March 1, 2020
Scripture:
Hymn 350 - I will make you fishers of men
Prayer
Psalm 144:12
As a father this verse has always been a prayer for my children. Even though this is more of a prayer of parents, I think all of us can get something from it.
We get two pictures here. The first with sons and the second with daughters.
The sons’ is a picture of plants growing. If you were to plant a tree, you would look for the best place to plant it so that it wouldn’t be hindered in it’s growth. You would want that tree to grow tall and straight so that you could use it. It would need strong and deep roots to keep it strong and tall. The desire is for the sons to be like the trees with strong spiritual roots so that they can walk straight.
The second picture is for our daughters to be cornerstones. A cornerstone is what would hold two walls together. It would need to be very strong and beautiful. This is the desire for daughters: to be spiritually strong and beautiful.
From the beginning of children’s lives parents direct and teach them, but eventually you have to start making your own decisions. Hopefully you will continue to make decisions that will continue to make you spiritually strong.
Good Choice = Good Outcome
Bad Choice = Bad Outcome
Deuteronomy 28:1-2, 15
They would be blessed if they listened but if not they would be cursed.
We have to be careful of the bad choices with semi-good outcomes. They will just become bad habits that you will eventually get caught in. Satan works hard to try to get us all to make those bad choices.
1 Timothy 4:12
These are the ways Paul encouraged Timothy in.
We can either become straight trees/beautiful corner stones or crocked trees/ugly corner stones. I hope we can make good choices.
John 19:38-42
John 20:1-10
Nicodemus is only mentioned in John while Joseph is mentioned in all 4 Gospels in regards to this account.
Matthew 27: 57 & 58
Joseph was hidden in the woodwork. Jesus had taken the form of man and died on a cross after everything and God had a couple men who, although timid, were called bold when they saw how sacred Jesus’ body was.
Mark 15:43
It was as if Joseph was saying, “enough”. He treasured the opportunity as if it was the last chance to do something for Him even though he hadn’t when Jesus was alive.
Luke 23:50-53
Jesus’ arms were outstretched and He had nails through His hands. Imagine Joseph tenderly removing them and taking care the the body. Nicodemus came with 100 pounds of myrrh and aloes. For the sake of easy math and understanding this, if 1 gallon was 10 pounds he would have brought 10 gallons.They wanted to give Him a proper burial.
The linen was the fabric the wrapped the body in. With 100 pounds of myrrh and aloes it wound’t have been just wet, but completely saturated. As the body would lie in the tomb it would dry out and He would then be in a shell. Myrrh and aloes are aromatic spices so they would overcome any unpleasant smells of the process.
It wasn’t Jesus’ close disciples, but the two we barely heard about who gave Him the most honourable burial one could have in that day. His death wasn’t after the manner of the Jews, but His burial was. In the garden was a new sepulchre that Joseph had prepared for himself. There had been no corruption in it; it was a new tomb. It sounds like it was rather large because they rolled a stone over the entrance. Maybe it was like a cave.
Jesus was placed in the tomb the same day He died. The others were left until after the passover, probably on the Sunday. As we celebrate the first day of the week as Jesus’ resurrection, we remember His death.
Hymn 68 Christ is the Saviour of sinners
Prayer