Jesus, Mission, and Glory: Advent-Veiled in Flesh PART III
Dr. Timothy Keller
11 December 2016
John 1: 14-18
14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15(John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, "This is the one I spoke about when I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'" 16Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God, but the only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
Word Became Flesh--The way to know God is to know this human being-Jesus.
INFINITE COMFORT IN THE FACE OF SUFFERING
--God suffered through his Son - intellectual understanding.
--Jesus felt alone, betrayed, and misunderstood - experiential suffering.
--Jesus has been to all the dark places that we experience.
INFINITE POWER OF CONVICTION TO GET INVOLVED
--Give to the point that you feel vulnerable in imitation of Jesus.
--Serve others.
HOPE
--Realistic and infallible
--Everything ends in death is the penalty for our sin.
--Jesus has brought the ideal to the real through the New Earth.
Be careful about domesticating and taming the doctrine of Jesus.
Friday, December 23, 2016
Saturday, December 17, 2016
Born Again
Jesus, Mission and Glory: Advent PART 2
Rev. Abraham Cho
04 December 2016
John 1: 12-13
12Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
WHY WE NEED A NEW BIRTH
--We're all spiritually dead.
--The dead can't earn or achieve things.
--Religious morality and "achieving" salvation separates us from God.
--Our instinct is that we don't need God.
WHERE NEW BIRTH COMES FROM (v.13)
--Born of God; we didn't actually do anything on our "birthday."
--We received birth.
--Jesus's life is placed in all of us.
WHAT NEW BIRTH GIVES
--It gives us the right to become children of God.
--Permanent adoption and offer of unchanging love.
--What does the adoption entitle us to?--Full access to the Father.
We get it by receiving it and believing in His name.
Rev. Abraham Cho
04 December 2016
John 1: 12-13
12Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
WHY WE NEED A NEW BIRTH
--We're all spiritually dead.
--The dead can't earn or achieve things.
--Religious morality and "achieving" salvation separates us from God.
--Our instinct is that we don't need God.
WHERE NEW BIRTH COMES FROM (v.13)
--Born of God; we didn't actually do anything on our "birthday."
--We received birth.
--Jesus's life is placed in all of us.
WHAT NEW BIRTH GIVES
--It gives us the right to become children of God.
--Permanent adoption and offer of unchanging love.
--What does the adoption entitle us to?--Full access to the Father.
We get it by receiving it and believing in His name.
The Word
Jesus, Mission, and Glory: Advent PART I
Dr. Timothy Keller
27 November 2017
John 1:1-11
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and the life was the light of all mankind. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
NEED FOR THE LIGHT (v.4-5)
--The world is a dark place and true "light" comes from outside the world.
--We are not capable of generating this light on our own.
--The Word is Jesus.
--Trinity has been there since the beginning--One was not created out of the other.
--God has always been dynamic and interpersonal love.
--There is no darkness in God.
HOW DO WE GET THE LIGHT (v.9-11)
--Jesus came to be rejected.
--Selfishness leads to the loss of love.
--Make Jesus the reason for our life.
--Being filled with His love for leads us to be more loving and selfish.
Jesus left heaven for US
Is he the reason for our lives...the reason we get up in the morning?
Dr. Timothy Keller
27 November 2017
John 1:1-11
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and the life was the light of all mankind. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
NEED FOR THE LIGHT (v.4-5)
--The world is a dark place and true "light" comes from outside the world.
--We are not capable of generating this light on our own.
--The Word is Jesus.
--Trinity has been there since the beginning--One was not created out of the other.
--God has always been dynamic and interpersonal love.
--There is no darkness in God.
HOW DO WE GET THE LIGHT (v.9-11)
--Jesus came to be rejected.
--Selfishness leads to the loss of love.
--Make Jesus the reason for our life.
--Being filled with His love for leads us to be more loving and selfish.
Jesus left heaven for US
Is he the reason for our lives...the reason we get up in the morning?
Sunday, November 27, 2016
The Future Disciple
Jesus, Mission, and Glory: New Identity PART IV
Dr. Timothy Keller
20 November 2016
John 13:33-38
33"My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.
