because God loves us so much. “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die.” (Romans 5:6-7). We were too powerless to save ourselves; we were ungodly.

We cannot stand before a holy God on our own. We were sinners, we don’t deserve to be saved or loved by God. But God lavished His love upon us through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. He came to save everyone who would believe.

How? How to Jesus accomplish the Purpose of His coming?
“Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matthew 12:38-40).

The Scribes and Pharisees wanted to see a sign that Jesus would perform. But Jesus had already performed a miracle, but they wanted a sign from Jesus Himself. He answered, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” We see clearly here Jesus is referring to His death; the Son of Man will spend 3 days and three nights in the heart of the earth. He delivered His own resurrection.

“And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered them,[a] “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 3 And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed.” (Matthew 16:1-4).

In chapter 15 Jesus did another miracle, feeding thousands of people. But people again wanted a sign – a miracle from heaven. We see that first they wanted a sign from Jesus, then a sign from heaven. The Kingdom of Heaven is the Kingdom of God. The Jewish leaders wanted to see a sign from God Himself. We have a detailed explanation in chapter 12, but not in chapter 16. Why? It has already been explained in chapter 12. Jesus accomplished salvation for you and me through His death and resurrection. Nobody can miss the point Jesus is making. He will save people who believe in Him through His death and resurrection. Jesus did a lot of signs and miracles. The only sign which Jesus would show would be His death and resurrection – which will save people. This is God’s way of salvation for you and me.

In Matthew chapter 4 Jesus was tempted by the devil. In the first temptation Satan declared, ‘If you are the Son of God make these stones into bread.’ But Jesus did not do that. He said no to that temptation because feeding people is important, but bread alone cannot save people. That is why he said no. The second temptation was for Jesus to jump down from the highest point of the temple. He could do it, but he said no. The third temptation was to worship the devil and Jesus said, ‘No way!’ Why? Worshipping Satan was not God’s way to save people from sins. No! No! No! These were not God’s ways.

Jesus prayed at Gethsemane, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39b). Jesus accepted. Whilst He was on the Cross many people passed by. Some said, ‘Come down from the cross if you are the Son of God, then we will believe you.’ He did not come down. If He Came down, there would be no salvation. He stayed there because coming down from the Cross was not God’s way of saving you and me. We need to say Hallelujah! His death was not the end of the story. He was raised from the dead, conquering sin and death. The power of death could not hold Him (Matthew 12:16). Romans 4:25 confirms the same truth. We live our Christian life to please and glorify God, that is the purpose of our life.

Our passage of scripture today is Matthew 2816-20. What do you think this passage is all about? It is about taking the message of salvation to the world – to boys and girls, women and men, Korean, Welsh, everyone. What is this all about? It is the application of the salvation achieved only by Jesus’ death and resurrection. That truth should be applied to people individually. It is the work of God, of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus came to save sinners from sin. He achieved this through His death and resurrection. In the Great Commission Jesus sent out His disciples into the world. “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” (John 17:18). This is part of Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer. Why did Jesus send His disciples into the world? For your salvation and my salvation, for His Disciples to deliver, to share and to proclaim the message of salvation to others who needs to be saved. If you don’t have that application yet, come to Jesus and ask for forgiveness of sins, for Him to be your Lord and saviour.

When Jesus called His disciples, He said, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” Jesus gave the Great Commission to His disciples. He speaks to us through His Word. He still speaks to us even today for the application of salvation. We are to proclaim the name of Jesus as the only true name of salvation. He is everything to those who believe in Him.

If we are in Christ, we are the most valuable people to God’s Kingdom. God chose you and called you to apply the salvation which Jesus achieved by His death and resurrection. He does not need us, but He wants to use us, to save people through you and me. If you keep quiet about Jesus Christ, then how can people in this area hear about Jesus? All Christians are most valuable to the Kingdom of God. Jesus wants to proclaim the same message of salvation in the 21st century through you and me. Isn’t it exciting! May all of us be used mightily to fulfil the purpose of Jesus’ coming – until we breathe our last or until He returns with power and glory.

May 12th 2024: Robert Strivens

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2 Peter 3:1-15: Godly living in the light of Christ’s return in glory and for judgement.

“Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.  And count the patience of our Lord as salvation” (v.14-15a).

These verses are a summary of what Peter wants us to learn. We are waiting for these things, and as we wait and look forward, we need to be careful, found in Christ, living in such a way that is holy and godly.

This chapter is first of all telling us that this world will come to an end (v.14). Essentially, Peter wants people to think of the end of the age and the new heavens and new earth (v.13). That is where he wants us to look; when this world, as we know it, will come to an end, and a new heaven and a new earth will take its place.

This is a fairly general letter, comforting people because they are being scoffed at (vs.3-4). People still do this today. Peter was writing to give comfort and assurance. When people laugh at us and don’t believe what we say, as believers, it can be unsettling. People question why this world will come to an end as there is no sign of this. Many doubt if it is really going to happen. Peter addresses this feeling of being unsettled. He reminds us of two vital things:

  1. the past
  2. to look forward

1.The Past

Look back (vs. 5-6). We are reminded that things have not always been like this, as they are today. There has been a beginning of all things; God created all things by His word (Genesis 1). There was a time when there was nothing but God. He created this world out of nothing (Hebrews 3). Peter is saying things had a beginning. We must be clear and not be taken up by evolutionary thought. From the word of God there was creation of this universe. It will keep going until He brings it to an end (v.7).

Things continue as they are because God maintains them by His word (Hebrews 1, Psalm 102). Peter is saying things appear to go on with no sign of judgement. But look, this world is maintained by God. Furthermore, he points out that there has been a great worldwide catastrophe in the past (v.6). Why is he pointing to the Flood? Because you cannot assume things will go on. Look to the past – the judgement for people’s wickedness.

Things had a start, a beginning, there was this great catastrophe. Things don’t continue without interruption. People should not assume things have always been as they are. This world will come to an end. Look back, then look forward (v.4).

2. Look forward.

See the promise of His coming (v.7), when Christ will return in judgement. The end of this world is coming. God is not slow to fulfil this promise (v.9). He gives an explanation, “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (v.8). It is not some philosophical trick. It is a much more solid point. The Lord is patient (v.9). He is waiting. God is merciful and is waiting for all He has chosen to return to Him in repentance.

A time is coming when the Lord will return and judge the world. God is deliberately patient with sinful humanity. He is given opportunity for the church to give witness. He will return suddenly, without warning (v.10). This teaching is so clear in the Bible. We can’t work it out. Then, disaster will come for those who do not know the Lord (v.10). The world will come to an end – not by some man-made event, but by the act of God Himself. It is vital we grasp that.

What does that mean for a Christian today?

