2^nd SUNDAY OF EASTER-B

I Reading: Acts 4:32-35: United, heart and soul.

II Reading: 1John 5:1-6: Anyone who has been begotten by God has already overcome the world.

Gospel: John 20:19-31: Eight days later, Jesus came.

The Great Character of the Church-Jesus Appears to the Disciples,

John 20:19-23

The first reading talks about the first Christian community’s unity, fellowship, worship and sharing of goods among the poor and needy in Jerusalem.

The second reading explains about God’s love, the nature of Christian’s love and its working and victory in the world as the children of God.

In the Gospel reading, the Risen Christ breaths on his disciples and gives his Peace for the whole range of spiritual well-being as God breathed on the world at its creation.  They received their commission with priestly authority to forgive and to retain sins.

This was the first appearance of Jesus to His disciples as a group after His resurrection. What would His talk and conversation about? John focuses upon the subjects and topics discussed when Jesus first appeared to the disciples.

1.    The disciples were hiding in fear (v.19)

a.    Was the same day: at night

b.    Discussed reports

c.     Jesus appeared suddenly

2.    Subject 1: The risen Lord-His presence was very real (v.19-20)

a.    His message: Peace

b.    His wounds: Evidence

c.     His effect: Unbelievable joy and gladness when they saw Him

3.    Subject 2: The Great Commission (v.21)

4.    Subject 3: The Holy Spirit (v.22-23)

a.    The endowment or the giving of the Spirit

b.    The authority

 

The Great Conviction-Thomas’ Confession, John 20:24-29

This is an excellent study on conviction and confession. It is the great conviction and confession of Thomas.

1.    Thomas’ frustrated reactionary spirit (v.24-25)

a.    The disciples testified; Thomas argued

b.    The reason: Guilt-he had forsaken and withdrawn from them

2.    Thomas’ false picture of Jesus (v.25-26).

a.    He was just an earthly deliverer

b.    He was now dead

c.     Result: persistent doubt for eight days

3.    Thomas’ critical confrontation and confession: Jesus appeared and challenged and convicted him (v.26-28)

a.    The confrontation

1)    Jesus was aware of Thomas’ demands

2)    Jesus warned and called for belief

4.    Thomas’ great lesson for all men (v.29)

 

The Great Purpose of the Signs (Wonderful Works) of Jesus, 20:30-31

 It is quite clear that the gospel writers did not include all that Jesus did in their gospels. A few signs are recorded which are very essential for people according to the plan of God. The word “Sign” chosen by John who demonstrates that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. In these two verses, John gives the great purpose of the sings.

1.    The great fact: Jesus did many signs or wonderful works (v.30)

a.    In the disciples’ presence

b.    Not recorded by John

2.    The great purpose: To select a few signs that would lead to belief (v.31)

a.    Jesus is the Messiah

b.    Jesus is the Son of God

3.    The great result: Life through Jesus’ name

Thought: Jesus gave all the evidence in the world:

·       Acts of love and purity

·       Acts of righteousness and justice

·       Works of mercy and compassion

·       Works of miracles and power

·       Works of godliness and sovereignty

·       Words of truth and salvation

·       Words of peace and faith

·       Words of hope and joy

·       Words of morality and discipline

·       Words of commitment and self-denial

www.believeinthegoodnews.blogspot.com

 EASTER SUNDAY

MASS OF THE DAY

I Reading: Acts 10: 34, 37-43: Peter’s testimony-We have eaten and drunk with him after his resurrection.

II Reading: Colossians 3:1-4: Life with Christ-You must look for the things that are in heaven, where Christ is.

Gospel: John 20:1-9: He must rise from the dead.

 

The Great Discovery-The Empty Tomb, 20:1-10

In studying John’s account, it must be remembered that John was writing an historical account. He was not interested in giving insurmountable evidence for the resurrection. His interest was twofold:

(1) To give the evidence that led him to immediately understand and believe.

(2) To give enough evidence to lead anyone to immediate belief-if a person is willing to believe.

He was interested in giving enough evidence to make anyone’s faith viable and respectable. Now having said this, John’s record of Jesus’ resurrection is a strong historical account of the event. To an honest, objective and good heart, the evidence is convincing (Lk 8: 15).

1.    John’s gospel eliminates any possibility of his fabricating a lie, especially a lie of such immoral proportions.

2.    The phenomenal event actually took place. Peter and John’s running and John’s outrunning Peter; Mary’s human response of frantic bewilderment; the author’s fearing and hesitating to enter a tomb; the author’s believing without physical fact and admitting that his belief was not based upon an understanding of Scripture.

3.    The head wrapping is strong evidence for the resurrection. Only the head piece is actually said to be folded up by itself. The other pieces are assumed to be still folded up because of the phrase “separate from the linen.”

