100:00:01,000 –> 00:00:13,360Consider Jesus who endured such opposition from sinful men so200:00:13,360 –> 00:00:21,639that you will not grow weary or lose heart. Welcome to Open the300:00:21,639 –> 00:00:24,440Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick. I’m glad you400:00:24,440 –> 00:00:27,080could be with us today. And Colin, we’ve been looking in500:00:27,120 –> 00:00:30,799this series at the sufferings of Jesus and particularly how his600:00:30,799 –> 00:00:32,480sufferings relate to us.700:00:33,160 –> 00:00:36,720Yeah and I think when we’re in the middle of what’s really800:00:36,720 –> 00:00:40,040tough to endure, the big temptation is always what the900:00:40,040 –> 00:00:43,340writer to Hebrew says, it’s to grow weary, and it’s to lose1000:00:43,340 –> 00:00:47,759heart. It’s just oh, so tired of this, I’ve gone on for a time,1100:00:47,759 –> 00:00:51,520but I’m just worn out by it all, and I don’t know that I’ve got1200:00:51,520 –> 00:00:55,959the strength and where do you go when you feel that run down that1300:00:55,959 –> 00:00:59,500discouraged and the scripture says, well, here’s where you go.1400:00:59,700 –> 00:01:03,439You look at Jesus and His suffering, you remember first1500:01:03,860 –> 00:01:06,980that there’s great comfort in the fact Jesus has been there.1600:01:06,980 –> 00:01:10,620He’s been pushed to the limit in what he suffered. There’s1700:01:10,620 –> 00:01:14,180tremendous comfort in that fact. And then you can find direction1800:01:14,180 –> 00:01:19,779in His example, just looking at how Jesus suffered. He gives a1900:01:19,779 –> 00:01:23,940model for us. But more than giving us an example he’s able2000:01:24,099 –> 00:01:27,820because he’s with us by His spirit to give us strength, to2100:01:27,820 –> 00:01:31,440actually keep pressing on. And that’s where we want to focus in2200:01:31,440 –> 00:01:35,580the message today from marvelous thing that Jesus who endured for2300:01:35,580 –> 00:01:40,820the joy that was set before him is able by his spirit to keep us2400:01:40,820 –> 00:01:45,139going at the point where we feel we’re losing heart And he’s able2500:01:45,139 –> 00:01:48,680to keep us pressing through as he pressed through to the joy2600:01:48,680 –> 00:01:49,720that lies before us.2700:01:50,019 –> 00:01:53,779So let’s see how Jesus did that. Join us if you can, in Mark at2800:01:53,820 –> 00:01:57,540the end of chapter 14 and beginning of Chapter 15. As we2900:01:57,540 –> 00:02:00,660continue the message, Jesus suffered at the hands of his3000:02:00,660 –> 00:02:02,019enemies. Here’s Colin.3100:02:02,239 –> 00:02:05,860I want us to see here. Now as we ponder the sufferings of Jesus.3200:02:07,160 –> 00:02:10,339For ways in which he suffered and we’ll see very quickly. I3300:02:10,339 –> 00:02:15,660think how these apply, as the Bible has told us to our lives.3400:02:17,259 –> 00:02:21,320The first is simply that Jesus Christ was bound. Chapter 15 in3500:02:21,520 –> 00:02:28,720verse one, they bound Jesus. They led him away and the handed3600:02:28,720 –> 00:02:33,660him over to pilot. Now let’s think for a moment, get it in3700:02:33,660 –> 00:02:38,580our minds. What’s actually happening here. The hands that3800:02:38,580 –> 00:02:45,179healed our bond, the feet, that had taken the good news of the3900:02:45,979 –> 00:02:52,779and the hills of Somalia are tethered. Christ, the son of4000:02:52,779 –> 00:02:59,740God is delivered into the hands of those who hate him and want4100:02:59,740 –> 00:03:07,479to hurt him and God allowed it to be so not only was Christ4200:03:07,479 –> 00:03:13,240bound but secondly Christ was accused. Verse three, the chief4300:03:13,699 –> 00:03:18,300priest accused him of many things Now, remember that this4400:03:18,300 –> 00:03:21,399is