ambassadors for Christ, ascended into heaven, casting lots, Matthias twelfth Apostle, passport, set your mind on the things above, The job description for the office of an Apostle, thirty shekels of silver

The Messiah’s Secret – Jesus’ Prayer John 17

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The Messiah’s Secret – Jesus’ Prayer John 17

Lectionary Reading: John 17: 6-19.

Jesus’ prayer recorded by John took place just before they left the house for the Garden of Gethsemane. It was very much a prayer that reflected what was going on at the time. 

Short Power Point Presentation 
From Jesus’ prayer we thought about our own prayers: we usually start by addressing God with a title that reflects our relationship with God and our reverence towards him. Several titles were suggested: Father, Heavenly Father, Almighty God, Lord and Father God etc. 
In Jesus’ prayer he spoke of his fellowship with his Father, his Father always heard his prayers. He noted that his disciples believed in him and his words and that he had been sent by God. Jesus recognised that prophecy had to be fulfilled in Judas. Jesus was concerned about his leaving his disciples, he was concerned for their safe keeping. He asked his Father to keep them safe from the evil one. 

In our prayer we know that God always hears our prayers and we asked for strength and for unity with Jesus and each other and the Lord to keep us safe. Our current situation at St Mary’s that is relevant to our prayer, is that the Lord would choose the person who will become our next Priest-in-charge. 
Jesus put emphasis on the name that God his Father had given him ‘Jesus’ the name above all names. Jesus promised that when we pray in his name: “Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son: if you ask anything in my name I will do it.” John 14: 13, 14. So we end our prayer in Jesus’ name. Below a short, but to the point prayer.

Father God,
we know you always hear us when we pray in faith.
Strengthen us and unite us in Jesus, and may the Lord chose the next person to be our Vicar.
Keep us all safe from the evil one.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

We have looked at Jesus’ prayer and we have gathered what was upper most in his thoughts. He was concerned not for himself, but for his disciples, for them to be kept safe from the evil one.

While Jesus was praying in the house, Judas was no doubt telling the chief priest where Jesus could be found and collected his thirty shekels of silver the price for betraying him.

Some 500 years before Zechariah prophesied 

“Then I said to them, “If it seems right to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” And they weighed out as my wages thirty shekels of silver.” Judas fulfilled when he left the Passover meal to meet with chief priest.
The second part of the prophecy, “Then the Lord said to me, “Cast it into the treasury” the lordly price at which I was paid off by them. So I took the thirty shekels of silver and cast them into the treasury in the house of the Lord.” Zechariah 11: 12, 13. RSV Bible.
This was fulfilled when Judas heard that Jesus had been condemned to death, he took the money and threw it into the treasury, saying that he had betrayed innocent blood, which meant the sinless blood of the Christ, God’s Saviour of the world. Matthew 26: 14-16, 27: 3-5
In our Acts 1: 15-17, 21-26.reading it is recorded that they brought up the number of Apostles to 12 to fill the apostolic office that Judas had left vacant.
It was on the evening of the day of the resurrection were Jesus opened the disciples’ minds to understand the prophesies in scripture concerning himself. So, they were aware of the prophecy which Peter quoted  ‘Let his habitation become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it’; and ‘ His office, let another take.” Psalms 69: 25. 109: 8. Luke 24: 44-48.
 
This prophecy was fulfilled when the chief priest purchased a ‘desolate place’ without the presence of God’ a burial site with the betrayal money to bury strangers in and the office of an apostle that was to be that taken up by someone else. Acts 1: 20                                              
In Acts 1: 21, 22 we have a Job description for an Apostle.
The office fulfilling Jesus’ prayer and the criteria stipulated by Peter: The Apostles looked for those  among the followers who were of the same mind one with each other in their faith and words of Jesus and those who had accompanied the disciples during Jesus’ ministry from the days of John the Baptist up till Jesus’ ascension and could testify to his resurrection.  (Jesus chose twelve disciples from among his followers. Luke 6: 12).
There in the upper room of the house at Jerusalem after Jesus’ ascension were 120 disciples and followers were gathered, probably not many from among 109 disciples would be eligible for the office of ‘Apostle’, Joseph and Matthias were candidates. 
I have on many occasions wondered why they cast lots (under law) to choose the one to take Judas’ place. I now realise why they cast lots to discern the Lord’s will, it was to fulfil another prophecy, Proverbs 16: 33 “The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is wholly from the Lord.”  Matthias was chosen by the Lord to be the twelfth Apostle.
In Jesus’ prayer he spoke of his disciples as being as he had been, in the world but not being part of it. They had taken part in Jesus’ ministry walking with the God of heaven putting into practice his teaching and commands and having the joy of their Lord in their heart, the kingdom in their midst, but I think Jesus was also pointing to his ascension
John 17: 5 “And now, Father, glorify thou me in thy own presence with the glory which I had with thee before the world was made.”
Last Thursday the church celebrated Jesus’ Ascension into Heaven
When Jesus ascended into heaven he united heaven and earth and this means to us today, we are citizens of heaven while we still reside on the earth.
Visual Aid

We have been given a passport into heaven through Jesus’ prophecy and promise, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” John 3: 16. Given as a free gift through faith in what Jesus has done for us on the cross.

So as ambassadors for Jesus’ kingdom we offer people a passport into heaven.
 
Last Thursday at ChattertonHey House we started our Alpha Course and we were offering this heavenly passport, so that they too can declare that Jesus has taken away their sins upon himself, and know his forgiveness, and like Jesus be raised up with him and are free to enter into his kingdom while being alive on earth.
So as ambassadors for Jesus in our present life, we are also seated with the Lord our God in heavenly places, Paul wrote in his letter to the church at Colossi, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek those things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on things that are on the earth.“ Colossians 3: 1, 2. 2.12-15.
Our Lord God calls people to fulfil his tasks, with the mind and Spirit of Christ.
In our current situation here at St. Mary’s like the Apostles we soon will be in that position for someone to take up the office of Priest-in-charge leading our two churches. It is good to note that the burden has been taken away from those who will be chosen from our governing body the Parochial Church Council to interview the prospective candidates, as the choice that they make on our behalf will be of the Lord’s choosing.  Just as our present Vicar and his wife have been called to fulfil the appointment at two other churches.
The apostles and followers spent time in prayer.
Following the example of the Apostles they prayed before they cast the lots, and so we give our situation over to the Lord in prayer (not casting lots) resting in the knowledge that Jesus will send his choice to St Mary’s and St Paul’s.
candle, Holman Hunt, Jesus the light of the world, lamp, Menorah Candlestick, you are the light of the world

The Messiah’s Secret – Jesus the Perpetual Light

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The Messiah’s Secret – Jesus the Perpetual Light
Lord your word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, in Jesus’ name.
Isaiah 60: 1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come. And the glory of the Lord rises upon you.” The light referring to the Messiah.
Jesus said that he was ‘the light of the world’ the light that was there before the creation of the sun, moon and stars.
In John Goldengay’s study book of ‘Isaiah’ Genesis 1: 3-5, 14. We read on the first day of creation, “God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light” John points out that from the first day the light continued until the fourth day. On the fourth day God created the sun, moon and stars as signs of seasons, days and years.
So Jesus the light of the world was there before the creation of the sun, moon and stars. I found this re-assuring when I thought of Jesus’ return, “Immediately after the distress of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. Then will appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.” Matthew 24: 29, 30.
It won’t be complete darkness there will be the light, the light that was there before the creation of the sun, moon and stars.

