2014.5.4 礼拝

2014.5.4 礼拝

Children’s Message: Do you know the word, “Religion”?
When Japanese were asked the three main religions of the world what do you think they answered?
Christianity
Islam
Buddhism
How many believers are there in the world?
Christianity 1st (33.4%). Islam 2nd (22.2% )but Buddhism (5.7%) is actually 6th on the list.
Although you may feel like you are in the minority in Japan as a Christian, in the world there are many Christians. Be encouraged.
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John 7: 43 So there was a division among the people over him. 44 Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. 45 The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” 46 The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!” 47 The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? 48 Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” 50 Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, 51 “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” 52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”
In Japan, Buddhism is prevalent. It came from India but in India it is only 0.8%.
As adults living in Japan we should be conscious of what we believe, our worldview, etc.
Today’s scripture passage is about who Jesus was/is.
Some said he was a prophet, some said just a man and some said He was the Christ.
If He was a Prophet?
In the Bible a prophet was one entrusted with the word from The Lord. Not so much about telling the future.
Christ Came to Fulfill the Law
Matthew 5: 17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
The Lord’s Eternal Covenant with David
Jerimiah 33: 14 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: The Lord is our righteousness.’
The people of that time knew if He really was a prophet they needed to obey what He said.
PEOPLE DENIED THAT JESUS WAS A PROPHET
The religious leaders of the day did not want to recognize Jesus as a prophet.
Acts 7: 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered,
What Stephen had to say about Jesus being a prophet/the Prophet.
It is very important what you believe and who you believe in.
Some folks don’t believe in Jesus simply from their emotions. They haven’t thought it through but they are sure Jesus is not the one.
Apologetics hint: When people come at you with doubts about Jesus take them to the evidence of a great creator in the universe.
We see how others reacted to Jesus in the Bible but how will you react to Him?
1. The meaning of Jesus being the Christ – Invitation to follow
Matt 11: 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
In Tokyo the default setting is that everyone is tired and weary. Jesus gives an invitation to take weariness. With this He also gives the invitation to take His yoke upon you. The two invitations go together.
We don’t know the extent of the faith of Christians around the world but 1 in 3 people in the world have at least given assent to following Christ.
We need to have the full obedience to following Christ. To be a Christian is to accept Christ as the Prophet and the Christ. It is to also to follow Him.
A dog is much more calm with the leash on than off but doesn’t need it to choke or pull. If the dog feels the leash he recognizes that he is connected with the owner and feels secure.
In the same way there is peace and joy to be found in being tied to Christ (take my Yoke).
The people of the Bible didn’t want to follow Christ but can.