So, you've made it halfway through the Essential 100! After 50 readings through the Old Testament you are ready to launch into the New Testament. And of course the key focus of your next 50 readings is one person - Jesus Christ.
On Sunday 20th March Rev Mary Turnock of Montgomery took the service and introduced "In the beginning - again".
John 1 vv 1 - 18 The Promise fulfilled
The prophets foretold him: the law was to be fulfilled by him and God's plan would be accomplished by him. The Messiah for whom all devout Jews longed was at last within the world of humankind. All the Gospel writers, in their different ways introduced Jesus as the one who answered all the questions and fulfilled all the prophecies of the Old Testament. Those prophecies which were not exclusive to the Israelite Nation but which included all peoples........ A light to the Gentiles as well as the Messiah of Israel.
John's is the most theological of the Gospels and it begins with that great statement about the Word made Flesh and if we turn to Isaiah 55 we discover that God indicates that his Word will go out and not return to him until the task he had given it was completed. (Isaiah 55 vv10, 11)
This was a tremendous statement in itself but when you think that John took up the thought to write it in his Gospel knowing that for all Jews the Word of God is God himself, it's even more tremendous. The first verse of John's Gospel........"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was made flesh" would be astounding to the Jewish mind and foolishness to the Greek. Yet John and the writers of the other Gospels firmly indicate that the birth of Jesus was a divine mystery which allowed for the divinity of God to dwell in a man - indeed to BE man; and all this in accord with the Jewish Scriptures - the Old Testament.
Jesus is the eternal Word; the Word who was with God at the beginning of Creation; the word sent out by God to accomplish his plan of salvation, the Word who would return to his rightful place in the heavenly realms and dwell there for the rest of eternity. This deep theological and philosophical understanding of the Logos, the Word, permeates John's Gospel where Jesus is depicted as carrying out the father's task in every word he says and every action he takes. He is shown as the great I AM at every opportunity - this too having its roots in the Old Testament when God tells Moses to inform the Israelites in captivity that their God, I AM, had sent him to the rescue.
The other Gospels, Luke and Matthew, have a more down to earth approach; they tell the human story - but in doing so set that story firmly within the expectations of the Old Testament - as did Mark who, although he doesn't give a nativity account, nonetheless has John the Baptist, the last OT -type prophet, introducing Jesus and affirming his calling.
In Luke we have the amazing and to the human mind, incomprehensible statement that Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit. How do we get our mind around this fact? How do we prove it? How do we argue the actuality of it?
For some it has to fit into reason....so we have attempts at logical explanations - which may have their merits, but don't fit the Gospel accounts. Neither do they fit the scripture's insistence that God sent his Word into the world and the understanding of the writer of those words that The Word is God himself. Luke also tells us that Simeon, the devout man who was waiting for the consolation of Israel and to whom it had been revealed that he would not die without seeing the Lord's Christ; that Simeon, upon seeing Jesus as a babe in arms uttered the words, "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel".
For some it is simply the telling of a traditional myth that has no credence in reality.
But to those who believe it is the cornerstone of faith that our God entered this world as a human being, lived as one of us and died for us. He, being totally divine, became totally human. Conceived of the Holy Spirit - born of the Virgin Mary. The Word made flesh.
We don't have to get our minds around this fact; we don't have to be able to prove it; we don't have to argue the actuality of it; we have simply to believe it and show our belief in the way we live our lives - that will rub off on our friends and neighbours and witness to its truth.
We are in Lent - this is the second Sunday. The first Sunday is the day upon which, traditionally, we consider how Jesus was tempted in the wilderness. We are told that he was tempted as one of us; in other words as a human being - Hebrews 4:15 "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weakness, but we have one who was tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin". In other words we may succumb but he, never! His humanity was perfectly in tune with the will of God and though he struggled mightily, he remained obedient to that will.
