IN HIM: WE BELONG

                                                                IN HIM: We Belong

 

Tim Keller shares this illustration on Our Riches In Christ: "Imagine you're a billionaire with three ten-dollar bills in your wallet. You get out of a cab and hand the driver one of the bills for an eight-dollar fare. Later in the day, you look in and find out there's only one ten-dollar bill there, and you say, "Either I dropped a ten-dollar bill somewhere, or I gave the taxi driver two bills." What are you going to do? Are you going to get all upset?

Are you going to the police and demanding that they search the city for the cab driver? No, you are going to shrug. You're a billionaire. You lost ten dollars. So what? You are too rich to be concerned about that kind of loss. This week, somebody criticized you. Something you bought or invested in was less valuable than you thought. Something you wanted to happen didn't go how you wanted it to—these are real losses. But what are you going to do if you're a Christian? Will this setback disrupt your contentment with life?

Will you shake your fist at God? Toss and turn at night? If so, I submit that it's because you don't know how truly rich you are. If you're upset about your status with other people and constantly lashing out at people for hurting your feelings, you might call it a lack of self-control or self-esteem, and it is. But more fundamentally, you have totally lost touch with your identity. As a Christian, you're a spiritual billionaire, and you're wringing your hands over ten dollars."[1]

On Easter, we celebrated our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As commissioned by Jesus, the early followers preached the Good News of the Gospel everywhere. The Gospel reached the farthest regions of the World and changed many lives. In our sermon series called IN HIM, we will study the lives of the believers in an ancient city called Colossae and discover the incredible riches that are in store for all believers in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Eugene Peterson of The Message Bible has this to say in his introduction to Colossians.

"Hardly anyone who hears the full story of Jesus and learns the true facts of his life and teaching, crucifixion and resurrection, walks away with a shrug of the shoulders, dismissing him as unimportant. Of course, people who are ignorant or misinformed about the story regularly dismiss him. But with few exceptions, the others know instinctively that they are dealing with a most remarkable greatness.

But it is quite common for those who consider him truly important to include others who seem to be equally important in his company—Buddha, Moses, Socrates, and Muhammad, for a historical start, along with some personal favorites. For these people, Jesus is important but not central; his prestige is considerable, but he is not preeminent. The Christians in the town of Colosse, or at least some of them, seem to have been taking this line. For them, cosmic forces of one sort or another were getting equal billing with Jesus. Paul writes to them to restore Jesus, the Messiah, to the center of their lives." [2]

 

            How do you consider Jesus Christ? Do you see him as an important person in your life, but add other gods, religious leaders, and prominent personalities along with him? If that is your view of Christ, you must read Colossians to move Jesus from a list of importance to the center of your life. Our study of Colossians would help us keep Jesus at the very center of our lives. Before we study Paul's Epistle to Colossians, what do we know about the Church in Colossae?

            Colossae was a city in Phrygia, in the Roman province of Asia (part of Modern Turkey), about 100 miles east of Ephesus in the region of the seven churches of Rev.1-3.

Although Colossae's population was mainly Gentile, there was a large Jewish settlement. This mixed population of Jews and Gentiles manifested itself both in the composition of the Church and in the heresy that plagued it, containing the elements of both Jewish legalism and pagan mysticism.

            The Church in Colossae began during Paul's three-year ministry at Ephesus. Its founder was Epaphras, who apparently was saved during a visit to Ephesus and likely started the Church in Colossae when he returned home. Paul wrote the letters to Ephesians and Colossians during his imprisonment in Rome, between AD 60 and 62. He sent them by the same messenger, Tychicus. Paul begins his letter by reminding the believers of their threefold belonging. Colossians 1:1-8.

I. IN HIM: We Belong To God.

 Belonging is an essential aspect of human survival. From the time we are born, we have an innate need to belong. None of us likes to be isolated or excluded. We will do anything to overcome that sense of not belonging anywhere. Why is belonging important to people? Studies tell us, "There are several individual benefits of belonging as well. The Belonging Barometer found that in addition to workplace benefits, belonging also leads to better physical and mental health, increased life satisfaction, and decreased pain, stress, and loneliness.

