Our group practice, as is true of others, is to study the biblical text and message our pastor or other speaker delivers weekly. This meant taking notes of the messages to be prepared. In keeping with this, I have been trying to continue making notes of our church's messages during Covid 19 and sharing them with our group and whoever else is interested. The notes for March 22, 29 and April 26 are already on-line in this blog.
Here are the notes for April 5, April 10
2020 4 5 Call & Cost: The Suffering Servant – II Challenge and Reward – Palm Sunday Message - W. Pratt
Who did Jesus see himself to be and how did he understand his identity?
Luke 24:13-35
When Jesus rose from the dead, even his disciples did not expect this. They only believed in the resurrection at the end of the age. Nor did they believe that the Messiah was destined to be killed by his enemies.
This is borne out by the experience of the two believers on the road to Emmaus, recorded in this account of Luke’s. Jesus, by teaching them from the law and the prophets showed how he had come to understand his identity and calling from Scripture.
We can look at these scriptures, particularly the ones we are dealing with in this series, the Servant Songs of Isaiah. They tell a story of a servant called by God to deliver his people.
1. This servant would be loyal and faithful to God in his calling/purpose.
2. He would be at new covenant for God’s people.
3. He would be salvation, a light to the whole world
Isaiah 49:1-7 is our second song in this series:
49:1 Listen to me, you coastlands!
Pay attention, you people who live far away!
The Lord summoned me from birth;
he commissioned me when my mother brought me into the world.
49:2 He made my mouth like a sharp sword,
he hid me in the hollow of his hand;
he made me like a sharpened arrow,
he hid me in his quiver.
49:3 He said to me, “You are my servant,
Israel, through whom I will reveal my splendor.”
49:4 But I thought, “I have worked in vain;
I have expended my energy for absolutely nothing.”
But the Lord will vindicate me;
my God will reward me.
49:5 So now the Lord says,
the one who formed me from birth to be his servant –
he did this to restore Jacob to himself,
so that Israel might be gathered to him;
and I will be honored in the Lord’s sight,
for my God is my source of strength –
49:6 he says, “Is it too insignificant a task for you to be my servant,
to reestablish the tribes of Jacob,
and restore the remnant of Israel?
I will make you a light to the nations,
so you can bring my deliverance to the remote regions of the earth.”
49:7 This is what the Lord,
the protector of Israel, their Holy One, says
to the one who is despised and rejected by nations,
a servant of rulers:
“Kings will see and rise in respect,
princes will bow down,
because of the faithful Lord,
the Holy One of Israel who has chosen you.”
There are eight things we can learn from this song:
1. This is God’s plan from long ago. God knew people could not live up to his expectations, that they were powerless to keep the faith and the covenant on their own. However, he did not just stay in a state of disappointment or leave us to our feelings; he had a plan from “before I was born,” the servant says in vs. 1.
There’s a hidden component to this plan, “in the shadow of his hand he hid me… in his quiver he hid me away.” (v. 2). This was true until the spirit revealed it in New Testament times where it is referred to as a mystery. This was intentional. If God had revealed his whole plan ahead of time human beings would have had too much time to build a plan to resist and defeated it.
2. The servant would be a powerful instrument of God. Israel had kept running after other gods and nations, blunting God’s purpose. The servant would have a “mouth like a sharp sword” (v.2). This refers to the powerful words that God would use against his enemies. Proclaiming and living the word is the most powerful weapon to fight evil. Jesus saw himself from this as a prophetic teacher, knowing that God’s hand was behind what he was doing. He would also be “a polished arrow” (vs.2), which would not miss the mark.
3. He would be Israel’s representative (vs. 3), completing God’s plan for another way through one person because the nation had failed. God’s plans for us in the world will be done.
4. The path would not be easy. The servant’s efforts would seem futile (vs. 4). His teaching would be rejected, his call unheeded; he would have few results during his lifetime.
5. God would reward faithful service, regardless of results (vs. 4). Knowing this, Jesus cold take the hard path because of his faith and obedience.
6. The path was not a small mission; it would be global (vs. 5-6). The nation of Israel and God were estranged because of Israel’s failure, but Jesus would restore her to God, to herself and the world through his actions.