happening in the the official residence and therefore4500:03:21,399 –> 00:03:27,139the court of Pontius Pilate the Roman governor and Rome law as4600:03:27,139 –> 00:03:30,940a matter of history of courses one of the great legacies of4700:03:30,940 –> 00:03:33,960the Roman Empire to the world the Romans like all empire4800:03:33,960 –> 00:03:36,339builders thought that they were doing the world a great favor4900:03:36,339 –> 00:03:39,240by conquering it in spreading all the good things that they5000:03:39,240 –> 00:03:42,539had and one of the really good things that they did have was5100:03:42,539 –> 00:03:46,259their legal system which is why so many parts of different5200:03:46,259 –> 00:03:49,960legal systems around the world still today are based on the5300:03:49,960 –> 00:03:54,660ancient system of Roman law and Pilate was in this very5400:03:54,660 –> 00:03:57,360privileged and highly responsible position of5500:03:57,360 –> 00:04:01,660representing the emperor in regard to matters of law which5600:04:01,660 –> 00:04:04,559meant that his primary responsibility was of5700:04:04,559 –> 00:04:08,460protecting the innocent and indicting the guilty but when5800:04:08,460 –> 00:04:11,660Jesus comes before Pilate there is no protection whatsoever5900:04:11,899 –> 00:04:16,799Pilate finds no charge against Jesus you see that in Verse 146000:04:16,799 –> 00:04:20,000the crowd are calling for Jesus to be crucified and Pilate says6100:04:20,000 –> 00:04:23,579well why what crime has he committed and there is no6200:04:23,579 –> 00:04:27,779answer to that question just a growing call for his death and6300:04:27,779 –> 00:04:32,679so while the law is supposed to protect the innocent from this6400:04:32,679 –> 00:04:38,500kind of mob rule Pilate completely steps aside from his6500:04:39,200 –> 00:04:43,820trust and his responsibility and we’re told that Pilot hands6600:04:43,820 –> 00:04:48,640Jesus over Verse 15 to be crucified. Having just6700:04:48,640 –> 00:04:54,480established that he the man responsible finds no charge.6800:04:54,480 –> 00:04:57,920Now after the trial before Pilate the soldiers gather6900:04:57,920 –> 00:05:01,519around Jesus and verse sixty to twenty describes the mockery in7000:05:01,519 –> 00:05:06,320the brutality that went on there and again. This is the7100:05:06,399 –> 00:05:10,899the kind of thing that a proper legal process should prevent7200:05:10,899 –> 00:05:16,179torture is the breakdown of every system of law and Pilot7300:05:16,179 –> 00:05:19,140was responsible for preventing the kind of abuse that the7400:05:19,140 –> 00:05:22,660soldiers he indulged in but he completely abandons that7500:05:22,660 –> 00:05:27,540responsibility. So what you’ve got here is the breakdown of7600:05:27,540 –> 00:05:34,019all legal process and you know law and order is a gift from7700:05:34,179 –> 00:05:38,339I mean, if you travel to some parts of the world where law7800:05:38,339 –> 00:05:44,500and order is scarcely holding up. and you come back home and7900:05:44,500 –> 00:05:50,980you say thank god for law, and for order, thank god for it,8000:05:50,980 –> 00:05:54,260and we should. but I think we’re reminded in the8100:05:54,260 –> 00:05:58,179scriptures here that even the best systems of law and order8200:05:58,179 –> 00:06:01,459and surely the Roman one even in those days must have counted8300:06:01,720 –> 00:06:06,359that indeed among them Even the best systems of law and order8400:06:06,359 –> 00:06:11,640are operating in a fallen world and sometimes the guilty are8500:06:11,640 –> 00:06:15,619indicted and sometimes they go free and sometimes the8600:06:15,619 –> 00:06:19,779innocent are protected and sometimes they are ravaged by8700:06:19,779 –> 00:06:27,420the wolves. And that’s true. in the world’s best systems