The Messiah’s Secret – Archangel Gabriel’s message to Mary

“Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but now is disclosed and through prophetical writings is made known to all nations to the command of the eternal God, to bring about obedience of faith.”Romans 16: 25-27
The mystery that was kept secret was the birth of the Messiah and that the Gentiles were to become fellow heirs of this mystery.

To disclose means – to bring something to light.
"It was near Christmas and two boys went to stay with their Grandma. As they both knelt beside their beds to say their prayers. The younger boy began to say his prayer at the top of his voice, "I pray for a biycle and a nintendo game." His brother whispered to him, "Why are you shouting, God isn't deaf?" His brother answered, "I know, but Grandma is."

The prophesies in Isaiah were brought to the light by Archangel Gabriel.
“And the Lord said, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel”.Isaiah 7: 14
“For unto us a child is born a Son is given, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of his peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom to establish it, and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore, the zeal of the Lord of Hosts will do this.” Isaiah 9: 6, 7.

Archangel Gabriel delivered important messages from God to a small number of people recorded in scripture.
The prophet Daniel when he saw Gabriel he noted that he had the appearance of a man.
Gabriel came to Daniel in response to his prayer were he requested understanding of the vision that God had given to him concerning the end times. Daniel 8: 15. 9: 21-end

Also Gabriel appeared in the temple at Jerusalem at the hour of incense. Where he spoke to Zechariah the priest on duty confirming to him that Zechariah’s prayer had been answered. Elizabeth his wife would conceive and give birth to a son who would be the herald announcing the coming of the Messiah. Luke 1: 10, 11.
“He will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God and he will go before the Messiah in the power and spirit of Elijah . . .to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” Luke 1: 16, 17.

Following Gabriel’s visit to Zechariah six months later Gabriel visited Mary at her home in Nazareth. Gabriel’s greeting was a surprise to her, “Hail. O favoured one, the Lord is with you,” she questioned in her heart what the implications were.
Gabriel maybe sensed that she was afraid. Her fear must have been very real when he mentioned that she was going to have a baby boy who she must name him, Jesus.
Gabriel’s word to Mary in verse 32 confirming the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy. “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; his kingdom will never end.”
I don’t think the titles and greatness of the child registered in her mind because of wondering who the father was going to be as Mary was betrothed to Joseph. Luke 1: 26-38
Under Jewish law a woman found by her husband not to be a virgin after their marriage meant that he could expose her and she could be stoned to death by the men of the city. Deuteronomy 22: 13-21
Mary’s response brought out her fear. “How shall it be, I have no husband?”
Gabriel’s answer to her was that the Holy Spirit would overshadow her. Mary would know about the Holy Spirit from the Hebrew Scriptures: The Holy Spirit hovered over the waters of the earth and creation followed. Genesis 1: 2.
I think that this disclosure about the Holy Spirit to Mary gave her understanding that God was going to be the Father and the child was to be the Son of God.

Once the message became clear, fully disclosed, Mary responded in faith.
“Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord: Let it be to me according to your word.”
Gabriel assured her that nothing was impossible with God and then he left.

The disclosure of the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy to Mary that God had chosen her, led her to obedience of faith.
In Mary’s obedience of faith we see wisdom, trust and discernment, it wasn’t blind obedience.
Mary in her wisdom questioned Gabriel, “How shall it be, I have no husband?” She had genuine fears that could have put her life in danger. Mary, I feel trusted that the Lord would undertake with Joseph.
Mary discerned that God would be the Father through the operation of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps Gabriel's news about Elizabeth pregnancy, convinced Mary that God was able to do the impossible. Both Zechariah and Elizabeth being too old to have children.

Disclosure is an aspect of faith.
Disclosure is to bring to the light something which is proposed and can not be worked out, it is accepted by faith. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. By faith we understand that the world was created by the Word of God, so that what is seen was made out of things which do not appear.” Hebrews 11: 1,2.

When a mystery like God being the Father of Jesus is disclosed to us, we made a response, to either believe or have doubts.

If you are not sure, maybe you can be persuaded to consider the evidence:

Existence of Angels
Christians David and Jessica’s encounter with an angel. They were out walking on the moors when the mist came down as a result they got lost. As they pondered which way to go, a man appeared out of the mist, they asked him for his help and he gave them directions. As they set off they turned to thank the man, but he had vanished, they looked around but there was no sign of him. They believed he was an angel although he had the appearance of a man.

The Conception.
God intervened in world affairs when Mary conceived without another human being involved. To me it is like a person being healed by prayer. God answers the prayer without the flesh being touched. Healing the sickness or disease without any drugs or surgery, for with God nothing is impossible.

Only God could do these things.
Jesus when he grew up showed miraculous powers were at work in him that only the creator of life could perform like: raising the dead, changing water to wine, walking on water, stilling the storm, healing leprosy, opening the eyes of the blind, healing all manner of sickness and disease.
Man's creativity
I am amazed by the technology of today; microwave ovens came about through microwaves being accidentally discovered in 1945. American engineer Percy Spencer was working on an active radar set when he noticed that a chocolate bar he had in his pocket started to melt. The radar had melted the chocolate bar with microwaves. This technology has revolutionised cooking meals.
Faith in Jesus
Computers and digital technology is truly amazing, but let’s look again at the miracles Jesus performed with only two or three words like: “Be clean,” “Peace! Be still!” “Go in peace,” “Stretch out your hand.” ”Your faith has made you well.” The man with the withered hand was restored like his other hand, men who were blind could see again. The deaf could hear and the dumb could speak.

Surely this is evidence enough to prove that Mary gave Jesus his humanity and his divinity came from God his Father.

This chorus is my prayer for anyone who doubts the 'Virgin Birth.'
"Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus, to reach out and touch him, and say that we love him. Open our ears, Lord, and help us to listen: O open our ears, Lord, we want to see Jesus." Robert Cull 1976 Maranatha! Music. Word Music (UK)

The Census required Joseph and Mary to set out from Nazareth and go to Bethlehem. They must have been concerned about the strenuous journey knowing that at around nine months the baby could be born at any time. After arriving at Bethlehem they searched for accommodation hastened by the probability that Mary’s labour pains had started. The Inn was full the only place out of public gaze was the stable, where Mary gave birth to Jesus.
I wonder how Joseph and Mary were feeling at the time, thankful that they had made it to Bethlehem and how difficult it must have been in not finding a room at the Inn. However the relief and joy they must have felt when Mary gave birth in the quietness of a stable. The first cry from baby Jesus must have thrilled them both.

The shepherds responded to the disclosure by the angels of an infant, who was the Christ, that had been born in Bethlehem that night so the shepherds went to Bethlehem and found baby Jesus lying in a manger.

December 11 2011
It was disclosed to me by my sister that her son Garth 34 years who lives in Melbourne Australia on Sunday 11 December accepted Jesus as his Saviour, a child born into the kingdom. Great news.

Archangel's call
The next occasion when an Archangel is mentioned is in Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians.
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with the voice of the Archangel and with the trumpet call of God and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” Thessalonians 4: 16
The Archangel coming with Christ calling out the believers to meet the Lord in the air. Those who have died in faith and those who are alive on the day of Jesus' coming. The church made up of both Jew and Gentiles. Abraham’s descendants are the families of the earth who have accepted Jesus as their Saviour.
“God gave to your fathers saying to Abraham “And in your posterity (descendants) shall all the families of the earth be blessed. God having risen up his servant (Jesus) sent him to you first, to bless you in turning every one of you from your wickedness.” Acts 3: 22-26.

Happy Christmas
(Doxology – A hymn expressing praise and honour to the Trinity.Romans 16: 25-27)

The Messiah’s Secret – Jesus a stone of offence

Evening Service following the Lectionary Romans 15: 4-13 Matthew 11: 2-11 Below York Minster The Church Christ's body here on earth, living stones.

