Friday: Further Thought – Jesus and Those in Need
Further Thought:
Read Ellen G. White, “In the Footsteps of the Master”, pages 117-124, in Welfare Ministry; “Days of Ministry”, pages 29-50, in The Ministry of Healing; “The Temple Cleansed Again”, pages 589-600; “In Pilate’s Judgment Hall”, pages 723-740, in The Desire of Ages.
“God has given in His word decisive evidence that He will punish the transgressors of His law.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
Those who flatter themselves that He is too merciful to execute justice upon the sinner, have only to look to the cross of Calvary. The death of the spotless Son of God testifies that ‘the wages of sin is death,’ that every violation of God’s law must receive its just retribution. Christ the sinless became sin for man. He bore the guilt of transgression, and the hiding of His Father’s face, until His heart was broken and His life crushed out. All this sacrifice was made that sinners might be redeemed. In no other way could man be freed from the penalty of sin. And every soul that refuses to become a partaker of the atonement provided at such a cost must bear in his own person the guilt and punishment of transgression”. – Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, pages 539, 540.
Discussion Questions:
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Summary:
In the Gospels, Jesus’ ministry is introduced and explained with reference to the work of the Old Testament prophets. Good news to the poor, freedom for the oppressed, and healing for the broken were proclaimed as markers of the Messiah—and something Jesus demonstrated throughout His ministry. Yet, in His death, He also suffered the brunt of injustice and ultimately overcame the worst of fallen humanity and inhumanity. Thanks to His unjust death in our behalf, our sins can be forgiven, and we have the promise of eternal life.
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Isaiah expressed the way Jesus lived and died so well in his prophecy. How would he describe us as Jesus followers?
Acceptable - Right now, "the acceptable year of the Lord," continues! Right now, God is preaching the gospel to the poor; healing the brokenhearted, preaching deliverance to the captives, and restoring sight to the blind, and setting at liberty them that are bruised." But not where His presence is rejected, God will not force Himself upon us.
Mary - Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” Be still. We live in a culture where we are expected to be on the move constantly. We run too and fro without stop.
Offended - "I can preach anything else, and it's called popular. It pleases the ear," said Billy Graham in this 1958 sermon. "But when I come to the heart of Christianity, when I come to the cross and the blood and the resurrection, that is the stumbling block. That's the thing people do not want to hear."
Healed - The woman in the crowd was healed because of her faith. Daughter of Jairus was raised from death because he was willing to continue to walk with Jesus even when the odds were not in his favor. How is your walk with Jesus today? Are you willing to continue to walk with Him even when odds are not in your favor?
Sun and Son - “The same sun which melts wax hardens clay. And the same Gospel which melts some persons to repentance hardens others in their sins” – Spurgeon
Alone - When Herod saw Jesus,he was greatly pleased. He had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had heard about Him and was hoping to see Him perform a miracle. When Jesus did not perform the miracles, he was ridiculed, mocked and mistreated with no one beside Him.
Cross - Cross ultimately proved to be the gateway to freedom and forgiveness for every sinner in the world. Those who reject the cross or Christ bear the just punishment without being covered by the mercy of God.
JOB VACANCY!
A special work for you!
This work was done by christ, His disciples and you are to do it anywhere in the world.
The work is not easy but it pays. If you engage in this kind of work you are greatly blessed.
The influence of this work is irresistable, by it souls are saved, by it the power of gospel is demonstrated.
1. You are to give a word of cheer to the weary and the heavy laden.
2. Shed abroad the light of gospel of love and healing.
3. In sympathy and compassion minister to those in need. lighten the woe of suffering humanity.
..... remember freely you have received, freely give.
We are not truly worthy of anything! But Jesus has brought us back and paid the price. So let us rejoice, that's a super good News!
“God has given in His word decisive evidence that He will punish the transgressors of His law.
Transgressors of His law!!! What are God laws??
How can one transgress them??
Many Christians have divided His laws into 3 categories.
1. Those with the heaviest burden and wickedness: abortion, divorces, mass killings, etc.
2. Not so bad sins/evil: disobedience to parents, stealing large items, bearing false witness in court, etc
3. Smaller sins: white lies, taking little things from our employer here and there. Hatred, covetousness if others are aware, envy, jealousy, bias, ( the unknown inner sins). Also Don’t forget, this little one; breaking the edges of the Sabbath.
In our maker and judge eyes sins are sins. How wretched and sinful humans are, we are deceiving ourselves everyday by divide sins in categories.
In our maker sight there is no little or big sin. SINS are SINS, the are terrible in his sight. It’s what caused his life on Calvary.
I always tried to be a good Adventist Christian, doesn’t do certain things. But all my righteousness are like filthy rags.
I had an experience one day. I came in contact with this elderly gentleman who didn’t looked like me. We were ok, talking and making jokes. I then asked him what was his profession while he was working. He said to me he was a policeman. Suddenly I felt something like a dagger passed through my chest. I had a feeling of bias mixed with secret anger thinking he was a bad person because he was a policeman. Are all police bad, no, but I had deep seated bias against policemen that I didn’t even realized. I suddenly had to call on the name of Jesus to help me.
Many think they are ok if they don’t commit big sins and petty ones are ok like bias, envy etc.
Is bias and hatred a transgression of God’s law?? If I continue in sin his wrath will face me.
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However those that turn to Him, Ask for forgiveness, Believe that Christ is the Son of God, and Claim His promises will in no way be lost. Once we chose Him all the power in heaven is given to us to follow through with resisting and overcoming. "I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely." Revelation 21:6. This promise is only to those that thirst. None but those who feel their need of the water of life, and seek it at the loss of all things else, will be supplied. "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son." Verse 7. Here, also, conditions are specified. In order to inherit all things, we must resist and overcome sin." GC 540.1 - GC 540.2
Are you thirsty? I am. Do you fell the need of living water? I do. Cling to the promises of God. My favorite is: "I will be his/her God, he/her shall be My son/daughter".
My father, John Williams wrote his first poem one day, after nearly escaping death. He was driving home from a sales call on a rain slick highway late in the evening. A motorist entered a freeway onramp and veered into his lane causing him to slam on the brakes. His car went into a spin and he ended up facing the median 90° to the lanes. When he looked up, a semi was coming straight for his driver side door. Fortunately, his engine was still running. He put his foot on the gas, the car lurched forward and the truck hit his car with such impact that it ripped the trunk right off of it. This poem came to him as he sat there waiting for the ambulance. It was the first of many he would write after this. It is called, “One Wretch Like Me”.
The King of the universe stepped down from His throne
Leaving glory and honor He came all alone
Mankind was in peril and hopelessly lost
So He came to redeem him, never counting the cost
Yet he was despised and rejected by men
Though His coming was foretold by the prophet’s pen
He was cursed, and scorn, and whipped like a slave
By the very same ones He had come to save
He was crowned with thorns and nailed to a tree
All this He endured for you and for me
But death could not hold Him: He rose from the grave
He counted us worthy: our sins he forgave
Then the King of the universe to ascended on high
To stand in our place, Satan‘s claims to deny
He sent his Spirit to comfort and cheer
To counsel, instruct, and conquer all fear
Soon our King will return, this scarred earth to restore
Where the redeemed of all ages will abide evermore
No greater love than this has the world ever known
That one wretch like me, Jesus gave up His throne