It also leads to better social cohesion, including community involvement. This aspect of social cohesion is especially interesting as it links back to the workplace. In the same study reported by Harvard Business Review, researchers found that feeling excluded causes people to give less team effort. The direct impact on the workplace is that if employees feel excluded, they likely aren't giving their all to the organization."[3]

When there are so many benefits to belonging, how can one truly meet the need for belonging? Who could satisfy the inner longing for belonging and being connected? That was the first thing Paul reminded the Colossian believers. Col 1:1-2a, "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To God's holy people in Colossae."

Paul regards Colossians not from their past sinful background but from their redemptive restoration background. He calls them God's holy people. It doesn't mean they were sinless, but it suggests they were set apart and belonged to God. Not only the Colossians but every believer in Christ now belongs to God. Do only believers belong to God, or do all human beings also belong to God? How would that impact you and your relationships once you know you belong to God?

II. God desires all humans to live with Him forever in Heaven

            In Genesis' second chapter, we read that God created humans, male and female, in His own likeness. He placed them in a beautiful Garden of Eden to work and care for it. Man and Woman enjoyed their relationship with God. God visited them every evening. But Satan, the deceiver, tempted them to sin against God, breaking up that peaceful relationship.

Since then, humans have become restless, searching to return to God and rejoin Him. Man has tried everything to regain his lost relationship with God, but nothing has helped him in his pursuit. In the end, God, in his love for the people he made at the appointed time, sent His begotten Son, Jesus Christ, into the World to bring his lost sons and daughters back home.

III. Jesus' mission is to reconcile people to God.

During his ministry on earth, Jesus clarified several times why he came to the world. Matthew 20:28, "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."

After bringing salvation to Zacchaeus, a rejected tax collector by society, Jesus said, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." Luke 19:9

Jesus reconciled the Jews and Gentiles to God. "His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility." Ephesians 2:15-16. Through Christ's death on the Cross, both the Jews and Gentiles have access to the Father.

The most important relationship to be restored is our relationship with God. If you have not been reconciled with God, you can do so by trusting Christ. What are the implications of belonging to God? Our peace and joy are restored. Our purpose and hope are renewed. We can even experience physical healing. But above all, we will live with God forever in Heaven.

 

 

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[1] Tim Keller, The Two Advocates (Encounters with Jesus Series) (Penguin Group, 2014), Kindle Locations 242-244

[2] Eugene H. Peterson, The Message (Numbered Edition, NavPress, 1993), Page 1625 Colossians

[3] https://thediversitymovement.com/what-is-workplace-belonging-why-is-it-important/#:~:text=The%20Belonging%20Barometer%20found%20that,social%20cohesion%2C%20including%20community%20involvement. 

Victory Over Death (Easter Sermon)

                                                 VICTORY OVER DEATH 

In a recent magazine interview, two aging actresses and longtime friends, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, bantered about death. Tomlin recalled a time when she was four years old, visiting her grandmother in rural Kentucky. A little girl had died, and they laid the body out in the house. "Everyone was oohing and aahing over her," said Tomlin. "Death didn't make sense to me then, and it doesn't make any more sense now."

Jane Fonda had a different reaction. "I feel the opposite," she said. "The past few years, I've made a real point of cozying up to death and making it a friend. That's what I always do with things that frighten me. Death is inevitable, so why not make peace with it? I'm not scared of it at all."[1] How do you view death? Are you afraid of it, or should you make it your friend?

 Listening to different views of death, from a biblical viewpoint, neither actress has the whole story, although Tomlin may be closer to the truth. Death is an enemy. It's not our friend. The Bible calls it our "Final Enemy." But Christ has conquered this enemy. Easter's story shows how Jesus got the Victory Over Death by rising from the grave on the third day. That victory is what we celebrate worldwide on this Resurrection Sunday. John 20:11-23

On Easter Sunday, we are supposed to celebrate new life. One wonders, how come I am talking about death? We won't be able to appreciate life and its fullness without considering death because it is very much a part of life. We look at the biblical perspective of natural death, its impact, and how to overcome it, as the Bible calls it, the second or eternal death.

