Monster
Justin and Shawn: You aren’t the monster if someone else breaks the silence first. Now that the silence is broken, and if you ever see this, you can tell me if I’m crazy. I probably am, but I can’t help to see what God placed in front of me.
Monster Secrets
This song is about stumbling, tripping, and sinning. Any song about sinning certainly points to a higher calling. The backstory of life and the Bible requires silence and faithfully walking in the steps of Christ. That requires division. If someone says the wrong thing, he or she will have tripped. Well, apparently, it is time to expose the truth and the messianic secret.
The messianic secret creates a monster as those carrying the burden are given purpose but also the challenge of maintaining division until the right time comes. They want to say something they cannot say and are tired of the secrets and promises they keep. This forces them to come up with myriad ways to say what is bottled up in their chest.
Think of this burden as the parable of the Vineyard Workers (Matthew 20:1-16). Some are called earlier than others, but everyone is paid the same.
Speaking Up
This post is about how Justin and Shawn fit the bill of people screaming from the rooftops but can’t be heard. Even the video shows them on the rooftop of a whitewashed building or tomb, so to speak. Nothing is an accident, I have learned. I am reminded of what Black Veil Brides singer Andy Black said in his song Saviour II, “if we only speak in tongues, how can we be hurt?” It may be a play on heard, but secrecy is also a form of protection. Along those lines, listen to Justin Bieber’s song Afraid to Say. It is replete with references to silence, cancellation, invisibility, and it even includes Psalm 139:13-16. Then Justin warns that he might say too much, and he speaks in tongues in his song Off My Face.
Breaking the Silence
The calling that God placed on my heart is to break this silence through peace and love.
God protects his people and provides guidance when things are safe, like the Lord told Joseph to go to and then return from Egypt for safety (Matthew 2:13, 14, 20). It is time to tell those who are held behind that it is okay to come forth and share their stories. I recognize the fear of speaking out of turn, so maybe it might help to see how various people are saved, such as Korah, the sons of Korah, and Judah, through Judas’ sacrifice. You can also check out the backstory or this post on tongues.
God’s Code
What is astounding is God’s code or fingerprint in all of creation. This code is everywhere, but the most obvious to me is music. As you can also see in the post, Angels Sing, God’s code tracks alongside lyrics with precision as the timing lines up with Jaden’s (Jxdn) song Pray. This time I am going to compare Scripture to Justin Bieber and Shawn Mendes’s song Monster.
Monster
This comparison is different since it goes second by second and remains in one chapter until the verses are exhausted. At that point, it moves to a chapter with more verses and then again. These are Mark 8, 9, and 14. To be sure, any book and chapter can be used in the same way. The key is to look at the core sense of what is going on. That means biblical interpretation must be reasonably accurate relative to the backstory of how the spiritual world works.
Seventeen Magazine covers the reasons they sang this song, which also aligns with the secret side of life that so many live. This is the secret I am intent on uncovering so everyone knows about it and can finally see the incredible glory of God’s faithful army.
Justin frequently sings about Jesus and the salvation God provides, but most importantly, the secrets and promises kept. Shawn, in his song Wonder, talks about not being a saint. He’s also concerned that he lives in a black-and-white world where he doesn’t know if he can speak his truth or filter how he feels. Both artists have this mystical and secret side of not being able to be who they are, which is the secret side of Christ. I call it the Messianic Secret, but it is everywhere within and without the Bible. For more about this, please check out the backstory.
Maybe this will provide hope to the fading embers of God’s creation.
