chiropody, Christmas Carol, Feast of Stephen, Good King Wenceslas, John Mason Neale, Poor in spirit

The Messiah’s Secret – Walking in the Footsteps of Christ.

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 The Messiah’s Secret – Walking in the Footsteps of Christ.

A Lady’s Meeting

Below: 
My two daughters wore clogs when they were  approximately two years of age.

Duke Wenceslas of Bohemia of the Czech Republic he lived between 901 – 935 AD was noted and honoured for his Christ –like life,
He gained a reputation of being kind and generous to the people of Western Bohemia. In his honour the people of Bohemia put a statue of him in the square that bears his name ‘Wenceslas Square’ in Prague.
A legend grew up around him; the Roman Emperor Otto 1 bestowed on the late Wenceslas the title “king” in association with his faith in Jesus, the “King of Righteousness.”
John Mason Neale reflected this in the title of his hymn, “Good King Wenceslas.” He wrote the lyrics of the carol to a 13th Century tune, and in 1853 it appeared in “Carols for Christmas –Tide.” (John Neale also wrote: O Come, O Come Emmanuel.)
 
In the middle 1800’s in England there was both wealth and poverty. 
The industrial entrepreneurs making vast amounts of money, while those they employed were poorly paid for working long hours in the factory and mills. Thirty years before Manchester experienced the ‘Peterloo Riots’ through the introduction of new technology, machines that could do the work of several people.
 
 In his carol John Neale was encouraging and convicting the wealthy and high ranking men and women of his day to take notice of the life of Wenceslas, who was equal to them in every way, only he took Christ’s compassion to the poor of Bohemia and he encouraged the serving people to be like the Page who was obedient to follow Wenceslas.
 
Carol.  Good King Wenceslas looked out, on the Feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even;
Brightly shone the moon that night, though’ the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight, gath’ring winter fuel.
 
The season is winter and it is the day after Christmas Day, the evening of the Feast of Saint Stephen. John Neale was encouraging the wealthy to remember at  Christmas the poor. He brought to people’s attention in the carol the ministry of Saint Stephen. Stephen was chosen by the twelve Apostles (Matthias the twelveth Apostle) along with six other disciples to the food distribution to the Hellenists the Jewish Greek speaking widows.   Acts 6 v 1-6 
                                 
King Wenceslas looked out from his window and he saw in the moonlight a poor man collecting wood. Immediately he summoned his page and inquired about the man.
 
“Hither, page, and stand by me, if thou know’st it, telling,
Yonder peasant, who is he? Where and what his dwelling?”
Sire, he lives a good league hence, underneath the mountain;
Right against the forest fence, by Saint Agnes’ fountain.”
The page knew him and where he lived. He lived at the foot of a mountain near a forest on a route to St Agnes’ Fountain.
 
Even though he lived near the forest, he was no doubt forbidden to cut down branches off trees. In the Rossendale Forest the inhabitants of the forest were not allowed to cut off branches for their fires.  
Wenceslas’ page estimated that he had traveled a league, approximately 3 ½ miles. The evening was the cold, and the snow we understand was deep, so the wood would be covered with snow.                                                                                            
 
“Bring me flesh, and bring me wine, bring me pine logs hither:
Thou and I will see him dine, when we bear them thither.”
Page and monarch, forth they went, forth they went together;
Through the rude wind’s wild lament and the bitter weather.
Wenceslas could have ignored the poor man, but he did not. John Neale pressing home the need of the poor. The Page was given instructions to get: meat, wine and pine logs, they would take them to his home.
Wenceslas a Christian man  reflected the life of Jesus, he had humility and compassion, also endless energy, and he would not be deterred by any hindrances like the weather or the time of day. 
Jairus came to Jesus to ask if he would go to his home to heal his daughter Jesus responded to his need, but was delayed by meeting the need of the lady who had a medical problem and she was healed. A man from Jairus’ house arrived on the scene saying that Jairus’ daughter had died and not to trouble Jesus any further. But Jesus insisted on going to the house where the girl lay dead. Jesus raised her from the dead. Luke 8: 40 – 56.
Some times when things seem hopeless, the Lord turns the situation around. John Neale inferring in the carol the need for commitment in helping the poor in the long term. 
 
“Sire, the night is darker now, and the wind blow stronger;
Fails my heart, I know not how; I can go no longer.”
“Mark my footsteps, my good page. Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shalt find the winter’s rage freeze thy blood less coldly.”
The two set out carrying their precious load, It was not easy; the bitter wind and the deep snow would have made the journey more difficult.  
Last winter carrying the shopping up the icy snowbound Higher lane, with the cold wind blowing against me, gave me a feel for what the Page would have experienced.                       
 
Wenceslas noticed that his Page grew tired and was struggling to cope carrying his heavy load of provisions, so he suggested that he followed in his footsteps.
The Page I would describe as being ‘poor in Spirit’ he was struggling to do what he was asked to do, in the strength that he had.  
A lady rang me this morning asking for help as she was not very well and as a result unable to fulfill an obligation, she asked me to do it for her. I saw her like the Page she was struggling to do what he was asked to do, in the strength that he had.   
I know a Christian lady who is very disabled by her illness, she is living out her faith in the strength that she has. She can’t feed herself, she is dependent on her carers and friends, she waits upon the Lord to give her the strength that she needs.              
‘Poor in Spirit’ in the Carol also points to the rich of John Neale’s day were stingy in their giving. Charles Dickens’ wrote ‘A Christmas Carol’ that was published in December 1843 were the main character Scrooge he was protriat as not wanting to give gifts at Christmas.
 
In his master’s steps he trod, where the snow lay dinted;
Heat was in the very sod which the saint had printed.
Therefore, Christian men, be sure, wealth or rank possessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing
John Neale’s portrait Wenceslas is of him being strong like Jesus, someone to follow in his footsteps.
My sister, I admire very much, she became a Christian when her children were baptized at her local Anglican Church At that time she was married, however, a few years later, when the youngest was one year old, her husband left the family home. When the youngest of her seven children started Senior school she decided to get a job.
 
At my sister’s church in a prayer meeting she received a picture in her mind of a pair of feet, she thought no more about it until on her next visit to church on entering a room the Vicar was speaking, she was surprised to hear him say “Jesus washed his disciple’s feet.”
Within a few days later, a friend of hers asked if she would accompany her to the chiropody clinic and it was after that visit she realized what the Lord was calling her to do, to become a chiropodist.
 
The Lord went before her on the course, when it came to her final exams, the night before she was swatting up and she read about the exchange of gases in the lungs.
Next day a large proportion of the exam was on that very subject. In her practical exam the tutor focused on bio mechanics – the working of the joints in the foot and the associated problems and remedies. Once again the Lord had gone before her, she was able to answer all the questions and she passed her exams. Over the last twenty three years, My sister’s ministry has been one of care and compassion,  never charging more than a person could afford.

If anyone asks her, “How did you come to be a chiropodist?” she witnesses to how the Lord called her and how much the Lord has blessed her and her family.
 
John Neale’s message I’m sure has touched rich and poor alike to share  the love of Christ that the Lord gives to us freely to bless one another.
 


John Bacon, love of money, neglected justice and the love of God, poor, practice what you preach, rich

The Messiah’s Secret – The Rich Man and Lazarus

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The Messiah’s Secret – The Rich Man and Lazarus
 

  (Children’s spot)
Placed on the table a blanket cereals and tinned foods.
Being a Christian is about helping people like Lazarus and also friends and family.

Several children brought to out a word and read it out: ‘giving tins of food and chocolate’, ‘pray to Jesus’, ‘help mum’, ‘help dad’, ‘help grandparents’, ‘give some of our pocket money to help others’, ‘feed the birds and be kind to animals’. 
On the screen: Some of the voluntary work that members of our Church Fellowship are involved in: Hospital, Charity Shops, Civic Pride, Aid Agencies and the Voluntary work within the frame work of St Mary’s.

Jesus  was drawing to the attention of the Pharisees Scribes and Lawyers in the parable, to show by example God’s justice and love to their own people.  

 A parable  – is comparable with a real life situation.   
 
The Jewish rich man had paid little or no attention to the plight of Lazarus, he thought only of himself. He may have considered that he was doing his bit by throwing the bread that was used to wipe his hands with after his meal to the beggars at his gate. However, he was guilty of treating the poor man, Lazarus a son of Abraham, like a Gentile. 
 
Jesus uses the common term used in those days as reference to a Gentile ‘a dog’ here in the passage the dogs are described as licking Lazarus’ sores. Jesus introduced a Gentile who was attending to a Jewish man’s well-being; a person who cared enough to show compassion and practical help. 
 
Under the Law of Moses Lazarus as a son of Abraham should have expected to be helped, “If there is among you a poor man, one of your brethren, in any of your towns within your land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall not harden your hearts or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him, . . . . . . You shall give him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him; because for this the Lord you God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.” Deuteronomy 15: 7 – 11   
 
This was Jesus’ point these leaders were neglecting justice and the love of God. It was unjust of the rich man to ignore Lazarus’ need of help under law and he denied him the love of God in God wanting his people to love and care for one another. Luke 11: 42. 
 
Jesus’ ministry was to the sons of Abraham mainly who were outcasts: the tax collectors, the prodigal sons and people like Lazarus He was showing God’s love in reaching out to gather the nation, all the people in readiness for his return bringing in the kingdom.
 
Practice what you preach.
 “Jesus said on one occasion “ The Scribes and  the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice.” Matthew 23 v 1.   
 
Paul in his letter to Timothy reminded him to put into practice what he had taught him that the love of money is a snare it makes people selfish. He said not to desire things that are temporal but to seek those things that will last for ever.                          
                                                                                                                           
 “But seek first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.” Matthew 6: 33
Our search to find God is not straight forward, there are many ways; we can find God in creation while looking at a sunset, holding a new born baby, reading or hearing a verse of scripture from the Bible or singing a hymn etc
After we enter into our relationship with the Lord Jesus our God, we have started on a journey of faith and we discover how real God’s love is, the peace and joy in times of stress, resting in the knowledge that whatever our circumstances are, the Lord Jesus is in it, with us. These things stem from knowing who we are in Christ, we are children of God. 

