7th June 2023
Pray (ACts) Read - Mark 11:7- Message Alan Burke You may have seen photos or scenes of people celebrating the triumphal entry. If you have you’ll likely have seen the palm branches being waved about by crowds almost like a big Mexican wave of palm branches in the air but it didn’t quite happen like that. If you read what goes on here in Mark’s gsople on that day when Jesus went into Jerusalem ridging on the colt we get a very different picture, they were laying them on the ground before Jesus. This is significant but we will think of it in a moment or two. In Mark’s account of the triumphal entry he is very specific about the details and in a sense they may seem neither here nor there. Firstly when the colt is brought to Jesus they which infers the disciples, they put their cloaks over the colt. Now this would have acted as a makeshift saddle. The colt also would have brought to mind when David proclaimed Solomon to be his heir as he had him ride into the city on a donkey (1 Kings 1:33,38,44). The colt itself was unridden and just like an unridden horse, they have to be broken before they can be used but here Jesus gets on the horse and rides it into Jerusalem. The pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem laid their cloaks on the road and others cut branches down and laid them before him. The palm branches which were symbols of the Jewish nation, and Jewish victories. The people here in what they are doing are acknowledging Jesus claim to be the Messiah as he rides on the donkey, Jesus was being welcomed as their king. For there is a parallel that we might miss at first glance to what has happened before in the history of the people of God. To find it you need to go back to 2 Kings to learn about Jehu. In short Jehu was the successor of king Ahab who had led the people of God into idolatrous worship, God’s judgement came upon Ahab and after God chose Jehu to be king. While he was king he had became king reluctantly, yet he was used by God and was instrumental in bringing transformation, he was obedient to the word of God no matter what the cost. When Jehu was made king the people placed their cloaks before him in submission, he walked over the cloaks of his people and the people cried out Jehu is king. Jesus the great king was likewise welcomed, he fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah and the parallel of what is taking place between Jehu and Jesus is revealing more of who Jesus was and is. Just as Jehu was a man who submitted to the word of God no matter what the cost, Jesus the word incarnate had come to submit himself, and while the people were not in truth submitting to him we are reminded here of the necessity for all of us to submit to him. With the crowds around, they shouted; “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” 10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest!” The crowds were responding to what they had heard and saw as Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on the colt, they were responding to the claims that he was making. But notice here their cry in verse ten, where they said “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest!”” Those words though, don’t quiet make senses. For it seems that while they were welcoming Jesus, responding to what they had heard and were seeing with their eyes, the man Jesus riding the colt, they had not understood, they were looking to the kingdom of their father David, but they should have been looking for King David’s greater son, David’s Lord as Ps 110 speaks of. In all that was taking place it was revealing who Jesus was and is, how he came to lay down his life for the sin of his people, everything that was being pointed to was how he had come as a servant to die in our stead, this is the Jesus we worship, this is the Jesus who is the saviour, this is the Jesus whom we must put our hope and trust in. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q66 What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment? The reason annexed to the fifth commandment, is a promise of long life and prosperity (as far as it shall serve for God’ s glory and their own good) to all such as keep this commandment. (Deut. 5:16, Eph. 6:2–3)
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6th June 2023
Pray (ACts) Read (Matthew 22v15-22) Message (Scott Woodburn) I have never met someone who loves paying their taxes. I've met plenty of people who have lamented the chunk of their wage that goes to the government each month but I've yet to met the person who delights in the taxman. As the Pharisees continued their plot to lead Jesus into trouble (v15) they sent a flattering word (v16) to Him asking "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" (v17). It was a question fraught with danger. If Jesus stated that paying taxes to Caesar was lawful then He ran the risk of being seen as a traitor to the Jewish people. The Romans were the hated occupiers of Judah - would Jesus align Himself with the enemy? Equally if the Lord had denounced Rome and instructed the people not to pay their taxes, His opponents would have run as fast as their legs could carry them to tell their Roman overlords that Christ was stirring up rebellion against them. Furthermore if Jesus dodged the question it might suggest uncertainty on His part which His opponents could use to discredit Him. Do you see the trap? Do you see the maliciousness? The Lord's answer would be twisted regardless of what He said and used to destroy Him. Yet Jesus once again was above the games of the Pharisees. He knew their malice and wicked intentions (v18) and asked “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites?" They had not offered an honest question but they were sneaky and duplicitous in an attempt to destroy the Christ. Jesus continued to give an answer that no one expected. He did not remain silent nor did He praise Caesar nor did He start a revolution. Instead Christ asked for a coin which was used to pay taxes. Quickly a denarius was brought to Him and Jesus showed the people that Caesar's face was on the coin (v21). The man whose image adorned the denarius was Tiberius who was the adopted son of the first Roman emperor Augustus. Jesus said that there some things that were