Giving to Master's Hand

 

At this time we are unable to meet at the store house, so if you’ve been keeping your offering tucked away that is wonderful. We are now set up for e-transfer. Our email for online giving is: mhmgive@gmail.com

If you would like to mail your offerings please send to:

 Master’s Hand Ministry c/o of Peter MacLaren Post Office Box 1924, Pictou, Nova Scotia BOK 1H0.

Even though we are not meeting regularly, we have expenses to meet and we also would love to continue to support our local missions, (the breakfast program and Roots for Youth) and also our international mission with Pastor Gamel. We thank God for the faithfulness and generosity you have provided and as we continue to build the kingdom of God we love to reach out and help those who are in need of blessing. Thank you in advance for your generosity and remember God loves a cheerful giver.

 

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Romans Part 46

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - THE YOUNG MAN

 

THE YOUNG MAN

There is a short passage in the Book of Mark which is as follows:

Now a certain young man followed Him, 

having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body. 

And the young men laid hold of him, 

and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.

(Mark 14:51-52)

This story is only related in Mark’s gospel and in many ways seems out of place in regard to the rest of the narration. Who was this young man and why did Mark relate this instance to us?

It is impossible to know for sure just who this young man was but many who have carefully studied the gospels believe that this was, in fact, Mark himself, who, at a young age, followed Jesus at a distance at the time of His betrayed and arrest. In fact, it has also been inferred that the Last Supper actually took place in a home owned by Mark’s family. In the book of Acts, it is related that:

…when he (Peter) had considered the thing (his circumstances), 

he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, 

where many were gathered together praying.

(Acts 12:12)

If this were the case, then the young Mark would have known when Jesus and his followers left. He probably was also aware of where they would be going because Jesus was accustomed to go to Gethsemane.

Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, 

as He was accustomed, 

and His disciples also followed Him. 

(Luke 22:39)

So, for a young man to know this, for him to hurry and throw a linen sheet over himself and follow the crowd would not be unheard of. Neither would running away, after being discovered and accosted, leaving behind his linen sheet if that was really all he had on. It was, after all, dark and probably a few hours at least since the supper had taken place, and not far from home, if in fact the supposition is true that the Supper had taken place at Mark’s house.

But there may also be a deeper meaning to this vignette as well. We all seem to want to follow Christ at a safe distance so that we can merely observe without getting actually involved. But when we are confronted or become closely involved, do we not often run from the challenge, timid and figuratively naked, rather than standing as we ought? Such is not new for did not Adam do the same when confronted by God after he and Eve had sinned?

And he (Adam) said, 

“I heard your voice in the garden, 

and I was afraid, because I was naked; 

and I hid myself.” 

(Genesis 3:10)

Just as this young man and Adam, are we all not alone and naked when we leave Jesus and run away from Him? And is the world not really in the same position? For as we all leave God further and further behind, the entire planet becomes more vulnerable and exposed as is evidenced by our present situation.

We are all naked without God, especially when we run away and leave Him to suffer alone on our behalf.

It is something we should all think about. 

   

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Romans Part 45

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ0o0nRiHzs

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - THREE DAYS

 THREE DAYS

We are, once again, approaching the time of year when we commemorate the death and resurrection of Christ. And once again we will do this at Easter; a time which really has nothing to do with the event we are recognizing. The death and resurrection of Jesus was involved with the Jewish Passover and Sabbath not with the time of Easter.

The Bible states that Jesus was “three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40). This is important because, according to Jewish law, it was only after three full days that a person could be declared legally dead. This seemingly is due to the difficulty in actually determining true death at that time. If a person were just near death or comatose there would still be some recognition of bodily function within 72 hours and so only with this period of time could true death be assured.

Is this why Jesus made it so definite in this statement?

For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, 

so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth 

(Matthew 12:40)

If Jesus had been crucified on Friday and resurrected before daybreak on Sunday, there would have been only about 40 hours between the two events. Perhaps this is why some religions and persons deny that Jesus actually died on the cross but merely became unconscious. And this is also why many now believe that the crucifixion actually took place on Wednesday with a High Sabbath on Thursday “for that Sabbath was a high day” (John 19:31), a day of preparation following which the women bought spices.

Now when the Sabbath was passed, 

Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, 

and Salome bought spices, 

that they might come and anoint Him. 

Mark 16:1

This was then followed by the Saturday Sabbath on which Christ arose just prior to Sunday.

Now on the first day of the week 

Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, 

while it was still dark, 

and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.

John 20:1

So we don’t know for sure when Christ left the tomb. Was it very early Sunday morning long before light or was it late Saturday just before nightfall?  In any case, the scenario put forward of Him being crucified on Wednesday and leaving the tomb on late Saturday or early Sunday would satisfy the Jewish requirement for the confirmation of death.

This would also go along with the actions of Jesus in the case of Lazarus when He delayed going to Bethany for two days so that Lazarus would be in the ground four days. Although Jesus initially said: “Lazarus sleeps” (John 11:11). He later said it more plainly “Lazarus is dead” (John 11:14). And Martha would in turn say: “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days” (John 11:39).

But Lazarus did come forth after being dead as did Jesus, with no real doubt that both He and Lazarus had been dead according to history and the Jewish requirement. But it is important to understand that three full days and nights were needed to do this.

