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Mini-Worship
March26-31, 2024
Take a few deep breaths and center yourself and quiet down.
Entering the presence of God
God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (from 1 John 4:8b-10)
Adoration:
Our heavenly Father, we praise you for your gracious love you have lavished on us in your son Jesus. Through his blood, we have received forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with you. We are sealed by the Holy Spirit as yours. Now we can rejoice in living and eternal hope. We have new life in us. We know you care for us in this life journey on earth. You are our all in all. Thanks for all your wisdom and provision to us. We adore you and we thank you. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
Scripture Reading
Matthew 22:41-46 (NIV)
While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he? ”The son of David,” they replied.43 He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says,44 “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”’45 If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” 46 No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Thoughts to share and to ponder
Who was the Messiah (Christ, Savior)? Was the Messiah a human being or the Lord (meaning God)? If he was the Lord, how could he be the descendent of David? If he was the descendent of David, how could David address him as "Lord"?
Who was Jesus? He was the descendent of David. He opened up the word of God like no one else. He performed miracles like God did. Could he be the Messiah? Could the Messiah be Jesus? If Jesus were the Messiah, how would the religious leaders relate to him? If the Messiah were Jesus, how would they respond to him?
All these questions were the issues that the religious leaders and people faced in Jesus' days and land. The author of the Gospel of Matthew intentionally retained this Scripture passage. This passage was the final conversation between Jesus and religious leaders before Jesus' passion on cross. The popular opinion was that since the Messiah was the descendent of David, people expected him to be a human being, a strong man, a noble prince, and a human savior. What Jesus revealed was that the Messiah was both full human and full God. He was both the descendent of David and the Lord. He was there in the beginning with God. He would be the one who comes again. He was equal to God and he had all authority of God. He would be a suffering servant. He would be raised again after three days of his death.
It is true that up to that moment, it was a mystery that Jesus could be full human and full God. He was both the descendent of David and the Lord. Those leaders were the most educated and most prepared for discerning, identifying, receiving and announcing the coming of the Messiah. They had followed Jesus to observe his speech and his acts. They had collected and analyzed all possible information concerning his ministry. Maybe they struggled with the conflicting images between the ordinary Jesus and his undeniable authority. Maybe they struggled in their egos and submission. Maybe they believed in another Messiah who could fit their preconceptions. Anyhow, they did not choose to admit the coming of Messiah in the person of Jesus and submit themselves to him. Instead, they chose to defend themselves, to deny what happened before their eyes, and to cover up what was to come. Crucifying Jesus became an unavoidable conclusion.
However, in God's infinite wisdom, he included our human limits, foolishness, ignorance, and sins to fulfill his eternal plan for all of us. Because of the suffering and crucifixions of Jesus, the mission of Messiah was accomplished. The prophecy in the Old Testament about a suffering servant was fulfilled. He bore our sins and our punishment. He became a ransom for all people. Moreover, God proved to us that Jesus was the Messiah and the Lord. God has made a new covenant with us upon the suffering and death of Jesus.
On the cross, Jesus contrasted our most heinous sin with his holiness. He met our rebellious and proud hearts with his humble and full obedience. He countered our assault and condemnation with quietness. He answered our doubts and questions with simple truth. He responded to our hatred with his meek love.
Looking up to the cross, we discover that the suffering and crucified Jesus is indeed the hope of our world. We can come to him as who we are without pretense and disguise and without being afraid of condemnation and expulsion. He is ready to embrace us and save us from our sinful fallen nature. We also can come to him with all the damages of sins--our own sins, our ancestors' sins and social sins. He fully understands the evil schemes and all forms of sufferings we endure. His blood flowing from the cross will give a healing deeply penetrating our souls. Our lives will be rebuilt at there. Our hope for tomorrow will be emerging from there.
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Let us enter this love and return to the maker and redeemer of our lives. God is love. This is the greatest good news that we can ever have.
Prayer Suggestions:What does Christ Jesus mean to you? Have you ever experienced the freedom in his forgiveness of sins? Have you ever received the healing touch from his blood? This is the season to remind us that the hope of life has come in spite of our messy world. Come to that cross. Fellowship with Jesus in his suffering and in your suffering. Be renewed and healed in the great love God has given us in His son Jesus.
The most gracious Lord Jesus Christ, we open ourselves just as who we are before you. Sins-- original sins, generation sins, and social sins-- have damaged us. We need you to set us from the chains of sins. We need healing reaching into our souls. We surrender all of us to you. Thanks for the great good news you send to us. We praise you and thank you. We pray in your name, amen.
Benediction
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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