7. There will be opposition, even from his own people. Jesus, no more than we, could not take on such as task as this in the face of all of that if he did not truly believe in it and that he would be rewarded in the end.
8. Victory will come on a global scale. God would grant his Son this success on this path to restore and redeem his people and it would then also bring the servant glory.
We can take heart from this, from what we see Jesus experiencing, in our own lives and in the life of our congregation when we look at our own witness, individually or collectively, in things like our food bank and community meal efforts. We need to look at the bigger picture. Our lives should be shaped by our call and mission after the pattern of Jesus, not on whether we achieve results. Then it will be worth it in the end and God’s promises will be fulfilled. We will be rewarded for being faithful.
2020 4 10 Call & Cost: The Suffering Servant – III Teacher & Disciple - Good Friday Sermon – W. Pratt
This sermon is about discovering why Jesus knowingly - and willingly - took that costly path of going to the cross. What was his goal and the reward he was expecting? It is also to provide a fresh look at the Easter story for all who hear, regardless of where they are at spiritually or in their faith journey. Easter is a good time for this as it explains Jesus mission better than anything and also provides hope for Christians all over the world.
Easter tells a story of Jesus being unfairly tried, tortured and crucified, but it was no accident; Jesus knew this was his path.
Jesus predicted his death three times, with increasing detail. The disciples did not respond well though.
On the first occasion (Mark 8:27-33), Jesus asks who the disciples think he is. Peter did say he was the Messiah, but when Jesus then talked of his death Peter protested and Jesus had to rebuke him, partly because through that Jesus felt a temptation not to go this way. It was also because the disciples still believed that the way of The Messiah was the way of power and might as an earthly ruler would take. Jesu knew that was not his story. His was the way of denial of self and self-sacrifice.
On the second occasion (Mark 9:30-37), still thinking of the glory of the Messiah, the disciples earn another rebuke from Jesus for arguing amongst themselves as to who would be the greatest, who would get the most reward from God. Jesus tells them good leadership is serving others, not being served.
The third time (Mark 10:32-45), two disciples actually ask for positions at Jesus’ right hand when he “comes into his kingdom.”
These stories are there to point out to us how we also fail because of our weaknesses, our ideas.
What made Jesus sure of his path? He discovered his identity in the scriptures: what he was called to be and what his life would look like.
One of those passages, doubtless, was our text for today, Isaiah 50:4-9, the Suffering Servant Song number 3:
50:4 The sovereign Lord has given me the capacity to be his spokesman (the tongue of a teacher)
so that I know how to help & sustain the weary with a word.
He wakes me up every morning;
he makes me alert, wakens my ear, so I can listen attentively as disciples, those who are taught, do.
50:5 The sovereign Lord God has spoken to me clearly, opened my ear;
I have not rebelled,
I have not turned back.
50:6 I offered my back to those who attacked, who struck me,
my jaws, my cheeks, to those who tore out my beard;
I did not hide my face
from insults and spitting.
50:7 But the sovereign Lord God helps me,
so I am not humiliated or disgraced.
For that reason, I am steadfastly resolved; I have set my face like a flint,
I know I will not be put to shame.
50:8 The one who vindicates me is close by.
Who dares to contend, to argue with me? Let us stand up together and confront each other!
Who is my accuser, my adversary? Let him confront and challenge me!
50:9 Look, the sovereign Lord God helps me.
Who dares to condemn me or declare me guilty?
Look, all of them will wear out like clothes;
a moth will eat away at them.
What did Jesus see about himself and his mission here? We will see familiar themes but also new angles.
1. A clear sense of calling and mission a particular vocation (v. 4). The word he teachers will shoot straight like an arrow to its target as we saw in the previous message (April 5). In this case, it can be our weary hearts.
The teaching will support, sustain and help the weak be lifted up and stand, pointing the way of the lost back to God. The message was to be an upbuilding message of hope. But many did not like his message, saw it as a threat, even misleading to their people.
