MALAGASY LUTHERAN CHURCH
Communion’s prayer, Palm Sunday
Week from 26 to 31 March 2018
« Christ, redemption for us»
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Introduction: “Christ, redemption for us” means that through Him, we are set free and saved. The main sense of “redemption” is to give back to their real owner things, people that may have fallen into the hand of some other persons, who are not their proper owner. This restitution can be made by repurchase or the giving of a suitable and sufficient pledge. Our human ancestors fell into sin when they could not resist the cravings of the flesh and ate from the forbidden tree in Eden (Gen 3:3). As a consequence, we, their derived descendants, have inherited their sinful nature, defeated by sins and “sold as a slave to sin” Rom 7:14, because “a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him” 2 Pet 2:19. As it is written: “when the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it” Gen 3:6; in other words, they gave in to the temptation. The major point of our human need of redemption lies in the fact that we are not able and cannot make redemption for ourselves by following rituals, respecting taboos or offering various sacrifices, which cannot cleanse from sin, as it is written: “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: ‘sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, ‘here I am – it is written about me in the scroll – I have come to do your will, O God; your law is within my heart (Ps 40:6-8)” Heb 10:4-7. God’s will is that Christ died as an atoning sacrifice for us (1 Cor 1:30), for “in Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” Eph 1:7. The Holy Scripture says: “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” 1 Cor 5:7b.
Monday 26: Christ, redemption for us.
“See, your king comes to you” Zc.9:9
Reading 1: Mt.21:1-11. Reading 2: Zc.9: 9-10. Preaching 1 (option). Preaching 2: Zc.9:9. Other references:
– “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” Jn.1:29.
– “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” Col.2: 13-15.
Tuesday 27: Christ’s redemption, God’s love for the sinners.
“For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” Is.53:12d.
Reading 1: Phil.2:3-11. Reading 2: Is.53:10-12. Preaching 1 (option). Preaching 2: Is.53:12. Other references:
– “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” Jn.1:14.
– “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” Jn.3:16.
Wednesday 28: Jesus Christ gave His Life for the life of the whole world.
“But if it dies, it produces many seeds” Jn.12:24b.
Reading 1: 2Co.4:7-11. Reading 2: Jn.12:20-33. Preaching 1 (option). Preaching 2: Jn.12:24. Other references:
– “Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand” Is.53:10.
– “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” 1Jn.2:2.
Holy Thursday 29: Be prepared, the redemption is at hand.
“Unless I wash you, you have no part with me” Jn.13:8b.
Reading 1:Ex.12:3-14. Reading 2: Jn.13:1-15. Preaching 1 (option). Preaching 2: Jn.13:8. Other references:
– “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people” Ac.2:46-47a.
– “Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready” Re.19 :6-7.
Holy Friday 30: The night of redemption.
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” Lk.22:42.
Reading 1: Is.50:6-9. Reading 2: Lk.22:47-56. Preaching 1: Lk.22:39-42. Other references:
– ““My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work” Jn.4:34.
– “Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Ps.31:5); When he had said this, he breathed his last” Lk.23:46.
Silent Saturday 31: PREPARING FOR THE COMING OF THE EASTER OF REDEMPTION.
Focusing theme: Jesus Christ made an eternal redemption.
“For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” Heb.10:14.
Reading 1: Ro.3:21-26. Reading 2: Heb.10:11-18.
Note: This pericope is published in Malagasy, French, English and German and can be seen on the site www.hifi-madanet.org and on Facebook “HiFi – english “. © Madanet