The Messiah's Secret - Who is Jesus?    

Matthew 16:13-19.    2 Timothy 4: 6-8, 17, 18.

The cross Paul wrote is folly to the world, but to those like us who believe that the gospel is true, by the Holy Spirit revealing Jesus the Son of the living God into our hearts.

Many Christians today are being imprisoned for their faith in Jesus, not just because they believe in Jesus, but because they are living out their faith on a daily basis.   

Paul’s second letter to Timothy was written from the house where he was being held as a prisoner. It is generally thought to be in Rome. Acts 23: 11 

Paul had been given a prophecy through Agabus the prophet.  Agabus took Paul’s belt and tied up his own feet and hands and prophesied ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles’. After hearing this some begged him not to go to Jerusalem. Paul’s response he was ready to be imprisoned and even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 21: 10-14, 33  

After Paul was arrested at Jerusalem he was about to be scourged when he appealed to Caesar as he was a Roman citizen. For two years Paul was held at Caesarea until Festus became governor.  

 Paul was brought in chains before Festus  and King Agrippa, they mocked Paul accusing him of madness. After Paul gave his testimony, telling them that he persecuted the Christians and he had seen Jesus in a vision on the Damascus Road. Festus declared, “Paul you are mad; your great learning is turning you mad.” Paul declared that he was not mad, “I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am, except for these chains.” “And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”   Acts 22: 25-27. 25: 23-27                                                              

Paul was prepared  to die for his faith. In his letter to the Philippians, he wrote that he was hard pressed between the two ”For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Perhaps a little weary at times he desired to be with Christ, “My desire is to depart and be with Christ.”  

 Paul ended his letter to Timothy witnessing  how the Lord had stood by him and had strengthened him to give the message to the Gentiles. 

Today we are strengthened and encouraged when the Lord stands by us strengthening us to be bold in witness what may seem to some as madness to believe that Jesus is God made visible in the flesh. 

Extract from an article in the Barnabas Magazine.    

“In many parts of the world Christians suffer discrimination, harassment and violence, and even in the West we face social pressure to water down or abandon our faith.” 

 Bury Bible Society Action Group held a concert at Bolton Road Methodist Church on Saturday 21st June.  I emailed the Bury Times a brief account of the event plus two photos: 

The United Christian Singers presented  ‘New Creation’ Composer Brian Hoare Musical Director Walter Brisk. 

On a warm, beautiful  June evening 120 people gathered in Bolton Road Methodist Church to hear a spectacular performance  by the United Christian Singers of Brian Hoare’s score ‘New Creation’.  The voices of seventy people joyously brought to life the first chapter of Genesis, with the account of God’s creation narrated by a member of the choir. The musical score was accompanied by fantastic photography on the screen that showed the great diversity in creation. God crowned his creation with humanity with the ability to invent and to achieve with numerous skills having different gifts, gifts we see in each other.  Christians believe that we are a new creation in Jesus through his death, dying for our sins, and having received forgiveness we receive a fresh new start. Members of the choir sang solo’s and the audience were asked to join in several times.  The evening’s performance was a great success, and enjoyed by all. Donations amounting to £500 were given to the Bible Societies work in translating the Bible into other languages. (total 189 Words)

The Bury Times published: Heading - £500 for Bible Work  Members of the Bury Bible Society Action Group enjoyed a night of memorable music. About 120 people congregated at Bolton Road Methodist Church to enjoy a performance by the United Christian Singers. The night raised £500 to support the work of the group.”

Today the gospel message may seem crazy in this materialistic and science driven world, especially if you believe that God created the heavens and the earth. The prime minister said on the 21st April 2014 that we were a Christian country, surely then British values are based on Jesus' teaching, "love the Lord your God . . . . and love your neighbour as yourself." If that is the case then Christian beliefs should be allowed to be expressed in a public newspaper. 

The person who wrote this at the Bury Times had identified with the Bible, so if I came in conversation with this person, the Bible would be the point of engagement, “What do you think about the Bible is it relevant for today?”   My answer would be to tell him about the prophesies in the Bible that have been fulfilled and some of those yet to be fulfilled.  Daniel 7: 24-28.8: 19-25. 9: 24-27.    

