100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:11,040We often focus on how the death of Jesus touches our lives today. He bought our sin, He took200:00:11,040 –> 00:00:16,520our judgement, He died our death and the question before us today is not how does the death300:00:16,520 –> 00:00:25,160of Jesus touch my life but how do the sufferings of Jesus touch my life.400:00:25,160 –> 00:00:29,340Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick. I’m glad that you could500:00:29,379 –> 00:00:35,459be with us today and Colin before we get into todays message we need to address that question,600:00:35,459 –> 00:00:38,939how do the sufferings of Jesus affect my life?700:00:38,939 –> 00:00:43,580Well the first thing to say is that there’s people listening to us talk right now who800:00:43,580 –> 00:00:51,000are in the thick of it, really up against it, and you’re facing some grinding suffering900:00:51,000 –> 00:00:57,740in your life and how does God speak to this, what does God have to say? Well the first1000:00:57,799 –> 00:01:03,660thing is Jesus has suffered and the Apostle Peter says not only has he suffered, so he1100:01:03,660 –> 00:01:10,940knows what this is, suffered setting us an example as we walk in his footsteps. So the1200:01:10,940 –> 00:01:17,080Bible is telling us how Jesus suffered, how he endured suffering, how he got through it,1300:01:17,080 –> 00:01:21,980what he did in it, what he did not do in it. And these things are given for us because1400:01:21,980 –> 00:01:27,320we’re also going to walk that path and we’re going to walk in a way that follows his example1500:01:27,320 –> 00:01:32,059and we’re also going to walk in a way of knowing that he has been there before us and1600:01:32,059 –> 00:01:37,940he’s with us now. So what the Bible says about the suffering of Jesus speaks right into the1700:01:37,940 –> 00:01:39,459realities of our lives today.1800:01:39,459 –> 00:01:43,680So, I hope you’ll be able to join us in your Bibles for today’s message. It’s called1900:01:43,680 –> 00:01:50,040Jesus Suffered at the Hands of His Enemies and we’re in Mark chapters 14 and 15 today.2000:01:50,040 –> 00:01:50,879Here’s Colin.2100:01:51,099 –> 00:01:58,180Two points by way of introduction. First, I want you to notice how restrained the Bible2200:01:58,180 –> 00:02:06,339is in describing the sufferings of Jesus. For example, Mark chapter 15 and verse 15,2300:02:06,339 –> 00:02:08,460look at this for just plain statement.2400:02:21,020 –> 00:02:29,720to be crucified. No description, no gory details, no manipulation of2500:02:29,720 –> 00:02:37,880readers seeking to bring high impact by playing off the violence of these2600:02:37,880 –> 00:02:44,600terrible events. It’s always a temptation for preachers or may often be a temptation2700:02:44,600 –> 00:02:49,360for preachers to try and have an impact on people with the shock value2800:02:49,660 –> 00:02:52,960of the awful violence that went on here. But I want you to notice that the Bible2900:02:53,279 –> 00:03:00,440doesn’t do that. In a world of manipulation, God speaks the truth, he3000:03:00,440 –> 00:03:04,919never manipulates. I think God for that, don’t you? And so I felt that it was3100:03:04,919 –> 00:03:09,619important in my own preparation to speak about these awesome things today, that as3200:03:09,619 –> 00:03:13,940a preacher I should not go beyond what is written. I just want you to notice3300:03:13,940 –> 00:03:18,179that. Here’s the second thing, that while the Bible is very restrained with3400:03:18,199 –> 00:03:22,539regards to the description of the sufferings of Jesus, it is absolutely3500:03:22,539 –> 00:03:28,500explicit with regards to application of the sufferings of Jesus. In