In This Issue

• MARK’S ACCOUNT OF JESUS’ ARREST

• THE UNTRODDEN PATH

• LEADING ATHEIST BECOMES DEIST

• DARWIN AND DAHMER

• MORE INFORMATION...

MARK’S ACCOUNT OF JESUS’ ARREST

Mark tells us that as Jesus was arrested, His apostles "all forsook Him and fled. 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. And they led Jesus away to the high priest; and with Him were assembled all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes. But Peter followed Him at a safe distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire. And the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and found none. For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree. And some rose up and bore false witness against Him saying, 'We heard Him say, "I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.'" But not even then did their testimony agree. And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, 'Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?' But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again, the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, 'Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?' And Jesus said, 'I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.' Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, 'What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?' And they all condemned Him to be worthy of death. Then some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him, and to say to Him, 'Prophesy!' And the officers struck Him with their hands" (Mark 14:50-65).

In this somewhat lengthy reading, we see the fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy of verse 27 and that of Zechariah 13:7 -- all Jesus' disciples forsook Him and fled.

Verses 51-52 tell of a "certain young man" who followed briefly as Jesus was led away, but who fled when other young men laid hold of him. Most scholars surmise that the young man was Mark himself, but we have no more information than is recorded in these two verses.

Verse 54 informs us that Simon Peter also followed Jesus, but at a safe distance. Peter went as far as the courtyard and observed the events as they unfolded. He heard the lies they told about Jesus. He heard them twist Jesus' words and give them meaning He never intended. He watched them blindfold the Lord, spit in His face, beat Him with their hands and challenge Him to prophecy and reveal who was beating Him. Thus everything has fallen into place for the fulfillment of Jesus' prediction of Peter's denial and the other events surrounding the Lord’s crucifixion.

–Clarence R. Johnson 

THE UNTRODDEN PATH

“For ye have not passed this way heretofore” (Josh. 3:4). These were the words of Joshua to the children of Israel. The Israelites were about to cross the Jordan River and enter into the promised land. It was a new experience for them! They had not passed this way before. Having wandered in the wilderness for forty years, they were now on the threshold of realizing the reception of God’s promise.

There is a parallel between the position of the ancient Israelites and ourselves in the present time. This is the first Lord’s Day of a new year. 2005 represents untrodden paths. “We have not passed this way heretofore”. The new year may be compared to an unknown country where none of us have ever been. At times it is good to undertake things that are new to us. The challenge is invigorating to our lives. One of the great concerns of the Lord’s people is that of staying alert and watchful. “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong” (I Cor. 16:13). The new passage for the Israelites was ordained and directed by God. We must accept the challenge of 2005 and walk in its days as God directs us in His Word.

What will we encounter along the untrodden paths? We do not know what the future holds. Modern soothsayers and sorcerers abound who contend that they know. They are false and full of deceptions. In God’s arrangement for us, perhaps it is best that we do not know what lies ahead. Best that we are not able to look into the future. We are to live each day in the light and strength that the God of heaven gives us. Jesus said: “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (Matt. 6:34). I suppose it would be quite frightening for the most of us to contemplate the untrodden paths of 2005 if it were not for the elements to conquer these untrodden paths in whatever they might present to us. What are some elements to conquer untrodden paths?

A GUIDE. A good guide brings assurance and confidence. The Israelites were told to follow the ark of the covenant. Who is our guide? The answer is Jesus Christ (John 14:6). He has the qualities that are so necessary in a proper guide: experience or knowledge; loyalty or faithfulness. Jesus fits these perfectly. He is able to guide us through temptations (Heb. 4:14-16), out of sorrows (Matt. 26:36;Heb. 5:7), and through all problems (Col. 2:10). If we are to be benefited, we must follow the guide wherever He leads us!

CERTAIN PROVISIONS. Ample provisions are a necessary concern for a proper journey. We need a chart for the course. The Word of God is the true chart that cannot be improved upon! The Psalmist wrote: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalms 119:105). Concerning the Scriptures, we read: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). The Word of God is sufficient to bring us along the untrodden path. We need to stay with the chart and ever be familiar with it.

PROPER CLOTHING. The apostle speaks of spiritual clothing in Col. 3:12-14: “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; forebearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” We are to put on these things. Can you improve upon such a wardrobe?

