Missing
November 12, 2021
Missing
By Ryan M. Roberts
I was reading in Mark 9 today and noticed something odd,
There is a verse missing in my Word of God.
Verse 44 is gone. I guess its message doesn’t sell.
I suspect its absence is because it starkly details Hell.
Like eye or hand that sins, this verse was cut, or plucked it seems;
In this pick and choose approach I find a Jeffersonian theme.
Not much has changed in you and me, from Mount Sinai until now;
We’re ever making a god our own, much like the golden cow.
If you’re sticking with me, on this awkward, odd excursion;
You’ll find the missing verse still in the King James Version.
Consequence for choices, newer Bible versions quell,
But even in their footnotes, the missing verse describes Hell.
It speaks of death and loss, and of fire never ending.
But against that backdrop stands a cross, and a loving Father sending,
His only Son to die for all, including you and me;
Yet even then, our pride rejects the verses we can see.
Like where it says God stays his hand, wanting all to repent;
He longs to live within our hearts, but not without consent.
It is our lives and minds he wants—our love, His final plea,
Draw near to God and you will find great grace and rich mercy.
Here at the close of this long rhyme, I’ve told all that I can tell,
We must decide if we’ll abide a God that includes Hell.
Consider this, the author of verse 44—the One we are dismissing,
He leaves the ninety-nine to find the precious one that’s missing.
Hey Ryan... I hope you're having a great day, my friend.
I'm not sure which translation you're using, but I'm not following your logic. I see that a number of modern translations do not include v44 and v46, but have notes instead. So yes, in one sense, those verses are "missing." However: if someone REALLY wanted to remove those verses for nefarious reasons, why did they leave v48 in there?
That's what the notes on v44 and v46 say:
... Late mss repeat v 48 here as v 44
... Some manuscripts add verses 44 and 46 (which are identical with verse 48)
... Some manuscripts include here the words of verse 48.
What say you?
Posted by: Tony Scialdone | November 12, 2021 at 09:11 AM
Logic? It's a poem! :) I so appreciate your time and attention Tony. I hope you are doing well. In my NLT vs. 44 is missing, but there is an asterisk and a footnote. My goal in the poem is to address the picking and choosing of God's Word in our lives and to encourage all of us (especially those who let the harsher parts of Scripture occlude the Savior) to see and receive the entire message of Truth, which is Jesus, the true reflection of God's heart. Thanks for keeping me on my toes.
Posted by: Ryan Roberts | November 12, 2021 at 11:08 AM
I'm well, my friend. Have a great day!
Posted by: Tony Scialdone | November 16, 2021 at 06:29 AM