Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: This quarter we learned that God gave work and God gave rest. He gave daily, weekly, semi-annual, annual, sabbatical year and Jubilee rest. But God also gave spiritual rest that may be ours continually. This cost the life and death of Jesus. There are also unexpected rests that come to us like Jonah experienced in the whale, or like that of sickness or death. Today we want to consider the ultimate rest.
In the beginning God gave humanity time — time to rest and time to work. He gave us daily, weekly, and annual periods of rest. This does not mean that we should cease from living godly lives, doing good to others, nor of daily communion with him. But he is especially desirous that we remember our weekly covenant renewal with him by ceasing from our weekly employment on his holy Sabbath day. Since sin entered this world our need of rest has not only increased but many seek it in the wrong place or time.
What will it be?
1. What will the ultimate rest be? The ultimate rest will be eternal life with God in a most gloriously beautiful environment (John 3:15-16; 6:54; 14:1-3; 17:3, 24).
2. How does the Apostle Paul describe the ultimate rest of those who love God? Paul says that the ultimate rest is indescribable: “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Cor. 2:9).
3. Where does the Apostle Peter say that the ultimate rest is now kept? Peter says that the ultimate rest is reserved, secure in heaven for those who believe the Gospel (1 Pet. 1:3-5).
4. What does the Apostle John say will NOT be part of the ultimate rest? John says that “God shall wipe away all tears… and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Rev. 21:4).
5. Where will God’s people spend their eternal rest? For the first 1000 years of their eternal rest, God’s people will be with him in heaven & then the Holy City, with them in it, will descend to earth which, when recreated, will be their home throughout eternity (Isa. 65:21; Matt. 5:11; Rev. 20:4-6; 21:1-3).
6. What will God’s people NOT cease to do throughout eternity? Throughout eternity God’s people will not cease to praise him nor cease to tell other worlds the story of God’s saving grace (Psa. 22:26-31; 79:13; Luke 19:17; Eph. 3:10; 1 Pet. 4:11).
When and how will it come?
7. What do the books of Daniel and Revelation place prior to the entrance of ultimate rest? Daniel & Revelation outline seven world empires (Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, the Papacy, atheistic Communism, & the United States) that precede the coming of God’s everlasting kingdom (Dan. 11:1-45; Rev. 17:7-18).
8. What great accomplishment did Jesus say would immediately precede his coming? Jesus said that the Gospel would be preached in all the world & then the end would come (Matt. 24:14).
9. What did the Apostle John say would precede Christ’s second coming? John placed the time of God’s judgment just prior to Christ’s second coming (Rev. 14:6-7).
10. How does the Apostle Peter relate the preaching of the Gospel and God’s final judgment? Peter says that the Gospel must be preached to people before they are judged for only through faith in it can they pass God’s final investigation (1 Pet. 4:4-6).
11. How did Jesus and the angels describe Christ’s second coming? Jesus said that his second coming would be visible to all like lightning that shines from east to west & the angels said it would be in clouds like he ascended (Matt. 24:27; Acts 1:11).
12. How does the Apostle Paul describe the coming of Christ? Paul says that Jesus will come with a lot of noise: the Father will “shout,” the Son will make his voice heard, & the Spirit will give a trumpet blast waking the dead in Christ with whom the living saints will unite in the air together with Jesus (1 Thes. 4:16-17).
How can we be part of it?
13. According to Paul in Hebrews 4 how do we enter God’s continual rest that leads to ultimate rest? We enter God’s continual rest by trusting in Christ’s work for our salvation & not in anything we do. This rest in him leads to the ultimate rest (Heb. 4:1-3, 9-10).
14. In Matthew 24, who did Jesus say would be saved? Jesus said that those who persevere in faith to the end will be saved (Matt. 24:13).
15. How do Paul and James express the same idea as Jesus did in Matthew 24:13? Paul says that believers will remain in God’s family if they patiently continue to hold fast their faith & rejoicing in the blessed hope firm unto the end & James says those who endure temptation will receive the crown of life (Rom. 2:7; Heb. 3:6; James 1:12).
16. What enduring event stands out as a symbol of present and eternal rest? The weekly Sabbath stands out as an enduring symbol of present rest in Jesus’ work for us & in the ultmate rest that we will experience with him throughout eternity (Heb. 4:1-11).
