Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Part 30

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - GOD'S WORD

GOD'S WORD

The Bible states that In The Beginning God spoke the universe into existence. It was through His Word then that all we know came about. In Genesis 1, the phrase:

Then God said…

…is repeated a number of times as creation takes place and as the worlds come into being.

But it wasn’t long before Satan asked the question:

 

…“Has God indeed said…?”

(Genesis 3:1)

…throwing into question the validity of what God had spoken.

Perhaps this is in part the reason why when God’s spoken word became flesh he was rejected. The idea that:

Has God indeed said?

remained and so as…

Israel has rejected the good… 

(Hosea 8:3)

…the Son of Man would…

…suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. 

(Luke 17:25) 

So, as people questioned the Word of God in the beginning, they also questioned and rejected the Word of God in the flesh because:

He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts,

Lest they should see with their eyes,

Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn… 

(John 12:40)

Even after all the disciples had seen Jesus do during His ministry, they still questioned whether He had really said and done what they had experienced. And so, in Mark, He said this after doing many miracles:

Having eyes, do you not see? 

And having ears, do you not hear?

…How is it you do not understand? 

(Mark 8:18, 21)

Rejection of God and His Word has been man’s position throughout history. Even the ones who should have been most in tune with God have done so. When Moses, who was God’s chosen to lead the Israelites free, was told by God to…

…Speak to the rock before their eyes, 

and it will yield its water… 

(Numbers 20:8)

Moses did not do what he was told for he…

…lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod… 

(Numbers 20:11)

As a result, God spoke to Moses and Arron:

…Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me…

you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them. 

(Numbers 20:12)

Moses was punished by not listening to God’s Word; the disciples were rebuked and humbled by not understanding what the Word of God, the Son of Man, had done during His ministry. And when we read the Bible today, the common response still seems to be:

Has God indeed said?…

…what the Bible indicates He has indeed said.

What He has said is there for us to read, what He has done is all around for us to see, and what He has prophesied is there for us to understand. As it was the duty of Moses to do God’s Word, so it is the same with us today.

Has God indeed said? Yes, He has and it is for us to consider and follow. 

And that is something to seriously think about.

Evening Service Cancelled

 

Due to the impending storm it has been decided to cancel this evening's church service.

Pastor Caroline Barclay - Feb. 1, 2026

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Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Part 29

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - WHO CARES?

WHO CARES?

When one looks at the present world and all that is happening, it is easy to ask the question as to whether anyone really cares or not. Do our leaders care? Do politicians really get bothered by how they act and speak? Is there any actual concern for individuals and how they exist and live and how they must feel? Individuals seem to be just invisible pawns in the overall scheme of world events. So does anyone really care? Does God care or is He also in the same category as everyone else?

To be in a situation where care seems to have been abandoned is really not new. In fact,  if one reads the book of Judges, it will soon be evident that whenever Israel abandoned their walk with God, it then seemed as if He abandoned them. It was only when the nation repented that the relationship with God was restored and the sense of abandonment abated. This happened frequently enough that one would think Israel would have gotten a clue, but it recurred over and over again.

Even in the time of Christ, the same feeling ensued. Those who were with Him for years still didn’t understand that Christ cared. When, in the boat on Lake Galilee, in the midst of a storm, the disciples, fearful for their lives, awakened Jesus and said:

…“Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” 

(Mark 4:38)

Matthew also records this as:

 

Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, 

saying, “Lord save us! We are perishing!” 

(Matthew 8:25) 

But Christ chastised them to a degree and said:

…“Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” 

(Mark 4:40)

But are we not essentially the same? Do we not look at what is happening around us and wonder where God is? When something untoward happens do we not question why God hasn’t intervened even though in many cases we tend to forget or deny His very existence. We forget the care God has for us and His statement that:

 

I will never leave you nor forsake you. 

(Hebrews 13:5)

This actually is a statement that has been repeated a number of times in the Bible

He [God] will not leave you nor forsake you. 

(Deuteronomy 31:6,8)

…I will be with you. 

I will not leave you nor forsake you. 

(Joshua 1:5)

…my God - will be with you. 

He will not leave you nor forsake you… 

(1 Chronicles 28:20)

So, it is clear that there is evidence throughout the Bible that God is with us and that He cares for us. There is evidence that He is concerned as to whether on not we are perishing in the midst of a storm or even if we only have no bread. But in turn, we have to remember that of which God is capable.

…Why do you reason because you have no bread?

Do you not yet perceive nor understand?

Is your heart still hardened? 

(Mark 8:17)

If we truly want to know and understand how much God cares and wants to be with us, then we have to be aware of and understand what He has done and can do. If we understand and believe His record, then we should be able to believe and understand His love and care for us. And in turn, we need to reciprocate in our love and gratitude to Him. 

Just something more to think about.

SERVICE CANCELLATION Sunday January 25th

 Due to the extreme cold and the condition of the parking lot at the hall, there will be no service on Sunday January 25th.