other words,3600:03:28,500 –> 00:03:33,820while we are given little by way of descriptive detail, we are given lots to3700:03:33,820 –> 00:03:39,679answer the question, how does what he suffered touch my life today? And that3800:03:39,679 –> 00:03:46,160is the question that really is before us every time we open the word of God. And3900:03:46,160 –> 00:03:51,199I want us to think about that, you see we often focus on how the death of Jesus4000:03:51,199 –> 00:03:57,720touches our lives today. He bore our sin, he took our judgment, he died our death,4100:03:57,720 –> 00:04:04,600he bore the wrath of God. We’ll come to that in two weeks time as we come to4200:04:04,600 –> 00:04:09,479Jesus’ death on the cross, but we’re not there yet. And the question before us4300:04:09,479 –> 00:04:14,320today is not how does the death of Jesus touch my life, but how do the sufferings4400:04:14,619 –> 00:04:21,299of Jesus touch my life. And I want us to see that the Bible has some very4500:04:21,299 –> 00:04:26,700distinct and clear and powerful application of the sufferings of Jesus4600:04:26,700 –> 00:04:32,899to our lives as his followers today. Now what normally happens in in a sermon, the4700:04:32,899 –> 00:04:36,820way it’s usually done is that you get the teaching and then after you’ve had a4800:04:36,820 –> 00:04:40,339little bit of the teaching or sometimes even a lot of the teaching you get the4900:04:40,519 –> 00:04:44,720application. Now today we’re going to do it the other way around. We’re gonna have5000:04:44,720 –> 00:04:50,160the application first. I want us to see how the New Testament applies5100:04:50,160 –> 00:04:56,239the suffering of Jesus to our lives so that we will know up-front what this has5200:04:56,239 –> 00:05:01,140to do with us. And then I think when we see what it has to do with us from the5300:05:01,140 –> 00:05:06,359New Testament then we’ll come back with open eyes and eager hearts to Mark in5400:05:06,380 –> 00:05:11,760chapter 15 to see what Mark actually tells us about the sufferings of Jesus5500:05:11,760 –> 00:05:15,640so we have application first, preceding the teaching. So it’s going to be the5600:05:15,640 –> 00:05:19,500wrong way round as it were. For that reason, I hope you’ll follow me in a5700:05:19,500 –> 00:05:23,920couple of cross-references. Because I want us to see how the New Testament5800:05:23,920 –> 00:05:30,179applies Mark 15, the suffering of Jesus, before we actually come to looking at it5900:05:30,179 –> 00:05:36,540together. And there are really three ways in which this happens in the New6000:05:36,540 –> 00:05:42,440Testament. Would you turn first to the book of Hebrews and chapter 2. Hebrews6100:05:42,440 –> 00:05:50,260and chapter 2. And we’re going to see here that God wants you to find comfort6200:05:50,260 –> 00:05:56,399through the experience of Jesus. This is how what we’re going to learn today6300:05:56,440 –> 00:06:05,140applies to you. God wants you to find comfort through the experience of Jesus,6400:06:05,140 –> 00:06:11,279through what he suffered. Now, Hebrews 210 says this, that in bringing many sons to6500:06:11,279 –> 00:06:15,160glory it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom6600:06:15,160 –> 00:06:20,000everything exists, should make the author of their salvation, that’s Jesus, that God6700:06:20,059 –> 00:06:27,679you’d make Jesus perfect through suffering. Now, this word perfect here6800:06:27,679 –> 00:06:33,640carries the idea of being complete. It’s not saying that Jesus was somehow6900:06:33,640 –> 00:06:37,440improved through suffering, clearly that would be impossible, because of the7000:06:37,440 –> 00:06:43,320perfection of our Lord Jesus Christ. What it means is that Jesus