Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for November 5, 2023

His First Throne

Mark 15:22-32

1. Context

• delivered by Pilate to be crucified (6-15), mocked by soldiers and the compulsion of Simon (16-21)

2. Details at the Cross 22-28

• Golgotha/Calvary: “place of a skull”
• drink refused (Prov. 31:6)
• description of fact
• division of garments and casting of lots (Psa. 22:18)
• designation of time: the third hour or 9:00 a.m.
• disclosure of inscription: The King of the Jews
• crucified between two thieves (Isa. 53:12, Mark 10:39)

3. Derision at the Cross 29-32

• participants: those who passed by, chief priests, thieves (Psa. 22:7-8)
• despised as prophet (Mark 14:58, John 2:18-22)
• mocked as priest
• humiliated as king
• the taunts and the truth (Isa. 53:10)

4. So What?

• Because King Jesus made the cross His first throne, seize the benefit of His sacrifice and celebrate its lasting impact.
• “Crucified as a king, He was king still. He made the cross His first throne.” (S. Ferguson)
• “A sacrificial death is the true work of the Messiah of the law, prophets and psalms and because He did not come down from the cross, therefore He is ‘crowned with glory and honor’ in heaven, and rules our gratefully redeemed hearts on earth.” (Maclaren)
• “God forbid that Christ’s agony would ever become a matter of dispassionate interest.” (K. Hughes)
• “The other gods were strong; but Thou wast weak. They rode, but Thou didst stumble to Thy throne. But to our wounds only God’s wounds can speak; and not a god has wounds, but Thou alone.” (E. Shillito, “Jesus of the Scars”)
• “What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered was all for sinners’ gain. Mine, mine was the transgression but Thine the deadly pain. Lo, here I fall, my Savior, ‘tis I deserve Thy place. Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace…” (Bernard of Clairvaux, “O Sacred Head Now Wounded”)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for October 29, 2023

Sour Grapes

Mark 12:1-12

1. Background

• penetrating parable in the context of escalating conflict with the religious establishment
• preceded by the questioning of the credentials of Jesus (11:27-33)

2. Jesus Highlights the Resources of God 1

• judgment parable about wicked vineyard keepers
• every provision for maximum fruitfulness
• imagery of Isaiah 5

3. Jesus Highlights the Revelation of God 2-8

• escalating violence leading to murder in the vineyard
• revelation through His servants and their treatment
• revelation through His Son and His treatment

4. Jesus Highlights the Goodness and Severity of God 9

• warning of Rom. 11:22
• the problem of receiving resources and rejecting revelation

5. Jesus Uses Scripture to Highlight His Certain Triumph 10-12

• rejected stone has become the chief corner stone (Psa. 118:22-23)
• the last question and the only answer
• pathetic picture of misplaced fear

6. So What?

• Because receiving God’s resources and rejecting His revelation results in inevitable judgment, rely completely on Jesus.
• Recognize the distinct contrast between sour grapes and saving grace.
• “You put your finger in the eye of God when you slight His Son.” (Spurgeon)
• “Jesus is the corner stone, came for sinners to atone; though rejected by His own, He became the corner stone. When I am by trial oppressed, on the stone I am at rest; when the seeds of truth are sown, He remains the corner stone…Till the breaking of the dawn, till all footsteps cease to roam; ever let the truth be known, Jesus is the corner stone.” (L. Goss, “Cornerstone”)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for October 22, 2023

By What Authority?

Mark 11:27-33

1. Setting

• part of a section (11:27-13:2) focused on confrontation with the Jerusalem establishment
• contrast between the Jerusalem authorities and the Jerusalem crowd

2. A Question about Authorization 27-28

• continuing emphasis on “authority”
• these things: triumphal entry, fig tree cursing, temple cleansing
• by or who…?

