(Overview and commentary on: Jesus, the master of missions, Lesson 7)
Karakia Timatanga | Opening Prayer
He hōnore, he korōria ki te atua
All honour and glory to our maker
He maungārongo ki te whenua
Let there be peace and tranquillity on earth
He whakaaro pai ki ngā tangata katoa
Goodwill to mankind
Āmine.
Amen
Saturday | Sabbath | Hātarei
On reading the introduction to this week I couldn’t help but
think that the work of the trinity in saving mankind is well summed up in the Apostle’s
creed of which there are a number of variations. The expressions in this creed encapsulate
the faith and hope of all who call themselves Christians.
The Apostles' Creed
Modern English Version (From the Book of Common Prayer)
I believe
in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
Sunday | Rātapu the Old Testament
Jesus in the Old Testament
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of
me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according
to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not
according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was
given to us in Christ Jesus before time began (2 Tim. 1:8-9).
Before time began … before humanity, before creation, before the
universe. That God knew what to do before time began is beyond understanding.
Sometimes in the midst of difficulties it is hard to fathom why He pursued
creation at such cost, to us and Himself.
Schantz and Thompson (2015) rightly point out that there is
ultimately no hope in the world. Our lives have a short and definite time span.
How we spend our lives as Christians is determined by the understanding of a
missionary God who offers us hope for life beyond the present. The Christian’s
response to God is one of service to humanity because there is a future hope.
The unbeliever who focuses on happiness and pleasure is also responding to
their view of the world in a way that makes sense of their understanding. Therefore
let us be humble and gracious to those who have a perspective different from
our own. Christians who mock or belittle the views of others, however mistaken
we think they might be, are diminishing their own calling to service. Let our
attitude be the same as Jesus (Php 2:5).
Monday | Rāhina
The
Desire of Ages
The ‘Desire of Ages’ is an
Adventist cliché, after the book. Humans do desire leadership. This is evident
throughout history and the more notable leaders also portray heroic or salvific
traits which endear them to their people. The Jews looked for a religious leader
called the Messiah and to their minds he would rescue them militarily and
politically as all their other heroes did i.e. Samson, David etc. Moses who was
such a figure prophesied of a future Messiah Dt 18:15 and in Jn 4:25-26 the language of Jesus
parallels the claim to fulfilment of this prophecy.
Religious, military,
political (Messiah) figures are often followed by fanatics who are quite
willing to die for the cause. This can be scary to others and results in
further conflict. The difference in claim of Jesus from other Messiah’s is His
universal claim on behalf of the world’s inhabitants (Lk 2:10-14; Lk 2:25-33; Lk 3:3-6; Jn 1:29). As a universal Messiah
he is not looking to promote the interests of one particular group over
another; he is looking to save us all. The deliverance is not a political one;
the liberation is one from sin (Lk 19:10). This salvation will indeed effect what
happens in the world today but the outcomes it brings are beneficial and do not
promote violence. Matthew Henry’s commentary of Genesis 4:1 suggests that Eve
may have thought that with Cain she had given birth to the one who would save
them.
Tuesday | Rātū
Mission
to the Jews
The same concepts that we find in Mt 10:5-6 are also found in
Paul’s writing where he says (Rom 1:16-17):
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,[a] just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.
Where a church is strong and healthy mission to people who do not believe is essential.
Wednesday | Rāapa
Mission
to the Gentiles
Luke14:16–24 describes
a great banquet in which many of the guests refuse the invitation on various
grounds. Jesus describes them as excuses – they are not genuine reasons because
the King then goes invites people who really could give excuses. He invites the
poor, the blind, the crippled and the lame. The poor could say – “I can not
come – I can afford no gift”; The blind could say – “I can not come – I can not
see the way”; The crippled and lame could say – “I can not come – I am unable
to walk.” Those first invites are to His people the Jews; they are privileged
and yet do not know it. Today in an ironic reversal this is the position of the
church (Rev 3:17).
Who then
can go in? Invitation is not based on your race but on certain conditions. Are
you poor (in spirit)? Do you mourn (over your brokenness)? Are you humble (not
considering yourself of great importance)? Are you hungry and thirsty (for
righteousness)? Would you invite others if you could? Do you ask for purity (so
that you can see)? Are you a social outcast (for the sake of the Gospel)?
The miracles
Jesus performed were illustrations of the gospel invitation. We actually only
get into the feast by belonging to the second category of invitations. God is ‘angry’
with the first group of people because He has put on a great feast and it has
cost Him a lot, and these people don’t give a toss. The second group of people need a feast; they shouldn’t
really be going because they are not worthy but … Praise be to God
He is going to get them there because nothing is too hard for Him.
Thursday | Rāpare
The
Great Commission
In Revelation 14:6 we see the Gospel, the eternal Gospel still being proclaimed. It is a
continuation of the message we find in the New Testament. John confirms to us
that it will go to all people. The angel is visible to all who look up.
Friday | Rāmere
Schantz and Thomspon (2015) ask the following question in Friday's section:
Despite the clear teaching on not setting dates for Christ’s return, hardly a year goes by before we hear something in the news about some group of Christians setting a date for Christ’s return. Why do you think people insist on doing this, other than as a good fund-raising technique? (After all, if Jesus is coming on June 19 of next year [or fill in any date you want], then what good is your money now?) Why is it bad for the Christian witness in the world when these dates, year after year, are shown to be false?It's important for Adventists not to get caught in this theological error. More than a hundred and sixty years on we are still getting lambasted for the error of our theological ancestors the Millerites (Mohler, 2011).
Considerations for
practise
1. How do you practice the grace of God in Christ Jesus?
2. What do you do about witnessing and or bringing people to church when your local congregation is not functional?
3. Have you received your invitation banquet and if so what category of sinner are you going as - poor, blind, lame crippled?
4. Apart from John the Beloved everyone of Jesus disciples died in martyrdom carrying out the Great Commission. Why do you think this was? What does this mean for us today?
Closing Prayer - Karakia Whakamutunga
2 Corinthians 13:14 (NIV)
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
References
Apostles' Creed. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved August 7, 2015, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostles%27_Creed
Henry, M. (n.d.) Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary - Genesis 4 Bible Commentary. In Christ Notes. Retrieved August 7, 2015, from http://www.christnotes.org/commentary.php?com=mhc&b=1&c=4
Schantz, B. & Thompson,
S. (2015). Biblical Missionaries. Adult Sabbath School Quarterly 3Q. 2015.
Silver Spring: MD: Pacific Press.
http://www.albertmohler.com/2011/05/16/the-end-is-near-the-false-teaching-of-harold-camping/
The Apostles' Creed (n.d.). Retrieved August 7, 2015, from
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