A Holy Week message: the Blood of Jesus is sufficient

PRAYER:  Lord renew thy church beginning with me;
Lord renew the church that the church may renew the nation(s)

Quote: I read my Bible to see what men ought to do, and read the newspapers to see what men are doing.


MESSAGE:

The big news this week was President Obama's first official visit to Israel, where he again impressed upon both sides, the Jews and the Palestinians, the need for a fresh start to peace negotiations. This is a region where hardliners have ruled for many years thus sniffling any move towards  meaningful talks about peace.

Also in the news was the " haircut" demanded by the European Union as precondition for bailing out Cypriot banks. And this reduction, not in interest but in bank deposits held by locals and foreigner provoked a storm of protest and an overwhelming vote by the Parliament against such " madness". We are left to wonder what would have happened in Jamaica if the IMF had required a " haircut" in bondholders principal as was once rumored.

The situation in Syria continues be worrying as President Assad's forces continue to do battle with Syrian freedom fighters, resulting in much privation and death in that country.

Then just this morning in Jamaica, the headlines in one daily newspapers raised the issue of societal approval for the distribution of condoms to school children, as a result of the number of them in some areas who were becoming parents in school.

But trumping all other news locally and internationally, is the fact that today, Palm Sunday, marks the beginning of Holy Week, the most solemn period in the Christian calender  of events. A time when upwards of 2 Billion people across the globe, take time out to remember the Passion of Jesus Christ, culminating in Good Friday observances, the weekend vigil,  and then the glorious Easter Sunday. Thus heralding a time of celebrations, especially for those who had observed the discipline of a holy Lent.

What then did the Lord reveal as the world contemplated all these things?First a continuing word to a journalist, assorted leaders in different spheres of national life, and others in that profession, to whom the Lord has led me to write in recent times. The trigger for that message, is interesting as it marks the re-emergence in the Public Domain of one of our former Prime Ministers.

THE E -MAIL

I listened to former PM Bruce Golding on radio last evening, using one of the most famous quotes of all times to make a point at the start of his speech. " This is not the end. This is not even the beginning of the end, but just the end of the beginning" - Sir Winston Churchill. And whilst the former PM of Great Britain was focused on  a critical phase in the war against the evil Third Reich of Adolph Hitler during WW 11, our former PM had his eyes on the IMF negotiations and the implications for growth in the Jamaican economy - at a  critical phase in our nation's development.

This morning as I prepared for my devotions, I " heard the Lord" saying that there is an even more famous quote for a nation and indeed the world to consider, as we prepare for Passion Week starting tomorrow - the re-enactment of THE most critical phase in God's plan to rescue mankind from evil. The gospel of John records that, after Jesus had uttered another famous Word on the Cross, " I am thirsty", and having received  the bitter wine offered to him, " Jesus said, 'It is finished'."  John 19:30  NIV.

Done! All done. Never again to be repeated. Not the beginning of the end of the fight against all evil and the Sin which had kept all mankind captive for so long, but the very end. A done deal. Praise God indeed.

Then as I " listened to the Lord, I was led to these  words, quotes from  the Prophet Isaiah through whom God foretold the coming of the " salvation" of Israel and and indeed all mankind.

" Awake, awake!

Rise up, O Jerusalem,

you who have drunk from the hand of the Lord

the cup of his wrath,

you who have drained it to its dregs

the goblet that makes men stagger...........

Therefore hear this, you afflicted one,

made drunk, but not with wine.

This is what  your Sovereign Lord says,

your God,  who defends his people:

' See, I have taken out of your hand

the cup that that makes you stagger;

from that cup, the goblet of my wrath,

you will never drink again.....

Surely he took our infirmities

and carried our sorrows,

yet we considered him stricken by God,

smitten by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for  our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was upon him

and by his wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep have gone astray,

each of us has turned to his own way;

and the Lord has laid on him

the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 51:17-53:6 NIV.

My friend, as you are provided an opportunity to take a break from reporting on the politics you love with such a passion ( small p),  and contemplate the Passion of our Lord;  the fact that, for all of us " who have turned to our own way", and thoroughly deserve to drink the cup of the wrath of a holy God, Jesus has taken away that cup for us. And so by his stripes we are healed. So that promise to the whole world declared from yesteryear through Isaiah, was fulfilled on that first Good Friday over 2000 years ago. All we have to do is believe and accept this free gift of salvation. I pray that you will give some thought to this " correct faith" during the week ahead.

Peace.

LWJ

cc  Bruce Golding

And then for quite a while  yesterday I was ' singing'  words I 'heard',  and then listened on YouTube......Take up your cross and follow Jesus......don't be afraid to say that you know him.