| Bible Verses, beginning with Mark 8, then 9, and 14. | Monster: Bieber and Mendes | Alignment | |
| 5 And He was asking them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven.” | :05-6 Justin’s head hanging down and standing by a tree. | The idea of food in the Bible is learning and growing. Without that, someone is stuck in the tree. | |
| 6 And He directed the people to sit down on the ground; and taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks and broke them, and started giving them to His disciples to serve to them, and they served them to the people. | They cannot go anywhere, so Justin leaning on the tree makes sense relative to a verse where Jesus instructs on food. | ||
| 7 They also had a few small fish; and after He had blessed them, He ordered these to be served as well. | :07-12 Walking down a path by lampstands. Water in the background. | The series of verses from 7-:13 align with the movement and water depicted in the video. | |
| Mark 8:8 And they ate and were satisfied; and they picked up seven large baskets full of what was left over of the broken pieces. | The appearance transitions a few times. The video also elicits a transition as Shawn walks down the path. | ||
| Mark 8:9 About four thousand were there; and He sent them away. | This is a transitional verse. Continuing on the path as a transition. | ||
| Mark 8:10 And immediately He entered the boat with His disciples and came to the district of Dalmanutha. | Another transitional verse. Continuing on the path as a transition. | ||
| Mark 8:11 The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him. | They wanted a sign, but none was given. | ||
| Mark 8:12 Sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, “Why does this generation seek for a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” | The video does a strange thing where you cannot see Shawn at :12-13. Perhaps the overlay is the idea that no sign is given. | ||
| Mark 8:13 Leaving them, He again embarked and went away to the other side. | Still walking down a path with what appears to be water in the background. This is when he walks under the tree branch. (Leviticus 27:32, Ezekiel 20:37) | This is another transition in both cases. | |
| Mark 8:14 And they had forgotten to take bread, and did not have more than one loaf in the boat with them. | |||
| Mark 8:15 And He was giving orders to them, saying, “Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” | |||
| Mark 8:16 They began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread. | |||
| Mark 8:17 And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart? | :17 You put me | You can see there is a common theme of Jesus’ teaching. Jesus puts him on a pedestal through teaching. | |
| Mark 8:18 Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember, | :18 on a pedestal | This verse aligns broadly with the song as someone doesn’t remember the rules to know if they could be the monster. Placement on a pedestal is like the lamp on a lampstand for the surroundings. It also allows others to notice them. | |
| Mark 8:19 when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces you picked up?” They said to Him, “Twelve.” | :19 And tell me I’m | The next two verses represent the division of discipleship. We must be split apart to become stronger. Jesus taught breaking bread meant more people can partake than just the ones who are sacrificed. | |
| Mark 8:20 “When I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?” And they said to Him, “Seven.” | :20 The best | There is proof of being effective, if not the best. Seven (and multiples of it) is completion or the best. | |
| Mark 8:21 And He was saying to them, “Do you not yet understand?” | :21 (Music changes) | This verse number is a completion and a change. It frequently represents a new beginning. | |
| Mark 8:22 And they came to Bethsaida. And they brought a blind man to Jesus and implored Him to touch him. | There is hope for a change as a new tempo settles in. | ||
| Mark 8:23 Taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?” | :23 (Mendes grabs his shirt at his chest) | The action of grabbing his shirt is like laying hands on one’s chest. Jesus laid hands on the blind man. Verse 17 tells us sight and understanding come from the heart, which makes sense with Shawn’s action. | |
| Mark 8:24 And he looked up and said, “I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around.” | :24 Raise me up | Looking up or being raised is the ability to see things around you. You can see the family trees or kinds of people around. It seems he could discern good or evil, just that they exist. | |
| Mark 8:25 Then again He laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly. | :25 Into the sky | This is the heavenly realm, hence looking into the sky. Anyone who turns and sees God is healed. | |
| Mark 8:26 And He sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.” | :26 until I’m short of | The inability to enter the village means he must be less than the others. That is a position of lacking connection or spiritual connection. | |
| Mark 8:27 Jesus went out, along with His disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way He questioned His disciples, saying to them, “Who do people say that I am?” | :27 breath | Breath in the Bible also means the Holy Spirit. Jesus questioned if people are ‘connected’ enough to understand who he is. This is spiritual wholeness. | |
| Mark 8:28 They told Him, saying, “John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; but others, one of the prophets.” | Appropriately, the song questions the unknown. Jesus asked who they think he is. It is counter to the messianic secret, therefore silence in the lyrics. | ||
| Mark 8:29 And He continued by questioning them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.” | :29 Yeah | Yah also means God, which I believe is why artists use this word at certain times. The biblical reference is about Christ, so it is appropriate here. | |
| Mark 8:30 And He warned them to tell no one about Him. | Again, they can’t say anything. So they don’t. | ||
| Mark 8:31 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. | :31 Fill me up with | Based on the prior verse, they are appearing to be empty, but they aren’t. Continuing the façade, the lyrics ask to be filled up, which matches the verse. | |