2. The servant will be taught directly by God himself. That is what is truly prophetic, not just predictive; the instruction is directly from God without an intermediary. But the message was not always that direct. As
even Isaiah said, his message was to make the people hear but not understand, see but not perceive, to make their hearts hardened, ear dull & eyes closed. This refers to Israel’s repeated rejection of God’s calls, e.g. through the prophets he sent them. They were to be God’s servant, but failed, so God let their hearts be hardened etc. as a form of punishment. If you want, this is what you will get.
But the real servant will open his ears, will be obedient; he will not turn his back and rebel. He will even endure torture meekly in the face of hostility. All this did happen to Jesus on Good Friday. He did not resist arrest or torture. He was whipped, mocked, spat on by those who were also pulling out his beard. Jesus did not fight back because he saw violent resistance was not his path as Messiah and future king.
Why did he not fight back? Would that not have been just? The disciples expected this but were rebuked, as we saw. Jesus chose this way because he knew violence begets more violence, even in just causes. Jesus taught that living by the sword brings death by the sword. Violence sets off a never-ending cycle of violence – the wars of the earth, even personal strife. Jesus broke this by putting violence to death on the cross.
3. Jesus also knew he would be vindicated upheld by God. What proved this more than his resurrection, being restored to new life! (v. 8) Shame meant to be proven wrong because of one’s own failure, a lack
of wisdom and strength. Resurrection would yield glory too. This allowed Jesus to tolerate whatever came his way, to give up his life for the good of others. Jesus knew the enemy’s plans would disappear, as graphically described in v. 9.
Was Jesus’ confidence justified? This will be dealt with in the next message, April 12. Sorry, at this point I still do not have the notes for April 12 and 19 up.
Here is May 3:
2020 5 3 Knowing the (Signs of the) Times: Making Sense of a Covid-19 World – V Refining Process
I Peter 1:7-9 – W. Pratt
Again, we are learning that Jesus expects us to pay attention to what is occurring in our world. What is the meaning of the signs we see? What is God trying to tell us? Jesus wants s to judge for ourselves what is right and the wisely respond.
Covid-19 is a test for us all. We can’t just go back to things as they were. There are lessons to be learned. We might see something here that God is doing.
This all reminds us that:
1. God allows testing – for a purpose, to prove the genuineness of our faith: “1:7 Such trials show the proven character of your faith, which is much more valuable than gold – gold that is tested by fire, even though
it is passing away – and will bring praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
In these times of testing, do we trust God, do we believe his promises, do we accept his guidance and follow his teachings, do we obey his instructions?
Example #1 Israel in the wilderness: They had been stuck in Egypt with no way our short of a miracle. They knew that in their past they had been promised a land of their own, but they were not there yet. Then, a miracle! The Exodus and a mighty delivery at the hand of God. But no sooner are they across the Red Sea (passing through the waters) than God leads them into the wilderness. God is testing their trust, their commitment, but they fail. They complain about lack of food and water. They want to return to the security of the familiar. They did not believe God would carry them through; they were listening to fear. They wanted to turn back! From freedom to slavery again?
Example #2 Jesus in the wilderness: No sooner had Jesus had the mountaintop experience at his baptism (passing through the waters) of God’s approval and the infilling of the Holy Spirit to empower him to execute God’s new plan of delivery for his people, then he is led into the wilderness. Here he is tested in three areas by the Devil himself: i. His leadership quality – will he turn stone to bread to eat, use his power to his own advantage?
ii. The nature of his faith and trust – will he leap from the temple to see if God can be trusted to
keep him from harm?
iii. The degree of his allegiance and fidelity to God – Will he bow down to Satan to take a shortcut
to ruling the world?
Unlike Israel, Jesus passes the test, proving his faith and character. This was necessary for him to be a worthy son, beyond reproach, of carrying out his mission. What helped him was the Spirit and his knowledge of God’s word.
2. Testing is a refining process:
“3:2 Who can endure the day of his coming? Who can keep standing when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire, like a launderer’s soap. 3:3 He will act like a refiner and purifier
of silver and will cleanse the Levites and refine them like gold and silver (Malachi 3:2-4).”