17. What results from knowing that our inheritance is reserved in heaven for us? Knowing that Jesus has purchased our inheritance & that it is reserved in heaven for us gives us present peace, rejoicing, & a lively hope (Rom. 5:1-2; 1 Pet. 1:3-6).
18. Who besides the living saints are waiting for the ultimate rest? Abraham Isaac Jacob & all the dead saints in the grave await the ultimate rest while we await it still alive (Heb. 11:13-16, 39-40).
Through what means did the people of Nineveh find rest?
(Jonah 1-4; Acts 5:31; ) Blog Sep. 12-18, 2021
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: Out of love for humanity God gave times to rest in his presence. He gave us daily, weekly, and annual periods of rest. This does not mean that we should cease from living godly lives, doing good to others, nor of daily communion with him. But he is especially desirous that we remember our weekly covenant renewal with him by ceasing from our weekly employment on his holy Sabbath day. Since sin entered this world our need of rest has not only increased but factors that hinder rest have also increased.
Seeking Rest in the Wrong Places
1. When God called the prophet Jonah to go preach in the wicked city of Nineveh, what did he do? Jonah bought passage to sail far away to Tarshish (Jonah 1:1-3).
2. When Jonah sought rest apart from God’s will, how did God respond? God sent a mighty storm to the sea on which Jonah was sailing (Jonah 1:4).
3. Where was Jonah peacefully resting when the storm struck the ship in which he was sailing? Jonah was fast asleep below deck when the storm struck the ship (Jonah 1:5).
4. How did God remedy Jonah’s reluctance to remain in “the presence of the Lord”? God pursued Jonah & prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah up when he was thrown overboard by the reluctant mariners. In the fish’s belly God gave Jonah a three-day unexpected “rest” (Jonah 1:17).
5. In what wrong place did King Saul seek rest? King Saul sought rest from his worries by going to the witch of Endor (1 Sam. 28:7).
6. How do many today seek Sabbath rest in the wrong place? Many. Moslems seek Sabbath rest on Friday & Catholics seek Sabbath rest on Sunday, but God placed Sabbath rest on Saturday (Matt. 28:1; Mark 2:27-28; 16:1-2; Luke 23:56).
Unexpected Rest
7. Where did God give Noah rest? God gave Noah rest for over a year in the ark that he had worked 120 years to build (Gen. 7:7, 11; 8:14).
8. In what unlikely place did Jacob find rest when fleeing from his brother? God gave Jacob rest with a stone for a pillow in unlikely Bethel (formerly called “Almond Tree”) (Gen. 28:11, 19).
9. Where did God give the Apostle Peter unexpected rest? God gave Peter rest in prison more than once (Acts 5:18; 12:3-4).
10. Where did God give the deacon Stephen unexpected rest? God gave Stephen rest in the grave (Acts 8:2; Rev. 14:13).
11. Where do many people find “rest” after living unhealthfully? Many find rest in the bed of sickness as a result of living unhealthfully (John 5:5, 14; James 5:14-15).
Providential Rest
12. When Jonah was pursued by a mighty storm from God, how did God’s providence work for the mariners who threw Jonah into the sea? By his wise providence God used Jonah’s testimony to turn the mariners to him for “they feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the Lord, and made vows” to serve him (bringing true rest to them) (Jonah 1:16).
13. When God providentially placed Jonah in the belly of the “whale” for a three-day unexpected “rest,” what did that accomplish? Jonah’s time in the belly of the “whale” brought him in repentant prayer to God who dwells in heaven’s temple & to conformity to God’s will – the only place where true rest is found (Jonah 2:1-9).
14. Through what means did the people of Nineveh find rest? The people of Nineveh found rest through repentance and self-humiliation, for pride would have meant their fall but through the preaching of Jonah God gave them the gift of repentance (Jonah 3:4-10; Prov. 16:18; Acts 5:31).
15. How long a “rest” did God give Moses from the busy activities of Egypt? God gave Moses forty years to “rest” in a strange land (Ex. 2:15; Deut. 34:7).
