The Messiah’s Secret Revealed – Jesus at Bethany
(The visual aid I set up on Saturday ready for the Sunday morning service.)
I explained to the congregation – The desert on the right has no water so things don’t grow on the other side things grow really well because there is plenty of water. (picture on right showing water rising up)
So how do seeds grow?
3 children held up pictures: sun, soil and water
I’ve put some soil in the cups, ready to sow some seeds.
what do they need now? Sun and water.
I planted seeds in the compost in the cup three weeks ago and they have grown.
When we hear or read about Jesus, and take the words to heart, they begin to grow within us and we become like Jesus.
In a similar way, words about Jesus are seeds of faith, in every seed is complete, it contains the wholeness of Jesus, especially his love revealed to us in laying down his life for the forgiveness of our sins. When we listen to those words they planted into our heart. The Father’s Holy Spirit waters the seed and they begin to grow within us. And we become followers of Jesus.
Isaiah 43: 16-21. John 12: 1-8
Jesus spent 40 days alone in the wilderness where he was tempted to sin unlike the Israelites in the wilderness who sinned and as a result wandered in the desert, for forty years, but Jesus resisted the devil’s temptations.
During the season of Lent the church encourages us to spend time examining our walk in Christ. For some Christians who maybe who have gone or going through a difficult time they can relate to Mary and Martha they had gone through a wilderness experience when Lazarus was seriously ill and later died.
They had expected Jesus to turn up straight away after they had sent word to him that Lazarus was seriously ill. But he did not come.
Last Sunday evening
Revd Chris Casey spoke about the different reactions between the sisters, When Jesus arrived later, Martha had a calm conversation with Jesus, she believed that he would have healed Lazarus had he come before he died and ‘even now’ she said, God will give you whatever you ask.”
Mary was silent, her emotions caused her to go weeping to Jesus”
Both reactions found fulfilment when Jesus wept with Mary and when Jesus, said to Martha “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me will live, even though he dies.”
God’s greater plan for Lazarus
Jesus did not respond straight away to Mary and Martha’s plea because he had a greater plan – Lazarus’ resurrection.
God’s greater plan for Jesus: Annie Johnson Flint wrote: “If the Christ who died had stopped at the cross, his work had been incomplete.
If the Christ who was buried had stayed in the tomb, he had only known defeat.
But the way of the cross never stops at the cross and the way of the tomb leads on, to victorious grace in the heavenly place where the risen Christ has gone.”
God’s greater plan for us.
So for us, like Mary and Martha we learn to put our trust in the Lord for he has a plan for us.
John draws our attention to the fact that the resurrected Lazarus was sat at the table.
When Lazarus had been 4 days in the tomb his body was like the desert, nothing could bring back life to his body. But Jesus was able to bring new life into his body like the spring its water bringing life to the desert. As we can imagine people were amazed when they heard of this fantastic miracle that Jesus performed. John wrote later they waved the Palm branches and shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David.!” John 11: 17,18
God’s greater plan for Lazarus
Jesus did not respond straight away to Mary and Martha’s plea because he had a greater plan – Lazarus’ resurrection.
God’s greater plan for Jesus: Annie Johnson Flint wrote: “If the Christ who died had stopped at the cross, his work had been incomplete.
If the Christ who was buried had stayed in the tomb, he had only known defeat.
But the way of the cross never stops at the cross and the way of the tomb leads on, to victorious grace in the heavenly place where the risen Christ has gone.”
God’s greater plan for us.
So for us, like Mary and Martha we learn to put our trust in the Lord for he has a plan for us.
John draws our attention to the fact that the resurrected Lazarus was sat at the table.
When Lazarus had been 4 days in the tomb his body was like the desert, nothing could bring back life to his body. But Jesus was able to bring new life into his body like the spring its water bringing life to the desert. As we can imagine people were amazed when they heard of this fantastic miracle that Jesus performed. John wrote later they waved the Palm branches and shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David.!” John 11: 17,18
Mary came and knelt at Jesus’ feet and began to wipe them with her hair, mingled with ointment and her tears of joy, the perfume filled the room.
Mary wanted to show her love, honour and gratitude to Jesus, for what he had done by raising her brother Lazarus from the dead and we notice that she had planned before hand to anoint Jesus regardless of what under Law would not allow a woman to do.
God in Jesus was doing a new thing, “He will not break a bruised reed or quench a smouldering wick.” A change to the law, the law penalised a person for breaking the law. Under grace God looks at the motivation coming from the heart.
Jesus healed on the Sabbath Day which was forbidden. When questioned he said that it was right to do good on the Sabbath Day.
The Messiah’s Secret Revealed The Pharisees added extra laws to those given by God to Moses because they earned their righteousness by keeping the rules of the law.” .
Judas annoyed by Mary’s liberty tried to quench her spirit by saying the money she had spent could have been given to the poor. Having an appearance of concern for the poor, but John pointed out he was not sincere.
Jesus upheld, did not quench Mary’s motivation and actions when he said, “Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of my burial.” The anointing was in connection with his burial.
Mary anointed Jesus for his burial, his ministry in death.
In the Common Prayer Book in the Creed we say ‘He descended into hell.’ Peter in his letter wrote, ”He was put to death in the body, but made alive by the Spirit, through whom he went and preached to the spirits in prison.” during the time he was in the tomb he went and preached to those who had been held there, since before the flood. In God’s justice he gave all those who had lived in unbelief in God the opportunity to accept Jesus as their Saviour. 1 Peter 3: 18-22. .
Jesus upheld, did not quench Mary’s motivation and actions when he said, “Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of my burial.” The anointing was in connection with his burial.
Mary anointed Jesus for his burial, his ministry in death.
In the Common Prayer Book in the Creed we say ‘He descended into hell.’ Peter in his letter wrote, ”He was put to death in the body, but made alive by the Spirit, through whom he went and preached to the spirits in prison.” during the time he was in the tomb he went and preached to those who had been held there, since before the flood. In God’s justice he gave all those who had lived in unbelief in God the opportunity to accept Jesus as their Saviour. 1 Peter 3: 18-22. .
In our reading Jesus said, ‘The poor you will always have with you.” We know therefore, there will always be a ministry to the poor.
Christians Against Poverty CAP based at Bradford is where there is an outpouring of the Holy Spirit and it is beginning to gain momentum it’s like a spring in the desert, the start of a river flowing turning desert into fertile soil.
They are helping people in various practical ways through managing debt, finding a job, release groups and learning life skills and more importantly showing them God’s love. People are becoming Christians and the Lord is turning there lives around.
Jesus in his love is weeping with those who find themselves poor in their circumstances.
We have a CAP Job Club Course that will start at the end of March, please pray that the people who come on the course will ask for a drink the life-giving water and through accepting Jesus into their heart, he will be their rock and hope for now and for eternity.