A. Background & Comments:

• we begin a series of sermons for these summer months that are focused on the parables of Jesus Christ from Matthew Ch. 13. This series is valuable because it is in the summer that we often have a little more time to sit & think about ourrelationship to God.

• Jesus spoke in parables (symbolic stories) as a way of instructing his followers, knowing that they – as well as we – are very often unable or unwilling to hear the instruction of God’s Word. He understood the power that “story” has in helping us to hear truths in a more indirect way.

• today, we move specifically to the impact the Bible, the Word of God, has upon our lives. If you look at verses 10-18, Jesus is looking back at the characteristics of the religious in the OT, harshly criticizing their inability to hear the truth of God’s Word due to their hearts being hardened by life.

B. Main Thought:

• The passage we consider today is a parable that focuses the hearer upon the dynamics of hearing the Word of God. Everyone responds to the Word in one form or another…

C. Key Question:

• How can we become people who hear the Word of God proclaimed or read and respond in a way that is pleasing to the God?

If we will understand & receive the Word of God, it is important that we acknowledge the fact of God sowing seeds of truth in our lives. First of all, lets see…

I. (vs. 3-9) “The Sower”: The Story Presented & Taught to the Hearer

Jesus first presents the symbolic story, focusing on a farmer who “sows” (plants) seed into various types of ground & growing conditions. The seed fell on to:

A. Some Seed Fell Upon a Beaten Path (vs. 3,4)

“ Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.”

• Result: the birds descend upon the seed that has been sown, consuming as much as is possible. The beaten path is unable to receive the seed because it is fallow.
• Fallow: “not in use; inactive”

B. Some Seed Fell Upon Shallow Soil (vs. 5,6)

“ Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.”

• Result: the seed was sown on to ground without much soil. Although there was a quick growth, the inability of the plant to root, when the hot sun came out, made long term growth impossible.

C. Some Seed Fell Amongst Thorns (vs. 7)

“ Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. ”

• Result: the seed also fell where the soil was OK but the thorns choked out any subsequent growth. The conditions around the site overwhelmed the potential of the seed & the ground.

D. Some Seed Fell Upon Good Soil (vs. 8)

“ Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear.”

• Result: finally… good news! The seed scattered by the sower fell on good ground, without any other circumstances that kept it from growing. Good soil & good conditions are the keys to growth.

II. (vs. 18-23) The Sower: The Story Explained & Applied to the Hearer

Some biblical commentators believe that the symbols in this story are pointed toward four different types of people. I would like to suggest that this might also include four different ways in which we receive the Word of God:

A. Receive the Word: Expect Evil’s Impact (vs. 18,19)

“ When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.”

• when you read or hear God’s Word expect that you will also be sure to see evidence of evil in your life. You can be quite sure that the evil one will leave you alone if you ignore your relationship to Jesus Christ… and the opposite if you, “Seek first the Kingdom of God…”

B. Receive the Word: Expect Trying Conditions (vs. 20,21)

“ The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.”

• when you read or hear God’s Word expect that you may run into real & significant conditions that “try” your soul. Not only are they a part of life at all times, it is safe to say that you will undergo trials that bring discouragement & fear. Part of testing & trials is to confirm whether or not we will fall away from Christ when hard times inevitably come.

C. Receive the Word: Expect Competition! (vs. 22)

“ The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.”

• when you read or hear God’s Word expect that you will undergo increased competition for your attention & energy. Have you ever noticed that when you take steps to move toward Christ that the intensity of life’s main tasks – jobs, family, money, other concerns – seem to increase as well?

D. Receiving the Word: Expect God’s Growth (vs. 23)

“ But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

• there is nothing better in the Christian experience than to sense that you are growing in Christ! It is a satisfying & exciting thing to see the truths of God’s Word taking root in your life & impacting people around you. When our lives –character & behavior – begin to change apart from our own efforts we know that God is at work. See Phil. 1:4-6

Implications

A. It is important, in order to grow as a Christian, that we be aware of & identify when the “ground” and “conditions” of our lives are not in a place for seeding. When we find ourselves in those places (impacted by evil, trying conditions, wrong priorities) it is critical that we take steps back to ensure our lives are better places. If the conditions are bad for God’s seed then be sure that it’s also a bad place for you!