Our priorities for living.
 Peter draws conclusions for how we are to live today and every day (vs.12-13). A Christian is characterised by living a holy and godly life. This is the practical outworking of that doctrine. We know when God brings this universe to an end, we will have the home of righteousness. As we look forward to this great future, we should seek to live holy and godly lives. We are expecting to see the Lord in His glory, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. This will be an extraordinary experience – Christ returning in glory to judge the world, to usher in new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. This should affect how we live – not just in outward appearance but in heart.

If we are born again of the Holy Spirit, we should walk in Christ’s way, seeking to live lives of holiness and godliness, rooted in the soil of true repentance of the saving grace of Jesus Christ. We should be trusting in what Christ has done on the cross. We contribute nothing at all. It all depends on Christ, who has successfully paid the price in full. That is the foundation. We seek, through the Holy Spirit, to live for Him.

Paul tells us in Colossians 3, “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” There is a great change in someone who repents. Peter says we are not perfect; we continue to sin and don’t live up to the standards of God. But we seek the Lord’s forgiveness. Sometimes, we backslide. Return to the saviour. Look to Him and ask Him to restore you. Remember what Jesus Himself said, “Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.” (Luke 12:37).

Peter says we are to be actively looking forward to the Lord’s return (v.12). This is not just knowing it is true, but waiting, thinking about it. Are we thinking about it? This should be the major event on our horizon – greater than marriage, greater than the birth of a child, greater than retirement. How often do you reflect on this glorious fact of Christ’s return, of this universe being destroyed and a far better version coming, a time when sin will be no more, when there will be no more lying, theft, deception, adultery, pride, murder. All terrible consequences will be gone. There will be no more famine, ill health, poverty, sadness. All will be abolished. It is not fantasy, it is reality. It is God’s promise.

Is that where your heart is set – the new heavens and the new earth? We enjoy this creation but we are looking for an even better day, when Christ returns in glory. Are you waiting and looking forward? “Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.” (v.14). At peace. We live in a world where there is anything but peace. Do you know the peace of Christ? In this time of waiting, it is a time of salvation, “And count the patience of our Lord as salvation” (v.15a). Seek to witness and testify that others may know the saviour in this day of grace.

March 28th Good Friday 2024: John Scanlon

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Matthew 27: 29-42

We ponder on the word of God and how it describes this great event that took place so long ago. We picture it in our minds, different people in different ways. You can imagine the big crowd there, watching. In those days, it was probably the only entertainment they had. Attending this execution of the Lord Jesus Christ we have the curious, the crowd followers, the passers-by – so hardened to the suffering of others. Crucifixion was entertainment. They were guilty of saying things amongst the crowd they would not say otherwise. They were guilty of being one of the gang. Passers-by became a mob.

What had changed peaceful citizens into a mob crying for blood? A week earlier they had cried out ‘Hosanna,’ now ‘Crucify Him!’ These people may have had nothing against Christianity, but joined in with the crowd so they didn’t feel left out. We see crowds like this today, for example, at football matches. Were these passers-by responsible for the death of an innocent man? Yes! As we all are. On judgement day you will need to give a personal account, not be part of a crowd.

In His agony Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Forsaken by God! Who on earth can understand that? Jesus was crucified at 9:00 a.m., the third hour, the hour of the morning sacrifice. At noon, when the sun burnt so brightly, darkness fell until the 9th hour, 3 p.m. This was the time of the evening sacrifice when the lamb was offered as a daily sacrifice in the temple. This was a foreshadowing of the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, the Lamb slain for the world. During that time of darkness, no sound came from Jesus on the cross. There was absolute silence. When the darkness had passed, that was when Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

How can we understand that dramatic scene? How can we express its meaning? We can grasp some of it by examining the following:

  1. The desperation of the cross.

Was there ever a cry so filled with desolation? Many people misunderstood and thought He was calling for Elijah. From childhood He had been misunderstood (Luke 2, John 2:19). The crowd laughed, they mocked and jeered. The religious leaders were quite correct when they said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him.” (Matthew 27:42). He saved others but He could not save Himself because He set His heart on saving others. “And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.”(Hebrews 9:22). He came to this world to save you and me, to obtain forgiveness for sinners.

  • Separation from the Father.

This is a mystery. Forsaken – heart rendering. Being forsaken was no new experience for Jesus; all His life He had been forsaken. His own family turned away from Him, His own nation rejected Him, the disciples forsake Him and fled. He knew what it was to be forsaken, yet He was always conscious that He was not alone, for the Father was always with Him.

He told His disciples at the Last Supper in the Upper Room, “Behold the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.” (John 16:32).

Yet, now on the cross He cries out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Nobody stood by Him. There is no opening of the heavens. There is no voice of God. There was no strengthening angel by His side as it was in Gethsemane. He is completely alone, forsaken by God. But does God ever forsake His own? All history, all human experience, all scripture indicates not. God has promised, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ Yet He forsook Christ at Calvary. What can it mean?

The answer is to be found in the significance of the death of Christ. It wasn’t an eternal separation from God. The divine nature cannot be separated from the human nature. Jesus was eternally God.  The Father couldn’t be separated from the Son in the Godhead. It could not mean that the Father had forsaken the Son in the sense that He no longer loved Him, because God truly was well-pleased with Jesus for sacrificing Himself on the cross on behalf of others, and carrying out God’s will even unto the point of death. It was because all the sin of humanity was placed on Jesus. Therefore, God abandoned His Son; in His holiness He could not look upon sin. Jesus was obedient unto death.

The sins of the world separated the Father from the Son. Sin separates us from God. Jesus was the substitute for our sin, taking our place on the cross. All of the sin and iniquities of the whole world was placed on Him. Think upon on that – all the greed, all the hate, all the lust – Christ bore the sins of the world. Isaiah 53 foretold it. Consequently, all the wrath of God was poured out on Christ. Every nail driven into His body, every stripe on His back, every thorn – all this He endured for us, for our sin.

He stood between a sinful world and a righteous God. He suffered in our place. Christ still said, in spite of His suffering, “My God, my God.” He held strongly to His faith in God. God always stands near to those who can cry out, ‘My God. my God.’ Our Lord Jesus Christ, like Job, was saying, ‘Thou He slay me, yet I will trust in Him.’

It was a cry of victory. Here, Jesus was completing the work He came to carry out. He was accomplishing the will of the Father. This was His supreme moment of triumph. God authenticated it by accepting the sacrifice that was offered. The veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom, as if God was reaching down from heaven to tear it apart and say to mankind, ‘Come to me now through the sacrifice of My Son. You have no need anymore of an earthly priest to intercede for you. Instead, you have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

We are told salvation is found in no-one else, for these is no other name under heaven given about men whereby we must be saved. Jesus Christ was born as Saviour. He has accepted the penalty on your behalf. He has suffered for us. We can look to Him and no other, for salvation. Turn to God in repentance and confess your sins and you can be numbered among those for whom Christ died.