Taking Care of one another
The churches ministry today is to the people who need a helping hand, relief from suffering whatever their background or circumstances might be. We can help in practical ways and when asked, ‘why you are doing this for me?’ we are able to tell them about Jesus and God’s love for them.  
After death, the rich man became aware that he had neglected his responsibility to love and support his brother Lazarus.
Out of the abundance of our lives, our scripture readings remind us that we have a commitment to our church and its needs, the Diocese and the wider church. Our brothers and sisters in Christ who need our help.  Our Harvest Project this year is helping Christians in Cambodia. (Our Tear Fund rep presented the project.) 
In the parable Jesus upheld Lazarus by saying when he died he was with Abraham in Paradise, whereas, the rich man was in a place of torment Gehnna or hell.
The rich man wanted Abraham to send Lazarus from Paradise to him in Gehnna, but it was not possible there was a gulf between the two places. Abraham could not warn his brothers either. There was no opportunity for him to make amends.
John Bacon the once famous sculptor left an inscription to be placed on his tomb after his death in Westminster Abbey: “What I was as an artist, seemed of some importance to me while I lived; but what I was as a believer in Jesus Christ is the only thing of importance to me now.”
Jesus ends this parable saying, if the rich men of Israel who read the scriptures were not convinced through his teaching, the signs and miracles neither would they believe in his resurrection from the dead. His words were realised when John the disciple wrote.
 “He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God.” John 1: 10 – 12.
*On another occasion, an incident that happened when the Gentile Syrophoenician lady approached Jesus for him to heal her daughter, but Jesus in his reply pointed out to her “Let the children first be fed, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”                                   
The Messiah’s ministry was first and foremost to the Israelites, the children of God. Jesus was feeding them with his word and signs. For Jesus to consider changing direction to take his message to the Gentiles at this point, ‘to throw away the children’s bread’ his message was directed to the nation of Israel.
The woman answered him “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”, this Gentile lady was looking to eat the crumbs, the words that were falling from the mouth of Jesus, she believed that he was the Jewish Messiah and wanted to partake of the blessings. Jesus commended her for her answer and her daughter was healed. Mark 7 v 24-30
In this encounter we can envisage the new covenant embracing the Gentiles. As Gentiles we have entered into the blessings from our Father God to all his children in every nation.
Baa Baa Black Sheep, food banks, God out of sight, hands Keswick, hidden coin, lost coin, tax collectors, The Lost Sheep

The Messiah’s Secret – The Lost Sheep

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The Messiah’s Secret – The Lost Sheep 

In  our Gospel reading Jesus was sat eating with tax collectors and others who were termed as sinners. I wondered if Matthew who was once was a tax collector was gossiping the Gospel, eager for some of his associates to come and listen to Jesus.  Luke 15: 1-10 

It is only when Jesus was challenged by the Pharisees and scribes that we get a glimpse of what he was discussing with them.  He was gathering the lost sheep of the house of Israel in preparation for the coming in of the kingdom.                                                   

The Parable of the lost sheep  

Jesus referred to the ninety nine sheep, these were the people who kept to the letter of the laws of Moses and were righteous, their names written in ‘The Book of Life’. 

“But now, if thou wilt forgive their sin-and if not-blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.” Exodus 32: 32.  

“But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose names shall be found written in the book.”               Daniel 12: 1.

The lost sheep were like Matthew the disciple who was once a tax collector and deemed as an outcast because of collecting taxes for the Romans and for coming in contact with them on a regular basis.  

The tax collectors reputation for fraud was highlighted when Jesus invited himself for tea at Zacchaeus’ home. Afterwards he announced that he would make restitution under Jewish 4 times above the amount he had acquired by fraudulent means. Exodus 22. Jesus announced that salvation had come to his house. “For the Son of man came to seek and save the lost.” Luke 19: 1 – 10.  

The Messiah’s Secret page 32, 33  

These lost sheep were regarded as having no hope and were lost to God. People like the poor, the homeless and the beggars Most of these people had given up on the law, as they probably could not afford to buy their sin offerings and as a result were cut off from the law. Through the shepherd, Jesus, in his love assured them of their place in the kingdom. Jesus said that there was great rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety nine righteous persons who need no repentance.                                       

Jesus’ mission he was gathering, embracing the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Matthew 10: 6  

These people whom God loved and their love for God and had faith in Him Jesus was removing the overburdening laws that had been added by the Pharisees. Having heard the call of the shepherd, they became followers of Jesus and as a result were not allowed in the synagogues. John 9: 22.                                                                  

My niece introduced us to her boyfriend, we learnt that he worked for the Inland Revenue. We could not resist to pull his leg about his job; even today collecting taxes for the government is not popular.  

A new Christian had problems sleeping and wrote to the Inland Revenue enclosing a cheque for £100. “Please find enclosed a cheque for £100.” PS. “And if I still can’t sleep, I’ll send you the rest.”  

Today we are heavily taxed, I remember several years ago, my aunt complaining that her pensions and savings were taxed twice.  With the financial crisis our taxes have increased. The latest VAT on water and more increases in the pipe line.

The Food Banks are stepping in to relieve a growing number of people’s crisis in making ends meet. Often putting paying their bills before they spend money on food and for some that means going without food. This is where Jesus is carrying the brokenhearted, those who are suffering. By contributing food to the Food Banks we are helping to carry, release people from their burden.              Carved Hands – Derwentwater, Keswick                                                                 

Under man’s ruling authority we will always have the poor and downtrodden. Matthew 26: 11.                                                                                                                                 Injustice and poverty in the 18 century was heard in a nursery rhyme, an appeal through the voices of children. Today, it’s the children who suffer most, as some go to school without having any breakfast.                                                                            

“He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather his lambs in his arms.” Isaiah 40: 11.   Words to Baa Baa Black Sheep by our church’s organist

Jesus, Jesus loves His little sheep.
White ones, black ones, He will keep
all who come to Him, all in their need
No-one will be denied, He all will feed.                                                                          
Jesus, Jesus loves His little sheep
Will you come to him, stay and reap
 all His love for you, forever the same
 Will you come to him, and take his name.
In the nursery rhyme ‘Baa Baa Black Sheep’ the black wool 
I interpret as being ‘the sin of  injustice.’ Only the rich could afford the expensive black wool.

You cannot dye black wool; I have tried using bleach to lift the black colour out of the wool, but it did not work. It reminds me that we can’t change the colour of our heart; the stain of sin won’t bleach out by our own effort.

Jesus does not look at the colour of a person’s skin but looks at the stain on the heart.
Paul recalled how he persecuted the church in his unbelief. His life changed dramatically when he saw Jesus in a vision on the Damascus road, and he heard Jesus say those words, “Saul, Saul why are you persecuting me!” From hearing the words of Jesus in his heart, he was changed man and he followed Jesus.
Peter had denied Jesus three times, when he heard the cock crow and he remembered Jesus’ words to him. “And the Lord turned and looked at Peter . . . “Before the cock crows today you will deny me three times. And Peter went out and wept bitterly.” Luke 22: 61
The Lost Coin
The woman who lost the coin that belonged to her. If we think of this coin as her relationship with God and were she is struggling to find the Lord her God to answer her prayer.
Sometimes when we are anxiously seeking the Lord for answers to a situation or a problem, he just does not seem to be there we cry out, ‘Where are you Lord, when I need you?’
Paul in his letter to the Ephesians wrote, “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.” Ephesians 1: 16-18
Or it may be that we have lost sight of the passion that we once had to proclaim the Gospel to our friends.
 “Being rooted and grounded in love may we have power to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth, length, height and depth and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3: 17-19.
We want to rekindle the flame of our smoking embers.
Prayer
Help us gracious Lord, to seek out and embrace the years that the locusts have eaten. That you would stir up the flame within us, so that we may shine for you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
18, 666, Abba Father, cube, daily bread, debt to God, manna, Moses, Mt Sinai, The Lord's Prayer, Welsh revival

The Messiah’s Secret – The Lord’s Prayer

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The  Messiah’s Secret – The Lord’s  Prayer
   Our Father in heaven , hallowed be your name
Your kingdom come your will be done on earth
as in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. 
Lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil. 
For the kingdom the power and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
 
During this time we had ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ as a meditation in two ways: pictures and words on the screen and the prayer sung from a CD. Prepared by our Worship Leader.
 
A frame of another cube.
With each of these boards there was a verse from the Lord’s Prayer and one or two pictures that related to the readings: Hebrews 12: 18-29.   Luke 13: 10-17
The children came to the front of church and described the pictures that they had stuck on the board and the adult with them related to us all, the pictures with the Lord’s Prayer and readings.  Matthew 6: 9-13 
When you look at the contents of the Lord’s Prayer it embraces our Christian way of life, in our humanity.
In the prayer we are touched by the nearness of God, we give thanks as he upholds the structures that provide the practical requirements for daily living. The importance of forgiveness. The awareness of our faith being tested and as children of the kingdom of God applying Jesus’ victory over the devil and his activities.
1/   Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come your will be done on earth as in heaven. 
The pictures on the board: Moses and the Israelites at the foot of Mount Sinai. A family representing the church. Pictures of people. Universe. Light. Tell the World about Jesus. 
 
God is our Father; he loves us and cares for us. We are allowed to call God, Father or daddy, a very personal term. 
The Chorus ‘Abba Father’ beautifully describes our relationship with God our Father.
“Abba Father, let me be Yours and Yours alone, May my will for ever be ever more your own. Never let my heart grow cold, never let me go. Abba Father let me be Yours and Yours alone.” Mission Praise No 3 Dave Bilbrough, Thankyou Music,

 

*The Israelites could see the smoke and fire surrounding the upper reaches of Mount Sinai. God was almighty and awesome and even Moses trembled with fear. Israel’s relationship with God was reverential.
2/ Give us this day our daily bread.
                                           

The pictures on the board: Loaf of bread (2). Moses in conversation with God. Grapes and figs. Jesus feeding the 5,000 people. Evangelism –sowing the seeds of the kingdom. A wheat field. Hope reaching out in mission. A bird.

On the Israelites wilderness journey God provided manna (bread) daily from heaven. God feeds daily the birds and all living creatures. Jesus in his prayer asks God to give us this day our daily bread.
Jesus is the bread of life; Jesus said that his words were spirit and life
3/ Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.

 

The pictures put on the board: God would provide a lamb, Jesus on the cross. The prodigal son embracing his father. The empty tomb.