became the7100:06:43,559 –> 00:06:50,260saviour he is, through what he suffered. The complete saviour he is, the7200:06:50,260 –> 00:06:56,820wholeness of Christ was filled out through what he suffered.7300:06:56,820 –> 00:07:09,779Now, a saviour who had never suffered would be severely lacking. A saviour who7400:07:09,839 –> 00:07:14,779had never suffered would be unable to connect with large parts of every one of7500:07:14,779 –> 00:07:20,500our lives, and the huge part of this world in which we live. We travel in other7600:07:20,500 –> 00:07:25,720countries, you sometime see idols that are pictured looking remote and distance,7700:07:25,720 –> 00:07:35,399impervious. Our Jesus is the saviour he is, and able to relate to you in every7800:07:35,940 –> 00:07:42,299facet of your life because of what he suffered. That’s what Hebrews chapter 27900:07:42,299 –> 00:07:47,140and verse 10 is telling us. When you suffer, when you go through something8000:07:47,140 –> 00:07:53,179really hard, you are instinctively drawn to other people who’ve gone through8100:07:53,179 –> 00:07:57,779something similar or the same, and there’s a big difference between someone8200:07:57,779 –> 00:08:00,739who’s gone through what you’re experiencing in the way that they can8300:08:00,880 –> 00:08:07,040relate and, you know, the general sort of compassion of someone who may feel sorry8400:08:07,040 –> 00:08:11,000for you but really has no idea what you’re going through. And Hebrews is8500:08:11,000 –> 00:08:16,640telling us Jesus has been tested at every point as we are. He has endured8600:08:16,640 –> 00:08:23,279suffering. That shapes, fills out the Savior he is. And so, if you turn over8700:08:23,279 –> 00:08:28,959just a page here you’ll see how Hebrews applies this. Chapter 4 and verse 15. The8800:08:28,980 –> 00:08:32,880writer says, we don’t have a high priest who’s unable to sympathize with our8900:08:32,880 –> 00:08:37,340weaknesses. We don’t, we don’t have a remote Savior who’s somehow distant from9000:08:37,340 –> 00:08:42,359a suffering world. We have one who has been tested or tempted in every way9100:08:42,359 –> 00:08:47,140just as we are yet. He was without sin and so here’s how it touches our lives9200:08:47,140 –> 00:08:51,460today. We can come to him. We can approach his throne of Grace and we can receive9300:08:51,460 –> 00:08:58,419mercy and we can find grace to help us in our time of need.9400:08:58,500 –> 00:09:07,059The religions of the world all teach about suffering but the gospel presents9500:09:07,059 –> 00:09:16,080us with a person who has suffered. And here’s the first application that God9600:09:16,080 –> 00:09:23,140wants you in your suffering to find comfort through the experience of the9700:09:23,140 –> 00:09:27,619Lord Jesus Christ. Now, that’s the first of the three applications and I want us9800:09:27,700 –> 00:09:31,780to get them. So, the key word here is comfort. Will you say it with me please?9900:09:31,780 –> 00:09:36,340Comfort, comfort. Okay, now here’s the second, not only does God want you to10000:09:36,340 –> 00:09:40,739find comfort through the experience of Jesus but he wants you to find direction,10100:09:40,739 –> 00:09:46,700there’s the second key word, direction in suffering from the example of Jesus.10200:09:46,700 –> 00:09:51,020Now, if you turn over just a couple of pages from Hebrews you’ll get to 1 Peter10300:09:51,099 –> 00:09:57,580and first Peter 221 makes this very clear and notice again Peter is applying10400:09:57,580 –> 00:10:02,340not so much the death of Jesus but particularly the sufferings of Jesus and10500:10:02,340 –> 00:10:12,820here’s what he says. 1 Peter 221. Christ suffered for you leaving you an example10600:10:13,080 –> 