I. Death of Humans is Universal and Inevitable.

            I was scared to death at age eight, hearing my Mom telling me about her colleague's daughter dying of a snake bite in India. I didn't know what to make of death and dying.

Since then, I have seen many of my family and friends die. As a pastor, I have officiated several funerals and consoled the grieving. Yet, death remains a frightening and mysterious subject. If you wonder why people die, the answer is found in God's commandment to Adam and Eve. He said, "But you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it, you will surely die." Gen 2:17. They couldn't keep it and violated it.

That resulted in the physical death of all human beings. Paul picks up that theme in Romans 5:12, "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people because all sinned." The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus Our Lord." Romans 6:23

From Adam, all have sinned, and death reigns over all people. We may delay it at most, but eventually, we all succumb to death. Unlike Hinduism's understanding of reincarnation or the seven cycles of life, Christians believe, "Just as people are destined to die once and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." Rom 8:27-28. Jesus' death brought salvation to our souls. By rising from the grave, Jesus defeated death.

 

II. Jesus defeated death by conquering the grave.

Jesus shared with his disciples three times, predicting his death and Resurrection. In Luke 9:22, he says, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."

No one in human history, except Jesus, accurately predicted the manner of their death and the time of their Resurrection from the dead.

Jesus' disciples had difficulty understanding and believing this. The Pharisees and the chief priests took Jesus' words seriously and went to Pilate with an unusual request. Sir, "we remember that while he was still alive, that deceiver said,

 After three days, I will rise again.' So, give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. "Take a guard," Pilate answered. Go, make the tomb as secure as you can. So, they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard." Matt 27:63-66 Approximately sixteen armed guards guarded a sealed tomb.

No one could break away that security ring, break the seal, roll the stone away, and steal the body of Jesus, as the elders suspected that would happen. But none of that could keep Jesus in the tomb for more than three days. As he predicted, Jesus conquered death on the third day, defeating his final enemy. A day will come, and He will annihilate death forever.

Who witnessed Jesus' Resurrection from the dead for the very first time? Mary Magdalene stood outside the tomb, weeping, and bent over intently, looking into it. Two angels appeared and asked Mary Why are you crying? Mary responded, "They have taken my Lord away, and I don't know where they have put him. At that time, she saw the risen Lord Jesus but couldn't recognize Him due to His glorified body.

Jesus asked her, "Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for? Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him." Mary sure looked determined to get Jesus' body back. Then Jesus must have called her name tenderly, "Mary." She turned and cried out in Aramaic, Rabboni! (which means Teacher). This tells me that Jesus not only knows but also remembers our names.

Mary Magdalene became the first witness to Jesus' Resurrection. She was sent back to the doubting eleven disciples with a message that Jesus was returning to the Father. Mary returned to the disciples with the news, "I have seen the Lord! No one could discount that personal experience of her seeing the risen Lord. What is your experience like this Easter Sunday morning? Have you experienced the Risen Lord changing you and granting you eternal life?

III. Because of Jesus' Resurrection, we, too, can have victory over death

            What does Jesus' Resurrection mean for us today? How does it impact our lives? The Crucifixion and the Resurrection of Christ are two core doctrines of our Christian faith. From Jesus' time to today, many have tried and are still trying to discredit these truths.

For those who doubt Jesus' Resurrection, the Apostle Paul has something to say, "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the Resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive." I Corinthians 15:17-22

As Prophet Isaiah predicted, when Jesus rose from the grave, "Death has been swallowed up in victory." Isaiah 25:8. Hosea prophesied, saying, "Where, O death, is your victory? Where,  O death, is your sting? Hosea 13:14. Because of Jesus' Resurrection, we, too, can have victory over death. It doesn't mean we will not die. The natural death due to sin is something no one can escape, but we can have victory over the second death, as recorded in the book of Revelation.

