Recently, I met a very distinguished CEO whom I have known during my course of work four years ago. Among other things, he related to me how Jesus came into his heart, and what happened in his life, his home and his family. It was a very delightful conversation which this CEO ended with - Jesus came.
Jesus came - it did not cause a stir in my heart until I heard Rev Lenita Tiong preached "The journey to the Cross" this morning. Rev Lenita's message was meant to prepare Wesleyans (members of Wesley Methodist Church, Sibu) for the Holy Week. Today is the first Sunday in Lent. Tied in the message were thoughts for Wesleyans as they installed their new EXCO members in the evening service.
This is not a summary of Rev Lenita's sermon. Hers is just too profound to share with my limitations. It will not do her sermon justice. These are thoughts running through a Wesleyan's (yes, I am) little mind while listening, following through the Scripture lesson (Mark 1:9-15) and scribbling notes while she preached.
The thoughts of the changed life of this CEO and the ministry of John the Baptist zeroed in on our need for repentance. The repentance is the place where God meets men. A change of mind, a different way of thinking about ourselves, an acknowledgment of guilt and our need for God.
Does it not begin with Jesus Came?
I noted "Jesus came" occurs twice in our Scripture lesson. In Verse 9: "In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee..." In Verse 14: "Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee..."
Jesus came and He was baptized. Why was Jesus baptized? Even John the Baptist who baptized him says of him, "You don't need to be baptized. Why are you coming to me?" There was nothing in Jesus' life that John had seen which required repentance and confession of sins.
Rev Lenita settled many asking minds. Jesus being baptized was an act of identification. He was associating himself with us. He became what we are.
He humbled Himself!
I remember again the words of this CEO that he was taught that corporate life was lived by the survival of the fittest . "Fight your way to the top, pull others down to achieve what you want."
But when Jesus came into his life - he learned of humbleness and humility.
In Rev Lenita's own words -
May we begin the lessons of humanity, emptying and humbling!
Jesus came - it did not cause a stir in my heart until I heard Rev Lenita Tiong preached "The journey to the Cross" this morning. Rev Lenita's message was meant to prepare Wesleyans (members of Wesley Methodist Church, Sibu) for the Holy Week. Today is the first Sunday in Lent. Tied in the message were thoughts for Wesleyans as they installed their new EXCO members in the evening service.
This is not a summary of Rev Lenita's sermon. Hers is just too profound to share with my limitations. It will not do her sermon justice. These are thoughts running through a Wesleyan's (yes, I am) little mind while listening, following through the Scripture lesson (Mark 1:9-15) and scribbling notes while she preached.
The thoughts of the changed life of this CEO and the ministry of John the Baptist zeroed in on our need for repentance. The repentance is the place where God meets men. A change of mind, a different way of thinking about ourselves, an acknowledgment of guilt and our need for God.
Does it not begin with Jesus Came?
I noted "Jesus came" occurs twice in our Scripture lesson. In Verse 9: "In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee..." In Verse 14: "Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee..."
Jesus came and He was baptized. Why was Jesus baptized? Even John the Baptist who baptized him says of him, "You don't need to be baptized. Why are you coming to me?" There was nothing in Jesus' life that John had seen which required repentance and confession of sins.
Rev Lenita settled many asking minds. Jesus being baptized was an act of identification. He was associating himself with us. He became what we are.
He humbled Himself!
I remember again the words of this CEO that he was taught that corporate life was lived by the survival of the fittest . "Fight your way to the top, pull others down to achieve what you want."
But when Jesus came into his life - he learned of humbleness and humility.
In Rev Lenita's own words -
May we begin the lessons of humanity, emptying and humbling!
5 comments:
Hey, thanks for sharing this, the humbling no one knows better than Jesus himself.
bp,
Yes, He did that all for us!
Have a blessed Lent Season.
"The repentance is the place where God meets men".. yes I can vouch for that. Thanks for a nice post.
Joe,
Glad to have you dropping by - it means you are keeping well!
Keep well and keep holy.
I met Rev Lenita on Sunday too. I like the way she delivered her message. Short, concise and to the point. Perhaps it was due to the election of the office bearers. One point struck me though, how it will not be easy to lead a Christian life and how thankless it can be sometimes
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