Today is Wednesday the middle of another week with an opportunity once more I suggest for an hour to take time out to reflect and pray at 7:30-8:30pm or whatever time is suitable for you in the midst of your daily schedule. There are also pointers for prayer to assist us in our intercessions to God for other people
There are seven statements attributed to our Lord from the cross. The first three are centred on other people: firstly his enemies Father forgive them…, secondly a dying criminal today you will be with Me…; thirdly to Mary and to John here is your son…here is your mother.
In the middle is the cry to His Father concerning the temporary loss of their special relationship that had existed from eternity past why have You forsaken Me?
The last three sayings as the time prior to His physical death was drawing near were about the circumstances of Jesus focussed on His humanity. This is clear particularly first of all in the words of John 19:28: I am thirsty. It was the only statement that was centred on His physical suffering on the cross.
Often we can be guilty of minimising Christ’s physical sufferings that somehow it was easier for Him than for other people who had been crucified, in fact the truth is that it was harder for Him. His dignified manner was covering the agonies He went through. The separation from the Father was what he struggled with most on Calvary, more than the awful agonies of the physical trauma of such a death. In His case he could have spoken a word and asked to come down from the cross but His taking of a human nature and flesh was a real and true unity with humankind and so he refused to take any easy options.
The New Testament does not downplay His humanity. The Gospels record His birth like any other human as a baby, in His case at Bethlehem. He passed through all the natural and normal stages of child development. Luke 2:52 records that: Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and men.
As a twelve-year-old Jesus was asking the religious leaders genuine questions and His understanding increased with age and study. As a man John records (John 4) that Jesus was exhausted and sat down by a well at Sychar in Samaria. His disciples who were less tired went to by some lunch in the town, leaving Jesus alone –time for some peace and quiet that He needed.
Jesus was hungry in the desert when tempted by Satan (Matthew 4:2). He slept in a boat (Mark 4:38), his head on a cushion when exhausted. Even a serious storm that had waves crashing over the boat which must have soaked His clothes did not cause Him to wake up, how tired was that! He was astonished at the level of unbelief, their lack of faith in Him and in God in His home town of Nazareth following a preaching engagement (Mark 6:6);
He was angry with the traders in the temple (John 2:16-17) and wept over the unbelief of the citizens of Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-42). He also wept at the grave of His friend Lazarus (John 11:35) and groaned within His spirit (John 11:38) at the pain caused by the separation of loved ones in a bereavement. He also rejoiced with His disciples when they came back following a successful time of mission (Luke 10:21) and took pleasure in the company of little children (Mark 10:13-16).
Yet He felt a great need for time in prayer (Mark 1:35). At the time of choosing His twelve disciples Luke 6:12 records: One of those days Jesus went out into the hills to pray and spent the night praying to God.
Hebrews places a significant focus on the humanity and suffering of Jesus. Hebrews 2:9-10 states: 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honour because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.10 In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. That same chapter goes on to say in verses 17-18: For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people.18Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted. Can we have confidence in knowing that He truly understands our weaknesses and problems? Hebrews 4:15-16 provides the assurance we need: For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are— yet was without sin.16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Some of us in the last few weeks will have struggled with our emotions. Our mental and emotional health may have taken a battering and we long for a normality that may be a while yet in coming? Others fears for the future concerning our health, particularly if treatment has been delayed at this time; yet others with real concerns about getting back to school or going to university or whether returning to the workplace you left will even be possible? Whatever your questions – Jesus understands and cares because of what He has endured as a human being.
Out song for reflection as we come to prayer is: Jesus paid it all
Points for Prayer
Points for Prayer
1. Pray particularly for our governments; in particular for our leaders Boris Johnson & Nicola Sturgeon, for much wisdom & courage. For all the various government departments – financial, medical, scientific, social – in coping with the pandemic.
2. Pray for the NHS and Social Care workers for strength to keep going when under pressure and particularly for the procurement of all the necessary personal protective equipment they need at this time.
3. Pray for the local government agencies working in new partnerships with many voluntary agencies to ensure those in need have all their basic needs attended to, not just food to eat.
4. Pray for the leaders and volunteer teams of the twenty-three Food Banks in Dundee, that includes our Broughty Ferry Food Bank, that we may have the resources and ability to carry out all the duties entrusted to us.
5. Pray for the people struggling to continue in lock down and finding their emotional and mental health deteriorating at this time.
6. Pray for our educators from nurseries to universities that staff and students can adjust in a satisfactory way to the changed learning environment. In particular the children from disadvantaged homes that they may not slip too far behind in their learning compared with others in their respective classes
7. Pray for Gary and the Youth Ministry Team in keeping the young people connected with each other and with God. Giving thanks to God for the range of opportunities for engagement on the zoom platform and the numbers of young adults taking part in them
8. Pray for Claire and the Children and Families team as they plan what might be possible in terms of further activities online for younger children and their families.
9. Pray for us as a church – that we will all be “Looking to Christ”, pray for wisdom for Brian & the Deacons as they plan to lead and guide the congregation at this time.
10.Pray for those with ongoing health issues in our church family at a time when medical support may not be as easy for them to obtain.
11. Pray for God’s comfort for those who have been recently bereaved, especially remembering Betty and Scott R and their family, together with Betty W and her family after the recent deaths of Ian R and Betty W’s granddaughter Paula, respectively. We also remember Eloise P and Elizabeth F and their families after the loss of family members. We ask that you would uphold and strengthen them all at this time.
12. We thank God for the success of the Zoom platform service once again on Sunday and pray for His guidance over the planning and preparations for future services.
13. We bring whatever other issues are on our hearts today to God in prayer concerning either ourselves or other people.
Brian Talbot