Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

 HASHA:  PASSION WEEK

John 6:60-70
 
v67-68 “You do not want to leave too, do you?”  Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go?”
 

We have just entered into the final stretch of the Great Lent season.  It refers to the penitential period preceding the Easter. It is a time for reflection.  It is a time of transformation.  Lent focuses on the passion and death of Christ in preparation for His resurrection. Meditating on the passion of Christ is a very appropriate way to evoke sorrow for our sins and firm purpose of amendment, fulfilling two of the elements necessary for reconciliation with God in the sacrament of penance. The most important meditations on the Passion can be found in the inspired Word of God, especially in the Gospels. Several prophets also foretold the suffering of Christ; some of the most well-known prophecies of the “Suffering Servant” include those found in Isaiah 53.
 
No moments in history deserve more quiet reflection than the hours of Jesus’ suffering on the cross just before His death. Death on a cross should not only have been the most excruciating but also the most humiliating event.  The angels of heaven must have gone silent as the Lord of the universe suffered in dimensions far greater than could ever be portrayed on the big screen or a reenactment.  What happened in the dark shadows of gnarled and twisted olive trees can bring our hearts not only to sad wonder but to a lifetime of gratefulness.
 
In our Bible lesson in John’s Gospel, we are told that many of Jesus’ disciples drew back and no longer followed Him.  This is a turning point in our Lord’s ministry, where He confronts the Twelve with the question, “You do not want to leave too, do you?”  This is a frequent phenomenon in our lives as well.  Many of the disciples when they heard it, said, “This is a hard teaching.  Who can accept it?”  It is little wonder that the disciples found the discourse of Jesus hard.  What Jesus had said was hard and difficult to accept, but His words were clearly understood.  The problem was not in their understanding, but in their hearts.  Time and again, it is not the intellectual difficulty which keeps people from becoming true followers of Christ; it is the height of His moral demand.  The real difficulty of the journey of faith is two-fold.  It demands an act of total surrender to Christ, an acceptance of Him as the final authority, and it demands a moral standard of the highest level.  Some may have been disappointed that He refused to become the conquering king that they had anticipated.  Others may have found His instructions too threatening.  Jesus offers eternal life, but He requires acceptance of Himself as Savior and Lord.  This means His agenda must become His followers’ agenda as well.  And that is unacceptable to many would be disciples because they are looking for worldly ego, self-centered fame, stimulating pleasures and human recognition.
 
When Jesus asked the Twelve, You do not want to leave, do you?  Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.  We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.”  Peter spoke for all apostles.  He was their leader and spokesman.  Peter called Jesus “Lord,” and used the title in its fullest meaning (vv. 68-69).  Peter’s loyalty was based on a personal relationship to Jesus Christ.  There were many things he did not understand; he was just as bewildered and puzzled as anyone else.  But there was something about Jesus for which he would willingly die.  In the final analysis, Christianity is not a philosophy which we accept, nor a theory to which we give allegiance.  It is a personal response to Jesus Christ.  It is the allegiance and love which a man gives because his heart will not allow him to do anything else.  

PRAYER
Loving Father when we consider Your passion for saving us at the highest cost
of Your own blood, and the sacrifice You made on our behalf, we are humbled and deeply grateful.  Thank You for taking our place.

 
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
 Our wayward and sinful life put Him on the Cross.

 
Daniel Thomas
Orlando MTC., Florida
 
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind wh...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tel...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things...
Read more