In our Gospel reading Matthew 16: 13  Jesus asked his disciples “Who do men say that the Son of man is? It implies that the people had probably been asked this question by his disciples. The people’s response to the question indicated that they expected someone who had lived and died and then would be resurrected by God to be the Christ.

Peter responded saying that the Son of man was the Christ, one of two names in this passage association with the Christ. The other is were Peter identified Jesus as the Son of the living God. Two names in association with the Christ: the Son of man and the Son of God. 

Today when a similar question is asked about Jesus, “Who do they say Jesus is?”  Most people would separate his humanity from his divinity by saying he was a prophet. Even some Christian denominations say that Jesus is only a prophet.

We believe that Jesus is the Christ being both ‘the Son of man and Son of God, that Jesus is God made visible in the flesh. 

The Son of man: referring to Christ’s humanity.
Luke 4 : 17-19. Jesus confirmed that he was the Christ when he read from the book of Isaiah 61; 1, 2. “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing. What Jesus read I believe he outlined the Son of man’s ministry, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,” (Christ meaning ‘the anointed one’) God’s anointing was on Jesus to preach the good news to the poor about the coming of the kingdom of God. The release of the captives, the devil no longer holding the power over death and recovering of sight to the blind, the inwardly blind enlightened by the light of his word. Liberation from oppression, Jesus setting us free to worship in the Spirit the living God and proclaiming the acceptable year of the Lord that related to his ministry as ' the Son of man'.

Jesus the Son of God 

Caiaphas the high priest identified the Christ as being the Son of God.  Jesus was arrested and brought to Caiaphas’ house, the scribes and the elders where gathered there. “And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” “But Jesus was silent, and the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Matthew 26: 63.

Caiaphas in his response he said that the Christ and the Son of God were one of the same. Jesus’ response, “You will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Jesus pointed to himself in the context of his humanity as the Son of man and of his divinity acknowledging he was the Son of God. 
Caiaphas indicated his displeasure he tore his garments, and accused Jesus of blasphemy.
Caiaphas the religious man that he was could not get his mind around what Jesus was saying that he was the Son of God, which was blasphemy.

Today the Holy Spirit reveals to us that Jesus is God, maybe not always in a vision, but through the revealed word.   

The Messiah’s Secret.  

Before they could receive him as the Christ it was necessary for Jesus to die on a wooden cross in order to make the final sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin before he could return coming on the clouds of heaven.                                                                                                   

Jesus was silent.

On the cross Jesus bore upon himself every aspect of the law even this law of withholding evidence. “If any one sins in that he hears a public adjuration to testify and though he is a witness, whether he has seen or come to know the matter, yet does not speak, he shall bear his iniquity.” Lev 5:1
Jesus was only silent until the appropriate moment when he did respond to Caiaphas' questioning. Matthew 26: 64. 27: 11-14. 1 Timothy 6: 13.   

Isaiah prophesied,“He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth, led like a lamb to the slaughter.” 

 ”Yet it was the will of God to bruise him; he has put him to grief; when he makes himself an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.” Isaiah 53: 7, 10.  
                                                                             

The Messiah’s Secret – The Tower of  Babel and the Gift of Tongues

Matthew  records Jesus telling his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations. God gave them the ability to speak with people from all over the known world without learning their language

At the time of Noah the Bible informs us that Noah and his family only spoke one language probably Hebrew.

 God had given instructions to Noah and his sons, “Go and be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.” Genesis 9: 1,7.

 However, they did not move very far after the flood, they went to a place on the plain of Shinar with their families and decided to settle there and they started to build a city and in the city they built a tower.

Children with the boxes build the tower 

They built the city and tower of bricks, these were made out of clay and straw and then hardened in a fire which made them strong.
                            

But they had forgotten what God had called them to do, to go and live to different places to populate the earth.

So God confused their language so they had to learn how to speak different languages so they left the city some went to the North, some to the East, and South and West. Some members of congregation spoke in various languages, without giving the meaning.

There is someone in this house. (look inside the house remove Oleg the mere cat) (Read note) "This is baby Oleg, he needs a good home and is hungry for grubs, please look after him." We will give him a home at St. Mary's.

Matthew records that Jesus told his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations. How amazed the disciples must have been when these foreign words came from their lips and the people around them knew what they were saying. (Go back to those who spoke earlier and ask for their interpretation of what they had said.)