Listen to the words of the one who conquered death and ascended to heaven. "To the thirsty, I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God, and they will be my children. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." Rev 21:5-8

On this Resurrection Sunday, the message is clear: Jesus says, "I am the Resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die, and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this? You have to decide whether to believe in Jesus or not today. If you do, you, too, will have Victory Over the Second Death.

 

 

 

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[1] https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2017/january/8012317.html

A Man Of Sorrows (Good Friday Message)

                                                             A MAN OF SORROWS

If you live long enough, you will suffer; all you have to do is live long enough. You may get through much of life relatively scot-free, but eventually, the machinery wears out; you start losing your teeth, your hair will turn gray, and you may lose it, memory declines, etc. If you live long enough, you'll experience bereavement. You may lose your siblings, spouse, children, and friends. However long we may live, we will experience some form of sorrow and pain.

The General Social Survey asks people to rate their level of happiness. Between 1990 and 2018, the share of Americans who placed themselves in the lowest happiness category increased by more than 50 percent, before the pandemic. Gallup surveys roughly 150,000 people in over 140 countries yearly about their emotional lives. Experiences of negative emotions related to stress, sadness, anger, worry, and physical pain hit a record high in 2021.[1]

The CDC's bi-annual Youth Risk Behavior Survey (2023) showed that most teen girls (57%) now say that they experience persistent sadness or hopelessness (up from 36% in 2011), and 30% of teen girls now say that they have seriously considered suicide (up from 19% in 2011). The boys are doing badly, too. What are the causes behind this concerning trend? It's complex, but in a thorough overview of hundreds of studies, researcher Jon Haidt summarizes the data: There is one giant, obvious, international, and gendered cause: Social media.[2]

That is the assessment of the World regarding sorrow and unhappiness. What does the Bible have to say about human suffering? When we hear about these rising teen suicide deaths, what hope do we have? Who could turn our sadness into joy and permanently wipe away all our tears? The answers are found in A Man Of Sorrows, in the prophecy in Isaiah 53:1-12.

The sixth-century B.C prophecy in Isaiah 53 helps us understand some gory events during the Crucifixion. It also gives us the proper perspective on human suffering. Anyone who reads and understands the prophecy knows it is about Jesus, the Messiah. Many Jewish people don't read it, let alone understand it. "Long ago, the rabbis used to read Isaiah 53 in synagogues, but after the chapter caused arguments and great confusion, the rabbis decided that the simplest thing would be to just take that prophecy out of the Haftarah readings in synagogues."[3]

Another tragic reason why Jews didn't understand it is that the prophet Isaiah prophesied that the future messiah would not come as a military commander. Instead, he would come as a suffering servant. Let's see how this suffering servant will accomplish his mission.

I. Why did Jesus have to suffer and die on the Cross?

Before examining Christ's suffering on the Cross, let's first understand why Jesus had to suffer and die on it. As we look back into the Garden of Eden through the disobedience of Adam and Eve, sin entered the World, and along with that also came suffering, pain, fear, and physical death. God planned to redeem and restore humanity, offering them eternal life through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and His sacrificial death.

Romans 5:6-8, "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person, someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." According to the Law, the high priest offers yearly animal sacrifices for his and the people's sins.

In contrast, Christ became the perfect, sinless sacrificial lamb by offering Himself on the Cross once and for all people. The blood he shed on the Cross two thousand years ago is still powerful enough to cleanse us from all our sins.

II. A Man Of Sorrows, Acquainted With Grief.

            If we read the whole chapter, we will see that it talks about the birth, work, death, resurrection, and future coming of Jesus Christ. It has the salvation message in it. Whoever believes it will be saved. For that reason, the devil would not want people to understand it.

Vs. 3, "He was despised and rejected a man of sorrows, (pains NASB) acquainted with grief (sickness)." In NIV, it reads "familiar" with pain. The Hebrew word used here is yada, which has a much deeper meaning than mere familiarity. In this context, the Man of Sorrows, Jesus, had a firsthand and intimate experience with pain and grief. He was not just taking note of our pain and suffering. God, in Christ, actually experienced our pain.

