LENT • 4
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, 12 march
John 12
READ
Scripture Reading: John 12:20–33
20 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. 21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. 27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
Commentary
This passage picks up the story in John where Jesus has just entered Jerusalem. A large crowd heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, and they took palm trees and went out to meet him. They cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey in the fulfilment of the prophecy of Zechariah. (John 12:12-15)
Jesus had large crowds with him, the crowd that had been there when he called Lazarus out from the tomb and raised Lazarus from the dead. Among the crowd, there were some Greeks who came to Philip and asked Philip that they wanted to see Jesus. Philip went and told Andrew and together they went and told Jesus.
Jesus replied with this words, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.”
Jesus was cleared that he was the servant of God whose hour has come for him to be glorified. This hour of glory is the moment that he must be the grain of wheat that falls into the earth and dies. He is the one that must lose his life, hate his life in this world so that he can keep it for eternal life. Because of that he will not say, “Father save me from this hour” but he recognises that this is his Father’s purpose for him. Jesus instead says, “Father, glorify your name.”
The Father acknowledges the cry of Jesus by a voice from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” Jesus declares that when he is lifted up on the cross that he will draw all people to himself.
John 12 speaks in explicit terms, the hour has come for Jesus Christ to be crucified and rise from the dead. Through his resurrection he will draw all people to himself, and we will follow him and be with him. We will serve him and follow him and be honoured by his Father. This is the moment of glory of Jesus.
REFLECT
We often think of glory as receiving fame and honour. We want to be crowned. We want to be honoured in front of all people. Suffering and death are the furthest thing that we associate with glory. Suffering and death are shameful not glorious. However, Jesus and his Father thinks differently from us. For Jesus and his Father, the hour of glory is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is through the cross and not despite the cross that Jesus is crowned with glory and honour and sits on the throne.
Read Philippians 2:6-11 which speaks of Jesus as the one who though he was in the form of God did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, died on the cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name. The starting verses of Philippians 2 is Paul exhorting his hearers to be like Christ, to serve and honour others. John 12 is in the same vein by calling on its hearers to serve and follow Jesus. To serve Jesus and follow Jesus is to be like Jesus. To consider others greater than yourself. To lay down your life for others.
Let us embrace the cross and run to the cross not away from the cross. Let us recognise that Jesus is the servant of God who is the crucified and risen one. Let us serve and follow this Jesus who shows us what it is to be the servant of God, dying and rising again.
reading for: Wednesday Night, 13 march
Jeremiah 31:31-34
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Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-3431 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. 33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
Commentary
Jeremiah 31:31-34 speaks directly to us about God's unwavering faithfulness, even when we've fallen short time and again. It's like He's telling us, "I see your mistakes, but I won't give up on you." He promises something new, different from the rules and rituals of the past. Despite our failures, He's still here for us, like a loving partner who never gives up on our relationship.
When we compare the old and new covenants, it's clear that God wants a deeper connection with us. The loving heart of God behind the Old Covenant, written on stone tablets on Mt Sinai, looked like it was just about external rules, because His people could not see His love for them. So, in the New Covenant, through the Person of Jesus, God comes in the flesh to embody and radiate His love for his creation, showing us how His laws are to be written on our hearts.
And when we think about how the Law foreshadowed this new covenant, it shows us that God has always had a plan for our redemption. Now, through Christ, the Law isn't just rules; it's a part of us, guiding us from within through the Holy Spirit. It's about living out our faith in everything we do.
Having God's law written on our hearts is much more than just knowing right from wrong or about following rules; it's about becoming a new people, aligned with God's will. It means turning away from sin and fully committing ourselves to God's ways – it's like living out our baptism every day.
And this covenant isn't just about rules; it's about belonging. God says, "I will be your God, and you will be my people." It's a reminder that we're not alone; we're a part of something bigger, connected to God and His purpose for us.
Finally, Jeremiah's prophecy points to the fulfillment of this covenant in Christ. Through His sacrifice, forgiveness and reconciliation are possible for all who believe. It's a reminder of God's enduring love and His desire for a close relationship with us.
So, Jeremiah 31:31-34 is more than just words on a page; it's a call for us to embrace God's covenantal relationship. It's an invitation to let His laws shape our hearts and guide our lives, to find our belonging in Him, and to experience the transformative power of His love fulfilled in Christ.
rEFLECT
How does the promise of forgiveness and the removal of sin in verse 34 impact your understanding of God's grace and mercy? How does this influence your approach to repentance and reconciliation in your own life?
Reflect on the idea of having God's law written on your heart. What practical steps can you take to allow God's word to shape your thoughts, desires, and actions more fully?
reading for: Thursday Night, 14 march
HEBREWS 5:5-10
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Scripture Reading: Hebrews 5:5-10
5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,
“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”;
6 as he says also in another place,
“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”
7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
Commentary
This passage in Hebrews delves into the complex identity of Jesus, presenting him as both God's obedient and royal son, as well as Israel's significant high priest.