Only the God who had confused the language of Noah’s family who gave them different languages could enable the disciples at Pentecost to speak with people from all over the known world without learning their language in order to tell them about Jesus.

Some hearing the disciples were amazed and confused, other mocking said, “They were filled with new wine,” saying they were drunk. Acts 2: 13, 15.

But in fact those who commented were making a connection with Isaiah 28 “These also reel with wine and stagger with strong drink; the priest and the prophet reel with strong drink, they are confused with wine.” Isaiah 28: 7

Peter said they were not drunk as they supposed, Isaiah prophesied in same chapter verse 11, 12 “Nay, but by men of strange lips and with an alien tongue the Lord will speak to his people.” And in the following verse, “Yet they would not hear.” RSV Bible

What a tremendous sign that God was in their presence, yet we read in Matthews Gospel that as they stood with Jesus on the mountain in Galilee some doubted. 

St Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians Chapter 14 he quoted from Isaiah 28 to explain the Holy Spirit’s gift of tongues. The Spirit gives a message to a person in any one of the approximately 2,700 languages in the world. 
In verse 10 he wrote, “There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning,” so the message is given in a language either with the interpretation from the same person speaking in tongues or by another person who has the gift of interpretation of a message given in tongues.                                                                                                                        

Paul makes point that the Holy Spirit’s gift of speaking in a foreign language it is so that the unbeliever hearing will be blessed by the interpretation of the message, he says,  “The secrets of his heart is disclosed; and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among them.” The Lord touching the point of need.

In the time of Noah and his sons, God gave them a directive, “Go and be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.”  Gen 9: 1,7 But we read that they were reluctant to go and be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth with their descendants.  

Under the leadership of Nimrod the mighty warrior they only managed to go as far as the plain of Shinar (Babylonia) or modern day Irac.  We read in Genesis 10: 10 that Babel was the beginning of Nimrod’s kingdom. 

In Babylon they decided to stay and build a city and tower. The tower being a monument to their achievement, their pride and ambition.

Stepping out in faith is not easy like Noah’s son’s families felt secure being together in their city, it took the confusion of tongues to fulfil God’s command for them to go and fill the earth.

In the days of Peleg the earth was divided. 
"To Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg (for in his days the earth was divided." 1 Chronicles 1: 19

Some translations translate that this was at the time when the languages were given. 
Amplified Bible "To Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg, because in his days (the population of the earth was divided(according to its languages), and his brother's name was Joktan." 
When the Hebrew scribe wrote that the earth was divided surely it means that it was the time when the earth's plates separated to form continents and islands.

The Bible confirms the existence of dinosaurs.
In the Book of Job there is a description of a dinosaur,"Who can strip off his garment? Who can penetrate his double coat of mail? Who can open the doors of his face? Round about his teeth is terror. His back is made of rows of shields, shut up closely as with a seal . . . . . when he raises himself up the mighty are afraid."Job 41                                              

Jesus words to his disciples, “Go and make disciples of all nations.”  

There are varying views as to how long the church community remained in Jerusalem. After due consideration I estimate it would be approximately 4 years. The church met daily in the temple and broke bread in their homes, many thousands of people came to faith. But it took the start of persecution against the church to fulfil Jesus’ command for them to go from Jerusalem and make disciples of all nations.

It was after Stephen was brought to trial and later stoned to death that the persecution of the church began. “On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.”  Acts 1: 8,  8: 1.

The Messiah’s Secret – The Apostles remained in Jerusalem. 

“The apostles remained in Jerusalem as they were expecting Jesus to return. The evidence for this is clear in Mark’s Gospel Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.” Mark 9: 1 After the lame man was healed Peter and John witnessed that they had acted in ignorance when they had Jesus crucified and if they repented God would send Jesus to establish the throne and kingdom of King David. (The times of refreshing)” Acts 3: 17 -26. 

The leaders of the nation had been given the opportunity of accepting Jesus as their Messiah when they heard for the first time Peter publicly proclaim that Jesus was the Christ. Caiaphas the Chief Priest could not discern the prophecy that God had given to him ‘that one man had to die to save the nation.’ John 11: 49-53. 

