Far Eastern Bible College

At the 30^th Graduation Exercises of Far Eastern Bible College at Calvary Pandan B-P Church 6 pm this evening 35 will be awarded their certificates and conferred their degrees including three doctorates for the first time in the 43^rd year of FEBC’s history. Dr. Arthur Steele, Founder of Clearwater Christian College, Clearwater, Florida is the Graduation speaker.

Lim Bin Hwee
Deborah Mae
Oh Sung Hwa
Pek How Sian Vincent
Puah Li Choo Priscilla
Tan Hwee Kien
Zhang Bei Fang

Chong Wei Leng Leonard
Rio Lequin Espejon
Khadga Bahadur Thapa Magar
Peck Choon Khim
Wiwin Sunarto
Richard Murcia Tiu

This miracle of miracles so alarmed the power-mad Jewish leaders that a council was immediately called. Said the chief priests and Pharisees among themselves, “What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.”

Calvin comments: “A specious (looks good at first sight) disguise cloaks their wickedness – zeal for public good. Their chief worry and fear was that their tyranny would be destroyed; but they pretend to be anxious about the Temple and its worship of God, about the reputation of their nation and the condition of the people.”

Then spoke Caiaphas, high priest of that year, “Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.” The solution to the so-called problem of the Romans coming to take over their authority was to have an innocent man put to death.

When John says that Caiaphas said not this of himself, he means that something greater incited his tongue, because God intended to testify by his mouth something higher than come to mind. Unwittingly he prophesied in his position as high priest that Jesus would die a vicarious death for the nation, and beyond that, for the children of God that were to be gathered from the Gentile world.

Once again, before Jesus’ time was up, He retreated from further confrontation with the Jews. He quietly departed to a city called Ephraim in north Judea, close to Samaria. This did not lessen the Jews’ determination to kill Him. For while Jesus went into retreat His fame spread abroad the more so that He was the subject of discussion by the crowds now making their way to Jerusalem for the last Passover of His Life.

In this chapter John takes us into the Holy Week. The hour had come when our Lord must return to Jerusalem and there “suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed, and be raised again the third day” (Matt. 16:21).

One of the most touching events prior to His Death was His anointing by Mary of Bethany (Matt. 26:6-13; Mk. 14:3-9). Ryrie’s Harmony of the Gospels puts the day of the anointing to be the Sabbath just before Holy Week. A comparative reading of Matthew and Mark shows that the event occurred in the house of Simon the Leper, a neighbour.

The moment it was noised abroad that our Lord had arrived at Bethany, a great crowd of the Jews gathered. Some came with curiosity to see not only Jesus, but also Lazarus, the man who walked out of the grave after four days. Others to watch His steps, how they might kill Jesus, and Lazarus too. That happens in every big congregation! There are the sincere worshippers like the Bethany Trio and Simon. There are the curious. There are the fault-finders and plotters, coming in the spy. These were John Sung’s observations.

The next day, that is Palm Sunday, Jesus rode a young donkey ceremonially into Jerusalem. This is now known as the Triumphal Entry. Read Matt. 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 18:29-44 for a composite picture. John mentions among the great multitudes that welcomed Him, King of Jerusalem were those who had seen Him raise Lazarus.

Sometime during Holy Week, it is John who tells us of an interview by certain Greeks through Philip of Bethsaida of Galilee. These Greeks were Gentile-born proselytes, some of whom were settled in Galilee, and perhaps were acquaintances of Philip. (Philip is a Greek name, though he was a Jew). Their request to see Jesus expresses support, an encouragement to our Lord at this crisis hour.

As Jesus spoke to His disciples and these Greeks, He was elated by the fruits that He as the corn of heavenly wheat, the Seed of Life falling into the ground to die, would produce. But as He discoursed He also had a foretaste of Gethsemane, wherefore He signed, “Now is my soul troubled”. In his sombre soliloquy a marvellous thing happened. A voice rang out of heaven, so loud, that some said it thundered. The voice came not so much for our Lord as for the bystanders. Those who heeded that voice were saved, but those who turned a deaf ear were condemned. Those like the Greeks who came to see Jesus in order to hear the Truth were accepted but the unbelieving bystanders were rejected.

The Good Word
by John Tow

His covenant
            with us is real.
See His eternal stamp
            and seal.
They do to one and all
            appeal
That God’s Word
            has the power to heal
The ills that all
            of man must feel –
If he would to the Savior
            steal.

A stone will He
            not give to you.
So trust His Word –
            It holds the clue
To life abundant,
            life anew!
This Bread of Life
            is giv’n to you.
So wholesome,
            it was broken too,
Upon Calvary’s tree
            for you.

I urge now, everyone
           to read
This precious Word of God
           indeed.
Find guidance
           for your every need.
Have faith in it
           and it will lead
You on to the
           most pleasant mead
Where sheep do safely graze
           and feed.

There will you find
           comfort and rest,
Help and advice
           for every test,
The way of life,
          a life that’s blest!
And the Spirit
          at His behest
Will instruct you
          and manifest
Its pow’r
          to help your every quest.

He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure. Prov. 11:15

FEBC 30^th Graduation Exercises will be held this evening at Calvary Pandan B-P Church, SGBF Hour, 6 pm. Speaker: Dr Arthur Steele.

Young People’s Fellowship Meeting will be held this Sat (May 14, 05) at 3 pm. Venue: Mr and Mrs Foo’s home at 53 Oriole Crescent. Program: Charismatism Workshop by Dr Jeffrey Khoo. For details, please contact Herbert at 94377715.

Bible Camp June 7 – 10, 05 at Resort Lautan Biru, Mersing. Theme: “Knowing Our Bible-Presbyterian Faith”. Dr Jeffrey Khoo chief speaker. Please register at the Book Table.

The newly Elected Session will affirm their allegiance to the Word of God by taking the Dean Burgon Oath at a Service of Consecration next Lord’s Day, May 15, 05.