34"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
36"Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later."
37Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." 38Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!"
THE WAYS PETER FAILED
--Overconfidence--We all really suffer from this--hence the lack of prayer time.
--Peter didn't know his capacity for cruelty and cowardice.
--Peter got his identity from his pious actions.
--He got his identity from his own love for Jesus--NOT from Jesus's love for him.
HOW PETER IS HEALED
--Repent and understand we are powerless over our problems.
--Let suffering and hurt drive us towards the Lord.
--v.37 talks about not being able to follow Jesus now because it was before what HE did for us.
--Peter led the church--after his epic failure.
Our failure can plunge us into grace.
Dr. Timothy Keller
20 November 2016
John 13:33-38
33"My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.
34"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
36"Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later."
37Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." 38Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!"
THE WAYS PETER FAILED
--Overconfidence--We all really suffer from this--hence the lack of prayer time.
--Peter didn't know his capacity for cruelty and cowardice.
--Peter got his identity from his pious actions.
--He got his identity from his own love for Jesus--NOT from Jesus's love for him.
HOW PETER IS HEALED
--Repent and understand we are powerless over our problems.
--Let suffering and hurt drive us towards the Lord.
--v.37 talks about not being able to follow Jesus now because it was before what HE did for us.
--Peter led the church--after his epic failure.
Our failure can plunge us into grace.
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
The True Disciple
Jesus, Mission and Glory PART III
Rev Aaron Bjerke
13 November 2016
John 13:31-35
31When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. 32If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
33"My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going you cannot come.
34"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
36Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?"
Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later."
CALL FROM GOD
--v.31 refers to Judas and his actions to come...Now, it's time to get started.
--Love is connected to Jesus/God.
--Can you be good without God? Common Grace...so yes.
--Moral goodness can be defined through cultural rules.
--Moral goodness can come from self-reflection and what feels right.
--Can you obligate others to be good?
--Different cultures have different rules and so do individuals
We need an unchanging arbiter that doesn't shift with the times.
LIFESTYLE OF LOVE
--v.34
--The trinity allows for self giving and shared love.
--Love your enemies too.
Rev Aaron Bjerke
13 November 2016
John 13:31-35
31When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. 32If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
33"My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going you cannot come.
34"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
36Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?"
Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later."
CALL FROM GOD
--v.31 refers to Judas and his actions to come...Now, it's time to get started.
--Love is connected to Jesus/God.
--Can you be good without God? Common Grace...so yes.
--Moral goodness can be defined through cultural rules.
--Moral goodness can come from self-reflection and what feels right.
--Can you obligate others to be good?
--Different cultures have different rules and so do individuals
We need an unchanging arbiter that doesn't shift with the times.
LIFESTYLE OF LOVE
--v.34
--The trinity allows for self giving and shared love.
--Love your enemies too.
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
The False Disciple
Jesus, Mission, and Glory: New Identity PART II
Rev Abe Cho
06 November 2016
John 13: 21-30
21After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me."
22His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one he means."
25Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?"
26Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
So Jesus told him, "What you are about to do, do quickly." 28But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. 30As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
TROUBLED CHRIST
--v.21 recalls His feelings in the Garden of Gethsemane.
--Jesus saw sin has a personal and relational betrayal.
--Sin is a relational breach with God/Jesus.
--God's anger at our sin is a sign of love.
DISILLUSIONED DISCIPLE
--Judas's betrayal was shocking--that's why disciples didn't make the connection that it was him.
--Judas was disappointed with Jesus--possibly because he didn't resolve Roman oppression.
--Judas placed what he thought was important / right over God's will.
--Evil is real in the Bible and profound--hence the reference to Satan.
--Judas was seized with remorse--hence the suicide.
OFFER OF LOVE
--John's reference to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved could be seen as a sign that John defined himself in relation to Jesus.
--His identity wasn't about his name, John, but in reference to the Lord.
Rev Abe Cho
06 November 2016
John 13: 21-30
21After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me."
22His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one he means."
25Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?"
26Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
So Jesus told him, "What you are about to do, do quickly." 28But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. 30As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
TROUBLED CHRIST
--v.21 recalls His feelings in the Garden of Gethsemane.