| Mark 8:32 And He was stating the matter plainly. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. | :32 Confidence I say what’s | Both the song and reference are about confident speech. | |
| Mark 8:33 But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” | :33 in my chest | Both are about the most important, which is the Holy Spirit and God. | |
| Mark 8:34 And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. | :34 Spill my words and | the requriement for discipleship is to give up everything, which is spilling his words. | |
| Mark 8:35 “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. | :35 Tear me down until | Both are about being torn down with hope. | |
| Mark 8:36 “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? | :36 There’s nothing left. (He walks toward an outside staircase to a platform from which to perform) | Both are about complete desolation and purpose as to grow. The soul is coveted and the stairs are about climbing. | |
| Mark 8:37 “For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? | :37 Rearrange the | Discipleship is about giving up yourself and your position to be low. That is being rearranged, like Leviticus 1:8 describes. | |
| Mark 8:38 “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” | :38 Pieces just to | The opposing positions of pieces and coming together are both present and setup the next verse perfectly. | |
| This changes to the next chapter in Mark because chapter 8 does not have this many verses. Mark9:39 But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. | :39 Fit me with the | Nobody who speaks evil will fit in. These tie together perfectly. | |
| Mark9:40 “For he who is not against us is for us. | :40-41 rest | Rest is for someoen who is rewarded as they receive a cup of water to drink. | |
| Mark9:41 “For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward. | |||
| Mark9:42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea. | :42 But what if I | Both are about stumbling. That is the core of the song, but this verse picks up on the question Shawn is asking. | |
| Mark9:43 “If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire, | :43 What if I | Shawn’s question is repeated here as Jesus explains the consequences of tripping and falling. | |
| Mark9:44 [where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.] | :44 trip (beginning to walk up the stairs) | The answer is more directly given. | |
| Mark9:45 “If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than, having your two feet, to be cast into hell, | Lame feet are central to the NT period. It is why Jesus washed feet and left someone behind in John 21:21-22. Silence is because this person is lame without feet. | ||
| Mark9:46 [where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.] | :46 What if I What if I | This is the same question from earlier. The consequences are explained. | |
| Mark9:47 “If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell, | :47 fall | Both are about falling. | |
| Mark9:48 where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. | Falling is hell where the worm can never die in the fire. | ||
| Mark9:49 “For everyone will be salted with fire. | :49 Then am | 49-50 He asks about the consequences are for being a monster. The consequences are being salted by fire, which brings peace. | |
| Mark9:50 “Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” | :50-51 I the monster | The monster is salted with fire so it can be at peace. You can see peace on the stage in this video. | |
| Mark 14:51 A young man was following Him, wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body; and they seized him. | This transitions to Mark 14. Notice how seamless this is. The lyrics are trying to uncover a hidden truth and the linen covers this person’s nakedness, which is exposed in the next verse. Is he the monster? | ||
| :52 Just | The tone of the song is vulnerability. This word choice is the nakedness of not knowing what can be done. | |
| :53 Let me | Verses 53 and 54 are about interrogation while someone is out in the cold. | |
| :54 know | This segment shows silence, but this time fits someone who does not know. | |
| :55 What if I | Both are questioning. Jesus is hiding from persecution and the song is trying to find out if it is safe to come out yet. | |
| :56 What if I | The song continues to ask and the biblical reference continues to conceal the answer. | |
| :57 sin | False testimony by nature is a sin. | |
| :58 What if I | Speaking up will break down the temple walls. | |
| :59 What if I | The song is still trying to get answers, which are not forthcoming. | |
| 1:00 Break | The high priest stands and asks the question. That is a break since the high priest is a change in the interrogation. | |
| And Jesus was saying to them, “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.” | 1:01 yeah | Yah is God, and some will not taste death. This is part of creation. I can’t help but to think of discipleship and being a son of God as this particular tie-in. | |
| 2 Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and 1James and John, and brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; | 1:02 then am | The song poses a question while Jesus reveals something secret. | |
| 3 and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them. | 1:03 I the | I think it could be suggested the tie is the sons of God are elevated onto a pedestal, as mentioned earlier. The question is then if they, as the ones in white, can fall. | |
| 4 Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. | 1:04 Monster | This is interesting. Elijah shuts the sky, and Moses struck the rock twice. Perhaps they are monsters, but I would not say that. Theologically, however, it could be argued. | |
| 5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” | 1:05 Yeah | Transfiguration suggests Jesus is also Elijah and Moses. Jesus came to tear down and build-up, so the three together make sense. Three tabernacles does not, however, since they are the same person. Yah, again, means unity, therefore God. | |
| 6 For he did not know what to answer; for they became terrified. | 1:06 Let me | The question is to know, since they don’t know. This and the next verse line up the idea of knowing and explaining who is or is not the monter. | |