00:10:19,080that you should follow in his steps10700:10:19,080 –> 00:10:25,719doubt the reality of life in this world is that some reflection of the10800:10:25,719 –> 00:10:31,780experience of Jesus will touch your life you will find in the course of your life10900:10:31,780 –> 00:10:41,340that you endure someone or some people who oppose you and perhaps even hate you11000:10:41,359 –> 00:10:46,520you may experience this in the context of business someone who tries to destroy11100:10:46,520 –> 00:10:52,359you you may experience it even in the context of someone who once professed to11200:10:52,359 –> 00:10:59,020love you now when this happens Peter says the suffering of Jesus gives a11300:10:59,020 –> 00:11:04,919model or a template an example to follow in this kind of experience that we will11400:11:05,739 –> 00:11:14,020God wants you to find direction in your suffering through the example of Jesus11500:11:14,020 –> 00:11:17,799now what is the example well Peter makes it very clear here let’s just read on11600:11:17,799 –> 00:11:24,619Jesus did not retaliate when they hurled their insults at him Jesus did not11700:11:24,619 –> 00:11:30,179retaliate now Peter is saying here’s the particular application of the11800:11:30,659 –> 00:11:37,799to you when someone hurts you your first instinct will be to want to hurt them11900:11:37,799 –> 00:11:43,539back and Peter says now follow the example of Jesus he didn’t do that, so12000:11:43,539 –> 00:11:49,299don’t you do that either. If someone undermines confidence in you in business12100:11:49,299 –> 00:11:53,080your first instinct will be to undermine confidence in that person in their12200:11:53,080 –> 00:11:58,820business and Peter is saying to us, don’t do that, that’s that’s not the Jesus way12300:11:59,080 –> 00:12:04,340and how he handled the opposition and the suffering is a template12400:12:04,340 –> 00:12:09,059it’s a model it’s an example to give direction to you. Not only did he not12500:12:09,059 –> 00:12:15,940retaliate notice he made no threats when he suffered he made no threats. Now if12600:12:15,979 –> 00:12:20,020anyone was in a position to threaten those who opposed him it was the Lord12700:12:20,020 –> 00:12:24,179Jesus Christ wasn’t it, I mean he truly could have threatened12800:12:24,419 –> 00:12:32,400hell fire and damnation but he chose not to do that when he suffered he made no12900:12:32,400 –> 00:12:37,500threats and says Peter here’s the application to our lives that’s an13000:12:37,500 –> 00:12:42,919example that’s a model that’s a pattern for you so never make threats don’t say13100:12:42,919 –> 00:12:50,900that you’ll get even don’t threaten to resign don’t say if you do this to me13200:12:50,900 –> 00:12:58,500I’ll do that to you because Jesus made no threats and he’s your example from13300:12:58,500 –> 00:13:04,179his suffering what he did instead positively was he trusted God instead13400:13:04,179 –> 00:13:10,500he trusted himself to him who judges justly here is Christ and he faces13500:13:10,500 –> 00:13:17,719extraordinary injustice and he says well I know that my father is just and he13600:13:18,520 –> 00:13:25,059knows all things and so I trust myself to him knowing that one day he will make13700:13:25,059 –> 00:13:33,700all things known so in this he is our example we live in a world where13800:13:33,700 –> 00:13:41,359sometimes there is no way of getting justice and you hang then on the justice13900:13:41,400 –> 00:13:49,340of God so God wants you to find direction by the example of Jesus how he14000:13:49,340 –> 00:13:55,460handled this opposition and how he endured the suffering so two words now14100:13:55,460 –> 00:14:01,900comfort and direction let’s say them together comfort