--Jesus saw sin has a personal and relational betrayal.
--Sin is a relational breach with God/Jesus.
--God's anger at our sin is a sign of love.
DISILLUSIONED DISCIPLE
--Judas's betrayal was shocking--that's why disciples didn't make the connection that it was him.
--Judas was disappointed with Jesus--possibly because he didn't resolve Roman oppression.
--Judas placed what he thought was important / right over God's will.
--Evil is real in the Bible and profound--hence the reference to Satan.
--Judas was seized with remorse--hence the suicide.
OFFER OF LOVE
--John's reference to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved could be seen as a sign that John defined himself in relation to Jesus.
--His identity wasn't about his name, John, but in reference to the Lord.
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
The Disciple and the Bible
Jesus, Mission, and Glory: New Identity: PART I
Dr. Timothy Keller
30 October 2016
John 13: 18-24
18"I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the passage of Scripture: 'He who shared my bread has turned against me.'
19"I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. 20Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me."
21After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me."
22His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one he means."
Jesus knows our heart and not all of us are chosen (v.18)
BIBLE IS AUTHORITY
--Acts 10:38 says God anointed Jesus with power; Philippians 2 says he laid aside his power.
--Jesus didn't use any resource that we don't have access to.
--Jesus knows that his actions must align with Scripture.
--Bible points to Jesus; Don't refer to the Bible in pieces.
LIFE CHANGING STORY
--Don't read the Bible as something we have to do--but as something Jesus has done.
You are what you are saturated with--What do we spend most of our time thinking about?
Dr. Timothy Keller
30 October 2016
John 13: 18-24
18"I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the passage of Scripture: 'He who shared my bread has turned against me.'
19"I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. 20Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me."
21After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me."
22His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one he means."
Jesus knows our heart and not all of us are chosen (v.18)
BIBLE IS AUTHORITY
--Acts 10:38 says God anointed Jesus with power; Philippians 2 says he laid aside his power.
--Jesus didn't use any resource that we don't have access to.
--Jesus knows that his actions must align with Scripture.
--Bible points to Jesus; Don't refer to the Bible in pieces.
LIFE CHANGING STORY
--Don't read the Bible as something we have to do--but as something Jesus has done.
You are what you are saturated with--What do we spend most of our time thinking about?
Sunday, October 23, 2016
Sent to Love
Jesus, Mission, and Glory: New Purpose PART VII
Dr. Timothy Keller
23 October 2016
John 13: 12-17
12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" 13"You call me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16Very truly I thell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
LOVE IS ACTION - (NOT JUST ATTRACTION)
--Foot washing is an unattractive act that deals with unattractive situation.
--Love the unattractive as well.
--Loving ourselves results in using others as a commodity.
--Sacrificing our time is dying to our own desires.
LOVE IS INVESTING
--The feet are ugly and the dirt on our feet is our sin.
--Jesus isn't just doing a duty, but has a vision of how things should be.
--Beyond our duty to others, we should care and pray at how it turns out.
--Our indifference and cruelty empowers evil.
--Love means confronting--not just tolerating.
--Ultimate form of hate is indifference
FULLNESS OF LOVE
--Difficult to give love away because we are ultimately empty inside.
--Let Jesus be our Lord and Savior.
--Have we seen Jesus kneeling before us and washing our own feet?
--Do we feel his love?
Dr. Timothy Keller
23 October 2016
John 13: 12-17
12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" 13"You call me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16Very truly I thell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
LOVE IS ACTION - (NOT JUST ATTRACTION)
--Foot washing is an unattractive act that deals with unattractive situation.
--Love the unattractive as well.
--Loving ourselves results in using others as a commodity.
--Sacrificing our time is dying to our own desires.
LOVE IS INVESTING
--The feet are ugly and the dirt on our feet is our sin.
--Jesus isn't just doing a duty, but has a vision of how things should be.
--Beyond our duty to others, we should care and pray at how it turns out.
--Our indifference and cruelty empowers evil.
--Love means confronting--not just tolerating.
