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Submitted by Terence Blackett

TBThe Rise of Satanic Super Soldiers – Death Cults, Subliminal Sublimation, #WW3 Indoctrination & Quasi-Biological Armageddon

And there was war in Heaven…And the great dragon was cast out, that old Serpent, […]called the Devil and Satan that deceives the whole world: he was cast into the earth… Rev.12:7,9

 

In a 2014 report by Reuters, it is suggested that a little known amphetamine called ‘Fenethylline’ under the USA Trademark ‘Captagon’ has been responsible for creating super-soldiers in Syria and wherever jihadists from the so-called Islamic State now operate.

Few are really prepared for the coming crisis and although countless millions desire a life of peace and safety, we know that sudden destruction is coming upon the world as men are gathered together for the “BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON”!

The historical ledger of human folly is bloated in ignominy and the tragedy of evil, wicked, hateful men have become the norm – damning our world into perdition. Much of what we are witnessing today is based on a transhumanist ideology which has been rifled with imperious evil, conspiratorial corruption and dangerous minefields, as more and more mass murder occurs, followed by human annihilation on an apocalyptic scale. As we’re griped in the quagmire of perpetual war, never-ending terror, distress of nations with perplexity, as men’s hearts are failing them for fear, knowing those things which are about to come upon the earth.

Some will argue that there’s nothing new under the sun and there is a modicum of truth and logic in that, but we must understand the concept of “Scale” when looking at history, prophecy and current trends on the ground.

At the ‘Genesis’ of mankind, polarising issues such as: – the fallen, apostate, sons of God (Bene ha Elohim/Nephilim) fought to destroy the pure sons of God, through exogenous transgenesis. Back then, evil had reached such a superlative degree, that God saw that the “Imaginations” of men’s hearts, were only “evil” continually. This primordial evil of transhumanism became so rampant on the earth, after the fall of Cain, that by the 10th generation of Noah, the Creator God had to issue a final ultimatum. The cup of evil had reached quasi-biological Armageddon. Mankind’s petulance had reached tipping point. The created “Image” of God in man had become so tarnished – marred by this evolutionary transgenesis into sub-human species that annihilation was the only last resort.

Today, the same “recyclical primordiality” of Adamic intrigue have reached down to our time. Like the antediluvians, we are dabbling in “Genetic Manipulation” as the Elites seek to create mankind in their own image – a superior race of super-beings and lifeforms capable of feats only seen in Hollywood movies.

Solomon – king of Israel, wrote in Ecclesiastes 3:15: “What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God allows the same things to happen over and over again.” We’ve seen this in the historical record of the Epic of Gilgamesh & the fall of ancient empires based on perpetual wars, divisive conquest, the mythology of Lost Atlantis, the search for the Golden Fleece, Egyptian Pyramidology, the gods of RA, the Anunnaki, Sun & Moon worship and the “Society of Jesus”(#Jesuits). There is also the invidious nature of royal blue bloodlines, blood-lust, blood-oaths, pagan blood-sacrifices, blood covenants, the empyreal god #ISIS and its modern spurious variant, geo-engineered climate change, hollow earth theses, synthetic humanoids and the quest for extra-terrestrial civilizations and life-forms. These and others are but a few of mankind’s on-going dark, lurid and sinister fascinations and preoccupations – harping back to a time in the unwritten, lost history of man’s sojourn upon the earth.

Scripture tells us in the ‘Genesis’ of Satanic super-soldiers, like Nimrod, (one of [16] grandsons of Noah), cited in (Gen. 10:11) and also chiselled into the paleo-anthropological record of the Epic of Gilgamesh – that he was a genetically engineered super soldier who hunted, ruled & built the civilizations of Babel & Assyria. (It is said that Babel’s Tower foundation circumference was literally 3 days walk). Today, ancient Assyrian monolithic structures are being destroyed and sold on by a new breed of Satanic super soldier in the Middle East – scrubbing history of pertinent artefacts and re-writing a sordid tale of lies and sophistry.

Many of these sociopathic dynasties cited in the prophetic dream of Nebuchadnezzar (interpreted in Daniel chapter 2) saw the rise and fall of Babylonia, Medo-Persia, Greece & Roman Empire – civilizations that propagated and prospered through perpetual war and territorial conquest, human subjugation, infamy and death. Each of them, collapsing under the weight of a Mighty “Invisible” Hand!

Prophetic history, cited in the written record, spawned such idiopathically blind rulers as Belshazzar, Alexander the great, Emperor Caligula and others who became quasi-living “gods” in human flesh – tortured by their own twisted sense of self-worth and “worshipped” as the Pope is today, by myopically challenged and fiercely ignorant subjects, who fall under the tyranny of deep, subliminal, mind control – spiritually carpet-bombed into mindless allegiance and puerile subservience.

Any careful, systematic study of bygone civilizations will show a lurid pattern of entrenched wars, virulent conquest, abject subjugation and subservience to the will of an Elite group of individuals who lacked creative or meaningful ways to live harmoniously with each other. There was neither insistence on strategic, creative or peripheral thinking in their approach to mother earth or sought ways to preserve ecological and planetary equilibrium.

As a result, the Roman Empire (of which we are an extension based on the toenails of the prophecy of Daniel Chapter 2) is today a loose confederation of “iron & clay” being held together by flimsy religio-political (church-state union), bio-racial amalgamations and socioeconomic intermarriages. Roman history, from which all our current evils flow, with all its warped vagaries produced avowed narcissistic rulers like Julius & Tiberius Caesar, Justinian, Constantine the great and Herod the tetrarch – all demanding worship through malignity, mass murder, repression, sophistry and infanticide – pushing the concept of subliminal, cognitive infiltration and blood-lust to whole new level. These men, whose satanically-induced, personality-neuroses left the bloodied pages of history without an equal. Yet, these few mere mentions are but stagnant drops in that vast ocean of pathologically, divisive characters that disgraced the annuals of world history. Sadly, Scripture cites past history as but a menacing shadow of what our future reality holds, given the ebb and flow towards the looming spectre of #WW3!

The harbingers epitomized by the evil prevalent in our world cannot be ignored. The lists of “actors” are vast and the theatre of engagement insurmountable.

For all of the 20th century until today, this is a snapshot of what has occurred:

#WW1 & #WW2; atomic bombs on Hiroshima & Nagasaki & rise of the Japanese military; IndoChina War; Korean war; Vietnam war; 2 Gulf Wars with added State-sponsored “Terror”; the rise of #ISIS aka #ISIL aka #IS; fuelling non-stop & perpetual wars; ‘shock & awe’ from launched ICMB cruise missiles & predatory drone strikes; indiscriminate land-mining; phosphorus cluster bombs, & barrel bombs; Iraq/Afghanistan depleted uranium bombs & its effects; US/Israeli biological & chemical weaponry stockpiles; terrorist watch-lists & labelled enemy combatants; US-created Mujahedeen/Taliban/Al-Queda/ISIS fighters; anti-Russian propaganda & nuclear brinkmanship; overt/inert full-spectrum dominance; 3-strikes-you’re-OUT; detention without trial & maximum-security detention; Black-OPS mercenaries aka US sponsored Blackwater paramilitaries & other shadowy defence contractors with targeted Black-OP assassinations; extraordinary rendition; political/military plausible deniability; intelligence-services sponsored torture (water-boarding & electrical shocks to human genitalia); indefinite Guantanamo Bay detention; neoNazis @Abu Ghraib; FEMA Nazi Auschwitz style death camps & undying Holocaust remembrance; a 20th & 21st century catalogue of genocidal atrocities; social/moral/economic apartheid in predominately Black nations; oil-rich Niger Delta Boko Haram Islamic State insurgents; 9-11/7-7 False Flags; Arab Spring; Orange & Umbrella Revolutions; Iraqi/Afghanistan/Libyan/Syrian/Yemen & possible Iranian regime change; Russian sanctions (East v West fractured détente); drug/human trafficking & socially engineered migration debacles; social flux & fragmentation; moral impunity; disguised fascists & neo-fascists; global poverty v global super-rich; megalomaniacs, plutocrats & insane kleptocrats; oligarchs & oligopolies; malicious political propaganda; racial science, #WhitePrivilege & pervasively sinister, Elitist ideological corruption; poverty profiteering; illegal offshore tax havens; HSBC/International banking money laundering scandals & arms contractors; predatory private bank bail-outs & bail-ins; too-big-to-save v too-big-to-fail; monopoly/predatory capitalism; systemic financialization; corporate personhood; golden parachutes & golden handshakes; whistleblowers; corporate mediazation; public relations SPIN; Elite wealth redistribution masked as austerity; IMF structural adjustment programmes and the increasingly austere moves toward global economic hegemony as the New World Order cements their physical, social, financial and religious exploitation of the rest of us; police brutality & license murder by COP; NSA surveillance & mass intrusion; lab-created diseases (EBOLA, SARS, H1NI, H5N1, MERS); TTIP & GMO foods; unexplainable ecological phenomena (mass fish, birds & animal die-OFFS); RFID/human chips; human cloning; issues over fracking & poisoned water tables; mountain-top removal; Canadian tar sands; Fukushima nuclear fall-out debacle; and a looming apocalyptically engineered New World Order crisis on our doorsteps.

Welcome to planet earth in the 21st century!

If these in your face references are not leading to the ultimate crisis called World War 3 – then the interpretation of the “handwriting” on the wall is misplaced. If all we’re seeing is but a storm in a teacup – should we not shudder to think what more is to come or will happen?

During the recent Papal Vaticano Encyclical “Laudato Si” by Pontifex Maximus Francis Mario Bergoglio aka Pope Francis (of Assisi) tweeted the following words from his Twitter handle @Pontifex: “The earth has become a pit of FILTH*.” Most commentators seemingly overlooked this malevolent quote and simply moved on to either take sides in the current debate on “Climate Change” scheduled to take place in France or to prop up their beleaguered counter arguments with more pseudo-scientific spin. What’s increasingly clear to many is that this world has not been built by caring human beings, but rather has been constructed and run by powerful, hollow, soulless, heartless, Godless individuals who are doing the bidding of their master Satan (Lucifer disguised as an angel of light).

Ancient history lessons allude to almost 6000 years of some of the most barbaric atrocities mankind have inflicted on the planet – leaving a legacy of such maleficent darkness that modern scientists believe that based on the reckoning of the “Doomsday Clock” and the proliferation of the current arms race – puts us within “3 minutes” striking distance of MIDNIGHT! Yet the scoffers, naysayers, soothsayers and deniers refuse to see the ‘handwriting’ on the wall – choosing denial over the obvious; choosing to be blindfolded by a ribbon of darkness, rather than to walk in the precious light of Biblical “Truth”.

Andrew Hessel, co-chair of Singularity University bioinformatics and biotechnology posits that: “We’re going to make synthetic human genomes and edit them, and we’re going to end up with IVF technologies that can boot them. It will make cloning look organic, and the ways we have babies today quaint.” This is not conspiracy – this is FACT!

Most are completely oblivious to the fact that this piece entitled “The Lucifer Project” was first coined in a book entitled: “Behold a Pale Horse” by William Cooper (1991:72) where it is stated that the Galileo probe would be directed into a controlled descent into Jupiter and at the end of its mission, its plutonium fuel rods would implode to create a nuclear fission bomb that would trigger the emergence of a new sun.

Cooper’s 1991 book presaged the Vatican’s subliminal role later exposed by Dr Malachi Martin( in the book ‘The Keys of This Blood’) as trying to merge astroscience with religion, recognizing the ramifications of astrobiology and specifically the discovery of advanced extra-terrestrial life-forms during the 1950’s from reports on Area 51(a detachment of Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.).

In 1997, when the Vatican began to heavily invest in the study of deep space science phenomena at the Mt Graham Observatory in Arizona using the acronym L.U.C.I.F.E.R. which stands for “Large Binocular Telescope Near-infrared Utility with Camera and Integral Field Unit for Extragalactic Research,” where a chilled instrument attached to a telescope would voyeur into deep space in search of the illusive “Emerging Star”.

Vatican scholars in astrophysics and astrocosmology actually believe that Jesus might have been the “Star-Child” of an alien race – when Monsignor Corrado Balducci, an exorcist, demonologist, theologian and member of the Vatican Curia said that “extra-terrestrial encounters are not demonic – they are not due to psychological impairment, and they are not a case of entity attachment, but these encounters deserve to be studied carefully.” Hence the Vatican’s search for an “extra-terrestrial saviour” as authors Putnam & Horn suggest remains a major penchant of Catholic theology as they expect in our lifetime, to see a visible manifestation of the “Star-Child” as Muslims cite that the MAHDI* will arise to lead a new breed of super-soldiers.

In conclusion, Fredrick Soddy – British Nobel Prize winning chemist who established isotopes in 1909 wrote: “I believe that there have been civilizations in the past that were familiar with atomic energy, and that by misusing it they were totally destroyed.” If nothing then is new under the sun, author R. A Boulay perfectly frames the mindset of most human beings today on the earth, where he opined: “Man has been conditioned for millennia to deny the truth of his ancestry and as a palliative; we have developed a convenient form of amnesia.”

The world is primed for implosion! The spirits of demons are set to be fully unleashed upon this planet. The bloodbath according to the prophetic record will reach the height of a horse’s bridle as the plagues fall – turning the seas into blood, along with the springs and fountains of water. Yet in all the mayhem and bedlam that will fill the earth; with the proliferation of evil at nebulous proportions – mankind will simply refuse to make any apology or REPENTANCE* for their evil deeds.

Global collapse disorder and subliminal sublimation fuelled by the precursors and praxis of Satanic super soldiers fomented by #ISIS aka #ISIL aka #IS; Boko Haram & others will give rise to the “chosen ones” – the “shock troops of antichrist”, the MAHDI* (false prophet), intent on the “Black Awakening” – hell-bent on global sabotage and the stifling fumes of darkness from the Bottomless Pit will result in the complete annihilation of one-third of mankind by #WW3.

