LENT • 3

Lent Season: Living the Baptised Life

In these six weeks leading up to Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, through the gospel readings, we fix our eyes on Jesus of Nazareth and his life of obedience to God the Father, especially the last few weeks of his ministry as he journeys to Jerusalem as Israel’s Servant-King. And through Him, we catch a sense of Our Creator’s deep concern to redeem and restoring his fallen first Creation and bring forth New Creation. The New Testament letters deepen our understanding of the significance of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension, while the Old Testament readings and the Writings (mainly the Psalms), help us explore the journey of the people of God in finding and living out their place for the generations of their time as well as the tension of holy living in a fallen world. As for our personal reflections, we focus on what it means to live the baptised life - as sons and daughters of God, following Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit in our various spheres of life, living in a way that glorifies our Heavenly Father.

reading for: Tuesday Night, 5 march

John 3:14-21

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    Scripture Reading: John 3:14–21

    And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

    Commentary

    Today’s passage picks up midstream from the conversation that Jesus was having with Nicodemus. In order to better appreciate the passage, let us first look at who Nicodemus is. Nicodemus a man of the Pharisees, a ruler of the Jews. He was a religious leader of his day. That explains why verse 2 portrays him coming to Jesus at night. He probably did not want it to be common knowledge that he came to Jesus.

    The first part of the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus was about what it means to see and enter the kingdom of God. Jesus is clear that to see and enter the kingdom of God requires one to be born again. It requires a spiritual birth. Nicodemus does not understand this for how one can be born a second time.

    Jesus then explains to him how to be born again?  Jesus tells Nicodemus that he is the Son of Man that must be lifted up so that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. Jesus draws on the imagery of the bronze serpent in Numbers 21:4-9. In Numbers 21:4-9, the Jews was complaining against God and his provision. The Lord sent fiery serpents to bite the people and many people died. The people came to Moses and repented. After Moses prayer of repentance for the people, the Lord told Moses to make a bronze serpent so that whoever looked at the bronze serpent would live.

    Jesus must be lifted up like the bronze serpent so that the ones who sinned against God who looks at him will live. Jesus is the Son Of God who God sent into the world so that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

  • REFLECT

Jesus is the crucified and risen one who gives us life. He makes us sons and daughters to God because of what he has done. Because of him, we have been born again. This season of lent, let us remember who Jesus is and respond in gratitude to him for he has made us sons and daughters of God.  

Jesus is the crucified and risen on who was and is fully obedient to his Father. He lived to do the Father’s will and did not waver from it. Like him, we are also called to be servants of God. In baptism, we die with him so that we can be raised with him.  We put to death the works of the flesh and darkness so that we can put on Christ. What is one thing that God is calling you to obey him in this week?

reading for: Wednesday Night, 6 march

Numbers 21:4-9

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    Scripture Reading: Numbers 21:4-9

    4 From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. 5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” 6 Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. 7 And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze[c] serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

    Commentary

    The bronze serpent in this passage serves as a powerful symbol of healing, salvation, faith, and obedience, foreshadowing and pointing forward to Jesus and his work in the Gospels.  Throughout the book of Numbers, the Israelites struggle with faithfulness and obedience to God. The story of the bronze serpent serves both as a powerful reminder of the consequences of disobeying God, as well as God’s mercy and provision for those who repent and turn back to Him.

    The story is a pivotal point in the Israelites' wilderness journey. It comes after episodes of rebellion, complaining, and divine judgment, and before their continued journey toward the Promised Land. The placement of this story highlights the importance of acknowledging sin, seeking forgiveness, and renewing faith in God's promises as the Israelites move forward in their journey.

    They are frustrated and impatient due to their journey through the wilderness, complaining against God and Moses, expressing dissatisfaction with their circumstances and the lack of food and water. In short, they are ungrateful.

    God responds to their complaints by sending venomous snakes among the people, and many Israelites get bitten and die as a result of their rebellion and lack of faith.

    When the people realize the gravity of their situation and acknowledge their sin, they plead for Moses to help. God instructs Moses to make a bronze serpent and mount it on a pole. Those who have been bitten by the snakes can look at the bronze serpent and live.

    Hence, the bronze serpent serves as a means of healing and salvation for those who were been bitten by the venomous snakes. Looking at the bronze serpent symbolizes an act of faith and trust in God's provision for healing.

    In the gospel reading yesterday, in John 3:14-15, Jesus Christ himself draws a parallel between the bronze serpent and his own role in providing salvation., Jesus says, "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him." This suggests that the bronze serpent serves as a foreshadowing of Jesus' crucifixion, where those who look to him in faith find healing and salvation from sin.

    Throughout the Old Testament, we see God establishing and maintaining a special relationship with the Israelites, referring to them as His chosen people and often as His sons. With this understanding, in our passage we witness God's fatherly concern for His children, disciplining them and yet despite their repeated grumblings and rebellions, God doesn't abandon the Israelites. Instead, He provides a means of salvation and healing when they are suffering from the bites of the serpents and just as a father might provide guidance, correction, and ultimately redemption to his children, God offers the Israelites a chance to repent and turn back to Him. The act of looking upon the bronze serpent becomes an act of obedience and acknowledgment of their dependence on God as their Father.