A closing thought. On that day there were three men on three different crosses: one not caring about the damage he had caused by his awful life, defiant to the end. One next to him whose death was intended to repair the damage caused by centuries of sin. And one who regretted the life he led and, although he was at the point of death, truly felt sorrow for the sins of his life and wishing he could atone for those sins. He turned to the one who hung next to him, who was truly the Son of God, who was able to tell him not only where he was going, but when, ‘This day thou shalt be with me in paradise.’

That promise is also for us if we truly repent of our sins. We too need to turn to the Saviour, to seek the forgiveness that was purchased for us at such a high price.

March 10th 2024: Adrian Brake

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Luke 7:11-23 Jesus offers salvation before He brings judgement.

In verses 11-15 Luke records perhaps what was Jesus’ most remarkable miracle up to that point – raising a man to life. Since the creation of the world, approximately 4,000 years earlier, very few people had been raised from the dead. Nobody had been raised from the dead for 900 years. This was truly an extraordinary event. Nobody who was in that day would ever have been able to forget what they had seen. People could never have imagined in their wildest dream such a thing would happen. They had seen Jesus give sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, speech to the mute, mobility to the paralysed, liberty to the demon-possessed. But to give life to the dead was something else altogether.

Those who had been raised in church are so familiar with the gospels, miracles no longer stun us as they should. “Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” (Luke 7:14-15). Astonishing!

How could those who were privileged to be present keep quiet? Today, people would be tweeting within minutes and having selfies with the dead man. There was no social media then, but word of mouth was very effective in getting the news out. Therefore, it spread like wildfire throughout Judea and the surrounding regions. “And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.” (Luke 7:17).

“Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things.” (v.18). Luke focuses on one man in particular, a man who had already been quite prominent in the gospel – John the Baptist – who was more than 150 miles away. How did he hear about the news? The disciples of John reported it to him. Disciples were people who followed you, recognised you as a prophet of God. John was recognised by many as a prophet. Israel hadn’t had a profit for 400 years.

How to John respond to what he had been told about Jesus? It’s perplexed him. He had a burning question. John was unsettled; he couldn’t rest until the question was answered. There was only one person who could answer this question, “And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” (v.19). Why couldn’t John ask Jesus himself? Because John was in prison on the instructions of Herod Antipas. John had reprimanded Herod Antipas for his behaviour. Now Herod wanted to kill John but couldn’t because John was popular, and Herod Antipas didn’t want an uprising. John aas in lockdown but he was able to send messengers to Jesus to ask, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” (v.19).

The ’Coming One.’ God had told His people centuries before that He would send them a King, one who would deliver them from all enemies and bring blessings. He would set up a Kingdom that would never end. John the Baptist had come and said the prophecies were about to be fulfilled. John had said that He is coming, Jesus of Nazareth.

Yet, John, who had preached this to the people, now seems to have doubts and wants confirmation that Jesus is the Coming One. It is strange. John had been so sure. He had baptised Jesus. When Jesus came out of the water, John saw with his very own eyes the Holy Spirit descend on Jesus. He had told people, ‘This is the Messiah.’ (John 1:34). Yet here, John is unsure. This is the most important thing in all the earth – who is the Messiah, the one God gives as our saviour?

Why is John now uncertain? Some people say it is John’s disciples who have doubts, not John, who tells them to go and ask Jesus for themselves. But in verse 22, when Jesus answers the question, He tells the disciples to ‘Go and tell John the things you have seen.’ It is John who is uncertain.

In verse 24 the messengers come with a message from John. It is John who is second-guessing himself. Why is he uncertain?  It is understandable in Christian life to be uncertain. Have you ever felt as though, even though God is always with us, He seems far away? We can doubt and be uncertain. We should follow John’s advice and go to Jesus. Take our doubts to Jesus. Jesus doesn’t rebuke John, He ministers to him. We take our doubts to Jesus. Take them to the Lord. You’ll be welcomed and He will help.

In Luke chapter 3 we read of John the Baptist preaching. John the Baptist said the work of the Messiah would be, “Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” (Luke 3:7). John had never had PR training! Verse 9 continues, “And even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” In verse 17 we read, “His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”

The Messiah has come to cut down the trees that don’t bear fruit, and to throw the chaff into the fire. He has come to administer God’s wrath on enemies, to punish sin. He is come to bring devastating judgement upon sinners. It is about to happen now (v.9). The axe isn’t on the shelf – it’s already at the root. The winnowing fan is not on the shelf but in His hands. This is a clear message. John had had the message from God but it was also referenced in the Old Testament (Malachi 4).

When the Messiah comes there will be a devastating judgement for sinners. Then, John gets to hear Jesus is doing anything but judgement. Instead, He is healing the sick, raising the dead. John is expecting God’s wrath to be unleashed, yet Jesus is lavishing God’s love. This Saviour is bringing nothing but salvation. This is why John asks the question. Jesus answers with actions, “And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.” (Luke 7:21). More healings! Then Jesus says, ‘There’s your answer.’ Jesus is saying, ‘Yes, I am the Messiah, the Coming One. The proof is what I am doing.’

John had got half the story, not all of it. When the Messiah comes He will unleash God’s wrath  on the ungodly.  But what John did not understand was that the Messiah would come twice. It is when Christ comes back that He will unleash devastating judgement. John had got the timing wrong. Jesus brought grace and salvation and healings (Isaiah 35). Before Christ brings judgement, He comes to offer salvation. Jesus is saying, ‘Now is the time for grace, now is the time for the offering of salvation.’ Now is the time for the first part of Old Testament prophecy to be fulfilled Later, the other part will come to pass.

One day there will be judgement. But God is so gracious, God is so merciful, that He holds back. He could do it now, but He holds back because He is patient with sinners. Now is the day of mercy, now is the day of salvation. “Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.” (v.22).

The chief characteristic of the Lord’s ministry is the poor will have the gospel preached to them. Jesus has come to warn people of what is to come. He offers salvation.

God is a merciful, patient God. He hates sin and those who do not repent will be punished with everlasting destruction. But God does not delight in wrath. He has a compassionate heart. Have we got the heart of God for sinners? Have we got compassion for the lost? Are we concerned for sinners?

We are working against the clock. We are still in the day of grace. But John was right. The day of judgement is coming. We don’t know when that will be. We have to seize the time and do what we can. Every day that passes is a day closer to judgement. There is no time to waste.

For those who do not know Christ, there is a warning. Now there is a welcome, but that won’t always be the case. Seek the Lord whilst He may be found. There is a time limitation on God’s offer of mercy. In 2 Corinthians, Paul says, ‘Now is the day of salvation.’ We must come. God’s patience does not last forever. We need to act. Christ is the Messiah, Jesus is the saviour, Jesus is the one who can save you. Come to Him while you may.