Today, these Satanic super-soldiers are dirtying the world with the blood of the innocents through mass executions; beheadings similar to the #Dominicans and #Jesuit orchestrated French Revolution; wanton rape; savagery & human slavery; vile bondage and incessant pillage. This is not an “IDEOLOGY” as lying politicians would have us believe – this is the “new spirituality”: a diabolical form of “neo-transhumanism”, where as in the days of Noah when the ‘Nephilim’ apostate humans walked and ruled the earth and the imaginations of men’s hearts, were only evil continually – we are seeing a similar, almost identical pattern of primordial “EVIL” rampant in our world today.

Time to awake out of sleep folks! The “Valley of Achor” beckons. The time has come to choose a side…


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292 responses to “The Lucifer Project”


  1. Faith is the substance of things hoped for,The Evidence of things not seen

    Question how can one HOPED for a substance with out some form of proof . Even Jesus resurrection for those who proffer such a belief is confirmed by evidence of some shape or form and for those who choose to belief the belief is based on the evidence giving in the bible, take away all the details that relates the story of the resurrection the church would not be like a ship without a rudder.The principle of faith is therefore lead by evidence and accepted by those who have a belief that stems from religious indoctrination.


  2. @Zoe

    Can work with your last comment.


  3. @Zoe November 28, 2015 at 6:50 PM #

    Chuckle…..Skippah…….I reiterate I am unable to engage you as your point has no base.

    Do continue your…err….work/duty/mission whatever…..I have said time and time again….to each their own…..enjoy.


  4. Zoe
    good teaching outline on Hebrews 11


  5. Jeff Cumberbatch November 28, 2015 at 7:14 PM #
    You are right, David.

    “What about apartheid and the Dutch Reform Church, Zoe? Not true Christians either, right?The decision in Loving v Loving? The subordination of women?Truth is, the Christian Bible has been used, maybe irresponsibly, throughout the centuries to justify all kinds of oppression and inequity.”

    Yes Jeff, and sadly so, “Truth is, the Christian Bible has been used, maybe irresponsibly, throughout the centuries to justify all kinds of oppression and inequity.”

    But, this can NEVER invalidate the Truth of God’s Word, His Righteousness and Justice, anymore than an dishonest Lawyer of Judge, can invalidate TRUE Justice dispensed honestly and by the laws of true Justice.


  6. @Zoe

    But, this can NEVER invalidate the Truth of God’s Word, His Righteousness and Justice, anymore than an dishonest Lawyer of Judge, can invalidate TRUE Justice dispensed honestly and by the laws of true Justice.

    This is why it makes it hard for non believers to cross the Rubicon and believe.


  7. RE This is why it makes it hard for non believers to cross the Rubicon and believe.
    ALL AN UNBELIEVER HAS TO DO IS BELIEVE
    HE DONT HAVE TO CROSS NUTTIN
    FAITH COMETH BY HEARING THE WORD OF GOD ROMANS 10:17


  8. “FAITH COMETH BY HEARING THE WORD OF GOD ROMANS 10:17”

    Surely this is only one stage of the process? Unless “hear” is used here (no pun) in a special sense, there must be some who have heard and still do not have faith! This would not have been the case had the assertion in the letter to the Romans been true as stated.


  9. Zoe November 28, 2015 at 7:08 PM #
    And the Irish Catholic father who went berserk when told by a friend that his daughter was a Prostitute,but later calm down and apoligise for his behavior, as he thought his friend had said that daughter was a Protestant.


  10. so i have faith that i would wake up after a good nights rest,

    the only aspect of faith that gives an individual the assurance of waking up before going to sleep is prior evedience of knowing demonstrated multiple times over at the event of awakening
    Fact being whether one awakes or not does not in any way inhibit the process of sleep causing the individual of having to make a choice between staying awake and falling asleep. Simply put Faith does not in in any way gives reassurances to the outcome , the only method of doing so is by full knoweldge and understanding
    the probability of waking up has already been a formed conclusion in the thought processes and multiplied as evedience every time one is awaken.,So does it take Faith to believe one would awaken after sleep . No! it takes the knowledge derived through evedience being demonstrated at each waken moment,


  11. HEAR =HEED OR OBEY

  12. millertheanunnaki Avatar

    @ Zoe November 28, 2015 at 6:50 PM
    “BY FAITH the great Old Testament saints overcame!
    ABEL: FAITH’s Worship of God,,,
    ENOCH: FAITH’s walk with God….
    NOAH: FAITH’s witness for God…
    ABRAHAM: FAITH’s obedience…”

    In an earlier post I warned you about telling the Truth and not having to remember what you said.
    So how can you come here and argue that Enoch was a man of God?

    Didn’t you previously argue that the reason why the Book of Enoch is not in the KJV is because it is false doctrine? This is what you said @ Zoe November 25, 2015 at 11:00 PM:

    “The Book of Enoch is not Scripture. As such, the Holy Spirit did not lead the church to include it in the canon of Scripture.”

    “What we don’t know is when The Book of Enoch was written, who the author was, or what Jude was quoting. 🙂 (The best I can tell, the Biblical figure Enoch was not the author, but rather, someone who lived closer to the time of Christ, or possibly even after, based on some of the references.) There are many arguments on all sides of this debate, but the real question in the back of many Christian minds is: Is it Scripture?”

    So Zoe are you basing your arguments on Faith, Fact or Fiction?
    Why would the Book of Genesis (a book inspired by God) make references to a figure that was not “Kosher?

    And while you are busy scratching your head please explain to us how the following two scenes got into the Bible:

    Jesus’s temptation by the devil. Who else was there to record the conversation between the two characters?

    Who else was there to overhear and record the conversations between Jesus and the two criminals on Crucifixion Hill and also Jesus’s final words.

    Here is a clue Zoe. It’s all in the fruitful imagination of playwrights inspired by money and commissioned by the Church for the protection of the interests of the Monarchy.


  13. HIS Love for me, in times past, forbids me to think, He will leave me at last in trouble to sink.

    I KNOW without one shadow of DOUBT, that Almighty God, and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, are REAL, ALIVE, and absolutely FAITHFUL to their Word!

    They have NEVER failed me; though I do NOT deserve any of their Blessings, Provisions, Protection, all of which they are constantly giving me. His Peace that passes ALL understanding, brings me to TEARS of Thanksgiving, Praise, Honour, and GLORY to Him, the Lord Jesus Christ.

    I fail miserably, many times, and, He always picks me up, again, and again, because He IS* absolutely FAITHFUL to His promises, to those who have PUT their FAITH, TRUST in Him, who simply cannot fail or be unfaithful to His Redeemed children.

    That’s why,

    “For I am NOT ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it IS* the POWER of God to SALVATION, for EVERYONE, who BELIEVES for the Jew first, and also for the Gentile.
    For in it the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God is revealed from FAITH to FAITH, as it is written, The Just shall live by FAITH.” ( Rom. 1: 16, 17) Emphasis added.
    Amen and Amen!!!


  14. millertheanunnaki November 28, 2015 at 10:19 PM #
    @ Zoe November 28, 2015 at 6:50 PM

    “BY FAITH the great Old Testament saints overcame!
    ABEL: FAITH’s Worship of God,,,
    ENOCH: FAITH’s walk with God….
    NOAH: FAITH’s witness for God…
    ABRAHAM: FAITH’s obedience…”

    “In an earlier post I warned you about telling the Truth and not having to remember what you said.”

    “So how can you come here and argue that Enoch was a man of God?”

    Miller, your are so confused!! Enoch WAS A MAN of God; but, the Spurious forged book of Enoch WAS NOT; it was someone else, USING his NAME as a bogus, counterfeit, fake, lacing this phony book, with utterly contradictory, FALSE teachings, completely at variance with God’s Word.

    Why is this logical distinction, between the True MAN OF GOD, Enoch, and the IMPOSTOR who wrote the so-called book of Enoch so hard for you, Miller to understand.

    “Didn’t you previously argue that the reason why the Book of Enoch is not in the KJV is because it is false doctrine?” This is what you said @ Zoe November 25, 2015 at 11:00 PM: Precisely Miller, as logically explained above!

    “The Book of Enoch is not Scripture. As such, the Holy Spirit did not lead the church to include it in the canon of Scripture.”

    “Jesus’s temptation by the devil. Who else was there to record the conversation between the two characters?|”

    “Who else was there to overhear and record the conversations between Jesus and the two criminals on Crucifixion Hill and also Jesus’s final words.”

    Miller, “ALL SCRIPTURE is given by Inspiration of God, and is profitable for DOCTRINE, for REPROOF, for CORRECTION, for INSTRUCTION in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” ( 2 Tim. 3: 16,17)

    The Holy Spirit divinely inspired the events of Jesus’s temptation and all that transpired there, to be recorded in the Gospels, as well as His Crucifixion, etc, etc. This was not hard for the Omniscient Holy Spirit to do at all.

    The Divine inspiration of the Bible. THE WORD OF GOD.

    The absolute authority of the Bible over our lives is based in our conviction that this Book does not merely contain the Word of God, but that it is the Word of God in its sum and in its parts. This text testifies to this, describing the actual process of this inspiration ( inbreathing of life). 1) It is the word of the Holy Spirit. THEOPNEUSTOS (Greek), translated ” inspiration of God”, literally means “God -breathed”, This describes the source of the whole Bible’s derivation (that is, “ALL Scripture” as transcendent of human inspiration. The Bible is NOT the product of elevated human consciousness or enlightened human intellect, but is directly “breathed” from God Himself. 2) 2 Peter 1:20,21 elaborates this TRUTH, and adds that none of what is given was merely the private opinion of the writer (v.29) and that each writer involved was “moved by” (literally “being borne along”) by the Holy Spirit.


  15. Wow! Zoe IS human. He told his first joke. Albeit an old one. LOL. I guess it would be too hard for him to have an original thought.

    Here’s mine.

    It was the time of the Rapture and lo, Christ came in clouds descending to gather His own to Himself. A lovely, fun-loving Anglican was flying upwards saying, “Hey Lord, look at me! WEEEEEE! This is so cool! That Fundamentalist was right! It is the End Times!”

    The boring Fundamentalist recognised the Anglican’s voice and frowning, yelled, “Lord, I think you have made a mistake! She’s an Anglican! We can’t be going the same place!”

    The Fundamentalist suddenly changed direction and the Anglican watched Him falling back to earth.

    “Lord, you’re losing one! That poor guy is falling!”

    And the Lord answered,” He said there isn’t enough room in heaven for the both of you.”

    But the Anglican answered, ” I am a Bajan, Lord. I can size round and make myself small.”

    So the Fundamentalist again changed direction and began moving towards heaven.

    “But Lord,” he shouted angrily, “The Anglican is still rising!”

    Again the Fundamentalist changed direction and with great speed hurtled back to earth.

    “Lord!” cried the Anglican. ” The Bible says that you are not happy that ONE should be lost! I could squeeze up real real small for you, you know.”

    “True,” He replied sadly but he doesn’t want to share a room with you. He’s determined to take MY place.”

    How’s that for originality, Zoe?


  16. Miller,

    If it was designed to keep ME in line then it’s been an abysmal failure. I am a Christian and an ANGLICAN at that but when the Queen of ENGLAND visited Barbados when I was a child I turned my back on her. I am still proud of that childish protest and have continued in that vein. I too have plenty of puzzling questions, Miller. And over time I have been given plenty of satisfying answers. The rest will come as I go along.


  17. I am not like Zoe. I don’t claim to know everything.


  18. Good explanation to Miller. Though we disagree on the Fundamentalist and literalist way, it still works.


  19. Here is a clue Zoe. It’s all in the fruitful imagination of playwrights inspired by money and commissioned by the Church for the protection of the interests of the Monarchy.
    ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

    Wuhloss Miller.

    That was a good one but his subsequent posts shows that he is a true craftsman of his faith and nothing you toss at him will dent it and so it should be.

    This is what underpins his existence as it does for many,once you remove it,they will no longer desire life.


  20. @Vincent & Miller

    The idea is to disagree and at the same time be open to points from the other side. To be open minded is difficult this we know.

    On 29 November 2015 at 12:28, Barbados Underground wrote:

    >


  21. @David November 29, 2015 at 8:41 AM #

    I have made my position crystal clear that I will not enter a debate/discussion unless the base for the posit is established and agreed upon.

    No base for faith has been established and I am quite openminded to the establishment of same.

    I am presently critiqueing Millers attempts to challenge the faith believers.


  22. Yet one is still left to decipher How did the old testament believers of GOd acquire Faith

    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

    trying to plant in the mind that Faith alone can be activated without prior knoweldge is akin to saying that a flower can grow without seedling , Faith remains muted until it becomes an interaction between individuals and variuos sources which then becomes rooted in the mind ripens and with in time forms the source for believably,
    ””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””’Atheist philosopher Peter Boghossian is fond of asking Christians that and other similar questions, such as how do you know that Jonah was swallowed by a large fish?[1] When met with the reply, “Because the Bible says so”, Boghossian reminds his Christian audience that Muslims believe Muhammad flew to Heaven on a winged horse because of the “night journey””

  23. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Zoe November 29, 2015 at 12:10 AM
    “Miller, your are so confused!! Enoch WAS A MAN of God; but, the Spurious forged book of Enoch WAS NOT; it was someone else, USING his NAME as a bogus, counterfeit, fake, lacing this phony book, with utterly contradictory, FALSE teachings, completely at variance with God’s Word.

    Why is this logical distinction, between the True MAN OF GOD, Enoch, and the IMPOSTOR who wrote the so-called book of Enoch so hard for you, Miller to understand.”

    Zoe, trying to get you to se the secular light of Reason is like Sisyphus trying to climb Mount Olympus with a boulder the size of the tower of Babel on his back to remove Zeus from his throne.
    If you can have faith in some god inspired Hebrew book of myths and legends then I too can believe in the historical accuracy of similar Greek tales.

    According to you, the author of the book of Enoch is an impostor, making the “scriptures” contained therein ‘not kosher’, unchristian and most likely un-Islamic.
    Does that also apply to the other books that were ‘omitted’ from the canons of Christianity? Were the following books of Scripture God inspired or commissioned by Satan?

