The Bible Standard - Discover the Truth. (By Christadelphianvideo.org)

Mark 15 records Jesus' trial before Pilate and includes events up to and including our Lord's crucifixion and burial. The account is indeed brief when compared with the other gospel records. From the other gospel accounts we learn that there were 6 sham trials in all - three before Jewish authorities and three before the Gentiles. Mark 14 recorded one of the Jewish trials and chapter 15 on...

In the record of Mark 14 and 15, we have, what's believed to be, Peter's accounting of the most horrific few days of his life. The 14th chapter commenced 2 days before the Lord's crucifixion with his anointing in the home of Simon the leper, believed by some to be the father of the family, Mary, Martha, Lazarus and Judas and would be the home of Martha's deceased husband. It was th...

A @Christadelphians Video: For a more in-depth analysis, check out this link...https://youtu.be/UZQGiCBV-AE**[The Watchman Report 'Extra' | Why is the UK Government Focusing on Islamophobia and Not All Faiths?]** In this thought-provoking spotlight, we examine the UK Government’s selective focus on Islamophobia while seemingly neglecting protections for other faiths. What does Scripture re...

As we read Jesus’ parable about the tenants in the vineyard today (Mark 17 v.1-9) and the treatment they meted out to any servants that came to them on behalf of the owner seeking his share of the fruit, our thoughts went quite naturally to what we had just read in Jeremiah who brought from God messages that did not please the leading men of his day.  All the counsellors of the king saw his words...

In chapter 13 of 1 Kings we read of two prophets and Yahweh's denouncement of Jeroboam's altar and himself. God sent an unnamed prophet from Judah to prophesy what Josiah would do some 350 years later. As king Jeroboam stretched forth his hand to order the arrest of the dissident prophet he was struck with leprosy. Jeroboam had to plead for healing, which he was granted. The Judean prophet...

 After all the wonders for most of Solomon’s reign, all the benefits and blessings he had inherited from his father David, Solomon’s greatness – we would say – humanly speaking – went to his head.  We read today “when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart … “ [1 Kings 11 v.4]      A significant factor in this was that he married many foreign wives who worshipped idols.   We are told “the...

1 Kings 12 tells us of Rehoboam's folly following the death of Solomon. Rehoboam fails to heed the wise counsel of the elders and rather harkens to the ridiculous reasoning of his entitled peers. The outcome of this is the division of the kingdom, as prophesied by Ahijah. Jeroboam is termed in scripture "the man who caused Israel to sin". Jeroboam set up two golden calves - the one i...

The disciples of Jesus had more remarkable experiences than any other group of human beings. The sudden stilling of the storm on the Lake of Galilee was one event that particularly astonished them, but in today’s 10th chapter of Mark we may have a sense of surprise at the cause behind the statement,  “ And his disciples were amazed  at his words.”      Jesus had just said, “How difficult it will b...

What a tragedy confronts the reader in Solomon's defiance of Yahweh's instructions. The record tells us of the foreign wives who corrupted the king (see Nehemiah 13 verses 25-27). Deuteronomy 17 had commanded the kings to write a personal copy the law, which contained commandments on the very matters Solomon contravened - see verses 14-29. And so the kingdom, to a large extent, would be to...

The record in 1 Kings 10 tells of the visit to Solomon by the Queen of Sheba, a wealthy spice kingdom. She was left breathless after seeing his glorious dominion and spoke of her doubts as to what she heard in her own realm. This queen says to Solomon that there had been no exaggeration in what she had heard in her homeland. This queen graciously gave great gifts in tribute to Solomon. The chapter...

We live in a world in which most people do not want to feel ashamed of anything.  Lawyers grow rich out of the efforts of some to camouflage over their failures and wrongdoing.  But there can be no effective camouflage before God – so we must not be influenced by the attitudes that surround us. We read today how Jesus had a wide audience “the crowds with his disciples” when “he said to them, ‘If a...

In the 1 Kings' record Yahweh appears to Solomon in a dream. This was the second time that God had appeared to Solomon by dream. In the earlier promise God offers to Solomon a covenant like that to David Solomon's father. This was an eternal covenant, that was conditional on obeying the terms, and having a perpetual heir to his throne. The readings in Jeremiah 33 reminds us of David's...