God our Father knows that we will fall into sin, the pictures express the forgiveness we received when we first turned to Jesus and the ongoing forgiveness that is ours in Jesus.
We ask Jesus to forgive us, when by our words and actions we fail to walk in his love. We revere God by keeping his word. Jesus said that if we love him we should keep his words to us, by loving one another.
*In the true story of the Israelites Exodus from Egypt they held God in high esteem and tried to be obedient to his commands. Moses interceded on behalf of the people and God forgave those who rebelled against him. Exodus 14: 10-16.  17:3-7
 In our reading the Israelites before they approached the mountain had to consecrate (set apart) themselves by washing their clothes. Even then they were held back from going closer to the presence of God.
*Debt to God
The first-born redeemed for 5 shekels.
“Every first-born man among your sons you shall redeem.” Exodus 13: 1,13.
“Everything that opens the womb of all flesh, whether man or beast . . . . nevertheless the first-born of man you shall redeem, . . . .And their redemption price (at a month old you shall redeem them) you shall fix at five shekels in silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs.” Numbers 18: 15, 16.
“And the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him (Jesus) up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons.” Luke 2: 22-24.
*Our Redemption through Jesus’ Passover
The Hebrew people at the start of their wilderness journey were instructed by God that only the people who were circumcised could eat the Passover Meal, they were a sanctified people, set apart by God’s covenant with Abraham, and the many Gentiles who accompanied them out of Egypt could not participate in the meal. These were the people who had connections with the descendants of Jacob but were not circumcised.
This gives insight into Jesus’ words concerning sanctification.”I have given them thy word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not pray that thou should take them out of the world, but that thou should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; thy word is truth, as thou didst send me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be consecrated in truth.” John 17: 14 – 19.
The words of Jesus in his prayer spoke of his disciples being in the world but not part of it.
Jesus – The Passover the Lamb of God laid down his life for us for the forgiveness of sins. In repentance and faith Jesus releases us from the bondage of sin and the devil.  The blood of Jesus written on the door posts and lintels of our hearts sets us free from all that stands against us.
The Holy Spirit the sanctifier acting on the word, Jesus. –  We are sanctified, set apart for the righteousness of God dwells in our being; we are in the world but not a part of it.
“You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you.” John 15: 3, 4.
 “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6: 20.
“But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6: 11
*In the second part of this verse “as we forgive those who sin against us.” 
Jesus asks us to forgive those things were other people have offended or hurt us. Jesus does not want his church to condemn people and bring them under judgement and punishment.
*Moses was a judge among the people of Israel. The people brought their disputes to him for his judgement believing that God would speak through him.
The Jews expected Jesus to be like Moses, but he did not judge people: when the two brothers came to Jesus to settle their dispute over their inheritance. Jesus responded by saying, “Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?” Luke 12:13, 14.
The woman caught in adultery was not condemned by Jesus. He asked those who brought her before him asking him to make a judgment over her under the Law of Moses. Jesus’ response “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.” John 8: 3-11.
4/ Lead us not into temptation.

 

The pictures on the board: The cockerel. The hen. The barren landscape. The open door.
 
The writer of Hebrews tells us that God will discipline us by gently showing and convicting us when we are not listening to his words.
God will test our faith as a result we strengthened and our faith increases.
 
*The temptation must have been very great to disobey Moses and God. The people of Israel were not to set foot beyond the designated area on the Mount Sinai.
5 Deliver us from evil.
On this board: The tank relating to war. The boat rescuing merchant seaman taken hostage at sea. Jesus praying for the lady bound for 18 years with the spirit of infirmity. The life changing experience of the cross and that’s expressed with the caterpillar being changed into a butterfly.

 

In our gospel reading the lady had been bound by Satan for 18 years and Jesus healed her releasing her from the spirit of infirmity.
The number 18 is mentioned twice in these verses 10 – 17.
The significance of the number 18
18 made up of 3 sixes 666.
666 are associated with Satan’s activities in the Bible.(see blog God the Mathematician) 

At the beginning of Chapter 13: 4 Jesus said, “Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worst offenders than all the others who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” 18 people of Jerusalem who were killed when the tower fell on them, unless they repented 
The 18 who were killed when the tower fell on them, came under judgement because of Israel’s sin. The fig tree that bore no fruit, again symbolized Israel’s sin. The tree was given a reprieve for a year hoping that the gardener’s tender loving care would help it to produce fruit  
In Jesus’ compassion he gave them the sign of Israel’s reprieve when he released the woman from Satan’s bondage with the spirit of infirmity. It also is prophetic of the restoration of Israel in the last days when Jesus returns. 
Applying Jesus’ victory over the devil and his activities.
The Lord’s Prayer has been used as a sword in releasing a person from Satan’s afflictions and bondage.
The power of forgiveness in bringing healing to soul and body, the prayer of deliverance from the spiritual activities in peoples’ lives and homes. Truly an amazing prayer.
6/ For the kingdom the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

 

This last sentence was added between 1st and 2nd Century. The church calls it the ‘Doxology’ a sentence of praise. The King James Bible includes this last sentence in Matthew 6: 13.
The pictures express worship and mission. People singing and praising God. A passport. A disciple in conversation with a man pointing the way to find Jesus.
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Everything on the board includes what the Church is about: worship, praise, healing and communicating the gospel so that people come to know Jesus by having faith in him.
 The churches praise in this Doxology re-enforces that the kingdom message, that there is great celebration in heaven over each person who accepts Jesus as their Saviour.
Good news
On Wednesday I heard from my sister who worships at a Pentecostal Church in Manchester that a revival has begun in South Wales. The outpouring began in April of this year in the  Victory Church, Cwmbran, Wales. 
faith in Jesus, fear and worry., kingdom of heaven, moths, purses, treasure

The Messiah’s Secret – Treasure in Heaven

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The Messiah’s Secret – Treasure in Heaven 
 
Readings Hebrews 11: 1-3. Luke 12: 32 – 40
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12: 32- 34. NIV Bible
 
The congregation were in two teams each purse was opened as the questions were answered. The contents were either treasure that will be kept in heaven or moths (3) 
All the purses had sweets and gifts, the treasure purses had items from magazine cut outs relating to Christian ministry. The 3 purses with the moths had no magazine cut outs. In each purse a number of points scored and were added up to produce a winning team. 
The treasure are the things that we do willingly for others, we do for Jesus. These things will never fade and are kept safe in heaven.
 
Treasure Hunt (teaching the little ones to identify and the purpose behind these pieces of church furniture)
A picture was cut into four parts each part placed in connection with a question: 
Where do we read stories from the Bible? The Lectern (Eagle). Where babies are baptised – The Font. 
Where we receive Communion- Communion rail. 
Where the stories of Jesus are expounded – The Pulpit/reading desk. 
On the back of the four parts of the picture each had a gift.The picture was of Jesus.
Jesus the treasure of the kingdom of heaven.
 
Message 
We can do ‘face-time’ or skype people using technology, we can put the numbers in that connect us to a friend or relative to where they live on our planet and we see them on the screen of the phone where they are at that moment in time and have a conversation with them. It is amazing technology, we know how it works through satellite, wireless and cable.
 
God’s technology is to give us his kingdom not by just being linked or connected by prayer, but for his kingdom to be actually within us.
 
So how does it work? It works by faith, everybody has this element of creation faith. In this realm of faith there is a battle going on; it’s were people are searching to connect their faith to something. 
Some people experience the sense of having been in a place before and assume it’s a previous life, as a result they may turn and put their faith in re-incarnation. 
Some people believe in UFO’s or others may say I’ve seen a ghost so they turn to spiritualism. 
So the battle ground for people’s faith is in the world. The robber who steals a person’s faith is the devil, he will distract, confuse and lie, so that a person does not come to faith in Jesus.
 
Faith in Jesus
God has made it so that we are able to enter his kingdom now, and we enter through faith in Jesus. In the New Testament many of the people who came to Jesus to be healed were asked by Jesus did they have faith in him. The only requirement was to have faith in him.
 
The Bible says faith – is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11: 1. 
 
Faith is like: when we are poorly we go to the doctor, he examines us and prescribes the treatment for his diagnosis. 
We have gone to the doctor in faith having the assurance and conviction that he/she will give us the medicine that will make us better.
 
Faith to believe that in his love, Jesus bore our sins upon the cross and healed our broken relationship with God and as a result, the Lord our God has poured his love, the treasure of the kingdom of God into our hearts.   
 
Jesus said, “In that day you will know that I am in the Father, and you in me, and I in you.” 
“If a person loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him.” John 14: 20, 23.     
 
The Holy Spirit of God’s kingdom acts on the words about Jesus, bringing into fruition Jesus’ abiding presence in the heart and mind as a result the Christian bears the fruit of his kingdom.  
After entering into the kingdom of God we become its’ Ambassadors with the mind of Christ and our behaviour following the Lord’s life and teaching.
 
“God the Father will glorify me, for he will take what is mine; and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said he will take what is mine and will declare it to you.” John 16: 14, 15. 
 
Isaiah wrote of the kingdom of God, having been given the knowledge of it through prophecy. “The wolf will lie down with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the yearling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.” Isaiah 11: 6, 7. 
 
The Kingdom of God is where compassion grows like trees and where flowers bear the fragrance of joy and their seeds of truth are scattered. Its’ pathways are of patience and peace and the atmosphere, the substance of it is completely made up of love. 
Fear and worry are not there in the kingdom, unless a window is opened to let them in, like the moth that ravages the clothes. Fear and worry eats away at our faith.
We remove the fear and the worry as we take our problems to Jesus and leave them at the foot of his empty cross, leaving them there. Trusting and believing that Jesus will help us. 
 
Faith without works is dead wrote the Lord’s brother James. 
Two years ago, I must admit that I was anxious as to whether we were right in having a Mothers Union (M.U) bric – brac Stall on Rawtenstall Market. We were raising funds for the M.U Relief Fund and I was asking myself as Rossendale’s M.U Deanery Leader were we living by faith? 
The day before the event, while I was sorting and pricing up the items these words that are in our reading popped into my mind, “Sell your possessions and give arms.” I was relieved and delighted at the same time that the Lord had answered our prayers. We were doing it for the right reasons. 
 
Our hope is that our inheritance in Jesus is kept safe in heaven for us. 
Jesus gave us the example in his parable of the man who went to his friends house at midnight, getting him out of bed to supply him with a loaf of bread to feed his quests who had arrived unexpectly.” His friend at first was not too pleased at being disturbed, but he gave his friend the loaf. Luke 11: 5-8 
 
Some of he things that will last for eternity, the list is endless: When we have responded to our neigbour’s need: the emergency and the errands etc. The times when we have prayed for their family and friends. The opportunities to tell them about Jesus. 
 