    “Esdras; 2 Esdras; Additions to Esther; 1 Macabees; 2 Macabees;Tobias; Judith; Wisdom; Sirach; Baruch; Epistle of Jeremiah; Susanna; Prayer of Azariah; Prayer of Manasseh; Bel and the Dragon; Laodiceans
    The First Book of Adam and Eve; The Second Book of Adam and Eve;
    The Book of the Secrets of Enoch; The Psalms of Solomon; The Odes of Solomon;
    The Letter of Aristeas; Fourth Book of Maccabees; The Story of Ahikar;
    The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs; Testament of Reuben; Testament of Simeon
    Testament of Levi; The Testament of Judah; The Testament of Issachar; The Testament of Zebulun; The Testament of Dan; The Testament of Naphtali; The Testament Of Gad;
    The Testament of Asher; The Testament of Joseph; The Testament of Benjamin.”

    It’s truly amazing how an organization calling itself the Church can ‘ban’ books and curtail freedom of expression but still wants us to believe that Mary (Isis) is the Holy Mother of God and that an imaginary being in the sky can issue instructions to a man to commit mass murder nadthe rape of innocent girls.

    God commanding Moses to kill:
    “They fought against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses, and killed every man……..Now kill all the boys [innocent kids]. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man. (Numbers 31:7,17-18)”
    Kill everything that “breathes” from humans and animals! Deuteronomy 20:16
    Just remember, Zoe, you do not have copyright on ‘Copy and Paste” on BU. But if you write from your own heart and intellect the Truth will out.


  24. @Miller-NAKI,

    “Zoe, trying to get you to see the (secular light of Reason) Yes, Miller, SECULAR LIGHT of Reason, IS JUST THAT, godless REASON, is FOOLISHNESS to Godly Wisdom Miller)

    … is like Sisyphus trying to climb Mount Olympus with a boulder the size of the tower of Babel on his back to remove Zeus from his throne.” This speaks to YOUR condition Miller, as your FEET are firmly PLANTED in MIDAIR, Miller!

    The fool sees only foolishness in God’s wisdom

    “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool….” Proverbs 28:26

    “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their own craftiness’; and again, ‘The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.’” 1 Corinthians 3:19-20

    “…the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:14-15

    “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ Psalm 53:1

    “Fools mock at sin, but among the upright there is favor.” Proverbs 14:9

    “A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own heart.” Proverbs 18:2

    “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools…” Romans 1:20-22

    “The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,

    But the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

    It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools.

    For like the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool.
    This also is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 7:4-6

    “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.” Proverbs 12:15

    “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.” Proverbs 13:20

    “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” 1 John 2:16

    “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are saved it is the power of God. For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.’

    “Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

    “For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

    For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

    “…God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;” 1 Corinthians 1:27

    “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:12

  25. millertheanunnaki Avatar

    @Zoe November 29, 2015 at 12:11 PM:

    I notice you have been knocked off your biblical high-horse only to recover in a fit of intellectual torpor.

    When are you going to deal with the crux of the matter about the blatant omission of other scriptures from your KJV of the Judeo-Christian compendium of myths an legends?

    I will be gracious to you and give you a chance to stand again on your own two feet instead of depending completely on your crutch of biblical invalidities.

    “The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
    The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee”

    Now you decide who is this Yahweh making his face to shine.


  26. Miller, you are a FOOL! Spiritually INEPT FOOL!

    “A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own heart.” Proverbs 18:2

    “The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: (He does this every DAY)
    The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee” (Yes, He IS always gracious to me, according to His Word)

    Now you decide who is this Yahweh making his face to shine.

    I KNOW who Yahweh IS* He IS* my Lord and my God! Not some Demonic deity like Horus, your sun god, or maybe Utu, then it might be Shamesh, who keeps you in your misery of DARKNESS!!!


  27. Wait! Are you people humour challenged? Nobody likes my joke? I get it. You scroll past the simple lady to sink your teeth into the pompous male prig. Whatever your poison. Enjoy!


  28. The Bible: Its Wonderful Unity

    The Bible is more than just a book. It is a library of books. The books of the Bible are united in such a wonderful way that one is forced to the conclusion that it is more than a random collection of literary works.

    There is behind the Bible a hand that guides and controls it from its revelation to its preservation. The Greek term biblia originally meant “books.”

    The prophet Daniel was reading the prophetic writings of Jeremiah and the Scripture says that Jeremiah was included in “the books” (Dan. 9:2). Over the years, the plural came to be a singular and “the books” simply became the book. That is the Bible, a book of wonderful unity.

    To appreciate the wonderful unity of the Bible, one should look at its diversity first. The Hebrew writer tells us,

    “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son. . .” (Heb. 1:1-2a).

    The tense of “hath spoken” means that all that God has revealed to man has been revealed. It is complete.

    Down through centuries of revelation, these diverse ways were blended together by a common thread. The Bible is a record of the revelations of God to man in various times or ages, by different men and methods.

    The truth that God spoke through Christ is also affirmed by this statement.

    “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: that in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him” (Eph. 1:7-10).


  29. No other World religion, has anything even remotely close, to the Prophecies declared in the OT, and exactly FULFILLED by Jesus in the New Testament.

    The empirical, factual, historical evidence, as fulfilled IN Jesus’ life, could ONLY come TRUE, as it HAS, by the Omnipotent Hand of Almighty God, who Inspired the writings of His Word, the Bible.

    Satan’s purpose has always been to obscure, and falsify the simplicity of the cross in its application to our sin problem.

    The Son of the Eternal Father’s substitutional death on the cross stands at the heart of all other salvation truths revealed in the Bible. Jesus willingly took our place in suffering the penalty for sin. The demands of the Law against the transgressor were fully satisfied by His voluntary acceptance of our punishment that holy day in Jerusalem, when hanging on the cross He said; “it is finished”.

    It was the Savior’s incarnate entrance into the human family which laid the foundation for the entire redemptive process.

    According to the Scriptures, He had to be born of a virgin in Bethlehem, live a sinless life, ride into Jerusalem on a foal of a donkey precisely on April 6, 32 A.D., exactly 173,880 days after the command to rebuild Jerusalem by the Babylonian king Artaxerxes.

    The Jewish Messiah also had to suffer and lay down His life for our sins. This is clearly shown in Isaiah 53. He did this for both Jews and Gentiles.

    There were over 360 prophecies foretold about the coming Jewish Messiah – hundreds of years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

    Jesus fulfilled all 365 of these prophecies. Of these 360+ prophecies, there are 109 that only Jesus (Yeshua) could have fulfilled. See complete list of 365 Messianic Prophecies here. http://www.bibleprobe.com


  30. Miller, that is why all of the dozens of OTHER so-called books of Scripture, were EXCLUDED from the Canon of God’s Word, the Bible.

    They ALL contained in one way or the other, some contradictory statements, re Salvation, prophetic issue, etc.,that were NEVER found in the Bible. and went totally AGAINST what Almighty God, had already Inspired in His Word.

    Satan was the force behind these SPURIOUS books, as he always WAS from the beginning, A LIAR, the FATHER of ALL LIES, and ‘spiritual’ DECEPTION, which he has presented in avast array of other ‘religious’ MYTHS and LIES, like the Annunaki, that you have bought INTO, that IS* FABLES, MYTHS, and LIES!!!

    Absolutely NO factual, historical evidence in this ANNUNAKI hogwash!!!


  31. Jesus the Good Shepherd.

    “Then Jesus said to them again, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, I AM the door of the sheep.”

    “All who ever came before Me are THIEVES and ROBBERS, but the sheep did not hear them.”

    “I am the DOOR. If anyone enters by Me, he will be Saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”

    “The THIEF (Satan) does not come except to STEAL, and to KILL, and to DESTROY. I have come that they may have LIFE, and that they may have it MORE ABUNDANTLY.” (John 10: 7-10) Emphasis added.

    ABUNDANTLY: ‘Perissos’ Means superabundance, excessive, overflowing, surplus, over and above, more than enough, profuse, extraordinary, more than sufficient.


  32. @Miller

    Duh energiser bunny still going….yuh cyan tek out duh battery?

  33. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Zoe November 29, 2015 at 2:04 PM
    “No other World religion, has anything even remotely close, to the Prophecies declared in the OT, and exactly FULFILLED by Jesus in the New Testament.”

    Isn’t that statement a paradox of complete contradictions?
    How can other World religions embrace and espouse the prophecies in the Judeo-Christian version of witchcraft and obeah? Isn’t that similar to a Toyota car dealer with an exclusivity contract selling Nissan cars and spares?

    Now what would you call, (if not witchcraft or obeah of which Bishop Granville would have been well pleased), the following:

    “And on the eighth day he shall take to him two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, and come before the LORD unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and give them unto the priest.”

    “According to the Scriptures, He had to be born of a virgin in Bethlehem, live a sinless life, ride into Jerusalem on a foal of a donkey precisely on April 6, 32 A.D., exactly 173,880 days after the command to rebuild Jerusalem by the Babylonian king Artaxerxes.”

    Now Zoe since you are the World renowned cut and paste expert on all matters biblical please inform the BU family where in the Bible can we find that date of April 6, 32AD, exactly 173,880 days after our the reincarnation of our own BU King Artaxerxes. Was that date a Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox?

    “Jesus willingly took our place in suffering the penalty for sin. The demands of the Law against the transgressor were fully satisfied by His voluntary acceptance of our punishment that holy day in Jerusalem, when hanging on the cross He said; “it is finished”.”

    So if Jesus died for the sins of mankind why do you subscribe to the system of Capital Punishment by killing reflecting the OT principle of “an eye for an eye and a tooth for tooth”?

    How come you quote Jesus’s last words on the proverbial cross as “it is finished”?
    What about his other last words that the other playwrights concocted in complete contradiction?

    “About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “”Eloi, Eloi,” “lama” “sabachthani?””–which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
    ~ Playwrights using the pen names Matthew and Mark.

    “… for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.
    46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.” ~ Playwright using the pen name Luke.

    So Zoe which one of these versions of Jesus’s last words is inspired by “God” and is the ‘genuine ‘scripture or divine account of Jesus’s last words on the cross if you understand the real meaning of “Cross”?

    We will not even pursue the other contradictions and differences the various playwrights have made regarding the birth of your sweet baby Jesus.


  34. millertheanunnaki November 29, 2015 at 4:36 PM #
    @ Zoe November 29, 2015 at 2:04 PM

    You should take the time to read Arthur Pink”s Why four Gospels before talking rubbish on BU about a matter of which your ignorance abounds

    http://www.ccel.org/p/pink/gospels/cache/gospels.pdf


  35. Georgie Porgie November 29, 2015 at 5:46 PM #
    millertheanunnaki November 29, 2015 at 4:36 PM #
    @ Zoe November 29, 2015 at 2:04 PM

    You should take the time to read Arthur Pink”s Why four Gospels before talking rubbish on BU about a matter of which your ignorance abounds

    http://www.ccel.org/p/pink/gospels/cache/gospels.pdf

    Absolutely GP, Miller’s abounding IGNORANCE, is exceeded only by his abject ARROGANCE!!


  36. millertheanunnaki November 29, 2015 at 4:36 PM #
    @ Zoe November 29, 2015 at 2:04 PM
    “No other World religion, has anything even remotely close, to the Prophecies declared in the OT, and exactly FULFILLED by Jesus in the New Testament.”

    Isn’t that statement a paradox of complete contradictions?

    Miller, the context of my above statement, is, that NO other World religion has ANY prophecies relating to their supposed saviour’s, and historic fulfillment, as Christianity does.

    Because they are ALL MYTHS, whereas, Christianity IS* an Historically grounded FAITH!

    Regarding the alleged contradiction in the Bible; each and every one of them have been answered by scholars, in detail, and are far too extensive in scope, to carry here on BU.

    Further, Miller, I will NOT be dragged into the NONSENSE you post, and the IGNORANT, Red-herring distractives, you attempt at using, to take away from the undisputable, undeniable, facts and evidence of Historically based Christianity, which you nor those of your ilk, can EVER, and will NEVER be able to honestly refute.


  37. Still with all the bible translation and interpretations you still cannot explain Faith.


  38. David, Any so-called Priest, presumably, Catholic, I did not listen to the video, that the church invented Hell, to control people, is talking NONSENSE!

    However, as a Catholic Priest, he should know the myriad of INVENTED dogmas,and doctrines, Catholicism FABRICATED over the centuries, such as Purgatory, auricular Confession to Priest, etc, etc., in order to CONTROL their people.

    The LIE that the church invented Hell, is a wicked perversion of Biblical TRUTH; Jesus said more about Hell, and eternal damnation, than anyone else in the NT.

    BTW David, I know both Dictionary and Ph.D personally, and Ph.D is most certainly NOT Dictionary! Just for the record!


  39. ANOTHER question How is it that the disciples did not recognize Jesus after his resurrection Weren/t the disciples the closest people to Jesus and part of his missionary. Doesn/t the fact that the disciples did not recognize Jesus exposes a blatant contradiction while exposing what could be the hidden truth of a false claim to Jesus resurrection.


  40. YOUR QUESTION OUGHT TO BE HOW DID MARY RECOGNIZE JESUS AFTER HE CALLED HER NAME
    CHECK JOHN 10:3 FOR THE ANSWER


  41. The Church has seen dramatic and explosive growth in Asia, Africa and South America.

    The growth of the African Church in particular is jaw-dropping. In 1900 there were fewer than 9 million Christians in Africa. Now there are more than 541 million. In the last 15 years alone, the Church in Africa has seen a 51 per cent increase, which works out on average at around 33,000 people either becoming Christians or being born into Christian families each day in Africa alone.

    The testimonies of these wonderful African brothers and sisters, as they experience the Joy, Happiness and true purpose for their lives, in, by, and through Christ, has to be seen and heard; even some DEAD people are being raised back to life, in the Only Name, the Lord Jesus Christ, for HE, ALONE, as He declared, |”I AM the Resurrection and the Life.”

    Glory to God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, for EVER, and EVER, Amen!


  42. I do not expect an answer but the question is serious in nature and expecting a religious fanatic to answer is like expecting a dead person to rise fro a grave,
    The question attacks the root of conviction and delve into the evilness of man ability to connive and deceive.
    In all possibility there would have been one visible aspect of Jesus, character that would have given significant proof immediately of his identity without having to see the nail prints ,
    After all he was only dead for three days and nothing significant would have change,Then again why would Jesus want to change his identity to confound his disciples.


  43. 24 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words.
    9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
    13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.