due to Caesar. His face was on their money and in the days of Christ the Roman empire was flourishing. The Pharisees may not have liked being under Rome's boot but Christ's point was that even the hated authorities are due some things from their citizens. Perhaps if the Lord had left it there He may have faced the rebuke of His opponents. However Jesus continued and said "Render...to God the things that are God's" (v21). The Lord's statement is a reminder to us all of the nature of the world in which we live. There are human authorities and institutions who are over us and all of them derive their authority from God Himself (Romans 13v1). We may not like our government but we have no Biblical mandate to break the law. Indeed we can truly say that when we honour "Caesar" we honour our God. Peter would put it this way "Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor." (1 Peter 2v13-17). This is what it is to live in the kingdom of man. Yet the Christian also understands that they are members of the kingdom of God and therefore their true loyalty lies with God alone. We are to honour Him in this world and serve Him with the gifts and talents that He has blessed us with. The cry of the Christian is "to God alone the glory" and so when we rise in the morning we walk in both kingdoms rendering unto Caesar what belongs to him and rendering unto God what He is owed. His opponents found no room to criticise Him and instead they went away marvelling at what they had heard (v22). Brothers and sisters, wherever you find yourself living - honour Christ by honouring Caesar but at the same time do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men who cannot save, only the kingdom of God will endure forever. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q65 What is forbidden in the fifth commandment? The fifth commandment forbiddeth the neglecting of, or doing anything against, the honor and duty which belongeth to every one in their several places and relations. 5th June 2023
Pray (ACts) Read - Mark 11:1-6 Message Alan Burke Sovereignty is one of those words that we don’t use a lot in every day speech, you can use it to speak of say the Parliament that they have sovereignty over the devolved governments. That means that what happens in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales ultimately is only allowed by the will of the Parliament in Westminster. The Lord God is sovereign over all, he is in all that takes place at work, working out all things for his glory and the good of those who love him. Here we see that sovereignty at work in a passage where there is nothing happening by chance or luck but that is all being worked out according to God’s eternal purposes. We might look out and think that it is just chaos out there but Scripture reminds us that it is not, we have a sovereign Lord who is in control of it all. Today as we focus on the beginning of the Triumphal Entry we see that. At the Mount of Olives which would have had a vista over much of Jerusalem as it looks down on the city and the Temple Mount, Jesus sent two of his disciples on an errand, he told them them to go to the village ahead and when they are and there they would find a colt. This may not seem that significant to us but throughout this account there are illusions to what has come before and more importantly Jesus is fulfilling what had been promised of old about the coming Messiah. So these unnamed disciples are to go and get Jesus a colt, that they will find when they enter the village, and it is one that has never been ridden. What is significant in all of this is what Jesus is doing, for he was fulfilling an ancient prophecy about the coming of the messiah right before the eyes of his disciples and all who were there (see Zech 9:9). The expectation of the people was that the Messiah would come to Jerusalem riding on a donkey, while Jesus throughout his ministry had been seeking to limit the knowledge of his true identity, Jesus was now making a very clear statement of who he was for all to see, he was making a claim that he was the Messiah, that the one whom they had been waiting and longing for had come. Notice how the majority of these verses that detail the arrival of Jesus to Jerusalem are focused not on the arrival, not on the decent from the mount of olives or the ascent into Jerusalem but on the preparations for his entry. It’s striking isn’t it, where the focus lies, not on the shouts of acclimation on the pilgrims, on the throng of people, rather it is on Jesus sending two disciples to get a donkey. There are a couple of things that we can draw out of this for us. Because Jesus in all that was taking place was in full control of the events that were unfolding, this wasn’t taking place but accident, Jesus wasn’t some unsuspecting victim of what lay ahead, no in the midst of this our Saviour was sovereignly at work. We have a saviour who was not an unsuspecting victim, but purposely in all things was fulfilling the law and the prophets for us, have you ever thought about the significance of that, Jesus willingly, purposely going to die for our sin? The other is that we have a sovereign Lord and saviour, ruling over all, there is nothing here in this passage that is happening by chance or luck but it is all being worked together according to God’s eternal purposes, in all that was taking place that day Jesus was bringing about the fulfilment of what had been foretold. He was bringing that about before the very eyes of the disciples. Our Triune God is sovereign in all, he is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, he is all powerful, all knowing, and everywhere present and he is actively at work in all that was taking place and takes place this day. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q64 What is required in the fifth commandment? The fifth commandment requireth the preserving the honor, and performing the duties, belonging to every one in their several places and relations, as superiors, (Eph. 5:21) inferiors, (1 Pet. 2:17) or equals. (Rom. 12:10) 3rd June 2023