B. Be prepared, secondly, to be a seeker! God honours those who seek him – an active, sober, consistent & sincere journey of those wanting his reality in their lives. Does that describe your walk with Christ?

A. Background & Comments:

• On this Mother’s Day 2010 we find ourselves especially grateful for the mother figures in our lives. Whether or not your biological mother was positively influential in your life, most people can claim some mother-like individual who has made their lives a much better thing.

• It is not lost on me that this day, more than any other day of the year, creates feelings of loss & pain for many, including many gathered here today. One of the best ways to deal with the pain & loss you might feel today is to do what we have already done here – remember, honour & be grateful.

• Today, I would like to ask you to consider the relationship of a grandmother & mother to their progeny – Timothy – andconsider the impact they had upon the long term of his life. Truly, we see a picture of a relationship that was aimed at the most important characteristics that could be created in the life of someone we are responsible for!

B. Main Thought:

• This passage teaches us that God uses every one of us – especially mothers – to have an impact on other people, helping mold us into the people we are.

C. Key Question:

• What life characteristics are the most important to mold into the lives of children & grandchildren?

If we really want to influence those we are responsible for toward a good & meaningful life – a life focused on Christ – then we need to understand that we are in …

I. The Molding Shop: Fabricating & Influencing Sincere Faith (vs. 5)

“ I have been reminded of your sincere faith which first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, lives in you also. ”

• The first priority of an influencer (parent/friend/caregiver) who desires to give the best of God’s love to the life of a child is the encouragement of a sincere faith. In the verse we see that Timothy’s faith is the result of the example & investment of his grandmother & mother. Their collective faith created the environment for Timothy to learn & eventually adopt the faith of the generations before.
• See Mark 8:36,37 – “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”
  • The singularly greatest priority of both mothers & fathers is the initiation & maintenance of their child’s relationship with Christ. Jesus Christ is eminently clear: nothing in life is as vital, nor valuable, than your “soul”.
  • I am sometimes surprised that Christian parents put as much or more emphasis upon their children’s…

II. The Molding Shop: Fabricating & Influencing the Gifts of God (vs. 6)

“ For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you…”

• The second priority of the parent/friend/caregiver who desires to give the best of God’s love to the life of a child is the encouragement of the “gifts” the child has received. By “gifts” I mean the natural talents each one possesses as well as the super-natural gifts of God.
  • Every time you encourage a child – mother – to use the gifts that they have received, that child experiences a joy that can only come from God. Why? He/she begins to fulfill the reason for his or her life… creating meaning & purpose.
• Notice that Paul tells Timothy to “fan into flame the gift of God”. By this he meant that it would take an act of the will to bring this into the reality of life. While we have been given gifts that we have had no hand in attaining, it still takes the choice of the will to develop & use them. Is there something you are holding back from God, your family or your church community?

Implications for Life

A. If somehow you feel like you have failed to mold these characteristics into lives around you, let me remind you that it isnot too late. As long as you have “breath to breathe”, you are in the service of the One, of whom Mary said, “With God, all things are possible.” Luke 1:38

B. On this Mother’s Day I want to encourage you to give thanks to God for your mother or that woman in your life who has impacted how you live your life. It is these impacting women, like Lois & Eunice of old, who have helped make us who we are. You can spend your time picking these people apart or just choose to be grateful for the good… your choice.

Seniors Appreciation Day

A. Background & Comments:

• we have already spent time this morning bringing glory & honour to Jesus Christ, as well as recognizing people who have brought encouragement & hope to our lives.

• In the NT the pre-dominant use of the word honour is, quite naturally, with reference to Jesus Christ. Our primary allegiance & giving of honour is always toward the Christ, our Savior and Lord. This reality also makes some uncomfortable to display honour toward “fellow travelers” on the Christian path. Some confuse “giving honour” with “playing favorites”. (See James 5 for a picture of this negative behavior.)

• This uncomfortable feeling need not be: the NT includes a number of injunctions & encouragements to honour people in life, especially those who live & example Jesus Christ to us. The Apostle Paul said, “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honour one another above yourselves.” (Romans 12:10)

• Today, we look into the life of one of the least well known characters in the NT for a picture of what in the Christian life isworthy of honour. Epaphroditus, a relatively young man similar to Timothy, is the example we look to for insight.