The Treasure that is stored in heaven.
There is an old saying, “You brought nothing into the world, and you can’t take anything out.” We can’t take our money or possessions with us when we die, but what we have in Jesus, we did not have it when we were born.
 
What we have in Jesus, we take with us when the Lord calls us home. It’s the treasure of the kingdom of God, the abiding presence of Jesus, the love of God in our hearts, his kingdom on the earth as it is in heaven. 
 
Judgment Seat of Christ. 
After the Lord calls out his church and we come before him for rewards, not punishment. The treasure that will never fade away will be a blessing to us: like the drink given to quench some one’s thirst, the words of comfort when we ministered to a person in their time of suffering. Corinthians 3: 13.                          
Making a purse.  
A piece of cardboard cut out in the shape of a purse 16 inches / 10 inches. Two pieces of material cut slightly larger than the cardboard. Sew the two pieces of material together leaving the top opening and one side unstitched to allow cardboard to fit inside. Place the cardboard inside. Stitch up the side. Using a strip of foil glue it to the top opening.  
Another piece of foil to make the clasp into a small diamond shape. Decorate with bows and ribbon, cut out and glue on to purse ‘Hello Kitty’ and ‘Wally.’ Pictures of moths and treasure boxes with words: love , joy and peace inside the lids.                                      
The purses were attached with split pins to a large (recycled) cardboard sheet covered with lining paper, and a blob of glue on the back of the cardboard to keep it the pin in place.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
butler and baker's dreams, Jesus walks on water, Joseph, Joseph a type of Christ, Joseph's dreams, Joseph's interpretation of dreams, Pharaoh's dream

The Messiah’s Secret – How Great is our God

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The Messiah’s Secret – How Great is our God

Readings Genesis 50: 4-26.  Mark 6: 45-52.  


Jesus in faith proved that he was greater than Moses when he walked on the waters of Galilee. Moses crossed the Red Sea by walking on dry land after God held back the Sea. 
Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water towards Jesus. He began to sink as his faith weakened. Jesus’ response to him, “O man of little faith, why did you doubt.” Matthew 14: 31  
 
Joseph was a man of faith, his faith increased as he suffered the trials of life. He prospered because of his faith in God.  
 
Joseph’s Story.    
 In the Hebrew Bible Jacob is the son of Isaac and Rebekah, the grandson of Abraham, Sarah and the younger twin brother of Esau. Jacob had twelve sons, by his two wives, Leah and Rachel and by their handmaidens Bilhah and Zilpah. The sons were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issacher, Zebulun, Joseph and Benjamin.  

Joseph was one of the two sons by Rachel, Benjamin was the other son and the youngest of Jacobs twelve sons. Joseph was seventeen when Jacob gave him a robe that he had made, a coat of many colours.  The brothers of Joseph knew that Jacob loved him more than any of them and when Joseph shared with them his dreams they began to hate him and as a result they despised him enough to want to kill him.

 
Joseph’s dreams   
 “Behold we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf arose and stood upright; and behold, your sheaves gathered round it, and bowed down to my sheaf.” When the brothers heard this they were indignant towards him. Joseph had another dream and he told it to his brothers, “Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” His father rebuked him saying, “Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come and bow ourselves to the ground before you?”   
Jacob sent Joseph to his brothers who were watching the sheep at Shechem. When he arrived there he found that they had moved on to Dotham. When his brothers saw him coming they plotted to kill him and throw him into a pit. Only Reuben didn’t want him killed, so he requested that they should not take his life before throwing him into the pit. Reuben had planned to rescue Joseph later.  They stripped him of his robe and threw him into a waterless pit. However, Judah spoke up when he saw the Ishmaelite traders in the distance and suggested that they should sell Joseph to them. But before this could take place, some Midianite traders passing by pulled Joseph out of the pit and they took him and sold him to the Ishmaelite traders for 20 shekels. (RSV Bible NIV Bible says the brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him to the Ishmaelites.) When Reuben saw that Joseph was no longer in the pit he was very upset he did not know what had become of Joseph. The other brothers dipped Joseph’s coat in goat’s blood and took it home to show Jacob suggesting that a wild animal had killed him. Genesis 37    
 
Chapter 39.     
 The Ishmaelites took Joseph to Egypt where they sold him to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s guard. The Lord was with Joseph and he was successful in all his endeavours. Potiphar made him overseer of his house and field. Joseph was handsome and attracted the attention of Potiphar’s wife, but Joseph refused her advances towards him. However, one day Joseph was in the house attending to his work when Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him. In his haste to free himself from her, she held onto his garment as he was fleeing out of the house. Afterwards she accused Joseph to her husband of trying to seduce her. Potiphar arrested Joseph and took him to the king’s prison where he was imprisoned.  
 
Chapter 40.   
 The Lord loved Joseph and upheld him, the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph the care of the prisoners.  Two prisoners Pharaoh’s butler and baker were also in the prison. One night they both had dreams each dream had its own meaning: Joseph interpreted the butler’s dream – “In my dream there was a vine before me, and on the vine there were three branches; as soon as it budded, its blossoms shot forth and the clusters ripened into grapes. Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup and placed the cup in his hand.” Joseph said to him this is the interpretation: the three branches are three days; within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office; and you shall place Pharaoh’s cup in his hand as formerly, when you were his butler.” Joseph asked the butler if he would remember him as he had done nothing deserving imprisonment.

When the baker saw that the interpretation was favourable, he told Joseph his dream, “There were three cake baskets on my head and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh. But the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head. Joseph interpreted the dream – “The three baskets are three days within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head – from you – and hang you on a tree and the birds will eat the flesh from you.”   Both dreams were fulfilled on the third day which was Pharaoh’s birthday. But the butler did not remember Joseph, he forgot him.   
 
Chapter 41      
After being 2 years in prison Joseph was summoned by Pharaoh to interpret his dreams. The first dream – “There came up out of the Nile seven cows sleek and fat, and thy fed in the reed grass. And behold seven other cows, gaunt and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. The gaunt cows and thin cows ate up the seven sleek and fat cows. 

The second dream,” Behold seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk. And behold, after them sprouted seven ears, thin and blighted by the eat wind. And the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump and full ears.”     
Verse 25, Joseph interpreted the dreams: “The dream of the Pharaoh is one; God has revealed in Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good cows are seven good years and the seven good ears are seven years; the dream is one. The seven lean and gaunt cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind are also seven years of famine. There will be seven years of plenty throughout all the land of Egypt, but after them there will arise seven years of famine.” Joseph proposed that Pharaoh should put in place overseers to gather all the food in the good years and store it in the cities. The food will be a reserve against the seven years of famine.   
The proposal was accepted by Pharaoh and his servants. In response to this Pharaoh made Joseph head over his house and governor over all the land of Egypt, bestowing upon him his signet ring and gave him fine linen garments and a gold chain. He was second only to Pharaoh, he rode behind him in his second chariot. Pharaoh gave Joseph in marriage to the daughter of Potiphar’s priest of On. Joseph was 30 years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh. The seven years that followed the grain was stored in the cities in readiness for the famine. Before the year of the famine started Joseph had two sons Manasseh and Ephriam. Manasseh – “For, he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and my entire father’s house.” Ephraim –  “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.” Joseph opened the stores of grain as the famine told hold.    
 
Chapter 42    
The famine was server not just in Egypt but all over the region. When Jacob heard that Egypt had grain he sent 10 of his sons to buy grain. The brothers of Joseph came before him in their request to buy grain. Joseph knew who they were when they said that they had come from Canaan, but he did not let them know who he was. He treated them like strangers and spoke roughly to them. Joseph remembered his dream.   

Instead of revealing who he was he accused them of being spies, in response they gave account of their family; they were sons of one man and were honest. In verse 29 “We are twelve brothers, sons of one father; one is no more, and the youngest this day with our father in the land of Canaan. Then the man, the lord of the land said to us, ‘By this I shall know that you are honest men:  leave one of your brothers with me, and take grain for the famine of your households, and go your way. Bring your youngest brother to me; then I shall know that you are not spies but honest men, and I will deliver to you your brother, and you shall trade in the land.”  Joseph had ordered that the money should be put in the brother’s sacks as well as the grain. When they saw the money Jacob was perplexed and worried, he was afraid of losing  two sons, Simeon and Benjamin the son of Rachel.
 
Chapter 43     
The famine continued, Jacob had relented and said that Benjamin could go with them, so he sent his sons to Egypt again to buy grain. Jacob insisted that they should take double the money for the grain that they had already received and for the grain they hoped to purchase and also take with them gifts of fruit, balm, honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds.      
When they arrived in Egypt, Joseph saw Benjamin was with them. He ordered his steward to prepare a meal for them at his house. They were a little concerned and afraid that it might be a trick to capture and enslave them. When Joseph came home he greeted them and inquired about the welfare of their father and asked if he was still alive. He asked if this was their younger brother, they replied that he was. Joseph was overwhelmed with joy at seeing his brother Benjamin he sought a place to go and weep.  After he had composed himself he returned and together with his brothers they ate the meal.    
 
Chapter 44    
While they were eating, the steward filled the sacks and also placed their money in them  before they left for Canaan. Joseph also had instructed his steward to place his silver cup in Benjamin’s sack along with his money in payment for the grain. The brothers set out for Canaan, but only after going a short distance Joseph sent his steward to search for his cup and apprehend the one who had it and to let the others go.   
 Every one of them lowered their sack and it was searched, the steward found the cup in Benjamin’s sack, he was bound and taken back to the city. The brothers returned to the city to Joseph’s house and before Joseph they pleaded that he should not keep Benjamin from his father Jacob. Judah related to Joseph his father’s distress on sending Benjamin to Egypt as he was afraid of losing another of Rachel’s son.  
 
Chapter 45     
Hearing this from Judah Joseph could not control himself and he sent away his servants, only he and his brothers remained. Joseph made himself known to his brothers and he wept aloud. He inquired after his father, but his brothers were dismayed at his presence. “So Joseph beckoned them to come near to him where upon he told them not to fear or be angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years; and there are five years in which there will be neither ploughing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God.”  Joseph bid them go and tell his father that he was alive and he had the authority to give to them the land of Goshen.  When Pharaoh heard he welcomed Joseph’s family to come and live in Egypt. When Jacob heard that Joseph was still alive and ruler over all Egypt, he found it hard to believe, but when he saw the waggons that Joseph had sent he believed. “It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive; and I will go and see him before I die.”
All the persons of the house of Jacob that went to live in Egypt were seventy. Jacob was 130 years of age when they entered Egypt and he died aged 147. Joseph died in Egypt 110 years of age. Genesis 50: 22.   
 
