PENTECOST • 25

Who is Jesus and what is he like?

SONGS FOR PRAYER

SET PRAYER

Psalm 46
God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
    God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
    he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
    how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. 

reading for: Tuesday Night, 15 November

Luke 23:33-43

Jesus is the crucified and risen King

  • READ

    Our reading for today is Luke's description of the crucifixion. Luke describes Jesus's crucifixion on the cross. Jesus was being led away to be crucified, with Simon of Cyrene helping Jesus to carry the cross. (Luke 23:26)

    Luke 22:32-34

    Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments.

    Luke tells us that Jesus was crucified with two criminals beside him, one on his right and one on his left, at this place called the skull. Crucifixion was a terrible punishment in the roman world, and it was not even used for roman citizens. It was a punishment that caused lots of pain, and it was hard even to speak. How did Jesus respond to those who inflicted on him such intense suffering? Jesus asked his Father to forgive them, for they did not know what they were doing. Jesus was not asking God to send legions of angels to rescue him, or to destroy his persecutors but he was asking the Father to forgive those who crucified him. As Jesus was uttering these words of forgiveness, the crowd was mocking Jesus.

    Luke 23:38:43

    There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews." One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise."

    Luke tells us that one of the criminals railed at him, asking for Jesus to save them in a mocking tone. The other criminal rebuked him and told him they deserved this punishment as criminals, but Jesus did not deserve it as he had done nothing wrong. He then asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus comes into his kingdom. Jesus declared that this criminal will be with him in paradise today.

  • REFLECT

    Who is Jesus and what is he like? This passage tells us that Jesus is the one that is crucified on the cross. He is the one that three days later will rise again from the dead. He is the one who is with the criminal in paradise. Jesus is the one who forgives and asks his Father to forgive us.

    The criminal Jesus declared would be with him that day in paradise was a hardened criminal. One can imagine what kind of horrendous things he had done. This criminal felt that he deserved the punishment of crucifixion. How did Jesus respond to him? Jesus did not say suffer in hell for 1000 years before you can be with me. Jesus promised this criminal would be with him in paradise that very day.

    Let us reflect on the words of Jesus's prayer to the Father, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Many people have shouted for him to be crucified. It was our sins that led him to crucifixion. Jesus asked his Father to forgive us for we know not what we do.

    Jesus is the crucified and risen King who delights in love and forgiveness. This is what Jesus is like. Let us not doubt the love of God through Jesus and come to him.

reading for: Wednesday Night, 16 November

Jeremiah 23:1-6

Jesus is the righteous King

  • READ

In the time of Jeremiah, God's people in Israel and Judah were not in a good place. The leaders of Judah were seen as shepherds to the people. We can say that their role as leaders had a religious dimension, since these leaders represented God to the people. They were considered God’s anointed ones, called to lead in God’s name and on God’s behalf, although God was the one true Shepherd of the people. However, instead, these leaders did not follow God or care for the people, and the people, like sheep were being scattered.

Jeremiah 23:1-2

"Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!" declares the LORD. Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: "You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the LORD.

The Lord pronounced judgment on these shepherds of the people because they were the ones who destroy God's sheep. They did not care for the sheep, so they faced judgment and woe.

Jeremiah 23:3-6

Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the Lord. "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: 'The Lord is our righteousness.'

Jeremiah immediately declares that the Lord will gather the remnant of the flock that these evil shepherds have led astray. They will be brought back to the flock, and the Lord will set shepherds over them who will care for them. Jeremiah declares that the days are coming in which the Lord will raise up for David a righteous Branch and King who shall deal wisely and execute justice and righteousness in the land. That will be when Judah and Israel will be saved and dwell securely.

  • REFLECT

    Jesus is the righteous King that Jeremiah was prophesying about. He is the true Son of David. He is the shepherd that takes care of God's flock.

    Do we see Jesus as the righteous King who is our true shepherd? Do we see ourselves as part of the flock of God? Do we allow him to care for us? Reflect and pray that we can hear the voice of the Lord and respond to him as He leads and cares for us.

reading for: Thursday Night, 17 November

Colossians 1:11-20

Jesus is the image of God

  • READ

    Today's reading is at the beginning of Paul's letter to the church of Colossae. Paul is praying for the church from verses 9 to 12.

    Colossians 1:9-12

    And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

    Paul prays for the church for a couple of things:

    1.      That they may be filled with the knowledge of the will of God in all wisdom and understanding.

    2.      That they may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him.

    3.      That they may bear fruit in every good work and increase in the knowledge of God.

    4.      That they may be strengthened with all power according to his glorious might for all endurance and patience with joy.