  44. BIRD BRAIN
    ASK YOURSELF THIS
    1 HOW DID JESUS LOOK WHEN TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS AFTER THE BATTERING HE TOOK TO HIS FACE
    2 DID THE DISCIPLES EXPECT TO SEE HIM ALIVE THREE DAYS AFTERWARDS
    3 HOW DID MARY RECOGNIZE HIM?


  45. ZOE
    I WILL MAKE FOUR POSTS THAT YOU CAN DOWNLOAD AND KEEP AS COLLATERAL READING TO PINK’S WHY FOUR GOSPELS. I DOWNLOADED THIS IN 98 BUT CANT FIND A LINK NOW

    THE FOUR GOSPELS

    INTRODUCTION

    The four Gospels are the crux of the Bible. They are the historical focus of Old Testament prophecy, and the factual basis of New Testament theology. They are not the terminus of Old Testament prophecy, much of which runs on into times even yet future; but they are the mainline junction, on which all Old Testament branch-lines converge. All lines now become one main line in the historical JESUS OF NAZARETH. We change here from that which is distinctively Jewish to that which is distinctively Christian; from the old covenant and dispensation to the new covenant and dispensation; from Moses to Christ; from law to grace.

    Let us now look at the parallel which can be seen between the four Gospels and the “living creatures” or cherubim in the opening vision of the prophet Ezekiel. Ezekiel 1:10 describes them as thus: “As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side; and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.” The lion symbolizes strength, kingship; the man, highest intelligence; the ox, lowly service; the eagle, heavenliness, mystery,
    Divinity. These “living creatures” symbolically express the four basic social aspects of the Divine Nature; and it was inevitable that when the Divine Son Himself became incarnate the same four aspects should again conspicuously manifest themselves – as they do in the characteristic emphases of the four Gospels.

     In Matthew we see the Messiah-King (the lion). 
     In Mark we see Jehovah's Servant (the ox). 
     In Luke we see the Son of Man (the man). 
     In John we see the Son of God (the eagle). 
    

    It needs all four aspects to give the full truth. As Sovereign He comes to reign and rule. As Servant He comes to serve and suffer. As Son of Man He comes to share and sympathise. As Son of God He comes to reveal and redeem. Wonderful fourfold blending – sovereignty and humility; humanity and deity!

    Likewise Ezekiel’s vision shows – ‘!they four had one likeness” and two wings of every one were joined to another” – so it is with the four Gospels: amid their marked diversity they all portray “one likeness,” the same wonderful Person, and all the way through their “wings are joined one to another.”

    THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

    We know only four things about Matthew with certainty, but they are most revealing.

     He was a "publican" (10:3), a Jew who had become a tax collector for the hated Romans, which was regarded as  dishonorable. We read of "publicans and sinners", which indicates the general moral level. Matthew in a self humbling  reminder calls himself a publican (Matthew 9:9, 10:3) and places publicans in the group with harlots, (21:31). Matthew's  reporting of them reveals his self-abasing humility.  He became a disciple of Jesus (9:9). Mark and Luke tell that when he left the "receipt of custom" he opened "his own
    

    house” to our Lord; that he gave a “great feast’ for many other publicans to hear Jesus; and Ca hint of his considerable wealth) that “he left all.” Not one of these things does Matthew himself tell. His omissions also reveal humility.
    He was later appointed an apostle (10:3). In the three accounts, our Lord sent the apostles out two by two (Mark 6:7). In each account Matthew and Thomas go together and are given in that order by both Mark and Luke; but Matthew puts Thomas first, another token of humility.
    He became the writer of the Gospel which bears his name – of which it is said: “The book is probably the most useful ever written; it comes first in the New Testament collection, and has done more than any other to create the impression of Jesus that the world has obtained.

    THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

    It is of primary importance as we approach the Gospel of Matthew that we know what is meant by the expression “kingdom of Heaven.” This expression is peculiar to this Gospel. It occurs 32 times. The word “kingdom” occurs 50 times. The kingdom of heaven was the main subject of our Lord’s preaching. A proper understanding of this phrase is essential to the interpretation of the Gospel of Matthew and the Bible.

    It is supposed by many that the “kingdom of heaven” is a spiritual kingdom, more or less identical with the Church – however, to identify it as the Church is to obscure the clear teaching of the Word.

    Both John and our Lord began by proclaiming, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand”; yet neither explained what that kingdom was. Why? Because the people knew, without need of explanation, that it meant the Messianic kingdom long-promised through the Old Testament prophets. A kingdom, which, was to be set up, by the coming Messiah from heaven, on this earth with heaven’s standards (Daniel 2:44; 7:14,27).

    That which is foretold is a visible kingdom, not a spiritual kingdom. The Messiah is to reign on the throne of David, over a reunited Israel and the Gentile nations, in a world empire. There are exalted ethical and spiritual aspects forecast of the kingdom, but the kingdom itself is to be visible, a physical kingdom here on earth.

    The kingdom was rejected and the King crucified. So the kingdom is withdrawn. “His blood be upon us, and on our children!” yelled the Jewish leaders. “How often would I!.. .Ye would not.. Ye shall not…” (Matthew 23:37,39). Israel would not see, and now cannot see. “Blindness in part is happened unto Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in” (Romans 11:25).

    The Church is not the kingdom; NOR IS THIS PRESENT AGE THE KINGDOM AGE. Judgment fell on Israel; THAT AGE ENDED: the kingdom of heaven was withdrawn for the time being; and now, meanwhile, there swings into view God’s further purpose, the wonderful new movement through the Church, in this present dispensation (age) of grace.

    The kingdom will be set up when the King returns and a repentant Israel says, ‘Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.”

    THE COMPOSITION OF MATTHEW’S GOSPEL

    The structure of the Gospel of Matthew is quite simple. It is built around two geographical statements concerning Jesus. “Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, HE DEPARTED INTO GALILEE” (Matthew 4:12).

     "And it came to pass that when Jesus had finished these sayings, HE DEPARTED FROM GALILEE,
     and came into the coasts of Judea beyond Jordan" (Matthew 19:1). 
    

    Up to the first of these (4:12) all is introductory – and in Judea. After the second (19:1) all is culminative (moving toward! And preparing for the climax, the crescendo) – back in Judea. Between the two is the ministry in Galilee, which occupies the bulk of the book.

    I. INTRODUCTION, Chapters 1 – 4:11

    A. Genealogy and Record of Virgin Birth, chapter 1

    Genealogy (1:1-17) – Matthew’s genealogy identifies Jesus with the family of Abraham; thus he starts with Abraham, the progenitor of the covenant nation, and then shows the descent through David, head of Judah’s royal line in which the covenant promise of the coming Messiah-King. Because Matthew is writing primarily to the Jews, he must show that Jesus truly was the Son of Abraham and Heir of David.

    In verse 17 Matthew writes:

     "So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the
     carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto
     Christ are fourteen generations." 
    

    There are fourteen from Abraham to David, and from David to Jehoiachin; but only thirteen in the last list. Verse 11 says: “And Josiah begat Jeconiah (Jehojachin). . about the time they were carried away into Babylon.” Now Josiah did not beget Jeconiah, but rather was his grandfather. Josiah beget Jehoiakim, and Jehoiakim beget Jeconiah (I Chronicles 3:15).Thus there is an omission of Jehojakim between Josiah and Jeconiah (Jehoiachin). Some few Greek manuscripts do insert Jehojakim which then make the third of the fourteens.

    B. Visit of Wise Men – Flight into Egypt – Return to Nazareth, chapter 2

    C. John the Baptist, fore runner of the King, announces the Kingdom and baptizes Jesus, chapter 3

    D. Temptation in the Wilderness, chapter 4:1-11

    II. JESUS’ DETOUR IN GALILEE (THE GALILEAN MINISTRY), Chapter 4:12 – Chapter 18

    The ministry in Galilee is divided according to three groupings.

        1.First, in chapters 5-7, there is a grouping of our Lord's teachings, in what is commonly known as the Sermon on the  Mount. 
        2.Next, in chapters 8-10, there is a grouping together of our Lord's miracles. 
        3.Next, in chapters 11-18, there is a grouping of the various reactions to our Lord and His ministry, accompanied by  His own counter-reactions or verdicts. 
    

    These three groupings seem to run in tens.

    1.The Sermon on the Mount consists of ten principal components.
    2.The next three chapters bring ten miracles.
    3.And the next chain of chapters register ten representative reactions. Design or undesigned, this repeated ten-fold feature is helpful to the memory.

    What Jesus Taught – the tenfold message, chapters 5-7

    1.The Beatitudes (5:3-16). Or the subjects of the kingdom. 
    2.Moral Standards (5:17-48). Or Christ versus 'It was said." 
    3.Religious Motives (6:1-18). Alms; prayer; fasting. 
    4.Mammon Worship (6:19-24). Or earthiness versus godliness. 
    5.Temporal Cares (6:25-34). Or Anxiety versus trust in God. 
    6.Social Discernment (7:1-6). Censuring; indiscretion. 
    7.Encouragements (7:7-11). Prayer makes it all practicable. 
    8.Summary in a sentence (7:12). Such LIFE FULFILS Scripture. 
    9.The Alternatives (7:13-14). Two ways: broad versus narrow. 
    

    10.Final Warnings (7:15-27). False prophets; false profession; false foundation.

    Notice, the first three concern virtues, morals, motives.
    The next three concern things material, temporal, social.
    The next three give encouragement, summary, exhortation.
    Then the discourse closes with three solemn warnings.
    What Jesus Wrought – the ten “mighty works”, chapters 8-10.

    1.The cleansing of the leper (8:1-4). 
    2.The Centurian S servant: palsy (8:5-13). 
    3.Peter's wife's mother: fever (8:14,15). 
    4.The stilling of the storm (8:23-27). 
    5.Gergesene demoniacs healed (8:28-34). 
    6.The man cured of the palsy (9:1-8). 
    7.The women with hemorrhage (9:18-22). 
    8.The ruler's daughter raised (9:23-26). 
    9.Two blind men given sight (9:27-31). 
    

    10.The dumb demoniac healed (9:32-4).

    Additionally, in these three chapters which group the miracles there are also two generalizing statements that Jesus healed “all” and “every” sickness; yet, it remains that only the above-noted ten are mentioned.
    Moreover, the third of these chapters, chapter 10, narrates the most comprehensive miracle of all, namely, the imparting of this miracle-working power to the twelve apostles – yet, no particular exercise of that imparted power is recorded. Our gaze is still kept focused on the ten miracles described.

    Is there, then, something specially significant about them? There is. There is a representativeness and completeness about them.
    The first three belong together; then there is a break in which our Lord answers certain would-be followers who had become enthused by His mighty works.
    The next three also run together; then there is another break in which our Lord answers the Pharisees and John’s disciples.
    The remaining four also belong together; after which there is the comment: “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, healing every sickness and every disease among the people.”
    The first three heal physical diseases which affect the whole body. The next three show our Lord’s power in other spheres. The final four concern local ailments of the body and the crowning power-display of raising the dead.
    The effect produced by the first trio was an eager desire of some to follow “whithersoever Thou goest.” The response after the second trio was that the multitude “marveled and glorified God.” The result after the third group was that “the multitudes marveled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.”

    C. What People thought – the ten reactions, chapters 9-18.

    By this time we are wanting to know more definitely what were the various reactions to the wonder working Preacher and His exposition of the kingdom of heaven. In this new grouping Matthew gives us ten reactions. Incidental episodes intermingle with these, giving color and sequence to the on-moving story, but the spot light is now on these responses which were provoked. Here are the ten and Jesus counter-response:

        1.John the Baptist - undecided (11:2-15) (3). Jesus' reaction to the undecided John is an eye-opening explanation of the forerunner's prophetic identity and positional significance (11:7-15). 
        2."This generation" - unresponsive (11:16-19) (17). Jesus' reaction to the unresponsiveness of "this generation" is  sad resignation with the comment, "But wisdom is justified of her children"; although there had not been a worthy response either to ascetic John or to His own social friendliness, the fault lay in the hearers not in the approach (11:19). 
        3.Galilean cities - unrepentant (11:20-30) (20). Jesus reaction to the impenitent cities was to predict judgment, and turn away from them with a new message for the individual: "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden..." (23-30). 
        4.The Pharisees - unreasonable (12: 2,10,14,24,38). Jesus' response to the unreasonable Pharisees is an awesome warning against perverting the truth too far and perpetrating unpardonable insult to the Holy Spirit. (25-37). 
        5.The multitudes - undiscerning (chapter 13) (13-15). It is quite clear that in the parables of chapter 13, our Lord was summing up the results of His preaching thus far. The first of the parables shows that only a small number among the multitudes were "good ground" hearers. All through, He has the multitudes in mind; and His verdict on them is seen in verses 13-15. Jesus reaction to the undiscerning multitudes is that henceforth His kingdom teaching will be mainly by parable (13:10,34). 
        6.The Nazarethites - unbelieving (13:53-58) (58). Jesus reaction to the unbelieving people of His home town was the suspension of His might works among them (verse 58). 
        7.Herod the king - unintelligent (14:1-13) (2). Jesus' reaction toward Herod is silence and avoidance. 
        8.Jerusalem scribes - unconcilliatory (15:1-20) (2,12). Jesus reaction to the Jerusalem scribes is to charge them with hypocritically nullifying the very Scriptures of which they were professedly the custodians. 
        9.Pharisees, Sadducees - unrelenting (16:1-12) (16:1). Jesus' reaction to the unrelenting Pharisees and Sadducees  is rebuke and refusal. 
       10.The twelve Apostles - UNANIMOUS glad recognition (16:13-20) (16). Jesus reaction to the Twelve, who recognize and confess Him, is, "Blessed!...flesh and blood hath not revealed it.. and upon this rock I will build My church." After  this, until His departure from Galilee, our Lord no more addresses the public, but devotes instruction to His disciples alone (chapters 17 -18). 
    

    This, then, is the sum of all these factors and features: there is widespread, enthusiastic interest in the miracles, the message, the Man; but those who respond with spiritual sincerity and intelligence are a very small minority, while the religious and political leaders are hostile. Already, as the Galilean detour nears its end, our Lord sees Israel’s rejection of the King and Kingdom, and announces the coming new dispensational turning-point: “I will build My CHURCH.”