16. Where did God allow the Apostle Paul to rest from his busy labors? God gave Paul a hired house in Rome for two years & frequent rest in prison (Acts 28:16, 30; 2 Cor. 11:23).
17. Where did God give the children of Israel rest during their wilderness wanderings? God gave the children of Israel rest in their own tents during the wilderness wanderings (Num. 9:23).
18. When Elijah fled from Jezebel where did God give him rest? God gave Elijah rest under a juniper tree & in a cave (1 Kings 19:4-9).
19. Besides daily, weekly, and annual rest what kind of rest does God sometimes give us when busily working for ourselves or for him? At times God gives us unexpected rest so we can redirect ourselves from seeking rest in the wrong places, or in order for us to redirect our activities for him, or just to provide additional rest after intense activity, or to allow our mind & body to find healing, or in the grave in order to rest until Christ’s second coming (Deut. 12:10; 1 Kings 5:3-4; 1 Chron. 23:25; 2 Chron. 20:30; John 11:23-24).
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: While God calls us to daily, weekly, and annual periods of rest, he also enjoins us not to cease from living godly lives, doing good to others, nor of daily communion with him. He is especially desirous that we remember our weekly covenant renewal with him by ceasing from our weekly employment on his holy Sabbath day. Since sin entered this world our need of rest has not only increased but also factors that hinder rest have also increased.
Old Testament Signs and Symbols
1. What is the purpose for using signs and symbols? Signs and symbols serve to help us better understand a larger reality – they make spiritual things easier to understand (Matt. 13:34-35).
2. What is the first instance of signs recorded in the Bible? On the fourth day of creation God said that he would use the sun & the moon for signs (Gen. 1:14).
3. Name some instances where God used the sun for a sign: God gave King Hezekiah a sign that he would be healed by moving the sun back ten degrees, he used the continuing nature of the sun as a sign that he would never change the words of his everlasting covenant, he portrayed Jesus as the “Sun of righteousness, & he foretold the coming of last day events by the darkening of the sun (Isa.38:7-8; Jer. 31:35-36; Mal. 4:2; Joel 2:21).
4. Name some instances where God used the moon for a sign: God used the moon as a symbol of Joseph’s mother, he used the continuing nature of the moon as a sign that he would never change the words of his everlasting covenant, he portrayed the bride of Christ as “fair as the moon,” & he foretold the coming of last day events by the moon turning to blood (Gen.37:9-10; Jer. 31:35-36; Song 6:10; Rev. 12:1; Joel 2:21).
5. What common Old Testament symbol pictured a reality that already existed in heaven? The earthly tabernacle was a symbolic picture of the true tabernacle that already existed in heaven (Heb. 8:1-5).
6. What symbol of the death of Christ was used to transfer guilt from the Old Testament sinner to the sanctuary or priest? The blood of the slain animal symbolized the precious blood of Christ that today can transfer guilt from the sinner to the heavenly sanctuary & its High Priest (Lev. 5:5-6; 10:17-18; Isa. 53:6; Col. 1:14).
7. When a lamb’s blood was shed as a symbol of the death of Christ why did it cease to exist? Since the slaying of the lamb provided forgiveness it was a symbol of Christ who would die for our sins & suffer the torment of hell on our behalf, it pictured eternal death for no created being of itself can survive death & hell, but Jesus, because of his divinity, could suffer both death & hell & rise again for God had promised to not let his Holy One see corruption but rather to rise again (Lev. 4:32-35; John 1:29; Psa. 16:9-10; Acts 2:30-31).
8. According to Exodus 31, of what was the Sabbath a symbol? The Sabbath was a symbol of the sanctification of God’s people (Ex. 31:13).
New Testament Symbols
9. What symbols did Jesus choose to represent his life and death on earth? Jesus chose every-day symbols of bread to represent his life & wine (grape juice) to represent his death & they continue as symbols after Christ’s ascension (Luke 22:19-20).
10. What was the only sign Jesus said he would give to the unbelieving scribes and Pharisees? To the scribes & Pharisees Jesus gave the sign of Jonah’s three days & nights in the belly of the whale (Matt. 12:38-40).
11. What sign did Jesus give to describe the visibility of his second coming? Jesus said, “as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be (Matt. 24:27).
