“The love of Christ in its sweetness, its fullness, its greatness, its faithfulness, passes all human comprehension. Where can language be found that describes His matchless, His unparalleled love towards the children of men? It is so vast and boundless that, as the swallow skims the water, and dives not into its depths, so all descriptive words but touch the surface, while depths immeasurable lie beneath. Well might the poet say, “O love, thou fathomless abyss!” for this love of Christ is indeed measureless and fathomless; none can attain unto it. Before we can have any right idea of the love of Jesus, we must understand His previous glory in its height of majesty, and His incarnation on the earth in all its depths of shame. But who can tell us the majesty of Christ? When He was enthroned in the highest heavens He was very God of very God; by Him were the heavens made, and all the hosts thereof. His own almighty arm upheld the spheres, the praises of cherubim and seraphim perpetually surrounded Him: the full chorus of the hallelujahs of the universe unceasingly flowed to the foot of his throne: He reigned supreme above all His creatures, God over all, blessed forever. Who can tell His height of glory then? And who, on the other hand, can tell how low He descended? To be a man was something, to be a man of sorrows was far more. To bleed, and die, and suffer, these were much for Him who was the Son of God; but to suffer such unparalleled agony – to endure a death of shame and desertion by His Father, this is a depth of condescending love which the most inspired mind utterly fails to fathom. Herein is love! Truly it is love that “passes knowledge.” O let this love fill our hearts with adoring gratitude, and lead us to practical manifestations of its POWER.From Morning and Evening – Charles H. Spurgeon
This week our Enewsletter’s sermon profile has been expanded from one message to four! This Sunday, April 1, we will begin to examine another principle characteristic of the transformed life – POWER. (We’ve already looked at Love, Hope, and Forgiveness.)
In physics, power is the rate at which energy is transferred, used, or transformed. Therefore, the rate at which electrical energy is transformed into heat and light in a light bulb, for instance, can be measured as “wattage.”
But this is only one definition of power. In the social dimension, power is defined as an entity’s ability to control its environment, including the behaviors of others. In the gym, power is defined as one’s ability to move specific weights or applied pressures. The term power is widely used in everyday human experience.
But what does power or dunamis mean in the spiritual realm? And how does that power manifest itself in a life that is being transformed by the supernatural energy of God?
Well, beginning this Sunday, Palm Sunday, we will begin our examination in the familiar Lucan text: Luke 19:28-40 where the “good doctor” gives us his own take on Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem.
On Thursday night, April 5, we will gather in the Barclay at 7:00 pm for a Maundy Thursday Service of worship. Maundy is from the Latin, mandatum meaning “mandate.” What is this mandate that we are to recall? It’s found in John 13 where on the night of His betrayal before taking up the bread and the wine, Jesus knelt to wash His disciples’ feet. And when He got back up He said, “I have set before you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” His mandate is that we do for others what He has done for us. So how are we to do that? What’s that mean? Our focus this night is on the contrast between the dinner event in John 12 and the dinner event in John 13. Here we will see some powerful lessons found around the table.
On Friday night, April 6, at 7:30 pm we will gather in the Sanctuary for a Tenebrae Service. Tenebrae is Latin for extinguishing of light. In this service we will hear the story of the events of Jesus’ crucifixion in word and song with the intermittent extinguishing of lights. This is a vivid and somber service of worship during which time we will particularly focus on Luke 22:54-62 and Peter’s lack of power in denying Jesus three times.
Then on Easter Sunday morning, April 8, we will gather at our regular Sunday morning times to focus on the Power of the Resurrection by examining Luke 24:13-35 – the Emmaus Road experience.
In each of these services our focus will be on the kind of supernatural power that becomes visible in a life that is being transformed by the Holy Spirit. What is abundantly clear from each of these texts is that the power that God bestows on us through the finished work of Christ is 180 degrees from the power the world recognizes and craves. As with every attribute of the transformed life, what God does as He transforms a redeemed life is to turn on its head everything our culture tells us to be and to do. In fact, it’s almost axiomatic that everything “they” tell us to be and to do is false and binding.
