The Prayers of Jesus by Joseph F. Roberts, ThD, PhD - HTML preview

CHAPTER TEN

THE CRUCIFIXION PRAYER

(Matthew 27:33-35) And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. (KJV)

(Matthew 27:45-47) Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. (KJV)

(Mark 15:22-25) And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull. And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not. And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take. And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. (KJV)

(Mark 15:27-28) And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors. (KJV)

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(Luke 23:33-34) And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. (KJV)

(Luke 23:44-46) And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. (KJV)

(John 19:16-18) Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.

(KJV)

(John 19:28-30) After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (KJV) As the last few hours of Jesus’ life began to wane away, the words Jesus uttered to the Father from the cross were filled with so much grief, despair and poignant feeling that it will never be matched.

The reason and cause of the prayer was primarily in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. By the time Jesus had reached this point in His life, all but a few of the Old Testament prophecies concerning Him had been fulfilled. There were yet a few to be finished. For a complete and proper examination of the purpose of the prayer and the prayer itself, the entire setting and event need to be considered.

One of the reasons that we, as children of God, can have faith in and trust the Word of God is because of fulfilled prophecy. We can be sure of the reliability of the Bible because of it.

Jesus had told the disciples that He would be betrayed, but they did not realize that the betrayal would come from their own midst. Even at the supper which they had attended only a few hours before, they had been told that one of the twelve would betray Him. They still did not realize who it was until it happened.

(Mark 14:10) And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them. (KJV)

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(Mark 14:43-45) And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely. And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him. (KJV)

Not only did the prophecy concerning who would betray Him have to be fulfilled, but also a prophecy concerning the amount of the betrayal money would have to be fulfilled. Judas, unknowingly acting according to God’s plan of redemption, went to the chief priests and obtained thirty pieces of silver to betray Jesus. When he did this, he fulfilled the prophecy in Zechariah 11:12, 13.

(Zechariah 11:12-13) And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. And the LORD

said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them.

And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD. (KJV)

The Scriptures record that when Judas consummated the contract to betray Jesus, he was to receive thirty pieces of silver for his part. Matthew 27:3-10 fulfilled the prophecy of not only how much the price for Jesus was, but also what happened to the money as well.

(Matthew 27:3-10) Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me. (KJV) There is a peculiarity concerning this prophecy. The Synoptics present Jesus many times in the role of a servant. He, in fact, presented the prime example for service. Thus, when He was betrayed, He was sold for the price of a slave over twenty years of age.

(Exodus 21:32) If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned. (KJV) 79

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Is it not amazing how God left no prophecy go unfulfilled no matter how small and seemingly insignificant it may have appeared?

The prophecies concerning the suffering of Jesus are many and varied. The Scriptures record that He was to be bruised.

(Genesis 3:15) And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (KJV) One of the most vivid descriptions of His death is recorded in Psalm 22:6-18.

(Psalms 22:6-18) But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts. I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly. Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help. Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.

My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. (KJV)

I will reserve comments on this passage until the examination of the prayer is considered.

Let us consider these other passages of Scripture for reference.

(Isaiah 50:6) I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. (KJV) (Isaiah 52:14) As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: (KJV) (Isaiah 53:3-12) He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was 80

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afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (KJV) (Zechariah 13:6) And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. (KJV)

(Psalms 69:20-21) Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. (KJV)

Many prophecies were to be fulfilled by Jesus upon the cross. Added to those already listed are those concerning His prayer from the cross in the final hours of His life. The conclusion is drawn then, that the reason for the words spoken from the cross by Jesus were to fulfill Old Testament prophecies.

The examination of this prayer, as well as the events around it, are very detailed and numerous. The examination of all these events is needful to completely understand Jesus’ prayer.

Jesus had been betrayed by one of His chosen followers in order that the Old Testament Scriptures might be fulfilled. He had been arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane and taken to the high priest’s house. Upon His arrest, the disciples scattered, thus fulfilling another of the Old Testament prophecies.

(Zechariah 13:7) Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. (KJV) 81

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(Matthew 26:31) Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. (KJV)

(Matthew 26:56) But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled. (KJV) He was tried illegally and falsely accused.

