7th March 2021 (The Third Sunday in Lent)\u2028Title: Worshipping God & Coming to Jesus\u2028(Exodus 20:1-17; John 2:13-22) \u2028 By Heeyoung Lim
\nToday\u2019s first reading starts \u201cI am the\u00a0Lord\u00a0your God,\u00a0who brought you out\u00a0of Egypt,\u00a0out of the land of slavery.\u201d
\nIn the Book of Exodus, we find the story of the people who led by God out of slavery in Egypt into a new promised land. God gave them ten commandments, and the divine Law was revealed through Moses. It reminds us that the Lord is our God, those are not just commandments, but the gifts of God’s grace that lead to the true life.
\nThe Ten Commandments demonstrate human weaknesses and our inability to follow God completely, but it is relational: The first four deal with our relationship with God, and the rest of six focus on our relationships with people. It is not an earthly way, but the divine way that newly understands, truly saves, and frees the world and people. God’s justice and His abundant love always coexist in our lives.
\nA theologian, Calvin said, “the Commandments are showing us how we are to live before God and with neighbour, they play a vital, positive role in Christian life.” The commandments light our way and show us how we should live as people who have already been freely given God\u2019s grace in Jesus Christ.
\nWe can appreciate what God has done to provide our salvation and we can take joy in His love for us. The love of God for salvation has been revealed through Jesus.
\nLast Sunday\u2019s text focused on \u201cWhat does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus?\u201d Today\u2019s text more focuses on \u201cWhat does it mean to be the church of Jesus?\u201d
\nJohn 2:13-22 follows Jesus\u2019 first sign in Cana, where he turned water into wine at his mother\u2019s request.
\nIn the first half of John 2, at the wedding feast people saw a sign of glory, joy, and calling, it indicates Christ\u2019s creative power to transform, Christ’s ability to turn humiliation into celebrations, and His commitment to God\u2019s purposes and timing.
\nIn today\u2019s text, we see a sign of anger, power, and authority at Jerusalem, it shows Christ’s attitude when he sees what has happened at the temple, Christ’s action to the moneychangers in cleansing the temple, and His prophecy of the resurrection.
\nJews travelled to Jerusalem early to purify themselves for Passover as the season of Lent helps Christians prepare for Easter. The feast included the eating of the Passover Lamb which commemorated the passing of death over the Israelites before their departure from Egypt.
\nJesus went to Jerusalem when liberation and rescue from slavery being celebrated at the beginning of His ministry in the gospel of John. However, in Matthew, Mark, and Luke the similar incident occurred in Jesus\u2019 final journey just before His crucifixion.
\nThe merchandise described in verse 14 was required for sacrifices. Worshipers had travelled from great distances, and the availability of sacrificial animals was essential to temple worship. They gathered in a holy place remembering God\u2019s deliverance, but the primary purpose of seeking God\u2019s glory through rituals and repentance was forgotten, and the holy place was transformed into a commercial place.
\nJesus went into a rage, He chased out the animals, sent the merchants after them. He \u201cpoured out the coins\u201d and turned over tables. He commanded the dove-sellers: \u201cTake these things out of here! Stop making my Father\u2019s house a marketplace!\u201d\u00a0
\nWorship is not commercial activity; it is connecting with the Father through Jesus Christ. It cannot be relegated to a building like the temple. Today\u2019s text leads us to true worship, it makes us to concentrate on faith more than format in worship.
\n\u201cBut\u00a0the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father\u00a0in spirit and\u00a0truth, for the Father\u00a0is seeking such people to worship him.\u00a0God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.\u201d (John 4:23, 24)
\nAs in verse 23, God is seeking such people to worship him, He is receiving our worship when we worship Him in spirit and truth. Jesus is the centre of worship, and his involvement is in our lives. Coming to Jesus is not through formality, but through faith.