Advent is the time when we remember the birth of Jesus and were we prepare ourselves for Jesus' coming again.
John the Baptist was preparing the way of the Messiah through his baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
John the Baptist had been wrongfully arrested by Herod Antipas and put in jail for speaking out against Herod’s marriage to his brother Philips wife Herodias. John had said to Herod, “It was not lawful to have her.” Matthew 14: 3, 4. Under Jewish law Herod was forbidden to marry his brother’s wife. Leviticus 18: 16.
John had few friends amongst the Pharisees, they had not responded to his baptism. Luke 7: 30. 
John the Baptist was preparing the way of the Messiah through his baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  “He said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits fit for repentance . . . every tree that does not bear fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” Luke 3: 7-9                                                          
In Matthew 11: 2. John the Baptist had heard from his prison cell the deeds of the Christ. John I’m sure would be amazed to hear of the blind receiving their sight and the lame walking, lepers healed, peoples hearing restored, the dead being raised up and the poor being ministered to by Jesus.
John sent word his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?”
Why did John find it necessary to send his disciples to ask that question? And why did Jesus end his answer with the words in verse 6 “And blessed is he who takes no offence at me.”
John was in jail for upholding the law, was he offended by Jesus breaking the law by healing people on the Sabbath Day? Did he expect the Christ to uphold the law by applying it in his ministry?

Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy ‘A stone of offence and a rock of stumbling.”
“And he shall become a sanctuary, and a stone of offence and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many shall stumble thereon; they shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.” Isaiah 8: 14, 15.
Jesus the living stone bearing witness to the overburdening laws added on by the Pharisees causing offence to their leaders. The Jews earned their righteousness by keeping the law so in their zeal they added laws to the laws given to Moses by God.
"The Gospel in the Feasts of Israel" by Victor Buksbazen. "By the second century AD there were 1521 laws just for the Sabbath Day."

The Pharisees were expecting the Christ to uphold the law so they asked Jesus, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"
“Jesus entered a synagogue and behold there was a man with a withered hand and they (Pharisees) asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” So they might accuse him. He said to them, “What man of you, if he has one sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value is man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, whole like the other. But the Pharisees went out and took council against him, how they might destroy him.” Matthew 12: 9-14
Jesus taught that it was right to do good on the Sabbath.

The Pharisees stumbled in their eagerness to please God. We too can stumble and fall when we believe that the Lord is calling us to do something for him and it becomes the most important thing to us. The Lord will sometimes take the activity from us, causing us to shed tears of pain resulting in brokenness. It is then we may realise that the work had become more important to us than the Lord.
I write from personal experience, when the word 'The Messiah's Secret' was revealed to me I was on a Readers Course. I realised that the ministry that the Lord had called me to was connected with this word to make it known. The course was a challenge I had no qualifications in higher education. I stepped out in faith believing that it was what the Lord had called me to do for him.
On the final term I realised that I wasn't going to be licensed as a Reader for my church, I was devastated. I fasted and prayed but then I realised that the course had become the most important thing to me. The Lord showed me that I had to let go and keep my eyes focused on him.
Two years later I was licensed as a Reader at my present church were the word about 'The Messiah's Secret' has been received. I humbly give thanks to the Lord for their kindness towards me.

In 1996 the Lord has shown me that 2,000 years ago that it was at and after Pentecost Jesus could only be received by the nation of the Jews as their Messiah, and not before Jesus’ crucifixion and death. It was a national calling to the Jewish people, first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles.                      
The Jewish leaders at the time rejected Jesus as their Messiah and King as they do today.

The Messiah’s Secret – Preface by John Young
“As one of the elders of a Messianic Fellowship whose congregation fulfils the desires of God to see Jews and Gentiles as one, this book will be extremely helpful to Jew and Gentile in understanding the plan, and purposes of God and for His people. The Church has long needed to understand it has a special relationship with and a responsibility towards Israel. Truth has been lost throughout the ages but like a treasure is always rediscovered. In these end times then let this book be dedicated to the One who inspired its writer and author as He did in times past. To those searching for the ‘truth’ this will be a very helpful book in bringing clear understanding and direction in where our focus should be. I trust in the grace of God to open the eyes and to open the hearts of those searching for the ‘truth’ for it is only the Lord Jesus who declared He is the way, the truth and the life to all irrespective of colour and creed. Let this little work be to the glory of God and to the increase of His government in this world.”   John Young December 2000."

The Messiah’s Secret
God’s plan of salvation through the cross was hidden from Caiaphas and the council. But for centuries the church has believed and taught that the time for the Jews to receive Jesus as the Christ, their Messiah was before the crucifixion of Jesus.

God's word of prophecy to Caiaphas
High priest Caiaphas and the Pharisees brought the council together were Caiaphas shared a prophecy that God had given to him, “That it was expedient that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they took council how they might destroy him.” John 11: 47-53
God had spoken directly to high priest Caiaphas the main leader of the ruling council of the Jews and Caiaphas believed that the prophecy was pointing to Jesus; he was the one man who should die for the people. But he did not believe that the Messiah would come and die. The people had been taught from the law that when the Messiah comes he will remain for ever. John 12: 34
Whilst Jesus was dying on the cross the chief priests and scribes mocked him saying, “He saved others but he can not save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Mark 15: 31, 32.

When Caiaphas and the Pharisees heard that Jesus had been raised from the dead fulfilling the prophesies of King David, surely they should have realised that God had given them a word of prophecy concerning the Messiah, and that God had hidden it from their understanding in order to bring the nation to acknowledge Jesus as their Christ after his death, resurrection and ascension. Also when they heard the prophecy of Joel being fulfilled in the last days I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh and whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Acts 2: 17, 21.
Sadly Sadducee Caiaphas did not believe in the resurrection from the dead. The Pharisees their hearts were hardened. Read Acts 2: 22-27

“For the Jews demand signs and the Greeks wisdom. But we preach Jesus Christ crucified a stumbling block to the Jews and folly to the Gentiles.” 1 Corinthians 1: 22, 23.
The Apostles were setting up the kingdom of God at the beginning of Acts, being about their master’s business in anticipation of Jesus’ return. (Parable of the nobleman)
The church began at Pentecost with Jewish men and women taking out the message about Jesus’ resurrection of his return with the angels of God.
Jesus had given his followers hope of his return within their life time.
Jesus said “When he comes in the glory of the Father with the holy angels. Truly, truly I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.” Mark 8: 38. 9:1.
Peter at Solomon’s Portico knew that their leaders had acted in ignorance not realising that Caiaphas’ prophecy meant the Messiah had to suffer, die and be resurrected to fulfil God’s plan of salvation for all the families of the earth.
“Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that the times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send Jesus who was preached to you before. Whom heaven must receive until the time for establishing all that God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old.”
Peter was giving the people the opportunity accept Jesus as their Messiah to bring in the times of refreshing meaning the establishing of the throne and eternal kingdom of God with Jesus the king on its throne. Acts 3: 17-21.
Peter said that Abraham’s promise had now been fulfilled by all the families of the earth being blessed by Jesus Christ. Genesis 12: 3. 18: 14. (Prophecy relating to the church)
”And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came afterwards also proclaimed these days. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God gave to your fathers saying to Abraham “And in your posterity shall all the families of the earth be blessed. God having raised up his servant sent him to you first, to bless you in turning every one of you from your wickedness, Acts 3: 22-26.

Two thousand years later the church has proclaimed Jesus the Jewish Messiah, and the Saviour of the world, first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. Jesus is still a stumbling block to the nation of the Jews.

In Paul’s letter to the Romans 15: 4-13 he wrote about Jesus fulfilling the promises given to Abraham, Moses and King David in sending the Saviour in whom all the families of the earth would be blessed. Jesus, his body of believers the church, in which Jew and Gentile become one that together we may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus the corner stone, a corner stone tie two walls together and the Cap stone protects and covers the top of the wall.
Jesus‘ cross tying together Jew and Gentile becoming one, Jesus being the head of the assembly of believers.

I realise that this word ‘The Messiah’s Secret’ is a tiny part of the preparation for Jesus’ return in bringing forgiveness and healing between Jew and Gentile.

Shoah Seminar – May 5th 2000 held at the Menorah Synagogue, Manchester.
Ten years ago I was invited to attend the Shoah Seminar at Menorah Synagogue in Manchester England. This day was in preparation for the first Holocaust Memorial Day in our area that took place on 27th January 2001. (I took notes) The government wants to ensure that the terrible crimes against humanity committed during the Holocaust are never forgotten and its relevance for each new generation is understood.
The Rabbi of Menorah Synagogue when he spoke on the Holocaust, (Holocaust meaning ‘burnt sacrifice.’) he referred to the Jews that had been taken by the Nazis to the concentration camps as fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy in chapter 53 ‘the suffering servant’. The people of the Holocaust were the burnt offerings for the atonement for their nation’s sin against God. Also he said, ‘God had established the new covenant when the state of Israel came into being after the war, and the land of Israel, was their Messiah.’