Firstly, in verse 5, God declares Jesus as His son, echoing words spoken to Pharaoh in Exodus 4:22, approximately 1300 years before Jesus' time. At that juncture, the Israelites were in bondage in Egypt, yet God referred to them as His 'firstborn son'. He subsequently liberated them from slavery and transformed them into His people in Canaan, fulfilling His earlier promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:7). Likewise, Jesus, as a child, was called out of Egypt to return to Israel, signifying his role in fulfilling God's plan of worship (Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23). Jesus' life mirrors Israel's journey, but he succeeds where they faltered, being declared the 'Son' who will carry on where God's ancient people fell short.
Then, in Psalm 2:7, Israel's king is also designated as God's 'son'. Kings were seen as representatives of God, empowered to act and speak on His behalf to the people. Hence, Jesus embodies 'Sonship' in two distinct ways – as Israel's 'successor' and God's 'royal representative'.
Secondly, Jesus assumes the role of Israel's high priest, ushering God's people into His presence and mediating on their behalf. His life of obedience, culminating in his ultimate act of obedience on the cross, establishes him as a 'priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek' (verse 6).
But why is Jesus referred to as a priest 'after the order of Melchizedek?' Who is Melchizedek? He is mentioned twice in the Old Testament – in Genesis 14 and Psalm 110. Genesis portrays him as both a king and a priest of God Most High, blessing Abraham after his triumph in battle and receiving a tithe from him.
Hebrews 5:6 quotes Psalm 110:4, where the Lord swears eternal priesthood not to King David but to someone even greater, as David himself acknowledges ('my Lord' – verse 1). In the New Testament, Jesus hints at his true identity by alluding to this same Psalm in Mark 12:35-37. Although Jesus is a descendant of David, he surpasses David's greatness, being his 'lord' to whom the Lord gives ultimate victory. Thus, Jesus' royal priesthood, stemming from Melchizedek's lineage, surpasses the Aaronic priesthood (Exodus 28, 29), foreshadowing Christ's ultimate work on the cross. This is why in Hebrews 5:8-9, Jesus is both a son, who "learned obedience through what he suffered," and our "perfect source of eternal salvation to all who obey."
REFLECT
How does the concept of Jesus being appointed by God as a high priest encourage you in your own journey of faith and obedience?
Reflect on the idea of Jesus learning obedience through suffering. How does this aspect of Jesus' character inspire you to persevere in difficult times?
In what ways do you see Jesus' example of obedience impacting your own choices and actions in daily life?
reading for: FRIDAY Night, 15 march
Psalm 119:9-16
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Scripture Reading119:9 How can young people keep their way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
119:10 With my whole heart I seek you; do not let me stray from your commandments.
119:11 I treasure your word in my heart, so that I may not sin against you.
119:12 Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your statutes.
119:13 With my lips I declare all the ordinances of your mouth.
119:14 I delight in the way of your decrees as much as in all riches.
119:15 I will meditate on your precepts, and fix my eyes on your ways.
119:16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.
Commentary
Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm and chapter in the bible and it is interestingly structured in stanzas according to the Hebrew Alphabets. In most if not all of our bibles, we will notice 22 headings every 8 verses. And our passage for this week comes from the 2nd stanza, Beth.
It starts out with an extremely important question, a question any baptised child of God would ask. How can I keep my way pure? How do I as someone who’s encountered and now decided to follow Jesus actually follow him?
Of first importance is the purity of our hearts. Jesus later in Matthew 5 would tell us that “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” And as the Psalmist earlier mentioned in psalm 119:2, Blessed are those who seek him with their whole heart.
And here is where we see the wisdom to all of us who long to keep our hearts and ways pure. Here is the way that the Psalmist has seen that can actually keep young men and women pure and living for God.
By guarding the way according to the word (v.9).
By keeping close to God’s commandments (v. 10).
By treasuring God’s word in our hearts (v. 11).
By being taught the statues of the LORD (v. 12).
By declaring the ordinances and ways with our lips (v. 13).
By delighting in the ways of God’s decrees (v. 14).
By meditating on God’s precepts and fixing our eyes on God’s ways (v. 15)
By delighting in God’s statues and remembering God’s word (v. 16).
These actions, commitment and vow towards God’s word, law, decrees, statues will keep our hearts and ways pure.
REFLECT
During COVID our PM Lee appeared several times on TV to give an update on the COVID situation and current government responses. And as he drank his beautiful blue tea cup, he also magically switched languages to Mandarin and Malay.
Most if not all Singaporeans watched with anticipation for the “good news” and “freedom” that he would deliver. Either opening us up from a circuit breaker, enabling us to gather in bigger groups again or even travel abroad.
Do we think about God’s word as good news, as life-giving and giving us delight and joy?
More often than not, God’s words (Law, statues, Commandments) are seen as limiting, boring, restrictive or impossible.
Yet the truth is, God is our Father and He is the Creator and Giver of Life. He doesn’t just know what’s best for us but He also wants the best for us. For He is Good and is full of Unfailing Love.
Wouldn’t our Good and Perfect Father then speak and give to us what we need for life?
Shouldn’t we who are His children hear and yearn to receive His word for life and delight?
Read Psalm 119:9-16 several times and pick 1 or 2 verses that really resonate with you to memorise. Repeat it several more times and allow those words to really sink into your heart and soul.