Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Part 21

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - PURPLE

 PURPLE*

It is said that in the Bible there are few, if any, details which are not of some significance. In that case, one has to wonder why the colour purple is used so frequently; is it just because we consider it to be the colour of royalty?

Purple is really the combination of two primary colours - blue and red. It is mentioned 26 times in the book of Exodus alone and always in association with both blue and red or scarlet. In the New Testament, the colour purple is used either by itself or in association with scarlet but never with the colour blue.

So does this little detail have any real significance or not? In Exodus, the instructions for the curtains in the tabernacle were given.

Moreover you shall make the tabernacle 

with ten curtains of fine woven linen, 

and blue, purple, and scarlet thread; 

with artistic designs of cherubim you shall weave them. 

(Exodus 26:1)

The purple colour would come about because the blue and scarlet threads would be so tightly woven together that it would appear as purple thread. Thus, the two other colours meeting together would produce the third colour.

In the times of the Exodus, the tabernacle was the tent of meeting; the place where the two main entities of life at that time, God and man, could come together. In such a place and time, blue represented the heavens, i.e.: God, and so was always stated as coming first. And of course, red represents the colour of the earth of the Middle East and it was from earth man came and it was to earth he would return. In addition it should be noted that the Hebrew word for man is Adam which derives from another Hebrew word meaning red.

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground… 

(Genesis 2:7)

In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread 

Till you return to the ground, 

For out of it you were taken; 

For dust you are, 

And to dust you shall return. 

(Genesis 3:19)

As a result, scarlet not only represented the earth but also the sin and guilt of the earthy life. Thus, from the very beginning, existed this symbol of the desire for there to be a reconciliation between God and mankind. So, as it is only by a tight union of the blue and scarlet threads that one can obtain a purple colour, likewise it is only by a tight relationship that a true reconciliation can be achieved between God and man.

The possibility of this was realized at the time of the crucifixion and was in turn symbolized when a purple robe was placed on Christ.

…and they put on Him a purple robe. 

(John 19:2)

Then Jesus came out, 

wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe.

And Pilate said to them “Behold the Man!” 

(John 19:5)

Not only behold the Man but also behold God, for man and God had again become one; reconciled at last. The blue of heaven and the crimson of earth had become joined in the purple of eternity - man and God reconciled.

Surely something to think about.    

 

*The Book of Mysteries by Jonathan Cahn, p.g. 289.

Blake Storey Nov 16, 2025

Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Part 20

Just a Shoebox Reminder

 JUST A REMINDER

The shoeboxes need to be in by Sunday November 16th.

Thank-you

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - THE SCARLET CORD

THE SCARLET CORD*

In the book of Joshua, there is the story of Rehab, a harlot, and of two spies sent into Jericho by Joshua. In essence, when the king of Jericho sent men to search for the spies, Rehab hid them and helped them escape. In return, the spies promised to help and protect Rehab and her family when the forces of Joshua invaded the city. However, this would only be done if she would identify her house by a scarlet cord.

…when we come into the land, 

you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down,

…and whoever is with you in the house, 

his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. 

…And she bound the scarlet cord in the window. 

(Joshua 2:18-19,21)

So, it was because of the identification by the scarlet cord that Rehab and her family were saved.

Apparently, in the Talmud, it is recorded that on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, in the time of the Second Temple, a scarlet cord would be tied to the Temple doors and when the ordinances of the day were completed, the cord would turn from scarlet to white.

…Though your sins are like scarlet,

They shall be as white as snow… 

(Isaiah 1:18)

This apparently was a sign that the ordinances of Yom Kippur had been accepted and that the sins of the people had been covered. This evidently occurred each year.

The Temple, however, was destroyed by Roman armies in the year AD70. But the rabbis apparently noted a change about 40 years before this when the cord no longer continued to change. This was at the time of Christ’s crucifixion and was felt, by many, to mean that the old sacrifices of the temple were no longer needed because a different sacrifice had been made, one that by the atonement or sacrifice of the Messiah took away sin and saved those who accepted the sacrifice of Christ. As a result, God has cleansed us once for all - all our scarlet sins have been made white as snow. It is now up to us to live, as much as possible, a scarlet free life.

For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days…

I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” 

then He adds, “Their sins and lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

(Hebrews 10:14,16,17)

Just as the men of Joshua remembered and saved Rehab and her family because they obeyed instruction and were identified by the scarlet cord, so too are we remembered by Christ when we follow His word and accept His sacrifice.

Just something further to think about.

Adapted from The Book of Mysteries p.g. 209 by Jonathan Chan 

Pastor Matthew Trott Nov 9, 2025