Whilst I respect Rabbi’s interpretation of his own Jewish scriptures, as a Christian through the churches study of the Hebrew Scriptures, I see the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy of the ‘suffering servant’ in Jesus. (blog Isaiah's prophesies fulfilled)

King David prophesied that the Messiah’s body would not be burnt by fire.
Jesus’ body was not burnt. “David foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus, God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.” Jesus risen body, his flesh and bones bore the marks of the sword and the nails. Acts 2: 31, 32. Psalm 16: 10. 49:9. Luke 24:39-42

Paul's words to the church at Rome still applies today.
“So I ask, have they (Israel) stumbled so as to fall? By no means! But through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.” Romans 11: 11
Through the Apostles these Jewish men and women all the families of the earth have the opportunity to accept Jesus as the Saviour of the world.Sadly down the centuries a lot of Christians have accused the Jewish people of crucifying their Messiah.

Singer Helen Shapiro
In November 2009 I went to listen to Singer Helen Shapiro she told us her life story. Helen is of Jewish decent born in London in 1946. At the age of six she went to a state school. She told us of how she remembered a child coming up to her in the playground and saying, ‘You killed Jesus.’ She was devastated and never forgot those hurtful words. In the late 1980’s she discovered Jesus as her Saviour and the promised Messiah to the Jewish people.

The Messiah’s Secret - Sheep and Goats

Supreme Court Justice Horace Gray once informed a man who had appeared before him in a lower court and had escaped conviction on a technicality, “I know that you are guilty and you know it, and I wish you to remember that one day you will stand before a better and wiser judge, and that there you will be dealt with according to justice and not according to law.”
Taken from “A Bundle of Laughs” J. John and Mark Stibbe, Monarch Books.
Matthew 25: 31-46
Jesus used the title Son of man in reference to him being the Judge.
“For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself, and has given him authority to execute judgement, because he is the Son of man.” John 5: 26, 27.

The Messiah's Secret PART TWO - What is this? A New Teaching.
"The leaders, the shepherds of Jesus’ day were looking for the Christ to bring in the Day of Judgement, the Day of Wrath and establish the eternal throne and kingdom of God.
But, these same leaders were not aware that the Christ had to die on a cross before he could bring in the Day of Judgement.
“I came to cast a fire upon the earth; I would that it was already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptised with, and how I am constrained until it is accomplished.” Luke 12: 49, 50.
Jesus couldn’t bring in the fire of judgement upon the earth until he had fulfilled the baptism of his death and resurrection and ascension and he was constrained because he saw how sinful the leaders of Israel were. Under the law the Jewish people earned their righteousness so to increase their righteousness to please God they added extra laws to the ones given to Moses by God."

In verse 32 Matthew records that Jesus spoke of every nation coming to his throne of judgement. True justice means that every nation including the Gentiles coming before his throne of judgement having heard the same message about Jesus Christ being the Saviour of the world.
“Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles. that you were at the time separated from Christ alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who were once were far off have been brought near in the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who has made us both one . . . . . that he might create in himself one new man in place of two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross. Ephesians 2: 11-16
The wall in the temple that separated Jews and Gentiles broken down by the reconciling power of the cross.

In verse 34 Jesus introduced another of his titles ‘The King.’
The King relates to a King having a Kingdom like: King of Greece, King of Jordan etc Jesus the King of the Kingdom of God.
Jesus the Son of man is the Judge and he is also the King of the Kingdom of God.

The King gives us understanding of what separates the sheep from the goats
The sheep are the believers in Christ, whose faith has born fruit having given shelter, food and drink, clothes, visiting the sick and visiting those in prison. The goats are the unbelievers, those who deny that Jesus is the Christ and as a result they will not do these things in the name of Jesus.1 John 2: 22

Paul and Silas give us an example of what separates the sheep from the goats.
In Acts 16 we read that Paul and Silas have reached Philippi in Macedonia. They stayed in the city for a few days, then on the Sabbath Day they went to the riverside where they hoped to find people praying. When they got there they found a group of women sitting there, one of them was called Lydia she was a worshipper of God. Paul told her about Jesus, maybe he told her about Jesus fulfilling the covenants and promises given to the prophets especially those that spoke of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, also of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit by the prophet Joel. Lydia believed and invited Paul and Silas to her house to stay.

A fortnight ago at one of our churches house groups we were looking at the passage from Ezekiel 34: 1-24 and what came from our discussions was that as Christians we prepare ourselves for the day by reading from the Bible or daily notes and prayer and we make plans for the day or evening. But if the phone rings or gets a text or email to go to someone’s aid, we may wrestle with it, but more often than not, we drop what we’ve planned and respond to their need.
Lydia had probably made plans for that day, but her priorities changed as a result of her new found faith in Jesus she took Paul and Silas into her home giving them shelter, food and drink.

During Paul and Silas stay at Philippi they were followed by a slave girl who worked as a fortune teller. She annoyed Paul because she announced that they were servants of the Most High God, who proclaimed the way to be saved. Paul discerned that she was giving the impression that she was one of them, a follower of Jesus; she was masquerading as a sheep. Paul delivered her from the spirit of fortune telling.
The Roman men who owned the slave girl were furious with Paul and had them both seized and taken before the Magistrate. They accused Paul and Silas of advocating customs that were unlawful for Romans to accept or practice. Paul’s words had rendered the girl powerless which made her unable to predict the future, this meant loss of revenue for her Roman owners they were no longer able to fleece the sheep. These Romans I think we would be portrayed as unbelievers and according to this reading they would be described as ‘goats.’
The Magistrate or Judge was pressured by the indignation of the crowd and sentenced Paul and Silas to be flogged and put in secure prison cells.

God intervened by using natural forces, a slight earthquake that must have damaged the structure of the building to open the cell doors and loosen the stocks and chains so that all the prisoners were set free.
The jailer woke up hearing no doubt excited voices and noticing that the cell doors were open he thought that the prisoners had escaped. The jailer knew that he would face a terrible death as punishment from the Romans so he reached for his sword and was about to kill himself when Paul shouted to him, “Don’t harm yourself, we are all here.”
The jailer called for a light, when he saw Paul and Silas these two high security prisoners before him, he fell on his knees and said, “What must I do to be saved.” Perhaps he recalled the prayers and the singing of the hymns before the earthquake struck or maybe to him it was a miracle that the prisoners did not escape.
Paul responded, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”

To receive knowledge about Jesus is life giving food and drink to our inner being.

Through faith in Jesus the jailer was set free from the prison of guilt were his conscious had convicted him of sin. The stocks and chains, the evidence that bound him he received forgiveness from God and entered into the King’s eternal kingdom. As a result he was clothed in righteousness, white fine linen depicting the righteous deeds of the Saints. Revelation 18: 8
The jailer could see in Paul and Silas something that he wanted and needed. The Roman way of life did not fulfil that need. Every human being needs to be filled with the love and knowledge of God. It can only be received through faith in what Jesus Christ accomplished for us on the cross.
Paul and Silas were taken to the jailer’s home where their wounds were dressed, Paul witnessed to all the household about Jesus and they went outside and they were all baptised. Afterwards they returned to the house and rejoiced over a meal.

Rita Nightingale
Rita Nightingale told us her story when she visited one of the churches in Rossendale. Rita had been on a visit to Thailand unknown to her drugs had been planted in her suitcase, as she went through customs at the Airport the drugs were found and she was accused of drug smuggling and was put in jail. Two Christian ladies visited her in prison where they gave her scriptures about Jesus, as she reflected on the words Rita came to know Jesus as her Saviour. Later her innocence was proved and above all expectations Rita was given a free pardon by the King of Thailand.

Acts 16 continued
Early next morning the Magistrate sent his officers with an order to release Paul and Silas. The jailer must have been relieved and rejoiced as he told them. However, through Paul’s Godly wisdom and courage he made it known to those present that the Magistrate had acted against Roman citizens when he had them flogged and thrown into prison. Paul insisted that the Magistrate should come and release them publicly.

The Magistrates Injustice he was a shepherd who cared nothing for the sheep
The Magistrate was alarmed he heard that he had acted against Roman citizens so he came probably out of fear of the Romans he escorted Paul and Silas from the prison. Justice needed to be seen to be done as this would have had its effect on the Gospel being taken out at Philippi. Afterwards Paul and Silas met at Lydia’s’ house were Paul encouraged them before they left them and went on their way.