--Ultimate form of hate is indifference
FULLNESS OF LOVE
--Difficult to give love away because we are ultimately empty inside.
--Let Jesus be our Lord and Savior.
--Have we seen Jesus kneeling before us and washing our own feet?
--Do we feel his love?
Sent with Grace
Jesus, Mission, and Glory: New Purpose PART VI
Rev. Abe Cho
16 October 2016
John 13: 6-11
6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"
7Jesus replied, "You don not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
8"No", said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."
9"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"
10Jesus answered, "Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." 11For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
OFFENSE OF WASHING FEET
--Feet were dirty and the culture has a sense of shame regarding it.
--Foot washing preserves dignity of guests around the table.
--Foot washing was left for the lowest servants and slaves.
--Peter was concerned for his own dignity as well as Jesus.
--Offense of foot washing was and essential point for Jesus.
--A genuine encounter with Jesus brings something to light in our life
--Our sense of shame about ourselves.
BEAUTY OF THE ACT
--Intent of the act is to cleanse and heal the moment of our shame.
--Perfectionism, for example, hides our soul covered in shame.
--Jesus even washed Judas's feet--the ultimate act of cleansing.
NECESSITY OF THE ACT
--Unless I wash your feet, you have no part of me.
--Did Judas think his sin was too big to be forgiven--hence the suicide?
Rev. Abe Cho
16 October 2016
John 13: 6-11
6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"
7Jesus replied, "You don not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
8"No", said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."
9"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"
10Jesus answered, "Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." 11For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
OFFENSE OF WASHING FEET
--Feet were dirty and the culture has a sense of shame regarding it.
--Foot washing preserves dignity of guests around the table.
--Foot washing was left for the lowest servants and slaves.
--Peter was concerned for his own dignity as well as Jesus.
--Offense of foot washing was and essential point for Jesus.
--A genuine encounter with Jesus brings something to light in our life
--Our sense of shame about ourselves.
BEAUTY OF THE ACT
--Intent of the act is to cleanse and heal the moment of our shame.
--Perfectionism, for example, hides our soul covered in shame.
--Jesus even washed Judas's feet--the ultimate act of cleansing.
NECESSITY OF THE ACT
--Unless I wash your feet, you have no part of me.
--Did Judas think his sin was too big to be forgiven--hence the suicide?
Saturday, October 22, 2016
Sent in Love
Jesus: Mission and Glory: New Purpose PART V
Dr. Timothy Keller (MP3)
09 October 2016
John 13: 1-5
1It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Isacriot, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
FOOT WASHING - WHO JESUS IS
--Lowest slaves typically washed feet.
--Menial and offensive task.
--Juxtaposition of His high status with humble behavior.
--Jesus is equal with the Father.
--Foot washing caps the behavior that highlights/contradicts the his lofty claim.
--Lofty claimed mixed with "lowly" behavior
--Rational conclusion that he is the Son of God.
--Emotional conclusion is that he is Beautiful.
FOOT WASHING - POWER
--v.1; begins and ends with Love.
--His infallible love against the power of forces against him in spite of his impending death.
--Thinks of others in the face of impending agony.
--Loves us in spite of unworthiness of recipients. (v.2)
--He's washing the feet of someone who will get him killed and one that will deny Him.
--All the guests will hurt them terribly and yet he humbles himself before them.
--Nothing can dislodge his love for us.
--He loves us, not because we are great, but because He is great.
FOOT WASHING - PATTERN OF LIFE FOR US
--Self giving is the ultimate reality or we will be on our way to self-absorption.
--Be loving and kind to people that oppose you.
--Jesus has a different model of greatness than the world gives us.
--As you grow older, hopefully a realization comes on that nothing, but God, will satisfy us.
--His love is crucial to our joy.
Dr. Timothy Keller (MP3)
09 October 2016
John 13: 1-5
1It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Isacriot, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
FOOT WASHING - WHO JESUS IS
--Lowest slaves typically washed feet.
--Menial and offensive task.
--Juxtaposition of His high status with humble behavior.
--Jesus is equal with the Father.