(Matthew 26:59-61) Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. (KJV)

The chief priests, elders and the council, after they had interrogated Jesus, started hitting Him and spitting upon Him.

(Matthew 26:67) Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, (KJV)

He was bound, and when morning came, they led Him away to Pontus Pilate’s house where He was questioned by him.

(Matthew 27:1-2) When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

(KJV)

(Matthew 27:11-14) And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.

And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. (KJV)

Pilate made a feeble attempt to release Jesus but, in the end, consented to have Jesus crucified.

Before he released Jesus to be crucified, he had Him scourged.

(Mark 15:16-20) And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band. And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him. And when they had mocked him, 82

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they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. (KJV)

Those who were to suffer death by crucifixion were to carry their crosses to the place of execution.

Not to do so would have been a sign of weakness. The Scriptures record that the Roman soldiers compelled Simon of Cyrene to bear Jesus’ cross. There are many who preach and teach that Jesus fell beneath the cross. This is merely tradition and custom without any basis in the Scriptures. There is no indication in the Scriptures that Jesus ever fell beneath His cross. I do agree that Jesus had suffered greatly during the preceding twenty-four hours but He was not a weakling. It is my belief that Simon was compelled to bear Jesus’ cross because the soldiers wanted to heap even more scorn and humiliation upon Jesus and it is even possible that Jesus was not able to walk fast enough for them. As has already been stated, if the convicted could not carry his cross to the place of execution, it was considered to be a sign of weakness. If Jesus had fallen beneath His cross, some indication, either in the Old Testament prophecies or in the New Testament record, would be found. Since there is no such indication, it must not be speculated that He did.

Jesus was nailed to the cross, fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies that His hands and feet would be pierced. He was crucified between two thieves, again fulfilling Scripture.

(Mark 15:27-28) And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors. (KJV)

As He was being crucified, Jesus uttered some words to the Father which, if examined in great detail, are rather hard to understand. “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know what they do….” Luke 23:34a.

Because the English renders the Greek word “asphes” as “forgive,” many assume that Jesus was asking the Father to forgive those who were crucifying of that deed. Many would draw a comparison between Jesus and the Deacon Stephen in the book of Acts. When he was being stoned because of his stand for his Lord and Master, Stephen prayed that the Lord would not hold against them their deed in stoning him. The Greek word “steses” is used in Acts 7:60 for the word spoken by Stephen.

It is, as can be seen, different from the Greek word used by Jesus on the cross. The word used by Jesus has for its root meaning “forbid not,” or “permit.” What did He mean?

The Scriptures record that time and time again the angels came and ministered to the Son of God, the last time being in the garden of Gethsemane. Luke is the only one who records that fact. Jesus could have called the angels to smite all those who were carrying out the execution had He so desired.

He states as such in the Garden when He was arrested.

(Matthew 26:53-54) Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? (KJV) So, there is no doubt that there were thousands of angels just waiting for Jesus to give the word and they would swoop down on His executioners and free Him. What was Jesus saying? He was praying 83

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that the angels lingering near would not be permitted to do such and that His executioners not be hindered from completing their task of crucifying Him. There was no other way for God’s plan of redemption to be fulfilled. Had the angels interfered or the executioners been hindered from completing their task of crucifying Him, Satan would have won the victory. Satan had tried since the time of Adam and Eve to stop Jesus from dying on the cross. Therefore, had anything, or anyone, interfered, he would have won and God’s plan for redemption would never have been carried out.

Another prophecy was fulfilled in Matthew 27:34.

(Matthew 27:34) They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. (KJV)

It is believed that the mixture given to Jesus would have had a tranquilizing effect on Jesus had He taken it. The Scripture records that when He had tasted it and realized what it was, He refused it.

Thirst was a common thing endured during crucifixion, but had Jesus taken this mixture to slake His thirst, the full effects of sin would not have been felt by Him.

The Scriptures record that He was again offered a mixture just shortly before He died. John indicates that He accepted it this time. Why did Jesus accept the last and refuse the former? The work had been completed at the last giving. Sin’s debt had been paid. Redemption had been purchased.