It is the battle in the wilderness that begins the ministry of Jesus and through which he was to struggle right to the end of his ministry; Satan needed to break Jesus and in breaking him to destroy humanity. I wonder how many times, when we hear about Jesus being alone in prayer, was he gaining the strength to keep Satan at bay. The battle in the wilderness was certainly repeated in the Garden of Gethsemane - and on the Cross.
Here we have the Saviour of the World as recognised by Simeon and as hailed by John the Baptist when Jesus approached him for baptism. The divine within Jesus did not need to undergo baptism for repentance; the perfect humanity within Jesus did not need to undergo baptism for repentance; but our poor, weak, disobedient and unfaithful humanity needed and needs a Saviour who identifies with us and does everything possible to bring us back to God - he was baptised on behalf of the rest of humanity and went on to live humanity's life and dedicate and commit it unfalteringly to its Creator.
When we come to Jesus we come to one who knows and understands what it is to be human but is fully God. One who says to us "Trust me, walk with me, on your behalf I have undergone more than you will ever be asked to face, but those things you have to face we will face together - and I already have the victory".
This week's readings......................
IN THE BEGINNING
51 The Word became Flesh John 1:1 - 1:18
52 Gabriel's Message Luke 1:1 - 1:80
53 The Birth of Jesus Luke 2:1 - 2:40
54 John the Baptist Luke 3:1 - 3:20
55 Baptism and Temptation Matthew 3:13 - 4:17
On Sunday 27th March, Rev Richard Davies took our service and introduced "THE TEACHING OF JESUS"
JESUS THE TEACHER
Readings Matthew 5:1 - 16; 7:24 - 29
Text Matthew 7:29 - Jesus taught with authority
Many today are taken up by the message of the Sermon on the Mount, but seem to show no interest in the Preacher. For those present when Jesus spoke, the message and the Person were one.
Jesus spoke with authority. What is this authority?
- As a Teacher. The substance, the quality and the manner of instruction stood out. Jesus taught absolute truth, spoke with divine assurance and corrected the traditions of generations -"but I tell you.............." Jesus taught great themes - who are the blessed?, prayer, true and false teachers, Christian lifestyles etc.
- As the Saviour. He said "I have come" (ch 5:17). He had a purpose. He taught the way of salvation - the narrow way. He was clear as to which kind of house would survive the storms of judgement. He bestowed salvation e.g. the Beatitudes.
- As a Judge. Jesus will be the Judge - ch 7: 22,23. Jesus will be the criterion of judgement ch 7:25 - relationship with Jesus Christ is the issue. Jesus will pronounce the sentence - ch 7:13, 27. See also Revelation 6:15, 16; Matthew 25:31 - 46.
One day we will all give an account for our lives.
How will you fare on the day of judgement?
Outside of Christ there is no salvation.
Don't let anything hinder your coming to the Saviour.
If you are a believer, you have good news to proclaim and a lot to live up to.
By God's grace let's take these things seriously.
This week's readings............
THE TEACHING OF JESUS
56 Sermon on the Mount - Part 1 Matthew 5:1 - 6:4
57 Sermon on the Mount - Part 2 Matthew 6:5 - 7:29
58 The Kingdom of Heaven Matthew 13:1 - 13:58
59 The Good Samaritan Luke 10:25 - 10: 37
60 Lost and Found Luke 15:1 - 15: 32
On Sunday 3rd April Mr Phil Allitt took our service and he introduced "The Miracles of Jesus"
THE MIRACLES OF JESUS
To read about the 35 or so occasions on which Jesus performed miraculous works we need to study all four gospels.
Each gospel writer places a different emphasis on the story; Matthew focuses on Jesus himself, Mark has much picturesque detail, Luke sets more of an historical perspective and John alone contains the lengthy account of Jesus bringing Lazarus back to life.
More than half of the miracles are concerned with healing the “ sick”, others deal with being rid of “ demons”. On three occasions, Jesus “raises” the dead and in other miracles, we see power over nature or “ things” (e.g. Loaves/ fish).
Those witnessing the miracles respond in immediate belief, part belief, seeming indifference, lack of understanding or hostility. Very much as today then!