| 7 Then a cloud 1formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!” | 1:07 Know | ||
| 8 All at once they looked around and saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone. | 1:08-09 Yeah | Again, Yah lines up with one person as Jesus. | |
| 9 As they were coming down from the mountain, He gave them orders not to relate to anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man rose from the dead. | Again, they are silent when they are supposed to be. This also represents separation, but the idea is to be disconnected. | ||
| 10 They seized upon that statement, discussing with one another what rising from the dead meant. | 1:10 (Change to Bieber) I was 15 | Justin is about to start into being placed on a pedastal at 15. This matches the language of elevation | |
| 11 They asked Him, saying, “Why is it that the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” | 1:11 when the world | The next verse says Elijah came to restore all things, which is the whole world. This aligns because it is asking about Elijah as Justin makes a statement about the world. | |
| 12 And He said to them, “Elijah does first come and restore all things. And yet how is it written of the Son of Man that He will suffer many things and be treated with contempt? | 1:12 Put me on a pedestal | A pedastal is restoration. After that restoration one must fall. This is what the soneg is about. | |
| 13 “But I say to you that Elijah has indeed come, and they did to him whatever they wished, just as it is written of him.” | 1:13 I had big | Elijah was important, therefore big is appropriate. Being on a pedastal, however, he was argued with. | |
| 14 When they came back to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. | 1:14 Dreams | Justin had dreams, but that changed. Perhaps Elijah also had dreams over which arguments ensued. | |
| 15 Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Him, they were amazed and began running up to greet Him. | 1:15 Of doing shows and making memories | Both show good things happening. Also, both are about visibility and crowds. | |
| 16 And He asked them, “What are you discussing with them?” | 1:16 Made some | Both suggest action, but the longer discourse matches since it is about requiring a miracle instead of faith. | |
| 17 And one of the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; | 1:17 Bad moves trying to act | Justin did something he regreted, which matches the lack of faith in the biblical reference. Asking Christ to heal when it is not time costs. | |
| 18 and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the groundand he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.” | 1:18 cool upset by their | Both are upset as the solution was not available. They both needed help. | |
| 19 And He answered them and said, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!” | 1:19 jealousy | Jealousy and miraculous healing line up here. | |
| 20 They brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. | 1:20 Lifting me up | The boy is brought up to Jesus, which aligns here. | |
| 21 And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. | The way baptism works, one would not remember the details as well as he would like. Or at all. | ||
| 22 “It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” | 1:22 Lifting me up | Jesus had pitty and lifted the boy up. | |
| 23 And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” | 1:23 and | The number 23 is a step to the next level. The word ‘and’ suggests there is something added. This fits the verse. | |
| 24 Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” | 1:24 tearing me down | The father begs for help in believing. Justin is also singing about being torn down, which is a requirement to believe. | |
| 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again.” | 1:25 tearing me down | The deaf mute spitit is divided from the person. This could be an interesting point being made as theologically, it would be good for the spirit to be separated, but the idea of division is also growth. This is like the right hand or eye being cast out. | |
| 26 After crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, “He is dead!” | 1:26 take | This verse and the next depict the boy appearing as he is dead while Jesus took responsibility and raised him back up. | |
| 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he got up. | 1:27 Responsibility | ||
| 28 When He came into the house, His disciples beganquestioning Him privately, “Why could we not drive it out?” | 1:28 for everything | This and the next verse about everyhting being done and to save the fallen, which is fasting and prayer. Justin and Shawn are both fasting from the spirit according to how things work. This is specifically what they are doing. | |
| 29 And He said to them, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.” | 1:29 I’ve done | ||
| 30 From there they went out and began to go through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know about it. | 1:30 Holding it against me | Jesus required silence, so that healing cannot be discussed. As such, the laborer enters the vineyard but cannot say or do certain things. He feels like it is held against him. | |
| 31 For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be 1delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and when He has been killed, He will rise three days later.” | 1:31 Like | Verses 31-33 go together. Jesus is teaching as he explains what things will be like. In both cases we can see the role of being holy with an understanding of things. Perhaps that is a false understanding, but it is understanding nonetheless. | |
| 32 But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him. | 1:32 you’re the holy | ||
| 33 They came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to question them, “What were you discussing on the way?” | 1:32-33 one | ||
| 34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest. | 1:34 yeah | Again, Yah is about God, therefore discussing who is the best. | |
| 35 Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” | |||
| 36 Taking a child, He set him before them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, | 1:36 I had a chip | A chip is a child as a part of oneself. | |