and direction. So we’ve14200:14:01,900 –> 00:14:06,299heard about comfort and direction and we’ll come back in a moment and hear14300:14:06,299 –> 00:14:09,539about a third word you’re listening to open the Bible with14400:14:10,200 –> 00:14:14,440This is Prayer With Pastor Colin Smith and a message called Jesus Suffered at The Hands Of His Enemies14500:14:14,440 –> 00:14:18,280It’s part of a bigger series called The Gospel According To Jesus14600:14:18,280 –> 00:14:22,039and if you’ve missed any of the series so far or if you want to go back and listen again14700:14:22,039 –> 00:14:26,280come to our website at openthebible.org.uk14800:14:26,280 –> 00:14:29,539There you will find all the messages that have already gone out on air14900:14:29,539 –> 00:14:33,340you can also find them as a podcast if that’s a better way for you to keep up15000:14:33,340 –> 00:14:37,340with Pastor Colin’s teaching and those are available on all the major podcast15100:14:37,940 –> 00:14:40,419sites, or by following a link from our website.15200:14:40,419 –> 00:14:43,760Also on our website you’ll find Open The Bible Daily15300:14:43,760 –> 00:14:47,400and that’s a series of short 2-3 minute reflections15400:14:47,400 –> 00:14:51,359based on Pastor Colin’s teaching and read in the UK by Sue McCleish.15500:14:51,359 –> 00:14:54,979There’s a new one on the website every day and it’s also available15600:14:54,979 –> 00:14:58,659as a podcast. Back to the message now here’s Colin.15700:14:58,659 –> 00:15:02,739Two words now, comfort and direction, let’s say them together15800:15:02,739 –> 00:15:06,539COMFORT AND DIRECTION and here’s15900:15:06,780 –> 00:15:09,299the third, that God wants16000:15:09,299 –> 00:15:12,919you to find STRENGTH. There’s the third word16100:15:12,919 –> 00:15:16,140IN THE ENDURANCE OF JESUS.16200:15:16,140 –> 00:15:18,539Please turn back to Hebrews chapter 12. Just a16300:15:18,539 –> 00:15:21,820few verses back.16400:15:21,820 –> 00:15:26,500Find strength in the endurance of Jesus.16500:15:26,500 –> 00:15:30,080Notice what the writer says here, consider him16600:15:30,080 –> 00:15:34,219that’s Jesus, consider Jesus who endured16700:15:34,260 –> 00:15:39,260such opposition from sinful men, so that16800:15:40,099 –> 00:15:44,619you will not grow weary or lose heart.16900:15:44,619 –> 00:15:47,919You know, the Bible’s such a practical book17000:15:47,919 –> 00:15:50,919and it speaks right to the realities of our lives.17100:15:50,919 –> 00:15:53,099And it’s saying look, here you are as a disciple17200:15:53,099 –> 00:15:55,739of Jesus and you’re living in a difficult world,17300:15:55,739 –> 00:15:58,380you’re engaged in ministry, it’s tough, life’s17400:15:58,380 –> 00:16:01,419tough, and you’ll face this pressure and temptation.17500:16:01,419 –> 00:16:04,099You will be in danger sometimes of growing weary.17600:16:04,460 –> 00:16:08,900And you will sometimes feel that you are losing heart.17700:16:08,900 –> 00:16:11,380Now, how do you face up to and overcome17800:16:11,380 –> 00:16:15,380this sort of feeling of being worn out17900:16:15,380 –> 00:16:18,099in the perpetual battle of the Christian life18000:16:18,099 –> 00:16:20,039and the ongoing struggle and pressures18100:16:20,039 –> 00:16:21,380of Christian ministry?18200:16:22,299 –> 00:16:23,979Here is how you sustain yourself.18300:16:23,979 –> 00:16:26,500Here is how you make sure you do not grow weary18400:16:26,500 –> 00:16:28,619and how you make sure that you do not lose heart.18500:16:28,619 –> 00:16:31,780You consider him and all that he suffered.18600:16:31,780 –> 00:16:33,659You ponder together,18700:16:33,659 –> 00:16:35,219and this is what we’re going to do today18800:16:35,219 –> 00:16:37,119for Mark in