Christianity - Central Baptist Church, Okinawa

Sun, 10th May 09 by admin

John 13:1-11

The first verse of chapter thirteen is an introduction to everything
that comes after it in the Gospel of John. Having loved his own in
the world from before the beginning of time, he was prepared to do
what was necessary for them to be saved. His “hour” had come, and he
was preparing to face his death and resurrection, which would lead to
the many people being reconciled with God. This verse reminds us of
the greatness of God’s love for us.

As a counterpoint to this great love, John tells us that Judas was
already busy on his plot to kill Jesus. The Devil had put this desire
into his heart, and he was delighted to obey Satan’s commands. Even
though Jesus’ murder was a result of Satan’s evil, John is quick to
remind us that it fits into God’s plan. Jesus is not a helpless
victim, but has all things in his hands (John 13:3).

Jesus then prepared his disciples to understand the love that drove
him to the cross by demonstrating that love by washing their feet.
Though he was the Lord of all, he performed a task normally reserved
for the lowest slave. This footwashing serves to illustrate what
Jesus does for his people at the cross. The Almighty Son of God
humbled himself by putting on flesh and dying for us (Phil. 2:6-7).
We are cleansed from our sins by relying on Christ, and this cleansing
results in us continually relying on Christ for the rest of our lives.

Sun, 3rd May 09 by admin

2 Kings

The nation of Israel was in desperate need of spiritual revitalization. They needed vital worship, a much deeper relationship
with the one, true God, and lives that would reflect God’s glory. Many of them had turned their backs on God and had indulged themselves in idol worship. They had problems that could not be cured with any earthly remedy. The only thing that they had going for them was that they had a good king, one of the only good kings in Israel’s history.

One day, while the temple was being repaired, someone found an old, dusty book that had been put away and forgotten years before. It was the Bible. The king was curious about the book, since neither he nor anyone for years had seen it. King Josiah had the Bible read to him, and he was absolutely horrified. There were so many things that God had commanded Israel to do that they had not done for years and years. King Josiah knew that his country deserved to be destroyed, but he hoped that God would have mercy on them.

King Josiah began to lead the country towards godliness. He began by leading the people to recommit themselves to the God of the Bible. King Josiah said he would “keep [God’s] commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul” (2 Kings 23:3), and the people agreed to do the same.

King Josiah then did all that he could to destroy evil practices in the land, according to the Bible. He removed the pagan vessels from God’s temple, he got rid of the pagan clergy and the fortune tellers, and he destroyed the idols, male prostitute’s apartments, the pagan altars, Jeroboam’s pagan worship center, and the place of child sacrifice.

Though Josiah was a son of the great King David and a very good king, he could not bring lasting reform to Israel. Some years later, God’s judgment fell on them. Later, another son of David would come, and he would be a far better king than Josiah, setting his people free from their slavery to sin.

Sun, 26th Apr 09 by admin

John chapter 12 verses 36 to 50

Jesus completes his public ministry in this passage. From this point on, he will speak with the disciples and before judges, but his preaching ministry has ended. Remarkably, almost none of the Jews have followed after their own Messiah. They had seen the miracles he did and they had heard his words. They had all of the information that they needed to understand that he was the long-awaited Messiah. Yet, the nation prepared to receive Jesus rejected him.

Jesus wants his disciples to understand that the Jew’s rejection of their Messiah is not a failure in God’s plan for the world, even though it might seem to be a failure at first glance. Time and time again, Israel has failed to listen to the prophets that have been sent to it, and their present disbelieve is simultaneously their own decision and also God’s judgment upon them.

Jesus concludes his public ministry with one, last appeal to believe. He has seen that they are more worried about what men will think of them than they are about the things of God, and so he warns them that the words that they were hearing him speak that day would be evidence used against them in the final judgment.

Sun, 12th Apr 09 by admin

Matthew Chapter 28

The cross was the greatest humiliation of Christ, but it was also the
beginning of his exaltation. He stood in the place of sinners and
endured the wrath of God on their behalf. At the cross, Christ
achieved victory over Satan, death, and Hell. By the cross, he will
draw all men to himself.

Jesus’ resurrection from the dead affirms to us that Jesus has
completed his earthly work of redemption and that he is indeed
glorious. He took all of our sins upon himself, and he paid the full
penalty for those sins. Thus, it would have been be unfair for the
grave to hold him forever. When he was raised from the dead, he was
glorified by God for having completed his work, and so we are assured
that our ransom has been paid.

It was appropriate, then, that Jesus’ glorious resurrection from the
dead was accompanied by glorious signs. A great earthquake and
angelic messengers struck fear into the hearts of the guards and
ultimately brought comfort to Jesus’ followers.

The angels told the women “He is not here, he has risen,” and then
told them to go look at the place where Jesus lay. This served to
confirm to them that Jesus was indeed alive. Christians in all ages
should take comfort in the empty tomb, for just as Jesus was raised,
so shall those who believe in him be raised.

The angel assigned these women with an important task. They were to
go and tell Jesus’ “brothers” in Galilee of the Gentiles that Jesus
has risen. Those who were once despised and outcast are brought into
the family of God, and are to report this good news to all men.
Through reporting the glory of the resurrection, Christ is glorified
and God’s name is made great.

John 13:1-11

2 Kings

John chapter 12 verses 36 to 50

Matthew Chapter 28

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