We read of the continual light in the tent tabernacle
Exodus 27: 20, 21. Moses was instructed to burn pure olive oil in the lamp for the light, It was to burn continually and it was placed in the Holy place in the area where the priests worked and it was tended by them morning and evening.
The priests were dependent on the light from the lamp as there was no other source of light in the holy place. Exodus 25: 31-40
Visual Aids.   Candle and Menorah Candlestick.

C. W. Slemming “Made According to the Pattern.”He points out the difference between a candle and the lamp:
“Candles give light at the consumption of themselves, (and its light only lasts the life time of the candle.   Like a person without Christ in their life.)             
The lamp that made the light only bore it. The light was resultant from the pure oil that was constantly being put within it.”
Below: Menorah Candlestick and theCandlestick the symbol of Jesus being the light of the world.

The centre shaft was called ‘the servant’ or attendant. It held three branches on either side, seven lamps in total.

The lamp represents Christ:its branches, the Christian, we are dependent upon Jesus, continually topping us up by his word and Spirit.
Jesus said that he was ‘the light of the world’ and he came as one who served and gave his life for many. 
 
Jesus ‘risen body containing the continuous, perpetual light.
God said that he had prepared a body in Jesus. In chapter 10 of Hebrews. “Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings thou hast not desired, but a body thou hast prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings thou hast taken no pleasure. Then he said, ‘I have come to do thy will, O God,’ as it is written of me in the roll of thy book’”
“Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way which he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh and since we have a great high priest over the house of God.” Hebrews 10: 5-7, 19-21
In coming to do God’s will Jesus abolishedMoses’ covenant with its rituals and sacrifices by fulfilling them through laying down his life, his flesh and blood for the final atonement for sin,
In the cotton factories the machinery became obsolete like the law given to Moses by God and  the obsolete machines were replaced by computerised machines. Under grace the law written in the heart through faith in Jesus.
 “When (Christian) Gentiles who have not the law do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse them16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.” Romans 2: 4-16                                                
Also as he high priest of God he offered the sacrifice of himself to his Father God for sin before establishing a new living covenant in himself, the temple of his body, the church.
Jesus said, “You are the light of the world” 
Matthew 5: 14-16 as I see it Jesus pointed to Isaiah’s prophecy “You are the light of the world.(Israel) A city set on a hill cannot be hid. (Jerusalem) Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your father in heaven.”(All the nations will come to the city bringing gifts)
Mark 16: 9-16. The disciples’ were the light to the world, but on the evening of the day of Jesus’ resurrection their light was hidden when they heard from Mary Magdalene that Jesus had been raised from the dead, they didn’t believe her, they were mourning Jesus’ death with heavy hearts and minds.
This reminded me of Holman Hunt the renowned 19th Century artist who had declined religious commissions on the ground that he didn’t believe in Jesus.
However, Holman Hunt’s vision of Jesus, which he painted ‘The Light of the World’ Revelation 3: 20. “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

But I also see his painting describing the scene on the evening of Jesus resurrection when Jesus came and stood among them in the house at Jerusalem.

The weeds surrounding the door reminded me of the disciple’s unbelief, they had shut the door to believing in his resurrection. We don’t read of Jesus knocking on the door of the house where they were gathered, but after he came and stood among them they believed. He asked for some food and they gave him grilled fish which he ate. Holman said, that he wanted to convey through his painting the substance of Jesus that he wasn’t a vapour, a spirit.
Holman Hunt fulfilled the great commission his painting went on display around the country and the British Empire.
Another thought from this Holman expressed his vision through painting it. Someone made the canvas, the brushes and the paints he used, so is the church is a picture in the process of being painted and we are part of it.
A part of Isaiah’s prophecy that has yet to be fulfilled 
When Jesus returns to Jerusalem the city will be at the centre of the world, a city that will not be hidden, continuous light, where the King of Kings will sit on King David’s throne.
Nations will come and bring their gifts and the Jewish people will be revered, from them the Saviour has come, they will be recognised and be loved by all the people of the world. Revelation 21: 22-26. Isaiah 60: 11, 14.


Jesus was in the beginning: the light in creation to the eternal light of the New Jerusalem. 

On the left model of the New Jerusalem. Revelation 21: 9-27
Each entrance was through a gate of pearl and the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. The wall was made of jasper, the foundations were decorated with gems stones. The street of the city was of pure gold. 
(Model. Play dough walls coloured beads and boxes sprayed with gold 2007)___________________________

Jesus came to fulfil the laws and the prophets (Matthew 5: 17 in his life and body.)
Menorah Candlestick.  Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” the lamp stood in the holy place. John 8: 12.
Feast of Tabernacles the whole temple filled with light, Hanukah Festival of Lights,(9 lights) It celebrates the oil that should have only lasted for one day lasted 8 days. 
The oil for the lamp. Jesus said, “My words are Spirit and life.” Reference to the Holy Spirit,John 6: 63.  The Holy Spirit was poured out, to give light to the church and continues to be poured out.  Revelation 1: 20.
Jesus said, “If anyone is thirsty let them come to me and drink,” The Holy Spirit river of life flowing out from the temple. The early and latter day rain. John 7: 37-39.
Ark of the Covenant. Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind. This the great and first commandment and a second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” The tablets of stone the laws given to Moses  Three types: Moral, civil and ceremonial law. Moses’ law written in Jesus heart. Matthew 22: 37, 38.
Altar. Jesus said, ”For this is my blood of the new covenant which is poured out fror many for the forgiveness of sins..” The blood of sacrifice for sin. Leviticus 17: 14 Matthew 26: 28. The Day of Atonement. The blood sprinkled on the front of the mercy seat between the cherubim on the lid of the ark.Exodus 25: 22 Leviticus 16: 14
Table of the Shrewbread. Jesus said, “I am the bread of Life” the living word, the 12 cakes/loaves baked by the priests every day. John 6: 35. Exodus 25: 30.
Manna – Jesus laid down his life, his flesh to give life.”Take eat this is my body.” Matthew 26: 26. Jesus ended kosher foods. Mark 7: 19. Acts 10: 12-16.
Unleavened bread –  Jesus’ body and blood sinless Acts 2: 27. Psalm 16: 8-11.
Altar of Incense. Jesus the intercessor and mediator between God and mankind. The great high priest over the house of God. Hebrews 7: 25.
The laver. “We are washed by the water of his word.” Ephesians 5: 26.
The Veil. The veil of his flesh, the curtain that hung between the holy place and the holly of holies. Matthew 27: 26, 51.
The Vine. Alfred Edersheim in his book “The Temple” wrote that a huge vine standing the height of a man was in the temple. Jesus said, “I am the true vine” Israel the vine planted in the promised land. Psalm 80: 8 .John 15: 1
Pentecost Feast of the First Fruits.Jesus said, “Unless a grain of wheat fall into the earth and dies, it remains alone but if it dies it bears much fruit.”  John 12: 24.
The priestly garments. The fine linen, the white robe of righteousness  Revelation 1: 13. 19: 8.
These and many more all fulfilled in Jesus.
Faith and Grace.
Jesus enlightened his disciples his Father’s words and doing the works he saw his Father doing, and he came among us as one who served. Jesus’ light we are dependent upon to reveal God our Father’s love, word and actions. 
breathed on them the Holy Spirit, Christians under threat of being arrested, doors were shut, doubts, Eternal body of Jesus, fear, sceptic

The Messiah’s Secret – The Doors were Shut

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The Messiah’s Secret – The Doors were Shut