3. A Calculated Response to Opponents 29-30

• counter-question of Jesus
• statement of condition
• reference to John’s baptism (1:1-11)

4. A Dilemma for the Religious Establishment 31-33

• dialogue about their response
• two problematic options
• confession of inability to decide
• the last word with Jesus

5. So What?

• In light of His assigned and exercised authority, eagerly and gladly submit to Jesus.
• “Obedience is the organ of spiritual knowledge.” (F. W. Robertson)
• Jesus always refuses to entertain or endorse hypocrisy.
• Actively promote Jesus as the sole focus of saving faith.
• “Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing, were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing. Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He; Lord Sabaoth His name, from age to age the same; and He must win the battle.” (Luther, “A Mighty Fortress”)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for October 15, 2023

Not in My House!

Mark 11:15-19

1. Background

• preceded by triumphal entry and fig-tree cursing
• issue of authority and second temple cleansing
• prophetic, priestly and kingly roles of Jesus

2. Intervention of Jesus 15-16

• driving out those desecrating the house of God (2 Chron. 7:1-3)
• flipped tables and halted traffic
• repudiation of “business as usual” (Ex. 30:11-16)
• confirmation that appearances can be deceiving

3. Intention of Jesus 17

• designed to be a house of prayer for the nations (Isa. 56:7)
• not a place of refuge for the rebel (Jer. 7:11)
• replacing besmirching with blessing and exploitation with evangelism

4. Alarm of Religious Establishment 18-19

• threatened leaders and astonished crowd
• authority challenged and confirmed (27-33, Zech. 14:21, Mal. 3:1-4)

5. So What?

• In light of God’s holiness, pursue purified worship which reflects His person and results in productivity for His glory.
• Consider the “temple” connection. (1 Cor. 3:16-17)
• the atmosphere of biblical worship: humble, prayerful and missional
• See prayer as a key indicator of your dependence on God.
• “Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer! Heav’nly portals loud with hosannas ring! Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever! Crown Him, Crown Him! Prophet, and Priest, and King!” (F. Crosby, “Praise Him! Praise Him!”)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for October 8, 2023

He Went Away Sad

Mark 10:17-31

1. Context

• preceded by discussion of greatness and section on salty stewardship
• immediately preceded by receiving the kingdom like a child

2. Exchange with a Rich Young Ruler 17-22

• a question and a question
• character and commandments
• confession of conformity
• compassion and condition
• sad departure

3. Exchange with His Astonished Disciples 23-31

• kingdom of God emphasis
• caught in the eye of a needle
• question of possibility
• comfort for the committed
• a change of order

4. So What?

• Because King Jesus is the key to kingdom entrance, depend on Him like a little child.
• “I heard the voice of Jesus say, ‘Come unto Me and rest; Lay down, thou weary one, lay down your head upon My chest.’ I came to Jesus as I was, weary and worn and sad; and I found in Him a resting place, and He has made me glad.” (H. Bonar, “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say”)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for October 1, 2023

Salty Disciples

Mark 9:42-50

1. Background

• a redirection in the context of a discussion about greatness
• two key concepts: sensitivity and stewardship

2. A Responsibility to Grasp

• someone is watching you
• someone is listening to you

3. A Surgery to Perform

• what you do
• where you go
• what you see
• not physical mutilation but spiritual mortification
• what you think about hell

4. A Perspective to Adopt

• salt points to sacrifice
• fire points to persecution

5. So What?

• Because Jesus calls disciples to promote a thirst for Him, pursue the sacred stewardship of saltiness.
• Deal with sin radically.
• Dare to live sacrificially.
• “Go, then, earthly fame and treasure! Come, disaster, scorn, and pain! In Your service pain is pleasure, with Your favor loss is gain. I have called You Abba, Father; You my all in all shall be. Storms may howl, and clouds may gather, all must work for good to me.” (H. Lyte, “Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken”)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for September 24, 2023

Unwashed Hands and Unclean Hearts

Mark 7:1-23

1. Background

• foretaste of confrontation in Jerusalem
• from actions to teachings: the issue of purity
• source of opposition: delegation from Jerusalem (3:22)

2. The Unwashed Hands Issue 1-8

• disciples caught “dirty handed”
• parenthetical commentary
• citation (Isa. 29:13) and identification (“hypocrites”)

3. A Scathing Rebuke 9-13

• problem: elevation of the external above the internal and human tradition above Scripture
• specific example: Exodus 20:12 and “Corban”
• circumventing biblical commands