 Chapter 47: 29-31. 49: 31.  
Jacob had discussed with Joseph where he wanted to be buried, he wanted to be buried in Canaan near to where Abraham, Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah and Leah, so Joseph asked Pharaoh if he and his family could go to the place of burial at Atad in Canaan. Pharaoh consented.     
 
Joseph a type of Christ.
The brothers had heeded Joseph’s words about God having allowed his suffering and being treated with contempt by his brothers. Joseph a type of Christ in his suffering and being thrown into a pit to die, signifying Christ’s death and when he was pulled out of the pit by the Midianite traders it was like Jesus’ resurrection. 
Joseph being sold into slavery and was redeemed from slavery and imprisonment by God through Pharaoh having appreciated his interpretation of his dream, he was raised up to sit in the second chariot after Pharaoh. 
Jesus was redeemed resurrected by God and raised up to be seated at the right hand of the throne of God, where he intercedes for those  who come to him in faith.         
Joseph’s brothers sought his forgiveness, but Joseph reminded them that he was not God. 
Jesus forgives those who come to him in repentance and faith. 

Jane’s True Testimony (I know this dear lady personally)
In Sept 1989 Jane who had no links with any church met Jesus as she walked along the disused railway line with her dogs.
“First I would like to explain that I finally forgiven someone, I mean truly forgiven. A few days later I was walking along the disused railway in Helmshore with our dogs. It was a pleasant day, very still. I felt a wind blow up, but nothing was moving. I saw in front of me a life size Jesus on the cross. He was dead, his body grey, stone like, I couldn’t bear to look, I turned away. I felt all the wrong that I had done being taken away from me, but I didn’t want him to, because I physically felt the pain that I had caused him. I felt ashamed and started crying. The next minute I felt a presence next to me. I wasn’t sure if it was Jesus or God, but I couldn’t see anyone. All the weight I had been carrying inside had been taken away. I felt so happy, so clean. Everywhere was so beautiful, the colours were so bright, I had never seen colour like it before.” 

Joseph’s brothers had repented 
“So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave us command before he died, Say to Joseph, Forgive, I pray you, the transgressions of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.’ And now, we pray you, for give the transgressions of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept as they spoke to him. His brothers also came and fell down before him, and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Fear not, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he reassured them and comforted them.” 50: 16-21.

While Jesus  he was dying on the cross, he said “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Jesus forgave the sins of Israel and all of those who had brought charges against him. Luke 23: 34.

Joseph saved Jacob and his sons and their families, “God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth.” Genesis 45: 7.                                                                                              
The Messiah’s Secret  
Jesus Christ would have saved the nation of Israel had the leaders recognised him after his ascension when the disciples of Jesus proclaimed for the first time at Pentecost that Jesus was the Christ, God meant his suffering for good, fulfilling Joseph’s words. 
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs which God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know ——this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. But God raised him up, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. ” Acts 2: 22-24. Peter continued to witness that Jesus had fulfilled King David’s prophecy of the Messiah’s bodily resurrection. 
Those Jews who accepted Jesus proclaimed him to the Jew first and then to the Gentiles. Jesus the Saviour of the world.  

Jacob crossing the Jordan in his death was prophetic of the journey that Joshua made leading the Israelites into the Promised Land and of Jesus’ Baptism.                       
Jacob’s funeral was like our state funeral were high ranking people in society pay their respects to the death of a leader or a royal person. Thousands of his own relatives plus Egyptian men and women made the journey to Atad situated beyond the Jordan near to where it flows into the Salt Sea.  
When Joshua was about to enter the Promised Land, the priests were to carry the Ark of the Covenant and stand in the middle of the Jordan, as they did so the river stood in a heap and the Israelites crossed over on dry land. Afterwards the river returned to normal. Joshua 3: 8. 4: 15-18. 
 Baptism     
The Ark symbolising God’s presence, his meeting place between the Cherubim on the lid of the Ark where the sacrificial blood was sprinkled by the high priest on the Day of Atonement. We see this in the tomb situation when Mary looked into the tomb and saw two angels one where his feet had been and the other where his head had laid. Jesus having made the sacrifice of himself, the final atonement for sin and the causes of sin against our Holy God. God raised Jesus up from the dead and in his resurrection he has redeemed us. Redeemed by his blood and set free into the freedom of his forgiveness. Water a symbol  cleansing in dying to sin and being raised up from death in being filled with the eternal Holy Spirit.   
 
This scene a picture of our baptism.  
In faith we enter into Jesus’ baptism through acknowledging our sin against God; we step down into the river where the water had been, we look to the middle of the river and see Jesus on the cross and his offering of himself to take our sin upon him. As we look into his face we ask for forgiveness and then we move towards the other side of the river and step out onto the land, we have been raised with Christ into his kingdom.                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
Choluteca Bridge Honduras, cross, Day Away, Goats and the monster, Jesus name above all names, Jesus the bridge, Material Betterment, Moral Betterment, new age spirituality, Progress, St Mary's Away Day

The Messiah’s Secret – Jesus the Bridge

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The  Messiah’s Secret – Jesus the Bridge

 Colossians 1: 15-28. Luke 10: 38-42.

Above a children’s story about three goats who wanted to cross over the bridge to go to church on the other side of the river, but the monster on the bridge tried to stop them. The last goat tossed the monster over the bridge ‘splash’ and he was never seen again. 

The pull of the world will stop us from crossing over the bridge that God has provided in Jesus. The Lord Jesus will help us to overcome all the things that would stop us: it might be that we have no one to go with. When we don’t know what to do we say a prayer telling God what our problem might be and so we leave it with Him.
 I know a young lady who as a young child regularly on a Sunday morning would go and sit alone in her local church graveyard and she listened to the people singing, she longed to go in and join them. When she grew up she told her family she wanted to become a Christian, although her family didn’t approve as they followed the Islamic faith, seeing her determination they eventually understood. Jesus answered her prayer when the time was right.

 Mary’s Church  ‘Away Day.‘  Rev Mark Cowley began by mentioning a little of his background: Before the Lord called him to become a Vicar in the Church of England he worked as a Medical Engineer. Three men in particular who he worked with: John Charmers, John Murphy and Kevin Hardy they had perfected the world renowned ‘hip replacement’ joint that is so successful in orthopaedic surgery.  He described the three men as being totally different in mannerisms, background and personality. But that did not affect their ability to work together with amazing results.   

During the second session in the afternoon he showed us this picture below:
We realised that the river had changed its course and the bridge stood on its own. 

The Honduran town of Choluteca needed to cross a river, so a bridge was built. In 1998 Hurricane Mitch dropped 36 inches of rain swelling the river to six times its width, destroying the road and moving the river. When the storm was over, the bridge was standing in perfect condition spanning over dry land, with no roads connected to it. 


Mark used this picture to illustrate team building: being ready to respond to the changes that may well occur in the future for instance: the Deanery having fewer clergy working in the Rossendale Valley. 

Our church St Mary’s today is made up of people who believe and witness that Jesus Christ is Lord: some  are life-long members through family connections and there are those who have joined St Mary’s through being an Anglican and some have come from having no church background that have come to faith through hearing the good news about Jesus.                                                                                              
The church at Colossae was made up of people who had come from different backgrounds and religious beliefs. A small percentage were probably Jewish people and a high percentage who had once worshiped idols, like the people on Mars Hill, Athens and some who had no religion at all. All of them had come to the knowledge that the name of Jesus stands above all of their former worship of an idol deity or ideology.

Jesus name above all names.  
Paul reminded them of the Incarnation of Jesus, that he is the name above all names, “He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation, for in him all things were created, in heaven and on the earth, visible and invisible.” Colossians 1: 15,16.   

In our nation over recent years, we are seeing more people responding to new age spirituality and it’s being presented as the norm.     
On our youngest daughters’ recent home visit, she told us that she was seeking a career change, so she has started on a degree nutrition course. I asked if I could have a look at what she was studying. I recognised agnosticism and new age spirituality that was being put forward as part of the Module’s discussion on “Progress.”  

Extract from ‘Module One Ref: Slack, J. D., & Wise, J. M. 2005 ‘Progress’ in Culture and Technology: A primer (pp. 6-26). Peter Lang, New York.
“Defining Progress  
The dictionary definition of progress is to ‘move forward’. If we are walking, we’re said to be making progress down the street. If we are beginning to accomplish a task, we are said to be making progress. The dictionary meaning is, however, only the beginning of what progress means in everyday cultural sense. To move forward is to move in one direction: forward as opposed to backward. Consequently, movement forward implies a direction or goal. Similarly, making progress toward the completion of a task implies an endpoint. Progress, then, in its cultural use, is not just movement forward, but movement towards something: a goal or endpoint. If a patient is said to be making progress, he or she is moving towards the goal of health. If a disease is said to be progressing, it is advancing, presumably, towards death.

In broad cultural terms, progress is often used to underscore the belief that humankind, as a whole, moves forward. Robert Nisbet, a historian who has written extensively on progress, put it this way: “Simply stated, the idea of progress holds that mankind has advanced in the past from some aboriginal condition of primitiveness, barbarism, or even nullity (nothingness) is now advancing, and will continue to advance through the foreseeable future.”
In addition, as Nisbet sees it, this advancing is not mere movement, but a movement towards something. We are not marching blindly into a future. Rather, we are advancing towards what we envision as utopia on Earth. Things will get better and better, and eventually we will achieve what we understand to be ‘the good life.’ Progress shows us how far we have come, what we have achieved, and how much better life is now than it used to be. It also reveals to us where we think we are going.

The Goal’s of Progress
The goals or endpoints of progress are usually unstated, left for the cultural critic to determine by carefully ‘reading’ the culture. However, whether a goal is stated or not, it typically takes the form of what is considered to be ‘the good life’. Most people have a sense of what, for them, the good life entails. It typically involves some of the following: family, community, happiness, leisure, health, happiness, wealth, harmony, and so on, though not necessarily in these terms or this order. Overall, however, two types of goals are associated with progress: material betterment and moral betterment. Material betterment might mean that life is more comfortable, that we are healthier, and that we have more things, more conveniences perhaps. Moral betterment might mean that spiritually we are more enlightened and that we treat each other better and with more tolerance.