4.    The changed lives of the Lord’s disciples are indisputable evidence. It is psychological evidence. They were propelled by a dynamic power and bold courage. They preached and proclaimed the risen Christ to the very people who were seeking to arrest and execute them because the Lord had indeed risen, and He had planted within them a dynamic new power never before experienced by man.

In discussing evidences, we must remember that God through inspiration has not formulated the Scripture that He is (exists), that He is love and that He has shown His love supremely by sending His own Son to save a lost and dying world. What God wants from us is to love and belief, love for the Lord Jesus and belief in the supreme power of a loving God. This is just the point of the resurrection account. We are to believe because we love even as Mary and John loved (Mt 28:1; Jn 20:7-10; Heb 11:6; 1Jn 3:23).

1.    Mary’s unquestioning discovery: The unsealed tomb (v.1-2)

a.    She visited early

b.    She saw the stone rolled back

c.     She ran to Peter

d.    She revealed unquestioning love: “They have taken the Lord”

2.    Peter and John’s shocking discovery: The strips of linen (v.3-6)

a.    They ran to the tomb

b.    John glanced in: Saw the strips of linen

c.     Peter entered: Saw the strips of linen

3.    John’s thoughtful discovery: The undisturbed strips of linen (v.7-10)

a.    The strips of linen

1)    They were lying “undisturbed”

2)    The head wrapping was still folded

b.    The immediate belief

1)    John saw and believed

2)    He finally understood the Scripture

Thought: It is because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, there is an empty tomb and not the other way.

WISHING YOU A HAPPY EASTER & PEACE & JOY OF THE RISEN CHRIST!

www.believeinthegoodnews.blogspot.com

 

 

 THE EASTER VIGIL

MASS OF EASTER NIGHT

I Reading: Romans 6:3-11

Gospel: Mark 16:1-7

JESUS’ VICTORY OVER DEATH & HIS GREAT COMMISSION,

John 16:1-20

The Proofs of the Resurrection, Mk 16: 1-13

There are eleven proofs (events) of the resurrection of Jesus in these verses-proofs that should stir faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

1.    The sad and despairing women (v.1-3)

a.    They witnessed his death and burial

b.    They bought and brought spices to anoint his body

c.     They were strict religionists who obeyed the law

d.    They were practical, sensible, thinking women-not hysterical, nor deceived

2.    The rolled away stone (v.4)

3.    The young man dressed in a white robe (v.5-6)

a.    He sat on the right side

b.    He made a frightening appearance

c.     He commanded authority

4.    The missing body of Jesus (v.6)

5.    The compassionate, encouraging word to Peter (v.7)

6.    The fulfilment of the Lord’s promise (v.7)

7.    The fright and silence of the women (v.8)

8.    The appearance to Mary Magdalene (v.9-10)

9.    The immediate unbelief of the disciples (v.11) (Mk 16:14; Jn 3:18; Heb 3:12; 4:11)

10.  The appearance to two disciples (v.12)

11.  The  continued unbelief of other disciples (v.13) (Lk 24:25; Mk 4:40; Jn 3:36; 8:24)

www.believeinthegoodnews.blogspot.com

 

 HOLY THURSDAY-YEAR –B

CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

(THE LAST SUPPER OF JESUS)

I Reading: Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14: Instruction concerning the Passover meal.

II Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26: Every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are proclaiming the death of the Lord.

Gospel: John 13: 1-15: Now he showed how perfect his love was.

We have gathered this evening not as individuals but as a family to commemorate the Last Supper or the Last Meal of our Lord Jesus on earth before on the night he suffered. He is in our midst and we are around Him, as the twelve disciples were with Him. Jesus is already in our midst though we cannot see him with our eyes of flesh, he welcomes us at this very moment, repeating to us the very words he spoke to his twelve disciples on that occasion. “I have eagerly desired to eat this meal with you” (Lk 22:15).

On this Holy Thursday, Jesus instituted the two sacraments: The sacrament of the Holy Eucharist and the sacrament of the Holy Priesthood.

We are lucky to have the priests of the Lord to celebrate the Eucharist in this church daily and all over the world to eat and drink the Body and the Blood of Jesus Christ.

The readings of today speak to us about the three groups of people:

1.    The Jewish family: God gave instructions to the people of Israel through Moses to celebrate the most important event of the year: The Passover Meal. That meal was meant to remind them how their ancestors had been delivered from the slavery of Pharaoh in Egypt. In celebrating the Passover, the eyes of the Jews were set on their past: they praised God for the love he had shown to their ancestors.

2.    The group of the twelve disciples around Jesus: The Gospel speaks of a new family created by Jesus and his twelve disciples; who represent the new Israel and new people of God.