Jesus didn’t use tricks or magic, he used simple words and an absolute reliance on His father God. His authority grows from illustration (parables) to demonstration (miracles).
Miracles discussed in more detail were from the gospel of Mark: calming the storm (sometimes we are saved from trouble, sometimes we are saved through trouble); the healing of Jairus’ daughter (the importance of faith), Mark claims that Jesus could do less in his home town because there was so little faith); the feeding of 5,000 (God “feeds” us, we are to feed others).
John 14:12: “You will do the things I do if you believe and greater things”, hard for us to grasp, yet with the promise of the Holy Spirit in verse 16, it is possible to see how, in the book of Acts, the sick were cured, dead were raised and prisoners were miraculously released. How should we respond to these events?
Our challenge is to believe and have faith and realise that this same miraculous Jesus is with us today, through his Holy Spirit, as he was in the first century.
This week's readings........................
THE MIRACLES OF JESUS
61 Feeding the Five Thousand Luke 9:1 - 9:36
62 Walking on Water Matthew 14:22 - 14:36
63 Healing the Blind Man John 9:1 - 9:41
64 Healing a Demon Possessed Man Mark 5:1 - 5:20
65 Raising Lazarus from the Dead John 11:1 - 11:57
On Sunday 10th April Miss Gwen Hunter took our service and she introduced "The Cross of Christ".
THE CROSS OF CHRIST
When in Congo, all the Sunday School children processed through the hopsital, out into the market and the village beyond. It was a great time of rejoicing on Palm Sunday waving palm branches and banner and proclaiming the Kingship of Christ. People would join in, asking questions and praising God. I always thought it was like the first Palm Sunday.
On the Thursday following that, Jesus sent some disciples to prepare the last meal He would eat with them remembering the passover, the flight from Egypt and the way God saved the Israelites. At the meal He said someone among them would betray Him and reaching out in love He gave bread dipped in the sauce to Judas - a sign of friendship and an attempt to save Judas from his plan. After the meal they went to Gethsemane and here we see the true humanity of Jesus as, realising the agony before Him, He sought to change God's mind. Three times He prayed for another way and finally He was ready to go the way the Father had planned for Him.
He was arrested and tried. Peter denied that he knew Him as Jesus had said but this time Peter repented and was forgiven unlike Judas who, full of remorse, committed suicide. I am convinced that had Judas repented he too would have been forgiven.
Pilate found Jesus innocent but was too weak to insist and He was crucified.
Let us see Jesus on the Cross - after His torture, which had weakened Him physically, His desertion by His friends the first thing He said was "Father forgive them, they know not what they do" - no one is beyond the forgiveness of God. Then seeing His mother and the apostle John standing by He asks John to take care of Mary.
Finally He shouts out in victory "It is finished" and then "Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit". To avoid the bodies remaining on the Sabbath, Pilate was asked to order that the legs be broken. Jesus was already dead so His side was pierced and out came blood and water - a sign that Jesus died of a broken heart.
Joseph buried Him in his own grave and on the Sunday the woman came to embalm Him but found the stone rolled aside and Jesus gone. Mary Magdalene ran to tell and Peter and John came to look and then went home but Mary remained. Jesus came up behind but it wasn't until He spoke her name that she recognised Him. She was ecstatic and likewise the two on the road to Emmaus and the other disciples. Jesus was alive. After 40 days while they watched He was taken up to Heaven and He will indeed come again.
We will never understand the depth of love Jesus showed us when He died to set us free - He even was separated from His father because of us but now He is alive again available to us, dwelling with us. We rejoice in our living Lord.
This week's readings.....................
THE CROSS OF CHRIST
66 The Last Supper Luke 21:1 - 22:46
67 Arrest and Trial John 18:1 - 18:40
68 The Crucifixion John 19:1 - 19:42
69 The Resurrection John 20:1 - 21:25
70 The Ascension Acts 1:1 - 1:11
On Sunday 17th April Sir John Houghton took our service and he introduced "The Church is Born".