4. The Unclean Hearts Issue 14-23

• root of uncleanness: internal/moral rather than external/ritual
• from the superficial to the substantive: food never enters a man’s heart
• the perennial problem: unclean hearts (Jer. 17:9, Prov. 4:23)

5. So What?

• Because a relationship with God hinges on the heart, aim for an internal sensitivity that produces an external consistency.
• Recognize the distinction between personal preference and biblical principle.
• “Legalism is always nailing a sign to the cross that says ‘necessary, but not enough.’” (J. MacGorman)
• Mind the gap! (Eph. 3:14-21)
• “Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of Thy love…Take my heart. It is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne…” (F. Havergal, “Take My Life, and Let It Be”)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for September 17, 2023

Kingdom Acoustics

Mark 4:1-20

1. Setting

• preceding: mobbed by crowds, maligned by religious leaders, misunderstood by family
• a floating pulpit and a parable sermon (4:1-2)

2. Jesus Tells a Story 3-9

• opening command
• a parable about a sower, seeds and soils
• seed along the path: eaten by birds
• seed on rocky ground: initial success and subsequent failure
• seed among thorns: choked and fruitless
• seeds into good soil: dynamic growth
• repetition of opening command

3. Jesus Addresses the Purpose of Parables 10-13

• responding to the question of the disciples
• citation of Isa. 6:9-10
• the word: helps or hardens
• a sovereign “filtration system”

4. Jesus Explains the Story 14-20

• seed: word
• path: never started, rocky: started but never finished, thorns: survived but never bore fruit
• good soil: perseverance and productivity

5. So What?

• Knowing that lasting transformation is the product of God’s word taking root in you, prize it and persevere in it.
• Pray for an insatiable appetite for God’s word.
• Ponder and apply the principle of perseverance.
• “Sweetly echo the gospel call, wonderful words of life; Offer pardon and peace to all, wonderful words of life; Jesus, only Savior, sanctify forever…” (P. Bliss, “Wonderful Words of Life”)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for September 10, 2023

But That You May Know

Mark 2:1-12

1. Setting

• the first of five “conflict” narratives in 2:1-3:6
• preceded by the cleansing of a leper (1:40-45)

2. Jesus Comes Home to a Full House 1-2

• upon His return to Capernaum
• preaching the word

3. Four Men with a Friend Drop In 3-5

• restricted access and roof removal
• Jesus sees and says

4. The Snarl of Some Sitting Scribes 6-9

• their unspoken accusation (Lev. 24:16)
• divine discernment and insightful interrogation

5. Jesus Demonstrates His Authority 10-12

• that you may know…
• rise…and he rose…
• an immediate cure and the impact of unprecedented authority

6. So What?

• If Jesus says you’re forgiven, you are.
• putting a finger on the pulse of the real problem
• “The degree to which you see your own need for forgiveness is the measure of how clearly you understand the gospel.” (S. Ferguson)
• “My sin, o the bliss of this glorious thought, my sin, not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, o my soul.” (H. Spafford, “It Is Well with My Soul”)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for September 3, 2023

Let’s Start at the Very Beginning

Mark 1:1-13

1. Background

• “action” gospel, most compact, “moving picture” gospel
• answering the question: Who is Jesus?

2. Preparation 1-8

• gospel: good news about a person
• pivotal role of John the Baptist (Mal. 3:1, Isa. 40:3, 2 Kings 1:8)
• preaching repentance and pointing to Jesus

3. Verification 9-11

• inauguration of public ministry
• visual and verbal validation

4. Indication 12-13

• driven into the wilderness
• onslaught of temptation
• reversing the curse

5. So What?

• In light of Scripture’s clear indication of Jesus’ identity, rely on His provision and recognize your place.
• “Tell me the story of Jesus, write on my heart every word, tell me the story most precious, sweetest that ever was heard…Tell of the cross where they nailed Him, dying in anguish and pain; tell of the grave where they laid Him; tell how He liveth again.” (F. Crosby, “Tell Me the Story of Jesus”)
• “I love to tell the story, for those who know it best seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest. And when in scenes of glory I sing the new, new song, ‘twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.” (Hankey/Fischer “I Love to Tell the Story”)