At this time Jesus was giving to the Passover Meal a new meaning. At his Last Supper, Jesus celebrated a new deliverance, one he would carry out the next day on the cross: the deliverance not just of one nation but of all mankind from the slavery of the devil; he would obtain it at the price of his own blood. Jesus anticipated the deliverance, so to say: he took bread, and by his power, he changed it into his Body. He took a cup filled with wine and changed the wine into his own Blood. He gave his Body and Blood to his disciples and said to them, “do this in remembrance of me.”

 

PASSION SUNDAY (Palm Sunday)

Commemoration of the Lord’s Entrance into Jerusalem

I Reading: Isaiah 50:4-7: I did not cover my face against insult- I know I shall not be shamed.

II Reading: Philippians 2:6-11: He humbled himself, but God raised him high.

Gospel: Mark 14:1-15:47: Passion and death of Jesus Christ

THE SON OF GOD’S PASSION MINISTRY:

JESUS’ SUPREME SACRIFICE-REJECTED & CRUCIFIED

A.   Jesus’ Death is Plotted:

A Picture of the Passover & Jesus’ Death, Mk 14:1-2

This passage begins the final stage of Jesus’ life before he was killed. In dramatic fashion Mark sets the stage for what is coming. In two short verses he mentions the Passover, and then he mentions the religionist’s plotting Jesus’ death-two scenes as opposite form one another as can be imagined.

It was a celebration of God’s glorious deliverance of Israel from the bondage of Egypt. Yet during the very days of this joyous celebration, Jesus’ murder was being plotted. And tragically it was being plotted by religionists, the very people who should have taking the lead in the Passover. On the other hand, there was the celebration of deliverance, the saving of life; on the other hand, there was the plotting of death, the taking of life. This passage deliberately sets the stage for what is to come.

1.    Picture 1: The Passover (v.1)

2.    Picture 2: The religionists’ plotted Jesus’ death (v.1-2)

a.    Plotted by all the leaders

b.    Plotted by deception: To arrest Jesus on false charges after the pilgrims had left the feast

 

B.   Jesus’ Anointing at Bethany: A Study of Love, Mk 14:3-9

John tells us that the woman was Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, who anointed Jesus (Jn 12:1f). The title of this passage could easily be, A Study of Sacrifice. The result is a strong lesson on sacrifice or sacrificial giving.

1.    The woman’s love was selfless and costly (v.3)

2.    The woman’s love was questioned and rebuked harshly (v.4-5)

3.    The woman’s love was a good and lovely thing (v.6)

4.    The woman’s love  grasped the opportune time (v.7)

5.    The woman’s love did all it could (v.8)

6.    The woman’s love was rewarded (v.9)

 

C.   Jesus’ Betrayal: Why a Disciple Failed, Mk 14:10-11

Judas Iscariot denied and betrayed Jesus- two terrible sins that doomed him eternally. This is most tragic, for Judas had known Jesus personally. He had walked with Jesus during the Lord’s earthly ministry, professing to be one of the close followers of the Lord. The fact that he could know Jesus so well and still end up failing and being doomed is a warning to all of us. All of us must heed why Judas failed so miserably.

1.    Judas was personally irresponsible (v.10-11)

a.    Was full of jealousy

b.    Was full of ambition

c.     Was full of greed

d.    Was devil-possessed

2.    Judas sought sin, to deceive and betray Jesus Christ (v.11)

 

D.   Jesus’ Last Chance to Judas: The Appeal to a sinner, Mk 14:12-21

 

Jesus was forced to make secret arrangements for keeping the Passover. Judas had just plotted with the authorities to betray Jesus (Mk 14:10-11). They wanted to arrest him in a quiet spot where the people would not be present and rise to his defence. Judas was just waiting for the right place and time. The Upper Room would be an ideal place and time. Jesus knew this, so he made secret arrangements.

The points of the present passage is to show that Jesus knew about Judas’ betrayal and to show how Jesus went about giving Judas a last chance to repent.

1.    The Passover was approaching (v.12)

a.    The disciples asked where they were to observe the Passover

b.    It was Jesus’ habit to worship

2.    Jesus knew about Judas’ denial and betrayal (v.13-17)

a.    He kept his plans and movement secret

b.    He shared only with his trusted disciples

1)    He had pre-planned the arrangements

2)    He sent trusted disciples to carry out the arrangements

c.     He kept his plans despite the betrayal

3.    Jesus gave Judas every chance to repent (v.18-20)

a.      The 1^st chance: He tried to stir conviction

1)    Stirred sorrow in the faithful

2)    Stirred self-examination in the faithful

b.      The 2^nd chance: Revealed monstrous deception

4.    Jesus gave Judas a last warning (v.21)

Thought: Jesus worshipped and kept the feasts of the Jews. He did not neglect the meeting together with others. The disciples knew this (Heb 10:25)

www.believeinthegoodnews.blogspot.com