Punchbowl

Continuing with our vision of “Beloved, let us love one another,” and the vision of “Learning Christ Together,” as well as the goal of “Making Disciples of Each Other.,” let us study the Scriptures on how our Lord Jesus Christ loved us and gave himself up for us.

 

We will also continue the theme of “Come and See” in the book of John, which we started on New Year’s Eve service. We will touch on the calling of Mary and Martha in the raising of Lazarus from the dead, the meeting of the Lord Jesus with Nicodemus and Jesus’s challenge to him of being born of God—being born again, John the Baptist’s testimony again about Jesus, the healing of the officials son.  These events show the love of Jesus in one way or another while teaching and demonstrating to his disciples how to love one another.

 

As I mentioned in last month’s bulletin, we know that Jesus came to rescue God’s people and take away the sins of the world. As the covenant people of God, the people that God promised to be with until the end of the age, we are invited to “see and taste” that the Lord is good. Jesus alone fulfills the will of God in creating the perfect man in his image. Hence, we are being transformed by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit into the New Life in Christ as we work together with God (Romans 8:28-29, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for (or with) those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”)

 

In today’s sermon, Mary invited Jesus to “Come and see” his beloved Lazarus. This is the most significant of the “Signs” that point to Jesus as Christ, not only because the Messiah’s raising of Lazarus foreshadows the resurrection of Jesus, but also because this “Sign” emphatically points to the Son of God who gives life and gives it more abundantly. This “Sign” reinforces last Sunday’s sermon about the Messiah who gives lifegiving water through the gift of the Holy Spirit.

 

Thus, the long wait is over, Christ has come. He lived, died, and rose again! He will come back to rule with us in fulfillment of God’s purposes for humankind in Genesis. This time, we look forward together as his church—in obedience to his calling, we declare Christ Jesus as the Savior; and make disciples so more people will trust, love, and obey him, as we reflect God’s love AND LOVE EACH OTHER (a realized eschatology), until we see him face to face. To him be the glory and honor forever and ever, Amen!