Blog Archives

LET US SPEAK TRUTH

5/30/2023

“And they made His grave with the wicked-- But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth” (Isa. 53:9).

A remarkable prophecy about the burial of Jesus is contained in the above verse! Crucifixion was used to execute the wicked (cf. Luke 23:33), yet Jesus was given an honorable burial by Joseph of Arimathaea (cf. Matt. 27:57-60; Mark 15:42-46; Luke 23:50-54; John 19:38-42).

The reason is clearly stated by Isaiah. Jesus was innocent of all charges laid against Him. More than that He was sinless (cf. 1 Pet. 2:21-25). Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). He spoke gracious words (Luke 4:22). Paul would proclaim he spoke “the words of truth and reason” to Festus as he preached Jesus (Acts 26:1-25).

Let us strive to be like Jesus and speak truth. “It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master” (Matt. 10:25).

Trent Thrasher

WHO WILL DECLARE HIS GENERATION?

5/23/2023

“He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken” (Isa. 53:8).

Why did Christ have to be crucified (cut off from the land of the living)? For the sin of the people. Barabbas deserved the cross for he was a murderer yet he was set free (Mark 15:7-11). Christ did nothing wrong yet who considered this in His generation? Ignorance was a factor in crucifying Jesus (cf. Acts 3:14-17; 1 Cor. 2:6-8).

Let us do our part to know Christ and dispel ignorance in our lives. Better still, let us help others to know the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul made Christ and Him crucified his central focus in preaching (1 Cor. 2:2). We have a good message to declare to people so let us shout it from the housetops (cf. Matt. 10:27)!

Trent Thrasher

THE STRENGTH OF SILENCE

5/16/2023

“He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth” (Isa 53:7).

As Jesus faced the cross, He was subjected to a series of “trials” before men who would ultimately kill Him (cf. John 18:12-14; John 18:19-24; Luke 22:66-23:25). When false charges were levied against Him, Jesus held His peace (cf. Matt 26:63; Matt 27:12-14). He kept silent before Herod (cf. Luke 23:8-9), and even sometimes before Pilate (cf. John 19:7-9).

I am ashamed to say I open my mouth when I too should keep it shut. Israel of old needed to learn this lesson with all their murmuring and complaining (cf. Ex. 15:24; Ex. 16:1ff; Num. 11:1-20; Num. 14:1ff; Num. 21:4-9). We too should do all things without complaining as taught in Phil. 2:14-16 which provides a powerful example.

Jesus is the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). That is cause for rejoicing! This passage in Isaiah was the very section of Scripture the Ethiopian eunuch was reading on his way back from Jerusalem. Philip preached to Him Jesus (Acts 8:26-39) so let us do the same!

Trent Thrasher

THANK YOU MOTHER

5/9/2023

We are told to give thanks in everything (1 Thes. 5:18) and so this is a fitting time to say thank you to all the godly mothers.

The mothers whose faith is genuine, sincere, and lacking in hypocrisy just like Timothy’s mother and grandmother (2 Tim. 1:5), thank you.
The mothers who wake up early and go to bed late to make sure their families are taken care of (Prov. 31:13-19), thank you.
The mothers who make sure their children are dressed properly (1 Sam. 2:19; Prov. 31:21), thank you.
The mothers who provide for the poor and needy (Prov. 31:20), thank you.
The mothers who are industrious (Prov. 31:16-19; Prov. 31:22; Prov. 31:24; Prov. 31:27), thank you.
The mothers who are filled with wisdom and kindness and share it with others (Prov. 31:26), thank you.
The mothers who fear the LORD (Prov. 31:28-30), thank you.
Above all, the mothers who stand by the cross of Jesus (John 19:25), thank you!

Trent Thrasher

THE SHEEP AND THE SHEPHERD

5/2/2023

“All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:6).

The Psalmist declared, “I have gone astray like a lost sheep” (Ps. 119:176). As Jesus, “saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd” (Matt. 9:36). “They have all turned aside” (Rom. 3:12).

Thankfully, we have a loving, merciful, and gracious God. Christ is our scapegoat which takes away our iniquities (cf. Lev. 16:5-22; 2 Cor. 5:21). Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost (cf. Luke 19:10, 15:3-7). “Seek Your servant, For I do not forget Your commandments” (Ps. 119:176). Let us rejoice in the fact that God loved us enough to call us back to Him through the Gospel (cf. 2 Thes. 2:13-14). There are those that need to be found and some are our own brethren (cf. Jm. 5:19-20; Gal. 6:1-2).

Christ is the Good Shepherd that gives the abundant life for His sheep (John 10). Let us hear His voice and follow the Shepherd. Remember, that there is one flock and one Shepherd (John 10:16; cf. Eph. 1:20-23, 4:4-5). Let us invite, encourage, and seek those who are lost so that they too may be added to the one flock.

Trent Thrasher