Pray (ACts) Read (Matthew 21v28-22v14) Message (Scott Woodburn) The Lord refused to answer the question “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” but in response to the religious leaders, Jesus taught three parables. They're called the parable of the two sons, the parable of the tenants and the parable of the wedding feast. As Jesus stood teaching in the temple courts, He had something weighty to say to the religious leaders and all of the people of Israel. Jesus taught firstly about two sons. One was asked to go and work in his father's vineyard but said "I will not" before changing his mind and going to work (v29). The other son said he would go to work but never actually bothered (v30). Those listening to Jesus agreed that it was the first son who did his father's will (v31). What did this parable mean? Jesus explained that in the first son we see the tax collectors and prostitutes. They would enter the kingdom first because when John the Baptist came, many sinners changed their minds and repented before the Lord. Nevertheless when the religious leaders saw this they were like the second son who refused to change and stayed at home. The second parable was about a master who planted a vineyard and put it into the hands of tenants (v33). At harvest time the master sent his servants to get some fruit from the tenants who promptly acted wickedly towards the master's servants (v35). More servants were sent but they received the same evil treatment (v36). Finally the master sent his son saying "They will respect my son" (v37). But the tenants did not respect the son. They believed by killing him they would receive his inheritance and so they took him outside the vineyard and they murdered him (v39). Once more the crowd was united in what they believed would happen in such an instance saying that when the master came “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.” (v41) What did this parable mean? The religious leaders had badly mismanaged God's kingdom and rejected His Son. Jesus reminded His hearers of Psalm 118v22-23 which states “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes" Jesus was rejected by those who should have received Him and therefore the kingdom would be taken from ethnic Israel and given to another people who would produce fruits of the kingdom (v43). Christ in turn would be a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence, with anyone failing to receive Him being destroyed (v44). Christ's third parable spoke of a king's feast prepared for his son's wedding. The king sent many servants to invite the people to the feast but they would not come (22v3). Other servants were sent with news about the scale of the feast but still no one responded and the king's servants were treated badly and murdered (v6). In response the king sent his troops to destroy the murderers (v7). The king then said "The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find." (v8-9) In the end the feast was filled with those found on the roads "both bad and good" (v10). Later as the feast was in full swing a individual was found without a wedding garment (v11). Would you go to a wedding unprepared? This man did and he was promptly thrown outside into darkness where there was only weeping and gnashing of teeth (v13). What was going on in these three parables? Christ was offering a damning indictment of Israel and her leaders. The Lord had consistently reached out to His people and begged them to return to Him. They refused and mistreated His messengers and would eventually murder Christ the Son. Therefore the focus of God's saving work would move to the Gentile nations and those previously considered as sinfully wicked would respond to the Gospel in repentance and faith. Throughout history many have been called to faith but only a few have been chosen by God Himself (22v14). The chief priests and the Pharisees were not fools and so they knew that Christ was speaking about them (21v45) but instead of repenting and trusting in Christ they began to look for opportunities to arrest Jesus (21v46). What should we do with such verses? Paul would later offer much wisdom in Romans 11. He taught that the rejection of Jesus by the Jews was in order to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles who in turn could hope that one day many Jews would call upon the name of Jesus (Romans 11v11-13, 25). In the meantime we are to flee from arrogance towards the Jewish people (Romans 11v19) understanding that there can be no room for pride in the Christian (Romans 11v20). Instead we are to remember that the God who did not spare the Jews from His judgement will not spare us either if we turn from Him. Today as we hear Christ's voice may it humble us as we survey His majestic plan for the salvation of all who would believe. The Master has sent His Son and we gladly receive Him. May He keep us until the end and enable us to stand fast through faith and fear (Romans 11v20). Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q63 Which is the fifth commandment? The fifth commandment is, Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. 2nd June 2023
Pray (ACts) Read - Mark 10:46-52 Message Alan Burke This insignificant, unimportant, marginalised man Bartimaeus had cried out to Jesus, even though he was told to shut up by the crowd he cried out again and again and wouldn’t let others put him off. Instead of ignoring him, Jesus called this man to himself, he doesn’t rebuke him like the crowd, again an object lesson for all around that even those who are insignificant, unimportant, the marginalised of society are not unimportant or unwanted to Jesus. The crowd had God it wrong, and even though Jesus is facing the very real shadow of the cross as he approaches Jerusalem he still had time for this man. As soon as Bartimaeus hears the invitation of Jesus here we have him standing to his feet, throwing his cloak aside, the cloak that would have been his outer garment, spread on the ground for people to drop alms in, that he was so dependant on was simply cast off, as he responds to the call of Jesus without a second thought, we are told he jumped to his feet. And Jesus, Jesus asks him, “what do you want me to do for you?” Before we get into the answer of Bartimaeus there is again something else that sticks out, because this question has been asked by Jesus before and not very long before. Look back if you have your bibles open, and you’ll see it