12. What repeated symbols were given to John on the Isle of Patmos? Some of the repeated symbols given to John in the book of Revelation were candlesticks for churches, stars for messengers, & trumpets for prayers (Rev. 1:20; 8:2-3).
13. Since the symbols of Revelation give understanding of the entire book, what would happen if candlesticks, stars, and trumpets were no longer known to human beings? If a symbol no longer exists, then it can no longer be a symbol of other realities & the things symbolized by them in Revelation would lose their meaning for John was told that the Revelation would be given to him in symbols (“signified”) (Rev. 1:1).
Applying God’s Symbols
14. What Old Testament symbols became obsolete when Christ died on the cross? When Jesus died the animal sacrifices, the earthly tabernacle, the annual feasts, & the Jewish priests all became obsolete (Eph. 2:15; Col. 2:14).
15. How does the Apostle Paul preserve the significance of the Jewish Passover while investing it with new meaning? Paul says that Christ is our Passover & that our lives (represented by bread) should now continuously be lived without the leaven of malice & wickedness but rather with sincerity & truth (1 Cor. 5:7-8).
16. What should we keep in mind regarding whether a symbol points forward or backward? It is important to remember that symbols that point to a past event continue to have meaning, while symbols pointing to a future event may lose their meaning when that event occurs ().
17. To what concrete objects does the Sabbath point backward? The Sabbath points back to God the Creator of heaven & earth & to God our Saviour who is eternal, while it is also used as a symbol of the rest God’s people were to find in the land of Canaan (Ex. 20:11; Deut. 5:15; Psa. 95:11; Heb. 4:8).
18. Of what present, spiritual truth is the Sabbath a symbol? The Sabbath is a symbol of resting in another’s work (that of Jesus completed on earth 2000 years ago) for our salvation (Heb. 4:1-11).
19. To what concrete objects does the Sabbath point forward? The Sabbath points forward to that eternal rest which will be ours when Jesus comes again to receive his bride, the church (Heb. 4:1-11).
20. When God uses a concrete object like the seventh-day Sabbath to serve as a sign or symbol does that concrete object then cease to have meaning in itself? No, concrete objects that God uses as symbols of other realities (like sun, moon, stars, Sabbath, bread, wine, & lightning) still continue to exist, else how would they serve as a continual reminder of past & future realities?(Isa. 66:23; Jer. 31:35-36).
What kind of forbidden rest do false teachers promise?
Forbidden Rest
(Ex. 20:8-11; Lev. 23:2-3; Eccl. 3:1-13; Rom. 6:4; John 5:7-18; 2 Pet. 2:4-19) Blog Aug. 29-Sep. 04, 2021
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: God gave humanity daily, weekly, semi-annual, and annual recurring periods of rest, making rest is an essential part of human life. When sin entered this world rest became even more essential, not only physically but also mentally and spiritually. If rest is so important could there be a danger of getting too much rest?
When should we rest?
1. When should we take our daily rest? Nighttime is the appropriate time to take our daily rest (Ex. 22:26-27; Eccl. 3:1-13; John 9:4).
2. When should we take our weekly rest? We should take our weekly rest from sundown Friday until sundown Saturday (Ex. 20:8-11; Lev. 23:32; Neh. 13:19).
3. Why is Saturday and not Friday or Sunday the proper day for weekly rest? Saturday is the proper day for weekly rest because that is the only day God set apart and made holy for that purpose (Gen. 2:1-3; Ex. 20:8-11).
4. How did Jesus demonstrate that Saturday was the correct day for weekly rest and special communion with God? It was Jesus’ continual habit to rest & attend religious services on Saturday. Also, that was the day he rested in the tomb (Luke 4:16; 23:50-54; 24:1-3).
5. How did the women that followed Jesus to the cross demonstrate that Saturday was the correct day for weekly rest and special communion with God? Mary Magdalene & the other women kept the Ten Commandments by resting on the Sabbath when Jesus was in the tomb (Luke 23:55-56).
6. How did the Apostle Paul demonstrate that Saturday was the correct day for weekly rest and special communion with God? Paul observed a continual habit of rest & attendance at religious services on Saturday (Acts 13:14, 44; 16:13; 17:2; 18:4).