--Foot washing caps the behavior that highlights/contradicts the his lofty claim.
--Lofty claimed mixed with "lowly" behavior
--Rational conclusion that he is the Son of God.
--Emotional conclusion is that he is Beautiful.
FOOT WASHING - POWER
--v.1; begins and ends with Love.
--His infallible love against the power of forces against him in spite of his impending death.
--Thinks of others in the face of impending agony.
--Loves us in spite of unworthiness of recipients. (v.2)
--He's washing the feet of someone who will get him killed and one that will deny Him.
--All the guests will hurt them terribly and yet he humbles himself before them.
--Nothing can dislodge his love for us.
--He loves us, not because we are great, but because He is great.
FOOT WASHING - PATTERN OF LIFE FOR US
--Self giving is the ultimate reality or we will be on our way to self-absorption.
--Be loving and kind to people that oppose you.
--Jesus has a different model of greatness than the world gives us.
--As you grow older, hopefully a realization comes on that nothing, but God, will satisfy us.
--His love is crucial to our joy.
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Sent to Bring Freedom
Jesus, Mission and Glory: New Purpose PART IV
02 October 2016
Dr. Timothy Keller
John 8:31-26; 56-59
31To the Jews who had really believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free."
33They answered him. "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?"
34Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
56Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad. 57"You are not yet fifty years old," they said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!"
58"Very truly I tell you," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" 59At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
Does being a Christian end your freedom?
COMPLEXITY
--v31-32; you'll be free if you accept my "constraints".
--Modern life portrays freedom as an absence of constraints.
--Freedom is doing the things that are liberating.
ENEMY OF FREEDOM
--The ultimate enemy of freedom is ourselves...because we are bound by sin.
--v.32 We are slaves...without the Jesus's help.
--Sin is disobeying our Creator...and thus violates our design.
--Sin is living for our own self interest.
--Self centered-ness and rebelling against our own design.
LIBERATOR
--v.35-36; not just about obedience--we are His children.
02 October 2016
Dr. Timothy Keller
John 8:31-26; 56-59
31To the Jews who had really believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free."
33They answered him. "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?"
34Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
56Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad. 57"You are not yet fifty years old," they said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!"
58"Very truly I tell you," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" 59At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
Does being a Christian end your freedom?
COMPLEXITY
--v31-32; you'll be free if you accept my "constraints".
--Modern life portrays freedom as an absence of constraints.
--Freedom is doing the things that are liberating.
ENEMY OF FREEDOM
--The ultimate enemy of freedom is ourselves...because we are bound by sin.
--v.32 We are slaves...without the Jesus's help.
--Sin is disobeying our Creator...and thus violates our design.
--Sin is living for our own self interest.
--Self centered-ness and rebelling against our own design.
LIBERATOR
--v.35-36; not just about obedience--we are His children.
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Sent to Bear Witness
Jesus, Mission, and Glory: New Purpose PART III
Rev Abe Cho
25 September 2016
John 12: 37-50
37Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:
"Lord, who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"
39For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:
40"He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes
nor understand with their hearts,
nor turn--and I would heal them."
41Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him.
42Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43for they loved human praise more than praise from God.
44Then Jesus cried out, "Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. 46I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
47"If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. 49For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. 50I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say."
WHAT JESUS SAYS
--He cries out in v.44 suggesting an urgent message.
--His first statement after that is belief in him--not any particular action.
--Jesus is evangelistic, so we should be too.
WHY DO WE MISS IT
--The nature of unbelief and doubt.
--Doubt isn't just rational and empirical
--v.39 They could not belief cause God hardened their hearts, but v.43 suggests they desired human praise too much.
--Parallels with God hardening Pharoah's heart and Pharoah hardening his own heart.
--It's both God's decree and we are free to do what we want--Work out the relationship/contradiction on your own..if possible.
--Why do we not want something to be true...Why do we not want to believe? - because it requires giving up our control?
--The good things in our lives can blind us to the Glory of God.
WHY DO WE NEED HIS LIGHT
--Am I ready to see myself and all my flaws under God's revealing light.
--Human resources can't deal with evil or justice.
