The crucifixion of the Lord Jesus in Mark chapter 15, centres on the cry My God My God why have you forsaken me? Eloi Eloi Lama Sabachthani? 

Here is Christ rejected, tortured, crucufied on the cross of Golgotha for my sins and according to Gods eternal purpose, prophecied in Psalm 22, Psalm 69 and Isaiah 53. 

Here is the great exchange.

Here is substitutional atonement. 

Jesus Christ is the atonement and substitute for my sins. 

Salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone. 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie Bridgend Gospel Hall Church New Cumnock

The crucifixion of Jesus divides humanity into the cruel, the kind and the converted! The very worst of man's hatred and cruelty is seen as Jesus is tortured at the hands of the Roman centurions. It is this cross work of Jesus, given as a sacrifice for my sins which has the power to change lives and destinies! The fear of God drove the thief on the cross to seek a Saviour and faith in Jesus, God's Son opened up heaven for him! It's time to get personal with Jesus. 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie

The Last supper and the hours leading up to the death and crucifixion of Jesus is stamped with preparation. Preparation not only by the disciples but preparation be God for this world changing event. The Passover of Exodus chapter 12 and the prophecy of the Lamb of God of Isaiah chapter 53 pointed forward to and prepared us for the coming of Jesus, the Son of God who would deliver His people from a tyrannt far worse than Pharoah. The deliverance of Jesus, God's substitute for the sinner, delivers me from sin, Satan, the world and God's judgment! Dr J Stewart Gillespie

The Cross of Jesus represents man's final and full outrage of wickedness against the God of heaven. Nothing man had ever done before came close to the torture, hatred, rejection, and crucifixion he inflicted upon Jesus Christ the Son of God. In Ephesians chapter 2 verse 16 this rejection of God becomes in the plans of God the means of our reconciliation. Here for humanity is our light in a very dark place. In Mark chapter 10 blind Bartimaeus sees this light. In Jericho, the place of the curse, defiled Bartimaeus gets a glimpse of hope and help in the Son of God. He had heard all about Jesus and despite the discouragement of the crowds cried, 'Jesus though son of David have mercy on me.' It was faith that empowered Bartimaeus to cast away his garments and turn in faith to Jesus. 

www.GraceinChrist.org 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie 

Bridgend Gospel Hall New Cumnock

A rich young man rushed to find the Lord Jesus to present his self centred plan of salvation. He feels he is good enough for God and is convinced that he has kept the commandments of God all of his life. He rests in self and possessions for heaven. Instead of being a blessing his self satsfaction and complacency is a burden and he goes away from Christ disappointed, the first person to go away disappointed in Mark's gospel so far! So often we find refuge in something other than the safety and certainty of Christ and refuse to let go of what it is we are determined to trust in other than Christ. Adam's first reaction after his fall was to seek refuge in the fig leaves. Many of us still are a lot like Adam. Dr J Stewart Gillespie Mark chapter 10 verses 17 to 25 Bridgend Gospel Hall New Cumnock Gospel Message

In stark contrast to the glorious presentation of the supremacy and preeminence of Jesus Christ as the Son of God on the mount of transfiguration we are now presented with the reception of the Lord Jesus as He decends the mountain. The Devil is on the attack, a tactic we ought to have anticipated following this glorious glimpse of Christ. Despite the clarity of the presentation of Jesus as God's only Saviour and unique Son, the father of a deaf and dumb boy approach the disciples for help and cure, inevitably they fail! Intent on the destruction of the boy, whilst men fail to recognise Jesus for who He is, the demons have no hesitation in acknowledging Jesus Christ and intensify their attack on the child. In reality his dumbness is merely a symptom, nothing was coming out becuase nothing was going in! Deliverance here comes by faith, even weak faith, even a little faith but faith nonetheless in a great and glorious Saviour. 

A gospel message preached from Mark chapter 9 verses 14 to 29. 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie at the Church in New Cumnock meeting in the Bridgend Gospel Hall 

January 2024