Sent from my iPad

Comment: The most profound gift that the Christian church offers the world is that, no matter what challenges confront us, whether in the Middle East, in Europe, in the USA,  or in Jamaica; whether it be a moral issue, an economic issue or a political one, in terms of access to the Almighty God, and His desire that all mankind who He created, should follow His will, all issues have been resolved on the Cross of Calvary. It's all done. And all that we are required to do is to believe on His Son and our lives will be filled with an assurance of peace, and a promise of deliverance,  even when we are confronted by many and varied challenges

For a couple of weeks now  I have been led to read, reflect on and pray according to the words of one of the most wonderful hymns in all of Christendom. It's a hymn we use in the Anglican church as we prepare for, or whilst partaking of the Blessed Sacrament of Holy Communion. And  I just read in Bonhoeffer's The Cost of Discipleship, that The Apostles teaching which guides the church, places a high priority on a) Preaching the Word, and  b) Participating in the two great sacraments of the church - Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. As we read the words of the hymn below and reflect on them, note carefully the basis on which all believing prayers ascend right up to throne of heaven - the one true pure immortal sacrifice. Noe carefully also the reason why we can approach a holy God - only by the Blood of Christ. Note also that the recollection of the events of Good Friday and the that of Easter Sunday form the only basis on which we can carry, not just our friends, but equally so those who persecute us, into the presence of God. Note also, that it is the participation in this sacrifice of God why we can be delivered from every touch of ill, and every stain of sin. Praise God.

AND NOW , O FATHER, MINDFUL OF THE LOVE
THAT BROUGHT US, ONCE FOR ALL, ON CALVARY'S TREE,
AND HAVING WITH US HIM THAT PLEADS ABOVE,
WE HERE PRESENT, WE HERE SPREAD FORTH TO THEE
THAT ONLY OFFERING PERFECT IN THINE EYES
THE ONE TRUE, PURE, IMMORTAL SACRIFICE.

LOOK, FATHER, LOOK ON HIS ANOINTED FACE,
AND ONLY LOOK ON US AS FOUND IN HIM;
LOOK NOT ON OUR MISUSING OF THY GRACE,
OUR PRAYER SO LANGUID, AND OUR FAITH SO DIM;
FOR LO! BETWEEN OUR SINS AND THEIR REWARD
WE SET THE PASSION OF THY SON OUR LORD.

AND THEN FOR THOSE, OUR DEAREST AND OUR BEST,
BY THIS PREVAILING PRESENCE WE APPEAL;
O FOLD THEM CLOSER TO THY MERCY'S BREAST,
O DO THINE UTMOST FOR THEIR SOUL'S TRUE WEAL;
FROM TAINTING MISCHIEF KEEP THEM WHITE AND  CLEAR,
AND CROWN THY GIFTS WITH STRENGTH TO PERSEVERE.

AND SO WE COME; O DRAW US TO THY FEET, 
MOST PATIENT SAVIOUR, WHO CANST LOVE US STILL;
AND BY THIS FOOD, SO AWEFUL AND SO SWEET,
DELIVER US FROM EVERY TOUCH OF ILL:
IN THINE OWN SERVICE MAKE US GLAD AND FREE,
AND GRANT US NEVER MORE TO PART FROM THEE.

Finally, a few weeks ago whilst reflecting on this very hymn, it triggered a message from the Lord, this time to leaders in my church. A message which goes deep down into the soul and culture of our people, and which practice we could do well to emulate.

THE E-MAIL

The poor and the destitute in this land, use the term " placing everything  under the Blood ( of Jesus)", as their way of saying that they trust completely in the Crucified One for all their needs.  As I was reminded in my office yesterday. We Anglicans may not speak like that, or pray like that,  but whenever we celebrate the blessed Sacrament, as the hymn writer says, " And then for our dearest and our best, by this prevailing presence we appeal", by this Blessed Sacrament we can appeal to God for mercy. And by no other means.

This morning as I read one the passages of Scripture which has touched my heart, time and time again every time I am led there, and then reflected on the words of the hymn below, I was moved to place all those who are " under my tent" the entire world, " under the Blood of Jesus". I pray God that we will all be touched by the Word and " beyond the sacred word' as Bishop Daniel often says. And leave languid prayers and dim faith behind as we appeal by " The Blood of Christ" to God Almighty for ourselves, our dearest and our best, our church and our embattled nation

" But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord., for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through Christ - the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his suffering, becoming like him in his death, and so somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Philippians 3: 7-11. NIV

Amen.