    III. THE CLIMAX IN JUDEA – Chapters 19 – 28.

    Chapter 19 begins:

     "And it came to pass that when Jesus had finished these sayings, He departed from Galilee, and came
     into the coasts of Judea..." 
    
     Thereafter, Matthew's narrative quite naturally forms itself around the three successive developments: 
    
        1.The Presentation - Jesus offered as King, chapters 19 - 25.
          By the 'Presentation" we mean, of course, our Lord's public presentation of Himself at Jerusalem as Israel's  Messiah/King. This part of the narrative runs in a fourfold sequence: 
             1.First is the journey to the city (19-20) we are to see that our Lord foreknew the outcome of His timed  appearance at Jerusalem before he ever entered its gates. "And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples, apart in the way, and said to them: Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and the scribes, and they shall condemn Him to death, and shall deliver Him to the Gentiles, to mock and to scourge and to crucify Him; and the third day He shall rise again"(20:17-19)."Even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many" (20:28). 
             2.Second, is our Lord's triumphal entry (21:1-17), we are meant to see that He DID offer Himself as Israel's Messiah-King, and that the Jewish leaders so understood. Knowingly and most deliberately He fulfilled  Zech. 9:9.  "Rejoice greatly, 0 daughter of Zion; shout, 0 daughter of Jerusalem: behold, the King cometh unto thee: he is  just, and and salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass" (Zech. 9:9).
               "Tell ye the daughter of Zion: Behold thy King cometh unto thee, meek and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass" (Matthew 21:5).  Jesus not only accepted from the multitude their continuous "Hosanna to the Son of David!" but, rebuked the chief priests, who provoked by the children's hosannas, asked, "Hearest Thou what these say?"  Jesus replied,"Yea, have ye never read: Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected  praise?'   Without a doubt, these Jewish leaders knew and understood the significance of the entry of Jesus into  Jerusalem "riding upon and ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." It was no accident that a little later there was a superscription over His Cross: "THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS." 
             3.Third, in the collisions which now ensued inside the city between Jesus and the Jewish sects (21:18 - chapter 23), we are meant to see not only that they had set themselves implacably to reject Him; but that He also had now rejected them. The barren fig tree which He cursed was His symbol of them (21:18-27). From the moment of His entry, the Herodians, Sadducees and Pharisees close in upon Him (22). But all the way through Jesus has the upper hand. They are not only answered, but they are humiliatingly silenced (22:46). Moreover, Jesus exposes them in parable after parable (21:28 - 23:14), and finalises His utter aversion in that public and deadly denunciation punctuated eight times with, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocites!" (23:13-36). So now, the broken hearted Redeemer withdrew with that sob which was the sudden outgushing of an infinite deep: "0 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how  often would I have gathered thy children together even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings; but  ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth till ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord." 
             4.Fourth, is the Olivet Discourse (24-25), we first notice that it was given outside the city, by Christ who had  now withdrawn. Second, the predicted happenings were because He and His kingdom were rejected. The chapter break should not be allowed to obscure the connection between the last words of chapter 23 and the opening of chapter 24: ".. .Ye shall not see Me henceforth.. And Jesus went out.. There shall not be left here one stone upon another... When shall these things be?.. And Jesus answered..." Jesus' answer is the Olivet  Discourse. 
    
        1.The Crucifixion - Jesus Slain as a Criminal, chapters 26-27.
          We now come to the two chapters on the crucifixion. Again there is a fourfold sequence. Four scenes succeeding  each other to dramatic culmination. Once again we would see that there are certain main significances in these  four moving scenes which Matthew would have us grasp. These four settings are: 
             1.In the first, where our Lord is withdrawn with the twelve (26:1-56) the emphasized feature is that He perfectly foresaw every detail of that which was to come. When Mary anoints Him with the precious ointment  He says, "She hath done it for my burial" (26:12). When the twelve sit at supper with Him He tells them that it  is actually one of themselves who is about to betray Him, and indicates Judas (26:25). When Peter boasts,"Though all men shall be offended because of Thee, yet will I never be offended, Jesus tells him,  "Before the cock crow thou shalt deny me thrice."
               We also notice how this foreknowledge expresses itself as to the Cross. He links it with the Jewish Passover in such a way as to say that He is to be the Passover sacrifice (26:2). He links it with Jeremiah 31:31, etc.,  and designates His blood as "the blood of the new covenant" (26.28). He links it with the old Testament  prophecies of Isaiah 53, for His bloodshedding is to be substitutionary ("shed for many'), and propitiatory  ("for the remission of sins").
               In the Gethsemane agony the Father's sovereignty is recognized in it all, and the incarnate Son bows in total  yieldedness to the will of the Father. 
             2.In scene two, where our Lord is before the Jewish Sanhedrin (26:57-75), the big fact is that Jesus was  condemned specifically for claiming that He was Israel's Messiah. His silence, eventually, provoked the high  priest to cry out: "I adjure Thee by the living God, that Thou tell us whether Thou be the Christ, the Son of  God." Jesus' answer was, "Thou has said; moreover I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of Man  sitting on the right had of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven." That was all the Sanhedrin wanted.  They at once charged Him with "blasphemy" and declared Him "guilty of death" (verses 65-68). Jesus was  crucified for that, and for nothing else. 
             3.In scene three, Jesus is before the Roman Governor (27:1-26). Here we are meant to note that the Jews   handed Him over for claiming to be their Christ, only they had now twisted the charge to make it seem that  Jesus had proclaimed Himself King of the Jews in opposition to the Cesar of Rome. 
             4.And now, that fourth scene, that awe-inspiring, soul-abasing spectacle, the Crucifixion (27:27-66). 
                 1.There are two things which Matthew would impress upon about the crucifixion. 
                       1.First, as he describes (more fully than Mark, Luke, or John) the accompanying abnormalities  surrounding the actual crucifixion the midday darkness, the earthquake, the cleaving of the rocks, the disturbed graves - he would have us exclaim with the Roman Centurian. "Truly this was the Son of God!!" (verse 54). 
                       2.Second, as he reports the simultaneous rending of the temple veil into the Holy of Holies, not by  a human hand from below, but by a Divine "from the top to the bottom," he would have us see
    

    the profound Godward significance of that Gross. That Sufferer is “the Son of God”; and that the Cross has affected something tremendous between earth and heaven.
    2.The after details ensure that physical life became extinct, and that the corpse was really entombed. There could be no bodily re-emergence except by a miraculous resurrection.

        1.The Resurrection - Jesus risen as Savior, chapter 28.
          Just one short chapter of twenty verses given to the super-climax - to that event which of all "Christian evidences is the most basic and vital. Matthew's concern is to proclaim the resurrection miracle and to make the tremendous  pronouncement which now comes from the lips of the risen Christ, "All power (authority, speaking of Jesus' now,  administrative authority) is given unto Me, in heaven and in earth; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And, lo, I AM with you alway, even unto the end of the world (age)." Jesus! Israel's  rejected Christ, the world's Savior is now lifted up "far above all principality and power and authority,  and every name that is named" (Eph. 1:21) and crowned the Administrator of the whole universe!
    

  46. The above excerpt paints even a more puzzling picture as the two woman either forgot or never knew that Jesus was to be resurrected
    And further in the story Jesus is talking with two of the apostles and they do not recognize him even after being told he was resurrected
    Which also bears the Question again why was his identity after three days so hard to recognize by his disciples


  47. THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

    A well established early tradition, including such widely know pupils of the Apostle John as Polycarp, Papias, and Ignatius, states that the fourth Gospel was the work of John. Likewise, Christian opinion over the centuries, uniformly, has ascribed the authorship to him.

    When we first meet John in the Gospels Matthew, Mark, and Luke, he was a businessman, one of five partners with his father in a fishing establishment, prosperous enough to employ “hired servants.” When we first meet John in the Gospel of John, however, he and Andrew are with John the Baptist, on the east side of the Jordan in the vicinity of Bethany where John the Baptist was baptizing. On that very day Jesus passed by, and John the Baptist recognizing Him as the Messiah, introduced Him to Andrew and John in this manner, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” immediately, John and Andrew followed after Him. It was about ten o’clock in the forenoon, and they spent the remainder of the day with Him, where He was staying.

    Later, after perhaps several weeks when they, John, Andrew, Peter, James and others, were themselves convinced that Jesus, truly was the Messiah, Jesus called them, at their place of work, and they left everything and followed Him.

    Mark says that Jesus gave John and his brother James a nickname in Greek, Bo-anerges, which means “sons of thunder,” because of their impulsive and violent temperaments. [For instance, on one occasion when their master was rejected in a Samaritian village, they were ready to call down fire from heaven on the inhabitants. But soon their tempest-like natures were refined, and they were equally ready to face death for Him.

    John referred to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” a remark which he repeats five times in his book. Jesus and John became the closet of personal and spiritual companions. If Jesus loved John more than He loved His other disciple, it must be because John was the one who knew and understood Jesus, and His message, better than any of the others. It is thought that they, Jesus and John, were rarely, if ever, separated from each other during their three wonderful years as Master and disciple.

     Jesus chose John to be with Him: 
    
          at the raising of Jairus' daughter, 
          at he Transfiguration, 
          at the scene of agony in Gethsemane. 
    
     At the Last Supper, John occupied the place of honor on the right hand of Jesus (13:23);  John alone gives a full-length account of Jesus' Farewell Message to His disciples (chapters 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17). 
    
     John followed Jesus from Gethsemane into the palace of the high priest, to Pilate's judgment hall, and to the place of  Crucifixion.  And on the cross, Jesus commended His mother Mary to John's loving care, and John accepted the trust and took her that day to his home in (19:27). 
     When the tomb of Jesus was reported to him empty, by Mary Magdalene, John ran with Peter to investigate, and saw that  the Christ had risen (20:1-10).  And like the other disciples, John went to Galilee, as Jesus had directed them, and again saw the Lord (21:1-7). 
    

    After the Ascension, John was with the other Apostles in the Upper Room in Jerusalem (Acts 1:13). And after Pentecost, John became Peter’s colleague in active missionary work, in and out of Jerusalem during the persecutions that threatened to undermine the infant Church. Peter and John were still in Jerusalem when the Apostle Paul returned from his First Missionary Journey, about 50 A.D., the occasion being the Conference at Jerusalem to determine whether circumcision should be required of Gentile Christians and converts of Paul and Barnabas, and other Gentile evangelists (Acts 15:6).

    According to tradition, John made Jerusalem his home for many years after the Conference at Jerusalem, and continued to care for Mary the mother of Jesus until her death. John left Jerusalem about 70 A.D. or earlier moving to Ephesus from which he ministered throughout the whole Roman province of Asia Minor.
    John lived and labored here under the extreme persecution of the Roman government, and the confusion produced by the Gnostics and other false teachers, as well as the treachery and double-dealing of the unbelieving Jews, who fought the spread of Christianity among the Gentiles every step of the way.

    The Apostle became the head of the Church and overseer of the “Seven Churches of Asia,” and all the province, for the next quarter of a century. Some time in the latter part of the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian (81-96 A.D.), about 95 A.D., John was exiled to the Isle of Patmos, in the Mediterranean, some sixty miles southeast of Ephesus. He was banished for preaching the Word of God, and for testifying concerning Jesus (Revelation 1:9).

    Domitian’s successor, Nerva, is said to have freed the Apostle and permitted his return to Ephesus, about 96 AD., where he composed the book of Revelation, according to the vision he had on Patmos. Bishop Irenaeus of the second century states that the Apostle John continued to reside at Ephesus until his death, in the reign of Trajan (98-117 A.D.) Assuming the accuracy of this statement, the Apostle John at the time of his death would have been in excess of one hundred years of age.

    During his later years, and presumably at Ephesus, John wrote the five important works which bear his name: The Gospel of John; I, II and III John; and the book of Revelation.

    JOHN’S GOSPEL – A COMPLETIVE NECESSITY

    Here we want to consider the relationship of the Gospel of John to the synoptic Gospels. The similarity of the synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, accentuates the dissimilarity of this fourth Gospel.

    This fourth Gospel completes the picture of Jesus which we have viewed in the other three Gospels. Thus it is a completive necessity. In the other three we have accompanied Jesus, learning what He said, what He did, what He felt. We have noted those seven peak-events: his supernatural birth, His baptism, temptation, transfiguration, crucifixion, resurrection, and His ascension.
    We have heard Peter’s announcement, avowal: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Thus we have learned what He was rather than who He is.

     First of all, The Gospel of John, is a completive necessity in that it completes the others. 
          The earlier three are a presentation of Jesus; this fourth is an interpretation. 
          The other three show us Jesus outwardly; this fourth interprets Him inwardly 
          The other three emphasize the human aspects; this fourth unveils the Divine. 
          The other three correspond respectively with the lion and the ox and the man in Ezekiel's vision; this fourth parallels with the eagle. 
          The other three concern themselves mainly with our Lord's public discourses; this fourth gives larger place to His  private conversations, His verbal conflicts with the Jews, and His closer teachings in seclusion to His inner disciples. 
          The other three are mainly occupied with His Galilean ministry; this fourth is almost wholly devoted to His Judean  ministry. 
          The other three are purely factual; John is also doctrinal. 
          The other three begin with a human genealogy and a fulfillment of Jewish prophecy; John begins with a direct Divine  revelation of that which was altogether pre-mundane (earthly) and eternal. 
          All these features accord with John's interpretative purpose, which purpose is found in John 20:31. "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his  name." 
    
     Secondly, The Gospel of John, is a completive necessity in that it sheds light on areas in the other three that may be the source of questioning and confusion. Thus John throws a flood light on the other three. 
          For instance, when the synoptics tell of our Lord's "Follow Me" to Peter and Andrew, James and John, it would almost seem as though He had not met them before, which makes their immediate abandonment of all else to follow  Him so surprising as to seem almost artificial; BUT in this fourth Gospel we find that they had not only met Jesus earlier, at John the Baptist's gatherings along the Jordan, but had companied with Him both in Judea and in Gallilee  (1:40, 42, 43, 47). Before He ever started His preaching itineraries in Galilee there was a group called "His  disciples" (2:2,11), which certainly included Andrew, Peter, James and John and others who later would become  Apostles of the Lamb. Jesus' seashore "Follow Me," recorded by the other three, came later, and was a call to  full-time service with Him. 
          Again in the other three Gospels you could get the impression that from the minute Jesus began His public ministry,  "began to preach" (Matthew 4:17) He had vast crowds and wide spread fame and then wonder how could this be? But, here in John, we find that before He ever started His ministry in Galilee [which is the starting place of the other  three Gospels] , that He had worked miracles in Jerusalem (2:23), which had become big news in Galilee. 
    
