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