Judgement
Jesus will judge the church for rewards. This judgement takes place before the Son of man comes with the angels to sit on his throne judging the nations.
On Jesus’ return he will take up the eternal throne of King David which was prophesied “And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever.” 2 Samuel 7: 36

The Messiah’s Secret – 'Gideon' Christ in You Part 5

Evening Service Following the Lectionary Judges 7: 2-22. John 15: 9-17

Gideon the descendant of Abraham through Jacob, his son Joseph, his son Manasseh. Joshua 17: 1,2
The Midianites were descendants of Abraham by his concubine Kerturah, Abraham was a descendant of Shem the son of Noah.
The Amalekites were mentioned in the war of the Kings Genesis 14: 7 their land being Hazazontamar. The location given in 2 Chronicles 20: 2 as being Engedi which is on the West side of the Dead Sea. In Genesis 36: 12 Amalek was the descendants of Esau who took his wives from the Canaanites. Esau the son of Isaac the son of Abraham. Esau's twin brother Jacob received the blessing from Isaac so the promise of the inheriting the land of Canaan came down his line.

The land of Canaan was cursed by Canaan's grandfather Noah for seeing him naked, “Canaan would be a slave to his brothers.” Genesis 9:25 (see blog Lord of the Dance)

Since that time there has been controversy over the land of Canaan.
After the Israelites 2nd revolt against the Romans in AD 135 the Romans renamed the land from the 'Provincia of Judaea’ to the 'Provincia of Syria Palaestinia.’ This name was in association with the Philistines the descendants of Casluhim the ancestor of Egypt the son of Noah. Unger's Bible Dictionary page 821

When Jesus died on the cross he bore all the curses put on the land through the fall of Adam and for all generations since inheriting Adam's sin. Jesus has redeemed the land, the crown of thorns signifies this.

Gideon
In Judges Chapter 6 we read that the Midianites had prevailed over the Israelites and as a result they made their lives unbearable by destroying the produce of the land and stealing their animals. The Israelites made shelters and lived in caves in the mountains.

Gideon was afraid of being seen by the Midianites and the Amalekites so he hid and threshed his wheat in a wine press to keep it from them. Gideon was very insecure, he felt weak and oppressed by his circumstances that I feel had its effect on his faith in God.
A wine press below ground

Whilst Gideon was threshing his wheat, God sent an angel to speak to him telling him how gallant he was and to go and deliver the Israelites from the Midianites and Amalekites. Gideon was very wary of the angel’s message he had assumed that God had abandoned Israel because of their idolatry and that was why the Midianites were persecuting them. Judges 6: 10 Some Israelites had built altars to worship Baal including Gideon’s father.

After further discussion with the angel Gideon wanted a sign from God. He prepared the offerings of a kid and some barley bread and placed them on a rock. The angel touched them with his staff and fire came from the rock and consumed the offering. Gideon now believed that the angel was from God.

Trumpet call on Gideon’s life.
Gideon’s first reaction to God’s call on his life was to resist open confrontation with his father and the Midianites saying that he was too weak and fearful also he had a fear of dying at the hands of the Midianites. After this encounter with the angel, God gave him assurance. The angel said to him, “Peace be to you. You will not die.”
The Lord gave Gideon a word to dismantle his father's altar to the worship of Baal and saw up the Asherah pole. He then was to take the wood and build an altar and with his father’s bulls make offerings to God. He was afraid to do it by day so with the help of ten men they accomplished their task during the night. Next day when the people saw what had been done they accused Gideon. The Midianites and Amalekites joined forces and made camp in the valley of Jezreel.

The Holy Spirit took possession of Gideon. (verse 34)
Below Wood Carving by Dorothy Newton

Gideon sounded the trumpet, summoning his fellow Israelites to join him in battle, this action by took great courage. The rallying call of the trumpet brought several of the tribes together in support of Gideon.
God’s trumpet call on Gideon’s life broke down the walls of the wine press of the oppression of the Midianites.

In God’s eyes Gideon’s strength was in his weakness.
Gideon was still insecure, he put out a fleece to be assured of victory over the Midianites and Amalekites. If the fleece had dew on it in the morning and the ground around it was dry then they would have the victory and it was so. He then asked God to reverse the process and it was so. God gave him that assurance that he needed.

God broke through Gideon’s weakness of insecurity by reducing the numbers of men who would help him get the victory.

God suggested to Gideon that he should give the people who were afraid to go into battle to return to their homes. 22,000 went home, only 10,000 remained.
God again suggested that the men who lapped out of cupped hands should go into battle against the Midianites and Amalekites. The number of men was 300, these men were then equipped with trumpets and torches in jars.

Gideon was like the light and the fire encased in the jars that were carried by his men. He had the Lord upholding working alongside of him, yet he felt insecure.
The shattering of these jars was like Gideon being released from fear and of his insecurity.

The Lord was with him.
Gideon had a word from the Lord to go down to the Midian camp and listen. If he was afraid he should take with him Purah. They came to the camp were they overheard a conversation between two Midianites. One sharing with the other his dream, and no doubt to Gideon’s amazement the other interpreted the dream.
“Behold I dreamed a dream, and lo, a cake of barley bread tumbles down into the camp of Midian, and came to the tent, and lay flat. And the comrade answered, “This is no other than the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel; into his hand God has given Midian and all the host.” Judges 7: 13, 14.
Hearing this, Gideon knew that the victory over the Midianites and the Amalekites was his. He divided his men into three groups of a hundred men and then he told them to surround the Midian camp. At his signal they were to blow their trumpets and break the jars and shout, “For the Lord and for Gideon.” As they carried this out the Midianite armies fled. We read how Joshua brought down the walls of Jericho with a blast on the trumpets and the shouts of the people.

Let your light shine before men so that they might see your good works.
Part of loving one another is in having respect for each other. The people who became Judges over Israel were respected for their wisdom, courage and love for God.

God’s trumpet call on our lives.
The Holy Spirit shows us Jesus and that all that is written about him is true, he died on a cross and God the Father raised him from the dead and through faith in him we receive forgiveness of sin and the causes of sin. When we come to faith in Christ the transformation is amazing: we know God as our Father and that we have overcome the fear of death and have entered into eternal life.

Within a short time we may find that all that we have received is some how encased within us, like the light and fire of the torch encased in the jar.
The fears that Gideon had we can relate to: fear of combating the unbelief of others in making Christ known.
Maybe we are fearful of not being able to express our faith.
Fear of being excluded from the company of our friends because we are Christians.
Fear of the unknown or change
The fear of commitment of losing control of our lives,
Fear of giving up what we enjoy.
These and other fears are the strength of our soul or ‘the me’ within. These strengths or fears dominate over the Spirit of the Lord, encasing and controlling our walk in Christ.

To break the strength of our soul like Gideon the Lord will take our weaknesses and call us to work in our weakness. We will say to the Lord,’ I can’t do it;’ I don’t want to do it.’ We will try and hide from the Lord our God.
I can testify to this when we moved to Haslingden my hobby was wood carving. I enjoyed working with wood. When the thoughts came to start a pottery business for my church I was very sceptical because I did not think that Churches had businesses and I was not interested in working with clay. But the thoughts persisted and I went to night school to learn to the skill, but I had no flare for it. Continue in 'my Story.'

For you it might be to work alongside people with drug problems or to witness your faith to a friend or write poetry etc. The Lord will take us out of our comfort zone and that is a hard thing to do.
“I can do all things in him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4: 13. Romans 16: 25
“Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly then all we ask or think.” Ephesians 3: 20, 21.
“The joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8: 10

The Lord using our weaknesses means that we turn to the Lord to be dependant upon him, Jesus will strengthen us and as a result the joy of the Lord fills our hearts as we are working out the Lord's will and our salvation.

Update October 2012. Over the summer the Lord has sent several people from an ex-offenders centre to our morning services. We are all rejoicing as they are coming to know Jesus as their Saviour, redeemer and friend.

God is Love (Dorothy Newton January 1995 A Child-like love)
Love participates in unity bending the will to love another.
Love doesn’t hide itself or shy away.
Love takes hold of the prickly thorn and caresses it.
Love picks up the bruised heart and cherishes it and makes it, it’s own.
Love gives off radiance like the heat of a summers’ day.
Love its fragrance enriches unity, time stands still
Love has a strength all of its own.
Love gives in to love.
Love is a safe place without any walls, no barriers of fear and wars.
Love prepares to serve all human weaknesses.
Love bears the pain of love, rejection grieves the lover.
Love ceases not to love,
Love is God our Saviour.

