The message: « Christ is exalted »: this primarily expresses the manifestation of the glory of God, in which He raised Christ up from the dead. God raised up His Son Jesus Christ, indeed, because He had honoured Him by His obedience to His words and His compliance to His will. In this respect Jesus said, ”For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day” Jn 6:38-39. This means reviving what is dead—even us who are dead because of sin, for sin is « the sting of death » (1 Cor 15:56a). To this end, Christ died to save us (Rom 5:8). And He accepted to endure death in order to raise us from death to life, so that we may live as He lives (Jn 14:19). For He took on the likeness of a sinner and even accepted to die in order to glorify the Father. This was His prayer, ”I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed” Jn 17:4-5. The glory of God through which Jesus has been exalted was His victory over the tomb and His resurrection from the dead. Such was fulfilled and displayed the full authority that had been given Him: He lives and is able to raise up even the dead (Jn 11:25). In truth, Jesus is risen and He lives forever and ever and holds the keys of death and Hades (Rev 1:18). Therefore, believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will live! In this regard, Paul the Apostel declares: ”Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him” 2 Tim 2:11.
Monday, 18th: God exaltes His Servant.
“He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted” Isa 52:13b.
Reading 1: Jn 12: 27-32. Reading 2: Isa 52:13-15. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Isa 52:13.
Introduction: God honours those who honour Him (1 Sam 2:30), therefore He exalted His Servant. The reason Jesus came was to glorify and honour the Father by accepting to do His will: Enduring death in order to redeem the sinners. In this respect, it is written, ”But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Rom 5:8.
Tuesday, 19th: Christ, atonement for his people.
“For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” 1 Cor 5:7b.
Reading 1: Jn 6:52-58. Reading 2: 1 Cor 5:7-8. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: 1 Cor 5:7.
Introduction: Jesus Christ is the stainless Lamb that God provided to take away the sin of the world (Jn 1:29). He was the offering that wholely pleased God because He accomplished His will. “And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” Heb 10:10.
Wednesday, 20th: Christ overcame the tomb.
“He has risen! He is not here” Mar 16:6b.
Reading 1: Ps 16:4-11. Reading 2: Mar 16:1-7. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Mar16:5-7.
Introduction: As He had raised Lazarus from the dead, so He also rose by the power of the Spirit of God who is able to revive even the dead (Rom 4:17). Jesus’ resurrection is the Gospel’s great message that is meant to lift our heads up, our heads that are burdened and overwhelmed by our numerous struggles and weaknesses. It also urges us to seek the One who lives forever and ever. To all those who believe in His resurrection Jesus says: “Because I live, you also will live” Jn 14:19b.
Thursday, 21st: Christ sets men free.
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” Jn 8:36.
Reading 1: Heb 2:10-18. Reading 2: Jn 8:31-36. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Jn 8:34-36.
Introduction: The deliverance that Jesus gives to the people is perfect and complete, for He took everything that concerns them onto Himself, as it is written, “rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” Phi 2:7-8. All the work of death within us has been abolished through Jesus’death (Heb 9:4): sin, decay and unbelief. “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation” 2 Cor 5:17 a.
Zoma, 22nd: Christ raises the sinners.
“Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven” Mt 9:2b.
Reading 1: Isa 44:21-23. Reading 2: Mt 9:1-8. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Mt 9:1-2.
Introduction: The Apostle Paul cried out, “Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?” Rom.7:24, meaning, who will change him so that he may have the true godly attitude (1 Tim 2:2) Certainly not his fellow men, even less so himself. Christ, the Lord’s ervant, has come to “proclaim … release to the prisoners” Isa 61.1d, those who are bound by sin and their sinful nature, which condemn them. To those who seek forgiveness and true transformation, Jesus fulfills his words to Zacchaeus: “Today salvation has come to this house” Lk 19:9a.
Saturday, 23rd: Christ raises the dead.
“I am the resurrection and the life” Jn 11:25a.
Reading 1: 1 Thess 4:13-18. Reading 2: Jn 11:21-27. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Jn 11:25.
Introduction: Raising the dead and giving life is an attribute of Jesus as God and Savior. Blessed are those who believe in Him, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life” Jn 3:36. To those who seek his salvation, He is still willing to say: “get up!” Mar 5:41c.
Nota: This pericop is published weekly in Malagasy, French, English, and German, and can be seen on www.hifi-madanet.org and on Facebook “HiFi – english”.
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