Evening Service following the Lectionary Romans 15: 4-13 Matthew 11: 2-11 Below York Minster The Church Christ’s body here on earth, living stones.

Advent is the time when we remember the birth of Jesus and were we prepare ourselves for Jesus’ coming again.
John the Baptist was preparing the way of the Messiah through his baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
John the Baptist had been wrongfully arrested by Herod Antipas and put in jail for speaking out against Herod’s marriage to his brother Philips wife Herodias. John had said to Herod, “It was not lawful to have her.” Matthew 14: 3, 4. Under Jewish law Herod was forbidden to marry his brother’s wife. Leviticus 18: 16.
John had few friends amongst the Pharisees, they had not responded to his baptism. Luke 7: 30. 
John the Baptist was preparing the way of the Messiah through his baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  “He said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits fit for repentance . . . every tree that does not bear fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” Luke 3: 7-9                                                          
In Matthew 11: 2. John the Baptist had heard from his prison cell the deeds of the Christ. John I’m sure would be amazed to hear of the blind receiving their sight and the lame walking, lepers healed, peoples hearing restored, the dead being raised up and the poor being ministered to by Jesus.
John sent word his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?”
Why did John find it necessary to send his disciples to ask that question? And why did Jesus end his answer with the words in verse 6 “And blessed is he who takes no offence at me.”
John was in jail for upholding the law, was he offended by Jesus breaking the law by healing people on the Sabbath Day? Did he expect the Christ to uphold the law by applying it in his ministry?

Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy ‘A stone of offence and a rock of stumbling.”
“And he shall become a sanctuary, and a stone of offence and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many shall stumble thereon; they shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.” Isaiah 8: 14, 15.
Jesus the living stone bearing witness to the overburdening laws added on by the Pharisees causing offence to their leaders. The Jews earned their righteousness by keeping the law so in their zeal they added laws to the laws given to Moses by God.
“The Gospel in the Feasts of Israel” by Victor Buksbazen. “By the second century AD there were 1521 laws just for the Sabbath Day.”

The Pharisees were expecting the Christ to uphold the law so they asked Jesus, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”
“Jesus entered a synagogue and behold there was a man with a withered hand and they (Pharisees) asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” So they might accuse him. He said to them, “What man of you, if he has one sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value is man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, whole like the other. But the Pharisees went out and took council against him, how they might destroy him.” Matthew 12: 9-14
Jesus taught that it was right to do good on the Sabbath.

The Pharisees stumbled in their eagerness to please God. We too can stumble and fall when we believe that the Lord is calling us to do something for him and it becomes the most important thing to us. The Lord will sometimes take the activity from us, causing us to shed tears of pain resulting in brokenness. It is then we may realise that the work had become more important to us than the Lord.
I write from personal experience, when the word ‘The Messiah’s Secret’ was revealed to me I was on a Readers Course. I realised that the ministry that the Lord had called me to was connected with this word to make it known. The course was a challenge I had no qualifications in higher education. I stepped out in faith believing that it was what the Lord had called me to do for him.
On the final term I realised that I wasn’t going to be licensed as a Reader for my church, I was devastated. I fasted and prayed but then I realised that the course had become the most important thing to me. The Lord showed me that I had to let go and keep my eyes focused on him.
Two years later I was licensed as a Reader at my present church were the word about ‘The Messiah’s Secret’ has been received. I humbly give thanks to the Lord for their kindness towards me.

In 1996 the Lord has shown me that 2,000 years ago that it was at and after Pentecost Jesus could only be received by the nation of the Jews as their Messiah, and not before Jesus’ crucifixion and death. It was a national calling to the Jewish people, first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles.                      
The Jewish leaders at the time rejected Jesus as their Messiah and King as they do today.

The Messiah’s Secret – Preface by John Young
“As one of the elders of a Messianic Fellowship whose congregation fulfils the desires of God to see Jews and Gentiles as one, this book will be extremely helpful to Jew and Gentile in understanding the plan, and purposes of God and for His people. The Church has long needed to understand it has a special relationship with and a responsibility towards Israel. Truth has been lost throughout the ages but like a treasure is always rediscovered. In these end times then let this book be dedicated to the One who inspired its writer and author as He did in times past. To those searching for the ‘truth’ this will be a very helpful book in bringing clear understanding and direction in where our focus should be. I trust in the grace of God to open the eyes and to open the hearts of those searching for the ‘truth’ for it is only the Lord Jesus who declared He is the way, the truth and the life to all irrespective of colour and creed. Let this little work be to the glory of God and to the increase of His government in this world.”   John Young December 2000.”

The Messiah’s Secret
God’s plan of salvation through the cross was hidden from Caiaphas and the council. But for centuries the church has believed and taught that the time for the Jews to receive Jesus as the Christ, their Messiah was before the crucifixion of Jesus.

God’s word of prophecy to Caiaphas
High priest Caiaphas and the Pharisees brought the council together were Caiaphas shared a prophecy that God had given to him, “That it was expedient that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they took council how they might destroy him.” John 11: 47-53
God had spoken directly to high priest Caiaphas the main leader of the ruling council of the Jews and Caiaphas believed that the prophecy was pointing to Jesus; he was the one man who should die for the people. But he did not believe that the Messiah would come and die. The people had been taught from the law that when the Messiah comes he will remain for ever. John 12: 34
Whilst Jesus was dying on the cross the chief priests and scribes mocked him saying, “He saved others but he can not save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Mark 15: 31, 32.