B. Main Thought & Key Verses: Phil. 2:29, 30:

• This passage of Scripture helps us understand what makes any person truly worthy of honour in this life.
• “Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.”

C. Key Question:

• What are the characteristics that the Apostle Paul notes as noble & good, worthy of recognition & honour?

The Bible indicates that giving honour to one another is a normal New Testament manner of living the Christian life. This specific passage notes that…

I. Honour: Based on a Life of Meeting Legitimate Needs (vs. 25)

“But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.”

A. This largely unknown character Epaphroditus is recognized by the Apostle Paul as a person who met his personal needs after being sent to him by the Philippians. (We know that Paul was at least partially blind and older.) In reading this passage we have no sense that Epaphroditus is self-seeking but that he is interested in the service of Paul’s real needs.

B. The lives that are worthy of recognizing & counting as important are those that at least attempt to meet the real needsof others. Please note: this type of lifestyle is about as counter-cultural as it gets. We live in a culture that pre-dominantly says, “Get all you can & meet your own whims & desires before being concerned about others… if at all.”

II. Honour: Based on a Life of Passion for People (vs. 26)

“For he (Epaphroditus) longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill.”

A. Secondly, this largely unknown character Epaphroditus is recognized by the Apostle Paul as a person who had apassion for the people of God, a deep longing for the church at Philipi. This statement is an excellent picture of God’s passion & love for us, as well as a picture of how we are to view & appreciate each other in this body called “the church”.

B. While it is not fashionable, nor trendy, we should not forget to be passionate about each other, honouring each other, recognizing that we share the greatest of privilege in Christ. In the Christian experience we measure passion for Christ’s church by being people who…

• encourage each other;
• pick each other up when down & hopeless;
• defend each other when torn down by detractors;
• gently correct each other with respect;
• return each other the truth of the Bible;
• weep with each other when we part…

III. Honour: Based on a Life Lived for Christ’s Priorities & Work (vs. 27-30)

“Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.”

A. Thirdly, this largely unknown character Epaphroditus is recognized by the Apostle Paul as a person who lived life with Christ, his priorities & his work at the centre of his being. In fact this was so much the case that his life was almost expended in service to Christ & his people!

B. We risk becoming ungrateful & unfocused in our Christian life when we do not stop to thank those whose lives have been focused on Christ’s priorities & work. The work of the Christian church is the reason Christ lived, the reason Christdied, the reason Christ was resurrected, the reason he returned to heaven & the reason he will come again. Now, do you have anything more important to honour than that?

Implications for Life

A. To those seniors here today, I say on behalf of the rest of us who are not there with you yet: Thank You! If it were not for you we would not be here today, enjoying the good things that God has for his people called “Bethel”. We gladly honour you today because you have – collectively – lived lives worthy of honour & recognition and we are grateful for you!

B. We will all give our lives to honouring causes, movements & people who we believe have contributed to our lives. I ask you to take a good look at whom you are honouring with your life. Furthermore, understand that you are surrounded – today – by the saints with whom you will share eternity! I will choose…

Response to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

A. Background & Comments:

• Last Sunday Pastor Mike led us in consideration of what it means, in part, to be baptized. He helped us see that identifying with Jesus Christ is a very important part of this act. Today, we hope to add to what Mike has presented – so well – to us!

• First, however, to bring clarity, there are a few pre-suppositions we bring to this topic:

• Baptism is normative for people confessing faith;
• Baptismal mode is a secondary issue;
• Baptism is an age-of-consent matter.
• Baptism is the most appropriate response to the resurrection of Jesus Christ: identifying with, obeying & representingJesus Christ your Savior.

B. Main Thought:

• • This passage teaches us that faith in Jesus Christ is recognizable because we accept the call to declare publicly that we are followers of Jesus Christ.

If you are considering baptism as a step in your life, then you need to understand that…

I. Baptismal Commitment Flows From Experience of Faith & Forgiveness (vs. 8)

“The word… is in your mouth and in your heart…”

• • The Apostle Paul refers back to an OT verse (Deut. 30:12) to describe the conditions for the salvation of an individual. Even in the OT, the need for a personal faith experience of God’s forgiveness was foundational!
  • The Bible uses various terms to describe this experience of inner belief & forgiveness: the most common in the NT are “born again”, “saved” & “justified”.
  • Lets be honest about this: there are many people who – while professing faith / undergoing baptism / being church members – have never truly known what it is to be forgiven! It is the essential difference between shallow religion & real relationship.