How should we rest?
7. What does the Apostle Paul tell us to do in order to improve our nightly rest? Paul tells us to resolve the conflicts of the day, so no anger remains in our soul before taking nightly rest (Eph. 4:26).
8. What principle does Solomon give for getting a good night’s rest? Solomon advises us to get plenty of exercise during the day in order to sleep well & if you don’t then you should limit your food intake (Eccl. 5:12) .
9. What type of rest do the Ten Commandments recommend for Sabbath? The Ten Commandments recommend rest from work for people & animals on the Sabbath (Ex. 20:8-11).
10. Besides ceasing from work what else does God tell us the Sabbath should include? God says the Sabbath should also include “an holy convocation” (Lev. 23:2-3).
11. When Isaiah writes about Sabbath observance how does he describe our attitude towards that holy day? Isaiah says that we should make the Sabbath a delightful time to spend with the Lord (Isa. 58:13-14).
Forbidden Rest
12. What kind of “rest” does Paul not want to be accused of taking? Paul did not want to be accused of resting from constant missionary labor for the church nor for relaxing from (resting from) living a righteous life (Rom. 3:8; 6:4; 1 Cor. 11:26-28).
13. According to Jesus’ example what kind of activity should we not cease to do on the Sabbath? We should not cease to do good, teach the truth, & bring kindness & healing to others (even animals) on the Sabbath(Matt. 12:12; Mark 1:21; 6:2; Luke 4:31; 13:15-16; John 5:7-16).
14. What kind of forbidden rest do false teachers promise to those who believe their lies? False teachers promise rest from living a godly life – they promise liberty while they & those who believe them are slaves of corruption (2 Pet. 2:1-19)
15. What three horrific examples of God’s attitude towards those who rest from living godly lives does Peter give? God demonstrated his hatred for lawless, loose living by casting Satan & his angels out of heaven, by destroying the earth with a flood, & by consuming Sodom & Gomorra with eternal fire (2 Pet. 2:4-6; Jude 1:5-7)
16. From what activities did the prophetess Anna not rest? The prophetess Anna did not rest from fasting & praying night & day (Luke 2:36-37).
17. What does the Apostle Paul tell us that we are not to rest from doing? The Apostle Paul tell us that we are not to rest from praying (1 Thes. 5:17).18. What type of rest does Isaiah say should not be part of our Sabbath observance? Isaiah says that doing our own sinful pleasure (our will) is not the type of rest that should occupy our Sabbath (Isa. 58:13).
(Genesis 1:1-5; Ex. 20:8-17; Deut. 5:12-15; Isa. 58:13; Heb. 4:1-11) Blog 22-28 Aug. 2021
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: Rest is an essential part of human life. A person must properly deal with daily cares, leadership responsibilities, family matters, sin, depression, and sickness in order to have proper and sufficient rest. The Bible provides guidance in all these areas and more. The most important rest that we can experience is rest from trying to save ourselves. By trusting in the work that Jesus completed on earth we can experience perfect rest in that aspect of life.
Daily Rest
1. In what state was Planet Earth when God began the creation of life here? There was no life or form, but darkness rested on the watery sphere when God began to create life on this earth (Gen. 1:1-2).
2. Besides inviting Light into this dark earth what else was part of creation’s first day? The first day of creation included & began with the night (Gen. 1:3-5).
3. What purpose did the night serve for humanity in God’s perfect creation? The night served as a daily period of rest during which human beings ceased from work (John 9:4).
4. When sin entered this world what happened to nightly rest? When sin entered this world the daily cycle of night & day did not change, nor did humanity’s need for daily rest change, but rather the cares of this life increased crowding out daily rest, even when it was more essential than ever (Gen. 3:9-10; Luke 10:41).
5. When daily rest is neglected what are the results? The neglect of daily rest results in irritability, languor, depression, & disease (1 Kings 19:3-5).
Weekly Rest
6. How did God describe this newly formed earth at the end of the sixth day of creation? God said that everything that he had made was very good (Gen. 1:31).
7. When God finished his “very good” creation on the sixth day what else did he add? Having finished a “very good” creation God added a seventh day – a Sabbath (Gen 2:1-3).
