Posts by Todd Clippard (Page 2)

The New Testament is filled with accounts of people who were on the very precipice of obedience, but for some reason we don’t see a record of follow through. I think of the scribe in Mark 12, to whom Jesus said, “You are not far from the kingdom of God” (v 34). I think of Felix, who trembled at the word of God (Acts 24:25), and King Agrippa, who made one of the saddest statements in all of Scripture when…

The Mount of Transfiguration is an interesting and informative text. Among the lessons to be learned include: First, the continuation of identity after death. Moses and Elijah had been dead for centuries when they appeared with Jesus, yet both retained their earthly identity. Consider also that Peter identified the two, even though he had never seen either of them! Our identities follow us into eternity, for every person shall be judged according to his own works (Rev 20:12; 2 Cor…

Those who make homemade bread understand the power of leaven. Just a pinch of leaven in a large lump of dough permeates the entire lump, causing the bread to rise when baked. In these cases, leaven is wonderful! But the nature of leaven was used to illustrate the power and influence of sin from the earliest days in Israel’s history. With the institution and observance of the Passover came the feast of unleavened bread (Ex 12). For seven days following…

Our little part of the world is covered with small cemeteries. I expect there may be 50-100 cemeteries within 10 miles of my house. I was introduced to the tradition of Decorations shortly after moving to Alabama in February 1996. For the uninformed, “Decoration” is part and parcel with Homecoming for country churches in our area that have a cemetery. Every church has a specific Sunday each year for Homecoming or Decoration. On Saturday, church members and others with people…

Lots of small towns seem to be afflicted with “Mayberry Syndrome.” One manifestation of this is seen in the signage as one enters a town… ‘Welcome to Webesmall Alabama, Home of Once/Semi-Famous Person.’ Any connection to any person of any apparent import is immediately latched on to and emphasized. The message? “We’re more important than you think we are!” Mark 6 opens with Jesus returning to his home country to preach the gospel of the kingdom. One would think, given…

The account of Legion is well known. A man is possessed by a host of demons. The result was exclusion from polite society, dwelling in tombs among the rotting remains of the dead. There are other descriptions of him, but one is not known until after he is healed by the Lord, “Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed… clothed and in his right mind” (v 15). The man’s lack of sanity and restraint…

“For whoever has, to him more will be given; but to whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him” (Mark 4:25). I am an admirer of Jordan Peterson, a Canadian clinical psychologist who has made a name for himself trying to help people think properly about themselves, their relationships, and the world. He holds the Bible in high regard as his books and lectures are filled with biblical illustrations. He often mentions musing on…

I cannot begin to recall all the times over the last 25 years when I was asked about what is called “the unforgivable sin.” Tragically, some contacted me in near-paralyzing fear that they had committed the sin that would hopelessly and forever damn their souls. I’ve heard respected men preach that the unpardonable sin is to die outside of Christ or make similar cases. I have read several commentaries and other helps and disturbingly few let the Bible answer for…

Today’s text opens with a moving story of four men seeking Jesus to help their paralytic friend, only to find themselves unable to reach the Lord for the crowd. Desperate and undeterred, they removed the roof from the house where Jesus was teaching and let down the bed in His presence. Verse 5 begins with, “When Jesus saw their faith.” Just last weekend, I saw an article titled, “Faith is never alone.” I didn’t read it nor did I notice…

I love the gospel of Mark. It is succinct, victorious, and celebratory. As I think about the book, its construction, and content, I find fewer than a handful of the polemic problems that were manifest in Jesus’ public ministry. It stands in stark contrast to Matthew’s account, written primarily to the Jews and about the Jews. Whereas Matthew points to Jesus as the son of David and the son of Abraham, Mark cuts right to the chase in his opening…