            The Good News is that whatever pain and grief we go through in this life, Christ has tasted it before while on earth. He understands our pain and comes to our aid to ease it and alleviate our suffering through the power of His Holy Spirit. On several occasions when Jesus experienced human pain, suffering, and grief, he moved into action and relieved the afflicted out of compassion.

            On three occasions, he moved with compassion and fed the hungry crowds (Mark 6:34; Mark 8:2; Matthew 15:32). Out of compassion, he reached out to a leper and healed him. (Mk 1:41). When he saw a grieving widow in a village called Nain, his heart overflowed with compassion, and he told the woman, "Don't cry, then raised the dead young Man to life. Lk 7:14.

            Before being crucified, he went to the home of his dear friends, Martha and Mary. Seeing their grief of losing their brother Lazarus, his dear friend Jesus wept. Then, he performed one of the greatest miracles by raising Lazarus, who had been dead and buried for four days. John 11

            Jesus knew what it was to endure emotional and mental abuse. His own people rejected him. He was called derogatory names such as drunkard, glutton, deceiver, and demon-possessed. His own family did not believe in him and thought he was crazy. The leaders hated his courage.

            The crowds he healed, delivered from demons, and fed turned against him and tried to stone him to death. One of his friends betrayed him and handed him over to the authorities to be crucified. One of his closest friends denied him three times, and all his disciples abandoned him when he needed them the most. Only a few faithful women stood by him until the end.

            Add to this emotional and mental agony, Isaiah graphically describes the physical torture this Man of Sorrow endured in Isaiah 53. Here is a list of his painful suffering: He was despised, rejected, pierced, weighed down with grief, crushed, whipped, beaten, oppressed, treated harshly, struck down, buried like a criminal, etc. The Gospel writers recorded the following torture:

Jesus was stripped, a crown of thorns was placed on his head, and the guards mocked him, pulled his beard, spat upon him, and repeatedly hit him on the head with a stick. His hands and feet were nailed to the Cross. A spear was thrust into his side to determine whether he was dead or still alive. This Man of Sorrows, acquainted with grief, understands our suffering and comes to our aid to alleviate our pain. What should be our response then to pain and suffering?

III. How should we approach human suffering?

            We need a fresh understanding of the theology of suffering. Some Christians have a false sense of suffering. They think if you follow Christ, you should never get sick, suffer, or experience any pain. God wants you to be healed and be prosperous. We have several examples in the Bible where the righteous people suffered. We have examples of God-fearing people among us who are going through physical, emotional, and mental agony, yet they still love God.

God bless these suffering saints. In our suffering, remember that we have a high priest who understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So, let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There, we will find grace to help us when we need it most." Heb 4:15-16. May this Man of Sorrows be your source of comfort.

 

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[1] https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2023/may/surveys-show-stress-sadness-worry-on-rise.html

[2] https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2023/september/social-media-is-linked-to-rise-in-teen-sadness.html 

[3] https://www.oneforisrael.org/bible-based-teaching-from-israel/inescapable-truth-isaiah-53/

A Three-Way King

                                                                           A THREE-WAY KING

What can we learn about Palm Sunday from a five-year-old? If you've ever asked a small child what they learned in church that day, you know you might get a profound theological truth, a funny story, or both. A christian blogger couple shares a funny story about their five-year-old son. "On  Palm Sunday, we did the normal "So, what did you learn today?" parental questioning. He was carrying a small branch, so we expected to hear about Jesus riding on a donkey and people waving palm branches. Instead, our son said, "We learned not to poke anyone in the eye." We smiled and even chuckled a little."[1] I wish some grown-ups would learn this lesson as well.

It was Palm Sunday, but 5-year-old Annie stayed home from church with her mother because of a sore throat. When the rest of the family returned home, they were carrying palm branches. Annie asked them what they were for. "People held them over Jesus' head as he rode by on a colt," her father explained. "Wouldn't you know it," Annie fussed, "the one Sunday I'm sick, Jesus shows up and offers pony rides! We can laugh at these jokes, but let me ask you these questions? What comes to your mind when you read the story of Palm Sunday?

