Pentecost • 7
Introduction to Pentecost Season
The Season of Pentecost, deeply rooted in Jewish tradition, marks a pivotal moment for Christians worldwide. Pentecost, originally a Jewish feast known as Shavuot, celebrated the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. It occurs fifty days after Passover, symbolizing the completion of the seven-week counting period between Passover and Shavuot, which highlights both agricultural and spiritual harvests in Jewish life.
Just as God gave the Law at Sinai to His ancient Israelite people at Pentecost back then, after Christ’s ascension, God poured out His Holy Spirit to empower a new people of God, to obey the Law of Christ, and to continue His work in the world. Hence, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the apostles (Acts 2), not only fulfilled Jesus' promise to send a helper and comforter after His ascension, it also signified the birth of the Church and the beginning of its mission to spread the Gospel. The Presence and Power of Christ through the baptism and the filling of Holy Spirit empowered the apostles to preach the message of Jesus Christ with boldness, crossing language and cultural barriers, and uniting diverse peoples (both Jews and non-Jews) under the lordship of Christ.
Particularly for the members of the Centre of New Life, as we enter the Season of Pentecost, we enter a new season with a call to “Grow Stronger”, to live out the Gospel in our daily lives, exercising the gifts He has given us, as members of Christ's mystical Body, the Church, and particularly within our Kampongs and Life Groups. It is a time to embrace the Holy Spirit's power, continue the mission of the early Church, and embody the teachings of Christ in our interactions and service to Him, at home, work and play. This Pentecost season, let us step-up to be active participants in God's ongoing work in the world, so that as God’s serving sons and daughters, we might grow in friendship and together, we continue to spread His love, grace, and truth in all that we do.
reading for: Tuesday Night, 02 Jul
Mark 6:1-13
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Scripture Reading: Mark 6:1-13
1 He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2 And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” 5 And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching. 7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. 10 And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11 And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” 12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.
Commentary
Jesus went away from the healing of Jairus daughter and the woman with the issue of blood and came to his hometown with his disciples. This was a homecoming for Jesus, but as we will see later it was not a joyous homecoming for Jesus. Jesus on the Sabbath began to teach in the synagogue, and many were astonished at him. They wondered how this Jesus get these things, how did he have so much wisdom? Isn’t this Jesus the carpenter, the son of Mary? Didn’t we see this Jesus as a boy in Nazareth? Didn’t we see his family with us? Mark tells us that they took offense at Jesus. They did not believe in Jesus.
Jesus said to them that a prophet is given honour everywhere except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household. Jesus did not mean that as a statement of fact saying that a prophet should not be given honour in his own hometown. However, he was indicting them for it. It is common to expect that in your own hometown, among the people that know you they would recognise you and believe in you. This is not the case here, for in his own hometown, he faces rejection. Perhaps the saying is true then that familiarity breeds contempt. The result is that Jesus could not do what he did in the other villages in his own hometown. He could not do any mighty work there except heal a few sick people. Their familiarity has prevented the Son of God from doing mighty works there, their unbelief marvelled Jesus.
Jesus went out among the villages teaching and commanded his disciples two by two to go into the villages and do likewise. They were given authority over the unclean spirits. Mark tells us that they healed many of the sick and cast out many demons.
REFLECT
The people in Nazareth were so familiar with Jesus. They saw him growing up and maybe had played with Jesus in his younger days. They took offense at Jesus when they saw and heard Jesus do many miracles and teach in the synagogue. Their unbelief marvelled Jesus. Maybe we should reflect on whether our familiarity of Jesus breeds contempt for Jesus? Perhaps we are so familiar with Jesus that we no longer think there is any thing new in our walk with him. Perhaps we approach Scripture with what’s new, I know all that Scripture is trying to say. Contempt for Jesus is dishonouring him. It prevents him for doing any work in our life. Pray that our hunger for the Lord will burn brightly and may we never be in a place that we think we know it all.
Familiarity with Jesus is a good thing. We don’t want to be unfamiliar with Jesus. We do not want to be ignorant with talking and praying to him. We ought not to be ignorant of his word. We should take time to grow in familiarity with him, but may we never allow our familiarity to lead to contempt for Jesus. Instead, may we hunger for him day by day, more and more.
reading for: Wednesday Night, 03 Jul
2 Samuel 5:1-10
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Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 5:1-10
Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. 2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.’” 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 5 At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.
6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off”—thinking, “David cannot come in here.” 7 Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David. 8 And David said on that day, “Whoever would strike the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack ‘the lame and the blind,’ who are hated by David's soul.” Therefore it is said, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.” 9 And David lived in the stronghold and called it the city of David. And David built the city all around from the Millo inward. 10 And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.
Commentary
In 2 Samuel 5:1-10, we witness a pivotal moment in the history of Israel as David is anointed king over all of Israel. This passage marks the culmination of a long journey that began when the prophet Samuel anointed David as a young shepherd boy in Bethlehem (1 Samuel 16:1-13). David's rise to kingship was not marked by a straightforward path of triumphs but rather a journey of faith, patience, and an unwavering heart for God.
From the moment of his anointing, David's life was characterized by his deep reverence for God. Despite his remarkable achievements, it was David's heart that set him apart. God chose David not because of his external feats but because he was a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). David's pursuit of God, his desire to live in God's presence, and his consistent honour and respect for God's anointed ones, including King Saul, demonstrated his profound spiritual character.