Part of Psalm 22:15 reads, “…and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws;…” This is another reason why Jesus accepted the last mixture. The sin debt had been paid but there were two other sayings which still had to be uttered by Jesus. One of these had to be said in order to fulfill an Old Testament prophecy, but He could not say anything because of the dry condition of His mouth and tongue. It is noted that only John records the words, “I thirst.” John was the only one of the Gospel writers who was close to Jesus’ cross. Only John and the few others at the foot of the cross heard these words. The Scriptures record that the last two sayings were done in a loud voice. Jesus had to accept the last and different mixture in order to speak. When He accepted the vinegar, it conditioned His mouth in order that He could complete the last few vital minutes of His time on the cross of Calvary.

Even the mocking Jesus endured was a fulfillment of prophecy.

(Matthew 27:39-43) And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. (KJV) Those who mocked Jesus did not realize they were fulfilling Old Testament prophecy recorded in Psalm 22.

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Probably the most agony-filled words that have ever been spoken, or ever will be spoken, were spoken by Jesus on the cross of Calvary.

(Matthew 27:46-47) And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. (KJV)

(Mark 15:34-35) And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias. (KJV)

Jesus, the Son of God, was hanging between heaven and earth utterly alone. No human being can ever realize or feel the loneliness that Jesus felt. We can feel alone even in a crowd, but we can never fathom the loneliness suffered by Jesus when He turned His back upon Him. To be forsaken by close friends and family is bad, but to be forsaken by God the Father is the ultimate in loneliness.

When the Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, turned His back, there are no words in any language on earth that can describe what Jesus felt nor can the human mind and heart comprehend the total scope of Jesus’ suffering and agony when He spoke these words.

It is believed that Jesus spoke these words in Aramaic. In doing so, He fulfilled Psalm 22:1a, which reads, “My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me?...” Those standing nearby did not understand Him and thought He called for Elias, or Elijah. This made it even worse for Jesus. Even His passionate cry to the Father was misunderstood by those who heard Him.

God could not look upon sin and He turned His back upon His only begotten Son Who had become sin in order to bring forth the Father’s plan of redemption, instituted because of the Father’s great love for the world.

(John 3:16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (KJV) As the darkness lingered over the earth, the ninth hour drew near. For the last three hours darkness had enveloped the land. It was as if even nature itself was attesting to the fact that this truly was the Son of God. As Jesus suffered in agony and loneliness on the cross of Calvary, He, knowing that all things being fulfilled, said, “It is finished.”

(John 19:28-30) After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (KJV) What was finished? Everything that had to be accomplished in order to free not only mankind but also the universe from the debt and bondage of sin had taken place. All had been fulfilled. Some 85

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might object on the grounds that He had not had His side pierced yet, nor had He arisen yet, but in the mind of God these had already taken place. Everything, however, concerning His death had been fulfilled. With His last dying breath Jesus fulfilled the last Old Testament prophecy that had to be fulfilled. The Psalmist had written these words in Psalm 31:5a, which read, “Into thine hand I commit my spirit:…”

(Luke 23:46) And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. (KJV) After Jesus had cried with a loud voice, saying, “It is finished,” He then commended, or dismissed, His spirit into the hands of the Father. He was not killed by human hands. He laid down His life willingly. When everything was accomplished, He put Himself into God’s hands.

(John 10:17-18) Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. (KJV)

The prayers of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ are packed with feeling, examples and many times, hidden means. They can never be fully examined by the child of God even if he lived a hundred years. Instead, they must be accepted, believed and the examples followed. How complete are the prayers of Jesus!

There’s not an issue you’re facing that

prayer cannot address because nothing is

too difficult or impossible for God to

handle.

LIVING THE BATTLE PLAN DAY 215

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Aland, Kurt, ed. The Greek New Testament. London: United Bible Societies, 1966.

Alford, Henry. The Greek New Testament. Publisher unknown, 1958.

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Bellert, J. G. On the Gospel of John. New York: Loizeaux Brothers, No date.

Bruce, A. B. The Training of the Twelve. Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1976.

Box, G. H., ed. The Gospel of St. Matthew. New York: Oxford University Press, American Branch, No date.

Carroll, B. H. An Interpretation of the English Bible. “The Four Gospels,” Volumes 1, 2.

