PART FIVE: Glorification of Jesus on The Cross- John 17: 1-6, 24- 26

Sermon subject: It was through death of Jesus we find our Victory over sin.
Sermon Objective. That my listeners should realize that it was by the death of Jesus we have been called sons of God

Introduction

For Jesus life had a climax, and that was on the cross. As we will see the cross was his glory and that of eternity. Notice that Jesus says that the hour had come for the son of man to be glorified. What did he mean by this? This is our aim, to try and look at what this mean...

Many times we see in the Gospel Jesus saying that the hour has not come, cf 2:4 when Mary spoke to him at the wedding at Cana, evidently suggesting that he should intervene in the tense social situation by Manifesting his power, he informed her that his time had not come yet

The cross was the glory of Jesus because he was never more majestic than in his death. The cross was his glory because its magnet drew men to him in a way that even his life had never done, and it is so even to date.

Explanation

Glory- The son glorified the Father by revealing in this act the sovereignty of God over evil, the compassion of God for men, and the finality of redemption for the believers. Further the cross was the glory of Jesus because was the completion of his work. In the first chapter of this Gospel we read that “In him was life, and that life was the light of men” (1:4) “the son of man must be lifted that those who belief in him may have eternal life” 3:15-16. What does it men to have eternal Life? As seen in the previous sermon, it is to know the only true God who is the truth.

In his prayer he said that he has accomplished the work. This was a Jesus talking to the father, and he further says that the time as come. Note that he is now in agreement that time has come for his glory, a thing that he kept on reputing now and again. For him to have stopped short of the cross would have been to leave his task uncompleted. This is because he had come to the world to tell men about the love of God and to show it to them.Cf John 3:16. In Jesus we can say that he showed men the true nature and the true character of God; and the humblest Christian can take his unutterable name upon his lips.

The hour has now arrived in which the work of Christ must be completed by the voluntary sacrifice of his life for the salvation of the world and by his consequent glorification. Time that was not yet come now is at hand. He has hand to his disciple teaching concerning his relation to the Father, concerning his death and resurrection. He prayed for them confidently that in all this they may be kept by the Father’s (God) power.Nowel Davy in his book, the Fourth Gospel-states that,” the whole truth is theirs, and its meaning will also be theirs I n a little while by the power of the Holy Spirit which is to be given to them”

In the whole of this passage and chapter in general, there is a ringing confidence about the future in the voice of Jesus. He was with these men, the men God had given him, and he thanked god for them, and he never doubted that they would carry on the work he had given them to do.

Illustration

There is a famous story told in African of a man who was send by a chief to deliver massage to his subject. While on his way this massager had a misfortune which led to his death. But before he died, he could speak and in this way he was able to tell the massage to those who came to his aid.

In his very words as the story goes, in conclusion of his message he said, “tell those who have ears to hear for I have done my part” For sure in the same way Jesus had played his part in passing to men what the Father had sent him with, now it was upon those who had head him to on pass to others. And this was the main task of his disciples.

Application

First, Jesus said that he had given his disciple the glory which his father had given him. As we put our faith trust and belief in him, we must understand what his glory was. Without which that our being Christians will be threatened. I would want us to conclude by seeing that the cross was his glory. Jesus did not speak of being crucified, he spoke of being glorified. Therefore the first foremost Christian’s glory is the cross that he must bear. It is an honor to suffer for Christ. We should never think of our cross as our penalty. It is our glory for we are countered as one with the savoir. So when it is hard to be a Christian, we must regard it as our glory given to us by God.

Jesus’ glory lay in the fact that, from his life men recognized his special relationship with God. They saw that no one could live as he did unless he was uniquely near to God. As with Christ, it is our glory when men see in us the reflection of God.

Conclusion

Jesus said that it was his will that his disciples should see his glory in the heavenly places. It is the Christian’s conviction that he wick share all the experience of Christ. If ha to share Christ cross, he will also share his glory. And this is true cf 2tim 2:11f.

Finally it is good to note that Jesus was to go straight to the betrayal, the trial and the cross after praying. He was not to speak again to his disciples. It was a wonderful and a precious thing to remember that before their terribled hours his last words were not of despair but of glory. For he had accomplished his mission.

From Chaplain to Patient: Personal Story

It was a day like any other. I reported to work as usual. I was scheduled to attend a Seminar at MD Anderson Cancer Center at the medical center with my peers. Little did I know that, I would end up in the ER as a patient.

I was aware that I was not doing very well with my health for the last one-month, but one thing I was sure of is that it was nothing serious. I had taken some de-wormers because simply because I thought I had some worms, which made me feel so uncomfortable. I could not eat much as I am used to, most of the time I had no appetite for food, and I felt same craps in the stomach.

I made the decision to see my doctor, I called his office to let him know that I am unwell and I needed his appointment. However the nurse who answered the phone seemed to share the some thought with me that this sounds an emergency and I need to go down at ER and get checked. The fortunate thing at this moment was that the ER was only about 4 minutes walk from the place I was attending a seminar.