--Only if we think the wrongs of this world will be made right will we begin to live in peace.
Rev Abe Cho
25 September 2016
John 12: 37-50
37Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:
"Lord, who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"
39For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:
40"He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes
nor understand with their hearts,
nor turn--and I would heal them."
41Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him.
42Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43for they loved human praise more than praise from God.
44Then Jesus cried out, "Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. 46I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
47"If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. 49For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. 50I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say."
WHAT JESUS SAYS
--He cries out in v.44 suggesting an urgent message.
--His first statement after that is belief in him--not any particular action.
--Jesus is evangelistic, so we should be too.
WHY DO WE MISS IT
--The nature of unbelief and doubt.
--Doubt isn't just rational and empirical
--v.39 They could not belief cause God hardened their hearts, but v.43 suggests they desired human praise too much.
--Parallels with God hardening Pharoah's heart and Pharoah hardening his own heart.
--It's both God's decree and we are free to do what we want--Work out the relationship/contradiction on your own..if possible.
--Why do we not want something to be true...Why do we not want to believe? - because it requires giving up our control?
--The good things in our lives can blind us to the Glory of God.
WHY DO WE NEED HIS LIGHT
--Am I ready to see myself and all my flaws under God's revealing light.
--Human resources can't deal with evil or justice.
--Only if we think the wrongs of this world will be made right will we begin to live in peace.
Monday, September 19, 2016
Sent to Show Christ's Glory
Jesus, Mission, and Glory: New Purpose PART II
Dr. Timothy Keller
18 September 2016
John 12: 27-36
27"Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name!"
Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." 29The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." 33He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
34The crowd spoke up, "We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this 'Son of Man'?"
35Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
WHAT IS THE GLORY OF GOD?
--v.28 It is the history of all existence
--Supreme Importance (Old Test) God matters the most in your life
--Ultimate Beauty (New Test) Beauty that is seen and rejoiced
--Jonathan Edwards-Obey because you want to, not because you have to
--Glad surrender and joyful unconditional obedience.
--Trust Him whether or not you understand it.
--God mattering the most in our lives orders our commitments.
WHERE TO FIND THE GLORY OF GOD?
--Hour of Jesus's death.
--"My soul is troubled" What can scare Jesus? Having love torn away from him
--Is love torn away from us what scares us the most?
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LIVE WITH THE GLORY OF GOD?
--Don't waste your sorrows.
--Glorify God during our sufferings
--Get excited about what he can make of you.
--v36 Believe in the Light
Dr. Timothy Keller
18 September 2016
John 12: 27-36
27"Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name!"
Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." 29The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." 33He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
34The crowd spoke up, "We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this 'Son of Man'?"
35Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
WHAT IS THE GLORY OF GOD?
--v.28 It is the history of all existence
--Supreme Importance (Old Test) God matters the most in your life
--Ultimate Beauty (New Test) Beauty that is seen and rejoiced
--Jonathan Edwards-Obey because you want to, not because you have to
--Glad surrender and joyful unconditional obedience.
--Trust Him whether or not you understand it.
--God mattering the most in our lives orders our commitments.
WHERE TO FIND THE GLORY OF GOD?
--Hour of Jesus's death.
--"My soul is troubled" What can scare Jesus? Having love torn away from him
--Is love torn away from us what scares us the most?
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LIVE WITH THE GLORY OF GOD?
--Don't waste your sorrows.
--Glorify God during our sufferings
--Get excited about what he can make of you.
--v36 Believe in the Light
Sunday, September 18, 2016
Sent to Die and Bring Life
Jesus, Mission, and Glory PART I
Rev Abraham Cho
11 September 2016
John 12: 20-26
20Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21They came to Philip, who was from Bethasaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." 22Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
23Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My father will honor the one who serves me.
UNUSUAL SIGN
--v20-22; non Jews are inquiring which suggests some kind of ethnic divide.
--v.23 The Hour has come (coincides with the coming of non Jews?)
--A visible sign that God was acting to save the world because segregation was being challenged.
SURPRISING DISCLOSURE
--His death was the purpose of his life. (v24-25)
STRANGE INVITATION
--Our life flourishes when we fall to the ground.
