The Messiah’s Secret – A Child-like Faith.

Under  five’s -  Mary had a Little Lamb. This nursery rhyme was written from a true story. Mary Sawyer when she was a little girl looked after an orphan lamb. Mary loved the lamb and the lamb grew to love Mary.

Mary had a little lamb
its' fleece was as white as snow 

 And every where that Mary went
the lamb was sure to go.

It followed her to school one day
and that was against the rule.

It made the children laugh and play

to see a lamb at school.

We followed the story, the children putting the sheep and the school on the board.

We come to church to learn about Jesus and as we grow in knowledge we love Jesus and we find that Jesus loves us and takes care of us.

James 3: 13-4: 3, 7,8. Mark 9: 30 – 37.

In our reading verse 31 Jesus was having a teaching session with his disciples.

Jesus was known as being a Rabbi – his interpretation of the Hebrew Scriptures caused the people to marvel at his words. 

A Rabbi chose his disciples, Jesus said “You did not choose me, I chose you.” he called them to follow him and accept his ‘yoke’ meaning - his walk, his teachings and imitate the Rabbi and literally became part of his household, his follow for life. John 15: 16. Matthew 4: 19.10: 1, 25. 11: 29.

The Messiah’s Secret

Jesus told the disciples that he was going to be killed and would rise after three days. 
If Jesus had elaborated on it nothing has been written down.

We read that they did not understand they could not grasp it so they kept quiet, and they did not dare ask him about it.

The disciples had been taught like all the people from the teachers of the law, the scribes and the Pharisees, that when the Christ came he would remain for ever. John wrote that the crowd said, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains for ever." How can you say that the Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man?” John 12: 32-34

The teachers of the law enforced this view at Calvary when they said, "He saved others;  he cannot save himself. Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Mark 15. 31, 32.

Therefore when Jesus said that he was going to die at the hands of men, it was contrary to what they had been taught about Messiah. Luke 9 43 -45. 18: 31-34.John 12: 34.

If the disciples had understood about Jesus’ death and resurrection may be their attitudes would have been different: when Jesus was arrested they would not have all run away, fleeing the garden.

Peter maybe would not have denied his association with Jesus in the chief priest’s courtyard.

After his death and burial the disciples would have believed the women who came to the house telling them that they had seen the resurrected Jesus.

But we know that God had deliberately hidden Jesus ‘death from the disciples understanding until the evening of the day of Jesus’ resurrection, when he opened their minds to understand the scriptures concerning his suffering, death and resurrection. Luke 24: 44 – 48.

And later Peter said in his address at Pentecost Acts 2: 23 that it was in the definite plan and foreknowledge of God that Jesus was crucified and died.

The relevance of knowing this today

People who come from religions who's teachings do not believe that Jesus died on the cross, also deny the resurrection as well.

When the Centurion speared Jesus’ side we read that blood and water poured out. Science proves when a person dies the blood and water separate. This proves that Jesus did die on the cross. The evidence of his resurrection was recorded by eye witnesses. The truth of these things is acted upon by the Holy Spirit revealing Jesus to us in a personal way. John 19: 34.

In our Gospel reading when they reached Capernaum Jesus asked them what had they been discussing on the way.

The disciples were arguing who would be the greatest among them. James wrote that ambition causes disorder and leads to breaking up of the fellowship of the church.

Archbishop Justin Welby in his recent address at the General Synod in his final words said, “So, the good news. The Communion exists and is doing wonderful things. The bad news.  There are great divisions and threats.

The challenge. There is a prize of being able to develop unity in diversity and also with deeper and deeper ecumenical relations demonstrating the power of Christ to break down barriers and to provide hope for a broken world.

We must grasp that challenge, it is the prize of a world seeing Christ loved and obeyed in His church, a world hearing the news of his salvation.

So let us here, in the Church of England and above all in its General Synod, be amongst those who take a lead in our sacrificial, truthful and committed love for the sake of Christ for His mission in His world.”

In order for us to attain ‘sacrificial, truthful and committed love for the sake of Christ’s mission in his world,’ Jesus tells us to have the disposition of a child.

Mark 9: 36, 37. Jesus took a child and placed him in their midst and taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever, receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

Children take people at face value they are unaware of a person’s position in society and they believe what they are taught and have a thirst for knowledge, they are teachable. Romans 2: 11. Matthew 22: 16.

Children are quick to learn – The children were lined up in the cafeteria for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted it on the apple tray, “Take only one. God is watching.” Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. One child whispered to another, “Take all you want, God is watching the apples.”

Children today are taught by mum, dad, grandparents and their nursery, church and school teachers.

Jesus looked to his teacher, his Father God. He had learnt from his Father and imitated him; he only did what he saw his Father doing.

Jesus said that his disciples are not to be called Rabbi; for you have one teacher and you are all brethren. Matthew 23: 8. 1 Corinthians 1: 10-13

The one teacher is Jesus and his disciples recorded his words so that we learn from Jesus, taking his words into our heart and his commandment to love one another, having the disposition of a child.

The Messiah’s Secret –  Hidden in Christ, in  God.

Evening Lectionary: Exodus 14: 5-31.  Matthew 6: 1-18                                                      

Hidden in Christ in God: visual aid.