David's relationship with Saul is particularly telling. Although Saul sought to kill him, David consistently honoured Saul, refusing to harm him even when he had the opportunity (1 Samuel 24:4-7; 1 Samuel 26:9-11). This respect for God's chosen king, despite Saul's flaws and persecution, highlights David's deep awareness of God's sovereignty and his humble submission to God's will. David's actions exemplify a heart that prioritizes God's commands and honours God's timing.
Before ruling over all Israel, David reigned in Hebron over the tribe of Judah for seven and a half years (2 Samuel 2:4, 11). This period was significant as it established his leadership and loyalty among his own tribe. Hebron, an ancient city with historical and religious significance, served as a strategic and spiritual centre during David's early reign.
The passage also describes David's conquest of Jerusalem, a city controlled by the Jebusites (2 Samuel 5:6-10). Despite their confidence that the city was impenetrable, David captured Jerusalem, making it the political and spiritual centre of Israel. This victory was not just a military success but also a fulfilment of God's promise, establishing Jerusalem as the City of David, a lasting symbol of God's covenant with His people.
REFLECT
As we reflect on David's journey, consider the following questions:
1. Do I, like David, seek after God's heart in my daily life, prioritizing His presence and guidance over my own achievements?
2. How do I honour God's anointed ones and remain humble and patient in difficult circumstances, trusting in God's timing and plan?
3. (For Life Group discussion) How can we, as a community, cultivate a deeper awareness of living in God's presence and develop hearts that genuinely seek to honour and please Him in all aspects of our lives?
reading for: THURSDAY Night, 04 Jun
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Scripture Reading:
Commentary
REFLECT
reading for: FRIDAY Night, 05 jun
Psalm 48
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Scripture Reading: Psalm 48
48:1 Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in the city of our God. His holy mountain,
48:2 beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King.
48:3 Within its citadels God has shown himself a sure defense.
48:4 Then the kings assembled, they came on together.
48:5 As soon as they saw it, they were astounded; they were in panic, they took to flight;
48:6 trembling took hold of them there, pains as of a woman in labor,
48:7 as when an east wind shatters the ships of Tarshish.
48:8 As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God, which God establishes forever. Selah
48:9 We ponder your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple.
48:10 Your name, O God, like your praise, reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with victory.
48:11 Let Mount Zion be glad, let the towns of Judah rejoice because of your judgments.
48:12 Walk about Zion, go all around it, count its towers,
48:13 consider well its ramparts; go through its citadels, that you may tell the next generation
48:14 that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will be our guide forever.
Commentary
What is the city of God and what is its significance?
We first hear about the biblical roots when,
“David captures Jerusalem from the Jebusites (2 Sam. 5:6-10), establishing the city as the capital of the territory promised by God to the patriarchs. At Jerusalem, on Mount Zion, Solomon constructs a temple to house the ark of the covenant, the footstool of God’s heavenly throne. Here God comes to dwell, as his glory fills the temple (2 Kgs. 8:10-11), as it had previously filled the tabernacle (Exod. 40:34-35).” (https://www.crossway.org/articles/a-biblical-theology-of-the-city-of-god/)
And as we see from history, the significance of the city of God is that it is very place of God’s presence, a representation of God’s presence here on earth (through the temple). And therefore a place of safety, beauty and goodness.
Because its the central place of God’s presence where the King, King David and King Solomon was, it also represented the place of authority.
Psalm 48 is a Psalm praising this great and beautiful city which God has established on earth. Yet at the same time also looks forward this this beautiful city which God promises to fully establish when Jesus comes back again.
The city points to the greatness of the LORD and how worthy He is to be praised (v.1).
Mount Zion, which Jerusalem stands on, has become holy and is beautiful in its elevation. Out of all the places on earth, it stands as the joy of all the earth (v.2).
Because of all that God has done by enabling David and his army to win many battles and wars, the city of God is known as a fortress, a strong and sturdy defense to all enemies (v. 3).
All kings who came with their army, saw its majesty and fled in panic. They trembled and were in pain like a woman in labour (v. 4-6).
Even the renonwn ships from Tarshish were shattered by winds protecting God’s city (v. 7).
The Psalmist having seen and been in the city of God, now realises its significance not just as hearsay but reality (v. 8).
Verses 9-14 then shift towards this realisation, having seen, having realised and experienced God’s presence, His safety, His authority and beauty in the city.
The temple is a perfect place to dwell and think about the steadfast love of God (v. 9).
God’s name is praise worthy and it rightly reaches to all the ends of the earth for God is full of righteousness (v. 10).
No wonder everyone who resides in this City of God can be glad, no wonder the towns can rejoice, for God is just and his judgments are good (v. 11).
The towers all around the city, the strong and sturdy walls, the citadels, all stand as a sign to the next generation, that God is real, He is our God till the end of time and He will forever guide us (v. 12-14).)
REFLECT
When was the last time we visited a city and felt a deep sense of awe, beauty and wonder of how beautifully built it was? Amazed at how clean, how technologically advanced, how safe and ordered it was?
As beautiful and as advanced as any city can be, it can only pale in comparison to the City of God, the new Jerusalem that will be established when Jesus comes again (Revelations 21). For in that city, the fullness of God’s presence will be there and death will be no more as all the former things have passed away.
More often that not as followers of Jesus, we forget that such a city will be established by God. We forget that one day the complete rule and reign of God’s kingdom will be established here on earth as it is in heaven.
We forget that a life of eternity has begun when we chose to give our life to Jesus and that all of our life is pointing towards that day when the City of God is fully established.
If we find it hard to comprehend the beauty and majesty of God’s holy city, rest assured that you are not alone. Take some time to read Revelations 21 and 22 and allow the Holy Spirit to show you what that looks like.