of8800:06:27,420 –> 00:06:31,420justice. Jesus makes no reply to these many accusations that8900:06:31,720 –> 00:06:35,500he has upon him from various people all around the room, the9000:06:35,500 –> 00:06:39,179whole thing is disordered and of course, he makes no reply9100:06:39,179 –> 00:06:43,480because this is not a court seeking after truth and so you9200:06:43,480 –> 00:06:52,160remain silent Now, remember how this speaks to us Comfort9300:06:52,160 –> 00:06:59,380direction strength and let’s think about our own experience9400:06:59,779 –> 00:07:07,420to face some situations in life where you are falsely accused9500:07:07,839 –> 00:07:12,339You may be able to answer and if you are, then you should do9600:07:12,339 –> 00:07:16,140so and you should clear your name but there are sometimes9700:07:16,140 –> 00:07:20,880when you cannot undo the damage of a false accusation9800:07:20,880 –> 00:07:25,140Sometimes, the sheer number of falsehoods that are spoken9900:07:26,140 –> 00:07:29,579How is this a lie? How is this impossible?10000:07:29,600 –> 00:07:35,540And when you find yourself being misrepresented10100:07:37,540 –> 00:07:40,839Something within you will cry out to God10200:07:40,839 –> 00:07:44,059How is this possible?10300:07:44,739 –> 00:07:48,160And you know the risen Lord Jesus Christ would say to you10400:07:48,160 –> 00:07:51,899then, now look, I have been there10500:07:52,660 –> 00:08:01,779and I will be to you, say it with me, comfort, direction and strength10600:08:01,799 –> 00:08:03,679See10700:08:03,700 –> 00:08:10,220Our Lord Jesus Christ addresses the whole of life, real life10800:08:10,899 –> 00:08:13,679Now here’s the third thing, that He suffered10900:08:13,700 –> 00:08:15,799and again we’re going to apply it to ourselves11000:08:15,799 –> 00:08:17,540Christ was flogged11100:08:17,540 –> 00:08:20,420Mark chapter 15 and verse 1511200:08:20,420 –> 00:08:28,100Pilate had Jesus flogged and handed Him over to be crucified11300:08:29,019 –> 00:08:33,640Now obviously this involved unspeakable physical pain11400:08:33,659 –> 00:08:36,059for the Lord Jesus Christ11500:08:36,059 –> 00:08:39,140and it seems to me that it is precisely this part11600:08:39,140 –> 00:08:42,419of his suffering, that is physical pain11700:08:42,419 –> 00:08:46,099that speaks into our lives today11800:08:46,099 –> 00:08:49,299Now some of us have experienced physical pain11900:08:49,299 –> 00:08:51,020that was inflicted by another person12000:08:51,020 –> 00:08:54,340it’s a terrible thing12100:08:54,340 –> 00:08:56,719Others of us have not really experienced that12200:08:56,719 –> 00:09:00,179but we have experienced great physical pain12300:09:00,179 –> 00:09:03,419perhaps through an accident12400:09:03,419 –> 00:09:04,859or perhaps through an illness12500:09:04,859 –> 00:09:08,919or even an ongoing condition12600:09:08,919 –> 00:09:11,659You live with pain12700:09:11,659 –> 00:09:15,460And some of us have never experienced any of that12800:09:15,460 –> 00:09:19,159but one day, we will12900:09:19,159 –> 00:09:22,419Physical pain is part of life13000:09:22,419 –> 00:09:23,619I’ll tell you one of the hardest things13100:09:23,619 –> 00:09:24,960I’ve ever found as a pastor13200:09:24,960 –> 00:09:27,140is to sit by the bedside of someone13300:09:27,140 –> 00:09:30,440who is in physical pain13400:09:30,440 –> 00:09:34,280and to feel so utterly helpless13500:09:34,280 –> 00:09:35,200Those of you who are nurses13600:09:35,200 –> 00:09:36,400those of you who are carers13700:09:36,400 –> 00:09:41,840know exactly what I am talking about here13800:09:41,840 –> 00:09:45,859When you experience physical pain13900:09:46,440 –> 00:09:48,820you may find yourself tempted14000:09:48,820 –> 00:09:50,880as Job’s wife was tempted14100:09:50,880 –> 00:09:52,239Do