Below an “Upper Room” at Jerusalem


The disciples were in fear of being arrested by either the Jews or the Romans following the crucifixion of Jesus. We can imagine a similar situation today where Christians in Iraq and Syria no doubt know the fear of someone coming to arrest them, for being followers of Jesus and in this terrible situation we hope and pray, that they are being upheld by the presence of Jesus in their hearts.
The disciples were fearful because of the Jews threats against Jesus in their association with him. We have evidence in John 11: 8, 16 where the disciples had agreed to go with Jesus to Bethany, but they knew that there was a risk of Jesus being stoned by the Jews in Judea.“Thomas, called the twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us go, that we may die with him.” So they went to Bethany and that’s why they kept the doors shut.
So when on the evening of the Day of the Resurrection Jesus came and stood among them. He was alive, yes it really was Jesus. God had raised him from the dead.
He said to them, “Peace be with you.” Their first reaction perhaps stunned at what they saw. Jesus repeated his words, which must have reached into the depths of their being, giving them God’s peace.
Shalom.
Shalom is the peace coming from God that passes all understanding. Peace its ripples of contentment flow out touching every sphere of a Christian’s life. It’s the fruit of God’s Spirit: love, joy and peace. Galatians 5: 22
John experienced along with those present Jesus breathing on them saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit,” Jesus the word of life, his words spirit and life, fulfilling John the Baptist’s words, The Messiah would baptise them with the Holy Spirit and fire, everything stemming from our creator God.
Some decades later
John the Apostle wrote in his first letter in connection with the resurrection, that Jesus was manifested to them in his eternal body.
”That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen, with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life, the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us.”
John looking back remembered what he saw, he and the others  were eye witnesses they had looked upon and touched the risen Jesus with their hands. 1 John 1: 1, 2.
John for a period of time led the church at Ephesus he witnessed through his letter defending the resurrection from the sceptics of his day.

Oxford dictionary 
A sceptic is a person inclined to question or doubt accepted opinions.
Thomas was sceptical when he heard of Jesus’ resurrection.
Thomas, the same man who earlier had said, “Let us go, that we may die with him.”
He fled from the Garden when Jesus was arrested, and Thomas was not with the others in the house on the evening of the day of Jesus’ resurrection.
We read he was sceptical he would not believe the testimony from the other disciples. He would not believe until he saw where the nails that had pierced his flesh and the sword his side.                         
Today Christian testimonies don’t seem to register with sceptics. People want evidence they want to experience something of God before they will commit themselves to believe in Jesus.
Thomas found out the truth when he saw and touched his risen Lord, he exclaimed, “My Lord and my God.” He recognised Jesus as both his Lord, his teacher, his friend, his leader and his God He recognised that Jesus was God.
So now he had found the way that Jesus had spoken about in an earlier conversation with him. Jesus had said, “You know the way to where I am going.” Thomas replied, “Lord, we do not know the way to where you are going.” 
Thomas had looked upon, he had touched eternal life God manifested in Jesus, he found the way to eternal life it was through having faith in Jesus.
Jesus said to Thomas,” Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.
Our country is now teeming with people who are sceptical of the Christ’s resurrection and who Jesus is.
I can only speak from my own experience, over the last few months I’ve had several conversations with people most acknowledge that there is a God, but they are sceptical about Jesus’ place in that context of being both Messiah and God.
 “How do you know that Jesus is who he says he is? The answer is to find out for ourselves.
One way is by taking the words from the Bible and talk to God and say a prayer, you talk to God as you would a friend. 
The other week I was asked, ‘Did Jesus exist at all?’ I replied, that a highly regarded historian Josephus wrote about Jesus and of the claim of his followers to the resurrection of Jesus.
Another common assumption is that all religions believe in the same God. This is not true. Other religions put God on a higher plane, on a pedestal, out of reach of humanity.
Whereas, the Christian faith we know that Jesus has made it possible for us to know God like Thomas that Jesus is both our Lord and our God, and its through faith we have been blessed we who haven’t seen but believe.
Prayer
Lord, may anyone here this morning who have doubts about the resurrection come to you in faith and by God’s grace may they find their Lord and God removing any doubts they may have.

 

In Jesus name.
dark night of the soul, flesh and bones Jesus blood had been poured out at his crucifixion, I AM the resurrection and the life, new creation, Noel Proctor, revival in strangeways prison

The Messiah’s Secret – Jesus is Alive

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The Messiah’s Secret – Jesus is Alive
 Last  week  Brenda gave me a book to read ‘Light Through Prison Bars’ It is about Rev Noel Proctor who had headed up Strangeways Prison Manchester Chaplaincy Team in the 80’s and 90’s.
There had been a rival in Strangeways Prison during the 1980’s hundreds of men had come to faith in Christ.”The revival was the talk of the Christian community in the North West. Christians around the region supported the work with house groups and by receiving a Prison Prayer Letter which Brenda still hands out each month.
In John’s first letter “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. “And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure,”  
The devil had been defeated as the Lord transformed the lives of the prisoners, and they were leaving prison walking in the light of knowing Jesus in a personal way and bearing witness through the change that had taken place within their lives, a high percentage didn’t re-offend. 1 John 3: 8, 9.
However, this was contested by the devil through the Strangeways Prison riot that took place on April 1st 1990. I remember seeing it on TV prisoners throwing slates off roofs and fires had been started in the buildings. It was the worst prison disturbance in the history of prisons.The Governor said that it had been an explosion of evil.
Noel saw all his work come to a sudden devastating end.
In his book he wrote, “A heavy weight was lodged around his heart, he felt guilty, constantly he asked himself whether there was anything he could have done on that morning of April 1st to stop the riot. He felt empty, as if nothing could reach him, he questioned his faith including the resurrection, shortly after the riot his wife died.
A friend told him that that he was experiencing the crucifixion of Jesus.
When Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, he was deserted by his disciples, they all fled, in fear of being arrested. Jesus went on to experience spiritual separation from God his Father.  He was heard to cry out, “My God, my God why have you forsaken me.” Matthew 27: 46.
The cross and the Christian intertwine, it’s were Jesus spoke of his followers taking up their cross daily and that means at some point on our journey, we will know the suffering of Christ in various ways. However, it’s important to say that there are more times of rejoicing than times of suffering.
One of those ways Noel was experiencing his ‘emptiness’ were the presence of the Lord seemed to have totally disappeared.
Other Christians who have experienced the same: C. S Lewis it was after his wife died, Mother Teresa at the founding of her missionary work and Martin Luther when he was a young monk, God allowed this to happen to them like Noel for a reason.
You may know someone who is going through a similar situation and the Lord wants you to show them Jesus going through it as well, so he knows how they feel.
In the book ‘The Inward Journey’ by Gene Edwards
Gene described how it feels to be completely empty of the Lord’s presence, “It’s not a dry period, nor is it having a hard time, it’s not personal illness or persecution and it’s not that you have forsaken the Lord, nor has there been any reason that should cause the Holy Spirit not to be there. It‘s as if God has walked off.  
But take heart he writes, no believer has gone through what some call the ‘dark night of the soul’ without one day coming into the joy and surprise of a bright morning of resurrection.”                         
Noel’s resurrection
Noel went to visit a former prisoner in hospital who he had known for a number of years. This man had made comments in the past to Noel saying that the resurrection was a fairy story. That day he shared with Noel his ‘near death’ experience where he saw a light in the darkness, in his thoughts he struggled to get to the light, when he was almost there about to enter into the light when a door slammed shut and the light was no longer there. At that point he woke up, having been resuscitated. He confirmed to Noel that he is now a Christian and believes in the resurrection, life after death.                   
The Lord used this former prisoner’s witness to give Noel a fresh touch of the Holy Spirit, his faith had been strengthened by what he had suffered and he rejoiced in the hope of the resurrection.                                       
Two types of resurrection
Coming to faith in Christ
Firstly for an increasing number of people who have no Church background, it’s when they hear about Jesus  and turning to Jesus in faith repent, and die to sin, they are raised up with Jesus in his resurrection into newness of life.  Colossians 2: 12
Secondly- when Jesus calls out his church we receive our resurrected body
Luke’s account gives us some insight into Jesus’ resurrected body. 
His body had substance, whereas, a spirit does not have flesh and bones. Jesus showed them the holes where the nails had pierced his hands and his feet. He wanted them to touch his hands were the nails had been.
One of the differences; no blood in his risen body, we would say flesh and blood, but Jesus said, flesh and bones. His body had no blood, his heart had been speared by the centurion, so to touch his flesh must have been cold.
He asked for their food to eat, grilled fish and he ate it before them. In all probability he did this for his disciples benefit, so they could identify with their own body and not a spirit.
Another difference was that his body could pass through walls and disappear from human view in a moment. Jesus resurrected body the first of a new creation. 
Luke 24: 36-43. 2 Corinthians 5: 15-17                                                                                                                                                                       
Paul explained the resurrection to the Corinthians by the example of some creatures have fur, others scales, feathers, shells, celestial and terrestrial etc 1 Corinthians 15: 39, 40
We will receive our resurrected body when Jesus calls out the Church  
You can’t destroy matter so God will gather the dust, every fragment of our natural body bringing it together and it’s transform into an imperishable resurrected body.
Fulfilling Jesus words, “I AM the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me though they die yet shall they live,
This is where the dead in Christ  rise together with  those who are alive at the time of the call, as Jesus said, “and who ever lives and believes in me shall never die”  John 11: 25, 26.