The goals of progress (again usually assumed as part of unstated cultural knowledge) usually match the fundamental values of society. Progress at a particular moment in the development of culture could be ‘a chicken in a pot,’ indicating a democratic value of universal health and physical well-being; ‘a car in every garage,’ indicating the values of widespread personal mobility and private ownership; the absence of war or violence, indicating the values of peace and spiritual enlightenment, or a combination of all three. In any given historical context, understanding the assumed goals of progress is crucial to understanding that culture.”

Looking at these two Goals associated with ‘Progress’.    Material and Moral Betterment.  
Material Betterment – Progress measured and valued in material possessions, which is agnosticism.
Agnosticism – is were a person holds the view that we know nothing beyond material phenomena.

The Bible today identifies material betterment as being under  law. 
Meaning: putting our trust and investing in the pursuit of material possessions. 
Material betterment may satisfy our physical needs, but does not satisfy the inner person, the soul, which is the spiritual entity within us, our soul is constantly searching to find fulfillment and speaking from experience my soul was searching for God.  

Moral betterment – spiritually asserting self control over our nature.    
It is under the law of self improvement of human nature. Romans Chapters 7 & 8              Sadly, there won’t be an absence of war and violence because mankind’s spirituality is corrupted by anger, rivalry, jealousy, murder, lies, deceit, licentiousness, greed and the dominance of self. Mankind being a god unto himself. The Bible refers to these as sin.  
Paul’s letter to the Christians at Colossae he reminds them of their former life were their hearts and minds corrupted by sin. “And you who once were estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death.” Colossians 1: 21. 
Below a diagram showing the gulf between mankind and God. The cross is placed in the gap carrying the weight of sin and acts like a bridge..  

Jesus in his love for us, died to his own desires and accomplishments. 

His Father’s purpose in his coming as one of us was to pay the price for sin which he did on the cross. Death is the punishment for sin, Jesus took all sin and its causes and bore it on his cross and in his death we find forgiveness. 

Jesus Christ  is God’s bridge 
it is through faith in Jesus that we pass over from the deadness of our old nature to our new nature in Christ and so we begin to feel how God feels about his love for the sinner but not the sin in people’s lives.     
Paul’s letter to the Colossians. “Seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practises and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all and in all.” Colossians 3: 9,10. 

  We are all different in personalities, but when we accept Jesus into our heart we all have the same knowledge and nature of God and the same empowering of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. In the indwelling presence of Jesus we find fulfillment, as we are complete in him. The end of our life on earth is not a spiritual dead end. No we are a new creation in Christ, created by God to be his children. Children not born of flesh and blood, but born of the eternal Spirit of God. This is our hope that is shared with millions of other Christians across the world.  


A Chinese Christian Meditation taken from the book ‘From Shore to Shore’ page 46  
“Christ, Son of God, preceded all creation. He is the image of God, with all God’s majesty, power and glory. Yet he was willing to be humbled, even to be a servant.
 It was precisely because he was humbled to the lowest that God exalted him to the highest, above all things. Though he was rich, he became poor for our sake. And because he was poor. God made him heir of all creation.   
He cared for neither power nor position, nor did he seek them. He willingly humbled himself, and therefore God filled him with all things. He poured himself out, but God filled him, that all things might find their richness in him.  
When will I learn, O God, to see poverty in riches, to see humility in exaltation, to find plenty in emptiness, and empty myself, so that I may be filled with all of creation.”                                                                                                                                                
‘From Shore to Shore’ page 46 ‘A Chinese Christian Meditation’ read in two parts.   

“Christ, Son of God, preceded all creation. He is the image of God, with all God’s majesty, power and glory. 
Jesus we recognise how you demonstrated the power and glory of God in healing sickness and disease, when you raised the dead, walked on water, manufactured bread and turned water into wine, only God could do those things.  

Yet he was willing to be humbled, even to be a servant.  
 We are your servant Jesus and we want to follow you wherever you go.                                                                                       
It was precisely because he was humbled to the lowest that God exalted him to the highest, above all things. 
Lord, it is hard to go unnoticed, but we know in our heart that it pleases you. 

Though he was rich, he became poor for our sake. And because he was poor, God made him heir of all creation. 
What we have received from you Lord, we have treasure within our being.

He cared for neither power nor position nor did he seek them. 
In his love for us he has raised us up to be his child, a child of God.

He willingly humbled himself, and therefore God filled him with all things. 
Dear Lord teach us how to pray for what pleases your heart.

He poured himself out, but God filled him, that all things might find their richness in him.  
May we give and not  count the cost, toil and not to seek for rest,and labour not seeking any reward. 

When will we learn, O God, to see poverty in riches. 
May we, Lord, put true emphasis not on the things created for our pleasure, but on knowing God himself, the provider.    

When will we learn, to see humility in exaltation.  
To trust and invest in God’s will and as Jesus was blessed by God, so should we do the same.  

When will we learn,To find plenty in emptiness, and empty ourselves, so that we may be filled with all of creation.”  
Thank you heavenly Father that we have found fulfilment in Jesus Christ.  

 (The goats and monster pulled along on curtain tracks.)                                                                            
                                     
70 disciples, focus on Jesus., Follow me, Foxes have holes in the ground, God's love, John Mark left Paul and Barnabas for Jerusalem, Samaritan Village, the birds have nests

The Messiah’s Secret – Jesus, the Son of man had nowhere to Lay His Head

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Andy Murray has set his face like flint, mentally sharpened up in his determination to win the men’s final at tennis at the Wimbledon Tournament. 


Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem   Luke 9: 51-62. In our Gospel reading Jesus knows that his ministry will soon be fulfilled, so there was a sense of urgency to get the kingdom message out. In this incident at the Samaritan village Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy. “For the Lord our God helps me; therefore I have not been confounded; therefore my face is like a flint, and I know I shall not be put to shame.” Isaiah 50: 7.
Jesus was not deflected from his task by the Samaritan’s rejection of him.

Jesus had sent messengers before him to make it known to the people in the Samaritan village that he was coming.  The men on entering the village would look for hospitality where he was going to eat or maybe sleep and where he would preach and minister. When the disciples made contact with the people at the Samaritan village, the residents did not want Jesus to come to them. It no doubt was because the religion of the Jews differed from the Samaritans.   

Dake’s  Annotated Reference Bible. The Samaritans. “These were the descendants of the pagans that settled in the land at the time of the captivities along with the few Jews who remained in the land. (2 Kings 17: 24-34.)They formed their own religion, a mixture of Judaism and paganism. They adopted the Pentateuch as the sole sacred book and erected a temple on Mt Gerizim near Shechem. 331 BC. The returning exiles rejected their help in rebuilding Jerusalem and the temple. (Ezra 4. Nehemiah 1. 4. 6.) The breach between the returning Jews became permanent and so acute that the Jews would not pass through Samaria to go into Galilee, but had a circuitous(round about) route east of Jordan.”(John 4: 9. 8: 48) 


The disciples James and John wanted Jesus to send fire down from heaven against these Samaritan villagers, who in fact were their neighbours. But we read that Jesus was not pleased, he rebuked them for their suggestion and they went to another village.
The Samaritans were their neighbours and we know that Jesus taught that the law was fufilled in loving God and our neighbours as ourselves.

Paul in his letter to the Galatians  wrote that they should not use their freedom in Christ to return to sinful ways: like retaliation against our neighbours.  Galatians 5:1, 13-25 
Today retaliation figures high amongst people who bear grudges, it is as a result of unforgiveness and in many cases it continues down the generations. 

Always Follow Jesus.
Below a children’s quiz with 8 pictures based on the Gospel reading with a boy and girl on skate boards going around the board.1. Fox. 2. Birds. 3. Roundabout (keep going and don’t look back). 4. Joseph and Mary. 5. Wreath. 6. House. 7. Mum waving goodbye. 8. Plow.The right answers to questions about the story to move around the board. For example: What were the people called who lived in the village? Where do foxes live? Bird build themselves —– to lay their eggs in. etc.

 “As they were going along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you, wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, the birds have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said,”Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” And another said, “I will follow you Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9: 57 – 62. 


The three people who are mentioned in the reading two of them were identified by Matthew in his account of this incident. Matthew 8: 18-22.  
Matthews writes, “Now when Jesus saw great crowds around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side of the lake. “And there a scribe came up to him. . .”   

The first man was the scribe, he said “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied that foxes find shelter and rest in holes in the ground and the birds have nests. The scribe was making his commitment to Jesus, unlike many of his fellow scribes who had turned away from Jesus. 
In Jesus’ reply he indicated his sorrow for the people of the Samaritan village he had been refused somewhere to lay his head, a bed for the night. Jesus’ ministry was to bring healing between Jew and Samaritan. The parable of the ‘Good Samaritan’ is where the Jewish man who was injured and robbed was helped by the Samaritan and taken to the Inn to be cared for. Also the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus spoke to her and in their conversation Jesus made it known to her that he was the Messiah. She then went and evangelized the people at Sychar her home town and many came to faith.

The second person – Matthew identifies as a disciple. Jesus spoke to him saying; ‘Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”  
He genuinely had a problem with his father’s death, under law the eldest son had the duty to see to the funeral arrangements. This man’s family would not be too pleased if he did not comply with the law. ‘The dead bury the dead’ – his family would put duty over following Jesus.

But here Jesus who is God revealed in the flesh, he instituted the law. He was giving this man leave to be set free from the law with its customs and rules.   

Jesus was giving this disciple the freedom to go and proclaim the Kingdom of God message.  In the following verse in Chapter 10 Jesus chose seventy disciples to go ahead of him. Maybe two of these three disciples had been chosen by Jesus to go before him with the message.    
“Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you; heal the sick in it and say to them, “The Kingdom of God has come near to you” Luke 10: 1, 9.  

The third person said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”  
Had this man last minute nerves making an excuse to delay going out with the seventy or maybe in his love for his family, he wanted to go and say goodbye before setting out with the other disciples.  

First and foremost we are called to love the Lord our God.   
A father asked his child, how much do you love me? I            I so much. He repeated: how much do you love me? I                              I  and again, how much do you love me? I   arms stretched wide I.  I love you that much Jesus loves us that much embracing all our sin on his cross, setting us free from our sins.   