II. Baptismal Commitment Accompanies

Words of Faith (vs. 9a)

“… if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’… then you will be saved.”

• • It seems rather simplistic to suggest that words of confession are part of coming into meaningful faith, but consider the cost for the Roman Christians to “come out of the closet”. To actually confess faith in Christ & be baptized meant a sure & certain trip to the gallows.
  • Around the world today – in many places – this dynamic has not changed: these words of confession, in other geographical contexts, show that you mean it & that Jesus Christ is the very center of your life!

III. Baptismal Commitment Centers Upon Resurrection Faith (vs. 9b-10)

“… believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead…”

• • In order to become a Christian – having confessed your sinful condition & Jesus Christ as the Son of God – you need to accept & adopt his resurrection from the dead: you must believe in the “right” Christ.
  • Jesus Christ the nice guy, the good teacher, the prophet, the doer of good are all poor substitutes for the real Jesus: alive, risen from the dead. See I Cor. 15:55-57.
  • If you do not believe the resurrection as a real, bodily, statement of fact then you should never submit yourself to the act of baptism. If you do, it will only prove that your life & values are based upon what you think is a myth.

Implications for Life

• • Wait a minute! This passage does not once mention the word “baptism”… what’s up with that? Good question: throughout the New Testament the concept/behavior of baptism is the next, natural, hand-in-hand response to public confession of faith. See the Philippian Jailer (Acts 16:25-33) & the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40) as examples.

A. Background & Comments:

• through this month of March we have considered several, but not all, of the last sayings & words of Jesus Christ on the cross. This process has helped us understand the mindset of Jesus Christ before his sacrificial death. We have learned that he was:

• “Woman, behold your son”

• concerned that his mother & best friend were understanding of the necessity for him to experience this as part of God’s plan for the benefit of mankind;

• “I am thirsty”

• desiring that his followers see his very real suffering, not as meaningless but meaningful, the very real fulfillment of prophecy laid out hundreds of years before;

• “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”

• feeling the very real effects of essentially being left alone to not only pay the price for our sin, but to become sin itself. He could not have been more distanced from the Father!

• Now, before we go any further, you might be amongst those who are thinking to yourselves, “Shouldn’t he be moving on to the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter day? Do we still have to stop at the cross?”

• Well, truly, I understand if you think that, but fear not, we will end at the resurrection! However, to understand the full significance of the resurrection you must first comprehend what Jesus was getting at when he uttered these words.

B. Main Thought:

• This one verse passage teaches us that the death & resurrection of Jesus Christ were inextricably linked, the one bringing meaning to the other!

C. Key Question:

• When Jesus expressed the words, “It is finished!” what was the Christ actually saying? Was there more than the obvious to this anguished statement?

We believe that at least two truths were being expressed – other than the obvious physical pain being completed – that makes the resurrection more significant:

I. “It is Finished!”: The Act of Loving Reconciliation was Complete (II Cor. 5:18,19)

Paul wrote: “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them.”

A. The overwhelming message of the Bible is that we are people who, before accepting Christ’s sacrifice for our sins, are unable to experience any sense of intimacy with God. This situation was unacceptable to God so he commenced a process of “buying back” (redemption) his creation through Christ. When Jesus Christ utters these words, knowing his last breath imminent, the process was virtually complete.

• Old Testament law required the shedding of blood, normally lambs or goats, for sin to be forgiven. Jesus becomes the ultimate “lamb of God” who takes away the sin of the world, meeting the requirements of the law.

B. Although I do not wholly understand why God chose to reconcile to himself the world in this way, I do accept that the cross was his chosen manner of action. When I hear Jesus Christ utter these words I understand that the process of humanity being made able to be right with God is complete. I have hope where none existed before… intimacy with God is possible!