Do you think of the enthusiastic crowds waving Palm branches and shouting Hosanna? Or the poor and petrified donkey surrounded by the screaming crowds? Or about pony rides? What can we learn from the story of Palm Sunday? The original participants in this true story had missed it then. Even today, many Jewish people and world leaders, including Christ's followers, miss the essence of it. The story of Palm Sunday is all about a King and His Kingdom of a different kind. It was about"A Three-Way KinJohn 12:12-19

I. The backdrop of Palm Sunday: The timing of Palm Sunday couldn't have been any better—this actual event happened around one of the three most prominent Jewish festivals of Passover. Observing certain key elements before this Passover during Jesus' time is crucial to understanding the significance of Palm Sunday. Jesus celebrated Hanukkah, the festival of dedication, in Jerusalem. (John 10:22). The Jews asked Jesus to end their suspension of who He was by asking Him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." Jesus said, I told you, but you don't believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice, and they follow me. The Jews were offended and took up stones to stone him.

In John 12, we read about Jesus' close friend Lazarus's death and his display of divine power in bringing him back to life after being in the grave for four days. In this story, Jesus addresses the unbelief of his close followers, friends, Jewish leaders, and the crowds.

After seeing this miraculous sign, many Jews believed in him, but some reported it to the Pharisees. Hearing that report, the Pharisees convened a meeting to discuss their political and economic fallout. The chief priest, Caiaphas, reasoned with them, reminding them of his prophecy that "Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. John 11:49-53.

Nothing persuaded the Jewish leaders from that day they plotted to kill Jesus. It was six days before the Passover. Many went up to Jerusalem for ceremonial cleansing. Pharisees and chief priests went up with an agenda to find and kill Jesus. Many Jews went to see Jesus and Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. Let's follow them to see whom they failed to see.

II. The Donkey: A Prophetic Sign of The Coming of the King.

            One of the prominent figures in Palm Sunday's story is a young donkey. We can have a great theological discussion about why Jesus rode on a donkey instead of a horse. But don't let the donkey distract us. The truth is that the donkey is a prophetic sign of the Coming of the King. Amid the crowds carrying Palm branches and shouting, Hosanna Jesus entered Jerusalem.

John 12:13-15 reads, "Hosanna! "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the king of Israel!" Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: "Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt." These verses give us the context connecting us to two ancient prophecies in Zechariah 9:9, Psalm 118:25-26.

Based on these prophecies, what kind of a king were they looking for? Perhaps they were looking for a military king who would ride in with his mighty army to dethrone the Roman empire and establish a kingdom for Israel. The actual prophecy of Zechariah gives us a different picture of a king who doesn't fit the natural criteria of any earthly king. Let's read Zech 9:9, "Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."

III. A Three-Way King

1. A King of Righteousness.

            Dictionaries define righteousness as "morally justifiable or right behavior." Accepted standards of morality, justice, virtue, or uprightness characterize such behavior. Could any earthly ruler or King display such absolute righteous behavior? Where would this righteous King come from? Isaiah prophesied that a "King will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness forever." Isaiah 9:8.

In Isaiah 30:1-20, we read about a futuristic righteous king and his Kingdom. Vs. 1-2, "See, a king will reign in righteousness, and rulers will rule with justice. Each one will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land." Vs. 16-17, the Lord's Justice will dwell in the desert, his righteousness live in the fertile field. The fruit of that righteousness will be peace. His people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest."

2. A Victorious King:

The people of Israel had always understood Zechariah's prophecy to refer to the Messiah, to God's anointed King. When Jesus mounted a young donkey, he presented himself as Israel's promised King. The people of Jerusalem recognized this connection and shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" Matthew 21:8. "Hosanna!" is not so much a word of praise as a prayer.

 Originally, it comes from Psalm 118:25, where it is a cry for help: "O Lord, save us." Its most basic meaning is "Save!" or "Save us!" At first, the word pointed to a physical deliverance from real enemies. Later, "save" developed a theological meaning. God is concerned about our physical well-being, emotional status, and the salvation of our souls.