March 3rd 2024: Gareth Llewellyn

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Matthew 13:44-52

There is a monetary value on things. Each year Forbes produces a list of the most wealthy people. The richest man in the world is worth £173.57 billion. That is what the world aspires to – what we have is what we’re worth. We are worth much more than that. We define value as what we are willing to pay. Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of stew. In that moment, stew was more valuable.

What are you worth? Can we place a value upon you? If you live in the UK, you are in the top 15% of the world’s richest people. In Cambodia, Cameroon, Pakistan and Nepal, the national average wage for a year is less than £1500. In Sudan and Somalia it is less than £600 a year. If you are in Afghanistan, it is less than £300.

Socially, our value might be higher than what we have. We may have the respect of others; we might champion social injustices, environmental causes, community work, where people look up to us. What if you need assistance, how does community value you?

What value are you to God?
Jesus tells 3 parables about the Kingdom of God:

  • The Parable of the man who finds treasure buried in a field, who re-buries the treasure and sells all he has to buy the field, knowing that the treasure in the field is worth far more than the field itself.
  • The Parable of the merchant who searches for and finds a rare pearl and sells all he has to buy the pearl;
  • The Parable of the fishermen who, when they retrieve the net, keep hold of remarkable fish and get rid of the dross – those of no value, no worth.

I’ve heard these parables preached separately, but they are a group of three parables. It has often been suggested that they speak of finding Jesus and giving up everything to follow Him. But that is not the context when the three parables are put together. Something else is going on. We can’t be the fishermen throwing stuff away.

How are the parables connected? In verse 47 we read, ‘again.’ There is repetition. A different image is used to say the same thing: the one who is the owner of the field is Jesus, the merchant is Jesus, the fisherman is Jesus. Who is the treasure, the pearl, the fish? His lost people. Jesus is the one seeking. If you’re in Christ, you are the treasure, you are the pearl, you are the fish.

Treasure.
Our treasure is in the field that was owned by someone. Everything in it legally belongs to another man. The finder bought the field, selling everything he had to get it. He bought the field to obtain one treasure.
The field is the world. The treasure is us – those who believe in Christ for salvation. John 3:16. When Jesus died, He paid for those sins of the world. The debt is covered. But this only applies to the person who believes. Jesus joyfully went to the cross because he knew what was at the end of it – your salvation. It should bring joy to our heart. You are his treasure.

Pearl.
People will pay large amounts for something they value. The merchant goes to the jewellers. He knows what he is looking for – pearls. There, he finds the pearl he has been searching for. He gets the price. He goes and sells everything to get it. Here is the doctrine of adoption. It is up to God, in His sovereign choice, to save who He chooses. The merchant gave up everything for the Pearl, the one pearl he placed great value on. See the value Christ has on you.

Christ searches for you. He willingly exchanged all He had to pay for you. It cost Jesus His blood. But more than that, He left the throne of eternity, and came to earth. One day we will find out what heaven is like and never want to leave. Jesus came to be born into shame and scandal, born to a teenage girl. He came into this world to be fed, to learn to walk and talk. He lived righteously. He died for us. He shed all his blood. When they pierced His side, water came out. All His blood had gone. His death paid for your life. That is what it cost Jesus to buy you. You are worth everything. You are worth dying for.

Christian, rejoice! Christ did everything for you. Sinner, realise He gave all for you. Consider the joy that Christ has when we are all gathered in. We are that pearl that he gave everything for.

Dragnet.
The gospel of Jesus is like the net – thrown far and wide. It brings all sorts of people to Jesus. Many seek out Jesus but fall away. People went to him for healing, they saw miracles. They were binge watching miracles. The Bible shows people followed Jesus for all sorts of reasons, but few were following for the right reason. Only those who truly believe are chosen by God. The Kingdom of God is only filled by those whom He has chosen. If you have confessed Jesus is Lord, you are chosen. But there are many who claim to follow Jesus but don’t.

You may go to church, you may go to prayer meetings, you may read your Bible, but are you trusting in Jesus? Ask yourself, ‘Am I truly trusting in Jesus?’ That is all that matters. What have you done with Jesus? You have been purchased at great cost by the blood of Jesus. If you are trusting in Jesus, then you are the treasure you are the pearl, you are the fish.

We are repeatedly told we are of great worth to God. You are loved by God regardless of your circumstances. Lost child of God, know your worth, put your trust in Him, confess your sins. Know your worth. Rejoice in your worth.

February 4th 2024: Ian Jones

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Matthew 20:1-11

Jesus told this parable towards the end of his ministry. We often hear children say, ‘It’s not fair!’ Jesus tells a parable about a landowner who seems unfair when it comes to paying his workers. We see God’s justice and fairness in relation to the promises He makes.

This parable is about a landowner who needs workers for his vineyard. The landowner goes to the marketplace early in the morning to find workers. When they agree to work for a denarius a day, he sends them to work. Later, he sends other workers into his vineyard, promising to give them what is right. He returns again to the marketplace, and again. When there is only one hour of work to go, when it is so late in the day (v6), he goes back and asks those who are still standing there and invites them into the vineyard.

When paying the labourers, they are paid in an unexpected way – those who were hired last were paid first. This was not the normal practise. Imagine how the workers who had worked all day felt. They expected to be called first. It would have been considered by them as being disrespectful to pay others first. They didn’t say anything, but when they also received a denarius each, they complained. We are drawn into this situation, to see these workers receive their wage and see how they felt.

The disciples were drawn into thinking about the situation. Why shouldn’t the workers be paid more for working longer? Why should they all be paid the same? The landowner responds, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?” (Matthew 20:13). He gives a good reason why he has paid them all the same wage. It might not seem fair, but he has done nothing wrong. He can do what he wants with his own money.

What was the purpose of this parable? Jesus is speaking to His disciples. In the previous chapter they had experienced a rich young ruler who wanted assurance of eternal life (Matthew 19:16). To see this man, who they thought highly of, walk away, had a major effect on the disciples. The man was very rich, seeking to keep the law. Even harder, Jesus then said in verse 24 how hard it is for the rich to be saved. Peter then asked, ‘Who can be saved? ’Jesus’ response is, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26).

Peter then says, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” (Matthew 19:27). Peter is comparing himself with the rich young ruler. His attitude is, ‘What’s in it for us? We’ve left everything to follow you.’ He was thinking of the sacrifices he has made: a fishing business, his family and home. He has spent his time learning from Jesus. He wants to know should he carry on or be like the rich young man and walk away.