 

Paul confirming Jesus’ word in his first letter to the Thessalonians,There will be a meeting in the air Christians those who have died in Christ, and those who are living on the earth. Our bodies will be changed at the twinkling of an eye. The whole church meeting with Jesus in the air. 1 Thessalonians 4: 16, 17.
deny one's self and take up your cross, For what will happen when the wood is green, olive tree, Simon of Cyrene, the wooden cross, tree of knowledge of good and evil, tree of life

The Messiah’s Secret – Jesus and the Cross

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The Messiah’s Secret – Jesus and the Cross

 

Above a cross made out of olive wood.

Short study Luke 23: 26 – 31
Trees.
In the book of Genesis Moses inspired by the Holy Spirit placed the creation of humanity in a garden, with trees being a focal point: the tree of knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life. Genesis 2: 9   

The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. 
Adam and Eve were instructed by God not to eat anything from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but they fell into temptation by the devil and ate some fruit from this tree, as a result they became separated from God.” Genesis 3: 1-7

 

The tree of life
Adam and Eve were sent out of the Garden of Eden. God placed a Cherubim at the entrance to the garden bearing a flaming sword, he blocked the way to the tree of life. Genesis 3: 24. 

The wooden cross
Jerusalem must have very busy with those who had travelled from far and wide to celebrate the ‘Passover.’   After Jesus had been condemned by the crowd outside the Praetorium (Judgement Hall) he was scourged mocked by the soldiers and led away to be crucified. However, Jesus was so weak by the violence against his body that Simon of Cyrene was seized by a soldier to carry the cross for him.
Simon had just arrived in Jerusalem coming from Cyrene the capital of Libya.  Mark wrote that he was the father of Alexander and Rufus. Mark 6: 6-15. 15: 21. Acts 4: 27  

Above Jesus started out carrying his cross until Simon carried it for him..         
When Jesus spoke about his suffering, death and being raised on the third day, he went on to say that anyone following him should deny himself daily taking up their cross. Luke 9: 22, 23.
Simon of Cyrene did it literally he followed behind Jesus carrying his cross. We don’t know how Simon felt about carrying Jesus’ cross, but Mark wrote that his two sons became disciples, so it would seem quite likely that Simon became a follower of Jesus.
For us today denying ourselves to carry our cross daily for some sadly, tragically means being persecuted, imprisoned or losing their earthly life. For others it means putting Jesus first and foremost on an everyday basis in serving Christ in practical ways as well as prayer, study and witnessing about Jesus. Some Christians are called to missionary work abroad and that can be really hard to do, leaving family and friends behind.
At that point Jesus summoned the energy to speak to the wailing women who followed them.
 “Daughters of Jerusalem do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are coming when they will say, “Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never gave suck. Then they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us and to the hills “Cover us.”
Jesus had earlier on his triumphant entry into Jerusalem wept over Jerusalem as he foresaw its destruction, so here he reiterated his earlier prophecy in telling them that their tears for him would not change what was to befall Jerusalem. Luke 19: 41-44.
“For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry.”
“For if they do this when the wood is green,” Jesus in the midst of the living dead, having come under man’s fallen nature and judgement from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
 “What will happen when it is dry.” After he died, he found life from the dryness of the tomb  God resurrected Jesus from the dead, would the people believe when they heard? 
Jesus the green olive tree that was to be felled because of the sin of Israel also bearing mankind’s sin.

The Olive tree is spoken of as a green tree.
“The Lord once called you, (Israel) A green olive tree, fair and goodly fruit: but with the roar of a great tempest he will set fire to it, and its branches will be consumed.”Jeremiah 11: 16
Jesus bore the sin of the nation and took the punishment under law.
The prophecy to Ezekiel: “Prophesy against the forest of the Negeb, say to the forest of Negeb hear the word of the Lord, “Thus says the Lord God, behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree in you and every dry tree. The blazing flame shall not be quenched.” Ezekiel 20 : 45-48.  A fire within them speaks of judgement
“And if a man committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is accursed by God; you shall not defile your land which the Lord your God gives you for an inheritance.” Deuteronomy 21: 22, 23.
Jesus fulfilled every law, he was taken down from the cross before nightfall by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus and buried the same day.
“What will happen when it is dry?” After he died, God resurrected Jesus from the dead, would the people believe when they heard?  God raised Jesus bodily from the dead, his resurrected body the new living temple, God in Christ.
God left his temple at Jerusalem before the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD
When the veil in the temple was torn in two the way to the tree of life was made open. Genesis 3: 5, 24. Matthew 27: 51. 
Below the empty cross

Jesus the Tree of Life. 
The way into God’s Kingdom is through Jesus’ death and resurrection, prophesied in the Hebrew Scriptures through an incident on the Israelites way to the Promised Land, fulfilled in the New Testament by Jesus.  
The Israelites journeyed towards the Promised Land, they were desperate for water, they came upon a pool of water, but it was undrinkable, as it was bitter. The people complained, so Moses prayed to the Lord and the Lord showed him a tree and he threw the tree into the water. As a result the water was sweet and drinkable. Exodus 15: 22-25.

The bitter water representing sin.
The tree- living we died (representing eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.)
The cross – dead find life (all of humanity’s sin borne by Jesus on the cross, the way is opened to the tree of life)
The sweet water- representing sins forgiven, resurrection and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

How amazing God is, the revealed plan of salvation as the Israelites journeyed towards the Promised Land. 
Below: Olive Tree

St Paul wrote that the natural branches (Israel) broken off because of unbelief. The Messiah’s calling was to the nation first and then to the world. The Gentiles have been grafted into the olive tree by faith in Jesus. Romans 11: 24.

The Messiah’s Secret
At Pentecost and after was the time for the nation’s leaders to accept Jesus as their Messiah. Not before Jesus’ death as I was brought up to believe. In 1996 the Lord revealed to me that it was impossible for the nation of Israel to receive, install Jesus as their King and Messiah before his death, resurrection and ascension. Jesus had to die for the sins of the whole world and universe, all things cleansed by the blood of the lamb of God, including the devil who held the power over death was defeated by the blood of Jesus.