chapter 1518900:16:37,119 –> 00:16:39,900the opposition that Jesus faced19000:16:39,900 –> 00:16:42,219from sinful men and all that he endured19100:16:42,219 –> 00:16:44,539and all that he persevered through19200:16:44,539 –> 00:16:46,580and the effect of that in your life,19300:16:46,580 –> 00:16:48,599the practical effect of that will be19400:16:48,599 –> 00:16:50,700that you will not lose grow weary19500:16:50,700 –> 00:16:55,380and you will not lose heart.19600:16:55,380 –> 00:16:57,840So this is precisely the value19700:16:57,840 –> 00:17:00,640in other words of us considering Mark 15 together.19800:17:02,200 –> 00:17:06,359Comfort, direction, strength, together.19900:17:06,359 –> 00:17:10,099Comfort, direction, strength.20000:17:10,099 –> 00:17:11,880There’s the application.20100:17:11,880 –> 00:17:13,400This is all the wrong way round though, isn’t it?20200:17:13,400 –> 00:17:15,640We’re confused, this is not the end of the sermon20300:17:15,640 –> 00:17:17,239but we are indeed halfway through.20400:17:17,239 –> 00:17:21,819Let’s turn back to Mark’s Gospel and chapter 15.20500:17:21,819 –> 00:17:24,239I think with open eyes now20600:17:25,239 –> 00:17:27,760we’re ready to see what it is20700:17:27,760 –> 00:17:31,640that gives us comfort, direction and strength20800:17:32,780 –> 00:17:37,780Mark’s Gospel and Chapter 15.20900:17:38,180 –> 00:17:39,520I want us to see here now21000:17:39,520 –> 00:17:41,739as we ponder the sufferings of Jesus21100:17:42,719 –> 00:17:44,780four ways in which He suffered21200:17:44,780 –> 00:17:46,560and we’ll see very quickly, I think,21300:17:46,560 –> 00:17:51,560how these apply as the Bible has told us to our lives.21400:17:52,660 –> 00:17:56,219The first is simply that Jesus Christ was bound.21500:17:56,219 –> 00:17:57,920Chapter 15 in verse one.21600:17:58,920 –> 00:18:00,920They bound Jesus21700:18:01,839 –> 00:18:03,900they led him away21800:18:03,900 –> 00:18:06,520and they handed him over to Pilate.21900:18:08,099 –> 00:18:09,140Now, let’s think for a moment,22000:18:09,140 –> 00:18:11,800get it in our minds what’s actually happening here.22100:18:13,540 –> 00:18:16,839The hands that healed are bound.22200:18:18,500 –> 00:18:20,300The feet that had taken the good news22300:18:20,300 –> 00:18:24,040of the gospel over Judea and the hills of Samaria22400:18:24,040 –> 00:18:25,079are tethered.22500:18:26,540 –> 00:18:29,119And Christ, the Son of God,22600:18:29,119 –> 00:18:34,119is delivered into the hands of those who hate him22700:18:34,359 –> 00:18:36,199and want to hurt him.22800:18:37,459 –> 00:18:39,000And God allowed it to be so.22900:18:41,300 –> 00:18:44,020Now, maybe it occurs to you23000:18:44,020 –> 00:18:46,160as it ran through my mind this week,23100:18:46,160 –> 00:18:48,260couldn’t Jesus have broken these bindings?23200:18:48,260 –> 00:18:51,180Doesn’t he have all power, isn’t he the Son of God?23300:18:52,180 –> 00:18:54,060Couldn’t he break the bindings?23400:18:55,000 –> 00:18:57,800And the answer is no.23500:18:59,520 –> 00:19:00,680And here is why.23600:19:01,880 –> 00:19:06,439God had determined that at this moment,23700:19:06,439 –> 00:19:08,579Jesus should be bound.23800:19:09,439 –> 00:19:13,040And the Bible says, God cannot deny himself.23900:19:13,040 –> 00:19:15,839God is not in contradiction to himself.24000:19:15,839 –> 00:19:18,380There is no confusion within him.24100:19:19,920 –> 00:19:23,079And so heaven itself cannot break these bindings24200:19:23,099 –> 00:19:26,699that are the will of God for Jesus at this moment.24300:19:29,160 –> 00:19:32,719And because Jesus, he has said very clearly24400:19:32,719 –> 00:19:37,680that for him his will is to do the will of the Father,24500:19:37,680 –> 00:19:40,400he too is committed to this.24600:19:41,979 –> 00:19:45,119So, even Jesus cannot break these bindings.24700:19:47,199 –> 00:19:50,180Klaus Skylder, whose writings on the sufferings of Jesus24800:19:50,180 –> 00:19:52,439have been so helpful to me over the years,24900:19:53,699 –> 00:19:57,439he says here, speaking generally.25000:19:58,300 –> 00:20:00,719God can break all bindings.25100:20:01,699 –> 00:20:04,060But then he points out that speaking generally25200:20:04,060 –> 00:20:08,660is irrelevant here, because there’s nothing normal here.25300:20:08,660 –> 00:20:10,780Nothing normal about Gethsemane.25400:20:10,780 –> 00:20:12,920Nothing normal about the binding of Jesus.25500:20:12,920 –> 00:20:14,699Nothing normal about Calvary.25600:20:14,699 –> 00:20:18,420This is God acting to redeem the world in Jesus Christ.25700:20:18,439 –> 00:20:21,699And Jesus is really bound.25800:20:21,699 –> 00:20:25,920And he is in the hands of his enemies.25900:20:28,660 –> 00:20:31,219Now, how does this speak to us?26000:20:31,219 –> 00:20:35,380Well, you may find yourself at some points26100:20:35,380 –> 00:20:40,380in your life where you are in the hands26200:20:42,880 –> 00:20:47,000or under the power of someone or perhaps26300:20:47,020 –> 00:20:50,959even a number of people who are against you,26400:20:52,199 –> 00:20:53,219want to harm you.26500:20:54,900 –> 00:20:58,319People who see a world without you.26600:21:00,579 –> 00:21:03,140And you may find yourself in a situation26700:21:03,140 –> 00:21:06,079more than once in your life where you are26800:21:06,079 –> 00:21:08,160powerless to do anything about it.26900:21:09,579 –> 00:21:14,500I wonder how many times as a pastor over 28 years27000:21:14,500 –> 00:21:16,819someone has sat in this study with me27100:21:17,199 –> 00:21:19,579and said, they described a situation,27200:21:19,579 –> 00:21:21,219there’s this person, there’s this person,27300:21:21,219 –> 00:21:23,680this is happening, and there’s that dynamic.27400:21:23,680 –> 00:21:25,140And then they’ve said, this, Pastor,27500:21:25,140 –> 00:21:29,079I feel absolutely powerless.27600:21:29,079 –> 00:21:30,099Powerless.27700:21:31,719 –> 00:21:36,000There is nothing I can do about this.27800:21:38,920 –> 00:21:40,079You know what?27900:21:40,939 –> 00:21:44,739The Lord Jesus Christ would come to you at that moment28000:21:44,739 –> 00:21:46,540and He would say to you,28100:21:47,660 –> 00:21:52,660I am your comfort, direction, and strength,28200:21:56,400 –> 00:22:00,060because I too have been there.28300:22:01,680 –> 00:22:03,060You’ve been listening to Open the Bible28400:22:03,060 –> 00:22:05,219with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called28500:22:05,219 –> 00:22:08,180Jesus Suffered At the Hands of His Enemies,28600:22:08,180 –> 00:22:10,839part of our series from the gospel of Mark28700:22:10,839 –> 00:22:13,500called The Gospel According to Jesus.28800:22:13,520 –> 00:22:15,040And if you’ve missed any of the series,28900:22:15,040 –> 00:22:17,060don’t forget, you can always come to our website,29000:22:17,060 –> 00:22:20,359openthebible.org.uk and catch up29100:22:20,359 –> 00:22:22,560or go back and listen again.29200:22:22,560 –> 00:22:25,280If you live within traveling distance of Cheltenham,29300:22:25,280 –> 00:22:26,880the heart of the Cotswolds,29400:22:26,880 –> 00:22:28,319you might want to book a ticket29500:22:28,319 –> 00:22:30,599for Cotswolds Bible Festival.29600:22:30,599 –> 00:22:34,160It takes place on November the 23rd, 2024,29700:22:34,160 –> 00:22:37,800and it features Pastor Colin Smith as the main speaker.29800:22:37,800 –> 00:22:40,359Cotswolds Bible Festival aims to encourage29900:22:40,500 –> 00:22:43,760and