The Messiah’s Secret - Render to God the things that belong to God.

One of our favourite programs at home is ‘Time Team’ were archaeologists search for items that relate to ancient times revealing the way people lived and every day things like: coins, pottery and jewellery.
Traces of Roman occupation are found in many places in England. Below we have a sand pit with some artefacts in it.

 

"“Render (give) therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.” Matthew 22: 15-22.
We give acknowledgment to what the Romans have handed down to us: some of the road routes; locally Wattling Street that runs through Tottington, Radcliffe to Manchester. In the city of York and Chester some of their buildings and walls are still standing and we have the Roman baths in Bath with the traces of the Roman buildings that once stood there.

All the materials that the Romans used came from sources found in the things that God has created. We acknowledge that the stone they crafted for buildings and metals smelted out of the rocks that they made into tools. The wood they used in the construction of buildings and boats that came from the trees that God brought into being. The Romans used the knowledge and skills that God had given them.

Jesus was making the distinction between Caesar and God.

The Pharisees and Herodians decided to send some of their followers to ask Jesus about Rome taxation. They hoped his answer would undermine his popularity with the people.
"They said, ‘Teacher, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God truthfully, and care for no man; for you do not regard the position of men. Tell us, then, what do you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
Jesus discerned that their question had been contrived; his response silenced them. "Show me the money for the tax. And they brought him a coin a denari. Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” And they said, “Caesar’s.” Jesus then said, “Render (give) therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.” Matthew 22: 15-22.

What lay behind the Pharisees and Herodians Question?
The Roman General Pompey conquered Israel in 63 BC, under their occupation the residents of Israel had to pay taxes to Rome; Income and Poll tax.
Income Tax paid on wages, food, property, roads and bridges.
Poll Tax paid by every adult starting at the age of 12 for a girl and a boy from 14 years.

When taxes were first imposed the people rebelled against it, mainly because the coin had an inscription on it that they despised, ‘ Tiberius Caesar Augustus, son of the divine Augustus’ Augustus elevated himself as God.

On the Hebrew coins they had emblems of ears of corn, palms, vine leaf, lilies and temple ornaments and furnishings. Some had Kings Heads on them.
The Israelites paid a temple tax of half a shekel or two Drachmas. Numbers 31: 36. Matthew 17: 27

The disciples of the Pharisees and Herodians were sent to Jesus to catch him out with their question. If Jesus had said, do not pay your taxes to Rome, the Pharisees would have told the Romans and a result they would have arrested him. If Jesus had found favour towards paying taxes to Rome, the people would have accused him of upholding Augustus’ position as God over them.
Jesus’ answer, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.” Jesus’ answer I thought reflected God’s justice.

God’s justice
Simon the Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him at his home. They were sat probably on cushions, reclining, at the table, when a woman entered the room carrying an alabaster box. Whilst they continued eating their meal, she stood behind Jesus at his feet, weeping, her tears wet his feet. She proceeded to wipe them with her hair and kissed them, also administering the ointment from her box to his feet. Simon watching was alarmed by Jesus allowing her to do this.
Jesus proceeded to tell him a parable about a creditor who had two debtors; one owed him 500 denari and the other 50. When they could not pay, he forgave them both. Jesus then asked Simon which one would the creditor love more. Simon answered the one who owed him the most. Jesus said that he had judged rightly.

We would perhaps have used the words released from their debt and the one who owed the most showed his gratitude. But Jesus used the words, ‘forgiveness’ and ‘love.’
He went on to relate the parable with the woman and her sins against God, in showing her love for God by her tears and actions of repentance, she had secured the forgiveness of her sins, and was now no longer in debt to God.

Jesus equated the woman’s sin with debt.
It is the wider picture of morality or principals that have a legal aspect under God’s justice and the Hebrew Jewish law.
In the Lord’s Prayer- "Jesus said, Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Matthew 6: 11, 12.
When I was a girl I remember people were not encouraged to get into debt, in fact it was frowned upon. Some people now again would ask to owe the local shopkeeper until they received their wages. That was known as ‘putting it on the slate.’ Generally people honoured their debts, as people do today.
I now realise through doing this study that it was a Christian principle not to get into debt.

“For if you forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” Matthew 6; 14.
‘The Messiah’s Secret’ Trespass page 72
“Invading or disregarding the property rights of another person, restitution was made through a trespass or a guilt offering at the temple.”
Yesterday I received a letter from Oxfam, as I looked through the information a heading caught my attention, ‘Stop land grabs.’ Poor farmers in Uganda, South Sudan, Cambodia and Indonesia are being evicted from their land and go hungry because of secretive land deals by foreign investors.
Oxfam is seeking justice for the poor farmers through bringing it to the attention of the world.

It may not be our fault that we get into debt: there are all sorts of reasons for instance: loss of jobs. Today we are caught up in our nation’s debt, this in my view stems from our nation gradually turning away from keeping the commandments and principals of God.
The Old Testament testifies to when Israel turned away from keeping God's commandments and laws they got into a mess, Nebucahadnezzar destroyed the Jerusalem temple and exiled the Israelites into Babylon. God brought back the exiles through Cyrus who gave them financial aid to return to Israel. (Cyrus Cylinder kept in the British Museum.)

In Jesus’ day under Jewish law a person if they could not pay their debt became a hired servant, not a slave.
“And if your brother becomes poor beside you, and sells himself to you, you shall not make him serve as a slave: he shall be with you as a hired servant and as a sojourner. He shall serve you until the year of the jubilee; then he shall go out from you, he and his children with him, and go back to his own family and return to the possession of his fathers.” Leviticus 25: 39, 40.

When the year of the Jubilee came round, if the hired servant had not paid back his debt, he was released from it.
A week - seven days, the seventh being the Sabbath. Each year the crops were rotated and every 7th year left fallow, this equated with the Sabbath Day. God provided extra yield on the 6th year’s harvests. The Jubilee was celebrated every 50 years 7 x 7 49years, 7 Sabbaths the following year was also a Sabbath, another day of rest, seen as a new beginning, fresh start, and debts wrote off.

Paul wrote in his letter to the Hebrews Chapter 4 that God rested on the 7th day having finished his work of creation. God intended with the coming of Jesus the Messiah they should have entered into the permanent rest of the Sabbath Day, the Messiah establishing the New Covenant. “I shall remember their sins no more,”
It was the year of the Jubilee for the woman with the alabaster box.

God’s Justice - The cross is where Jesus paid off our debt of sin.
The cross, Jesus took upon himself, sin and the causes of sin, to make us right with God. It is through faith in this, that we turn to Jesus just like the woman in repentance and love, as a result we are completely set free from sin, God has wiped our credit card clean, our debt has been paid in full.

We belong to God, “For those who believe in his name, who receive him, he gave power to become children of God.” John 1: 12

50 days after Jesus' death and resurrection, the Holy Spirit came into the world bringing new life into every heart that repented and accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons/daughters of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery, to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of sonship. When we cry Abba Father it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are the children of God and if children then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs, joint heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” Romans 8: 14-17
When we fall on difficult times we can call upon the Lord our God’s help simply because we belong to him.

A fortnight ago I was visiting the home of John and Anne, during my visit Anne told me this true story of a Christian friend of hers who at the time attended All Saints Church, Preston.
This particular day this lady was about to embark on a journey by train to Scotland in connection with ‘Faith Mission’. However, she had not enough money to take her to her destination, Edinburgh, she only had enough to take her to Carlisle. As the train was about to enter the station at Carlisle, she literally opened her Bible and money fell out of its pages, just enough to take her to her destination in Scotland.

How special it makes us feel when our Lord Jesus makes his presence known to us. It is by faith we can please God and enter into his grace.

The Messiah’s Secret – Christ in You Part 4

The Evening Service Following the Lectionary
A preacher, describing the human condition, put this question to his congregation; “Is there anyone here who claims to be perfect? If so, stand up.” To his surprise, a man at the back of the church got immediately to his feet. “Do you mean to tell me you are perfect?” asked the Vicar. “Oh no,” said the man, “I’m far from perfect. I’m standing in for my wife’s first husband.”

The Pharisees came to test Jesus as to what were his thoughts regarding divorce. His answer he gave the original concept of marriage like that of Adam and Eve before the fall, (see blog The Evening of the Day of the Resurrection) as a result of sin coming into the world, the Law was introduced by Moses allowed a separation to take place, they called divorce. However, Jesus said what God had intended that the two, male and female should become one in marriage.