Christians today can ask, ‘What can I expect from coming to church? What can I expect from reading my Bible? What can I expect from the pain and suffering I go through for the Lord Jesus Christ?’ Jesus gave an answer to Peter’s question, “28 Jesus said to them,“Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:28). Yes! There was something in it for Peter. He and the other disciples would judge along with Christ. Verses 29 shows there is a reward for all of us, “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.” (Matthew 19:29).

Then Jesus gives a warning in verse 30, “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” He is challenging Peter and the disciples about what they thought about the rich young ruler. Jesus tells the parable to explain what he means. We read the same words in chapter 20, “So the last will be first, and the first last.” (Matthew 20:16). This is a reversal of the order that is expected. The Kingdom of heaven is different from what we expect in this world.

Let us consider what God has done in our salvation.

“For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14). It is very clear that this parable is all about our salvation. The landowner is God, the marketplace is the world, the workers in the vineyard are Christians serving God and the idle in the market place are unbelievers. We see God’s compassion for the lost, His desire that all may enter His kingdom.

We need to be reminded of God’s love for us. He will call all, throughout the day. He promises if they come into His vineyard they will receive a wage – eternal life. He doesn’t speak of an hourly rate, in other words, working for our salvation. He talks of one wage for all, which is not dependent on what they do or how long they work. All who come into God’s kingdom receive eternal life. If you are a child of God and have repented of your sin, you will receive eternal life.

It also reminds us that all who enter the Kingdom have been called by God, who have come through the lord Jesus Christ. There are idlers found in the world, but not in the vineyard. They workers in the vineyard gladly work for the landowner, to serve him. If we are a Christian today, we will serve the Lord in what a way He has called us to do.

The landowner calls people at different times of the day. God calls people at different times in their lives. Some were called as a child, others when they are older, some at the end of their life (think of the thief on the cross). This parable is a picture of salvation.

Which group are you in? Do you grumble or are you full of joy? How do you value your salvation? Do you come to read your Bible with great joy?

January 14th 2024: John Funnell

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Back to the Future: Mark 3:1-6

Jesus, Son of God, entered the synagogue, meaning He went to church. Jesus went to church – even though He was under attack. The Pharisees were out to destroy him. He went to church. Church was his priority. There was someone in great need, a man with a shrivelled hand. He had a debilitating disease, with no help from the state, no social workers to visit him. We can assume he was actually impoverished – just the kind of person Jesus came for. The Pharisees were there, looking to catch Jesus out (v2). This is rather interesting; they wanted to see if Jesus would heal the man with a withered hand on the Sabbath.

Interestingly, even the Pharisees had faith Jesus could heal this man; they came to church expecting Jesus to heal him. Each week, we come to worship then go home. The box is ticked for another week. But do we come to church expecting the living God will join us here, stand in our midst and do mighty things in this church? Do we come believing that Jesus could work a miracle right here, that Jesus could save the lost in Roch? Are we praying for God to work in us as we gather?

The Pharisees hated Jesus. He was a threat to their authority. Yet, they show more faith than many of us. They came to the meeting expecting great things of Jesus. Do we? Jesus meets the Pharisees expectation. He calls the man with a shrivelled hand to come out in front of everyone and healed him. He healed him publicly.

Christianity is truth. It is well evidenced. We see this pattern right through the gospels. Everything is public. At His birth, shepherds gathered to see Him then ran off and told everyone. His miracles were public events. Jesus was dragged through the streets carrying His cross. He was mocked by the crowds. There were all real, historical events which people saw. True events. He was hoisted up high to die on a cross. He didn’t have the dignity of a private death. He was buried. Again, this was a public event. He even had guards. It was witnessed. Then He rose again and for 40 days He ate and drank with people. When He ascended this was witnessed. Everything He did was witnessed.

Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Jesus is the Light of the world. In Him the reality of God is utterly exposed. Jesus is God revealed. Everything He did was public so that the truth can be seen for what it really is. There are no secret visions or hidden rituals as in other religions. Everything Jesus did was done in the light so it can be verified, so we can trust Him.

The man with a withered hand stood up. Please notice the change of wording; the man with the withered hand is now addressed as ‘the man.’ Why? Because God had already healed him of his affliction. He was no longer the man with a withered hand. Jesus said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ This would not have been possible with a weathered hand. The work of healing was already done (v5). The man’s hand had to be healed before he stretched it out.

We live in a broken world. Many of us have so much difficulty in our lives, which can weigh us down. Many of us are struggling with physical ailments. These often overwhelm us and confuse us. We try to overcome them by looking to the future, that one day it will all be fine. We push on and keep going. This is not the gospel. Such plodding on puts all that pressure on you to take the next step, to stretch out our hand to be healed by Jesus. That is not the gospel. It is self-help, relying on you to get yourself sorted. The Bible says He has done it! God came to earth; He took on flesh. Jesus came and lived the life we could not. He exchanged His perfection with our brokenness on the cross. By grace, we can now reach out to Him. We were healed before we even cried out His name. It is all of Jesus.

In Christ, our salvation is complete. All the work is done. We’re good to go. Christianity is not some blind faith of the future. Don’t plod for future hope. Don’t trust in your ability to plod. Christianity rests in the reality of what has already happened. History. Our faith is in the fact of what has already happened – His death and resurrection. Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.

Faith rests in fact, in what has already happened. The most proven fact in ancient history is His death on the cross. There are two Hebrew words in the Old Testament that perfectly describe what we see here in Mark 3. The first word is ‘kethim.’ It means what you can see, everything in front of you. As human beings we are limited in that we cannot see into the future. No-one knows what tomorrow brings. So, in Hebrew, the future is actually understood as what is being behind you, because you can’t see what is behind you. As human beings we have a God-given gift of memory, so that we are able to look back into the past. So, kethim is the word used in Hebrew for what we can see – which is the past. In the Hebrew mindset, the past is in front of us, it is what we can see.

The second Hebrew word is ‘achor,’ which means what we cannot see –which is what is behind us, which is the future. Therefore, the Biblical understanding of life is the past is in front of us because we can see it, and the future is behind us because we cannot see it.

Sadly, many Christians think that faith is all about taking a step forward into the darkness, into what you cannot see. Plodding forward in blind ignorance. That is not the gospel. Nowhere in the Bible are you called to take a step out in blind ignorance. The faith of the Bible is actually taking a step backwards, trusting in the kethim of what we can see before us, trusting in what God has already done for us.

It is like walking backwards on a straight road. In Abersychan there is an old train line. It is just a straight line for miles and miles and miles. I could walk down it backwards, quite comfortably, because I know looking forwards, seeing the line, it’s going to be straight for the next thousand steps. I don’t have to look behind me to see where I’m going. I’ve got all the information I need to walk backwards in front me. It’s even easier when the person who made that road, Jesus, is walking with you, saying, ‘carry on, there’s nothing behind you, keep going on.’

 You take a step back into the future, because you can look back into the past, trusting all that God has done for you to get you this far. The evidence is there, so you can trust Him when you step back.