 Large doll - God
Medium doll - Jesus
Small doll - Christian

Small doll  - in Jesus Christ

Both Jesus and Christian in God

When the Israelites knew Pharaoh was coming after them with his army, they were afraid. Moses prayed and the Lord responded telling Moses that he would fight for them and to be still. The result God stood between the Israelites and the Egyptians in the form of a cloud, protecting the Israelites.

Moses used his rod to part the Red Sea and the whole of Israel crossed over on dry land, the Egyptians followed them Moses lifted up the rod and God allowed the sea to return to its normal flow where Pharaoh’s army were left to their own devices to save themselves.

The Israelites by being still allowed God to deliver them without having to fight the Egyptians, it is an example of their lives being hidden in God. Hidden in God they did not have to strive in their own strength.

Jesus life on earth was hidden in God fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy  

“He will not wrangle or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets, he will not break a bruised reed or quench a smouldering wick.” Isaiah 42: 1-4 Matthew 12: 18-21.                

The crowd threatened to kill Jesus on a number of occasions: At Nazareth after he read from the book of Isaiah; “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has appointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” He went on to say “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”  “All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up and drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of a hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.” Luke 4: 18, 19, 28-30.

For saying, “Before Abraham was, I AM,” that he and the Father were one of the same, they would have stoned him, but Jesus hid himself and left the temple. God protected him. John 8: 20, 59 10: 31. His life was hidden in God; he was doing God’s will with his care and protection.

Jesus had a loving gentle disposition.  

Unlike the Pharisees he was not pious, He did not need to draw attention to himself by shouting out his message, his presence was enough. He was forgiving and kind, gentle and lowly of heart. Jesus always spoke the truth and illustrated what it meant for his and their lives to be hidden in God, God fighting for them and his provision as well.  Matthew 11: 28- 30.                                                                

In the same chapter verses 25, 26 God’s provision they were not to be anxious about what they shall eat, drink or wear and he gave the examples of  God’s provision for the birds of the air, the lilies were clothed with amazing splendour and Matthew goes on to record Chapter 14 Jesus meeting the need of the 5,000 and the 4,000 people by a miracle manufacturing bread and fishes on the spot. Matthew 14: 13-21. 15: 32-39. 10: 29, 31.

In Matthew 6 Jesus taught what it meant for his disciples and us today for our lives to be hidden in God

Our holiness is hidden in what we say and do: to give a word in season and acts of kindness that is appropriate to the need.

His followers to give alms in secret, what we give between ourselves and God.

Jesus went to pray in quiet places where he talked to God in prayer. He encouraged his disciples to do the same. To pray in private, praying for others as well as our own situations.                                  

The reward  

Paul spoke of the secrets of Christians being revealed at the judgement seat of Christ, secrets in the doing of God’s will: telling people about Jesus, helping someone in some way, a record kept in heaven and will be rewarded by receiving our inheritance as children of God Romans 2:16                                                                                                          

Jesus’ prayer that he gave his disciples “The Lord’s Prayer” embraces our lives hidden in God, because we are children of God.

Jesus used this personal term ‘Our Father’ that we may see and revere God in this special way as he embraces all who become children of God in his heavenly kingdom.

Jesus united heaven and earth at his ascension, we pray to seek his will be done.   “If then you have been raised with Christ seek those things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth. For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3: 3

Our lives hidden in Christ in God

The provision of the living bread, the word that nourishes the soul that breathes forgiveness and healing.

In our gospel reading Jesus was fulfilling the law, therefore, forgiveness here is conditional on forgiving others, under grace Jesus gave the example of ‘the prodigal son’ who was forgiven before he returned home, his father went out to meet him.

While we are in the world we will go through trials and temptations. 

God will not allow us to be tempted to the point of no return, there will always be a way through, and victory over the evil one.               

Our nation was in a similar position as the Israelites when the German forces surrounded our army at Dunkirk.

Our present Queen’s father King George V1 during the last war in May 1940 God inspired him to call the nation to a week of prayer for the evacuation of our troops from Dunkirk in France.  

It is recorded that it was so successful due to the weather conditions that prevailed in the English Channel. The calm seas enabled thousands of privately owned boats to make that sea crossing picking up the troops off the sea shore at Dunkirk. 319,390 troops English, French, Belgium and Canadian were saved. Winston Churchill called it  “A miracle of deliverance.”  I would think that many Christians included fasting on that day. Fasting in secret accompanied with prayer for the right reasons, help us focus on the Lord and the situation.                                                                                              

Yesterday morning another aspect of being hidden in Christ in God came to mind, ‘God our Father determines when I die.’ Two hours later Freda rang me with her concerns about the assisted suicides debate in the House of Commons on Friday 11^th September.  She said that it was the second reading of Rob Marris Bill and could I put it on the News Sheet to make it known for people to pray.

Following this at the end of sermon, we discussed various points on the Bill that I had downloaded from the internet. All indicated that they were against the Bill, including a young doctor in the congregation.

I enter into the debate on the grounds that my life is hidden in God, and my Father in heaven will take care of me, even in suffering, to the end of my life on earth. 

I have since emailed 3 Members of Parliament with my concerns regarding this Bill.