Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Part 7

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - GOD & LOVE

 

GOD & LOVE

One of the most profound statements in the Bible is the one that states:

He who does not love does not know God, 

for God is love. 

(1 John 4:8)

Now we often read the Bible without considering the change in meaning and context that occurs when one word can be exchanged for another. When we read about love in Scripture, it is often as it may be between persons and not as it may be with God. So, let us take a portion of Scripture and substitute God for where love appears in the script. It does make a difference in meaning.

Let’s take 1 Corinthians chapter 13 and see what difference the change makes.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not [God],

I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understanding all mysteries 

and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, 

but have not [God], I am nothing.

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, 

and though I give my body to be burned, 

but have not [God], it profits me nothing.

[God] suffers long and is kind; [God] does not envy; 

[God] does not parade Himself, is not puffed up;

does not behave rudely, does not seek [His] own, 

is not provoked, thinks no evil; 

does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

[God] never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; 

whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, 

it will vanish away.

For we know in part and we prophecy in part.

But when that which is perfect has come, 

then that which is in part will be done away.

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, 

I understood as a child, I thought as a child; 

but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. 

Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

And now abide faith, hope, [God], these three; but the greatest of these is [God].

Substituting God for where love normally is in the chapter gives a similar meaning as the original but in an entirely different context. It does give much more of the impression that truly… 

…God is love.

(1 John 4:8)

And that is something we all should continually be thinking about. 

 

Pastor Matthew Trott July 27, 2025

Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Part 6

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - SUNSET-SUNRISE

SUNSET-SUNRISE

And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises…

(2 Samuel 23:4)

In John, Christ spoke, saying:

“I am the light of the world. 

He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness

but have the light of life.” 

(John 8:12)

“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 

(John 9:5)

But as it says in Job:

He is driven from light into darkness

And chased out of the world. 

(Job 18:18)

The sun is the secular light of this world just as the Son is the Spiritual light. But there is a correlation between the sun and the Son in the same way there seems to be a conflict between light and darkness.

In a way, the light was “chased out of this world” when Christ was crucified. This occurred during the latter part of the afternoon as…

…from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over the land. 

(Matthew 27:45) 

So at the crucifixion of Christ the dying of the Son was paralleled by the fading away of the sun. And as the light left, darkness enveloped the earth. Without the Son, darkness reigned. And it has been so ever since.

But the sun doesn’t stay down forever, for in the morning it returns and once again darkness flees and light shines forth. It was about that time of day when the Son arose and demonstrated the light of eternity to the world. And as the sun returns each day, so shall the Son return once more to drive away the darkness forever. 

The sunset corresponds to the Son being driven into darkness and the sunrise to Christ returning in His glory. Therefore, no matter how difficult events may seem now, there is always morning on the horizon and the promise of the Son’s return. As it says in the Psalms:

…Weeping may endure for a night, 

But joy comes in the morning. 

(Psalm 30:5)

And that is always something to think about.

  

Pastor Jasmine Trott July 20, 2025

Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Part 5

Strawberry Fest - July 27th

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - KNOWLEDGE-WISDOM

KNOWLEDGE-WISDOM

Probably the first decision man ever had to make was when mankind was tempted by Satan who asked the question:

“Has God indeed said?” 

(Genesis 3:1)

The answer mankind gave to the question of God’s authority at that time has reverberated through history, for man is continually confronted by that same question. Is man to follow God’s instructions or has he the right and freedom to choose his own path and therefore control his own destiny? History has shown that for the most part we have chosen the latter course of action.

This has taken place in spite of warnings to the contrary in Scripture. We are told to:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding.

(Proverbs 3:5)

Thus mankind, as a whole, developed and progressed and seemed to do more by himself. Through discoveries and invention, there seemed to be less need for God and His help and so we relied more and more on our own knowledge and ingenuity rather than following the directive of the Bible. As countries become more sophisticated and advanced, it seems that they needed to rely less and less on God and more on their own abilities. But as their knowledge increased, it has become apparent that their wisdom did not keep pace with what they know. Knowledge is an acquaintance with facts, truths or principles;* whereas wisdom implies a knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgement as to action.* Again we are told that:

The fear of [or trust in] the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…

(Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 9:10) 

…But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

(Proverbs 1:7)

So the Bible, without stating it directly, implies that we are fools to rely on our own understanding and knowledge rather than trusting in God. And after all, how much do we really know? How accurate is our knowledge? Every year, what is true seems to change and is replaced by a new truth. The Bible itself implies this when it states:

…We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up…

And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, 

he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.

(1 Cor 8:1-2)

We don’t know all that we think we know or that we ought to know. As Thomas Edison stated:

We do not know one-millionth of one percent about anything**

This may have changed a little from when it was first stated but it still indicates that using incomplete knowledge without wisdom is far from ideal and certainly, to at least some extent, is responsible for the mess the world is presently in. 

Certainly something to think about.

*from dictionary.com

**The Evidence Bible, p.g. 1499

 

Pastor Matthew Trott July 13, 2025

Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Part 4

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - RELATIONSHIPS

RELATIONSHIPS

In Genesis, we read these words:

Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother 

and be joined to his wife, 

and they shall become one flesh. 

(Genesis 2:24)

In Canada, the Christian religion is believed to be the religion of greater than 50% of the population. Worldwide, about 29% of the population identify as Christian whereas almost 26% identify as belonging to the religion of Islam.

However, true Christianity is really a relationship and not a religion, so the true question is how many nominal Christians have that relationship and not just a religion? A religion is a group of beliefs and practices which people utilize in an attempt to reach and please God. A relationship, on the other hand, implies God reaching down to meet man and man accepting what God offers instead of man’s attempt to please a divinity.

In the past, religious activity has often been associated with a sacrifice on the part of man to placate or to please the gods. This could take the form of anything from child or youth sacrifice, to duties one had to preform, or chores that a person had to undertake to fulfil the requirements that please the gods. The Christian relationship, on the other hand, means fully accepting the grace and mercy [gifts] offered by God to us - an entirely different situation.

The Bible essentially begins with the relationship between two people who become as one and ends essentially with further relationship between God and man [the church] in what is referred to in this manner:

Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, 

for the marriage of the Lamb has come, 

and His wife has made herself ready. 

(Rev 19:7)

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

(Rev 19:9)

The entire Bible, in one way, is about the relationship between God and man[kind] as represented by the relationship between a man and woman in a courtship and marriage. How do you develop a relationship with God? The same way a relationship develops here between people - you fall in love and want to know about the other.  You want to understand their likes and desires, to do or encourage them in what they want to do, to go where they want to go, and to suffer their sorrows with them. It’s the same with God. To get to know Him, you have to understand what He likes and do what He wants you to do. You develop a relationship with God the same way that you develop a relationship with your betrothed here. If you are truly in love, it’s not a sacrifice, it’s not a trouble but pure joy.

A relationship with God is something we should not just think about; but truly develop.

Steve McCabe July 6, 2025

Pastor Caroline Barclay July 6, 2025

Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Part 3