In the plan of God the Messiah’s death was hidden from their understanding so that the Christ would die to save not just Israel but become the Saviour of the world and that one man  was Jesus.”

The same commission for the church today.

For us today to fulfil Jesus’ same commission to go and make disciples of all nations, it is not easy to step out of our comfort zone, for every Christian there is a cost involved, Jesus told the parable of the cost of being a disciple in Luke 14 Jesus spoke of ‘Taking up your cross.’

1. Taking up your cross  it speaks of suffering and dying to self in order serve the needs of others  

The Lord calls us to serve others in their need Isaiah wrote that the Lord strengthens the weak, he brings hope were there is none. and so God uses us to bring God’s  love  to help those who are desperately in need  of the Lord to give them hope for the future. 

On Thursday Jane and I went to a church in Oldham where they have a Christian Job's Club, there they hold courses for the long-term unemployed. 

At the meeting on Thurs they had a speaker from Greater Manchester Transport and he explained the various help that is available to assist a person to arrive at their interview for a job on time. For many unemployed making that journey is a momentous thing to do.  

2.    Jesus went on and gave the example of building a tower. Before starting to build  the tower at the planning stage to make sure he has enough funds to complete it. 

The Jobs Club is something that we are looking into at our next Pastoral Committee. On the practical side of running a Job’s Club there is a financial outlay, which for us ties in with our ‘Jigsaw Stewardship Campaign’ in two weeks time. It is an opportunity to take afresh look at our financial giving to the work of making Christ known in our community and of our commitment to the building up of our church. 

The blessings that the church at Oldham have received.  Within a short period of 8 months 11 people have started in full time employment and 3 are currently on a training programme. 19 people have come to faith and have joined their church. 

St Mary’s has never been an inward looking church, it has always been outgoing with the Gospel, and on many occasions in mission working together in serving our Jesus our Lord and God.        

The Messiah's Secret - Our Inheritance in Jesus

      Sketch.  Fulfilling our commission to share the good news about Jesus

         

Parts:   Narrator –  Mrs Smith –  Mrs Jones 

Narrator.  Two neighbours Mrs Smith and Mrs Jones were going shopping and they met on the Street. 

Mrs Smith on the left Mrs Jones on the right

Mrs Smith. “Hello Mrs Jones have you got a minute, I’m really upset, it was our Fred’s birthday and they didn’t invite me, I only found out when I bumped into Sally and she let it slip. They couldn’t careless about me and they won’t talk to me since we fell out over Albert’s will.”

Mrs Jones. “I know someone who will listen and bring healing between you and your family.

Mrs Smith. “Who can do that? 

Mrs Jones “God, when we bring our concerns before him, we know he listens because Jesus his Son said, when you pray ask anything in my name you will receive.” 

Mrs Smith. “ What do I have to do?"                                                                                      

Mrs Jones. “Talk to God, say a prayer, We believe that God hears us because God sent his Son Jesus to remove the sin that separates us from God, he bore sin and the causes of it on a cross which led to his death. God raised Jesus from the dead. So through faith believing that our sin has been forgiven, we know that God will hear our prayer to him.”

Narrator. “What Mrs Jones was telling Mrs Smith is true. History records that Jesus lived and died and rose again, it is a fact. It is also true that God sent his Spirit into the world for us to receive and he reveals to us that Jesus is God manifested in the flesh and in his love for us he listens and takes care of us.

Mrs Jones. “Call on Jesus now and say sorry to God and ask Jesus to come into your life and you won’t regret it.” 

Mrs Smith (in tears). “Okay, I’ll have a word with Jesus.”

2 Samuel 23: 1-5.  Mark 16: 14 - 20

After taking that step of faith thirty years later Mrs Smith looked back to the time when she first heard about Jesus and praised God.

In our reading King David was looking back to when he heard a prophecy from the prophet Nathan verse 5.“ Yea, does not my house stand so with God? For he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things secure.” 2 Samuel 23: 1-5

The prophecy that God gave to Nathan for David, ”When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body and I will establish his kingdom.. . . 16. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established for ever. 2 Samuel 7:12-16

During David’s life he continued to hear from God about his offspring, the Messiah, and he put the words into song, words that were sweet to David as he sang and played his lyre in the Spirit. Psalm 33: 2  
In the Anglican tradition at Evensong we used to sing the Psalms. 
A lady I knew when she came to know Jesus, she received the gift of composing songs, even though she could not sing or read music. She asked a friend who was able to write the music as she sang what the Lord had given her. 

