The Suffering Servant

READ: Isaiah 53:3-6

Isaiah 53 paints the sad picture of one who took upon himself rejection, suffering, and the punishment that brought peace. The temptation is to look upon Calvary; say, “Thanks, Jesus;” and then settle into a quiet life of comfort and complacency. 

Jesus instructs us otherwise. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24)

And be rejected?

“Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven.” (Luke 6:22-23)

And suffer?

For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him but also to suffer for him. (Philippians 1:29)

And take upon ourselves the punishments that bring peace?

If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back. (Philemon 18-19)

Really, Paul?

I speak the truth in Christ -- I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit … For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people … (Romans 9:1,3)

More than a scapegoat, Christ is a prototype. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. (Romans 8:29)

The Loving King

Sunday February 25, 2018

Mark 2:13-17

Have you ever found value in something that very few valued?

As Jesus was walking he saw Levi sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. Levi’s encounter so changed him he invited his friends to his house to meet Jesus. While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, they wanted to follow him. The religious people saw Jesus eating with the sinners and tax collectors, and asked “Why does He eat with these sinners?” Jesus overheard them and said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Levi discovers Jesus and wanted to let all his friends know that there is someone different from others. Someone who doesn’t judge them, by their occupation, but looks straight to the heart.

As you take time this week to meditate on this passage put yourself in the story, would you get up and follow Jesus? Would you go to the dinner full of tax collectors and sinners? Would you be like the religious people finding fault that Jesus would eat with sinners?

Invite a friend to dinner this week. Do you love Jesus enough to introduce Him to your friend?

Do you love your friends enough to introduce them to Jesus?

  

                                                                             Joe Valentino

A Father's Loving Words

And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17)

Anyone who has had a difficult childhood, longs to hear these words. What a priceless moment for Jesus, but also for those who witnessed it. 

Society today encourages us to achieve more and more. We tend to believe that our lifestyle, when successful, defines us. Things are important as we feel the need to acquire the latest gadget or sport the newest styles, drive the fastest car. Living an unobtrusive life isn’t an option for many.

Look now to Jesus, the one who truly is above all and is to be considered superior in every way. Jesus lowered himself to be one of us, to take on human form. Reading the scripture selection for today, it is striking how very powerful these words are; a tremendous witness to the world.

Jesus asked John to baptize Him, as he had been baptizing those who were following him. (Matthew 3:13 “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.”) John wasn’t prepared for this and he told Jesus that it should be Him baptizing John. Jesus in all humility responded and asked John to do it anyway. (Matthew 3:15 “Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.”)

Dear God, I want to hear you say the words to me which you said to Your Son, Jesus. I want you to be pleased with me too. Lord show me how to live as Jesus did, with humility and grace. Amen




Matthew 3:13-17

Childhood Obsessions

READ: Luke 2:41-52

WWE Owners Vince & Shane McMahon
Visit the House of the Lord in a 2006 Storyline

Were you obsessed with anything as a child?

I was obsessed with WWE. I watched it six nights a week. They didn’t have programming on Tuesday, so I went to my archives and popped in a VHS. I had every action figure. I went to the events. I wore the t-shirts. I talked about it at school; I whispered about it in church.

I was a lot like Jesus.

He was obsessed too. Only his obsession was with his Father.

Not surprising. He came to fulfill the law (Matthew 5:17) and said the greatest commandment in the law is to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (Matthew 22:37) - an Old Testament quote which continues, “These commands I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:5-9)

Sounds like obsession to me.

2011 WWE Hall of Fame Inductee Shawn Michaels

Now grown, I go to church every Sunday. I listen to praise and worship music every day. I regularly attend three Bible studies a week and am in the Word every day. I pray every morning and before every meal. God’s name is never far from my lips; He is always in my thoughts. 

Do these things make me any more loved by God? No, but how can I not love Him with an obsessive love? His amazing grace saved a wretch like me.

The Crowned King

At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, He received John’s baptism and the Holy Spirit anointed Him with a visual of a dove descending. Then His Father said, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” The King was here and so the Kingdom of God was breaking in.

Sometimes as parents, we associate praise of our children with what they do. “You got an A” or “You scored that goal” or “You cleaned your room.” Jesus had done nothing yet in His ministry, but His Father said “Son, I love You and I am pleased.”

I took a cue from that when my daughter was little and at random times, out of the blue and not connected with anything she had done, I would say “Molly, I love you and I’m so proud of you.” One time she sat quietly in the car as we were driving and then asked “Dad, why do you always say that?” I then told her how I learned that from my heavenly Father.

That’s called grace. John wrote that Jesus came full of grace and truth. It is the mark of His Kingdom. It is God’s great gift to us from His unconditional love. And we have the privilege of being channels of that grace to a world desperate for it.

                                                                                                                           Pastor Buff Delcamp

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