you remember in her agony14200:09:52,239 –> 00:09:54,219she said to Job14300:09:54,219 –> 00:09:56,400why don’t you just curse God and die14400:09:56,400 –> 00:10:00,940and if you are in real pain14500:10:00,940 –> 00:10:02,140you may find some moments14600:10:02,140 –> 00:10:03,119when rising within you14700:10:03,119 –> 00:10:06,440you’d feel an antagonism towards God14800:10:06,440 –> 00:10:07,039and you know what14900:10:07,039 –> 00:10:09,179the example of Jesus is saying15000:10:09,179 –> 00:10:11,119Don’t go there15100:10:11,119 –> 00:10:13,460The Lord Jesus Christ would come to you15200:10:13,799 –> 00:10:17,219through your physical pain15300:10:17,219 –> 00:10:19,559and He would say to you15400:10:19,559 –> 00:10:23,719I’ve been there15500:10:23,719 –> 00:10:27,940and I will be your comfort15600:10:27,940 –> 00:10:30,140direction15700:10:30,140 –> 00:10:31,440strength15800:10:31,440 –> 00:10:33,179A word of encouragement there15900:10:33,179 –> 00:10:34,760from Pastor Colin Smith16000:10:34,760 –> 00:10:35,880on Open the Bible16100:10:35,880 –> 00:10:37,559Our message is called16200:10:37,559 –> 00:10:39,719Jesus suffered at the hands of His enemies16300:10:39,719 –> 00:10:40,960and it’s part of our series16400:10:40,960 –> 00:10:42,460The gospel according to Jesus16500:10:42,460 –> 00:10:44,119John Mark’s gospel16600:10:44,119 –> 00:10:46,400And if you’ve missed any of the series so far16700:10:46,400 –> 00:10:48,039or if you want to go back and listen again16800:10:48,039 –> 00:10:49,400you can do that online16900:10:49,400 –> 00:10:50,559at our website17000:10:50,559 –> 00:10:53,500openthebible.org.uk17100:10:53,500 –> 00:10:55,500Also on your favourite podcast site17200:10:55,500 –> 00:10:57,900search for Open the Bible UK17300:10:57,900 –> 00:10:59,840If you live within travelling distance17400:10:59,840 –> 00:11:02,179of Cheltenham, the heart of the Cotswolds17500:11:02,179 –> 00:11:04,280You might want to book a ticket for17600:11:04,280 –> 00:11:05,979Cotswold Bible Festival17700:11:05,979 –> 00:11:09,520It takes place on November 23, 202417800:11:09,520 –> 00:11:10,559And it features17900:11:10,979 –> 00:11:12,820as the main speaker18000:11:12,820 –> 00:11:14,260Cotswold Bible Festival18100:11:14,260 –> 00:11:16,020aims to encourage and equip18200:11:16,020 –> 00:11:18,760those of all ages to follow Jesus18300:11:18,760 –> 00:11:21,599The event takes place at Cheltenham Ladies College18400:11:21,599 –> 00:11:23,239You can obtain a ticket at18500:11:26,239 –> 00:11:29,099That’s Cotswoldbibelfestival.co.uk18600:11:29,099 –> 00:11:30,419Back to the message now18700:11:30,419 –> 00:11:31,719we’re at the end of Chapter fourteen18800:11:31,719 –> 00:11:33,780and going into Chapter fifteen18900:11:33,780 –> 00:11:35,580here’s Colin19000:11:35,580 –> 00:11:36,719And then there’s a fourth way19100:11:36,719 –> 00:11:39,520in which the Lord Jesus Christ19200:11:40,419 –> 00:11:41,859He was ridiculed19300:11:41,859 –> 00:11:44,280Chapter fifteen in verse twenty19400:11:44,280 –> 00:11:46,919When they had mocked him19500:11:46,919 –> 00:11:49,359that’s the key word19600:11:49,359 –> 00:11:50,539They took off the purple robe19700:11:50,539 –> 00:11:53,419and they put his own clothes on him19800:11:53,419 –> 00:11:56,159Now Mark spends four or five verses here19900:11:56,159 –> 00:11:59,659from verse sixteen through twenty20000:11:59,659 –> 00:12:02,200describing the taunting of Jesus20100:12:02,200 –> 00:12:05,700the soldiers humiliating20200:12:05,700 –> 00:12:08,039the Lord Jesus Christ20300:12:08,039 –> 00:12:08,719Remember that20400:12:09,000 –> 00:12:11,799Pilate back in verse two had asked Jesus20500:12:11,799 –> 00:12:13,799Are you the king of the Jews?20600:12:13,799 –> 00:12:14,900Jesus replied20700:12:14,900 –> 