II. “It is Finished!”: The Act of Final Justice Was About to Commence (Acts 2:22-24; 31-33)

Peter, in his first sermon to the people of Jerusalem, said:

“Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death…”

“… he (King David) spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit…”

A. On the face of the matter, the cross event of Jesus Christ is the epitome of injustice: a man sentenced to death for the wrongdoing of another man. Could there be a greater injustice? When Jesus utters these final, painful words he clearly recognizes that his own day of justice is not far off.

• Jesus understands – remember he told the disciples to expect it – that his rising on the third day would be the ultimate proof he was right & justified in all of his actions.

B. After 3 days of suffering in hell – the penalty & payment for our sin – Jesus Christ rises from the grave & overcomes the injustice of his captors & crucifiers. He, like Joseph of OT fame, could say without hesitation, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Gen. 50:20) Now, how’s that for a little justice in the face of evil?

Implications for Life

A. On this Easter day we rejoice that the resurrection means we can right with God & our offences have been completely forgiven! The result of the cross & resurrection is that we live in a hope & future that cannot be taken away from us.

• “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”

B. On this Easter day we further rejoice that when people – the negative, the destructive, the nay-sayers” – around us imply that there is no hope for the good things in life… ignore them. As Christians we have an example of the greatest underdog in history! On this Easter day understand your hope, your meaning, your life.

“AND NOW YOU KNOW… THE REST OF THE STORY.”

Last Words of the Cross II    John 19:28,29

A. Background & Comments:

• last Sunday we commenced a short series, leading to Good Friday & Easter Day, that helps us consider the last hours of the life of Jesus Christ. In our consideration of John 19:25-27 we noted that Jesus Christ was teaching his followers about his sacrifice and, by extension, how to deal with life’s ugly disappointments & crushing events. He taught that his followers & closest disciples needed:

• An Understanding of the Bigger Picture of God’s Kingdom

- “Dear woman, here is your son…”

• A Willingness to Engage in the Bigger Responsibilities of God’s Kingdom

- “… and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.”

• Today, we move on to the next verses in John 19 where we once again see the passion of Jesus Christ, still on the cross. After dealing with both his mother & dearest friend, we see Jesus coming down to the final moments of life, understanding that his purpose had been fulfilled, desiring to end his life well. He had one last bit of teaching & alignment of his will with that of God, the Father.

B. Main Thought:

• This passage teaches us that God used his very own Son, in a form of human fragility, to fulfill his plan for restoring & rebuilding human life.

C. Key Question:

• What is it that God does to devise restoration & rebuilding in our lives?

This act of restoring & rebuilding human lives involved a clear & present plan of action. There are a couple of things we need to know about that plan:

I. A Plan Conceived in Ancient Times (vs. 28)

“Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.”

A. On the surface of things it appears that Jesus Christ was simply expressing the human need of thirst. However, it is important that we look a little more deeply. In actuality, when we look back to the Old Testament, we see that his statement is a fulfillment of prophecy. See the prophetic Psalm 69:20,21 that was written hundreds of years before his cross event:

20 Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none. 21 They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.

• Jesus Christ’s statement is nothing more than an alignment of his thoughts & actions with the expressed will of the Father. It demonstrates that he knew exactly what was happening.

B. Further to knowing & understanding what was happening, Jesus Christ’s statement of “I thirst” is a submission & acceptance of the ancient plan of God, the Father. By making this statement, in effect, Jesus Christ is submitting & agreeing with the plan of his Father to restore & rebuild humanity through the forgiveness of sin… and the sacrifice of the cross.

• if you are feeling the need to restore & rebuild areas of your life, let me tell you it starts with the submission to, and acceptance of, God’s plan to deal with our problem of sin. Ancient problems are best dealt with ancient plans!

II. A Plan Made Complete With Humility & Vulnerability (vs. 29)

“ A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus lips.”

A. The second item of recognition is that God’s plan of restoring & rebuilding involves Jesus Christ making himself vulnerable, in this case, to the abuse of humankind. Jesus allowed himself to be mocked, scorned & abused, purposely making himself vulnerable, so that the will of God could be effected in the lives of men & women. See Isaiah 53:3:

3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

• these ancient words also make the case for an ancient plan, yet they make it clear that the Christ was rejected by becoming vulnerable.