| 37 “Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.” | 1:37 on my shoulder. Justin grabs his left shoulder with his right hand. | Touching a body part with a hand is healing. It is like the vow when someoen places his hand under the thigh in the Old Testament. It’s a replacement or grafting in of a family line. | |
| 38 John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” | 1:38-39 had to let it go. Justin points with both hands to the left. | Letting go and casting out are the same concept. Jesus says to allow it. Justin did it, so he was allowed. | |
| 39 But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. | Appropriately there is silence at the point in the song. | ||
| 40 “For he who is not against us is for us. | 1:40 Cause unforgiveness | Both are about forgiveness. | |
| 41 “For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink 1because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward. | 1:41 keeps them in | Both cases show that control will not be lost. In one case it is the reward and the other is the faithful service as others refuse to forgive. | |
| 42 “Whoever causes one of these 1little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea. | 1:42 control | Control maintains silence. That silence is control. If it is broken, the person goes to the spiritual jail or prison like the Apostle Paul. | |
| 43 “If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire, | 1:43 I came in with good | He came in with the good, not the bad that had to be cut off. | |
| 44 [where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.] | 1:44 Intentions then | It seems something changed. The number 44 is about a complete perspective. That means he might have learned something that caused him to stumble. | |
| 45 “If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than, having your two feet, to be cast into hell, | 1:45 I let it go | He had to let his foot go. This differs from his arm or chip being cast off earlier. Since this is a sense of the concept, another book or chapter might be about another body part, so it might not be important. | |
| 46 [where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.] | 1:46 And | Growth happens in the gap of hell. The word ‘and’ suggests some sort of growth. | |
| 47 “If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell, | 1:47 Now I really wanna | One would not want to cast off any part of himself. He wants to know more before commiting a mistake. | |
| 48 where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. | 1:48 know what if I | He is posing the question and the Bible is answering. | |
| 49 “For everyone will be salted with fire. | 1:49 what if I | Like :49, he is asking a question about consequences. The answer is the same. One I salted with fire and finds peace. | |
| 50 “Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” | 1:50 trip | ||
| This is changing to Mark 14 due to the number of verses in Mark 9. A young man was following Him, wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body; and they seized him. | 1:51 What if I | The idea of falling is when someone defiles another person. That is the mistake that causes someone to fall as they cause another to lose his or her purity. Siezing a person who is wearing linen is that kind of person. Linen is what is worn by God’s priests, described in Ezekiel. This is revealing the messianic secret, therefore exposing Christ. | |
| 52 But he pulled free of the linen sheet and escaped naked. | 1:52 What if I | The person in the sheet escapes, which is really interesting. It is almost like saying they will not fall because that person can escape. The backstory is Jesus escaped, which is the idea of the person they thought was Jesus was not actually Jesus. That’s complicated though. | |
| 53 They led Jesus away to the high priest; and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes gathered together. | 1:53 Fall | Revealing Jesus causes the fall. Jesus is placed in front of the elders and scribes. | |
| 54 Peter had followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the officers and warming himself at the fire. | We can see a repeat of silence when Peter would be silent. | ||
| 55 Now the chief priests and the whole 1aCouncil kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and they were not finding any. | 1:55 then am I | Both are questioning. | |
| 56 For many were giving false testimony against Him, but their testimony was not consistent. | 1:56-58 the monster | The accuser is the monster. Verses 56-58 line up very well in this regard. | |
| 57 Some stood up and began to give false testimony against Him, saying, | |||
| 58 “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.’ ” | 1:58-59 just let | Verses 58-60 Continue to match the lyrics of questioning. The interesting thing is how Jesus remains silent in both contexts until verse 62. | |
| 59 Not even in this respect was their testimony consistent. | 1:59 me | ||
| 60 The high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, “Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?” | 2:00 know | ||
| But He kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest was questioning Him, and 1saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” | 2:01 what if | They are still asking, but no answer is provided. | |
| 62 And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” | 2:02 I what if I | I am not a fan of this alignment, but the way I see it is the lyrics ask the question and they are finally answered. | |
| 63 Tearing his clothes, the high priest said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? | 2:03 sin | The answer is exposure as the clothes are torn and the veil falls. At least they think it falls, but they do not know the whole story, hence the question from the lyrics. |
Personal note
Justin and Shawn, While I know God has placed on my heart the message of releasing those imprisoned by the order of things, if you want this taken down, I would be glad to. The last thing I want to do is cause more harm. I am grounded in the idea that I would want someone to move mountains for me. So, I will do for others what I would like them to do for me. God bless you both and anyone else in this spin cycle of life.