00:12:17,039Yes, it is as you say20800:12:17,039 –> 00:12:18,260That’s verse two20900:12:18,260 –> 00:12:21,080You may also remember that21000:12:21,080 –> 00:12:23,359because of this when Jesus was crucified21100:12:23,359 –> 00:12:26,400We’ll come to that story another Sunday21200:12:26,400 –> 00:12:28,539Pilate had an inscription made that said21300:12:28,539 –> 00:12:32,020Jesus of Nazareth the king of the Jews21400:12:32,020 –> 00:12:34,119This theme of Jesus the king21500:12:34,119 –> 00:12:36,919runs all the way through the passion story21600:12:36,919 –> 00:12:38,940and especially at this point21700:12:38,940 –> 00:12:41,599Now, the soldiers pick up on this21800:12:41,599 –> 00:12:44,500Ah, here’s the man who says that he’s a king21900:12:44,500 –> 00:12:47,520and they want to use this as a kind of22000:12:47,520 –> 00:12:52,159mockery to caricature the lord Jesus Christ22100:12:52,159 –> 00:12:53,880and to mock him22200:12:53,880 –> 00:12:55,760and so verse 1722300:12:55,760 –> 00:12:57,280they gather around Jesus22400:12:57,280 –> 00:13:00,760and they put a purple robe on him22500:13:00,760 –> 00:13:04,500Now, we want to try to picture this22600:13:04,500 –> 00:13:05,840I think in our imagination22700:13:06,140 –> 00:13:09,440but to do it rightly as Mark describes it22800:13:09,440 –> 00:13:11,840And so please don’t think about22900:13:11,840 –> 00:13:14,919a beautiful newly dyed purple robe23000:13:16,099 –> 00:13:18,539This would have been an old faded cloak23100:13:19,299 –> 00:13:21,880something from one of the soldiers23200:13:21,880 –> 00:13:23,880and rubbed in the dirt23300:13:23,880 –> 00:13:29,219and then thrown roughly over the lord Jesus Christ23400:13:29,219 –> 00:13:31,799because the whole point of what they are doing23500:13:31,799 –> 00:13:34,299is that they are trying to mock23600:13:34,799 –> 00:13:38,619claim of Christ and the identity of Christ, the king23700:13:39,320 –> 00:13:41,080It’s very interesting, have you noticed that23800:13:41,099 –> 00:13:43,719Mark says that the robe was purple, so does John23900:13:45,000 –> 00:13:46,340Matthew says it was scarlet24000:13:47,719 –> 00:13:50,919Several commentators point out, and I am sure this is right24100:13:51,599 –> 00:13:56,000that the color of this old tatty piece of cloth24200:13:56,000 –> 00:13:59,080was so faded, it could hardly be recognized24300:13:59,080 –> 00:14:01,080Matthew says scarlet24400:14:01,080 –> 00:14:03,460perhaps it was once scarlet, perhaps it was once purple24500:14:03,460 –> 00:14:06,960but this thing is so bleached out24600:14:08,599 –> 00:14:12,359They’re sticking a tatty old piece of cloth on him24700:14:13,880 –> 00:14:15,500Here’s the king’s robe24800:14:16,940 –> 00:14:18,679And of course, the king needs a crown24900:14:18,679 –> 00:14:20,820so where are we going to get a crown at this time of day25000:14:20,820 –> 00:14:22,799Oh, someone goes over and gets some25100:14:23,700 –> 00:14:26,200thorned branches and twists them together and25200:14:27,020 –> 00:14:28,640places them on the head of Christ25300:14:28,659 –> 00:14:32,340Again, I think that the primary intent here was not to25400:14:33,179 –> 00:14:39,820Increase the physical suffering of Jesus though, it must have done that but but they’re making a fool off him25500:14:40,380 –> 00:14:43,900And they are mocking him that’s what’s going on here25600:14:43,900 –> 00:14:49,140so here’s here’s your robin here’s your crown and and then a King of course needs a scepter25700:14:49,640 –> 00:14:55,419Now Matthew tells us that they got a stick or a staff and they put it in his hands25800:14:55,760 –> 00:14:59,820Mark doesn’t mention that notice what he does say about the staff in25900:15:00,340 –> 00:15:02,400verse 19 he says26000:15:03,780 –> 00:15:10,760that again and again verse 