Learning for Life: 9:30 am – The Gospel According to Mark
JOIN our Worship Service: 11:00 am
Listen to the sermon: Joel Russell-MacLean
Watch the recent Worship Service
“Beware the Yeast of the Pharisees”
The Third Sunday in Lent
Bulletin: March 3 2024
Scriptures: Colossians 2:16-23; Psalm 123; Mark 7:1-23
Songs:
- Only a Holy God (with lyrics)
- O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing (lyrics; congregational)
- Man of Sorrows (with lyrics)
- What Wondrous Love is This? (choir, contemporary, history)
- The Old Rugged Cross (video, C&W, background)
Joel Russell-MacLean
Jesus intentionally turned toward Jerusalem where he would lose his life. He was living out what he taught. Jesus showed his disciples in all that he said and did that that to be human is to depend on God for identity, direction, help, and for life itself.
Over the coming weeks of Lent, we will consider several things Jesus taught as he prepared for his suffering and death on a cross.
First, since we struggle to find God, we are tempted to take control. We are tempted to depend on ourselves and our systems. Politics, religion, even family, can became means of controlling others.
Then, instead of helping us confront our failings or our sins, our institutions can hide and protect us from seeing the true state of our hearts and make our sin seem normal, justified, or even necessary.
Jesus pointed to the children of his day as examples of how we ought to live if we want to follow him. Children know they depend on others and know their control is limited.
Jesus also modelled relinquishing control of others and trusting and obeying God even if it costs your life. Paradoxically, Jesus’ way leads to an abundant life.