8. Why did God create the seventh-day Sabbath? God created the Sabbath for humanity as the seal of perfection to his week’s work & as a blessed time of sacred rest in which we can remember that he is our Creator & the Maker of all the beautiful life that surrounds us (Gen. 2:1-3; Isa. 43:7; 58:13; Mark 2:27).
9. When sin entered this world what happened to weekly rest? When sin entered this world the weekly rest cycle of a Sabbath every seven days did not change, nor did humanity’s need for a weekly Sabbath change, but rather the added cares of this life tended to crowd out Sabbath rest, even when it was more essential than ever (Ex. 3:7; Luke 10:39-42).
10. What reform did God and Moses bring to the enslaved people of God in Egypt? Moses & God brought Sabbath reform to God’s people by instructing them to cease from labor every seventh day & God, by withholding manna on the Sabbath throughout the wilderness wandering showed it to be a valid continuing rest (Ex. 5:1-5; 16:28-30).
11. When God made an everlasting covenant with his people at Mount Sinai what covenant sign and seal did he include? In giving his people the Ten Commandment words of his everlasting covenant God included the sign & seal of the seventh-day Sabbath which he told them to remember on a weekly basis as a form of covenant renewal (Ex. 20:7-11).
12. Besides being a weekly reminder of God’s creation what else is the Sabbath to remind us of? The Sabbath is also to act as a weekly reminder of God’s redemptive activity on behalf of his people (Deut. 5:12-15).
13. When Sabbath rest is neglected what are the results? The neglect of Sabbath rest results in restless chaos & lack of communion with & worship of God (Rev. 14:11 lp).
Annual Rests
14. According to Hebrews 4 what additional kinds of rest does the seventh-day Sabbath represent? The weekly Sabbath is also a picture of resting in Christ’s finished work of redemption; a picture of the historical entrance of God’s people into Canaan rest; & a picture of the eternal rest that God’s people will enjoy when Jesus comes again (Heb. 4:1-11).
15. Besides a daily and a weekly rest, what other forms of rest did God give his ancient people? God gave the children of Israel three yearly periods of rest (Passover, Pentecost, Atonement/Tabernacles) when they were to leave their daily work and gather together for fellowship & worship (Ex. 23:14).
16. What additional periods of rest apart from the annual feasts did God also give his people? God also gave the children of Israel a Sabbatical Year of rest as well as a Year of Jubilee that came every fifty years (Lev. 25:1-13).
17. What should we learn from all the different rests (sabbaths) that God gave to his people? We should learn that God never intended us to overwork but rather established a rhythm of repeating rests (daily, weekly, semi-annually, every seventh year, & every fiftieth year) that with Jesus his people might be refreshed & spend quality time with God himself (Matt. 11:28-29).
18. When does God propose to terminate humanity’s weekly Sabbath rest? Weekly Sabbaths will continue throughout eternity so we should not be misled by any angel of light that says the Sabbath has been obliterated or changed to a different day (Isa. 66:22-23; 2 Cor. 11:14).
(Mark 2:1-12; 1 Kings 19:1-8; James 5:13-20) Blog Ago. 15-21, 2021
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: God gave humanity daily and weekly rest in Eden. When humanity fell man’s work became harder and rest became more elusive. Sin became the primary thief of rest. But even the normal cares of this life can tend to rob us of rest. Jesus offers rest from sin and help in walking in paths of righteousness. We can rest from striving to save ourselves by trusting in the work that Jesus completed on earth. And in carrying the load of daily cares and working to restore holiness, Jesus offers to bear the yoke with us. Besides showing us how to find rest from the guilt of sin and from striving to save ourselves, the Bible also gives principles that restore rest in families, churches, and societies.
The Paralytic
1. Who was lowered on a stretcher in front of Jesus while he preached the Word in Capernaum? While Jesus preached in Capernaum a man sick with palsy was lowered in front of him (Mark 2:3).
2. How sever was the disease of the man sick with palsy? The man’s condition was so severe that he had to be carried on a stretcher by four friends meaning that he was probably totally paralyzed & suffering from uncontrollable tremors (Mark 2:3-4).
3. What were Jesus’ first words to the paralytic? Jesus said to the paralytic: “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.” (Matt. 9:2; Mark 2:5).