19 they struck him on the head with a staff and26100:15:11,419 –> 00:15:14,739they spit on him now you put these two things together and26200:15:16,380 –> 00:15:19,280Very likely what happened was something like this26300:15:19,280 –> 00:15:22,859They’re trying to set up you see this caricature of the King with this26400:15:23,000 –> 00:15:28,039With his robe and his crown and now he’s got to have his scepter so they bring out this old stick you see and26500:15:28,099 –> 00:15:33,599And Matthew says they thrusted into his hand. But Jesus will not participate in this charade26600:15:34,559 –> 00:15:36,559is passive26700:15:36,559 –> 00:15:41,359He will not grip the stick. So the stick so they put it in his hands it falls to the ground26800:15:41,359 –> 00:15:44,059They pick it up again. Try and put it in his hand. Come on. You gotta hold your stick26900:15:44,460 –> 00:15:47,200This is your scepter it falls to the ground27000:15:48,239 –> 00:15:50,239so someone picks it up if27100:15:51,020 –> 00:15:54,280You won’t hold your scepter. Here’s what we’ll do to you with it27200:15:55,580 –> 00:15:56,760and27300:15:56,799 –> 00:16:01,780they hit him over the head with the staff again and again and they spit on27400:16:02,780 –> 00:16:04,979him mark says no this is27500:16:05,700 –> 00:16:07,700if you can picture it now the27600:16:07,820 –> 00:16:08,919painful27700:16:08,919 –> 00:16:11,080caricature that Mark does tell us about27800:16:12,159 –> 00:16:16,140The Son of God sitting in a worn-out faded robe crowned with thorns27900:16:17,239 –> 00:16:18,979while28000:16:18,979 –> 00:16:20,979men28100:16:21,140 –> 00:16:22,700Laughing28200:16:22,700 –> 00:16:24,659Fall on their knees28300:16:24,700 –> 00:16:27,119Hail the King Hail the King28400:16:29,440 –> 00:16:32,000And all this Christ endured for us28500:16:34,719 –> 00:16:40,700Now remember that we’re looking in the light of the New Testament at how the sufferings of Jesus speak to us today28600:16:42,179 –> 00:16:43,780and28700:16:43,780 –> 00:16:46,900There is a word that we use today that I think rightly28800:16:47,460 –> 00:16:52,440Relates to what Jesus endured here, and it’s the word that we should use28900:16:52,799 –> 00:16:54,599Jesus29000:16:54,599 –> 00:16:55,960Christ29100:16:55,960 –> 00:16:57,960Was abused29200:16:59,479 –> 00:17:02,219The flogging had lacerated his body29300:17:03,640 –> 00:17:05,640the mocking29400:17:06,099 –> 00:17:08,099lacerated his heart29500:17:09,459 –> 00:17:16,140Christ was abused physically and Christ was abused emotionally a29600:17:17,680 –> 00:17:19,680gang29700:17:19,680 –> 00:17:21,680humiliates him29800:17:22,520 –> 00:17:24,520Stripping him of all dignity29900:17:25,800 –> 00:17:27,800He was taunted and30000:17:28,540 –> 00:17:30,540ridiculed30100:17:30,900 –> 00:17:32,900You call yourself a king30200:17:34,319 –> 00:17:36,319You’re nothing30300:17:38,040 –> 00:17:40,040And they spit on30400:17:41,900 –> 00:17:43,900Him30500:17:45,719 –> 00:17:47,719Now some30600:17:48,599 –> 00:17:50,599In this congregation30700:17:51,680 –> 00:17:54,180Have endured terrible abuse30800:17:56,199 –> 00:17:58,199Physically30900:17:59,060 –> 00:18:01,060Emotionally31000:18:02,199 –> 00:18:05,060You have felt that you were nothing31100:18:06,920 –> 00:18:08,920You have been told31200:18:09,560 –> 00:18:11,040You are31300:18:11,040 –> 00:18:13,040nothing and31400:18:13,880 –> 00:18:19,839In your mind you may think God cannot know what this is like31500:18:21,959 –> 00:18:29,520And I’m saying to you from the scriptures today that the Son of God has been there and31600:18:31,199 –> 00:18:33,300He would come to you today and31700:18:34,199 –> 00:18:38,599He would say to you I will walk with you through this31800:18:40,000 –> 00:18:42,000and31900:18:42,000 –> 