When Caiaphas and the Pharisees heard that Jesus had been raised from the dead fulfilling the prophesies of King David, surely they should have realised that God had given them a word of prophecy concerning the Messiah, and that God had hidden it from their understanding in order to bring the nation to acknowledge Jesus as their Christ after his death, resurrection and ascension. Also when they heard the prophecy of Joel being fulfilled in the last days I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh and whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Acts 2: 17, 21.
Sadly Sadducee Caiaphas did not believe in the resurrection from the dead. The Pharisees their hearts were hardened. Read Acts 2: 22-27

“For the Jews demand signs and the Greeks wisdom. But we preach Jesus Christ crucified a stumbling block to the Jews and folly to the Gentiles.” 1 Corinthians 1: 22, 23.
The Apostles were setting up the kingdom of God at the beginning of Acts, being about their master’s business in anticipation of Jesus’ return. (Parable of the nobleman)
The church began at Pentecost with Jewish men and women taking out the message about Jesus’ resurrection of his return with the angels of God.
Jesus had given his followers hope of his return within their life time.
Jesus said “When he comes in the glory of the Father with the holy angels. Truly, truly I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.” Mark 8: 38. 9:1.
Peter at Solomon’s Portico knew that their leaders had acted in ignorance not realising that Caiaphas’ prophecy meant the Messiah had to suffer, die and be resurrected to fulfil God’s plan of salvation for all the families of the earth.
“Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that the times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send Jesus who was preached to you before. Whom heaven must receive until the time for establishing all that God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old.”
Peter was giving the people the opportunity accept Jesus as their Messiah to bring in the times of refreshing meaning the establishing of the throne and eternal kingdom of God with Jesus the king on its throne. Acts 3: 17-21.
Peter said that Abraham’s promise had now been fulfilled by all the families of the earth being blessed by Jesus Christ. Genesis 12: 3. 18: 14. (Prophecy relating to the church)
”And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came afterwards also proclaimed these days. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God gave to your fathers saying to Abraham “And in your posterity shall all the families of the earth be blessed. God having raised up his servant sent him to you first, to bless you in turning every one of you from your wickedness, Acts 3: 22-26.

Two thousand years later the church has proclaimed Jesus the Jewish Messiah, and the Saviour of the world, first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. Jesus is still a stumbling block to the nation of the Jews.

In Paul’s letter to the Romans 15: 4-13 he wrote about Jesus fulfilling the promises given to Abraham, Moses and King David in sending the Saviour in whom all the families of the earth would be blessed. Jesus, his body of believers the church, in which Jew and Gentile become one that together we may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus the corner stone, a corner stone tie two walls together and the Cap stone protects and covers the top of the wall.
Jesus‘ cross tying together Jew and Gentile becoming one, Jesus being the head of the assembly of believers.

I realise that this word ‘The Messiah’s Secret’ is a tiny part of the preparation for Jesus’ return in bringing forgiveness and healing between Jew and Gentile.

Shoah Seminar – May 5th 2000 held at the Menorah Synagogue, Manchester.
Ten years ago I was invited to attend the Shoah Seminar at Menorah Synagogue in Manchester England. This day was in preparation for the first Holocaust Memorial Day in our area that took place on 27th January 2001. (I took notes) The government wants to ensure that the terrible crimes against humanity committed during the Holocaust are never forgotten and its relevance for each new generation is understood.
The Rabbi of Menorah Synagogue when he spoke on the Holocaust, (Holocaust meaning ‘burnt sacrifice.’) he referred to the Jews that had been taken by the Nazis to the concentration camps as fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy in chapter 53 ‘the suffering servant’. The people of the Holocaust were the burnt offerings for the atonement for their nation’s sin against God. Also he said, ‘God had established the new covenant when the state of Israel came into being after the war, and the land of Israel, was their Messiah.’

Whilst I respect Rabbi’s interpretation of his own Jewish scriptures, as a Christian through the churches study of the Hebrew Scriptures, I see the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy of the ‘suffering servant’ in Jesus. (blog Isaiah’s prophesies fulfilled)

King David prophesied that the Messiah’s body would not be burnt by fire.
Jesus’ body was not burnt. “David foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus, God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.” Jesus risen body, his flesh and bones bore the marks of the sword and the nails. Acts 2: 31, 32. Psalm 16: 10. 49:9. Luke 24:39-42

Paul’s words to the church at Rome still applies today.
“So I ask, have they (Israel) stumbled so as to fall? By no means! But through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.” Romans 11: 11
Through the Apostles these Jewish men and women all the families of the earth have the opportunity to accept Jesus as the Saviour of the world.Sadly down the centuries a lot of Christians have accused the Jewish people of crucifying their Messiah.

Singer Helen Shapiro
In November 2009 I went to listen to Singer Helen Shapiro she told us her life story. Helen is of Jewish decent born in London in 1946. At the age of six she went to a state school. She told us of how she remembered a child coming up to her in the playground and saying, ‘You killed Jesus.’ She was devastated and never forgot those hurtful words. In the late 1980’s she discovered Jesus as her Saviour and the promised Messiah to the Jewish people.