Three witnesses, the Spirit, the water, and the blood.
John the Apostles wrote in his first letter. “This is Jesus who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the witness, because the Spirit is the truth. There are three witnesses, the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree. 1 John 5: 6, 7.
Water is something that we all use for cleansing purposes and when we add a cleansing agent to it, stubborn stains, dirt and germs are removed. 
So when we think of Jesus’ baptism: the water together with the cleansing agent the blood of Jesus applied to our heart, we can understand the implications, it removes sin and its causes, things that spoil our relationship with God and other people too; selfishness, pride, envy, covetousness, rivalry, deceit, fornication, slander, lies, licentiousness and theft. 
So the water of the Holy Spirit and Jesus’ blood cleanses us. We are made alive by Holy Spirit, a new creation, born again into the kingdom of God. Having received from God the Holy Spirit, one experience is worth a thousand arguments.

 
The Real Jesus.
Jesus is risen, he is alive, and he is real today. Lives are transformed by him as the Trinity indwells the believer, the Holy Spirit reveals Jesus to us. 
God is Spirit; God is love, love that is patient, kind, forgiving, just, tolerant, truthful, peaceable, fervent, generous, grateful, thankful, joyful, fun and faithful. Wise and discerning in knowing when to speak and when to be silent. Wanting the best for others and to be content in every circumstance.
 
Given grace to be yourself and at peace.
When we come to Jesus in faith he accepts us as we are. His indwelling presence changes the way we think and our attitudes, this takes effect immediately, but continues over many years as the Holy Spirit gives us fresh insight about ourselves.
 
The Holy Spirit reveals Jesus through the written word, especially his promises, here are four: “Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find, knock, and it will be opened to you. . . . .  how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11: 9-13.
The Holy Spirit is at work in the world and often at work in people’s lives without a person knowing him personally. He enables an unbeliever to be touched with the words about Jesus, in order to give every person the opportunity to make a choice to accept Jesus as their personal Saviour.
 
“All things are possible to them that believe.”Mark 9: 23. 
A friend reminded me of this when I was sharing this word yesterday. I was grateful for his word to me, he said, “Noah knew the dove had found dry land when it brought back an olive leaf to him, it’s like when we reach out to people with an olive branch telling them about Jesus.
We speak of giving or receiving an olive branch as a token of forgiveness, of peace. Genesis 8: 11.
 
Prayer
Heavenly Father, may the leaders of nations in their conversations with each other have opportunities today to hand an olive branch of forgiveness and peace and may we too have opportunities to do the same. Help us to serve you with willing hearts and to put into practise carrying our cross today. In Jesus’ name.
                                                                                                      
criticism, God keeps his word, Jesus keeps his word, let my people go, Mary and Martha, profile of Judas Iscariot, Psalm 23, set free from drug addiction

The Messiah’s Secret – Bethany

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The  Messiah’s  Secret – Bethany
 
 Evening  Lectionary: Exodus 6: 2-13.  John 12: 1-8 

 
Someone wrote – “Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish one’s growth without destroying one’s roots.”  

In our reading in Exodus Moses was being criticised unfairly as he sought to be obedient to God’s will by the people of Israel for being unsuccessful when he went with God’s message to Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’” Pharaoh refused to let the people go, instead he made the people work harder by having to go and collect the straw to make the same number of bricks.
The people complained to Moses concerning their suffering, but God was in their suffering, and we know now that God had to fulfil his purposes through Moses and Aaron, God would be victorious over the gods and magicians of Egypt, eventually releasing the people of Israel as a nation from their bondage to Pharaoh.
 
At last Tuesday’s Lent Bible Study we were discussing suffering “Why does God allow suffering? We looked at John 11 were Mary and Martha had sent for Jesus when their brother Lazarus was seriously ill, but he did not come and they must have wondered why, but in the purposes of God it was intended that Jesus would raise Lazarus from the dead.
 
In our own situations we may find ourselves being criticised for not responding to someone’s need, there may have been a misunderstanding or forgetting to pick someone up, a mix up of some kind and as a result causing suffering. We may be doing too much and as a result a gentle word to point out that there is a need to re-asses their situation and looking carefully at their commitment in other areas of their ministry, and by prayer handing everything to the Lord in faith believing that his will be done.  
 
So as we picture the scene at Bethany while Mary was doing this beautiful act of anointing Jesus. The moment was interrupted by Judas who criticised Mary he was annoyed that she had spent so much on the anointment, saying, “Why was this ointment not sold for 300 danarii and given to the poor.”
 
Judas Iscariot
Looking at the character of Judas he had spent three years in ministry with Jesus. Along with the other disciples he had taken out the message of the coming kingdom and he took on the responsibility to manage their finances.
However, John informs us in this reading that Judas was not to be trusted because he stole from their money box. How hard it must have been for Jesus to go through his ministry with a disciple who was not trustworthy.  

We know now that Jesus appointed Judas as one of his twelve disciples knowing that he would betray him, therefore perhaps we should not be surprised when John wrote “Not that he cared for the poor.” He was insincere, he betrayed Jesus for money. Judas was not close to Jesus, he was not there at the transfiguration.
The interpretation of the parables did not have any effect on him, 
 
Jesus I am sure loved Judas with an unconditional love and continually forgave him, turning his cheek, putting into practise his own words. After Judas made these remarks to Mary, Jesus diffused Judas’ criticism of her by saying, “Leave her alone, and let her keep it for the day of my burial.” 
 
In Matthew’s account Mary anointed both his head and his feet, and he remembered more of Jesus’ words “She has done a beautiful thing to me,” How privileged Mary was to do something personally for Jesus.
 
Mary of Bethany fulfilled the Psalmist prophecy concerning the plan of God in anointing Jesus for his burial. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body in order to bury him in a tomb.  Joseph and Nicodemus embalmed Jesus’ body in the tomb.
 
The Psalmist’ prophecy 23: 4,5 These verses amazingly speak of that night at Bethany.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me; thy rod and staff are a comfort to me; Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows.”  RSV Bible 
 
Six days before Jesus’ death on the cross he was comforted by his friends at Bethany over a meal, where one of them was his enemy Judas. Mary anointed Jesus head and his feet with oil, anointing him for his burial. His cup overflowed with kindness towards Mary. 
 
Just as God fulfilled his promise to Moses
In Exodus 6 verses 2-13 I counted seven ‘I will’ as God promised to fulfil his covenant and set them free. Jesus accomplished his task in his death and resurrection, fulfilling his Father’s will in setting us free from our bondage’s so that we might live a Christ-like life.
 
Set Free from the bondage of drugs. 
At my sister’s church a former addict James met Jesus out walking his dog, he was preparing to end his life, when Jesus appeared to him in the park in the form of a brilliant light and he saw on the ground a rope going across the footpath and he heard the words, “Cross over that rope and you’re in eternal hell.” His thought changed, his addiction to drugs left him in an instant and today he is completely free and today he teaches and preaches the Bible.
 
Today the Lord is in every situation that we face and he will fulfil his purposes we may find out in due course or at some later date look back and see we need not have worried as the Lord had been directing our path.                                                                                                          
Before Abraham was, children of Abraham, discernment, I AM, if a person keeps my words they shall never see death, seed of Abraham, two criminals one on his left and one on his right

The Messiah’s Secret – Discernment

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The  Messiah’s  Secret – Discernment. 
Evening Lectionary 
Hebrews 11: 1-3, 8-16. John 8: 51-59

The Bishop of Bolton Chris Edmondson  at a Readers Quiet Morning(2009) gave a talk on ‘Discernment’. He gave guidance through 10 points, I’ll read one of them: Learn to discern the difference between ‘the world’, ‘the flesh’ and ‘the devil’ so that the devil does not get ‘credit’ for what is a purely human phenomenon.