David’s Psalms gave prophesies concerning the Messiah.

Psalm 2 God laughs in heaven as he knows his Messiah has the victory over his conspirators. David prophesied that the Lord’s anointed was born of God and his kingdom he will rule over the earth with Godly justice.

Psalm 16 he speaks of the resurrection his holy one would not see the corruption of his body

In 18 He sings of his own relationship with his Lord and God, David loved God, his strength was in God, who was solid as a rock. He knew to call on the Lord when he was in trouble and David praised the Lord for saving him from his enemies.

In Psalm 22 David foretold the Messiah’s agony of separation from God, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" and of his suffering. He was despised and mocked by the people. His body being ravaged and encircled by evil. The second half of the Psalm God has fulfilled his purposes those who seek the Messiah shall praise the Lord and their hearts live for ever.  
Psalm 22: 27 “All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord and all the families of the nations shall worship before him. For dominion belongs to the Lord and Jesus rules over the nations.” 

Psalm 24. David's prophecy of the Ascension   “Lift up your heads, O gates!  And be lifted up you ancient doors! That the king of glory may come in. Who is the King of glory the Lord strong and mighty, .  .  The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory!                                                                                            

Last Thursday we celebrated the Ascension

What a welcome the Lord must have received on his return to heaven.
How the multitude of heavenly hosts must have praised God, just as we read they did at his birth. ‘Glory to God in the highest and peace to all men.”              

I can only liken it to the Queen’s coronation 1953 where the crowds lined the streets, cheering and singing ‘God save our gracious Queen’ flags waving, trumpets sounded (fanfare)and bands played and the church bells rang out throughout the land.

The Ascension is a crucial part of eternal salvation because Jesus united heaven and earth through his death, resurrection and his Ascension. His kingdom on earth within his believers as in heaven we have received eternal life.

At the time Some of Jesus followers still doubted they expected Nathan's prophecy to King David to be fulfilled. 
The Jews expected to enter into their inheritance  from the covenants and promises God gave to Abraham and to his descendants and to David of inheriting God’s kingdom.

John the Baptist and Jesus both proclaimed the coming of the kingdom of God. 

The writer of Hebrews pointed out, that before a person can receive their inheritance, a person has to die then the will comes into force, those who are to inherit then receive their inheritance Hebrews 9: 17. 

The Messiah had to die before the Jews could inherit the promises of eternal throne and kingdom promised to David. 
The Messiah's Secret.
The death of the Messiah was hidden from the understanding of the Jewish leaders. They had taught from the Law that when the Messiah came he would remain for ever. John 12: 34                                                                              

Christians inherit eternal life through the death of Jesus. and as a result  we receive our inheritance, while living on the earth we are transferred into Christ’s eternal kingdom. Col 1: 13

St Paul wrote in his letter to the Ephesians, “We have been blessed with every spiritual blessings in heavenly places.” Ephesians 1: 3. 

What are the spiritual blessings? 

While we live on the earth: We are citizens of heaven. Philippians 2:20.
Children of God and joint heirs in Christ. Romans 8:16, 17.          
We are raised up and seated with Christ in heavenly places. Ephesians 2:6. Imitators of God, empowered to imitate Jesus by his Spirit and word in us. Ephesians 5: 1  Colossians 1: 27.
Ambassadors of the Kingdom of God. 2 Corinthians 5: 20.

In our sketch the neighbour who was a Christian shared the good news about Jesus to a neighbour who had no faith in Jesus. It was important for her to know that Jesus cares about every person, and through prayer will bring about healing of broken relationships and to those who repent and turn in faith to Jesus the ultimate God's forgiveness and love. Also the gift of eternal life in fellowship with our Lord God.

In heaven after Jesus returns  
Reign and rule with Christ in his kingdom. Revelation 20: 4. Daniel 7: 22. 
Given authority over cities. Luke 19: 17 & Judge angels. 1 Corinthians 6:3  
One day we will look back to when we received our inheritance our salvation in Christ