Divorce was apparently common in Jesus’ day; a certificate of divorce was easily obtainable.
“When a man takes a wife and marries her, if then she finds no favour in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes her a bill of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house. . . . Deuteronomy 24: 1-4
We have the example of the Woman of Samaria in conversation with Jesus at Jacob’s well.

During the conversation it was revealed to her by Jesus that she had been married 5 times and the man that she was living with was not her husband. Her response to this she perceived that Jesus was a prophet and when he offered to give her a drink of living water, the water of eternal life, she recognised its implications that Jesus was the Messiah. Having accepted what he said, Jesus acknowledged to her that he was the Messiah.
John writing this gospel tells us that the titles Messiah and the Christ are one of the same both mean ‘the anointed one.’
On the MU Quiet Day it was said by the person leading the day that the Samaritan Woman was one of the first apostles as she had met Jesus in person and afterwards she brought several people to faith in Christ.

The Christian betrothed to Christ.
Paul wrote of a Christians’ relationship with Jesus as being betrothed to Christ.
“I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to Christ to present you as a pure bride to her one husband.”
2 Corinthians 11: 2
Jesus’ relationship between each one of us, we are one with Christ, betrothed to Christ.
In Judaism the betrothal was the first step in a marriage secured by a legal document.

a) The betrothal, the father of the groom made the arrangements for the marriage and paid the bride –price. Sometimes it occurred when both children were infants, and at other times it was shortly before the marriage itself. Often the bride and groom did not even meet until their wedding day.

God provided the bride-price for each Christian when Jesus laid down his life at Calvary. We become his bride when in faith we accept Jesus as our Saviour.

A week ago I went to see the recently released film Jayne Eyre. Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga and starring Mia Wasikowska as Jane and Michael Fassbender as Mr Rochester.
This is another excellent adaptation of Charlotte Bronte’s novel. I’ve seen ‘Jane Eyre’ as a serial on TV and at the Cinema many times.
Charlotte Bronte

Charlotte Bronte was the daughter of a Vicar who lived at the Parsonage in Haworth until she was married to Rev Nicholls. Below are pictures of the Parsonage and of the Church that I took last week when my husband and I visited Haworth.

St. Michael and All Angels Haworth

Charlotte Bronte was a truly Christian lady. The thinking and Spirit behind her book I find that she was challenging the church on equality and Victorian morality. The love of Jesus is like a thread running through its’ pages.
The central character is Jane Eyre; Charlotte begins the story with Jane as a girl of ten living with her guardian Aunt Reed, who was a Christian, and her cousins. We soon discover that Jane was shown no love from her relations.
Every child knows when it is loved and when there is no love shown, it has an effect on a child and as a result the child can not show love.

Jane was sent away to Lowood School, the school master Mr Brocklehurst was a hard, cold hearted Christian. The stern and cruel face of Christianity under the rule of law.
Jane in her teens became a teacher at the school. At the age of 18 she advertised for a governess position in the Herald newspaper. In response to the advert, she became the governess to Adele at Thornfield Hall, the home of Mr Rochester.

Soon after arriving at Thornfield she was summoned to her Aunt Reed’s death bed. While she was in attendance with her aunt, her aunt confessed her dislike of Jane and told her that when she received a letter enquiring after Jane by her father’s brother in Jamaica. He wanted to adopt Jane and bequeath to her his fortune. Mrs Reed declared that she had wrote back saying that Jane was dead. Most people hearing this would have been very angry; upset, but Jane’s response “Love me then or hate me, as you will, you have my full and free forgiveness: ask now for God’s, and be at peace.’ ” Chapter 21
Charlotte writing these words I believe she knew what it was to recieve Jesus’ forgiveness, so we must forgive those who do wrong against us regardless of their indifference towards us.

In the book Jane’s relationship with Mr Rochester developed, he declared his love for her and she expresses her love for him as an equal."I am not talking to you now through the medium of custom, conventionalities, not even of mortal flesh; - it is my spirit that addresses your spirit; just as if both had passed through the grave, and we stood at God's feet, equal, - as we are." Jane Eyre Chapter 23.

True love overcomes all kinds of division, in this particular case Jane does not see her poverty and her low standing in society as making her inferior to Mr Rochester.

In the early 1800’s in England there were class distinctions. Mr Rochester was upper class whereas Jane Eyre was lower class.
The disposition given to Jane Eyre of her equality with Mr Rochester I felt came from the author’s freedom given to her through her faith and knowledge of Christ. As a Christian she was equal in Christ, we are joint heirs in Christ.
Romans 8: 17 King James Authorised Version.

In Victorian England it was frowned upon for women to write books, Charlotte Bronte used a suedinum Currer Bell.

When the day of Jane's marriage to Mr Rochester arrived, his marriage to Bertha Mason came to light. John the apostle wrote that people stumble in the dark, meaning often one lie leads to another until eventually the truth reveals all.

During the service when the Vicar asked if any one knew of any impediment why these two people may not marry, Mr Briggs interviened and revealed that Mr Rochester already had a wife. Jane who knew nothing about it and was jilted at the altar.

During the discussions that followed Mr Rochester pleaded his ignorance as to Bertha's inherited insanity; he felt that he was cheated by his family into marrying her to gain her family fortune. Mr Rochester had kept his wife’s existence a secret she was kept in seclusion and was looked after by Grace Pool.
In Victorian England people with mental illness were shunned by society and were treated badly, locked away in institutions.
Charlotte Bronte brought out into the open the needs of those suffering mental illness and the families who were ashamed of them.

Mr Rochester pleaded with Jane to become his mistress, but Charlotte would not allow her main character to compromise her Christian faith by going against what Jesus taught it was wrong to come between a husband and wife and break up a marriage.

Today in cinemas across the nation the film Jane Eyre is bringing to people's attention the morality that Jesus taught. Our present day divorce laws have become like those in Jesus’ day 'a certificate of divorce was easily obtainable.' Marriage works when both work at loving one another and treating each other as you would like to be treated yourself.

Jane who was broken heart left Thornfield, leaving behind her a devastated Mr Rochester.
Jane wondered aimlessly from place to place, she grew weak with hunger and was too proud to beg. However, she was saved from certain death when she was found at the door of a house by true Christians St John Rivers and his two sisters Mary and Diana, who took her into their home.

Charlotte portraits Jesus’ suffering and death in Jane’s suffering, she died to self desire turning away from sin as she abided in Christ.

Some time afterwards St John Rivers proposed to Jane, he offered her a marriage of convenience.
Charlotte makes the difference between a loveless relationship under law and love that warms the heart, the spiritual love, the eternal love of God.

Jane heard in the spirit her name being called by Mr Rochester. “I recalled the voice I had heard; again I questioned whence it came, as vainly as before: it seemed in me-not in the external world. I asked was it a mere nervous impression – a delusion? I could not conceive or believe: it was more like an inspiration. The wondrous shock of feeling had come like an earthquake which shook the foundations of Paul and Silas’s prison; it had opened the doors of the soul’s cell and loosed its bands.” Jane Eyre Chapter 36.

Charlotte Bronte resurrects the relationship between Jane and Mr Rochester through Jane hearing in her spirit the call of her name from her beloved Rochester.

Jesus has raises us to new life in him.
The author’s freedom and faithfulness to her Lord and Saviour she knows the first love of Christ. The holy, pure, righteous love of Christ. It is like the innocent first love of a young person.
Love that is ageless and full of joy for ever young. This treasure we have within our being as we abide in Jesus and him in us, as we are betrothed to Christ.

Jane returned to Thornfield to find a ruin. Mr Rochester’s wife had started the fire that took her life and caused Mr Rochester’s to partly lose his sight.
Here we are reminded of Paul and Elymas’ temporary blindness that was put upon them by the Lord to show them their spiritual blindness. Mr Rochester had pretended to be a fortune teller. Jane Eyre Chapter 18. (see blog Christ in You part 2 & 3)

Charlotte Bronte portraits our unity with Christ as being strengthened by what we suffer as we abide in him. Therefore we find that nothing can separate us from the love of God.

Jane and Mr Rochester were re-united and later were married.

When Jesus comes to fetch his bride
b) Fetching of the bride, this could have occurred weeks years or decades after the first step. The bridegroom would go to the home of the bride in order to bring her to his home.
c) The wedding ceremony, to which a few would be invited.
d) The marriage feast, would follow, and could last for as many as seven days. Many more people would be invited to the feast.