 What is the human phenomenon?
I have worshipped at churches where you were not encouraged to say anything other than the liturgy.
‘Church Chuckles’ “I would be grateful if the member of the congregation who keeps calling out, “Praise the Lord!” would kindly cease and remember that this is the house of God.” 
Friendly banter, “The church members were meeting to discuss raising money to repair the roof. A wealthy member stood up and said he would donate £5. As he sat down a bit of ceiling fell on his head. He rose again and said he would make it £50. Another member was heard to say, ”Hit him again, Lord.”  
‘Church Chuckles’  by Phil and Mary Mason. Publishers Monarch. 

In John Chapter 8 a heated conversation took place between Jesus and the Jews in the temple at Jerusalem. Jesus made a distinction between the spirituality of those born of the seed of Abraham and those born the children of Abraham.
The people who were talking with Jesus he described as being of the seed of Abraham they were Abraham’s descendants, having the covenants and promises, but they were in bondage, under the influence of the devil. 
Whereas, the children of Abraham their spirituality would reflect the fellowship that Abraham had with God. Abraham sought to hear from God and he acted in faith and obedience. The writer of Hebrews wrote, “By faith Abraham went to Promised Land not knowing where he was going, and when he settled in Canaan he looked for a heavenly city whose maker and builder was God. 

Discernment  
Jesus said that those who were the children of Abraham would have listened and heard God in his words and received him in faith, they would have loved him  
Those listening their response indicated they neither discerned or heard what he said.  This fulfilled what Isaiah wrote “Go to this people and say, You shall indeed hear but not understand, and you shall indeed see but never perceive. For this people’s heart has grown dull’ and their ears are heavy with hearing, and their eyes have closed; lest they should receive with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn for me to heal them.” Isaiah 6: 9,10.  

The Lent Course the study of Mark 10: 32 – 45. 

Jesus told his disciples that he was going to be killed at Jerusalem and after three days be raised from the dead. They did not hear what he was saying, instead they picked up the word ‘kingdom’ and asked who should sit on his left and right in his kingdom. They were coming from the seed of Abraham the flesh, pride, self determined life, position and power. Jesus said are you able to drink the cup of his baptism? 
They responded by saying, ”Yes, we are able.” They followed him on the journey to the cross, where two criminals where crucified with him, one on his right and the other on his left. This is what Jesus was pointing to when James and John would be baptised into Jesus’ death and resurrection, crucified with Christ in dying to self determined lives, seeking the lowest place, not seeking positions of power and authority, instead “not my will, but Jesus your will be done. 
James and John suffered for their faith:  James was killed by Herod and John was exiled to Pathos. Many Christians are suffering today in Iraq, Egypt, Syria and Nigeria. Barnabas Aid asks us to pray today for the people of Eastern Nigeria who are being persecuted by Boko Haran.
  

We discussed the possibility that, “Surely having heard from Jesus of his death they would understand.” But in other scriptures Luke and Matthew’s Gospel they confirmed that the disciples could not grasp what Jesus was saying, “And taking the twelve, he said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written of the Son of man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon; they will scourge him and kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” But they understood none of these things; this saying was hid from them, and they did not grasp what was said.” Luke 18:31- 34 
After God had revealed to Peter that Jesus was the Christ, Jesus said that he was going to suffer and the third day rise from the dead. Peter said, “God forbid it Lord! This should never happen to you!”  Matthew 16: 13 – 23.

The prophesies in the scriptures were hidden by God  
Jesus’ parables as well as many of the prophesies were not discerned by the disciples as well as the Jews. Like the prophecy where Abraham took his son Isaac and laid him upon the altar and God provided the ram for sacrifice. Fulfilled in Jesus. 
Genesis 22 Isaiah 53. Hebrews 11: 17-19.  

Jesus said, “Abraham ‘Saw Christ’s day and rejoiced’.  Abraham rejoiced to see Jesus as he probably discerned that God had in mind of making an offering of his Son to suffer and die to make the final sacrifice for sin. 

Jesus words John 8: 51, “If a person keeps my words, they will never see death.” Christians  are born not of human descent, we are adopted by Jesus to become children of God. Adopted through the promise given to Abraham, therefore we are, inheritors of the kingdom of God.   

Scriptures Revealed. 
On the evening of the day of Jesus’ resurrection when Jesus appeared in the house at Jerusalem where his disciples were gathered and he breathed on his disciples the Holy Spirit and he opened their minds to understand the scriptures that the Christ had to suffer death and be raised up by God on the third day. It was only then was the scriptures realised. Luke 24: 44 – 48.  Some of those scriptures were included  in the Gospels. John 2: 21, 22. 12: 16. Matthew 8: 17  

The Incarnation
Jesus said, “Truly, truly I say to you, or ‘I solemnly declare to you’ “ Before Abraham was, I am.”   
Jesus the word of God clothed in the flesh. John  wrote In the beginning was the word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.”  In his first letter he wrote describing Jesus’ presence among them, “We have handled the word of life.”  

Jesus honoured by God 
In heaven Jesus was honoured by his Father, the lamb that was slain he took the scroll from the right hand of him sitting on the throne. The angels and all the company of heaven said with aloud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honour, glory and blessing.” Revelation 4: 9 Jesus lifted high above all things.  

After Pentecost
Caiaphas the high priest had been given a prophecy from God that one man would die so that the nation would not perish. (be saved.) John 11: 47 – 53. 18: 14.

When at and after Pentecost the disciples witnessed to the resurrection of Jesus and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit prophesied by King David and Joel one would have thought that Caiaphas would have understood that the prophecy God gave him had been fulfilled, that God had hidden from their, the leaders understanding the Messiah’s death so that they would allow it to happen, and that afterwards he would be able to discern the resurrection being true, even though it was contrary to the Sadducee beliefs,  or was it because he was coming from the seed of Abraham.                                                                                  
every word seasoned with salt, flying Bishops, pouring salt into a wound, salt of the earth, Titus Salt, Woman Bishop

The Messiah’s Secret –

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The Messiah’s Secret – Church of England Today in UK

Christians Together Haslingden.

Salt and Light 
Jesus spoke of his followers being salt and light. “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt had lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid.” Matthew 5: 13, 14.

Christian Titus Salt reflected his name’s sake Titus the Greek, he was generous and devout, the salt of the earth, an honest principled man with spiritual integrity. He used his wealth not just to build lots of mills, I believe he thought of the needs of his workforce.
Titus Salt built a town ‘Saltaire’ for his 3,500 workforce. The houses had fresh water, gas lighting and heating and every house had its own outside lavatory. It had its own park, church, school, hospital, library and a whole range of different shops, but he never built a pub,. He was not a Methodist, he was a Congregationalist.

Salt –purifies and preserves.
Light – searches the heart and gives direction. 

Titus  (Greek means) ‘Honoured’ or title of honour’ which is very fitting for this disciple. 

We first hear about Titus in Paul’s letter to the Galatians, Titus accompanied Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem  where they gave an account to the Apostles of the Gentiles receiving the Gospel message. Titus no doubt witnessed his conversion to those gathered at Jerusalem. Galatians 2:1-3, 5.   

Titus was one of a number of disciples who Paul chose to be messengers between the churches. Stephanas, Fortunatus, Archicus and Timothy and several more.  

Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church
In Paul’s letter to the Christians at Corinth we read about the problems: Jewish Christians insisting on Gentiles becoming Jews, also some followed the individual leaders who baptised them. Pagan practices continued: incest and taking each other to court, all kinds of problems. The church in danger of disintegrating, it’s light going out.