Years ago a man I love told me that to be a fruitful Christian one must be FAT – Faithful, Available, and Teachable. The longer I live the truer those words become, especially when it comes to familiar texts like the ones we will be examining next week. My prayer for all of us this Holy Week is that we would be FAT!
Here are some questions you may wish to consider in preparing your mind and heart for Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday Tenebrae, and Easter.
Palm Sunday: Luke 19:28-40 - “Power of the King”
1. What do you know of Henri Nouwen?
2. When you consider Jesus’ questions in Matthew 16:13 and John 18:34, how
important is a proper understanding of one’s identity to Jesus?
3. Why does Luke preface his presentation of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem
with Jesus’ parable of the talents?
4. What connection can you find between Jesus’ words in Luke 19:11-27 and
Jesus’ deeds in verses 28-40?
5. What is the meaning of Bethphage and Bethany? What relationship is there
between these two meanings and Jesus’ ride?
6. What did horses and donkeys symbolize in Jesus’ day?
7. Why does Jesus send two disciples to borrow the colt?
8. What is to be learned from David’s words in Psalm 20:7? What is the
application to Palm Sunday?
9. Why is there no “Hosanna” in Luke’s account? What does Luke’s alternative
account tell us about the crowd’s focus?
10. How does Jesus’ entrance into the city correspond to His words in Matthew
16:19 and 18:18?
11. What does Jesus mean when He responds in verse 40? Do you really think
stones could cry out?
12. Connect Hebrews 12:2 to this account.
13. What will be the evidence in our lives that the power of the King is
controlling us?
Maundy Thursday: John 12:1-7 and John 13:1-17 - “Lessons from Dinner”
1. Where does this dinner occur?
2. What is the meaning of Mary’s anointing of Jesus?
3. How does His burial (12:7) warrant such extravagance?
4. Who were anointed in the Old Testament?
5. Why does Mary focus on Jesus’ feet?
6. What is the difference between what Mary does at Bethany and Jesus does in
the upper room?
7. What 3 “substances” does Jesus apply to every believer? What do each mean?
8. What does Jesus mean in verse 10?
9. How does verse 10 relate to what He says in verse 14?
10. How can we say that what happens in John 12 and 13 is all about
forgiveness? How important is the subject of forgiveness to John, Jesus,
and you?
Good Friday: Luke 22:54-62 - “Tenebrae Service”
1. How does this incident relate to Jesus’ warning in 22:31-32? Notice how
Jesus addressed him.
2. Can you think of any other Satanic prayers (requests) in Scripture (22:31)?
3. To whom is Satan addressing himself?
4. Where does Jesus issue the warning? What is the context?
5. Do you find any relationship between Luke 22:32 and Luke 22:61(a)?
6. What is the relevance of the fire?
7. What prevents Peter from acting on Jesus’ prayer for him?
8. What can be learned from contrasting Jesus and Peter in the midst of their
temptations?
9. What do you make of Luke’s reference to the “Lord” in verse 61?
10. Christ looked upon the chief priests and it made no impression on them. But
when He looks on Peter He’s melted into bitter tears. Why?
Easter: Luke 24:13-35 - “The Power of the Resurrection”
1. How does the meaning of Emmaus relate to the essence of this incident?
2. Why do you suppose these two are walking away from Jerusalem?
3. What do you make of Jesus’ move toward them?
4. What other biblical references can you find where God does the seeking?
5. Why does Jesus ask questions rather than give answers?
6. What are we to learn about these two men from verse 19-21?
7. What does their testimony in verses 22-24 tell us about the strength of
miraculous evidence to convince the fearful heart?
8. What is Jesus’ remedy for unbelief?
9. Where does the power reside in changing lives?
10. What does this post-resurrection account tell us about the power of the
transformed life?
Holy Week at Hebron promises to be gripping. Please make every effort to find time to worship with us. The power of God’s word to transform is nowhere stronger than in this final week of Jesus’ earthly ministry.
See you then!