--Human flourishing comes in the pursuit of self-denial in service of others.
--Lives of self-giving is the modus operandi of Jesus.
Rev Abraham Cho
11 September 2016
John 12: 20-26
20Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21They came to Philip, who was from Bethasaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." 22Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
23Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My father will honor the one who serves me.
UNUSUAL SIGN
--v20-22; non Jews are inquiring which suggests some kind of ethnic divide.
--v.23 The Hour has come (coincides with the coming of non Jews?)
--A visible sign that God was acting to save the world because segregation was being challenged.
SURPRISING DISCLOSURE
--His death was the purpose of his life. (v24-25)
STRANGE INVITATION
--Our life flourishes when we fall to the ground.
--Human flourishing comes in the pursuit of self-denial in service of others.
--Lives of self-giving is the modus operandi of Jesus.
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Cleansing for the Leper (1)
Faith in an Age of Unbelief: Elijah and Elisha PART VII
Rev. Ed Sirya
16 August 2015
2Kings 5:1-15
1Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king or Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.
2Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman's wife. 3She said to her mistress, "If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy."
4Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. 5"By all means, go, "the king or Aram replied. "I will send a letter to the king of Israel." So Namman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing. 6The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: "With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy."
7As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, "Am I god? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!"
8When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: "Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel." 9So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha's house. 10Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed."
11But Naaman went away angry and said, "I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. 12Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?" So he turned and went off in a rage.
13Naaman's servants went to him and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, 'Wash and be cleansed'!" 14So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.
15Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, "Now I know there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.
PROBLEMS OF NAAMAN
--Successful guy, but still had the physical problem of leprosy.
--Something in our lives will disrupt our plans.
--We need a faithful and humble witness.
--Inspired by a slave girl to get help.
PRIDE OF NAAMAN
--Insulted by river solution.
--Elisha didn't even meet him in person.
--Moral pride by feeling superior to others.
--Remove our competitive element.
--Pride of independence--master of our own lives.
--So self absorbed that we ignore sin an grace--we can settle for less.
SOLUTION FOR NAAMAN
--A new humbled standing before God.
Rev. Ed Sirya
16 August 2015
2Kings 5:1-15
1Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king or Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.
2Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman's wife. 3She said to her mistress, "If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy."
4Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. 5"By all means, go, "the king or Aram replied. "I will send a letter to the king of Israel." So Namman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing. 6The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: "With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy."
7As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, "Am I god? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!"
8When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: "Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel." 9So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha's house. 10Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed."
11But Naaman went away angry and said, "I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. 12Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?" So he turned and went off in a rage.
13Naaman's servants went to him and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, 'Wash and be cleansed'!" 14So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.
15Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, "Now I know there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.
PROBLEMS OF NAAMAN
--Successful guy, but still had the physical problem of leprosy.
--Something in our lives will disrupt our plans.
--We need a faithful and humble witness.
--Inspired by a slave girl to get help.
PRIDE OF NAAMAN
--Insulted by river solution.
--Elisha didn't even meet him in person.
--Moral pride by feeling superior to others.
--Remove our competitive element.
--Pride of independence--master of our own lives.
--So self absorbed that we ignore sin an grace--we can settle for less.
SOLUTION FOR NAAMAN
--A new humbled standing before God.
Life for the Dead
Faith in an Age of Unbelief: Elijah and Elisha PART VI
09 August 2015
Rev. John Lin
2Kings4: 27-37
27When she reached the man of God at the mountain, she took hold of his feet. Gehazi came over to push her away, but the man of God said, "Leave her alone! She is in bitter distress, but the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me why."
28"Did I ask you for a son, my lord?" she said. "Didn't I tell you, 'Don't raise my hopes'?"
29Elisha siad to Gehazi, 'Tuck your cloak into your belt, take my staff in your hand and run. Don't greet anyone you meet, and if anyone greets you, do not answer. Lay my staff on the boy's face."
30But the child's mother said, "As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you." So he got up and followed her.
31Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the boy's face, but there was no sound or response. So Gehazi went back to meet Elisha and told him, "The boy has not awakened."