\nJesus is our Lord. How do we make sure our faith is real before God? How can we obey completely to the Lord? We can do it through being true worshippers and believers. We should not limit worship to a building, and we need to remember the temple or church is the Father\u2019s house where people pray. Worshipping God and coming to Jesus are relational and essential in our lives.
\nJesus\u2019 response to the request of Jew was \u201cDestroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.\u201d The Jews misunderstood and took His words literally as a reference to the temple building, even the disciples did not understand Jesus\u2019 words until after the resurrection. (2:22)
\nJesus is not speaking of the physical temple but of his own body here. People will seek to destroy him, but the cross will not be the end, for Jesus will rise from the dead.
\nThe temple was the meeting place between God and His people, it was a place where human life and divine blessing met. In John\u2019s Gospel, the body of Jesus is the new \u201choly place\u201d, Jesus himself is the presence of God.
\nJesus stands as our saviour welcoming all people to enter the kingdom of God through the crucifixion and resurrection. His love broke all barriers and transcended all obstacles.
\nI believe our church as the body of the Christ becomes God\u2019s house when we come to Jesus together. We can think about \u201chow Jesus has revealed his glory” in us, we can do whatever Jesus tells us.
\nJesus\u2019 act in cleansing the temple in the past raises the reformative thinking on \u201cthe cleansing of the church\u201d. The reform of the church is always to be in accordance with the living Scripture, the witness to Christ. If we live by God’s words, then we will enjoy a good fulfilling life.
\nI hope we need to respond with reflection and faith as true worshippers and believers both individually and collectively. During Lent we are reminded that the story of Jesus culminates at the cross but does not end there.
\n\u201cWhat does it mean to be the church of Jesus?\u201d I believe we can be the church of Jesus when we are in God\u2019s house as a part of the body of Christ. The Ten Commandments are God’s gracious gifts for God’s people, and the new commandment given by Jesus is a thankful blessing. Jesus told us \u201cA new command\u00a0I give you: Love one another.\u00a0As I have loved you, so you must love one another.\u201d (John 13:34) Let us live these words every day.
\nI hope we can love each other as Jesus has loved us, and I pray we can glorify God by remembering God\u2019s love, worshipping God, coming to Jesus, and doing whatever Jesus tells us as the church of Jesus.
\nThanks be to God! Amen!\u2028(Ref. Bible, commentaries, theological books, UCA materials) <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
7th March 2021 (The Third Sunday in Lent)\u2028Title: Worshipping God & Coming to Jesus\u2028(Exodus 20:1-17; John 2:13-22) \u2028 By Heeyoung Lim Today\u2019s first reading starts \u201cI am the\u00a0Lord\u00a0your God,\u00a0who brought you out\u00a0of Egypt,\u00a0out of the land of slavery.\u201d In the Book of Exodus, we find the story of the people who led by God out of slavery in Egypt into a new promised land. God gave them ten commandments, and the divine Law was revealed through Moses. It reminds us that the Lord is our God, those are not just commandments, but the gifts of God’s grace that lead to the true life. The Ten Commandments demonstrate human weaknesses and our inability to follow God completely, but it is relational: The first four deal with our relationship with God, and the rest of six focus on our relationships with people. It is not an earthly way, but the divine way that newly understands, truly saves, and frees the world and people. God’s justice and His abundant love always coexist in our lives. A theologian, Calvin said, “the Commandments are showing us how we are to live before God and with neighbour, they play a vital, positive role in Christian life.” The commandments light our way and show us how we should live as people who have already been freely given God\u2019s grace in Jesus Christ. We can appreciate what God has done to provide our salvation and we can take joy in His love for us. The love of God for salvation has been revealed through Jesus. Last Sunday\u2019s text focused on \u201cWhat does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus?\u201d Today\u2019s text more focuses on \u201cWhat does it mean to be the church of Jesus?