Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Part 44

Click here for video

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - SIGNS X 3

SIGNS X 3

Moses, at least initially, was anything but an enthusiastic recipient of God’s instruction and desire. When God called him to go and set His people free, he made excuses and gave reasons as to why he was not the right choice for the task. This is not unlike what we often do today when we feel prompted by God to do His bidding. So God, as He probably still does to us today, gave Moses three signs to show he meant business.

Firstly, He gave a sign of transformation. He took the rod of Moses and changed it.

So the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?”

He said “A rod.”

And Hs said, “Cast it on the ground.” 

So he cast it on the ground and it became a serpent…

(Exodus 4:2-3)

When Moses took the serpent by the tail it again became the rod it had been before, illustrating the power of God to change something from what it is into something else providing we allow Him to do so.

But that was not enough, so God had Moses do something further.

…the Lord said to him, ”Now put your hand to your bosom.” 

And he put his hand in his bosom, and when he took it out, behold, 

his hand was leprous, like snow.

And He said, “Put your hand in your bosom again.” 

…[when he] drew it out of his bosom…it was restored like his other flesh. 

(Exodus 4:6-7)

This was the second sign - restoration - that God could take something that was beyond man’s ability to change, as leprosy was untreatable in those days, and make it whole again. And it was done to show what would happen if the first sign was not heeded.

“…if they do not believe you, nor heed the message of the first sign, 

that they may believe the message of the latter sign.” 

(Exodus 4:8)

Furthermore, if the above was not enough and the two signs were ignored, then:

“…you shall take water from the river and pour it on the dry land. 

The water which you take from the river will become blood on the dry land.” 

(Exodus 4:9)

The water from the Nile was, and still is, the lifeblood of Egypt and for such to happen would represent and be the third sign, that of severe judgement and punishment to the people of Egypt.

So the Lord, through Moses, told the leaders of Egypt that if they did not heed the signs of transformation or restoration, then punishment would follow. And this is precisely the sign that He gives to us today. For if we accept Him, then we are transformed:

 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation… 

(2 Corinthians 5:17)

…and as a result is on the way to being restored to God. Those who are become…

…sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 

(2 Timothy 2:21)

…through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 

(Hebrew 10:10)

Failing all this:

…there is no longer an offering for sin. 

(Hebrews 10:18)

[B]ut a certain fearful expectation of judgement… 

(Hebrews 10:27)

It is really no different now than it was in the day of Moses. If we fail to heed the sign of transformation and thereby the restoration that God requires, then the sign of judgement will surely follow. 

It is something we should be thinking about.

 

                                                                 

   

 

Pastor Jasmine Trott May 17, 2026

Click here for video

Why God?

 

Whether you’re new to faith, have been on the journey for a while, searching, or simply curious — you’re welcome here.

If God matters, then so does the conversation.

Why God?

Join us Wednesday, June 10th at 6:30 PM.

New Glasgow Library

 

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Part 43

Click here for video

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - THE BRIDEGROOM

THE BRIDEGROOM

If the Bible is looked upon in its totality, it really is a story of love and marriage between a groom and his bride, and is told along the same lines as that of a Jewish betrothal in the time it was written. At that time, marriages were arranged and the future groom would come, at the proper time, to the home of the future bride’s parents to meet with them and become “engaged,” after which the groom would leave and return to his own place to prepare a place for his new wife.

Early on, the Bible talks about marriage between a man and a woman in that…

…a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 

and they shall become one flesh. 

(Genesis 2:24).

Thus in the New Testament, we have Christ leaving his heavenly home and the persona of the Father and coming to the place where His bride would be - Earth. So too, when the church was formed to become Christ’s bride, it was to prepare itself to later join with Christ to become “one flesh” as described in the earlier chapters of Genesis. During the time of its earthly existence, the church, meaning all Christians, was to prepare itself to become the New Jerusalem, the bride of Christ.

Then I, John, saw the holy city New Jerusalem, 

coming down out of heaven from God, 

prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 

(Revelation 21:2)

And while the bride is apparently becoming prepared, Jesus, as any good Jewish male would do when expecting a future marriage, has gone home to His father to prepare a place for the bride.

In My father’s house are many mansions; 

if it were not so, I would have told you. 

I go to prepare a place for you. 

And if I go to prepare a place for you, 

I will come again and receive you to Myself, 

that where I am, there you may be also. 

(John 14:2-3) 

Christ has made a promise to his bride to come back to, in essence, marry the church as the New Jerusalem and essentially to be one with His bride as man and woman were to be one flesh as told in Genesis. Jesus has promised to come back for His bride and to be united with the church in a ceremony called the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. And then it will be said:

Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, 

for the marriage of the Lamb has come…

(Revelation 19:7)

…Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!… 

(Revelation 19:9)

He who overcomes shall inherit all things, 

and I will be his God and he shall be My son.

(Revelation 21:7)

…God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; 

there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying… 

(Revelation 21:4)

…Write, for these words are true and faithful. 

(Revelation 21:5)

Being united with Christ for eternity is certainly something wonderful to think about.

 

Pastor Matthew Trott May 10, 2026

 

Pastor Matthew Trott - Service of May 10, 2026

Click here to view video