    Alongside their identity as sons of God, the Israelites are also portrayed as servants of God. Their journey through the wilderness is marked by their role as servants following the commands of their Lord and Saviour.

    In the bronze serpent story, the Israelites demonstrate both their dependence on God's provision and their obedience to His commands. God instructs Moses to create the bronze serpent and lift it up as a means of healing. The Israelites, in turn, must obey by looking upon the serpent to receive healing. As servants, they are called to trust and obey God, even in difficult circumstances, knowing that He will provide for their needs and guide them through their journey.

  • rEFLECT

    Hebrews 12:5-11 specifically picks up on this theme of God disciplining those He regards as sons:

    "And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

    'My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.'

    It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."

    Do we Wake Up Strong with gratitude or are we always complaining and ungrateful to God? Is it possible that the suffering you and I are going through at present is part of God’s loving discipline and correction? How might we respond to God if this is the case? How might this change the substance and content of our prayers?

reading for: Thursday Night, 7 march

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Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:1-10

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience – among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Commentary

Tonight’s passage fits well with the season of Lent as we journey towards the death and resurrection of Christ. Here, we see Paul describing a movement from death to life that was set in motion by God. He begins by reminding you and I that we were once dead in our sins (v1). We lived however we liked and did whatever we wanted (v2-3). Our lives were headed towards ruin and destruction, and we didn’t even know it.

However, not all is lost. Though we were dead and completely unaware, God initiated a rescue plan to keep us from death and to make us alive in Christ (v4-5). We didn’t think we need help and neither did we ask for help. And even if we knew of our assured doom, we are helpless. No one has ever succeeded in conquering death. We can’t save ourselves from death.

Paul wants us to understand that God could have left us for dead. He could have given up on us and that could have been the end of the story. And there’s nothing we can do to change it. But He did not leave us to ourselves. He saved us. And not only did He save us from death, He puts us on the same standing as Christ (v6). Such is the incomprehensible grace and staggering love of God (v7)! We did nothing to deserve life yet we have it in Christ.

Hence, the only appropriate response is to accept the gift of life, join the movement and participate in the work that God is doing on earth (v8-10).

REFLECT

More than we like to admit, we are very forgetful beings. We forget who we once were and what life was like without God. We forget that all that we have – our home, family, friends, job, health, security and mental capacity are from God. We forget that our ability to walk and speak and think and work is a gift.

We forget that we are not God and we don’t have as much control over life as we would like to have. We forget the price that God paid to save us from our deserved end. We forget who we are in Christ and the field we are called to work in.

As you read and reflect on tonight’s passage in this season of Lent, consider your journey with God thus far. Recall who you once were and how far you’ve come. Remember the times and moments God showed up and came through for you. Give some thought to the current season of your life, consider what is the garden that God has entrusted to you and mull over what is it that he is asking of you to do.

reading for: FRIDAY Night, 8 march

Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22

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    Scripture Reading

    107:1 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.

    107:2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, those he redeemed from trouble

    107:3 and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.

    107:17 Some were sick through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities endured affliction;

    107:18 they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death.

    107:19 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress;

    107:20 he sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from destruction.

    107:21 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.

    107:22 And let them offer thanksgiving sacrifices, and tell of his deeds with songs of joy.

     

    Commentary

    Psalm 107 can be considered a Psalm that depicts what it looks like to be God’s son and daughter, we who are loved by our Father in Heaven.

    Although verse 1 starts with an invitation to give thanks to the LORD this invitation is specifically made to the redeemed of the LORD. Those who have been saved, those who have been delivered and purchased. In other words, those who have now become God’s children. They are the ones who can testify that He is good, they are the ones who have seen and experienced his steadfast love (v.1)

    What does redemption look like? Its being saved from trouble, being gathered from even the far ends of the earth (v. 2-3).

    Even when we were sick because of our sins and even when we were experiencing pain because of our rebellion towards God, He hears us when we cry to Him (v. 17, 19).

    Even when we were so depressed that we couldnt stand food and were close to dying, God would send his word to us to heal us if we cried out for help (v. 18, 20).

    He saved us. He redeemed us. He delivered us from death itself (v. 20).

    Oh what joy that we the redeemed, God’s sons and daughters can taste and experience the goodness, the steadfast love of our Father (v. 21). For He is wonderful to us.

    Let us offer Him our thanksgiving with words and deeds that express our joy (v. 22).

  • REFLECT

    As a young parent myself, I can testify that even if my child were to do something stupid, foolish or rebellious, I would run to him the moment he asks me for help. There is something that God has put within us as parents that makes us run to our kids when they are in danger or need help.

    But we also know how imperfect we are as parents (and human beings). Our love and actions of love, can sometimes harm our child despite our best intentions. Can you imagine the kind of love that our Perfect Heavenly Father would have for us His children?

    If I as an earthly parent has this desire to run to my child in need, and if I as an earthly parent would have an imperfect display of love, what would perfect love look and feel like from God?

    There would be absolutely no condemnation, no “I told you so” or “you should have known better”. It would be pure and steadfast love. A pure and steadfast love that embraces, redeems and delivers.

    What was one prayer you made this week? Was there a time in the week where you felt helpless and in need? How did God reveal His steadfast and miraculous love to you?

    Give thanks to Him and really acknowledge His love for you. 

Season of LentCNL