(Jesus in conversation with the Sadducees pointed out to them that in the resurrection there is no marriage between believers. Luke 20: 34, 35.)

We are looking for Jesus’ return, until that occurs each believer is betrothed to Christ.
Our relationship with Jesus is personal; through faith Christ enters every human heart and makes a perfect union, one that we can relate to in marriage. The first love that we experience in courtship we can identify with the perfect, holy and righteous love of God.

Charlotte Bronte has combined her faith with her walk in life in her book Jane Eyre. Also she has woven into it the issues of her day that challenged the church on equality and politicians on child welfare, mental illness and morality.
One hundred and sixty four years later some of these issues have been sorted out like equality in the church, child welfare and poverty, and there is now no stigma attached to mental illness. But sadly marriage is no longer for the majority in our nation based on Jesus’ teaching.

Today 3rd October Douglas and I we celebrate our 41st wedding anniversary.

The Messiah's Secret - Jonah

 

In England we have sweets called Liquorice Allsorts
All sorts of people work in the Lord’s Vineyard
Christians from all over the world work together serving the Lord Jesus.

 

The parable of the labourers in the Vineyard.
The 5 vines represent the five occasions when the owner of the Vineyard went out to hire labourers to work in his Vineyard. At the end of the day the labourers were paid their wages.
A day represents a life span.
A Denarius represents the gift of eternal life, Salvation.

The first labourer represents becoming a Christian at an early age.
The second becoming a Christian maybe as a teenager and so on until the last one were someone who has towards the end of their life become a Christian.
We can not earn the gift of eternal life we can only receive it through faith in Jesus.
It is not about being a good person; we need to accept Jesus as our Saviour to receive the gift of eternal life.
This parable gives us insight into the nature of the Lord showing us his priority of belonging to him.

Jonah
The prophet Jonah lived around 800 BC, during the reign of Jeroboam II. He lived in a town just north of Nazareth in Gath-hepher. Jonah’s name means ‘dove’ which reminds us of the dove was sent out from the ark by Noah to find evidence of dry land and returned with an olive leaf. Genesis 8:10, 11. The Holy Spirit was sent into the world at Pentecost.
Jonah was sent by God to Nineveh to preach against their wickedness that was before God.
However we read that he did not want to go to Nineveh. Put yourself in his shoes, Nineveh was the capital city of the Assyrian Empire, it was like asking someone to go to Moscow during the cold war and tell the atheist leaders that God was against their sin. God was asking Jonah to do something big. In his humanity he was reluctant to go.
Instead he went and boarded a ship heading for Tarshish. Soon after setting sail a storm blew up, as a result of taking on water they threw items overboard in an effort to save themselves and the boat. The sailors assessed their situation by casting lots, the lot fell on Jonah. Casting lots was quite a common amongst the nations to discern the outcome of a situation. The Hebrews used Urim and Thummim to discern God’s will. On the underside of the High Priest’s breastplate was a pouch in it was kept two pebbles one white the other black these were the Urim and the Thummim. Exodus 28: 30.

Today we discern what the will of God through Godly wisdom or a word of scripture prompted by the Holy Spirit or a word of prophecy through the gift of prophecy. We do not cast lots.

When the lot fell on Jonah, he owned up to the sailors what his God had called him to do, to take a message to the city of Nineveh which he had not fulfilled. He offered them a solution to throw him overboard, but the sailors were reluctant to offend Jonah’s God, so they tried to row to the shore, but it was to no avail, the storm grew worse. In desperation they threw Jonah overboard, as he fell into the sea a whale swallowed him whole, as a result he storm abated. He spent three days and nights inside the whale then the fish vomited him out onto dry land.

In this account we can discern the cross of Jesus.
Jonah had turned away from God, but he could not hide, he recognised his sin as it was brought to light. To save the sailors and the ship he was prepared to die. He died inside the whale and God resurrected him as he was vomited out on to dry ground.

When we recognise our sin against God, we realise that Jesus was prepared to lay down his life for you and me, so through faith in what Jesus has done for us, just as God raised Jesus from the dead so he raises us into his newness of life which is eternal. This act of God transforms the way we think feel and behave. We realise that God the Father loves all people, he loves the sinner but hates the sin.

It is only as we know about sin, that we seek to be saved from it.
We read that God asked Jonah to go again to Nineveh, this time to tell them to repent or after 40 days the city would be destroyed. Jonah went and gave the message as a result the King brought his people to repentance in sackcloth and ashes.

Maybe he had been persuaded by a previous prophecy that Jonah saw fulfilled; the land of Hamath would be restored to Israel. 2 Kings 14: 25

Jonah's displeasure
Instead of being pleased and glad with Nineveh’s repentance Jonah was displeased, he was angry. Theologians say that it was because his prophecy the destruction of the Assyrian city of Nineveh was not fulfilled.

Why was Jonah displeased?
I believe that his displeasure and anger arose from jealousy, which is another part of this prophecy given to us in the life of Jonah.

The first part
The life and witness of Jonah reflects the sign Jesus gave to the scribes and Pharisees
Jesus spoke to the scribes and Pharisees giving them a sign, the sign of Jonah.
“For as Jonah was three days and nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of man be three days and nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will arise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.” Matthew 12: 40, 41.
Jesus fulfilled the sign: Two of Jesus’ followers were travelling to Emmaus when a stranger joined them and walked with them. As they walked the disciples spoke to the stranger about the events that had recently taken place at Jerusalem saying, “And how our chief priests and rulers delivered him (Jesus) up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, and who said that he (Jesus) is alive.” Luke 24: 20-23
Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day.

The Messiah’s Secret
Cleopas and the other disciple state that they were not aware that the Messiah had to die before he could be received by the nation as their Messiah.
“And how our chief priests and rulers delivered him (Jesus) up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped he was the one to redeem Israel.” They were not aware that Jesus had to be raised from the dead before he could be received as their Christ, even though he had told them several times that he would be raised from the dead, but it was hidden from their understanding. “For he will be delivered to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon; they will scourge him and kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” But they understood none of these things; this saying was hid from them, and they did not grasp what he was said.” Luke 18: 32-34
On the road to Emmaus, the stranger replied, “Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” Luke 24: 26,27.
Jesus opened up their understanding to the scriptures that proved he was the Christ.

Continuing Jesus’ prophecy in Matthew 12 the King of Nineveh had brought the city of Nineveh to repentance. "The men of Nineveh will arise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here."
Jesus foretold of his rejection by the Jewish leaders. At and after Pentecost when the apostles proclaimed Jesus for the first time that he was the Christ, the Jewish leaders instead of bringing the nation to repentance they rejected Jesus as their Messiah and later were jealous of the Gentiles who accepted Jesus as their Saviour.

The second part
Jonah’s response to the Gentiles shows that he was jealous because the Assyrian people were loved by God, who he regarded as his enemy.

This was prophetic when we read of the jealousy of the Jews when the Gentiles accepted Jesus as their Messiah. God’s love for the Gentiles not just of the people of a city but every person in every nation of the world.

At Antioch in Pisidia, Paul and Barnabas were asked by the Gentiles to tell them about Jesus.
“The next Sabbath the whole city gathered together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted what was spoken by Paul, and reviled him. and Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.” Acts 13: 44-46
The Gentiles brought into the New Covenant.

Jonah’s jealousy instead of being glad that the Assyrians had repented he constructed a booth, a shelter made of branches to watch over Nineveh. We read that a plant grew up alongside of him, this must have raised his expectations as it gave him shade from the sun’s rays. But a worm destroyed the plant. This is a picture of what jealousy does it eats away at a person’s heart. It is destructive. Jonah was so affected by his jealousy that he wanted to die.
“Set a seal upon your heart for love is as strong as death jealousy is as cruel as the grave.” Song of Songs 8: 6

Jonah’s pity for the plant, he was thinking of the shade that it gave him. The Lord pointed out to him that the plant grew in a night and perished in a night. Jonah had no part to play in how the plant lived or died.
But he had a part in saving the people of Nineveh with God by taking God’s message of repentance to them.
For us today we have a part in working with the Lord taking the good news of God’s saving grace to the people of our community. May we have the courage to pray for the Lord to give us a heart felt burning love, his love for how feels about people that are outside of the Christian faith.

The Messiah's Secret - 'Christ in You' Part 3

Evening Service following the Lectionary reading.
Acts 19:1-20. Mark 7: 24-37.