00:18:44,699I am say it with me softly your32000:18:45,719 –> 00:18:47,319comfort32100:18:47,319 –> 00:18:49,319your direction and32200:18:49,859 –> 00:18:51,859Your strength32300:18:53,380 –> 00:18:59,060His suffering makes him the Savior he is32400:19:03,099 –> 00:19:08,060You see how the sufferings of Jesus speak to the realities of life today32500:19:10,719 –> 00:19:12,719When you suffer32600:19:13,459 –> 00:19:14,260You see,32700:19:14,260 –> 00:19:16,319Come to Jesus for comfort32800:19:17,180 –> 00:19:22,140Come to him for comfort. He’s not on the cross now. He’s gone through this. He’s risen. He’s ascended32900:19:22,140 –> 00:19:26,099He’s at the right hand of the Father and this Lord Jesus Christ who’s been there33000:19:27,719 –> 00:19:29,719He invites you33100:19:29,900 –> 00:19:34,839To come to him for him to walk with you if you are feeling powerless33200:19:35,979 –> 00:19:42,300Falsely accused if you find yourself in great physical pain if you find yourself ridiculed counted as nothing33300:19:43,520 –> 00:19:47,640You may find a sort of temptation within you to turn away from God33400:19:47,640 –> 00:19:54,800That is the last thing you do this Lord Jesus Christ is the one person you turn to in the agonies of life33500:19:56,119 –> 00:19:58,119He’s been there33600:19:59,119 –> 00:20:05,880Come to Him today draw near to him to this Savior for your comfort and33700:20:07,640 –> 00:20:12,599Then follow this Christ for direction, you know, it’s not everyday33800:20:12,920 –> 00:20:14,920that you suffer and33900:20:15,439 –> 00:20:17,439when you do if34000:20:17,540 –> 00:20:19,540You follow Christ through it34100:20:20,479 –> 00:20:24,760It may be the single most important era of your life34200:20:26,199 –> 00:20:29,760the Bible tells us about Steven the first Christian martyr and34300:20:31,420 –> 00:20:34,560When he was being stoned awful suffering34400:20:35,280 –> 00:20:38,599The Bible says his face was like an angel the34500:20:39,239 –> 00:20:44,859Likeness to Jesus Christ was seen more clearly in this man in his suffering than at any other time in his34600:20:44,859 –> 00:20:47,560Ministry and he was involved in all kinds of things in the early church34700:20:49,439 –> 00:20:54,900So if you are enduring suffering today you walk with this Christ34800:20:56,339 –> 00:20:59,040It’s maybe the most important thing in all of your life34900:21:01,599 –> 00:21:06,459Come to him for comfort follow him for direction and trust him35000:21:07,400 –> 00:21:09,400Trust him for strength35100:21:10,680 –> 00:21:16,040because this Jesus suffered as no one else has ever suffered and35200:21:16,880 –> 00:21:18,699He endured it35300:21:18,699 –> 00:21:23,060He came through it. He was not overcome by it. He triumphed over it35400:21:23,060 –> 00:21:25,219He sits at the right hand of the father in35500:21:25,459 –> 00:21:31,060Glory on high and his promise in his purpose is that he will bring many sons and daughters through it35600:21:32,000 –> 00:21:34,000To join him in glory for all eternity35700:21:35,040 –> 00:21:36,380and35800:21:36,380 –> 00:21:40,380You can trust this Jesus like you could trust. No one else in all of the world35900:21:41,900 –> 00:21:47,920he has said I will never leave you and I will never forsake you and36000:21:48,739 –> 00:21:54,020when we know that and when we trust him in that you also will be able to say36100:21:54,500 –> 00:21:57,660Because he is at my right hand. I36200:21:58,579 –> 00:22:00,500shall not36300:22:00,500 –> 00:22:02,500be shaken a36400:22:02,619 –> 00:22:07,219Helpful reminder today of how Jesus suffered and how if we’re suffering36500:22:07,420 –> 00:22:11,660We can come to him for comfort and support and trust him for strength36600:22:12,260 –> 00:22:16,939You’re listening to