          "Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galileans received him,having seen all the things  that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast" (John 4:45).  There had also been the turning of the water into wine at Cana in Galilee, where He thus manifested forth His  glory, and the disciples believed on Him" (2:11). We know for a certainty that. all these things happened  before our Lord commenced His preaching circuit of Galilee, because "John (the Baptist) was not yet cast  into prison" (3:24) - and it was not until after John was imprisoned that Jesus began in Galilee (Matthew  4:12).          Furthermore, a noting of John's dates and places corrects certain misimpressions as to our Lord's  movements. Not only do we learn that after His Baptism our Lord was five or six months in Jerusalem and Judea, with goings to and fro between there and Galilee, before His main Galilean ministry began, But we find that there was also another time break between the end of His Galilean ministry, and His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Were we to go only by the  synoptics we might assume that Jesus went from Galilee to His triumphal entry into Jerusalem without any  interruption of His Galilean ministry. 
    

    Perhaps, this is the point for a bit of Bible marking. Turning to Matthew 4:11,12, it might be useful to insert between verses 11and 12 : THE FIRST FIVE CHAPTERS OF JOHN ALL FIT IN HERE. (The same between Mark 1:13 and 14 also, between Luke 4:13 and 14.) Similarly, in John, it might be well to write between chapters 5 and 6: MOST OF GALILEE MINISTRY FITS FROM HERE UP TO 7:1. Next, in John 10, between verses 21 and 22, write; THREE MONTHS BREAK HERE JESUS BACK TO GALILEE, WHICH HE NOW FINALLY LEAVES AS PER MATTHEW 19:1 AND MARK 10:1. Also,
    you may note between Matthew 26:20 and 21: JOHN 13:2-30 FIT HERE; and between Matthew 26:30 and 31 that: JOHN 15,16,17 GO HERE.

             ORDER AND LENGTH OF OUR LORD'S MINISTRY
    
                  A. CONTACTS IN JUDEA - FOUR TO FIVE MONTHS IN DURATION 
    

    Jordan baptism and temptation in wilderness

    At Jordan again; meets Andrew and Peter

    Return to Galilee: Cana and first miracle

    At Jerusalem for the Passover; Nicodemus interview

    Interval of teaching, baptizing in Judea, near Jordan

    Galilee again: Sychar women;second Cana miracle

    At Jerusalern feast: Bethesda healing; Jews oppose
    Matthew 3:1-4:11; Mark 1:4-13; Luke 3:1-4:13

                                                             John 1:19-42 
    
                                                             John 1:43 - 2:12. 
    
                                                             John 2:13 - 3:21 
    
                                                             John 3:22-36 
    
                                                             John 4:1-54 
    
                                                             John 5:1-47
    
    
           B. CIRCUIT OF GALILEE - ABOUT ONE YEAR AND TENS MONTHS IN DURATION 
    

    The three synoptic accounts of the Galilean ministry

    Short break – to Jerusalem for feast of Tabernacles

    Slow, final exit-journey from Galilee

    Halt in Perea; visit to Jerusalem; feast of Dedication

    Perea again; then up to Bethany to raise Lazarus

    From “city called Ephraim” up to triumphal entry
    Matthew 4:12-18:35; Mark 1:14-9:38; Luke
    4:14-9:50.

                                                             John 7:2-10:21. 
    
                                                             Luke 9:51-18:14. 
    
                                                             John 10:22-39. 
    
                                                             John 10:40-11:54 
    
                                                             Matthew 19:1-23:39; Mark 10:111:11; Luke
                                                             18:15-19:44; John 11:54-12:19.
    
    
    
                   C. CLIMAX AT JERUSALEM - ABOUT ONE WEEK IN DURATION 
    

    Clashes with Jewish leaders in Jerusalem Matthew 21:12-23:46; Mark 11:33-12:44;
    Luke 19:45-21:4.

    Prophetic discourse on the Mount of Olives

    At Bethany: the anointing by Mary

    Last Supper:
    Discourse to apostles

    Gethsemane; the arrest; Peter’s denial

    Arraignment, crucifixion, and burial
    Matthew 24:51-25:46; Mark 13:1-37; Luke
    21:5-38.

                                                             Matthew 26; Mark 14; John 12. 
    
                                                             Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 22; 
                                                             John 13 - 17. 
    
                                                             Matt 26; Mark 14; Luke 22; John 18 
    
                                                             Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 23; 
                                                             John 18:28-19:42.
    

    NEED TO CUT AND PASTE SOME STUFF HERE CHECK ORIGINALON LINE**********

    CONTENT OF THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

    Let us now examine the contents of John’s Gospel! and learn its main Message. At once we are struck by the different way of saying and seeing things from that of Matthew, Mark, or Luke. In Matthew we have impressionistic groupings; in Mark a rapid succession of camera-shots; in Luke a beautifully unfolding story. In John, everything subserves the developing of certain RECURRENT IDEAS. These recurrent ideas are assembled in the prologue, and then developed right through to the end. Not that these ideas are mere abstractions of John’s own producing; they are spiritual truths outgrowing from fertile facts. From a large
    store of available data John selects just those which demonstrate and develop these central truths of his treatise. Of which the central one is, ETERNAL LIFE BY BELIEVING ON JESUS AS SON OF GOD AND SAVIOR OF MEN, (John 20:30-31).

    However, before we consider these progressive themes in this forth Gospel we ought to glance at John’s own basic arrangement of his material as it really is:

     There is a prologue (1:1-18) 
     and an epilogue (chapter 21). 
    

    The intervening body of chapters fall as follows:

    1.The public ministry of Jesus to the Jews (1:19-chapter 12).
    2.The private ministry of Jesus to “His own” (chapters 13 – 17).
    3.The paschal climax of tragedy and triumph (chapters 18 – 20).

    The first of these chapter-groups is occupied with the miraculous “signs” which our Lord gave, of which John here records seven, culminating with the raising of Lazarus from death. Note how the early contacts quickly develop into later conflicts, and then issue in utter cleavage.

    The second group mainly concerns our Lord’s wonderful new disclosures about the coming Paraclete.

    The final chapters are the awful yet glorious outcome of the whole.

    A more detailed analysis of the arrangement of John’s material is not necessary for our present purpose. You would do well to fix in your mind the three main divisions and then continue with the content.

    As we stated the structural characteristic of this fourth Gospel is that of recurrent ideas, which are assembled in the prologue, and developed right through to the end.

    In the prologue there are four designations of our Lord

          the WORD, 
          the LIFE, 
          the LIGHT, 
          the SON. 
    

    Two of these declare His relationship to God the Father. The other two indicate function towards us human creatures.

     In relation to God, even the Father, He is the WORD and the SON. These terms are so vastly meaningful that human  thought cannot sound their depths. Yet they are illuminatingly significant as well as impenetrably mysterious. They are meant  to tell us something - and they do. 
    
          Our Lord is the WORD, i.e. the expression of God, not only towards man, not only from pre-earthly (mundane)  antiquity, but before all the creation (1:2, 3), fundamentally, eternally, indivisibly. He was not merely from the beginning; He already was,"in the beginning"(verse 1). He was not only "with God"; He "was God" (verse 1). No exegetical juggling can really hide the force of the Greek here, especially when it is read honestly with its context.
          The Greek word Logos, here translated as "Word," is fuller than our English representative, yet even our noun "Word" is richly useful here. As a word may be distinguished from the thought which it expresses (for the two are not identical), so can the Second Person of the Godhead be distinguished from the First. Yet as there simply cannot  be a word apart from the thought behind it, so also "God" and the "Word" cannot be conceived of as ever having  existed without each other. They are distinguishable but inseparable. 
    
          Our Lord is also the SON. The concept of Logos in relation to Theos is warmed (made more personal) into that of  the Son in relation to the Father. At best human comparisons must fall short of the realities they seek to make humanly intelligible; yet even so, they are revealing. The Logos is simply "with" the God (verse 1), but the Son is "in  the bosom" of the Father (verse 18). There is a reciprocal fellowship of love inherent in the Deity; and it is one of the  ultimates, eternal as God, for there cannot be eternal fatherhood without eternal sonship. 
     Thus these two metaphors, the "Word" and the "Son," supplement and protect each other. Taken separately they might lead divergent thinkers to widely different and equally erroneous conceptions of our Lord; but when taken together, each  corrects the possible misuse of the other. 
    
     To think of our Lord only as the eternal "Word" might suggest merely an impersonal quality or faculty in God. To think of  Him only as the "Son" might falsely limit us to the concept of a personal yet created being. But the two terms combined  ensure both aspects of the truth to us, and at the same time guard us from error. Our Lord and Savior, the second Member  of the Trinity, is both eternal and personal. 
          Next, in relation to us human beings, He is the LIFE and the LIGHT. From Him all created beings derive life, physical and psychic (immaterial! moral, or spiritual). From Him comes all true illumination, both spiritual and intellectual (verses 4,9).The two terms are as equally suggestive of our Lord's deity as are the figures "Word" and  "Son."  Indeed, these two designations the "Life" and the "Light" correspond with the "Word" and the "Son." 
                    As the Word He is the expresser, the revealer, the illuminator, the Light. 
                    As the Son He is the personal executive, quickener, imparter, the Life. 
    

    And again, paralleling with these, there are the two words, “grace” and “truth,” – full of “grace” to redeem
    man, and full of “truth” to reveal God. He is the God-Man Revealer-Redeemer.

     Oh, this all-transcendent Savior of ours! "His name shall be called WONDERFUL!" In this first chapter alone there are no less than eight titles given Him. Eight titles which belong absolutely and exclusively to Him: 
          the WORD (verse 1), 
          the LIFE (verse 4), 
          the LIGHT (verse 7), 
          the SON (verse 18), 
          the LAMB (verse 29), 
          the MESSIAH (verse 41), 
          the KING (verse 49), 
          and the SON OF MAN (verse 51). 
    
     In addition to the four designations of our Lord in the prologue, The WORD, the LIFE, the LIGHT, and the SON, we  find, in the prologue, six additional emphases which are to be developed in the chapters to follow. These six additional  aspects, emphases are: 
          "darkness" (verse 5), 
          "witness" (verses 7,8, 15), 
          "believe" verse 7, 
          "power to become" (verse 12), 
          "born of God" (verse 13), 
          "fulness" (verse 14,16). 
    
     These ten emphases go right through the book, in five associated pairs and then give us the recurrent ideas around which the Gospel According To John is structured. They are: 
    
             1.The Word - becoming flesh as the incarnate truth (1:1, 14, 17, 8:40, 14:6, Verily, Verily," etc.). 
             2.The Light - shining in the darkness; "the darkness comprehended it not"; "His own received Him not" (3:19,12:46, etc). 
             3.The Life - imparting new birth and "power to become" (1:12, 13, 3:8, 15, 10:10, etc.). 
             4.The Son - coming forth "full of grace" and sharing His "fulness" (1:14, 16, 33, 4:10, 14:27, 15:11, etc.). 
             5.Witness - that all "might believe" (1:7, with frequent recurrence) and "have life." 
    
     To accomplish our purposes we are going to trace out number five of these recurrent ideas - the idea of life by  believing, because among these ideas which run through the book of John, this one carries John's main purpose  (20:31). 
    
     ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH BELIEVING
    
     John gives his practical purpose as "That ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that  believing ye might have life" (20:31). That word "believe" occurs in its several forms ninety-eight times; the words "life"  (zoe) and "live (zao) fifty-five times. When we pick out the principal references to eternal life (1:4, 3:14-16, 3:36, 4:10-14,  5:24-29, 6:35-55, 8:12, 10:28,29, 11:25,26, 17:3, etc.), we discover an unmistakable progress of doctrine. Each new reference reveals a further truth in such wise that to transpose any would spoil the order. Here we see the guidance of  the Holy Spirit upon the Apostle John in the writing of this Gospel. 
    
          We start with chapter 1:4 - So the first thing is that this life is in the Son and that its first action upon the soul is to  give light, the light which reveals spiritual realities, which "shineth in the darkness," revealing human sin and Divine  truth. 
          Second, in chapter 3:14-16 - Here we learn that the life is imparted to us through faith in the Calvary work of the  Savior-Son, and that it is eternal. 
          Next, in chapter 3:36 - It is that word "hath" which leaps to the eye here, telling us that this eternal life is the  present possession of the believer. There is nothing doubtful; it does not say "may have." Nor is it only future; for the word is "hath," meaning here and now. 
          Again, in chapter 4:14 - Here the life is not only a present possession but an inward satisfaction. We drink, and  the life-giving drought becomes a very fountain within the soul, ever springing, ever satisfying. 
          And now comes chapter 5:24 - The word "condemnation" here is krisis (judgment) and refers to the final judgment of Mankind, as shown in verse 29. The possession of eternal life through faith in the Savior gives exemption from  judgment. There has been a pass-over from "death" in sin to "life" in Christ. Once for all, Jesus bore the penalty due  to the believer's sin; and once for all, therefore, eternal life in Him delivers from penal judgment.  This brings us to chapter 6:35-55(40) - In His great discourse here our Lord is the Bread of Life. He becomes so  by giving His flesh and blood (verses 51,53).He also indicates that feeding upon Him is believing, and that the  sustenance is spiritual (verses 35,56,63). But the remarkable addition, which occurs like a refrain, is: "And I will raise him up at the last day" (verses 39,40,44,54). 
          Next, in chapter 8:12 - That the Christian walk is to be a walk of confident assurance, because he has the "light of  life." 
          Our next reference is chapter 10:27-29 - This picture of our Lord's saved ones being held secure in the  interlocked grasp of both the Son and the Father is the strongest possible assurance that eternal life means eternal preservation. 
          Now we encounter chapter 11:25,26 - Let us first see what Jesus is saying here. Martha has just said: "I know that he [Lazarus] shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Our Lord uses an aorist subjunctive in reply: "He  that believeth in Me, though he may have died [i.e. at "the last day"], yet shall he live [for I am the resurrection]; and whosoever is [then] living and believing in Me shall never die [for I am the life]." So all the possessors of eternal life  in Christ are to share in this promised age-end transfiguration. 
          Finally, in chapter 17:3 - To possess Jesus Christ and be possessed li Him is to find GOD - and the true life. All who accept Christ are drawn to Him by the Father. Those who through faith responding is the Father's gift to the  Son (seven times Jesus says so in this chapter). Verse 2 says that the Son imparts eternal life to "as many as" the Father has "given Him"; and this is crowned by verse 24. So the eternal life which believers posses through the  Savior is to be consummated in a heavenly glorification. 
    