\u201d John 2:13-22 follows Jesus\u2019 first sign in Cana, where he turned water into wine at his mother\u2019s request. In the first half of John 2, at the wedding feast people saw a sign of glory, joy, and calling, it indicates Christ\u2019s creative power to transform, Christ’s ability to turn humiliation into celebrations, and His commitment to God\u2019s purposes and timing. In today\u2019s text, we see a sign of anger, power, and authority at Jerusalem, it shows Christ’s attitude when he sees what has happened at the temple, Christ’s action to the moneychangers in cleansing the temple, and His prophecy of the resurrection. Jews travelled to Jerusalem early to purify themselves for Passover as the season of Lent helps Christians prepare for Easter. The feast included the eating of the Passover Lamb which commemorated the passing of death over the Israelites before their departure from Egypt. Jesus went to Jerusalem when liberation and rescue from slavery being celebrated at the beginning of His ministry in the gospel of John. However, in Matthew, Mark, and Luke the similar incident occurred in Jesus\u2019 final journey just before His crucifixion. The merchandise described in verse 14 was required for sacrifices. Worshipers had travelled from great distances, and the availability of sacrificial animals was essential to temple worship. They gathered in a holy place remembering God\u2019s deliverance, but the primary purpose of seeking God\u2019s glory through rituals and repentance was forgotten, and the holy place was transformed into a commercial place. Jesus went into a rage, He chased out the animals, sent the merchants after them. He \u201cpoured out the coins\u201d and turned over tables. He commanded the dove-sellers: \u201cTake these things out of here! Stop making my Father\u2019s house a marketplace!\u201d\u00a0 Worship is not commercial activity; it is connecting with the Father through Jesus Christ. It cannot be relegated to a building like the temple. Today\u2019s text leads us to true worship, it makes us to concentrate on faith more than format in worship. \u201cBut\u00a0the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father\u00a0in spirit and\u00a0truth, for the Father\u00a0is seeking such people to worship him.\u00a0God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.\u201d (John 4:23, 24) As in verse 23, God is seeking such people to worship him, He is receiving our worship when we worship Him in spirit and truth. Jesus is the centre of worship, and his involvement is in our lives. Coming to Jesus is not through formality, but through faith. Jesus is our Lord. How do we make sure our faith is real before God? How can we obey completely to the Lord? We can do it through being true worshippers and believers. We should not limit worship to a building, and we need to remember the temple or church is the Father\u2019s house where people pray. Worshipping God and coming to Jesus are relational and essential in our lives. Jesus\u2019 response to the request of Jew was \u201cDestroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.\u201d The Jews misunderstood and took His words literally as a reference to the temple building, even the disciples did not understand Jesus\u2019 words until after the resurrection. (2:22) Jesus is not speaking of the physical temple but of his own body here. People will seek to destroy him, but the cross will not be the end, for Jesus will rise from the dead. The temple was the meeting place between God and His people, it was a place where human life and divine blessing met. In John\u2019s Gospel, the body of Jesus is the new \u201choly place\u201d, Jesus himself is the presence of God. Jesus stands as our saviour welcoming all people to enter the kingdom of God through the crucifixion and resurrection. His love broke all barriers and transcended all obstacles. I believe our church as the body of the Christ becomes God\u2019s house when we come to Jesus together. We can think about \u201chow Jesus has revealed his glory” in us, we can do whatever Jesus tells us. Jesus\u2019 act in cleansing the temple in the past raises the reformative thinking on \u201cthe cleansing of the church\u201d. The reform of the church is always to be in accordance with<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3875","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermons"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Leighmoor.Master","author_link":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/author\/leighmoor-master"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"Sermons<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"7th March 2021 (The Third Sunday in Lent)\u2028Title: Worshipping God & Coming to Jesus\u2028(Exodus 20:1-17; John 2:13-22) \u2028 By Heeyoung Lim Today\u2019s first reading starts \u201cI am the\u00a0Lord\u00a0your God,\u00a0who brought you out\u00a0of Egypt,\u00a0out of the land of slavery.\u201d In the Book of Exodus, we find the story of the people who led by God out…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3875","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3875"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3875\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3876,"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3875\/revisions\/3876"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3875"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3875"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3875"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}