As Christians our faith is not blind. Our faith is built on evidence of what really happened in history – the perfect life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In today’s scripture reading, the man’s withered hand was already healed before it was stretched out. He could not have stretched it out otherwise. The work was done. The man’s hand was not healed because he stretched it out, even if it was in obedience to Christ’s command. The man’s obedience was enabled because Christ had already healed him.

In the same way, in all the problems you face today, let me assure you that they are already dealt with. On the cross, Jesus paid the price for it all. Your problems are resolved. All you need to do is simply stretch out your hand to show the world that you have been publicly restored in Christ. By grace you have been saved. It is already done. Will you stretch out your hand in the grace of Jesus Christ?

January 7th 2024: James Allan

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Psalm 85

All was not right in Judah and Jerusalem. The setting for this Psalm is the years after the Lord’s people had returned from exile in Babylon. They set to work on rebuilding the temple, relaying the foundations of the temple. Then work on the temple slowed and gradually ground to a halt. In Haggai we read that people spent money on their own homes, not the temple (Haggai 1:9). The people came under the Lord’s judgement (v.10). The temple was eventually constructed, and people began to work on the city walls (Nehemiah). Yet again, work began and then ground to a halt (Nehemiah 5:10). The poor were suffering. People were guilty of marrying women from pagan nations. Children were growing up in homes not worshipping the Lord, they did not even speak the language of the Lord’s people. (Nehemiah 13:24).

This psalm is written, most likely in the days of Haggai (v.12). It was written to a restored people, who had known the Lord’s salvation. They had been under God’s judgement – the Lord had taken them into captivity into Babylon. But then they had experienced His salvation (v1). They were in exile, but now they had been restored.

However, all is not well. Salvation is needed again. There is sin that needs to be repented of (verses 4-5). ‘Restore’ could be translated as ‘repent.’ The people are living in sin again. The psalmist especially longs for revival so the people may rejoice in God (verses 6-7). The people are a restored people, but now they’re back in the land they need to be once again a people who will delight in Him.

We are, today, people who have received, known and experienced the Lord’s salvation. But do we have a sense of what verses 6 and 7 mean? Are we seeking to find what we need in things other than the Lord himself? In crisis, do I look to other things and not the Lord? I am in Christ, so I have every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. If you are truly in Christ, yet living in other things and the Lord is not first in everything, then you are never more happy then you are holy. For the believer, you are safe in Christ. But as a Christian you need the Lord to turn to. Do you know the joy of the Lord?

There is a difference between the doctrine of justification and the doctrine of adoption. Think of justification as loving your children. It is a biological fact which cannot be altered, that they are your children. Nothing can alter than relationship. But relationships can become strained. My relationship with the Lord can become strained. Justification means that when I become a Christian, I am righteous in the sight of God. I am clothed in Christ’s righteousness. I am a child of God. I am not saved on the basis of anything I have done. I am a sinner but clothed in Christ’s righteousness.

Although nothing can alter the fact that I am a child of God, my relationship with the Lord can become strained. The Lord disciplines His people for their good. I am adopted. I am a child of God. But we need to keep in step in the Holy Spirit.

In verse 12 the psalmist has confidence.

“Yes, the Lord will give what is good,
    and our land will yield its increase.”

Remember, if this was written at the time of Haggai, the Lord was withholding the harvest so the people would return from their sin. The psalmist is confident, saying, ‘Let us turn from our sin and be confident of the Lord’s goodness, that He will provide.’

“Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
    for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;
    but let them not turn back to folly.”         

Psalm 85.8

The psalmist is again confident. If the people turn from their sin the Lord will forgive them. We must turn from our sin and be confident that the Lord is willing and ready to restore. Take encouragement. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9). The Lord is willing, and He is able. The greatest blessing of all for a restored people is the Lord Himself,

“Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,
    that glory may dwell in our land.”      

Psalm 85:9

What do we want? Surely, the Lord Himself – the knowledge of the Lord’s presence with us to bless us. The ‘gods’ of this world – money, sex, power – promise much, but never satisfy. The Lord is everywhere. We want Him to bless us.

The context of this psalm is a restored people who have fallen into sin, they cry out for mercy,

“Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
    and put away your indignation toward us!”
  Psalm 85:4

The focus of this psalm is verse 7,

“Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
    and grant us your salvation.”
  Psalm 85:7

What is the remedy for a people who need to be restored, who needs to repent, who need to be revived? It is to know the love of the Lord. We need to see the love of God for sinners.

In verses 2-3 the psalmist remembers the Lord’s grace to His people,

“You forgave the iniquity of your people;
    you covered all their sin. Selah
3 You withdrew all your wrath;
    you turned from your hot anger.”

Zechariah 3:1-2 gives a vision of Jerusalem’s High Priest, Joshua. Satan is also there, standing to accuse, in the presence of God. Joshua, the High Priest, who represents the people of Israel, is standing in dirty clothes. The following verses show the gospel, the imputed righteousness of Christ – the great exchange – my sin is given to Christ and He bears the punishment for it on the cross. He gives me His righteousness and I am seen clothed in His perfect righteousness, the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ.

If your heart is cold this morning, here is your prayer,

“Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
    and grant us your salvation.”
(Psalm 85:7)

In verse 3 we see the anger of God for sin. Here, we have the doctrine of propitiation. He must oppose all that is evil because He is a God of justice. But how can He turn from His anger? Something has to happen. Sin must be punished. The wrath of God is satisfied in Christ as He bore our sins on the cross. On Him every sin was laid.

Is verse 7 your prayer?

“Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
    and grant us your salvation.”

In verse 10 we are unpacking the gospel in more depth,
“Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
    righteousness and peace kiss each other.”

The attributes of God listed here might seem at odds with each other. Steadfast love and faithfulness meet – a love that gives Himself to His people. In faithfulness we see God is being faithful to Himself. He is pure, clean. How then can He be faithful and give steadfast love to His people? At the cross.

“Righteousness and peace kiss each other.” How is this possible? It is at the cross. I can have peace with God because Christ takes that wrath from me.

“Faithfulness springs up from the ground,
    and righteousness looks down from the sky.”
Psalm 85:11

This reminds us of God’s grace. Faithfulness could be translated as truth. We are given a picture of a crop springing out of the ground. You don’t have to work hard for it. There is truth all around us. If you feel your heart is cold, your priorities are wrong. Like the people of Haggai, you are not building the Lord’s house, you are building your own house. Your life is self-absorbed, building up your own treasures on earth. The antidote is to seek the love of God. How do you do this? Think of what you have: you have God’s Word. Do you read it? You have the local church, the local congregation. Do you come, come with the right mindset? Is the slightest excuse enough to keep you away?