The most important fact, however, is that Jesus really did die and was raised again on the third day and that is the event of which we should always be aware and continue to think about. 

Caroline Barclay - Sunday March 19, 2023

Master's Hand Church Service - Sunday March 19th

 Don't forget the change of service time.

Master's Hand Church Service tomorrow!

6 PM at Summer Street.

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Romans Part 44

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - PROOF?

 PROOF?

It is stated in the Book of Acts that, after Jesus was taken up, He “…presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” (Acts 1:3) Now it is taken that the proofs referred to in Acts relate to the time Jesus remained on earth and appeared to many people during those forty days. Certainly that would constitute considerable proof, especially for those persons who met Jesus during that time. But is that all? What if there were more evidences that are still available to us today?

In the Gospel of John there is a further statement referring to the cloths which remained in the tomb after the resurrection.

…and the other disciple [John?] outran Peter 

and came to the tomb first. 

And he…saw the linen cloths lying there; 

Then Simon Peter came…and went into the tomb; 

and he saw the linen cloths lying there, 

and the handkerchief that had been around His head, 

not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself… 

(John 20:4-7)

So from this report, there should have been at least two cloths in the tomb of Christ when the disciples were there. One of these (the handkerchief) could have been used to cover the face of Christ when He died and was taken from the cross to burial, similar to what we do today. This then would be removed when the final covering was placed. So, what happened to the cloths that would have covered Christ? And is it possible that those relics still exist?

In the Cathedral of San Salvador in Oviedo in Spain there is a cloth, 34 by 21 inches in size, which has a history from at least 570 AD. It has been visited by pilgrims from all over the world for centuries for it is believed to be just that cloth that covered Christ’s face at the time of His death. It is kept in an elaborate reliquary chest and displayed to the public only three times a year: Good Friday, the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross on Sept 14, and on its octave Sept 21.

This cloth reveals evidence of blood and fluid stains, evidence of facial contusions and of a nasal injury, of blood on the forehead and of patterns of staining apparently identical to those on another piece of linen kept in the Cathedral of Turin in Italy. These two pieces of cloth have been separated throughout history and therefore, are unlikely to be forgeries as both show evidence of covering a man who was scourged, crowned with thorns, beaten in the face, crucified, and buried. As such, both fit precisely the story of Christ’s passion. There is also evidence on this cloth of aloe and myrrh.

Of course, all of this does not really prove that this piece of cloth is really the one that covered the face of Jesus at the time of His crucifixion. That may never be possible to determine, but the evidence keeps mounting. One’s faith should never be based on a relic, only on the known facts of Jesus death, burial and resurrection, but still the circumstantial evidence is mounting and after all, the Bible stated that there were “many” infallible proofs. Perhaps this may turn out to be one.

In the meantime, it is certainly something interesting to think about.

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Romans Part 43

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - TREES

TREES

There are many stories in the Bible, and some people believe that many of these are not really true but there for illustrative purposes only. However, if you believe in the Bible, it’s important to believe that these stories at least have an element of truth in them, for even Jesus referred to Adam in His talks.

One story refers to the Garden of Eden and what events took place there. Most people are familiar with the story that:

…God planted a garden eastward in Eden, 

and there He put the man whom He had formed. 

And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow 

that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. 

The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, 

and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 

(Genesis 2:8-9) 

Now of all the trees in the garden only two are specifically mentioned. Most people, certainly most Christians, are familiar with what happened when the fruit of the forbidden tree was eaten contrary to the instructions of God and the price we have been paying ever since.

But there was apparently no restriction on the other tree, and if one had eaten the fruit from that tree, evidently eternal life would have been obtained. Was it the intention of God that man would have the opportunity to enjoy life eternal right from the beginning when he was still free from sin, guilt, fear and worry? What a different world we would now be living in. However, once sin occurred, the tree of life had to be restricted from man, lest he then would live eternally in a sinful state and the present world gives some indication of what that would be like if everyone could do as they wish and still live forever. Thus,

…He drove out the man; 

and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, 

and a flaming sword which turned every way, 

to guard the way of the tree of life.

(Genesis 3:24)

Now this was all written about 1000-1500 years before Christ, although it may have been in oral form even before that. Why would someone conceive of such a tale if there was not at least some element of truth to it? And then it disappears from the story not to be heard again until John writes about it in the Book of Revelation in about the year 90 AD.

“He who has an ear, 

let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 

To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, 

which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” 

“Blessed are those who do His commandments, 

that they may have the right to the tree of life, 

and may enter through the gates into the city.”

(Revelation 2:7 and 22:14) 

So it was approximately 1100-1600 years after the tree of life was first mentioned, that it appeared again in the text in the same context. Is this just fortuitous or does it show a true aspect of the existence of such a growth in antiquity? It was geared and kept from man after he fell into sin so eternal life could not be obtained to one of a sinful nature, but has been opened to man after the commandments of God have been kept.

“‘…You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, 

with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. 

This is the first commandment. 

And the second, like it, is this: 

You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ 

There is no other commandment greater than these.”

(Mark 12:30-31)

A world filled with people of sin who would have eternal life would be a fate we should all want to avoid; but an eternity with those who follow the commandments of God would be something we should all look forward to. 

The tree of life - certainly something to think about.