B. One of the great paradoxes of the Christian faith is that we need to become vulnerable, admitting weakness, before God can do anything with our proud & stubborn hearts. It seems to be wholly unnatural for us to admit weakness because both our inner beings & our culture say that weakness & vulnerability are bad things. See the example of Paul, the Apostle, once a proud & arrogant man, torturer of Christians:

…there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

• for some of us sitting here today, the only thing that keeps us from a real, meaningful relationship with God is the unwillingness to admit weakness & vulnerability.

Implications for Life

A. The cross of Jesus Christ obviously has implications for our salvation & relationship to God in an eternal sense. At the same time it speaks to how we live in the here & now. Do not make the mistake of thinking that it only speaks to one or the other… whole cross, whole Christ, whole life.

B. If you are prepared to live the “weak” lifestyle you will sooner be able to let go of the things that hold your life their grip. Isn’t it time to just admit it? I urge to let go of self-made perfection & be grateful for the goodness of God in your life.

A. Background & Comments:

• in just 4 weeks we will find ourselves at Easter, once again celebrating the death & resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a most meaningful time when we view ourselves in light of the cross & the events that followed. It is good for us to do periodic self-evaluation & see where we are in relationship to the Son of God, our Savior & Lord.

• in the gospel accounts of Jesus Christ’s life, death & resurrection, we see 7 distinct statements from his lips that not only speak to the moment, but also to his perspectives & attitudes toward life itself. Obviously, with only 4 weeks to go before Easter, we will only be able to identify 4 of the 7 statements.

• Today, we pause to consider what is generally accepted to be the first statement of Jesus from the cross. The interaction we witness today is a brief encounter between a dieing son, his mother & his best friend, in the midst of great injustice & fear. We see Jesus Christ responding to his followers, even at the end of life, with a response of teaching & compassion.

B. Main Thought:

• This passage helps us understand how we can respond when we are faced with the most difficult circumstances life has to offer.

C. Key Question:

• How does Jesus Christ expect his followers to respond to the events of life… especially the ones that don’t seem fair, just or the will of a loving God?

Even in the midst of the death process Jesus Christ is teaching his followers & disciples. He desires for his followers to respond to life with…

I. An Understanding of the Bigger Picture of God’s Kingdom (vs. 26)

“When Jesus saw his mother standing there, and the disciple whom he loved (John) standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Dear woman, here is your son…’”

A. When Jesus says this to his mother Mary, what does he mean?

• the primary meaning of the statement, other than the obvious mother-child relationship connection, was his telling her to see the greater purposes of God at work in this ugly event.
• Jesus wanted Mary to experience the beauty of his Kingdom: peace, joy, forgiveness, hope, encouragement, goodness, patience, self-control, etc.

• Remember: Mary lived life, from the time before Jesus was born, looking for the will of God to be expressed in her son’s life. Jesus was telling her that this moment was part of the package! In a strange way, it was a comfort to her.

B. Take this opportunity to consider the moments of your life that have been ugly & disappointing: they are part of a bigger picture that God wants to accomplish in your life. Think outside of the box: “God hasn’t intended this for misery but for my growth.” See James 1:2-4

• While we aren’t the Son of God, nor are we the sacrificial “lambs of God”, we are people who seek meaning & hope in life. We affirm the truth of Romans 8:28ff:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

II. A Willingness to Engage in the Bigger Responsibilities of God’s Kingdom (vs. 27)

“… and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.”

A. The second response Jesus examples is the response of willingness to serve God with our beings, even in the midst of confusion, fear & impending death. Jesus Christ was facing an imminent, torturous death, yet his thoughts are taken the benefits of his closest followers.

• Jesus, knowing that his earthly task was close to completion, asks his best friend to take care of his mother’s needs, not allowing her to be subject to life’s inequities.

• By asking this of John he sees someone who was willing to engage in the responsibilities of looking after a widow in need.

B. A relationship with God, as outlined in the Bible, doesn’t mean that I am only interested in how God serves my needs & desires. A personal relationship with Jesus Christ means that I will make my needs secondary to his Kingdom’s responsibilities, adopting them as my own.

• You may come to church, in the beginning, to see how God fits into life or how he might meet your immediate needs. Don’t be mistaken! Over time your thinking must change to become a follower/disciple of the Son of God, who possesses the greatest priorities & responsibilities.