Paul sent Timothy with his first letter to Corinth; pouring salt into the wound, his every word seasoned with salt making it clear that their behaviour did not comply with Jesus’ teaching. Paul states that there was no love between them, he goes on to describe the love of God and how it is worked out in practice. However, it made no difference to their situation 1 Corinthians 13:1, 2.   
Eyre and Spottiswoode RSV Bible 
In the concordance it states concerning this situation at Corinth, “Paul made a visit to Corinth hoping to settle the controversy; he met with defeat. Paul sent a another letter in stern and severe terms to Corinth by Titus.”   This letter is not in the New Testament.   2 Corinthians was written after these problems had been resolved.  

Titus’ delivered Paul’s stern and severe letter and stayed with the church at Corinth, he was salt and light by helping them to sort out their problems, subsequently, he reported back to Paul the good news that the church had repented and acknowledged Paul’s teaching. It was very important to the Gentiles that Paul’s  teaching was accepted. We understand that they had repented making peace with their fellow Christians, an amazing turn around. We read about it in 2 Corinthians 7: 6-16.  
Paul wrote in response in 2 Corinthians 4: 5, 6. “For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ, who is the likeness of God. For it is the God who said, “ Let the light shine out of darkness,” The light Jesus’ presence  shining out of the darkness of the world.    
v 6 Jesus, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”
After we heard or read about Jesus and asked him into our heart, his presence was realised, we know the gospels are telling the truth, Jesus did send the Holy Spirit into the world, so all that we can do is to thank the Lord for bringing us from the darkness of this world into his marvellous light. 

Church of England Today in the UK                                                                                   
In Paul’s letter to Titus he gave instructions that the Cretan Christians should submit to authorities both in the church and governments. Many people today like the Cretan church submit to the authority of the church, but underlying that there are Christians who are suffering and need our love and understanding over woman Bishops.

Most of us Anglicans who supported the ordination of women were pleased when 20 years ago the church appointed ‘Flying Bishops’ to help Vicars and lay people work  together to find a way through their problem of accepting women in the vocation of the priesthood by being listened to and the ongoing discussions that took place.
Should the church be complacent now were people are hurting over women being allowed to become Bishops?    
If we choose to say nothing have we lost our saltiness? And how effective are we going to be in the communities that we serve? 

Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for Christians like Titus who are obedient in response to your call to be peacemakers, help us to listen and discuss your word with each other. In Jesus’ name 

Afterwards in the conversations that took place I found out that a number of church study groups are studying ‘Titus.’                                                
from darkness to light, Jesus the light of the world, lighthouse keeper, reflected light, salt and light, Titus, transfiguration

The Messiah’s Secret – The Lighthouse

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The Messiah’s Secret – The Lighthouse

      We heard from two children as to why we have lighthouses: to stop ships from going onto rocks and people getting hurt and from an adult his local knowledge of the lighthouses in Sunderland where they were so important to the shipping. The shipping lanes are busy and the lighthouses navigated the ships safely into the harbour.        
Jesus is the light of the world. In the scene at his transfiguration  I saw Jesus like a lighthouse, his light  showing the way to find God, for people to navigate their way into the Kingdom of God.
A lighthouse is a tower or other type of structure that emits light from a system of lamps and lenses used for shipping to navigate dangerous coastlines and safe entries to harbours.
There are 64 working lighthouses in UK
John Smeaton in 1756 designed his lighthouse modelled on an oak tree, using granite stone blocks; he secured the blocks together using dove tail joints with marble dowels and developed lime mortar that set under water.
Picture of dovetail construction:
Years ago every lighthouse had a lighthouse keeper who kept the light operating saving many thousands of lives.
The Church is God’s lighthouse
The light the Good News about Jesus reaches out to save people from their lives being shipwrecked by the darkness.
The stones each one shaped to fit together and the cement that went between each stone reminds me of Jesus body the church. The Holy Spirit’s ministry shaping our lives acting on the word and the blood of Jesus running through the veins of his body the church giving life.
 The reflectors behind the light also had a magnifier which speaks of the light of the Church  being magnified by the number of Christians in the world. 

2 Corinthians 4: 3-6. Mark 9: 2-9

John Smeaton designed the shape of the tower so that it tapered as it grew in height, this allowed the waves to dissipate on impact with the walls. This construction was very strong and could withstand high winds a powerful waves. Christ’s church is so constructed that the principalities and powers can not destroy it.

Every Lighthouse had a lighthouse keeper who kept the light operating. It was an important job and probably a lonely one. Nowadays, solar power is used to keep the light shining. Lighthouses has saved thousands of lives.

In our Gospel reading of the transfiguration Jesus stood with Moses and Elijah his appearance was described as dazzling. Matthew in his account of Transfiguration wrote that Jesus’ face shone. In Luke’s account the three disciples John, James and Peter, described Moses and Elijah as being seen in the glory of the Lord, Jesus’ glory was reflected on them.

In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians Chapter 3 verse 13 God’s glory was reflected on Moses, so much so that the people could not look at him so he had to put a veil over his face. Paul used this image of the veil, to get across his message that the law was veiled, the veil was removed by Jesus. Through the law every person could not have a personal relationship with God.                

Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4: 5, “For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ, who is the likeness of God. For it is the God who said, “ Let the light shine out of darkness,” The light Jesus’ presence  shining out of the darkness of the world. v 6Jesus, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” 
After we heard or read about Jesus and asked him into our heart, his presence was realised, so all that we can do is to thank the Lord for bringing us from the darkness of this world into his marvellous light.
All of us personally are shining in the reflected light of his glory.
The light of God’s love is seen in a Christians eyes, the eye being the window of our soul. Also on rare occasions seeing Christ’s glory shining out from the whole face of a Christian.

Added afterwards (I’ve seen in five people Christ’s glory shining out from them: a young man sitting at a table I asked him what he was reading he said he was reading his Bible his face shone, a lady came to my market stall as soon as she witnessed her faith, her face literally lit up. Across a well lit room I saw a man with a halo around his head and the word love in the halo and Jim Wilkinson preaching at a Holly Bush meeting his face shining.)                                                                                          
2 Corinthians 3: 18 “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”                                    

The lighthouse conveys a message. 
It’s light gives warning that there are rocks near the surface, a danger to shipping. The beam of light can be seen across the sea for over twenty miles.


There is an old story of a lighthouse keeper who received his new supply of oil once a month to keep the light burning. Not being far from the shore, one night a woman came begged him for some oil to keep her family warm, another needed some oil for his lamp, another to lubricate a wheel. The lighthouse keeper tried to please everyone and gave them the oil. Towards the end of the month his oil was very low, soon it was gone and the light went out. 
That night several ships were wrecked and lives were lost. When the authorities investigated, to his excuses and pleading their reply was, “You were given the oil for one purpose to keep the light burning.”
The people in the story had problems : the woman needed oil to keep her family warm etc The Corinthian Church had problems and its light was in danger of going out.
Christian Jews were trying to enforce Judaism on to Gentile believers. Paul’s had taught that the wall or veil of division between Jew and Gentile had been removed. Paul’s teaching created opposition against him.                                                                                                    
And in our reading verse 4 the gospel was also veiled due to some of its members compromising the word of God by continuing to follow the god of this world, Regardless of Paul’s letter some were continuing to practice their former pagan lifestyles and taking each other to court

Jesus spoke of his followers being salt and light. 
Salt disinfects, purifies – light  searches the heart.