open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and our series the gospel36700:22:17,140 –> 00:22:21,780According to Jesus based on the gospel of Mark if you’ve missed any of the series36800:22:21,780 –> 00:22:24,880Don’t forget you can always catch up or go back and listen again online36900:22:25,579 –> 00:22:29,380Come to our website openthebible.org.uk37000:22:29,479 –> 00:22:33,959You can also find us as a podcast and those are on all the major podcast sites37100:22:34,140 –> 00:22:38,239Search for Open the Bible UK and subscribe to receive regular updates37200:22:38,900 –> 00:22:44,439Don’t forget also about open the Bible daily and that’s a series of short two to three minute37300:22:44,560 –> 00:22:49,560Reflections based on Pastor Colin’s teaching and read in the UK by sue MacLeish37400:22:49,699 –> 00:22:53,439There’s a fresh one every day both on the website and as a podcast37500:22:53,439 –> 00:22:57,680While you’re on the website, don’t forget to have a good look around37600:22:57,739 –> 00:23:03,699we have many resources available for individual Christians for churches and small groups that’s37700:23:08,160 –> 00:23:10,699Open the Bible is a listener supported ministry37800:23:11,060 –> 00:23:16,680We’re able to make the program and podcast available as well as all the things that happen behind the scenes37900:23:17,119 –> 00:23:19,119because of your financial support38000:23:19,199 –> 00:23:25,060So thank you for giving to and supporting the ministry if that’s something you haven’t until now38100:23:25,060 –> 00:23:32,420But you’d like to begin by setting up a direct debit of five pounds per month or more or a one-off gift of 5038200:23:32,540 –> 00:23:34,900Pounds you’ll not only be supporting the work38300:23:35,000 –> 00:23:41,719But also we’d like to say thank you by sending you a copy of RC sproles book the advent of Glory38400:23:42,199 –> 00:23:44,19924 devotions for Christmas38500:23:44,640 –> 00:23:47,739Colin some people will be so familiar with the Christmas Story38600:23:48,040 –> 00:23:52,020We feel we know it so well, so how would this book be beneficial?38700:23:52,420 –> 00:23:52,880well38800:23:52,880 –> 00:23:58,280the challenge when we’re familiar with the Christmas Story is that we can very easily take it for granted and38900:23:58,500 –> 00:24:04,459So what we need to do is to stop and to think and to wonder and to worship39000:24:04,459 –> 00:24:08,319and this devotional by RC sprol is just a39100:24:08,640 –> 00:24:16,020Marvelous help for being able to do that, he’s picked out 24 words that are at the heart of the Christmas story39200:24:16,020 –> 00:24:22,400I mean their words like virgin and mother and Bethlehem and King and room and angel and glory39300:24:22,400 –> 00:24:30,359And he has just four pages on each of these. There’s insight. So that the story comes fresh to you39400:24:30,359 –> 00:24:37,599It’s an absolute delight and it will be a gift. I think for anyone to use in preparation for Christmas39500:24:37,599 –> 00:24:42,540Well, we’d love to send you a copy of RC Sproul’s book the advent of Glory to say39600:24:42,540 –> 00:24:46,339Thank you for setting up a new direct debit to the work of open the Bible39700:24:46,339 –> 00:24:50,640For five pounds per month or more or a one-off gift of fifty pounds39800:24:50,959 –> 00:24:57,939Full details are and terms and conditions are on our website. That’s open the bible dot org dot Uk and you can give online39900:24:59,160 –> 00:25:04,880For open the Bible and pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pink, and I hope you’ll be able to join us again next time40000:25:08,140 –> 00:25:10,140You40100:25:11,359 –> 00:25:18,680Know what happened at the cross, but do you understand why it happened find out next time on open the Bible?