God can save us from anything that harms us. Therefore, waving their palms and shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" the people cried out for salvation from their victorious King. Many were looking for political deliverance, but that is not the kind of victory Jesus came to win. He came to give his life as an atonement for sin. The salvation he offers is deliverance from sin, from death, and the eternal wrath of God. That is the ultimate victory.

  

3. A Gentle King: The future King is righteous, victorious, and gentle. By now, we recognize that this three-way King is no one else but Jesus himself. Several scriptures refer to Jesus as the King. Rev 19:6, "On his robe and on his thigh, he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. It means that, in the end, all other rulers will be conquered. He alone will reign supreme as King and Lord of all the earth. No power, King, or lord can oppose His rule.

This sovereign King, Jesus, invites all of us to follow his example. "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:29. On this Palm Sunday, let us worship this "Three-Way King of righteousness, of victory and gentleness. Unashamedly, let the world know that we truly are His followers.

 

 

 

 

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[1] https://jeffabel.wordpress.com/2013/02/22/what-can-you-learn-about-palm-sunday-from-a-five-year-old/

God's Final Word: His Son

                                                           GOD'S FINAL WORD: HIS SON 

            Writer Dikkon Eberhart shares his testimony of progression from theological drifter to Orthodox Jew to a born-again experience with Jesus Christ. In his own words, "I grew up in the Episcopal Church." But in my high teens and young twenties, I drifted. I created my religion at the seminary in Berkeley, California, during the 1970s. I called it Godianity.

            Certainly, I believed in the existence of God but didn't know much about that Son of God fellow, and the little I did know seemed impossibly weird. Then something happened. I married a Jew who was an atheist. My wife became pregnant nine months later, and our first daughter squirmed in her mother's arms. Seeing such a perfect and beautiful creature, my wife realized it must be the gift of God, not the product of some random swirl of atoms.

            My wife's atheism bit the dust. Her new God belief was Jewish. The trouble came five years later. Our daughter and I were swinging in a hammock under a tree on a windy day. Our eager, chatterly daughter fell silent and said, "Daddy, I know there's a God." I was enchanted. "How, sweetie?" She pointed at the tree and its leaves. "You can't see God. He's like the wind. You can't see the wind, but the wind makes the leaves move. You can't see God, but you know he's there because he makes people move, like the leaves."

            She continued, "Daddy, what do we believe?" Really, what she was asking was, "Mommy's Jewish. You're Christian. So what am I?" And despite holding three advanced degrees in religion, I couldn't answer. In that instant, I chucked my Godianity. We resolved we shall raise our children as Jews. During one of the services on the eve of Yom Kippur, God said, "If you should desire to come to me, my door is open to you."

            Three years later, I became a Jew myself. Some neighbors had invited us to visit a small Baptist Church across our rural road. We realized that these neighbors seemed concerned for our souls. By the way, who are you inviting? More than a year later, desperate for direction, I went to that church one Sunday morning. That day, the pastor was preaching from I Timothy. I was astonished to hear a Baptist preacher using Old Testament references with Hebrew nuance.

            I met with the pastor weekly, and my wife attended the women's Bible study. We began reading and studying the Bible, discovering wonderful truths. It took nine months, an appropriate duration for re-birth, before I committed myself to Jesus. My wife did the same three months later. Our two younger children followed soon thereafter. When God spoke to me in the synagogue all those years ago, inviting me through his open doorway, I assumed he was summoning me into Judaism. Little did I know he was calling me to Christ."[1]

             Like Dikkon Eberhart, many of our friends, family members, and colleagues live confused and unfulfilled lives. Some even reject the existence of God. God used the members of a small Baptist Church to change the lives of a theological drifter turned Jew and his family. God calls people to turn to His Son, Jesus Christ, God's Final Word. John 5:16-30. We will examine who Jesus is, why we must believe and listen to Him, and how we can hear God's voice.

 

I. Who Is Jesus?

            More than any other name, the name Jesus sparks the greatest global controversy. During Jesus' time, the skeptics and religious leaders could not stand him. The law teachers were speechless at his authoritative teaching. The kings sought a private audience with him.

