Closer To Heaven
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oin It Is Written Sabbath School host Eric Flickinger and this quarter’s author, Dr. Thomas R. Shepherd, as they provide additional insights into this week’s Sabbath School lesson, “The Beginning of the Gospel.”
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(0)The post 1: The Beginning of the Gospel – It is Written – Discussions with the Author first appeared on Sabbath School Net.
Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/1-the-beginning-of-the-gospel-it-is-written-discussions-with-the-author/
View an in-depth discussion of The Triumph of God’s Love in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris.
Click on the image below to view the video:
With thanks to Hope Channel – Television that will change your life.
(0)The post 1: The Beginning of the Gospel – Hope Sabbath School Video Discussion first appeared on Sabbath School Net.
Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/1-the-beginning-of-the-gospel-hope-sabbath-school-video-discussion/
Daily Lesson for Wednesday 3rd of July 2024
Read Mark 1:9-13. Who is present at the baptism of Jesus, and what happens?
John baptizes Jesus in the Jordan River. As Jesus comes up out of the water, He sees the heavens being torn open and the Holy Spirit descending on Him like a dove. He hears the voice of God from heaven, “ ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased’ ” (Mark 1:11, ESV).
Image © Stefan pavel at Goodsalt.com
These events point to the importance of Jesus’ baptism. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are present, together affirming the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. The importance of this event will find its echo at the scene of the cross in Mark 15:1-47. Many of the same elements of the story will recur in that scene.
The Spirit drove Jesus out into the wilderness. The word “drove” is from the Greek word ekballō, the common word used in the Gospel of Mark for driving out demons. The Spirit’s presence here illustrates the power of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ life. The Lord is already starting the journey of His ministry, and He immediately confronts Satan. The sense of the struggle in the scene is displayed by the reference to 40 days of temptation, the presence of wild animals, and the angels ministering to Jesus.
An unusual characteristic of the opening scene of the Gospel of Mark is that Jesus is presented as a character with both divinity and humanity. On the side of divinity: He is the Christ, the Messiah (Mark 1:1), the Lord announced by a messenger (Mark 1:2-3), mightier than John (Mark 1:7), the beloved Son on whom the Spirit descends (Mark 1:10-11). But on the side of humanity, we see the following: He is baptized by John (not the other way around, Mark 1:9), He is driven by the Spirit (Mark 1:12), tempted by Satan (Mark 1:13), with wild animals (Mark 1:13), and ministered to by angels (Mark 1:13).
Why these contrasts? This points to the amazing reality of Christ, our Lord and Savior, our God, and yet also a human being, our brother and our example. How do we fully wrap our minds around this idea? We can’t. But we accept it on faith and marvel at what this truth reveals to us about God’s love for humanity.
What does it tell us about the amazing love of God that, though Jesus was God, He would take upon Himself our humanity in order to save us?
(0)The post Wednesday: Jesus’ Baptism first appeared on Sabbath School Net.
Daily Lesson for Tuesday 2nd of July 2024
Read Mark 1:1-8. Who are the characters in these verses, and what do they say and do?
These verses have three main characters: Jesus Christ, referred to in Mark 1:1; God the Father, implied in the words of Mark 1:2; and John the Baptist, the messenger and preacher who is the main subject of the last section of this passage.
Mark 1:2-3 contains a quotation from the Old Testament that Mark presents to describe what will happen in the story. What Mark quotes is a blending of phrases from three passages: Exodus 23:20, Isaiah 40:3, and Malachi 3:1.
Read Exodus 23:20, Isaiah 40:3, and Malachi 3:1. What do these three passages have in common?
Image © Kim Justinen at Goodsalt.com
Exodus 23:20 refers to an angel that God will send before Israel to bring them to Canaan. Isaiah 40:3 speaks of God appearing in the wilderness with a highway prepared before Him. Malachi 3:1 speaks of a messenger going before the Lord to prepare His way. All three of these passages speak of a journey.
The text in Isaiah has many ties with the ministry of John the Baptist and also focuses on the Way of the Lord. In the Gospel of Mark, the Lord Jesus is on a journey. The fast-moving narrative enhances the sense of this journey, a journey that will lead to the cross and to His sacrificial death for us.
But much must happen before He reaches the cross. The journey is just beginning, and Mark will tell us all about it.
In keeping with the quotation from the Old Testament in Mark 1:2-3, John the Baptist calls for repentance, a turning away from sin, and a turning back to God (Mark 1:4). Clothed like the ancient prophet Elijah (compare with 2 Kings 1:8), he speaks in Mark 1:7-8 about the One coming after him who is mightier than he. His statement that he is not worthy to loosen a strap of the Coming One’s sandals shows the exalted view he has of Jesus.
(0)The post Tuesday: The Messenger first appeared on Sabbath School Net.
Welcome to the third quarter’s study time which is all about The Book Of Mark. It is wonderful to travel through John Mark’s life and see the beautiful story climax with
Christ The Lord Is Risen Today – Hymn 166, therefore 
Go, Preach My Gospel – Hymn 378. These two hymns give us a purpose all during this quarter to hasten the coming of our Lord Jesus. May you enjoy these hymns for your theme hymn from which to choose.
The Beginning Of The Gospel helps us to set our goals through to the end of the quarter in Lesson 13 with:
Hymn 172 – The Strife is O’er,
Christ The Lord Is Risen Today – Hymn 166, and
Look, You Saints! The Sight Is Glorious – Hymn 165.
The story of the apostles shows that each is to encourage the other to
Come, Labour On – Hymn 357 all because
Far And Near The Fields Are Teeming – Hymn 358. As Messengers, all were to instruct in their preaching time to
Hark! The Voice of Jesus Calling – Hymn 359 and
Hark! ‘Tis The Shepherd’s Voice I Hear – Hymn 361.
Tuesday we find that John the Baptist is part of our story:
Hymn 333 – On Jordan’s Banks The Baptist’s Cry, which flows over into Wednesday with Jesus being baptized.
May we continue to search the scriptures this week to be blessed and to bless many others.
To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/
Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org/Search and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.
2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
(0)The post 1: The Beginning of the Gospel – Singing with Inspiration first appeared on Sabbath School Net.
Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/1-the-beginning-of-the-gospel-singing-with-inspiration/
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