Nashville: Broadman Press, 1947.

Chafer, Lewis Sperry. Systematic Theology. Vol. 1. Dallas: Dallas Seminary Press, 1964.

Eyton, Robert. The Lord’s Prayer. London: Kegan, Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co. Ltd., 1895.

Funk & Wagnalls. Standard Encyclopedic Dictionary. Chicago: J. G. Ferguson Publishing Co., 1972.

Garner, Albert. Defense of the Faith. Texarkana: Bogard Press, 1962.

Garvie, Alfred E. The Gospel According to St. Luke. New York: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1911.

Gothard, Bill. Research in Principles of Life. Oakbrook, IL: Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts, 1981.

Harrison, Everett F. Introduction to the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1964.

Jackson, Samuel Macauley, ed. The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge.

Volumes 6, 11. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953.

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Kittel, Gerhard, ed. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Vol. 4. Grand Rapids: Wm.

B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1967.

Lange, John Peter. Commentary on the Holy Scriptures, Vol. 9. Grand Rapids: Zondervon Publishing House, 1960

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Lockyer, Herbert. All the Prayers of the Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervon Publishing House, 1978.

Major, H. D. A., T. W. Manson, C. J. Wright. The Mission and Message of Jesus. New York: E.

P. Dutton and Co., Inc., 1938.

Marshall, Catharine. Adventures in Prayer. Grand Rapids: Zondervon Publishing Co., 1975.

McClymont, J. A., ed. The Gospel of St. John. New York: Oxford University Press, American Branch, No date.

Morgan, G. Campbell. The Gospel According to Luke. New York: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1931.

Poll, Edward Leigh. What Did Jesus Really Teach About Prayer? New York: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1921.

Plummer, A. The Gospel According to St. John. London: Cambridge University Press Warehouse, 1906.

Robertson, A. T. Word Pictures in the New Testament, Vol. 1. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930.

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Sophir, Adolph. The Lord’s Prayer. Harrisburg: The Christian Alliance Publishing Co., No date.

Spence, H. D. M., ed. The Pulpit Commentary. Volumes 14-17. Grand Rapids: Wm. B.

Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1950.

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Insets courtesy of B&HPublishingGroup.com

Pictures are all free/royalty free.

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About the Author

Joseph (Joe) F. Roberts

 He was born at home in June 1951, to Silas Benjamin and Lela Mae Roberts. His parents were living in Clay County, Arkansas, at the time. Silas was a Missionary Baptist Preacher working as a Pastor in Clay County. Silas served as a Missionary and a Pastor in the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Association, Arkansas, for many years. Joseph was to become a fifth-generation Baptist preacher.

 He was saved at the Post Oak Missionary Baptist Church, McDougal, Arkansas, at the age of 8 years old. He was scripturally baptized by the Landmark Missionary Baptist Church, McDougal, Arkansas. His father, Silas, died when he was 9 years of age. His mother never remarried.

 He surrendered to preach at the age of 15 years old and preached his first sermon December 5th, 1965, at the Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, Morrilton, Arkansas. This church also licensed him to the Gospel Ministry on that same date.

 He graduated high school early, at age 16, from the Morrilton Senior High School, Morrilton, Arkansas, in May 1968. He turned 17 in June 1968 and left home permanently to enter the Eastern Baptist Seminary and Institute in Monroe, Ohio, in September 1968.

 He served as Music and Youth Director at the Park Layne Baptist Church, Park Layne, Ohio, while at Eastern Baptist Seminary and Institute.

 He was ordained by the New Hope Baptist Church, Dayton, Ohio, in May 1977. He was endorsed by the New Hope Baptist Church to the American Baptist Association as an Interstate Missionary to work in Darke County, Ohio.

 He has been a Baptist minister, missionary and pastor for almost 53 years. He has started four different churches since 1977. He has pastored in Ohio, New York, Florida, Mississippi, Georgia and Maine. He has served as an Interstate Missionary on Designated Funds and on Salary with the American Baptist Association. He served as a Foreign Missionary on the island of Jamaica for seven years. He has been active in several Christian Schools since 1980. He has been on the faculty of two different Bible Institutes and Seminaries and served as Adjutant Instructor on yet a third. He was instrumental in helping form the Northeast Landmark Missionary Baptist Association which is still in existence. He has served as Moderator of that Association several different times. He has been active in Youth Camp work having served in almost every capacity of leadership in camps from Camp Director down.