4. What should we learn from the fact that Jesus first forgave the paralytic? By forgiving the paralytic first, Jesus demonstrated that the paralytic’s sins were the cause of his deplorable condition & that that was the paralytic’s greatest need & desire (Mark 2:5).
5. From what else did the paralytic suffer besides his physical ailments? The paralytic also suffered from extreme depression brought on by his guilt & his ill health, for Jesus said, “Be of good cheer.” (Matt. 9:2).
6. How does Jesus’ two-part healing of the paralytic illustrate God’s plan for the restoration of every human being? By first forgiving & then healing the paralytic Jesus showed that personal justification must precede personal sanctification & that sanctification is the sure result of justification – that is to say that before God can make us holy he must declare us holy (first in heaven then on earth) (Mark 2:5-12; Rom. 5:1-5; Eph. 2:8-10).
7. Of what men of God does the Bible record periods of severe depression? Moses was very depressed when over-burdened with responsibilities. Elijah was depressed when fleeing from Jezebel. Jonah was depressed when God did not destroy Nineveh (Num. 11:15; 1 Kings 19:4; Jonah 4:3).
The Judge, the Prophet, & the Missionary
8. What factors contributed to Moses’ depression? Moses was stressed because of the peoples’ unreasonable demands for flesh food & because of the tremendous burden he bore in settling all the civil matters among his people (Num. 11:14-15).
9. How did God relieve Moses’ stress and remove his depression? God heard his prayer and provided quail for the people & seventy elders to assist him in his work as judge (Num. 11:16-18).
10. What factors contributed to Elijah’s depression? Depression often follows great spiritual victories like Elijah had just experienced on Mt, Carmel, & Elijah had just heard a death threat on his life from Queen Jezebel, & Elijah was worried that the people of Israel would not follow through with their commitment to God – all these factors contributed to his depression (1 Kings 19:1-4).
11. How did God relieve Elijah’s stress and remove his depression? God gave Elijah sweet sleep, a couple good meals & words of encouragement through his angel that strengthen his for his long journey to Mount Sinai(1 Kings 19:5-8).
12. What factors contributed to Jonah’s depression? Jonah was angry & depressed because God had not destroyed Nineveh as he had predicted, for they were the avowed enemies of God’s people (Jonah 3:10; 4:1-3).
13. How did God remove Jonah’s depression? God caused a gourd to grow quickly & provide shade for the angry prophet, then he let a worm destroy the gourd, thus teaching Jonah who had pity on the gourd that God also has pity on the enemies of his people, not desiring that any should eternally perish (Jonah 4:4-11; 2 Pet. 3:9).
14. Was Jesus, our Prophet, Priest, and Judge ever depressed? Yes, Jesus was depressed when the sins of the whole world were counted as his to bear their punishment (Matt. 26:37-38; Mark 14:33-34; Luke 22:44; Heb. 4:15).
Dealing with depression and disease
15. What is depression? Depression is a state of feeling sad or low, often accompanied with inactivity (Matt. 26:37; Mark 14:33-34).
16. What is disease? Disease is brought on by sin & is an effort of nature to rid the body of impurities (Psa. 38:3-7; Isa. 38:21).
17. How can we best help a person who is depressed? Dealing with depression is a delicate work, for depression is often brought on by the guilt of sin, like in the case of the paralytic. Thus, much prayer should accompany our effort while pointing the sufferer to Jesus who will forgive their sins if they confess them. By pointing the sufferer to the promises of God the door is opened to healing & then one can apply physical treatments that will help the spirit & body to find relief, just as Jesus first forgave & then healed the paralytic (Psalm 33:18-19; Luke 11:34; James 5:13-20).
18. Besides trust in divine power, what other factors contribute greatly to physical and mental healing? A cheerful, clean environment & body; a nutritious diet; fresh air; sunshine; sufficient rest & exercise; plenty of water; & abstinence from all harmful substances & activities greatly aide in maintaining & in healing depression & disease (Prov. 17:22: Eccl. 10:17; Eze. 47:12).
19. Besides being an aide to health, how else is rest related to health? Health also brings rest, therefore, we should always seek to be healthy (3 John:2)
