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.