     Thus we see a progression of disclosure: 
    
          First we see that this life is in the Son, and is an exposure-light on sin and darkness. 
          Next we see that the life is received by faith on the Calvary Sin-bearer. 
          Then, successively, it is a present possession, an inward satisfaction,  an exemption from judgment, 
          an assurance and preservation , it awaits age-end transfiguration, and is to be consummated in heavenly glorification. 
    
     John has all this in mind when he writes at the end of his Gospel: 
    
          "These are written that ye night believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing
          ye might have life through His Name." 
    
     Oh, how simple is the way into eternal life -"BELIEVE." 
    
     INCARNATE WORD, ONLY-BEGOTTEN SON
    
     Running right through from the prologue to epilogue is the developing presentation of Jesus as the incarnate Word and only-begotten Son. This is the center-glory of John's Gospel. Although we merely fringe the subject here, we can at least indicate features which invite further inquiry. 
    
     Twenty-three times we find our Lord's meaningful "I am" (4:26, 6:20, 35, 41, 48, 51, 8:12, 18, 24,28, 58, 10:7, 9, 11, 14, 11:25, 13:19, 14:6, 15:1,5, 18:5, 6, 8). 
    
     From these we pick out those in which He successively couples His "I am" with seven tremendous metaphors expressive of  His saving relationship toward mankind: 
    
               "I AM the Bread of life" (6:35,41,48,51). 
               "I AM the light of the world" (8:12). 
               "I AM the door of the sheep" (10:7,9). 
               "I AM the Good Shepherd" (10:11,14). 
               "I AM the Resurrection and the Life" (11:25). 
               "I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life" (14:6). 
               "I AM the true vine" (15:1,5). 
    
     Fundamentally, the message Jesus brought, was Himself. 
    

    He did not come merely to preach a Gospel; He Himself is the Gospel.
    He did not come merely to give bread; He said: “I am the bread.”
    He did not come merely to shed light; He said: “I am the light.”
    He did not come merely to show the door; He said: “I am the door.”
    He did not come merely to name a shepherd; He said: “I am the shepherd.”
    He did not come merely to point the way; He said: “I am the way, the truth, the life.”
    He did not come merely to plant a vine; He said: “I am the vine.”

    Our Lord’s other utterances of “I am,” also, seem to carry a profound implication, though latently rather than apparently. In the Greek “I am” is ego eimi. Both ego and eimi mean “I am”; but the former emphasizes “I,” and the latter “am.” Thus, ego elmi expresses personal being in the strongest possible way. It is the Greek expression for the Divine name “I AM.”
    Here are the references again: 4:26, 6:20, 8:18,24,28,58, 13,19, 18:5,6,8.

     Lets take the first of them (4:26). Literally, what our Lord says to the Sychar women is not "I that speak to thee am He" (i.e. the Messiah) as translated in both Authorised and Revised Versions; but "I AM who am speaking to thee." In  some of these verses our translators have apparently felt difficulty in knowing whether to insert the "He" or not, so they give  it in italics only. We would not unduly press, yet it certainly does seem as though in some of these utterances our Lord uses  that EGO EIMI with maximum implication. 
    
     All this, of course, is given support by our Lord's claims and assumptions which find expression right through this Gospel. Take, for instance, the passage beginning at chapter 5:19. This public reply to the Jewish leaders is prefaced by the explanation: "Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill Him, because He . . . said also that God was His Father, making  Himself equal with God" (verse 18). The question is at once provoked: Did Jesus really make Himself equal with God"?
     Yes, and following we see seven particular areas in which Jesus claims equality with God. 
        1.Equal in working (verse 19). 
        2.Equal in knowing (verse 20). 
        3.Equal in resurrecting (Verse 21 with 28,29). 
        4.Equal in judging (verse 22 with 27). 
        5.Equal in honor (verse 23). 
        6.Equal in regenerating (verses 24,25) 
        7.Equal in self-existence (verse 26). 
    
     Who can read claims like these without seeing in them the assumption of such oneness with the eternal Father as betokens  essential equality? The Jewish leaders rightly enough understood His claims, and John would have us clearly understand  them, too. (John 20:31) 
    
     Look, once, again at John 1:18. The Greek verb-form here translated as "declared" is exegesato, from which comes our  English word exegesis. It means that in the visible Jesus the invisible God is brought forth to view. The incomprehensible  concept, "God" is objectively illuminated before us. The very heart of the Eternal is livingly "exegeted," for the only begotten  Son comes even from "the bosom of the Father." 
    
     IN RETROSPECT
    
     So, now that we have picked our way through all four Gospels, let us glance back retrospectively and get the fourfold  focus in our hearts: 
    
      Matthew   The promised One is here;   SEE HIS CREDENTIALS
      Mark         This is how He worked;       SEE HIS POWER
      Luke         This is what He was like;     SEE HIS NATURE
      John         This is who He really was;    SEE HIS GODHEAD
    

  48. THE GOSPEL OF MARK

    There is no doubt about the authorship of this second Gospel. Right from sub-Apostolic days tradition firmly testifies three facts:

     that a record of our Lord's words and works was written by one called Mark; 
     that this record was what we now know as the Gospel according to Mark; 
     that this Mark is the John Mark who figures in the Acts and the epistles of the New Testament. Such has been the view  uniformly held. It is also the renewed verdict of present day scholarship. 
    

    We first come across Mark in Acts 12:12. His mother’s name, “Mary,” indicates that she was Jewish. Mark himself had a Jewish forename and a Roman surname, John” and “Mark”; indicating that his father was most likely a Roman. Their home was evidently large and used as a meeting place for the early Christians. They were presumably well-to-do, as also Marks’ uncle Barnabas seems to have been (Acts 4:37).

    In Acts 12:25 Barnabas and Paul take Mark with them to Antioch, and later take him on their first missionary journey (Acts 13:5). However, when they reach Perga, on the frontiers of the great heathen world, he decides to return home (Acts 13:13). When Barnabas would take Mark again at a later date, Paul and he so disagree that they separate; and Barnabas goes off with Mark to Cyprus (Acts 15:36-41).

    From that point we hear no more of Barnabas; but Mark reappears in the epistles, and most commendably so. Almost twenty years have past. Paul, now a battle-scarred veteran in the Lord’s army, is in prison at Rome. He sends a letter to some Christians believers in a faraway little Phryian town – the “Epistle to the Colossians.” In chapter 4:10 he says: “Aristarchus, my-fellow prisoner, saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas (touching whoa ye received commandments: if he come unto you receive him).) Thus we see that Mark is still alive, still active for Christ, and with Paul again and that he is purposing a missionary journey to Asia Minor, the very place from which he had once turned back. That seemingly, is why Paul tells the Colossians, whose town lay in Mark’s possible line of travel: “If he should call on you, receive him.” But even more interesting is what Paul adds to this, in verse 11: “These only are my fellow-workers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.” Only three Christians in Rome have remained actively loyal to Paul, and one of those three is Mark. Paul now speaks of Mark as a “fellow-worker” and “a comfort”. (See also Philemon 24.) So there is complete restoration between Paul and Mark.

    Again in his second letter to Timothy Paul writes: “Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me.. Only Luke is with me. take Mark,and bring him with thee, for he is profitable to me for the ministry.” Paul, still or once again in prison, was longing to have Mark by him again. Mark had now so proved his courageous devotion to Christ through the years that his early default at Perga was utterly erased.

    Once again we find mention of mark, this time by Peter (I Peter 5:13). “She that is elected with you at Babylon saluteth you, and so doth Marcus, my son.” This affectionate designation indicates that it was Peter who had begotten Mark as a convert to Christ: but it also shows that through all the years Mark had proved himself truly a “son” in the faith to Peter. There are clear evidences that there was a special bond between them, as we shall mention later.

    But what had Mark been doing all those years between that day at Perga and his reappearance in Paul’s later epistles? Tradition which there is no reason to distrust tells of his remarkable ministry in Egypt, his winning many converts, and his founding the first Christian church at Alexandria.

    Thus not only was Mark gratefully reinstated by the Apostles Paul and Peter, but the Holy Spirit came specially upon this man, and by supernatural inspiration used him as one of the four Gospel writers to whom we owe the priceless records of our Savior’s life on earth.

    Moreover, this young man, in deathless devotion to the dearest of all masters, gave himself to be dragged through the streets by exasperated Egyptians, flung bruised and bleeding into a dungeon, then burned to death.

    PETER’S INFLUENCE ON THE GOSPEL OF MARK

    As you read Mark’s Gospel one of the striking features that comes to your attention is the first hand familiarity with detail. Such familiarity presupposes them to have been related by one of the apostles or by someone directly transcribing for an apostle. Who but a personal observer, an apostle, could have given us this?

     "And the same day, when even was come, He saith unto them: Let us pass over unto the other side. And
     when they had sent away the multitude, they took Him even as He was in the ship; and there were also
     with Him other little ships. and there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship so that   it was now being filled. And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow..." (Mark 4:35-38). 
    

    In place after place, comparison of Mark with Matthew or Luke indicates the same first-handed familiarity with detail. Indeed, Mark’s first-hand familiarity does come from an apostle. There is a tradition, going back to sub-Apostolic days, that this second Gospel, although attributed to Mark, was, in reality, written by him as the scribe of Peter, or else as the translator and continuator of an original by Peter in Aramaic.

    The most important evidence for this is that of Papias, bishop of Hierapolis in Phrygia, a disciple and pupil of the Apostle John,writing about 130 A.D. Papias wrote a book in five volumes, long since lost, An Exposition of Oracles of the Lord. But Eusebius, at the end of the third century, quotes three excerpts from it in his Ecclesiastical History. Here are the first two:

     "Whatsoever I have at any time accurately ascertained and treasured up in my memory, I have received it from the  Elders, and have recorded it in order to give additional confirmation to the truth by my testimony... If I met with anyone who had been a follower of the Elders anywhere, I made it a point to enquire what were the declarations of  the Elders; what had been said by Andrew, Peter, or Philip; what by Thomas, James, John, Matthew, or any of the disciples of our Lord; what was said by Aristion and the presbyter John, disciples of the Lord; for I do not think that  I derived so much benefit from books as by the living voice of those that were still surviving. 
    

    Notice how close this excerpt from Papias comes to the days of the apostles. In the second excerpt, Papias is quoting and earlier “apostolic Presbyter”.

     "And John the presbyter also said this: MARK, being the interpreter of Peter, whatsoever he recorded he wrote  with great accuracy, but not however in the order in which it was spoken or done by our Lord; for he neither heard  nor followed our Lord, but as before said, he was in company with Peter, who gave him instruction as was  necessary, but not to give a history of our Lord's discourses. Wherefore Mark has not erred in anything, by writing  some things as he has recorded them; for he was carefully attentive to one thing: not to pass by anything that he  heard, or to state anything falsely in these accounts." 
    

    Ppias leaves no doubt as to the special influence of Peter on this “Gospel according to Mark”.

    As this truth soaks in and is appreciated, Mark’s Gospel comes alive with new interests. IT IS PETER’S STORY. Peter is everywhere in it. The narrative throbs with his energetic spirit. We can see why this second Gospel could be accurately concentrated into one sentence of Peter, as spoken to the household of Cornelius, in Acts 10:37,38.

     "That word . . . which was published throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism
     which John preached; how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who
     went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him." 
    

    We, also, can see why some things are included and other things excluded about Peter himself. It is noticeable how certain incidents which reflect honor on Peter are omitted from this Gospel, from a motive which we can admire, knowing that this Gospel is Peter’s account of things.

    There is no mention of his walking on the water; no mention of the grateful benediction pronounced upon him when he avowed on behalf of the twelve: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Compare Mark 8:29 with Matthew 16:16-19.) In the resurrection account we do not find here, as in Luke 24:34, “The Lord is risen indeed! and hath appeared to Simon!” No, the honorable distinction is given to Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9).

    On the other hand, Peter’s denial of his Lord is told most fully in Mark, with the added circumstance that it was not until “the second time the cock crew” that Peter suddenly “called to mind” the sad prediction of Jesus. Both Matthew and Luke say that Peter “went out and wept bitterly.” In Mark it is only “And when He thought thereon he wept’, lest reference to the bitterness of his tears should seem to give the appearance of artificial humility.

    And, of course, there is that final touch which is found only in Mark, and which the once fallen but restored Simon must have thrilled to record and speak of, namely, the first message sent from the empty sepulchre on the resurrection morning,: “Go your way: tell His disciples, AND PETER, that He goeth before you into Galilee” (Mark 16:7). What those two little words “and Peter” must have meant to the brokenhearted Simon. With fond gratitude Peter makes sure those words are restored. These touches are like Peter’s initials to the narrative, showing us that this second Gospel is really “the Gospel according to Mark – and Peter”.

    MARK’S FIRST-INTENDED READERS

    Of equal interest is the question as to who were the first-intended readers of this second Gospel. It soon becomes plain that the writer has Gentiles in mind. If he had been writing to the Jews he would not have explained Jewish customs. For example:

     "For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of
     the elders" (7:3). 
    
     "And now when evening was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath . .
     ."(15:42). 
    