Matthew’s testimony  Matthew shared with me his testimony – When a visiting Methodist preacher Otto from South Africa stayed for a short time with the Methodist Circuit  in  Rossendale. On this particular Sunday he was preaching at Longholme Methodist Church, during his sermon he went around the congregation asking people face to face, “Do you love me?” When he came to Matthew and looked at him squarely in the face and said, ‘Do you love me,”  Matthew’s head knowledge about Jesus became heart knowledge at that moment.  He knew how much Jesus loved him  so much to die for him, bearing his sin on his cross. 

Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”  
Paul and Barnabas had been joined by another disciple John Mark at Salamis Cyprus. However, he left them shortly afterwards and returned to Jerusalem. Acts 13: 5, 13. When Barnabas and Paul decided to make a return visit to all the churches where they had been. Barnabas wanted John Mark to accompany them, but Paul thought it best not to take him with them, as he had withdrawn from them at Phamphylia and had not gone with them to do the work. Acts 15: 36-41. 
Paul and Barnabas their faces were like flint towards their task, but John Mark looked back he was not up to the task he perhaps looked to himself and his own capabilities rather than keeping focused on Jesus.  
The plowman has to focus on his plow going in a straight line and keeping as close as possible to the furrow. Keeping our eyes focused on Jesus and for him to be the center of our life. 

Jesus at the center of all we do. 
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look into his wonderful face and the things of the earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace.” Hymn Mission Praise

Eddie Askew in his book, “Talking with Hedgehogs’ It is a collection from his Radio Programme ‘Thoughts for the Day.’ 
Eddie’s radio spot first thing every morning was designed to start the day focusing on the ‘Word’ Jesus. Often the Lord gave him something that he had observed in his daily life and related it to scripture, so that the word would speak to his radio listeners at various times during the day, making Jesus’ comforting presence apparent within us.                                                 
a woman of the city, absolved from sin, God shows no partiality, justified, reclining at the table, Simon the Pharisee, the woman anointed Jesus' feet

The Messiah’s Secret – The Woman withe the Alabaster Flask

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The  Messiah’s  Secret –  The Woman with the Alabaster Flask

Readings: Galatians  2: 15-21.  Luke 7: 36, 8: 3. 
Reading the Gospel in parts with the reading being mimed, acted out at the same time.  

We recalled that Jesus had been invited to join Simon and his friends for a meal at his house. Jesus was reclining at the table when a lady, described as a woman of the city a sinner, a prostitute, carrying a flask of ointment came in and interrupted their meal.        

She had heard that Jesus was at Simon’s house having a meal there, so she planned her visit. it would appear to be unannounced as Luke used the word, “And behold, a woman of the city . . . 

From the reading we read that this lady was under a strong conviction of her need to get right with God. Prior to this, some hours before, she may have listened to the message from Jesus or from a disciple, “Repent the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” And this led her to come to Jesus in faith and repentance, as her contrition, her contrite, broken heart for her sin, would indicate. 
She had brought with her an alabaster flask of ointment  and stood behind Jesus weeping, as he sat reclined at the table, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 

Some Christian theologians suggest that she would have used similar perfumes in her trade as a woman of the city. This then was an anointing of the feet that carried a symbol of her trade, prostitution, and bore it on the cross.

Jesus forgave her sin.

Jesus did not come into the world to condemn the world but to redeem the world from sin so that whosoever believe in him are set from sin, so It is through faith in Jesus.

Faith – is not by sight but by the things hoped for, but not yet realised . 
Faith is like posting a letter we put the address and the stamp on the envelope and post it, believing that it will reach its destination and also we may expect a reply in due course.

The woman’s faith brought her to Jesus, the only person who was able to justify, declared not guilty by God, to vindicate, and absolve her sin.                                        
She showed her love for God and her love fulfilled the law.  
Also in the reading these aspects of love – The woman showing her love, in wanting to please God by coming to Jesus in repentance, saying sorry and in her gratitude and respect anointing his feet. 
God’s love – Jesus forgave her without hesitation in his love for her.  

When Simon watched the woman, his face must have shown his disgust.  
Simon thought that he was justified by the Jewish law and he was indignant towards Jesus and the woman. He thought that Jesus should not have allowed this woman to touch him.                                                                                                                    
Jesus told the parable to prove that Simon was not justified, declared not guilty before God by the law, Simon was still a sinner in God’s eyes. 
“A certain creditor had two debtors: one owed him 500 denarii, and the other 5o. When they could not pay he forgave them both. Now which one will love him the more?” Simon answered, “The one I suppose, to whom he forgave the more.” Jesus said, “You have judged rightly.”

Through the woman’s actions, Jesus pointed out to Simon his sin. 
He had failed to show Jesus the customary hospitality shown to a special guest. Jesus said to Simon, “I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet. You gave me no kiss. You did not anoint my feet with oil. Therefore; he, who is forgiven little, loves little.”  

Simon’s sin coming from love of self: showed no remorse, no gratitude or respect for Jesus.  
The parable almost gives us a graf. 500 Danarii the greater, whereas, Simon’s 50 Danarii a big dip. The great outpouring of love and a trickle of love. 

Both had sinned and both were forgiven, both were debtors to God. 

We have another example in John’s Gospel were those present had varying degrees of sin: the woman caught in the act of adultery. John 8: 3- 11    
The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman before Jesus who was accused of committing adultery, which was punishable by stoning her to death. They wanted Jesus to make a judgement over her. Jesus’ response he brought the scribes and Pharisees and all those present to account for their sin.  “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.” When they heard these words, they went away, until Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. He forgave her sin and told her to sin no more.
Jesus had the authority to forgive the lady her sins.
Those sat at the table began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 
Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, forgave both their debts as both were debtors to God.

The Messiah’s Secret page 57 
Jesus had the authority to forgive sins without an offering been made at the temple or a ritual of washing. Jesus was God revealed in the flesh. Jesus proved that he had the authority to forgive sins by his healing ministry. The Jews believed that sin resulted in sickness and only God could forgive sin and as a result heal the person. Psalm 41: 4. Jesus therefore proved his authority by forgiveness of sin and healing the person. Mark 2: 1-12.  
Not every sickness is a result of sin John 9: 2, 3, 14.  

Peter Meadows & Joseph Steinberg in their book “Beyond Belief” page 50 They confirm this view concerning Jesus’ authority to forgive sins in connection with his healing ministry. “To Jewish people, only God could forgive sins. So when Jesus told someone their sins were forgiven it was no different from saying ‘I’m God’. And when he healed people of their disease or disfigurement he was putting out the same message. Jewish people believed physical suffering was caused by the person’s sin. For a person to be healed meant that their sin had been dealt with – only God could do that.”  

Jesus showed no partiality between the women, Simon the Pharisee and the scribes and other people present. By the same standards in the Parable they were all debtors to God, sin against God.  

It is through faith in Jesus we are freed from our debt, our sin against God. We can not justify ourselves.  
The law was a stumbling block to the Jews because they thought it would save them.
For us Gentiles because the Hebrew Scriptures prove through the prophesies that God had planned to send a Saviour we read their scriptures, and through those scriptures we become aware of sin against God, and were God put in place the law as a guide to what sin is.  But Christians are not under Jewish law.                                                                                                                                      

New Testament
Jesus taught that through faith in him who through his life laid down. We are justified by his blood that was the final sacrifice for sin and the forgiveness of sin.
“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God.” Hebrews 9: 14  
At the last supper Jesus said, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26: 28  
The words ‘for many’ include the Gentiles, therefore, Jesus is the only one who is able to justify, and declare us not guilty and absolve us from our sin against God.  

When we like the woman recognise our need to get right with God, we will be convicted to seek God out.  
Some times Jesus meets a person as they cry out in desperation or it may be through hearing about Jesus from someone or even through reading the message on a board outside a church.   
For example: 

We feel like this kettle, empty, discontented with life.  When we accept  Jesus as our Saviour it is like filling the kettle with water, filling our empty space within. When we put the plug attached to the kettle into the socket on the wall, we switch it on and the current flows into the kettle and boils the water.  

Likewise, our faith connects us with Jesus, the current between us and God is his Spirit, and he shows his love and power to forgive us, absolving us from all our sin. As a result we have an amazing freedom and peace within, that the world cannot give. 

We are crucified with Christ, this is realised when we know that our sins against God have been forgiven and we feel how God feels about sin. When we do fall into sin, we are like the sheep that falls into the ditch and is not comfortable there.  
“But if we walk in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin” 1 John 1: 7.

The Devil attacks the holy love of God. 
He tries to pollute the love of God with the universal love that is tainted by sin due to the fall of Adam and Eve. But we like the woman in our reading we have turned away from sin, and we are justified, declared not guilty by the blood of Jesus that testifies to our new nature in Christ, God’s nature.

God shows no partiality between races and cultures across the world and he blesses only the truth about his Word Jesus. 
Paul in his letter to the Galatians. “And from those who were reputed to be something (what they are makes no difference to me: God shows no partiality.” Galatians 2: 6.  “Peter said, “Truly, I perceive that God shows no partiality, but in every nation any one who fears him and does what is right and acceptable to him.” Acts 10: 34                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Cain and Abel, fringe, hem of his garment, Jairus, Learning to sail, Parable of the Sower, Sailing across Galilee, Sailing boat, who touched me

The Messiah’s Secret – Learning to Sail with the Holy Spirit

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The Messiah’s Secret – The Surging Crowds

Evening Lectionary Mark 3: 7-19  Genesis 4: 1-16.

The celebrities of today have huge following both on line and at gigs. They also have people around them who look after their well being, especially when the teenagers want more than a glimpse of their celebrity. They would like an autograph or something that belongs to them or just to touch them.

Jesus began his ministry in Galilee and we read that he had a tremendous healing ministry. As a result thousands of people followed him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, Galilee, Tyre and Sidon and from beyond the Jordan. 

There were so many people Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the Sea of Galilee. Jesus told his disciples to have a boat ready for him so that he would be kept safe from the swell of the crowd surging forward in order to touch him.  

“For he healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon him to touch him.” Mark 3: 10. Luke 6: 17-19.  

Jesus instructed his recently chosen disciples to assist him by having a boat ready for him because of the crowd, in case they should crush him. Part of the disciples ministry was to protect Jesus from the enthusiastic crowd. 

Jesus used the boats that sailed on the Galilee to transport him from place to place.  

In Mark Chapter five Jesus went from there (Gerasenes) by boat and crossed over to the other side of the sea and as soon as he landed a great crown gathered around him. Jairus a ruler of the synagogue came to him and asked him if he would go with him and lay his hands on his dying daughter so that she would be made well and live.

