Word from our Pastor
March 2021
Dear Friends,
Greetings in Jesus’ name!
As we are into the season of Lent it is wonderful to see so many making it to our Lenten services on Friday evenings. Truly the study on the theme, A more excellent way: Love has been meaningful, as our leaders have been sharing their study and insights. Wonderful to see the participation despite the pandemic.
As your pastor may I encourage you to continue wearing the mask everywhere. Thank you for your cooperation. There have been quite a few who have been infected though these are unrelated to the church services. We need to uphold these families in prayer. This is one disease which separates us from our loved ones while recuperating.
One of the striking features of Jesus’ ministry, were His healings. This month we are looking at the various aspects of the healings recorded in the gospel according to Mark. We are looking at the significance of these healings in the light of the Kingdom of God and the good news of the coming of Christ into the world.
The healings in the gospel of Mark reveal the conflict between the way the ecclesiastical leaders of the time and Jesus interpreted the law. Jesus’ interpretation of the Sabbath laws clearly shows us that the laws were made for the benefit of human beings and they were not an end in themselves.
The healings in this gospel also portray the clash between the forces of darkness and Jesus. There is a power encounter between Jesus and evil forces. The casting out of evil or unclean spirits signifies this cosmic clash. The demons recognized the power Jesus had over them and recognized that He was the Son of God while the religious leaders could not recognize the Messiah.
The healings also reveal the authority that Jesus has over Satan, sickness, nature and death. The healing narratives also show how Jesus has the authority to forgive sins. The authority that reveals that the Messiah is God.
The healings in this gospel also reveal the heart of God for humanity. A heart that is compassionate and is incredibly angry at the ravages of sin among human beings.
The healing miracles are also seen as that which authenticates the good news that God loves the world and wants everyone to be saved. Saved to serve humanity.
We will end the series with the resurrection story which truly authenticates the good news of the gospel. The victory of life over death, the resurrection which transforms the fallen and weak physical bodies into glorified bodies that will never decay at the final coming of Christ.
So, while we may be living with sickness and decay, conflicts and misunderstandings, the gospel promises, restoration, forgiveness and redemption from sin and its consequences. Therefore, we live in hope, knowing we have been saved to serve.
As we go through Lent let us focus on the Son of God who is the way into the Kingdom of God. As a community that is passionately maturing in Christ let us put Christ above all in everything.
Let me close with a few questions for our introspection. How is my relationship with Christ today? Am I experiencing the power of Christ in my life to overcome sin in my life? Am I experiencing the power that empowers me to love like Jesus loves? Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1Co 13:4-7)
Am I living in the hope and knowledge that I am being transformed into His likeness? And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2Co 3:18)
In Christ
Pastor John R. A. Simeon
(On behalf of the Pastoral Team)
Recommended for you