A Christian can say the right words, know the right doctrines, but their priorities can be elsewhere. What can help us? Do you put yourself where the word of God is? You may go to worship with a cold heart, but you can leave with a rejoicing heart.

“And righteousness looks down from the sky.” Without the sun there is no food, no light. We have received everything from the Lord.

“Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
    and grant us your salvation.”

Keep gazing at our great salvation. Set your eyes on Christ and know that intimacy with Him.

October 29th 2023: Jonathan Scott

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Mark 1: Everyone’s Talking

There are moments in history that stand out in our lives that last for a lifetime. Can you name any that stand out for you? Whether that could be the birth of a family member, the death of a monarch, a tragedy or disaster? I’m sure we can all remember a time like this.

There are significant moments in history, like the death of Queen Elizabeth 11, that are remembered for generations to come.

Today we will be looking at an event in the bible which had been talked about and was foretold for centuries. This had everyone talking about something so amazing and significant they couldn’t stop talking about it until it actually happened. They lived in the hope and trusted in the promises given by God that one day He would send the Messiah, the ultimate sacrifice for each and every one of us.

The first questions you may ask are ‘Who is talking and what are they talking about? This account found in Mark chapter 1 has many people talking about the arrival of the Messiah, including the Old Testament prophets, Malachi and Isaiah, as well as New Testament followers and disciples, the four gospel writers, everyone in between The Testaments, those in heaven, those in hell, people today. Jesus is a historical fact, even included in secular history. Time 100 magazine did a list of the most influential historical figures and Jesus Christ came number 1. Even the secular world is talking about this event.

So, if there were so many people talking about this, what was this amazing event that everyone was talking about?

  • Isaiah is talking about The Messiah coming, the messenger that is preparing the way for the Messiah and extraordinary things are going to happen that we don’t expect.
  • Salvation – talked about by the 4 gospels and John the Baptist
  • Hope, One is coming who is Yahweh, Jehovah the Son of God the Messiah.

Malachi is talking about a messenger being sent ahead of one who is the Messiah, who will prepare the way for Him. This messenger mentioned in Malachi and Isaiah is John the Baptist, the most famous prophet and the one who was noted to be the greatest amongst people, Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (Matthew 11:11).

Jesus Himself said no one would rise up greater than John the Baptist. This is high praise, but he is only here to pave the way for the one who is the Messiah and redeemer, Jesus.

“As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way”
Mark 1:2

John the Baptist’s ministry represents a fulfilment of the promise of a new exodus in which Israel is delivered and finally enters into the Jordan river to receive God’s promise of salvation. He was pointing the people to the true Messiah, one who was much greater than him. He was the messenger, preparing Judea for Jesus’ life-changing ministry. Freedom that they had never known – baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin. Confessing their sins, the people were baptised by him in the Jordan River (Mark 1:5).

John the Baptist was calling people to repentance, turning away from their sins and turning to God for forgiveness of sins. The act of repentance had to precede baptism, and therefore baptism was not the means by which sins were forgiven but rather a sign showing that a person has truly repented. John the Baptist’s ministry in the wilderness was once again a fulfilment of prophesy found in Isaiah 40:3, “A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare    the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

This is John the Baptists message: ‘After me comes the one who is more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.’ (Mark 1:8). The unfastening of someone’s sandals in Jewish times was seen as a task reserved for the lowest of slaves, and certainly wasn’t meant to be done by a Jew. Jewish instructions said that a disciple should do everything for his teacher that a slave would do. However, Jesus is so great, John the Baptist, who was considered the greatest of the prophets, is not worthy to do the most menial of tasks of a servant for Jesus.

John the Baptist Continues: ‘I baptise with water, but He will baptise you with the holy spirit. (Mark 1:8). This is the true reason behind why Jesus came into this world – to die so that our sins can be forgiven on the cross at Calvary, the innocent lamb of God dying for us when we don’t deserve it. John the Baptist’s baptism could wash sins clean temporarily, but Jesus Christ can wash away sins for eternity, including the forgiveness of sins in the past, present, and future. He does this for us because He loves us unconditionally.

Colossians 1:13-16 tell us that:

13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

Who is this special person that everyone is talking about? Mark 1:1 gives us this answer,

“The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah the son of God.” What a way to start a gospel! Who is Jesus? The meaning of the name Jesus is ‘to deliver, to rescue.’ 

When we talk about Deliver, we are used to that from the Old Testament in the likes of Exodus when God delivers the Israelites from the hands of the Egyptians. However, the idea of complete rescue is a new concept which Jesus brings to completion in His new age of ministry. Romans 10:13 says, “For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Not just a few, but everyone! This is a gospel truth not to the elite, but to the many.

Jesus’ humility and love for others is unparalleled, flowing from the infinite love of God for His people. The ‘ransom’ of Christ’s life was paid to God the Father, who accepted it in full, as a just payment for the sins of the world, past, present and future. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rmans 5:8).

Has there ever been a time when they have not been talking about the Lord Jesus, the Messiah? Isaiah had been talking about the Lord Jesus the Messiah at least 700 years before Jesus or John the Baptist came on the scene. Malachi had been talking about this 400 years before this account in Mark 1.  Then after Malachi there was 400 years of silence. This is the period between the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. There was nothing shared in the Bible of what happened during this period. The people had to live in Hope that the Messiah was coming soon. There was suspense of when the Messiah might come. Not knowing when His arrival will be and with this silence of 400 years between the old and new testaments the expectation grew with time, generation after generation.

They were looking forward to the physical coming of the Messiah, but Jesus has been present from the beginning. There has never been a time when Jesus has not been there. In Genesis 1:1-2 reads, ‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.’

At first glance the account of creation found in Genesis 1 v 1 seems to focus on God the Father and the Holy Spirit. However, the opening words of John’s gospel adds clarity to show that the Lord Jesus, the Son of the God was present as an integral part of the Trinity,

‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’ (John 1:1-5).

This tells of the Word being there in the beginning. The Word is Jesus Christ. He wasn’t just there at Creation; He was part of every aspect of it, working in total unity with the Father and the Holy Spirit. This is amazing that the One who died for our sins on the cross and who came to earth to walk amongst us, was the same One who created all things with God the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Jesus is the thread which runs throughout the Bible. He was there through it all, at the beginning, middle and end of the Bible. From Genesis every story points to Him and whispers His name. ‘Jesus says I AM the alpha and omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end (Revelation 22:13)’. He is there from beginning to the end of time. Jesus is this thread which leads to a roadmap in the Bible going from the Old Testament in Genesis to Revelation in the New Testament.