    5.      That they may give thanks to the Father who has qualified them to share in the inheritance of the saints.

    Paul then continues in a doxology praising Jesus and letting his readers know who Jesus is.

    Colossians 1:15-20

    He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

    Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. Jesus is the creator of the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. He is the one in whom all things hold together. He is the head of the church. He is the preeminent one. He is the one in whom the fullness of God was pleased to dwell. He is the one that reconciles all things and makes peace by the blood of his cross. This is the Jesus that Paul knows, and he wants his readers to know.

  • REFLECT

    Who is Jesus? Paul knows who Jesus is and tells his readers this is who Jesus is. Paul sees Jesus as the image of the invisible God, the one in whom the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, the firstborn from the dead, among other titles. Simply put, Paul sees Jesus as God, for one cannot hold all these titles without being God.

    Who is Jesus to you? What are some words or titles that you would use to describe Jesus? Share with those in your LG how you would describe Jesus.

    Pray for each other that God will help us to increase in the knowledge of God, and that we will know who Christ is. Repeat and pray the words of the doxology of Paul together with those in your LG.

reading for: Friday Night, 18 November

Psalm 46

Jesus is our refuge and strength

  • READ

    Psalm 46 is a psalm by the sons of Korah. The psalmist sees and declares that God is their refuge and strength.

    Psalm 46:1-11

              1      God is our refuge and strength,

    a very present help in trouble.

              2      Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,

    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

              3      though its waters roar and foam,

    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

              4      There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

    the holy habitation of the Most High.

              5      God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;

    God will help her when morning dawns.

              6      The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;

    he utters his voice, the earth melts.

              7      The Lord of hosts is with us;

    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

              8      Come, behold the works of the Lord,

    how he has brought desolations on the earth.

              9      He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;

    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;

    he burns the chariots with fire.

            10      "Be still, and know that I am God.

    I will be exalted among the nations,

    I will be exalted in the earth!"

            11      The Lord of hosts is with us;

    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

     

    The psalmist knows that God is their refuge and strength. He will not fear and will continue to trust God even if the earth gives way, or the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea or the waters roar and form.

    In verses 2 – 3, the world beyond the city wall is envisioned as a chaotic place where the earth itself is unstable, filled with earthquakes and roaring floods, a world from which the faithful find refuge in God alone. The use of floods to signify international threat and political havoc is widespread, especially in the prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah. Isaiah describes attacking nations as “the thundering of the sea” and “the roaring of mighty waters” (Isa. 17:12) that will flee away at God’s rebuke (see also Isa. 5:30; Jer. 6:23; 50:42; 51:55).

    In contrast to the roaring waters outside the walls, in verse 4, the river within the walls, “whose streams make glad the city of God” (v. 4), gives life and inspires joy. Since no river actually flows through Jerusalem, some see here a symbolic vision of a river flowing from the temple (Ezek. 47:1–12) to water and refresh the surrounding countryside, and even to sweeten the salty Dead Sea.

    God’s role as “help,” introduced in verse 1, is echoed more specifically in verse 5: “God will be her (Israel’s) help when dawn arrives”.  And just as just as the waters roared, so the nations roar; just as the mountains shook, so the kingdoms shake. The statement is followed by an invitation in verse 8: “Come, behold the works of the LORD, who has brought desolations on the earth”. The nations who are oppressing his people are commanded to “be still and know that I am God”, giving up their strife against him because the city of God shall not be moved because God is with her. Finally, the psalm ends with the call to be still and know that he is God.

  • REFLECT

    In this world, there will be many tough times and challenges. These challenges come in many different forms. Dare we like the psalmist, prophetically speak boldly and command the forces of darkness to be still and know that he is God? Let us remain confident that he is our refuge and strength. Let us pray the words of this psalm as a prayer to our Lord.

    God is our refuge and strength,
        a very present help in trouble.
    2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
        though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
    3 though its waters roar and foam,
        though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

    4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
        the holy habitation of the Most High.
    5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
        God will help her when morning dawns.
    6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
        he utters his voice, the earth melts.
    7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
        the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

    8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
        how he has brought desolations on the earth.
    9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
        he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
        he burns the chariots with fire.
    10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
        I will be exalted among the nations,
        I will be exalted in the earth!”
    11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
        the God of Jacob is our fortress. 

Season of PentecostCNL