 Paul’s first letter his words were seasoned with salt and light. 1 Corinthians 13: 1, 2. Paul told them that they had shown no love. Paul’s first letter was taken by Timothy to the Corinthian church, but it was to no avail, even after Paul had been to Corinth to sort out the church he had failed. In my Bible concordance it reads: “Paul made a visit to Corinth hoping to settle the controversy; he met with defeat. Paul sent a third letter in stern and severe terms to Corinth by Titus.”( this third letter must have been written before 2 Corinthians)                                                                     

In our recent study of Titus on Tuesday, we found that Titus’ delivered Paul’s letter and stayed with the church at Corinth, he was salt and light by helping them to sort out their problems subsequently he reported back to Paul the good news that the church had repented and acknowledged Paul’s teaching. 2 Corinthians 7: 6-16. 8: 23.
Today we are called to be salt and light in the world: to think before we speak and to coin a phrase that Duncan uses, “What would Jesus say?” We are to walk in the light of the gospel, the gospel having the power to illuminate the darkest of places and the grace to restore, to bring Christ’s healing touch.  
Jesus the lighthouse has saved millions of peoples lives from the death of eternal darkness, navigating them into the kingdom of God.

God our Father and all heaven rejoices is to see Jesus’ glory, his light dwelling in our hearts through faith in him and for us to see Jesus in each other, his reflected glory. Amen.

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judgement seat of Christ, Refining fire, revival starts with repentance, Simeon and Anna, watch

The Messiah’s Secret – The Refining Fire

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The Messiah’s Secret – The Refining Fire

Evening  Lectionary Luke 2: 22-40. Malachi 3: 1-5. RSV Bible     
Nowadays, many messages are sent by text, I have put three examples on the sheet with the code to interpret the message. The phone is used as the means to communicate the message. 

Example: ‘Repent, 4 the KOH is at hnd.’

John Baptist was fulfilling Malachi’s prophecy 
John the Baptist is recognised by the church as being the messenger who communicated the message from God in preparation for the coming of the Christ “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3: 2. 
John Baptist pointed to the Christ who would baptise them with the Holy Spirit and the unquenchable fire. Luke 3: 16, 17.

 Malachi used the term, ‘the refiner’s fire.

The processes that purifies precious metals: The smelting process separates gold from the rock. The refining process vaporises other metals that has clung to the gold particles they are burnt off as gases to produce pure gold. 


Malachi is using the ‘Refiners Fire’ in connection with judgement. He writes, “But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?” judgement begins at the house of God. He spoke of the refining of the Levites, in the previous chapters we read of the offerings that were brought had blemishes, they should have not been accepted by the Levites as offerings only the best from their flocks would be acceptable to God.  

I am sure Jesus alluded to Malachi’s prophecy when he said, “I came to cast a fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptised with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished!” Luke 12: 49, 50. 

’The fire that had not yet been kindled,’ the fire of judgement that both John the Baptist and Malachi prophesied.  In the verse he said that he was constrained, so what held back before he would bring in the unquenchable, refiners fire?

Two things:
1. When he saw the hypocrisy of the religious leaders of his day. In his parable of the ‘Good Samaritan it reflects what he thought of the Levite who turned away instead of helping the injured man on the road to Jericho. Luke 10: 32. 

2. When he said that he was constrained because of fulfilling the baptism of his death, resurrection and ascension.

Jesus like pure gold was separated from the sin that he bore on the cross in his death by his resurrection. The sin that caused him to cry out, “My God , my God why have you forsaken me? It’s the only time in conversation with God were he did not call God his Father. We know he was sinless, therefore a fire of judgement could not touch him, but he had to die laying down his life to bear the sins of the world.  
So Jesus in himself was free from sin, he was innocent, and therefore, God raised him from the dead, the offering of himself which was acceptable to God.  

If God did not spare his Son, then no one is spared from refining fire. 

St Paul  in his letter to the Corinthians wrote, when Jesus calls out the church, the body of Christ, all Christians come before the judgement seat of Christ, not for punishment but for rewards. 1 Corinthians 3: 11-15.  2 Corinthians 5: 10 Romans 14: 8-12.  
Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life; he does not come into judgement, but has passed from death to life.” John 5: 24 
Christians born into the kingdom of God are purified from original sin and all past sin up to accepting Jesus as Saviour. 
Afterwards when we fall into sin and repent Jesus forgives us. Before we became a Christian sin and guilt had kept a continuous hold on our heart, weighing us down and oppressing the soul. Through faith and grace in Christ our ongoing repentance and receiving forgiveness for sin, sin has no dominion over us, no longer a slave to sin. Paul in letter to Titus 2: 14 wrote, “For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world, awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own, who are zealous for good deeds.” 

Every Christian goes through the refining fire 
Jesus’ refining fire will separate our oneness with Christ from where we have lapsed into working out our faith by doing things for Christ in our own strength, depicted as: wood, stubble and hay these are burnt up.                                                                                       
Malachi spoke of the Messiah coming suddenly to the temple
The Messiah will come without warning. However, the church has been given warning of his coming, like Simeon and Anna in Jesus’ day who were watching out for the Messiah, Luke 3: 15. 
They both in turn recognised that the baby Jesus was the promised Saviour                                                                                                            
Jesus spoke of his unannounced return to his disciples they should be found watching and ready to receive him. “Lest he come suddenly, and find you asleep. And what I say to you, I say to all; Watch.”  Mark 13: 32-37 Whereas the world will not be ready to receive him.  

Last September we had a Bible Study Day at Scargill House Kettlewell, Yorkshire we watched a clip from a Christian film were it portrait  Malachi, Jesus, Joel and Zechariah’s prophecy that has yet to be fulfilled,  the sun and the moon not giving any light, and the turmoil that followed. This takes place after the church has been called out 1(Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. 1 Thess 1: 10)and after the period of the tribulation then the Lord comes.

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken; then will appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory;”  Matthew 24: 29, 30.

The church and all the armies of heaven return with Jesus.                

Zechariah prophesied, “On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives which lies before Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley; so that half of the Mount shall withdraw northward, and half southward. And the valley of my mountains shall be stopped up, for the valley of the mountains shall touch the side of it and you shall flee as you fled from Uzziah K Judah. Then the Lord your God will come, and all the holy ones with him.” Zechariah 14: 4, 5.


Christian message for today Repent for the Kingdom of God is coming soon, these Biblical prophesies will be fulfilled.

One of the hymns we sang from Mission Praise 587 
“Search me, O God and know my heart today; try me, O Lord, and know my thoughts I pray see if there be some wicked way in me, cleanse me from every sin and set me free. 
I praise thee Lord, for cleansing me from sin; fulfil thy word, and make me pure within; fill me with fire, where I once burned with shame, grant my desire to magnify thy name.
Lord, take my life, and make it wholly thine; fill my pure heart with thy great love divine; take all my will, my passion, self and pride; I now surrender – Lord, in me abide.
O Holy Ghost, revival comes from thee; send a revival – start the work in me: Thy word declares thou wilt supply our need; for blessings now, O Lord, I humbly plead.” 
J Ewin Orr.

After the service a discussion took place. 
“Dorothy, it says in the Creed, ‘He shall come to judge both the quick and the dead’ so we all come before Christ for judgement.” Matthew 25: 31 – 46.

My response, “There are those who become Christians during the tribulation and die (Revelation 7: 14) and there are Christians who are alive after Jesus returns with all the company of heaven. Both the living and the dead coming before the throne of Christ for judgement.Matthew 25: 31-46
Jesus reigns on the earth for a 1,000 years after that time John records that the devil will be released again into the world for a period of time. It is followed by where the dead are judged before the white throne as the books are opened. Revelation 20: 1-15.  

Go to: The Messiah’s Secret – Fire of God

By Dorothy Newton