 He has been married to Dr. Angella L. Roberts for over 47 years. They have two children, April Michelle Huston and Jamie Ben Roberts and three wonderful grandchildren, Sabrina Lynn and Josephina Isabella Roberts and Grant Silas Huston.

 He is a US Air Force Vietnam Veteran having served in the Republic of South Vietnam from March 1971 to March 1972. He spent 3 ½ years on active duty Air Force and 2 ½ years in the Ohio Air National Guard. He left the Air Guard as a Tech Sergeant (E-6).

 He spent several years in Law Enforcement as a sworn Peace Officer and in Private Security. He owned a Private Security Agency in the State of New York in the 1980s.

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 He was a business man for many years, formally as the CEO of the River Valley Management Company LLC (a company he started) and as the Business and Insurance Manager of Roberts Chiropractic Wellness Care in Rumford, Maine.

 He has been a member of the board of directors of several different non-profit organizations, many times serving as an officer.

 He was a member of the Board of Directors for almost five years and former President of the River Valley Chamber of Commerce, Rumford, Maine. He served as 2nd Vice President, 1st Vice President and the Chair of several committees.

 He is an honorary member of the Rumford Rotary Club where he has served as the Secretary, Vice President, President-Elect, President and Past-President.

 He served the Town of Rumford for several years as a member of the Board of Appeals (served as the Chairman of the Board of Appeals), the Chairman of the Rumford Land Use Ordinance Committee, the Vice-Chairman of the Rumford Charter Commission and has served on several ad-hoc committees for the town.

 He is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Civil Air Patrol (the United States Air Force Auxiliary) and was the former Commander of the 37th Composite Squadron in Rumford, Maine. He served as the Director of Professional Development for the Maine Wing. He was a qualified Mission Radio Operator, Mission Staff Assistant, Mission Scanner and Mission Observer. The Mission Scanner and Observer qualifications make him a certified aircrew member with Civil Air Patrol. He is also a Chaplain and as a Chaplain has served as the Deputy Wing Chaplain in the Maine Wing, Group Two Chaplain in the Florida Wing and Group Three Chaplain in the Tennessee Wing. He has received several awards from the Civil Air Patrol, two of them being honored as the Professional Development Officer for the Year and the Commander’s Commendation for Outstanding Service as a Squadron Commander. He was also awarded the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award and an Achievement Award for his work as a Squadron Chaplain. He has attended several schools for training including the Northeast Region Chaplain Corps Staff College. He has taken and successfully completed six different FEMA courses as part of his advancement in the Civil Air Patrol’s Emergency Services. He served as the Test Control Officer and the Test Administrator for the Maine Wing. In addition, he served as a Highly Qualified Inspector (the Civil Air Patrol designation for trained Inspector General’s staff and team) with the Wing IG Team. He is also a certified CAP Trainer.

 He is a former member of the American Legion Post 24 and the VFW Post in Rumford, Maine.

 He is an educator, singer, musician, and writer and served as the Pastor of the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Rumford until his forced retirement because of health difficulties as a result of Agent Orange from his service in Vietnam. He currently serves as Director and Producer of the International Missionary Baptist Ministries, a ministry of the Mayfield Drive Baptist Church in Smyrna, Tennessee.

 He holds two Bachelor of Theology Degrees, a Master of Theology Degree, a Master of Divinity, a Doctor of Theology Degree and a Doctor of Philosophy in Religion Degree.

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Published by

IMBM Publishing

IMBM Publishing is part of the International Missionary Baptist Ministries sponsored by the Mayfield Drive Baptist Church

P.O. Box 1676

Smyrna, TN 37167

Bernie Dixon, Pastor

International Missionary Baptist Ministries http://www.imbmpodcasts.com

IMBM Podcasts http://www.imbm.podbean.com

IMBM Publishing http://www.imbmpublishing.wordpress.com

©International Missionary Baptist Ministries

2019

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