equip those of all ages to follow Jesus.30000:22:43,760 –> 00:22:46,540The event takes place at Cheltenham Ladies College30100:22:46,540 –> 00:22:50,760and you can obtain tickets at cotswoldsbiblefestival.com,30200:22:50,760 –> 00:22:53,099that’s cotswoldsbiblefestival.com.30300:22:54,719 –> 00:22:57,520Open the Bible is able to stay on this station30400:22:57,520 –> 00:22:59,119and on the internet30500:22:59,119 –> 00:23:01,680because of the financial support of our listeners.30600:23:01,680 –> 00:23:04,819So, if you already give, thank you for your support.30700:23:04,819 –> 00:23:06,119If you don’t already give,30800:23:06,119 –> 00:23:08,500but that’s something you’re thinking about doing,30900:23:08,540 –> 00:23:11,680then this month, we have a special offer for you.31000:23:11,680 –> 00:23:14,119If you’re able to set up a direct debit31100:23:14,119 –> 00:23:17,479in the amount of five pounds per month or more31200:23:17,479 –> 00:23:21,060or make a one-off donation of 50 pounds or more31300:23:21,060 –> 00:23:22,680to the work of Open the Bible,31400:23:22,680 –> 00:23:26,660this month we can offer you a book by R.C. Sproul31500:23:26,660 –> 00:23:29,060called The Advent of Glory,31600:23:29,060 –> 00:23:32,439It’s 24 Devotions for Christmas.31700:23:32,439 –> 00:23:35,680Colin, what makes this book so special?31800:23:35,699 –> 00:23:38,699Well, first that it is telling the story of Christmas,31900:23:38,699 –> 00:23:40,439the son of God coming into the world,32000:23:40,439 –> 00:23:42,479what could be more wonderful than that?32100:23:42,479 –> 00:23:45,459And second, it’s by R.C. Sproul.32200:23:45,459 –> 00:23:46,839You know, the most important thing32300:23:46,839 –> 00:23:49,180about any book is who wrote it.32400:23:49,180 –> 00:23:53,800And here is a godly man with a wonderful mind32500:23:53,800 –> 00:23:56,640and a warm heart and great insight.32600:23:56,640 –> 00:23:57,719He’s with the Lord now,32700:23:57,719 –> 00:24:01,380but the writings That R.C. Sproul have left behind32800:24:01,380 –> 00:24:03,219really are a treasure.32900:24:03,219 –> 00:24:04,939And this one’s just out.33000:24:05,000 –> 00:24:08,199It’s a new devotional for Advent,33100:24:08,199 –> 00:24:11,68024 words that are at the heart of the Christmas story.33200:24:11,680 –> 00:24:14,520It’s just about four pages for each day.33300:24:14,520 –> 00:24:17,520Very easy to read, full of insight.33400:24:17,520 –> 00:24:19,300I’m very excited about it.33500:24:19,300 –> 00:24:21,280The Advent of Glory,33600:24:21,280 –> 00:24:24,88024 devotionals for Christmas by R.C. Sproul.33700:24:24,880 –> 00:24:28,140Well, we’d love to send you a copy of R.C. Sproul’s book,33800:24:28,140 –> 00:24:31,219the Advent of Glory, 24 devotions for Christmas,33900:24:31,219 –> 00:24:32,819as a way of saying thank you34000:24:32,880 –> 00:24:35,180for setting up a new direct debit34100:24:35,180 –> 00:24:36,859to the work of Open the Bible34200:24:36,859 –> 00:24:39,599in the amount of five pounds per month or more,34300:24:39,599 –> 00:24:42,300or a one-off gift of 50 pounds.34400:24:42,300 –> 00:24:45,020Further information and full terms and conditions34500:24:45,020 –> 00:24:46,900are available on our website,34600:24:46,900 –> 00:24:50,800that’s at openthebible.org.uk.34700:24:50,800 –> 00:24:53,339For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,34800:24:53,339 –> 00:24:54,380I’m David Pik,34900:24:54,380 –> 00:24:56,619and I hope you’ll join us again next time.35000:25:02,900 –> 00:25:06,339Do you ever think about the sufferings of Jesus?35100:25:06,339 –> 00:25:09,260Well, why on earth would anyone want to do that?35200:25:09,260 –> 00:25:11,760Find out next time on Open the Bible.