The crowds were amazed by his miracles. The winds and storms ceased at his rebuke, and the dead rose by his command. The disciples obeyed his call and followed him. The whole city of Jerusalem was stirred as he entered and asked, "Who is this? Let's discover who Jesus is."

 

II. Jesus is the Son Of God. 

            Growing up in a Lutheran Church since age eight without understanding, I recited the Apostle's Creed every Sunday. A part of it reads: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. Now, I firmly believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

            The concept that Jesus is the Son of God originates from the belief that God exists as a Trinity, comprising one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Historically, this claim has not always been received favorably. In the passage we read, the Jewish leaders tried to kill him not because he was healing on the Sabbath but for his extraordinary claims of Him being the Son of God. By doing so, He equated Himself with God the Father. Consider these scriptures:

            The famous Christmas scripture in Isaiah 9:6 reads, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given." Psalm 2:7 reads, "I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, "You are my Son; today I have begotten you." Vs.12, "Kiss the Son, lest he be angry." ESV. Here, "the Son" refers to Jesus. The angel Gabriel told Mary, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God." Luke 1:35 (ESV). Even the demons acknowledged Jesus as the Son of God. Matt 8:28.

            Once, when Jesus asked Peter, 'Who do you say I am?' Peter boldly claimed, 'You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.' Matthew 16: 15-17. We have much more powerful testimony from God, who affirmed Jesus' Sonship twice. In Matt 3:17, we read, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." The second time in Matt 17:5, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" Yet many have difficulty believing that Jesus is God's Son, let alone listening to Him. The main reason for this unbelief and disobedience is that the Devil is deceiving many people and doesn't want them to come to know the truth.

 

III. What is the significance of believing and listening to Jesus, the Son Of God?

            The primary reason one must believe in Jesus is for the salvation of one's soul. John 3:16 reads, "For God so loved the World, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life." In John 5:24, Jesus said, "Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged, but has crossed over from death to life." We believe in Jesus because there is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under Heaven by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12 (NLT)

             No matter who you are, one day, all of us will die and rise again, listening to the voice of Jesus. Those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. John 5:28-29. What is the significance of listening to the Son?

             We listen to God's Son, Jesus, because He is God Himself. John 1:1, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Vs.14. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, referring to Jesus. We listen to the Son because He is God's final Word. Hebrews 1:1-2, "Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now, in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son." If believing in and listening to Jesus is essential, how can we learn to hear His voice?

 

 

IV. What is the Key to Hearing God's voice?

            Most people want to hear God's voice when they are facing a decision. If only God would speak to them and tell them which choice to make or which direction to embark upon. The truth is that God uses various ways to talk to us, but the question we must ask ourselves is, are we listening to Him? A heart willing to listen and obey is the key to hearing God's voice.

            There are several scriptural examples where God stresses the importance of obeying His Word more than simply listening. Consider the following scriptures that call for obedience:

"This is what I told them: "Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!" Jeremiah 7:23 NLT

"Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him. Psalms 128:1 NIV

"Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then, you will be prosperous and successful. Jos 1:8 NIV

            During one of His teachings, Jesus said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the Word of God and obey it." Luke 11:28. By obeying God's Word, we become Joyful Christians: Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. Ps 119:2 NLT. "Praise the Lord! How joyful are those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying his commands? Ps 112:1 NLT

            Our obedience to God's Word signifies our love for Jesus. The more we obey his revealed Word, the more new revelation we will receive. "Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them." John 14:21. These scriptures remind us that a truly blessed life comes from obeying the very One who gave His Word to us in the first place.

          When we want to hear God's voice in matters of life, we don't turn to the news media, social media, or online sources; instead, we turn to the Bible as our primary source of information. God's will for our lives is already fully revealed in its pages, and it is a simple matter of our obedience to it. The more we read and obey God's Word, the more we are shaped by it and become more like Jesus the Son, who has the Words of Eternal Life.  

 

 

 

 

           

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[1] Source: Dikkon Eberhart, “Crossing the Road to Christ,” CT Magazine (December 2019), pp. 71-72