Although atheism is rife in our country, is not an even greater disaster those who go to places of Christian worship and yet, in God’s eyes, fail to offer to him the heart-felt worship he seeks. The wide variety of Churches must surely indicate this.   But we must avoid a judgmental attitude, that is God’s prerogative, however we cannot help seeing some of the differences between first century Chr...

1 Kings 8 tells us of the bringing up of the ark to Jerusalem with appropriate pomp and ceremony. Next came Solomon's extolling Yahweh and outlining the process that saw the ark coming to its typical resting place in the magnificent house, which had been built: 1 Chronicles 16 verses 8-36 records David's Psalm of thanksgiving penned at the time. David describes the spiritual significance o...

Today’s reading in 1 Kings 6 describes how Solomon in the 4th year of his reign began to build that remarkable temple on the mount in Jerusalem. This is what his father wanted to build, it took him 7 years (v.38) and “when the house was built; it was with stone prepared in the quarry, so that neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron was heard in the house while it was being built”[v.7] Imagine...

1 Kings 7 verses 1-12 describes the building of Solomon's own magnificent palace - containing a grand hall called the Forest of Lebanon because of the magnificent cedar pillars. It was approximately 45 metres in length and 24 metres wide. It took 13 years to build. He also constructed an impressive palace for Pharaoh's daughter who may be the subject of Psalm 45 and the Song of Solomon. Th...

We have a fixed foundation date when the House for the LORD's worship was completed: BC 1004. Solomon is recorded in 1 Kings 6 as building a magnificent temple, which is described in this chapter. Seven years of meticulous building were occupied in the construction of this glorious House. Verses 1-6 speak of the dimensions and arrangements of this house - note that is largely modeled on the Ta...

In 1 Kings 4 records the administrative structure of Solomon's realm. It tells of the wealth and wise rule that characterised his vast kingdom. It was in type a microcosm of Messiah's coming reign. Chapter 5 outlines the extensive preparation for the coming magnificent house of worship. This was aided by the peace his reign experienced - there was no "adversary" (Hebrew word &#39...

We all want to do the will of God, don’t we? The Bible is full of examples of those who claim to do the will of God, but who fail to grasp what the will of God really is!  Some deceive themselves into thinking that what they say and do  is in harmony with the ways of God – and is therefore his will. The principle we need to follow is plain – to read God’s word regularly and do so with a totally ho...

In our 1 Kings reading we find Solomon's wonderful beginning as he loved Yahweh his God and offers a thousand cattle at Gibeon as a mark of thanksgiving to Almighty God, Solomon's Sovereign. King Solomon also married Pharaoh's daughter, who he loved deeply as the Song of Solomon shows. It was at Gibeon that the Almighty appeared to Solomon and him to ask from God whatever he desired. S...

David's final instructions for Solomon are found in 1 Kings 2. Note his emphasis was on sustaining Israel's currently high spiritual state and on Solomon's responsibility to ensure God's people walk before Him in faithfulness with all their heart, and soul. After that Solomon, as a wise ruler, needs watch the known troublemakers of his realm. So David died, at 70 years old, having...

1 Kings 1 shows the circumstances that brought Solomon to the throne while David was yet alive. This proves that the promise of 2 Samuel 7 centred on another, who we know as the Lord Jesus Christ. It was brought about by the attempted usurpation of the throne by yet another of David's sons, Adonijah. Nathan the prophet together with Bathsheba, David's wife and Solomon's mother, recover...

The record of 24th chapter of 2 Samuel closes the book on what had begun at a low point in David's life - his falling into a a sin whose consequences reverberated throughout his life - but by which he learned other extraordinary lessons. As a result David was able to teach us of grace, faith and wisdom. These would help to provide a foundation for his son Solomon to commence a reign of immense...

A @Christadelphians Video: ### SummaryThe video discusses two accounts of Jesus calming storms in the Gospels, focusing on their deeper meanings and implications for believers. It highlights the miraculous nature of these events, illustrating how they serve as types pointing to Christ's authority over nature and the spiritual lessons they impart about faith amidst life's storms. The speake...

A @Christadelphians Video: ### SummaryThe video discusses the significance of Christ's miracle of feeding the 5000, drawing parallels between this event and the experiences of the Israelites in the wilderness. It emphasizes the importance of seeking spiritual nourishment from God, as exemplified by the manna provided to the Israelites and the bread of life offered by Christ. The speaker highli...