March 18, 2018

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for March 18th: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Psalm 51:1-12; Hebrews 5:5-10; John 12:20-33 Theme: 5th Sunday of Lent Jeremiah: The prophet Jeremiah is speaking these words to a people who have been disconnected and taken away. They don’t understand why this is happening to them. And Jeremiah is saying that it has to do with their relationship with God. They had become lax in their covenant. The hope in their situation comes from the fact that God will have a new covenant with them. God will forget their former sin and love them in grace. They won’t have to worry about knowing the rules, because the rules will be written on their heart. It will affect how they live and how they relate to God. Jesus Christ is our new covenant with God. John: The ministry of Jesus lasts for 3 years in the book of John. This passage talks about the final time that Jesus has come to Jerusalem for the Passover. As he has come to town, so has other Jews from Greece. They want to talk and to learn from Jesus. Jesus tells them that this is his last time in Jerusalem. Now is the time for his destiny to be fulfilled. As he teaches, they hear a voice from heaven saying that Jesus will be glorified and everything that he is saying will make sense. Jesus says that when that happens , people will come forward and give their life to Christ. Jesus uses these words to prepare his followers for the events of Holy Week. Questions: How are the laws of God written on your heart? How is your relationship with God? Is there something that needs to change and be renewed? What do you do that lifts of the name of Jesus for others? You can view Breaking Open the Scripture online at https://breakingopenthescriptures.blogspot.comYou can view Pastor Harriette’s sermons online at https://aplaceforshalom.blogspot.com

March 11, 2017

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for March 11th: Numbers 21:4-9;Psalm 107:1-3,17-22; Ephesians 2:1-10; John 3:14-21; Theme: 4th Sunday of Lent John: John 3:16 is one of the most noted scriptures in the bible – God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, so that all who believe in him may be saved. This verse is in the context of a conversation that Jesus is having with Nicodemus. Nicodemus wants to learn from Jesus, but he does not want anyone to know, so he comes to him in the middle of the night. Nicodemus wants to know what he must do to be saved. Jesus explains that salvation is an act of God. It is contained in Jesus dying on a cross for all of us while we were yet sinners. Jesus tells of the significance of the cross. That he would be lifted up for all people to see, and to eventually understand what the act of salvation means for the world. We no longer need to walk in darkness, because the light has come to our world. Numbers: The people have been sinners, so they believe that God sent snakes into the world to destroy them. They have come to Moses to ask about a cure, what can they do to get back into God’s good graces. Moses tells them to get a poisonous snake and put it on a pole. To this very day, this is the symbol of medical treatment – a snake on a pole. The gospel of John also picks up this symbol for Jesus dying on the cross. Jesus too needed to be lifted up for the people to see a cure. A cure to all of the craziness in the world and the way it affects us. God always provides a way out . We just have to look up in order to see it. We have to want to do something different, before we can see God’s cure for the world. It is not a snake, but Jesus Christ who died on a cross. Anyone who believes that will be saved from the destruction of this world. Questions: What does the cross mean to you and your faith journey? How do you lift Jesus up for others to see his love for them? What is it today that the world prays for a cure for? What cure is God providing for sin in the world?