NEED FOR FOOD. “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” (I Peter 2:2). “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst” (John 6:35). Not only is the Word of God the chart for the course, it is food for the soul. We need to feed our souls with God’s Word as we walk the untrodden path of a new year.

DAILY BIBLE READING. Efforts to teach others and 100% attendance at all services constitute untrodden paths for some who profess to be Christians. Why not start walking in these untrodden paths as far as your life is concerned? Obedience to the gospel of Christ is the untrodden path for the alien. Why not obey the gospel of Christ and walk with Christ in the new year? We may not know what will occur in 2005. But we can certainly know Him who does. Three years ago as we began 2002, who would have thought that events of Sept. 11th would have occurred? We need to always stay close to God!

-Bobby K. Thompson (slightly adapted)

LEADING ATHEIST BECOMES DEIST

British philosopher Antony Flew has been internationally eminent as a formidable defender of atheism, humanism, and Darwinian evolution for half a century (http: //www. infidels. Org /library/ modern/ antony_flew/flew-bio.html - December 10, 2004). "Over the years, Flew proclaimed the lack of evidence for God while teaching at Oxford, Aberdeen, Keele, and Reading Universities in Britain, in visits to numerous U.S. and Canadian campuses and in books, articles, lectures and debates." Atheists admit his "name and stature are big" (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,141061,00.html - Associated Press, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2004).

Thus, a video released December 9th by the professor comes as a shock to both evolutionists and believers in the biblical account of creation. "At age 81, after decades of insisting belief is a mistake, Antony Flew has concluded that some sort of intelligence or first cause must have created the universe. ‘A super-intelligence is the only good explanation for the origin of life and the complexity of nature,’ Flew said in a telephone interview from England" (Ibid).

He has not become a Christian or a believer in the God of the Bible. "Flew said he’s best labeled a deist like Thomas Jefferson, whose God was not actively involved in people's lives" (Ibid). Too bad. The God of the Bible is so interested in our lives He sent His Son to die for us and hears and answers our daily prayers.

But Professor Antony Flew has been forced by the facts to admit that the existence of the orderly universe and the incredible complexity of the living cell demand an intelligent designer. "He accepts Darwinian evolution but doubts it can explain the ultimate origins of life" (Ibid). What a pity. He as others who fight against God just can’t bring himself to admit the obvious, the scientific evidence supports creation rather than evolution.

"The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork." (Psalm 19:1)

(Thanks to John Hightower for calling my attention to this article.)

- Keith Sharp

DARWIN AND DAHMER

About the only reason I pay for cable television service is for the A&E network and the news channels. Other than that it’s a waste of time. Tuesday night on A&E a biography of serial killer Jeffery Dahmer was on, I found it quite interesting. 

Dahmer, as you may remember, killed several men in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area in the 80's and 90's as part of some sick sexual ritual. A couple of years after being sentenced to more than 900 years in prison Dahmer himself was murdered by a fellow inmate. Before being killed Dahmer was baptized into Christ. Even though he committed some heinous acts in his life, I am sure that a merciful God forgave him if his faith was genuine.

One thing in the story of Dahmer's life that struck me was the fact that he blamed a lot of what he did on his former atheistic beliefs and on evolutionary theory. His father recalled a conversation he had with Dahmer shortly before his conversion during which his son told him that if it was all "natural selection" as Darwin theorized and there is no God then what is the point? 

Good question. If one can do as he wants, if there is no one to be accountable to, then why have laws concerning murder or any other crime. The idea of "survival of the fittest," in fact, breeds contempt for laws against harming one's fellow man. After all if it is truly a process of natural selection then we ought to praise those who murder for eliminating the weak from our societies. 

Truly David was right when he said, "The fool has said in his heart there is no God." It is foolish to think one would only have to give an account to mankind regarding his activities. The very fact that we have laws against murder, adultery, fornication, theft, etc. ought to give pause to those who do not recognize the supremacy of God. 

These evidences give credence to Jesus statement that the two greatest commandments are to love God and our neighbors. It is on these two hang all of the law and the prophets, He said. Darwin eliminates these vital concepts to order and decency.

–Jason E. Stringer, Dayton Drive bulletin, Robinson, Texas

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