    Nor would he have explained that the Mount of Olives was “over against the Temple” (13:3), – or that the disciples of John and of the Pharisees “used to fast” (2:18). Other examples: he explains how John the Baptist was dressed (1:6); the meaning of the word Bo-anerges which Jesus used to describe the brothers James and John (3:17); and the Aramaic words Talitha cumi, used by Jesus (5:41). Other explanations of Palestinian places and Jewish customs and terms in such passages as Mark 7:4,11,34; 12:42;15:22.

    It has been long held that Mark wrote his Gospel in Greek, at Rome, for Gentile Christians there. This may well have been so, though my on view is somewhat otherwise. No doubt Mark wrote his Gospel in Greek, but I am inclined to think that the place of writing was Palestine rather than Rome.29.For one thing, the narrative seems to assume throughout that the readers are familiar with the localities of Palestine. There are no topographical explanations such as you find in Luke (Luke l:39, 65; 2:4 etc.) and would expect in Mark if written for readers in Rome. Again, although the explanatory comments on Jewish practices indicate that the intended readers were not Jews, they seem equally to presuppose a degree of knowledge and experience with, especially the Jewish festivals and the Sabbath. For instance,the difference between the two closely connected feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread is assumed known (14:1).References here and there to other Jewish festivals and the Sabbath are made without any such comment as might have been expected for readers entirely strange to Jewery.

    We might, also, note that there were many gentiles, Romans in Palestine. Many who no doubt, like “a certain man in Cesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave alms to the people, and prayed to God alway” (Acts 10:1,2), and then also like, Cornelius, and his household, had gone the further step of becoming Christians, who had need to have in writing in their native tongue the gospel story and message which the Apostle Peter and the other apostles preached.

    Thus the Gospel according to Mark was a record for those persons, just as much as Matthew’s for the Jews, and Luke’s for the Gentiles. Somehow, those Palestine non-Jewish proselytes to Judaism and converts to Christianity seem to belong between out-right Jews and out-right Gentiles; and that is where John Mark seems to fit, too, if as seems likely he was both of Jewish and Roman parenthood. John Mark would have a dominant interest in those Palestine Gentiles, Romans, proselytes, Christians; and an aptitude to write the kind of record best adapted to them. If this is the case, that Mark wrote from Palestine and that his first intended readers were these Palestine Gentiles, Romans, proselytes, Christians; then how appropriate that Mark’s is the second Gospel. There are some who seem to think it a sign of scholarship to put Mark first and Matthew after it. No, Matthew must come first – “to the Jew first” – being the obvious first link-up of the New Testament with the Old. And Luke must come third – “also to the Gentile” – because Mark is the
    between Gospel for Gentile-Jews. Those who were Gentiles by birth and Jews by faith; and because it was moving out from Jewish exclusiveness, as in Matthew, to a universal outlook, as in Luke, we leave Mark were it is in its proper place between Matthew and Luke, being written in Palestine to these Gentile-Jews.

    THE LAST TWELVE VERSES

    Almost certainly someone asks: What about those last twelve verses of this Gospel? Are they genuine or spurious? The question is not easily answered. That Mark would end at verse 5, with the words, “for they were afraid” is unthinkable. This would be a strange anti-climax, leaving the resurrection finale incomplete and, even more so, this is unthinkable on grammatical grounds, (in the Greek) the final word is the little conjunction “for.”

    The Scofield” note in loco rightly says: “The passage from verse 9 to the end is not found in the two most ancient manuscripts, the Sinaitic and Vatican, and others have it with partial omissions and variations. But it is quoted by Ireneus and Hyppolytus in the second or third century.” It might have been added that the Vatican manuscript does have a space left after our verse 8, indicating a known absence of some completive portion. And, as the Angus Bible Handbook says: “The overwhelming mass of MSS., versions and Fathers are in favor of the verses.” Moreover, doubt concerning them does not seem to have been expressed until the fourth century.

    MARK’ S INTENDED PURPOSE

    Mark’s purpose in writing this Gospel account is quickly revealed. He wants us to see Jesus at work. It is as though he is saying: “Look! What Jesus did proves who He was. What He wrought authenticates what He taught. The mighty works verify the startling words. Watch Him at work, and marvel at this supernatural Wonder-worker! That will convince you.”

    So, there is no opening genealogy as in Matthew, no introductory account of what preceded and attended and succeeded the birth of Jesus. Right away we are at the Jordan, to hear John announce that “One mightier” is at hand. Forthwith Jesus is on the scene; the miracle-ministry begins; and by eager, graphic strokes Mark reaches in chapter one what Matthew takes eight chapters to overtake. He covers in nine chapters what Matthew covers in twice as many. Not that his account is skimpy, for, on the contrary, it is alive with detail; but he focuses on what Jesus did, and omits much of what Jesus said.

    Mark is distinctively the Gospel of what Jesus did. Even the “kingdom,” which filled our Lord’s preaching and is named over fifty times in Matthew, is on our Lord’s lips only fourteen times in Mark. It is clear as can be what Mark intends: we are meant to look and marvel at the “mighty works” – and well we may!

    This procedure of Mark’s, also, gives us his picture of Jesus. We recall the four faces of the cherubim in Ezekiel 5 vision – lion, ox, man, eagle; speaking respectively of kingship, service, manhood, Godhead. As we have noted, those four are paralleled in the four Gospel accounts. In Mark, our Lord is uniquely transcribed as the SERVANT. corresponding with the second of the faces.
    In Mark’s Gospel the Lordship is on every page, yet everywhere the Lord is the SERVANT. The Apostle Paul says it this way:
    “He took upon Himself the form of a servant… and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:7,8).

    THE COMPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF MARK

    There are no designed groupings like Matthew’s. That is not Mark’s policy. he wants us to catch the wonder of this Mighty-One in Action. So, instead of specialized groupings or methodical sectioning, we have a purposely unhalting succession of astonishing doings. Mark is the camera-man of the four Gospel-writers, giving us shots of unforgettable scenes. There are certain main breaks in his story, as we soon see; but even they are not allowed to interrupt these rapid, one after another snapshots of breath-taking marvels. One mighty work follows another across the screen, sometimes with abrupt transition, until by force of cumulative impact we are compelled to exclaim – just as Mark intends – “Surely this was the Son of God!”

    We want to now look through the earlier chapters and see how this is so. Right away, in the short preface, four voices announce the Wonder-worker now being introduced.

          Mark - "Jesus Christ, the SON OF GOD" (verses 1). 
          Isaiah - "Prepare ye the way of THE LORD" (verse 3). 
          John - "There cometh ONE MIGHTIER" (verse 7). 
          God - "Thou art MY BELOVED SON" (verse 11). 
    

    Then at once the public ministry begins. Straightway we have a rapid series of astounding exploits:

          A demon cast out in the synagogue (verse 26). 
          A fever case healed in the home (verse 31). 
          Crowds of invalids cured at the door (verse 34). 
          A leper cleansed by the wayside (verse 42). 
    

    All this is in chapter one. The word euthios (straightway,” “immediately”) is everywhere. The people are “astonished” at His “doctrine,” and are “amazed” at His “authority.” His “fame” spreads “throughout all the region” and is “blazed abroad.”

    On the very heels of all this, chapter two beings a quick succession of hostile criticisms:

          The Scribes - "This man speaketh blasphemy. Who can forgive sins but God only?"verse 7". 
          The Pharisees - "How is it that He eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?" (verse 16). 
          John's disciples - "Why do the disciples of John and the Pharisees fast, but Thy disciples fast not?" (verse 18). 
          The Pharisees - "Behold, why do they (His disciples) on the Sabbath day that which is not lawful?" (verse 24). 
    

    And in each case we marvel at our Lord’s replies. He moves from one encounter to another in perfect control of every situation.

    Chapter three begins with “And” (out of sixteen chapters twelve begin with “And,” indicating the unhalting continuity of the narrative.) And the march of marvels continues –

          He healed many - 
          a man with a withered hand is healed -
          unclean spirits... fell down before Him. 
    

    Specimen parables follow briefly in chapter 4, but are quickly followed by even mightier miracles –

          the quelling of the tempest - 
          the expulsion of a whole demon "legion" - 
          the curing of the incurable - 
          and the raising of the dead. 
    

    Still more spectacular wonders follow in chapters 6, 7, 8 –

          the feeding of the five thousand by the creative multiplication of a few morsels - 
          the walk over the gale-swept sea - 
          demons cast out - 
          deafness and dumbness healed - 
          and the feeding of the four thousand with the seven loaves." 
    

    All this is so few chapters, with such energetic rapidity – and punctuated by references of the effect on the people:

          "They were astonished at His doctrine" (1:22). 
          "And they were all amazed" (1:27). 
          "His frame spread abroad throughout all the region" (1:28). 
          "They came to Him from every quarter" (1:45). 
          "Many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them" (2:2). 
          "They were all amazed.. .We never saw it on this fashion (2:12). 
          "All the multitude resorted unto Him" (2:13). 
          "A great multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judea, and from Jerusalem and from Idumea, and from   beyond Jordan, and they about Tyre and Sidon; a great Multitude, when they had heard what great things He did"   (3:7,8). 
          "The multitude . . . lest they should throng Him" (3:9). 
          "And unclean spirits . . . fell down before Him, and cried, Thou art the Son of God!" (3:11). 
          "The multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread" (3:20). 
          "He began again to teach... and there was gathered unto Him a great multitude" (4:1) 
          "What manner of Man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" (4:41). 
          "Much people gathered unto Him" (5:21). 
          "They were astonished with a great astonishment" (5:42). 
          "The people ran afoot out of all cities , and came together unto Him" (6:33) - verse 44 shows they were thousands. 
          "They.. ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where  they heard He was. And whithersoever He entered, into villages or cities or country, they laid the sick in the streets,  and besought Him that they might touch if it were but the border of His garment; and as many as touched Him were  made whole!" (6:55,56). 
          "They were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well!" (7:37). 
    

    So runs the incomparable story. The like had never been witnessed from the foundation of the world. THIS TRULY IS THE SON OF GOD, THE MESSIAH, THE CHRIST OF ISRAEL! At long last the KING had come. All are flocking to Him. The healed, the blessed, the grateful, the applauding are everywhere. Public acclaim has reached high-tide. SURELY THE KING will now take up the crown and septre which rightly belong to Him and establish the long awaited everlasting kingdom of which Daniel the prophet spoke. (Daniel 2:44; 714, 27).

    BUT NO; suddenly the light dims, the air chills, there is a sharp and distinct mood change; for at chapter 8:31 we read, with utter surprise if you have really gotten the feel of the story up to now.

     "And He began to teach then that the Son of Man must SUFFER many things, and be REJECTED of the
     elders and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be KILLED." 
    

    There it is, right after the open declaration of Peter on behalf of himself and the disciples: “Thou art the Christ” (verse 29). Just when it seems a peak-point is reached, hopes are dashed, and there comes this ABRUPT, ASTOUNDING TRANSITION. Instead of a throne waiting at Jerusalem, THERE IS A CROSS! Instead of royal purple, A CRIMINAL’S DEATH!

    That such a one as HE should be thus spurned, killed, shamed, and that SUCH a ministry of mighty works and gracious cures and super-wisdom should end in such a disgraceful and dishonorable way, is almost too hard to be believable. It is completely inconsistent with the direction things were going. It is the most tragic rejection and mystery of the ages.

    Thus in verse 32 we have Peter rebuking Jesus.

     "Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee" -Matthew 16:22. 
    

    The sudden change at chapter 8:31 is staggering. It is quite clear from the way Mark relates these events that we are meant to see it so, for there is no mistaking it – from that point onward the cross is uppermost in our Lord’s mind, and repeatedly on His lips (9:12, 31; 10:21, 32-34, 38, 45; 12:7, 8; 14:8, 18, 22-25). In Mark’s narrative it is (8:31) “THE GREAT DIVIDE,” so that the story falls into two vivid parts

     the MIGHTY WORKS WHICH HE WROUGHT (1:14 - 8:30), and 
     the TRAGIC ENIGMA OF HIS REJECTION (8:31 - 15:47). 
    

    We may see the whole of the Gospel of Mark in the following outline.

    OUTLINE OF MARK’S GOSPEL

     Key idea: Jesus Jehovah's Servant, the Mighty Worker. 
     Key verse: 10:45 - "To minister.. .and give His life." 
     Key word: Euthios , "straight," "immediately," etc. 
    

    Forward: Four voices Announce Him: Chapter 1:1-13. “Son of God,” “The Lord,” One Mighter,” “My Son.”

    I. The Mighty Works, Chapters 1:14 – 8:30.

        1.First message and disciples, 1:14-20. 
        2.First mighty works and effect, 1:21 - 2:12. 
        3.First critics - and replies, 2:13 - 3:6. 
        4.Crowds flock: Twelve chosen, 3:7-19. 
        5.Scribes warned: reply to same, 3:20-35. 
        6.Parables = few "good" hears, 4:1-34. 
        7.More mighty works and effects, 4:35 - 6:6. 
        8.The Twelve endued and sent out, 6:7-13. 
        9.Herod's idea: the twelve report, 6:14-31. 
       10.Still mighter works, 6:32-56. 
       11.Critics; sighs; final signs, 7:1 - 8:26. 
       12.Avowal: "Thou art the Christ", 8:27-30. 
    

    II. The Tragic Enigma, Chapters 8:31 – 15:47

        1.Strange new note: The Cross, 8:31 - 9:1. 
        2.Transfiguration: Cross again, 9:2-13. 
        3.Mighty miracle: Cross again, 9:14-32. 
        4.Apostles rebuked; counseled, 9:33-50. 
        5.Judea again: sayings, doings, 10:1-31. 
        6.To Jerusalem: Cross in view, 10:32-52. 
        7.The triumphal entry, 11:1-11. 
        8.Fig tree: Temple purge, 11:12-19. 
        9.Foes: Olivet discourse, 11:20- 13:37. 
       10.Bethany - and betrayal, 14:l:-ll. 
       11.Passover - Garden Trial, 14:12-72. 
       12.Pilate; Cross; Burial, 15:1-47. 
    

    Finale: Four fold triumph, Chapter 16.

        1.Risen (1-8). 
        2.Appearing (9-18). 
        3.Ascended (19) 
        4.Working (20)
    

  49. Oh so you want to say that the disciples never knew of jesus resseruction prior

    Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

    21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

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