Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Part 34

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - CHANGE

                                                           

                              CHANGE

Most people resist change. We seem to be comfortable for the most part on the way our lives have been, are, and in which they seem to be going. Even when we are dissatisfied with the way things are, it often seems too difficult to effect a change unless we get to the end of our rope. When things appear to be the bleakest is when change is most likely to occur.

This is in accordance with Newton’s first law of motion which states that:

an object at rest stays at rest, 

an object in motion stays in motion in a straight line and at constant speed 

unless acted upon by an external, unbalanced force.

This explains why change may be difficult to initiate, for the universe as a whole tends to resist the new action, energy, or initiative that change requires. And so, for almost everyone, change can be difficult. This is why the Bible implies that change is often better taken slowly, in baby steps, rather than all at once.

When God first contacted Moses about leading the Jewish people from Egypt, the first thing He mentioned was:

…Do not draw near this place. 

Take your sandals of your feet… 

(Exodus 3:5)

…a small simple step in first drawing near to God in a holy place, but one with far reaching consequences.

And then Jesus saw the paralytic who had been lowered down to him from the roof, He said simply:

 

…arise, take up your bed, and go to your house. 

(Mark 2:11)

A simple statement to which the paralytic had to respond by accepting the change offered him. 

When Jesus saw the brothers Simon and Andrew casting their nets into the sea, Jesus simply said:

“Follow me.”

(Matt 4:19)

And

They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

(Matt 4:22)

So, the first step they did was to just drop their nets, a small one but necessary if they were to make the change required of them.

There are other examples as well, but the idea is that any change must begin with the first small step; just as any journey requires that first step to break the inertia that we all have in feeling comfortable where we are. If one is in a rut or involved in an activity that they regret, then having the fortitude to take that first small step may be all that is required to eventually lead to the change one requires. And making the right change may just give you an eternity in which to be thankful that you did.

It can really be something to think about.

 

 

Pastor Jasmine Trott March 8, 2026

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcd1WoitM6M

Obituary of Sybil Higgins

 

So sad to announce the death of another good friend.

https://eaglesfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/1755/Sybil-Higgins/obituary.html

 

Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Part 33

Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Part 33

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - ATONEMENT

ATONEMENT

Atonement is defined as “the doctrine concerning the reconciliation of God and Humankind;”* the reparation for a wrong or injury. In the Old Testament, the Day of Atonement involved a number of steps and rituals as outlined in the book of Leviticus, chapter 16. Essentially, however, there were three main actions involved. 

Aaron, or the subsequent priest, would have to sacrifice a young bull as a sin offering to atone for his own sin and the sin of his house. This had to be done before he could do any offering on behalf of anyone else.

Aaron shall offer the bull was a sin offering, 

which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house. 

(Leviticus 16:6)

Then he would take two goats and present them before the Lord.

Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: 

one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat. 

And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the Lord’s lot fell, 

and offer it as a sin offering.

(Leviticus 16:8-9)

So he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, 

because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, 

and because of their transgressions, for all their sins, 

and so he shall do for the tabernacle of meeting 

which remains among them in the midst of their uncleanness. 

(Leviticus 16:16)

So, the priest (Aaron or someone subsequent) would sacrifice a bull to atone for his own sins and those of his household and sacrifice a goat to atone for the Holy Place and the uncleanness of the children of Israel. 

But the other goat was kept alive and sent into the wilderness believing that it carried away with it the sins of the people as the scapegoat - a person or animal made to bear the blame for others or to suffer in their place.*

Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, 

confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, 

and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, 

putting them on the head of the goat, 

and shall send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man. 

The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to an uninhabited land… 

(Leviticus 16:21-22)

It’s interesting that a sacrifice had to be made for the atonement of both the priest and his household, and the Holy place in accordance with the statement

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, 

and I have given it to you upon the alter to make atonement for your souls; 

for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.

(Leviticus 17:11)

But for the sins of the people no blood was offered, only that they would be transferred to a scapegoat and abolished to the wilderness; without even a guarantee that it would not return and bring back the sins with him. 

Isn’t it good to know that, in our case today, there is no chance of a scapegoat returning and bringing back our sins with him? We have a God who sacrificed Himself for us and shed His blood for our atonement and remembers our sins no more.

But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, 

sat down at the right hand of God…

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

But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us…

“Their sins and lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

(Hebrews 10:12,14–15,17)

It is certainly something to think about and remember.

* Definition taken from Dictionary.com

 

 

Pastor Matthew Trott - March 1, 2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8AxNH0_Pro