there in verse 36. Jesus asked James and John “what do you want me to do for you?”, it is exactly the same wording in the greek. Before the question was asked by two men who had seen Jesus transfigured and were seeking greatness, to sit at the right and the left. The same question is asked of Bartimaeus, the answer as it comes is, “I want to see”. While James and John wanted greatness all that Bartimaeus wanted was that he would see. His request shows that he understood what the messiah the son of David was coming to do, to make all things new (Isa 65:17-25, Rom 8:18-24, Rev 21). And what makes this stick out even more is when you consider what the disciples had been playing at, seeking for greatness, with James and John looking for a place at Jesus right and left, the other ten being left raging and now we have Bartimaeus who was seeking the mercy of Jesus, he desired that his sight be restored and not greatness in the kingdom of God, just his sight. Bartimaeus cried for mercy nothing more, mercy, as someone who was undeserving of that mercy, as one who had nothing to bring, he is reliant on the mercy of the one whom he called on, he isn’t looking to be exalted, he is just asking for his sight. The response of Jesus is extraordinary, Go, your faith has healed you, immediately the sight of Bartimaeus is restored. Notice the word go there, as in go on your way Jesus said to the man. But after receiving his sight we are told Bartimaeus followed Jesus along the road. Once he had received his sight, he followed. Bartimaeus knew and understood who Jesus was, he responded rightly to Jesus, he followed him, even before he received his sight Bartimaeus could see more clearly than the disciples, because he hadn’t been blinded by wealth, self reliance, all that this world holds dear and much that this world builds their life upon, he wasn’t looking for greatness in the kingdom like the disciples, he’s wasn’t holding on to that which is eternally worthless like the rich young ruler, yet he was someone who seen Jesus for who he really was before he received his sight. What we need more than anything is to have spiritual sight, to see and to know Jesus for who he is, the Son of David, the long awaited Messiah the Christ who that day with the large crowds still with him traveling to Jerusalem with Jesus, Jesus who was going to the cross and went to the cross to die for the sins of many so that for all who repent and believe they will be saved. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q62 What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment? The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment are, God’ s allowing us six days of the week for our own employments, (Exod. 20:9) his challenging a special propriety in the seventh, his own example, and his blessing the sabbath-day. (Exod. 20:11) 1st June 2023
Pray (ACts) Read (Matthew 21v23-27) Message (Scott Woodburn) Have you ever heard the phrase "new brush sweeps clean"? It is often used when someone new takes a position of authority in a company or organisation. The new boss does things in a new way, old routines are changed and new approaches are introduced. Some employees adapt to the new reality but others are left frustrated and ask "who does this new guy think he is?" Jesus made His return to the temple and was challenged by the chief priests and elders who wanted to know “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” (v23) They had witnessed Jesus on two occasions cleansing the temple and they were well aware of His other dramatic activities...who did Jesus think He was? The chief priests and elders had every right to ask such a question. Jesus had come preaching and teaching and performing mighty works in God's name. Israel's theological leaders were doing their job to ensure that Christ was not a false teacher. Nevertheless their question had received its answer one hundred times over. If the religious leaders had paid close attention then they would have known that Christ's authority was derived from God Himself. Jesus answered their question with one of His own saying "The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” (v25) At first glance it seems like a straight forward question but the religious leaders were unable to give a clear answer. They knew that if they declared John's baptism to be from heaven then Christ would want to know why they didn't believe the man called "the Baptist" (v25). If they believed John then they should have believed Christ. They also understood that if they denied John's ministry it would have angered the people who believed John to be a prophet (v26). By demanding to know the source of Christ's authority they had allowed themselves to be put between a rock and a hard place - they could endorse John's ministry and therefore endorse Christ or they could deny John and perhaps cause a riot. So what did they do? They sat on the fence and answered Jesus by saying “We do not know.”(v27). Their response was dreadful. They were Israel's religious leaders and they should have known all about John and therefore Jesus but to save face they refused the question. Therefore Christ responded by saying “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things." (v27). Jesus wasn't a slippery politician seeking to avoid a tricky question, instead He refused to answer a question from men who were playing games rather than standing for truth. Needless to say, Christ had no regard for the question placed before Him. Should we listen to Jesus? Should we respect Him? Should we call upon His name? Yes, yes and yes. The authority of Christ came from God Himself who declared at the transfiguration “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” (Mark 9v7). May the authoritative voice of Christ sound like a trumpet blast into every corner of our lives. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q61 What is forbidden in the fourth commandment? The fourth commandment forbiddeth the omission, or careless performance, of the duties required, and the profaning the day by idleness, or doing that which is in itself sinful, or by unnecessary thoughts, words, or works, about our worldly employments or recreations. |
Alan
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