                                                                                        

From among the crowds that were following Jesus on the way to Jairus’ house, was a woman who had heard the reports about Jesus, so she came up behind him and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I shall be made well.” We read that she was healed immediately. Jesus perceived that someone had touched him as he felt the power leave his body. He stopped and turning to the crowd he asked who had touched him. His disciples were surprised that he asked this question when there were so many people pressing up against him. The woman acknowledged that it was she who had touched him. Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” Mark 5:21-34.   

The crowds wanted to touch Jesus. 
Whether it was as a result of this woman’s healing that the crowds wanted to touch Jesus or whether other people had been healed through touching his garments and she had heard about it and responded in faith seizing the opportunity.  

News Spread abroad  
The disciples were surprised when Jesus asked, “Who touched me.’ If a person had been healed on a previous occasion they perhaps would have reacted differently. But we read it did become a frequent occurrence, as we follow Jesus and his disciples on their journey from Bethsaida across the Sea of Galilee to Gennesaret. The news quickly spread that Jesus had arrived in their vicinity. When the people there heard he was about to come to a town or a city or country they brought out their sick on pallets and besought him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment and as many touched it were made well. Mark 6: 53-56.   
On the fringe of his garment were prayer tassels, small knotting along the edge. Numbers 15: 37-41. Matthew 23: 5.                                             

From the security of the boat Jesus preached and healed many people.  
There were so many people wanting to be healed that the boat was an ideal platform to preach from, Jesus must have had a strong clear voice to be heard above the water lapping on the shore and the movement of children, The disciples were more than likely helping to control the flow of those who came forward for healing.

In Mark Chapter four Jesus preached from the boat the parable of ‘The Sower’. We see a connection with this parable with our reading in Genesis. Cain the eldest son of Adam and Eve was a tiller (worked on the land/gardener) of the ground, he was following in his father Adam’s footsteps.  
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to till it and keep it Genesis 2: 5, 15. 3: 23.   

Cain’s offering to God was the produce from the ground that had been cursed; as a result God was not pleased with his offering.  

Why was Cain’s offering of fruit not pleasing to God? 
Adam working in the garden was instructed by God not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 
Moses illustrated through this Adam’s innocence had been compromised. To be obedient to God was good, and both Adam and Eve only had that knowledge. Disobedience – listening to the Devil took them into a place of understanding evil, as the Devil opposed God. (cast out of heaven)
Now they were separated from God and fell under the tempters power. Afterwards they were expelled from the Garden of Eden and the ground was cursed by God.  
Adam still worked on the land, only now his job was much harder as he toiled and sweated removing the thorns and the thistles that grew among the crops. Unless they were weeded out they would choke the crops.  

Parable of the ‘Sower.’ “Other seed fell among the thorns and the thorns grew up and choked it and it yielded no grain.”  (Under the curse)
Jesus interpreted the parable: the Sower sows the words of the kingdom of God. “The ones sown among the thorns; they are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world, and the delight in riches, and the desire for other things, enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” Mark 4: 7, 18. 

Cain’s younger brother Abel was a keeper of sheep; he gave the produce of his labour the firstlings of his flock and their fat portions which pleased God.  
Abel’s innocent blood.
God used animal skins and made them into garments for Adam and Eve. Abel’s offering was prophetic in its association with the shedding of the blood of a lamb in order to cover the hereditary sins of Adam and Eve. 
The Passover lambs blood brought freedom for God’s people Israel from Egyptian slavery. Jesus the Son of God, the Lamb of God his blood shed brought freedom from the slavery of sin and death for all mankind. 
Judas Escariot when he took back the 30 pieces of silver and threw them down onto the temple floor he said that he had betrayed innocent blood, in reference to the innocent blood of Abel. (Also the Messiah)
Before Jesus made his way to Calvary, the Roman soldiers placed upon his head a platted, entangled, crown of thorns. Through Jesus’ death on the cross he redeemed us from the curses that God placed upon Adam and Eve and their descendants and he redeemed the land. 

We can see why Cain’s offering was not pleasing to God, the produce was from the land that was cursed. His response we read that he was downcast and angry as a result he killed his younger brother Abel. God warned Cain that sin was couching at the door: its desire is for you, but you must master it.” He did not master the thoughts that led to his actions when he killed his brother. 
Cain had been given a verbal warning by God, the words were snatched away by Satan as Jesus described in the parable of the Sower. The seeds, the words of the kingdom sown along the path the birds came and ate them. These were those who heard the word, then Satan came and snatched the words away from them. Mark 4: 15. 

God questioned Cain about his brother Abel’s death, but he denied it. But we read that God could hear his brother’s blood cry out to him from the land. 
Jesus mentioned this when he was dining at a Pharisees home the Pharisee was astonished when Jesus did not wash before dinner, he spoke of their hypocrisy, “The blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah.” Luke 11: 50, 51. 2 Chronicles 24: 20, 21. 
The Israelites in their history turned against their prophets because the words of the prophets shed God’s light on their thoughts, words and deeds. 

In the previous verses in Chapter three the Pharisees and Herodians were displeased when Jesus healed the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath Day, they plotted against Jesus wanting to see his demise.
Jesus continued to heal people even though the thoughts and spirit of the Pharisees and Herodians were against him and his disciples.   
I do not think that the crowd that surrounded Jesus were influenced by the Pharisees and Herodians. The crowd had no intention to cause Jesus any hurt. Through pressure of numbers and desperation to find a cure for their ailments they were understandably pushing forward to get their healing.            
The parable of the Sower concludes with a blessing to those who hear and receive the seeds the words of the kingdom will produce fruit  in abundance that is pleasing to God.

As Jesus and his disciples travelled from place to place by boat Jesus managed the crowds with the help of his disciples.  

Learning to sail with the Holy Spirit.
(The passages begin with words in bold that have been taken from ‘Learning to Sail’ Web Site)  
To learn to sail is to learn about what the terminology means and to put theory into practice and so it it for us to put what we believe and taught into practice.


It is a good idea to practice procedures on a calm day. Knowing how to right your boat is a necessary skill.

My brother and his colleague before they started the voyage crossing the Atlantic in his boat ‘Henry Wood’ they had to go through this safety procedure, ‘ rescuing a man overboard to save him from drowning. (he had to notify the relevant authorities beforehand.)          
Getting right with God, through faith in Jesus he will save us, rescuing us from certain eternal death, as a result entering into the freedom of the Lord’s forgiveness. 
                                                                       
Adjust for the wind. Sailboats cannot sail directly into the wind.  

Discerning the movement of the wind. A desirable change has taken place in our lives and we listen for the sound of the wind God’s Holy Spirit. When we first feel the movement of the Holy Spirit we are filled with joy and we are gently moved on: like sailing on a warm comfortable breeze and the new found calm of a fulfilled life in knowledge and in fellowship with God our Father.  

You will start tilting away from the wind. A heel of more than 20 degrees usually indicates that you are being overpowered. Releasing the mainsheet momentarily lessons the amount of heel, and you will return to a more comfortable sailing angle of 10 to 15 degrees of heel.    

A new Christian will find that Satan will try to regain his hold over us, but to no avail as we are upheld by the prayers of other Christians.     

Sail into the wind to a destination. Sail a heading that is as close to the wind as you can.  

Our destination is God’s eternal kingdom. As we are on a journey with many twists and turns along the way, it’s necessary to keep close to Jesus, our eyes focused on him and on his word and listening for the Holy Spirit’s guidance to do God’s will. 

The wind may change direction; If anything changes, you have to adjust the sails in response.  

Constant vigilance on keeping our lives on track is not easy, it places demands on us to spend time in prayer and study.”As therefore your received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” Colossians 2: 6, 7.    

Close reach. Your sails are acting like the airfoil of an airplane: the wind is pulling the boat instead of pushing it.   

We can be moving in the wrong direction and therefore, we struggle trying to work out what the Lord has called us to do. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.” Proverbs 3: 5. Do not lean on your own understanding. (King James Bible) 

Watch your wind indicators (telltales). If you see it change so that the wind is coming from a direction that is more behind you, you will be wasting energy. Let out the sail till it luffs, and tighten again till it stops. You will be doing this constantly; watching the sails, the telltales, and trimming sails if for no other reason than to see where you’re at.  

The Lord calls his people to ‘Watch and Pray’ pray for discernment and wisdom. These gifts the Lord will give to us in abundance. James 1: 5. 

When running with the wind, you can sometimes you can pull the jib over to the other side of the boat where it will fill. This is called wing-on-wing, and you have to maintain a steady hand on the tiller to keep this sail configuration. Be sure to be vigilant of obstacles and other vessels, as having both sails in front of you blocks a significant portion of your view. 

James the Lord’s brother refers to the tiller of the boat in connection with teachers of the word of God. “Look at the ships also; though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.” James 3: 4. The responsibility of the teacher to teach the truth, knowing that the truth sets a person free from the world’s strong winds of unbelief in Jesus. 

Christ’s body. This reminds us that we are part of a bigger picture that Jesus is the head of his world-wide Church.

Be careful—when the boat is running, the sails will be way off to the side, and because the wind is basically behind you the boom can change sides suddenly, coming across the cockpit with quite a bit of force. When this happens the boom can hit you with enough force to knock you unconscious and out of the boat (overboard). 

Many a time I seem to be stopped from entering into a problem of one kind or another. The Holy Spirit will bring scripture to mind that helps to make what turns out to have been the right decision.  I also believe in the ministry of angels.

Sail safely. Remember that your anchor and its cable are important pieces of safety gear and can be used to stop your boat from going aground or can even be used to get the vessel floating again should grounding occur.

St Paul on his way to Rome to stand trial, he traveled by boat. A storm blew up and four anchors were used to try and stop the boat going aground.
Very often when we pray, we receive the assurance of our prayer being answered, and on some occasions in the way that we have been led to pray. As a result overcoming the situation and we sail through the storms of life.  

When the wind is at your back and side, this is the most efficient point of sail as both sails are full of wind and pushing the boat at full force. 

Thank you, Lord, for your Holy Spirit’s ministry among us in making Jesus known to us and directing our path to rescue with the guidance of the Holy Spirit those who are drowning in a sea of despondency,  fear, worry, pain and grief with no hope of life after death, for them and others to come to know Jesus.                                                                                                                                                                                                 

By Dorothy Newton