The Church is born
Last week’s readings centred on the last days of Jesus’ life on earth, how he was crucified, rose again from the dead, appeared to various of the disciples in his new body and finally ascended into heaven. Although, from time to time during his ministry Jesus had spoken about these events to his disciples they had failed to understand what he was saying. The rapidity of the events took them by surprise. To begin with they were disheartened, lost and frightened. Then their experiences of the risen Lord began to reassure them as they waited as Jesus instructed for the promised Holy Spirit.
Seven weeks after the resurrection was Pentecost, the Jewish feast of harvest. Jerusalem was filled with worshippers from all over the world. The Holy Spirit came on to the disciples as mighty wind and as ‘tongues of fire’ - they were able to speak in other languages, understood by those visiting Jerusalem from many foreign parts.
Peter the rough, impetuous, impulsive fisherman who had denied knowing Jesus so vehemently when Jesus was arrested, took the lead and preached the first Christian sermon to the crowds who had gathered to witness these unusual happenings. It was a very big new beginning – the Christian church was born. What was Peter’s message to the crowds? He told them about Jesus whom they had crucified seven weeks before who was now ‘both Lord and Christ’ (Acts 2 v 36). They needed to repent so that their sins could be forgiven and so they could receive God’s gift of the Holy Spirit (v 38).
Because God has made us, our behaviour matters to God. God wants us to acknowledge our sins so that we can be forgiven. We may think we are quite good people, but we all need to recognise there are lots of things we do that we should not and lots of things we fail to do that we should do. And we are fundamentally selfish, we want to go our own way not God’s.
The wonderful news is that God freely offers us his forgiveness. That is why Jesus died such a cruel, lonely death showing just how much God loves us.
What is more, when we accept God’s forgiveness and receive his love, he also gives us the wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised (Luke 11 v 13) that God would give the Holy Spirit to all who ask. Have you asked God for this wonderful gift? If not ask now.
Before Pentecost there had been about 120 of Jesus’ disciples who regularly met together. On the Pentecost day, about 3000 believed Peter’s message, received the Holy Spirit and were added to that number. The Christian church was born.
You may ask, what difference does the Holy Spirit make? In Acts 19, vs 1-7, we read that Paul in Ephesus met some Christians who had repented, received forgiveness of sins and been baptized in the way John the Baptist had baptized people. But, since Pentecost that is only Part 1 of the Christian story. They had not heard Part 2 of the story - that God makes us into new people through the gift of the Holy Spirit.
So what does the Holy Spirit bring to us? – speaking in tongues? – to some yes. But more importantly he brings a new heart, new attitudes. Just look at the fruits of the Spirit, listed in Galations 5 v 22 – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self control. Do you show all these gifts - all the time. We need the Holy Spirit to transform our characters and our lives as we are join the church community of new people.
Who was Peter’s message for? Something important that Peter himself had to learn (Acts 10) and that had to be hammered home in the early church was that the message was not just for Jews but equally also for Gentiles – for all peoples and all nations. The Christian faith does nor recognise ethnic, cultural or national barriers – it is a truly world community – something that churches need to take on board even today.
In Acts 2, v 42-47 we find 10 characteristics of the early church as follows:
1) A learning church (42)
2) A ‘fellowship’ church (42, 46)
3) A praying church (42)
4) A reverent church (43)
5) A church where things happened (43)
6) A sharing church (44, 45)
7) A worshipping church (46)
8) A happy church (46,47)
9) An attractive church (47)
10) A growing church (48)
I finish with 2 questions for you to consider and answer.
Question 1, How does your church match up to these characteristics? Try scoring each of them out of 10.
Question 2, Are there ways in which I could help my church improve its score?
This week's readings...............
THE CHURCH IS BORN
71 The Day of Pentecost Acts 2:1 - 2:47
72 Growth and Persecution Acts 3:1 - 4:37
73 The First Martyr Acts 6:8 - 8:8
74 Sharing the Word Acts 8:26 - 8:40
75 Good News for All Acts 10:1 - 11:18