Refining is a process of purification by fire, which can also burn us if we fall short. It is necessary though to burn of the ‘dross’, the impurities. God tests us by turning up the heat to drive out our impurities. Have impurities been exposed because of this pandemic? What about:
a. Trusting what doesn’t, in the end, deliver
i. the economy, our wealth, our jobs. People have lost their jobs, seen their businesses go down, their savings vanish.
ii. Social and economic status – no protection here; everyone is vulnerable
iii. Science and technology – we have found out we don’t have all the answers, we don’t know everything
b. Inequality? i. we see more vulnerable groups like the poor, indigenous people, homeless and those in care homes
ii. Whole underdeveloped nations are at greater risk, but our first world nations have suffered greatly too
c. Leadership – poor leadership is showing its weakness in how those under such leaders suffer more. They have provided a false sense of security. Only God can be fully trusted.
All these societal problems must be burned away if we are going to have a better world, one more closely resembling what God desires.
But there are positives too: The planet is showing how resilient it is, how it can recover if given a chance. Pollution is less, resulting in cleaner air and water. Fish and other sea life is being seen anew in places where it was too polluted before. Animals and birds are coming out of hiding, reclaiming spaces left open by our reduced activity.
Nature is showing us, our Creator God is showing us, radical change can reverse things in our world.
The Apostle Paul wrote of this:
The Apostle Paul wrote of this:
“8:19 For the creation eagerly waits for the revelation of the sons of God. 8:20 For the creation was subjected to futility – not willingly but because of God who subjected it – in hope 8:21 that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children. 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers together until now (Romans 8:19-22).”
3. Testing is a transforming process: “And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose, 8:29 because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, (Romans 8:28-29a).”
We can be reformed into a purer image of the Son to better reflect his image to the world. We were created in God’s image, reflecting it as planned to begin with, but sin spoiled that. We were in fact “predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son” as the passage above says. That was God’s plan from the beginning.
We need to ask ourselves, How well do we reflect God’s image? How brightly do we shine? Silversmiths refine their silver until it is so pure they can perfectly see their reflection in it. Do people see in us what they want to be like? Do they see something we have that they want?
We can’t play things down. Our world is currently in bad shape – the illness, the deaths, the strain on our health care and other systems, the economic impact. We don’t know yet how it will ultimately playout.
We though, should be able to rest secure in the knowledge that we can have confidence, and therefore hope, in God and the security he provides, the good plans he has for our ultimate destiny, regardless of how bad the circumstances are. We need to show the world that there is hope, there is help. We need to show concern for the social justice and health of our planet and all on it.
4. Given all that, Jesus says these tests are still but birth pangs of something bigger coming: “13:7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to
5. come. 13:8 For nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines. These are but the beginning of birth pains (Mark 13:7-8).”
The world is beautiful but broken. All is not well. Nature, creation, man and society are not working in harmony as they should (see Rom. 8 references above). Cretin is waiting for us to be revealed as the image of the Son of God, to reign with him on earth as originally intended, to be free to function as God meant us to. Of course, this will not be fully realized until Christ’s return when we can really show the glory we were once given, to rule with God.
God is showing us that all is not well, that the dross needs removal, but also that there is hope for a new and better world. He is slowly restoring his image in us. How is this happening?
i. Neighbours are caring for neighbours
ii. People are putting others’ interests before their own
iii. There is renewed care and compassion for the needy
iv. People are putting the life of others first, sacrificing themselves like Jesus did
v. People are noticing the planet and realizing more that we need to take better care of it.
We were created in God’s image to rule with him but all of that became covered over by the dross of sin. If we are believers, Jesus is restoring us and will do so fully at his return. Till then, we groan with creation.
So, to sum up:
1. Does God allow tough times of testing? Yes, he does – to prove us and help develop us into what we are meant to be
2. Do times of testing have any value, do they have a purpose? Again, yes; they can purify us.
3. Can any good come if it? Yes, it can point to a better future, greater hope and renewed signs of God in us.
Again, follow Jesus’ admonition to read the signs of the times for what they say and judge how to most faithfully respond.
2020 5 4