32When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his couch. 33He went in, shut the door on the two of them and prayed to the Lord. 34Then he got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. As he stretched himself out on him, the boy's body grew warm. 35Elisha turned away and walked back and forth in the room and then he got on the bed and stretched out on him once more. They boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.
36Elsiha summoned Gehazi and said, "Call the Shunammite." And he did. When she came, he said, "Take your son." 37She came in, fell at his feet and bowed to the ground. Then she took her son and went out.
TO WHOM RESURRECTION COMES
--Gift to the mother.
--Hebrews 11 talks about women receiving the dead coming back to them.
--Gift of resurrection throughout the Old and New Testaments are received by women first.
--God works on behalf of the outsiders, on behalf of the people on the margins.
--Outsiders get the gospels first.
--It's not about our might, but by God's power.
--Evidence of the kindness of God.
HOW THE RESURRECTION COMES
--Elisha identifies with the boy by covering him.
--Takes on the same posture of the boy (becomes vulnerable)
--Jesus heals us from the judgement we deserve so we can be safe.
--Boy takes on Elisha's life (boy's bod grows warm)
--Jesus takes on our punishment, so we take on his righteousness.
--It comes by grace, not by us proving ourselves to God.
--Hiding ourselves in the one who is the true beauty to God.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN RESURRECTION COMES
--v.30 She becomes free from the need to define herself by the presence of an heir in her son.
--That's why she stays behind with Elisha instead of going to her son.
--If we make anything besides God the center of our life, it will be utterly useless to us.
--By not loving her son more than anything, her son came alive physically and came alive to her.
--Her son was no longer a means of cultural acceptance.
--Jesus became the true resurrected son she always needed.
09 August 2015
Rev. John Lin
2Kings4: 27-37
27When she reached the man of God at the mountain, she took hold of his feet. Gehazi came over to push her away, but the man of God said, "Leave her alone! She is in bitter distress, but the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me why."
28"Did I ask you for a son, my lord?" she said. "Didn't I tell you, 'Don't raise my hopes'?"
29Elisha siad to Gehazi, 'Tuck your cloak into your belt, take my staff in your hand and run. Don't greet anyone you meet, and if anyone greets you, do not answer. Lay my staff on the boy's face."
30But the child's mother said, "As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you." So he got up and followed her.
31Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the boy's face, but there was no sound or response. So Gehazi went back to meet Elisha and told him, "The boy has not awakened."
32When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his couch. 33He went in, shut the door on the two of them and prayed to the Lord. 34Then he got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. As he stretched himself out on him, the boy's body grew warm. 35Elisha turned away and walked back and forth in the room and then he got on the bed and stretched out on him once more. They boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.
36Elsiha summoned Gehazi and said, "Call the Shunammite." And he did. When she came, he said, "Take your son." 37She came in, fell at his feet and bowed to the ground. Then she took her son and went out.
TO WHOM RESURRECTION COMES
--Gift to the mother.
--Hebrews 11 talks about women receiving the dead coming back to them.
--Gift of resurrection throughout the Old and New Testaments are received by women first.
--God works on behalf of the outsiders, on behalf of the people on the margins.
--Outsiders get the gospels first.
--It's not about our might, but by God's power.
--Evidence of the kindness of God.
HOW THE RESURRECTION COMES
--Elisha identifies with the boy by covering him.
--Takes on the same posture of the boy (becomes vulnerable)
--Jesus heals us from the judgement we deserve so we can be safe.
--Boy takes on Elisha's life (boy's bod grows warm)
--Jesus takes on our punishment, so we take on his righteousness.
--It comes by grace, not by us proving ourselves to God.
--Hiding ourselves in the one who is the true beauty to God.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN RESURRECTION COMES
--v.30 She becomes free from the need to define herself by the presence of an heir in her son.
--That's why she stays behind with Elisha instead of going to her son.
--If we make anything besides God the center of our life, it will be utterly useless to us.
--By not loving her son more than anything, her son came alive physically and came alive to her.
--Her son was no longer a means of cultural acceptance.
--Jesus became the true resurrected son she always needed.
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