Implications for Life

A. This interaction, between these three individuals, commenced the worst of acts humankind could ever devise. In spite of their intentions to destroy & denigrate, the pure & precious Lamb of God fulfills the divine agenda to present himself as the payment for our sin. Have you accepted that truth & received him as the payment for you?

B. As you approach this Easter season, are you facing disappointing or crushing circumstances? I am here to encourage you. Start to look at these events with the eyes & mind of Christ. If you do then you will find meaning & hope for life during this Easter season.

A. Background & Comments:

• We were delighted on Feb. 7 to witness an uncommon tribute to genuine & committed love. We gave honour to people who are living testimonies of the goodness of God in their lives. I was actually given instruction by a few of them to be sure to say that anything good in their lives has been as a result of God’s grace & kindness. One of them actually threatened physical violence!

• During the Valentine week, in the midst of the overblown Olympic hype, you heard more junk & asinine thinking – regarding love – than you could possibly stand! I submit to you that the milestones we recognized here on Feb. 7 have much more to do with genuine love than anything witnessed during the week leading up to Valentine’s Day.

• I would further submit to you that Jesus Christ is the greatest example of love & what it is to love someone selflessly, completely & with the good of the other person in mind. Love is core to any complementary acts & this characteristic is best exampled in person of Jesus Christ. I make no apology, nor excuse, for believing this…

B. Main Thought:

• This passage chronicles the nature & impact of the first coming of Jesus Christ to humanity. It is a clear demonstration of God desiring to speak his love clearly to a darkened world.

C. Key Question:

• What are the characteristics of genuine, committed love – the type of love that keeps personal relationships healthy & refreshed?

If we will seek to be people of genuine & committed love then we must understand that this includes:

I. Committed Love – Brings Light into Darkness (vs. 3-5)

“ In him (Christ) was light, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness…”

• Light brings life, dispelling the power of darkness. This life, not just of the physical nature, but of every type imaginable flows from the Creation to the present. In the same way committed love is best defined as bringing light into darkness, bringing hope into hopelessness, bringing refreshment to the exhausted & weary in spirit.

II. Committed Love – Is Prepared to Risk for Good & Right Ideals (vs. 10,11)

“ He (Christ) was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.”

• Hebrews 1 tells us Jesus was the “exact representation of the Father.” His deity (God nature), chosen service to his people nor his “tangibility” were enough to guarantee his eventual acceptance by “his own.”

• For Jesus Christ to come into the world, personalizing love for humanity, meant risk & investment of his life… with no certain return on investment. As we know from the Bible “his own” (Israel) rejected him but he carried on in his mission to show the world the love of the Father.

III. Committed Love – Points People to a Relationship With Jesus Christ (vs. 12)

“ Yet to all who received him (Christ), to those who believed upon his name, he gave the right to become children of God… born of God.”

• The tangible Christ brought salvation & spiritual meaning through his incarnation. This is one of the few times in Scripture where the word “right” (as in entitlement), is used to describe the believer’s relationship to God. When committed & genuine love is made real we point others to Christ, both as Savior from sin & strength for living the Christian life.

IV. Committed Love – Communicates Clearly & Concretely (vs. 14)

“ The word (Christ) became flesh and dwelt among us.”

• Into a world that was, both darkened & discouraged, unable to comprehend the light for various reasons, Christ came as a concrete tool of communication! His purpose was to communicate love for mankind, build people into his image & save people from the misery that sin can cause. When God wanted to speak he used the highest, strongest, most convincing tool of communication he could – the life of his own Son!

• if we will live in true love relationships that model Jesus Christ, & last the distance of life, we will do our utmost to communicate to people in clear, plain, gentle & convincing words that reflect the love of Christ.

Implications for Life

A. We live in a cynical world, full of doubt & suspicion towards anyone who has accomplished anything of value or merit in this life. On Feb. 7 we gave rightful tribute to Jesus Christ first, but also to his faithful servants, who have rejected the “easy” mantra of a lazy, uncommitted society. We were correct to give thanks & salute people who have led those who follow in this area of righteous living.

B. For those of us who have not reached such lofty numbers as 60, in terms of marital commitment, do you really believe in genuine, committed love as the norm for Christian life & relationships? If not, read the life of Jesus Christ and take a second look.