When we talk about this roadmap, we see Isaiah pointing to Jesus. However, the Israelites and Isaiah were in a completely different place spiritually than the Jews we find in Mark chapter 1. Isaiah was in agony with all the oppression going on around him. However, he writes in Isaiah 64 and in other chapters about a hope. Firstly, that a messenger is coming to point to the long-awaited Messiah, which is John the Baptist. Secondly, and more importantly, there will be one coming who is greater than John the Baptist. Isaiah is not looking to someone who is merely a human but is looking further to Heaven – to God and Jesus, who is fully God in human form. Isaiah 64:1-3 reads,

Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down,
    that the mountains would tremble before you!
2 As when fire sets twigs ablaze
    and causes water to boil,
come down to make your name known to your enemies
    and cause the nations to quake before you!
3 For when you did awesome things that we did not expect,
    you came down, and the mountains trembled before you.

This is a plea from Isaiah to God, Why? Well, he is in agony. He pleads that God will ‘rend the heavens and come down.’ This is fulfilled with Jesus coming to earth. The mountains were the most solid thing of their time; Isaiah believes that the power of God can make even the most solid thing tremble and he is pleading for it to happen.

There is hope! Someone is coming that will do all this. Isaiah isn’t pleading for John the Baptist, he is pleading for Jesus. He is not settling for the greatest in human form but looking to God.

But then looking at this roadmap it points directly to this account in Mark 1, to the baptism of Jesus, and all the way to Jesus on the Cross. As he died this all came true. The mountains tremble, nations quake and the enemies knew your name on that cross. The things in Isaiah also are reiterated in Malachi about a messenger preparing the way for Jesus, “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the LORD you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty.”” (Malachi 3:1).

In the Old Testament the LORD is in capitals in this section. This is interesting to look into to see the context of who Isaiah and Malachi are describing. The LORD, when in capitals in the Old Testament refers to the Hebrew name Yahweh which describes God in the most sacred of ways. The name suggests that God simply is. He possesses an underived existence; He is the eternal “I AM”.

Malachi is saying that John the Baptist is preparing the way for Yahweh, Jehovah, God in His most sacred form. Although it hasn’t been revealed as to what form this will take at this time, we know with hindsight this to be the divine Messiah, Son of God, Jesus, and in this most miraculous and beautiful act of baptism in Mark 1 we see the fullness of the holy Trinity displayed.

We find the Baptism of Jesus in Mark 1 vs 9-11.

Jesus, is the perfect lamb of God, the Messiah, who is free from sin, yet He identifies with the sins of His people. Even though He Himself was free from sin, He was still baptised (Mark 1:9-11). This is to fulfil the prophesy in Isaiah 40.

Mark is known as the whistle stop gospel. He attacks it at full speed, but he doesn’t miss the important details. Anything that is mentioned due to Mark’s brief nature must be taken into consideration as the fact that it is mentioned means the details given are hugely important.

In verse 10 as Jesus came up out of the water, this is the unexpected event that was prophesied in Isaiah 64. “Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.” (Mark 1:10). This is the moment we see the trinity in its entirety. The Holy Spirit was there at the beginning of creation, hovering over the waters, and also the Holy Spirit is described in the gospel of Mark descended like a dove and hovering over the waters. This account in Mark’s gospel links straight back to creation, the roadmap as mentioned earlier pointing to Jesus.

Jesus is commissioned for a unique purpose and to finally complete God’s rescue plan for humanity. God the Spirit anoints Jesus as Israel’s long-awaited King and Messiah and commissions Him as God’s righteous servant. (Isaiah 42:1)

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
    my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
    and he will bring justice to the nations.

At Jesus’ baptism the heavens were ripped open and the heavenly voice of father comes down, confirming the eternal, loving Sonship of Jesus and the eternally existing relationship of divine love that the Son and Father share, as well as Jesus’ identity as the messianic Son of God, “And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11). The heavens ripping open is a violent picture of the awesome power of God the Trinity. Imagine actually being there. This foreshadows to the events at the cross. When Jesus died the curtain was torn top to bottom in the temple.

This beloved Son is the triumphant King, yet He is also the humble servant into whose hands the Father is well pleased to place the mission to bring Salvation to the nations

Then, in Verses 12-13 of Mark 1 Jesus is sent by the spirit into the wilderness for 40 Days where Jesus is tempted and equipped for the start of His ministry. In verses 14-15 we read, “

14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

This is the final fulfilment of the prophesy in Isaiah 40; Jesus announcing to the world, the wait is over. Finally, the time has now come, I am here. But there is one small clause, life-changing clause, “Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15b).

All you have to do is repent and believe to receive the gift of salvation and be a part of the kingdom of God, His chosen family. However, when you look into it a bit more in depth, it isn’t as easy as just saying sorry and believing in God and be done with it to get a free ticket to heaven. Repenting is not just saying sorry. It is a complete change in character, in nature and a clear transformation in your life. It is a full 180-degree spin to acknowledge that we are all born with sinful natures, (Romans 3:23). All the things we have done wrong is not just against others or ourselves, but deeply hurts our Heavenly Father and Jesus. We need to completely turn from our sinful ways and not do these things, but I know that this is not an easy task. This is where God in His goodness to us, left the Holy Spirit as a helper and comforter to all who believe in Him. You can ask for forgiveness from Jesus and He will give you the Holy Spirit’s help to change you from the inside and help you fight against our human nature, living for a far greater purpose. When you accept Jesus, it is a wonderful day, especially knowing that the best is always yet to come. Jesus promises to take your sins away, as far as the east is from the west, and we know that He always keeps His promises.

Summary

We have gone on a road trip through the bible, from Genesis to Revelation, including Old Testament prophets Isaiah and Malachi, to New Testament scholars in Hebrews and Romans, from Old Testament through the silence to the New Testament, eventually crash landing looking at the events in Mark 1 about, John the Baptist and Jesus.

I would like to summarise with 3 points and a challenge.

  1. Declaration of Isaiah and Malachi saying that a ‘messenger is coming’. Also looking forward with expectation and suspense to the Messiah Jesus is coming. John the Baptist paving the way for the Messiah.
  2. Confirmation – God ‘This is my Son’. Everyone who has gone before calling for repentance and the sacrifices that have been offered to Himself will one day be finished and completed in Jesus.
  3. Proclamation – ‘The time has come. Repent and believe the Good News.’

    Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – John 14:6

I encourage you to turn your eyes upon Jesus, and in His strength we can move mountains.

So, everyone is talking. What should everyone be talking about? The good news – Jesus died for us and rose again to a glorious ascension to heaven, to be at the right hand of the Father. Mission complete. He has WON. Victory Assured. Death defeated, sins forgiven. IT IS FINISHED!!!

Then, as stated in Matthew 28:18-20, we are called to make disciples of all nations, knowing that the Lord is with us always even to the very end of the age. Put our trust in Him, repent and believe. Share the good news that ‘He Has Risen’ each and every day and in His strength, we can do immeasurably more through our Saviour the Messiah the Lord Jesus Christ.