Last Thursday my husband and I, we went on a walk up the Dunsop Bridge Valley in the Trough of Bowland. It is a very beautiful valley, the hills were covered in purple heather and the fir trees were the tallest I’ve ever seen, at least 30 metres high. The water coming off the hills ran into a stream, and as the water rushed over the stones, the splashes sparkled because of the clarity of the water. The water’s purity reminded me of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

When Paul visited Ephesus he found that the disciples there did not know about Jesus' baptism they had been baptised into John the Baptist’s water baptism.

John's Baptism
John's baptism was for the forgiveness of sins, in preparation for the coming of the kingdom of God. The people wondered if John was the Christ, but John said this, “I baptise you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the throngs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” Luke 3: 16.

Jesus’ Baptism
The baptism of the Trinity, The Holy Spirit opens the door to knowing God in a personal way as our redeemer and Saviour. “If a man loves me, he will keep my word and my Father will love him and we will come and make our home with him.” John 14: 23
In the letter to Titus he wrote interchanging the words: Grace and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Saviour.’ Titus 1:4. ‘God our Saviour’ with ‘God and Saviour Jesus Christ’ 2:10, 13. ‘God our Saviour’ with ‘Jesus Christ our Saviour.’ 3: 4, 6.
Jesus' words to Philip, "He who has seen me has seen the Father." John 14: 9.
The Holy Spirit acts upon faith in the words about Jesus’ death and resurrection brings about a wonderful transformation of mind, will and nature.

We can receive Jesus’ baptism at baptism service or sometimes through the laying on of hands or through a scripture or the words of a hymn or a prayer, head knowledge becoming heart knowledge.

12 Disciples at Ephesus.
At Ephesus after the twelve disciples heard about Jesus’ baptism from Paul and they received the Holy Spirit through the laying on of his hands and afterwards they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

At Ephesus Paul went into the synagogue, it was the custom for visiting Jews to be given the opportunity to speak to the congregation, and we read he gave the message about the kingdom of God.
The majority of the Jews in the synagogue rejected Paul’s message. We are not informed of the details of the discussions that took place. Paul then left the synagogue and with the disciples they met the Lecture Hall of Tyrannus and from that situation they reached out with the gospel message to both Jews and Gentiles. Acts 19: 1-10

In the context of the story that follows in Acts 19 I turned to look as to why the Jews turned away from Paul’s message. The healing ministry of Jesus and latterly of his disciples had angered the Pharisees; we know this from what has been recorded by the gospel writers. Matthew recorded the Pharisees accusing Jesus of healing by the power of Beelzebub. Jesus responded by saying,”If I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges.” Matthew 12: 27.
Perhaps Jesus was referring to their 'sons' to mean various sects like the Essenes, it is recorded in the Dead Sea Scrolls that they practiced exorcisms.

At Ephesus seven Jewish intinerant, wandering exorcists undertook to pronounce the name of Jesus over those who had evil spirits. What followed was as a result of their prayers, the man set upon them and they fled. They perhaps had good intensions, but these seven men had no power to exorcise the man.
They were not true followers of Jesus.

Unger’s Bible Dictionary page 334
“The Jews at Ephesus encountered by Paul illustrate an attempt to mix pagan traffic in demonology with expulsion of evil spirits by the power of God. Acts 13: 13-19

The question as to why the Pharisees denounced Jesus’ healing ministry I thought that it was because main stream Judaism did not practice exorcism.
Mainstream Judaism believed that only God had the power and authority to deliver them from all of their enemies.
I’ve searched the scriptures: Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua they did not practice exorcisms.
David the shepherd boy was invited by King Saul to play his lyre at court as his playing released Saul from the evil spirit. But we read that God had allowed this spirit to come upon Saul.
David on the run from Saul did not practice exorcisms on anyone. He looked to God for deliverance.
“Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me! Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise for my help! Draw the spear and Javelin against my pursuers!
“Say to my soul, I am your deliverance!” Psalm 35: 1-3.
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, my deliverer.” 2 Samuel: 22: 2.

Job looked to God and not to his three friends to deliver him from his affliction. Job 3: 11
Job’s three friends had been unable to convince him of his guilt of sin and Job had been unable to convince them of his innocence. God was his vindicator, his redeemer. Job 19.

Jesus is God and Deliverer
Jesus, the spoken word of God clothed in the flesh, ministered God the Father’s power to cast out evil spirits.
It is recorded in the Gospels that Jesus healed all manner of sickness and disease, blindness, fever, those who were deaf and dumb, mental illness and he healed those who were paralysed, he cast out evil spirits and even raised the dead. He manufactured bread and fishes, re-created flesh (leprosy), turned water into wine and he stilled the storm.

Two examples of Jesus healing in two different ways in Mark’s gospel Chapter 7: 24-37
The Syrophoenician lady came to Jesus for him to cast the demon out of her daughter who was at home. Jesus’ response was an unusual one, he said, “Let the children first be fed, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs,” verse 27. The children - Jesus was referring to the descendants of Abraham, and the bread - Jesus' words and actions fulfilled the covenants and promises. Jesus under the old covenant was gathering the outcasts, those who had fallen away from the law, bringing healing and wholeness to their lives with the promise of eternal life through faith in him. Jesus establishing the New Covenant in his death and resurrection. (Jeremiah’s covenant.)
The promise to the Jews that God would send a Leader and Saviour, the Messiah.
The dog is a term referring to the Gentiles.
The Syrophoenician ladies persistence was rewarded by her response to Jesus words in verse 27 with the words,”Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”
God’s promise to Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. The Gentiles are loved by God and included in the New Covenant. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whosoever believe in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3: 16.

Another way of looking at the Syrophenician’s daughter’s healing.
The lady came to Jesus on behalf of someone very dear to her asking him to heal her.
There was a barrier: her daughter’s illness kept her at home, the lady was a Greek outside of the Jewish faith, she was a woman, and she was at first turned away.
But love and faith working together overcame the barriers, her persistence, her heart felt pain she released her daughter into Jesus’ care.

Jesus by the power and authority of God told her that the demon had left her daughter. When she arrived home she found her daughter well.

A Time to Heal Report.
The Anglican Church provides on request Christians with this ministry to exorcise a person from demonic possession. “A Time to Heal Report” guidelines 1975

Second Example
The man who came to Jesus to be healed of his deafness and his impediment speech. Jesus did not cast out demons out of him, but instead by his actions and words. He put his fingers into his ears, his spittle onto his tongue and said, “Be open.” The man was healed. He was released immediately.

Christ in You
Jesus said the Father is greater than I, “In that day you will know that I am in the Father and you in me, and I in you.” John 14: 20, 28.
“He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15: 5.
Great miracles were brought about by faith in Jesus through Paul, he prayed over handkerchiefs and aprons and they were taken to the sick and the people were healed.
Again we see the role of Christian in bringing someone’s need to Jesus for his healing touch upon them and being used by the Lord to bring the means of healing to a person’s need.

Paul came to know Jesus as his personal Saviour through the ministry of Ananias, he prayed for the healing of his sight and through the laying on of his hands Paul was baptised into Jesus’ Baptism.
(See blog Christ in You Part 2)
We see a parallel with his conversion and with the incident on the Island of Cyprus. Serguis Paulus had asked to hear the message about Jesus from Paul and Barnabas. Elymas who was with him came against the Christian message; he tried to turn Serguis away from the faith. Paul I believe saw himself in Elymas in the way he came against the disciples and followers of Jesus. Blindness had come upon Paul after his encounter with Jesus. The Lord using blindness as a means to show Paul his spiritual blindness. Jesus Christ now being in him, he imitated Jesus. Paul he used his authority to show Elymas his spiritual blindness. Blindness had come upon Elymas after his encounter with Paul. Acts 13: 11.

Christ in us today.
Jesus’ baptism enables us minister in the gifts of the Trinity: prayer for healing, words of wisdom, practical help, listening and were appropriate giving assurance. Faith and love are essential to healing; it isn’t how holy we are or the circumstances that surround the person who needs healing. Simple faith and few words coming from the love that flows from the river of life within every Christian baptised into Jesus' baptism.

Resting, relying in the promises that are ours in Christ.
Praying in faith: “All things are possible to them that believe.” Mark 9: 23
Receiving healing: “Whatever you ask in prayer, you shall receive if you have faith.” Matthew 21: 22.
The Lord's Prayer: "Deliver us from evil."

The majority of people in our communities who are poorly just need that healing touch from Jesus through having faith in him. Jesus uses ordinary Christians with compassion for those who are suffering. He takes our prayers and graciously answers them.