“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).
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Contents:
1) The Messiah’s Humiliation (Gary Henry)
2) “Put On Love, Which is the Bond of Perfection” (R.J. Evans)
3) Psalm 119:9-16 (Berean Study Bible)
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The Messiah’s Humiliation
Gary Henry
“I can count all my bones — they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots” (Psalm 22: 17,18).
ALL FOUR OF THE GOSPELS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT ALLUDE TO THIS PART OF PSALM 22. In Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34; and John 19:24, there are references to the dividing of Jesus’ garments by the soldiers at His crucifixion. John specifically mentions that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. Yet this is only one of several details in Psalm 22 that describe Jesus’ death. Let’s look at some of the others, and as we do, ask yourself how these could have been fulfilled so vividly and specifically in the death of Jesus if He were not, in fact, the person being pictured in this Psalm.
(1) There is, as we saw yesterday, Jesus’ cry of agony from the cross, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (v.1), which is quoted in Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34. (2) The mocking that was hurled at Jesus, recorded in Matthew 27:39-43, is powerfully depicted in vv.6-8 of Psalm 22. (3) The devastation of the body of a person being crucified is pictured realistically in v.14. (4) The thirst described in v.15 is emphasized in John 19:28. (5) In v.16, there is the saying, “They have pierced my hands and feet.” This wording, while controversial, is supported by the LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate translations and is attested by the earliest manuscript of Psalm 22 discovered among the Dead Sea Scrolls. (6) Finally, there is in v.18, as we saw above, the gambling for the garments of the one being executed. This point is included in all four of the gospels.
In addition to these points, there is the general impression in Psalm 22 — an absolutely profound impression — that one is reading an actual description of what happened when Jesus died. If it was only a vague resemblance, one might argue that the similarity was just a coincidence. But an account with this many specifics, and corresponding so closely to the death of Jesus, can be explained in only one way: David was enabled by God’s Spirit to predict what he could not have known about in any other way.
So we come back to the point we began with yesterday. How can it be that the Messiah, of all people, would die such a death? It is simply that His death was required for our atonement. He reigns in glory today, but the cross had to come before the crown.
“It is suffering and then glory” (Robert Crawford McQuilkin).
— via WordPoints, April 6, 2026
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“Put On Love, Which is the Bond of Perfection”
R.J. Evans
“Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart…And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins’” (1 Pet. 2:22; 4:8).
Our text is emphasizing the need for fervent love among Christians, and that need is above anything else in our relationship to each other. These verses from the pen of the inspired Apostle Peter do not stand alone in saying that love is the greatest and most important need among the people of God. Let us give consideration to the following:
In that great chapter on love, 1 Corinthians 13, where love is personified, the chapter ends by mentioning three important abiding things to the Christian. But notice which one is the greatest: “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor. 13:13).
After giving a list of important things Christians need to “put on” in their lives, the Apostle Paul then said, “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection” (Col. 3:14).
When Jesus was asked “Which is the first commandment of all?” Without any hesitation, He said, “The first of all commandments is: ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mk. 12:29-30). After we obey the gospel and become “followers of God as dear children,” surely nothing is as important as to “walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us” (Eph. 5:1-2).
Even if we could do some marvelous things such as speak many languages of men and of angels–if it is not done in love, it would only be making noise such “as sounding brass or clanging cymbal” (1 Cor. 13:1). If we were the greatest preacher ever known and knew all the answers to all the questions, and even had enough faith to remove mountains—if we did not have love in our hearts, we would be “nothing” (1 Cor. 13:2). If we gave all our possessions to feed the poor, and even died doing the Lord’s work–if it was not motivated by love, it profits us “nothing” (1 Cor. 13:3). We should therefore take it seriously when the Scripture says, “Let all that you do be done with love” (1 Cor. 16:14).
We express or manifest our love for the Lord by obeying His commandments. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (Jn. 14:15). The Apostle John said, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 Jn. 5:3). We must ever be mindful of the need to have fervent love for one another. For if we do not love our brother, please notice what we are told: “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?” (1 Jn. 4:20).
Our fervent love for one another is so important, especially when we consider the effects it has on how others view us. Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn. 13:34-35). Question: By the love you are showing, would anyone recognize you as a disciple of Christ?
Love must be the underlying motive and reason for all that we do. It solves so many potential problems. If you are a parent, one of the greatest things you can do for your children is to show your love for God, for your spouse, and for them. If there are problems within a local church, love is the answer–love for God, love for truth, love for one another.
In view of what we have covered in this short article, it is truly understandable why “love will cover a multitude of sins” (1 Pet. 4:8). We close with these words— “Beloved, if God so loved us. we ought to love one another” (1 Jn. 4:11).
— Via the bulletin of the Southside church of Christ, Gonzales, LA, March 10, 2019
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Psalm 119:9-16
Gimel
9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word.
10 With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me stray from Your commandments.
11 I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.
12 Blessed are You, O LORD; teach me Your statutes.
13 With my lips I proclaim all the judgments of Your mouth.
14 I rejoice in the way of Your testimonies as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on Your precepts and regard Your ways.
16 I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.
— Via Berean Study Bible
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Matthew 4:4
But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Berean Study Bible).
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation
1) Hear the gospel — for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30-31).
2) Believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins. For every accountable person has sinned (Romans 3:23; Romans 3:10), which causes one to be spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1) and separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 6:23). Therefore, repentance of sin is necessary (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30). For whether the sin seems great or small, there will still be the same penalty for either (Matt. 12:36-37; 2 Cor. 5:10) — and even for a lie (Rev. 21:8).
4) Confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21). This is the final step that puts one into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27). For from that baptism, one is then raised as a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17), having all sins forgiven and beginning a new life as a Christian (Rom. 6:3-4). For the one being baptized does so “through faith in the working of God” (Col. 2:12). In other words, believing that God will keep His word and forgive after one submits to these necessary steps. And now as a Christian, we then need to…
6) Continue in the faith by living for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Matt. 24:13; Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA 31501
Sunday: 9 a.m. Bible Classes (except for last of the month Song Service)
and 10 a.m. Worship Service
Wednesday: 7 p.m. Bible Classes
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
https://thomastedwards.com/go/all.htm (This is a link to the older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990.)