From Chaplain to patient

At this time I thought my visit to the ER was a quick one and soon or latter I would be asked to go home after the check up. I had a few patients I had planned to visit this afternoon. To my surprise I was admitted to the ER as a patient. I remember I had not taken my lunch, I thought that I would be back soon to eat.

A male nurse who first attended me by giving me the gown also spread the bed for me and he said “after you put on this (giving the gown), make yourself comfortable on this bed” I thought he was not serious since I had explained that I did not feel that sick. But in the course of the admission process, I realized that for sure I am becoming a patient in the hospital, something I had not anticipated.

The second person to attend me was a laboratory technician who came in and said he needed to draw blood out of me for test. I was moved from the room where I was and put in a different room in the same unit. This time I was more concerned about what these medics are up to. I was even more surprised that he drew 8 small bottles of blood from me. I became more nervous for I did not understand how he could get all that blood for a test in the lab.

Doctors visit

A doctor familiar to me come in and introduced himself, and said that he his filling in for my doctor. He did several things with my stomach including using his own fingers to press hard below the diaphragm. Each time he asks, “Does it hurt there?” There wasn’t much pain but I needed doctors’ attention to be able to understand what has been happening the last one month. He finally said he is going to check if I had appendicitis.

Cats Scan

The next place I found myself was the Catscan unit where I had to go several stages to complete the examination. I was scared to death since I could not remember having seen a doctor the whole of my life. I knew that if this was the problem I had, than it is not uneasy one since I could remember my own sister who had lots of struggle with the same problem. However, in my mind I could say this is not it. But on the other hand I kept on thinking how serious it would be.

Interaction with care givers

In my practice as a chaplain, I have always liked the way the group in this unit works. On various occasion I have been to the Unit, and I have close relationship with same of the people working here. Several of them came in to see me and wished me well. I was more scared when all my peers came in turns to see me. This reminded me of patients I visit in other Units.

I did not want them see me as a very sick person; thus I would tell them that I do not feel very bad. It was for me when patient transport person came by and asked to take me to the Cats Scan Unit on level two. I requested him to let me walk rather than push me on the bed. My fear here was that people that I know would see me in the patients’ bed and wonder what is happening. This was the most difficult time for me as a patient considering that I have never been to hospital before.

My own worries and those of my family

I was worried that if something was wrong with my appendix, I would go for surgery, which brought me the thought of how I see people suffer in SICU after surgery. I could not stop thinking how painful it would be, and how I will face lots of emotional charges after the surgery.

All this time in the ER, I did not want my wife to know because I was not sure what the diagnosis would be. I was afraid that if she realizes that I am in hospital she would come over leaving the children alone. By this time our three girls were nothing but babies.

On the other hand I was afraid that I would get some sick off days which would interfere with my learning process and my chaplaincy experience. I did not like imagining my peers coming to see me and how they would empathize with me.

Teamwork appreciated

Over and over again I have heard patients say that they have been given all the care they may want to ask in the hospital. I felt the some when each member in the caregiving team came by my bed. There were several nurses who came at different times, the patient liaison, the doctor who made it clear that he was covering for my physician, all my peers, my coordinating Chaplains and my supervisor who was with me all the along. I could now understand how patients feel when they are visited.

Mission and evangelism- A guide to Church Planters and pastors

Term definition:
Mission is reaching out to the other person (people). This can be done in various ways depending on where and who is doing it.

Church and Mission work
It is the duty of the local church, organizations to develop a missionary life and spirit in the Local church.
Support of missionary “specials” by individuals and organization and the whole church.

How the local church should be involved:

Many protestant churches believe in the ‘priesthood’ of all believers – each member of the church has a role to play in missions and evangelism.

“All members of the body of Christ are called to be
Ministers. Everyone has a definite function that is
essential to the body as a whole” Rick 1992, 118.

Commission of Jesus to the Twelve in Mark 6:7f.

Proposals for local Church.
One to one – this involves each person by;
Visiting members
Calling them on phone
Spending time with new members of the church

Door to door. This may be done by a group of people or pairs
· This model is the one in Mark 6: 7

Church Revivals and Spiritual retreats.
· Youth Groups Spiritual Meetings
· Women revivals
· Men Revival/spiritual Camps

Commitment in Mission.

What does it take to commit oneself to Mission work?
· Commitment
· Time
· Devotion
· Money/Resources

Leader (ship):
Learned
Educated
Adviser
Devoted
Enabler
Resourceful

CARING - A tool for Pastoral Care: Real Case presentation.Revised

Ida (not her real name) had been in the hospital four days when her mother asked the hospital chaplain to visit. Ida is 4 years old, a daughter of a single parent. She had respiratory problems and was struggling to breathe. After spending sleepless, disorienting days and nights at her daughter’s bedside, Monica (name changed) needed someone to talk to.

During this visit, I learned family members, friends and co-workers had come to visit Monica and her daughter, and they were great. Monica told me she really wanted them around, but she lamented that they didn’t understand the clinical language that defined her new existence and that of her daughter. Monica said the doctors and nurses were polite, efficient and professional by all means, but focused on their jobs.

I’m writing this column to explain the role of a hospital chaplain. Many patients and families of loved ones in a hospital think of a hospital chaplain only as a priest who delivers Last Rites when a person is dying. In fact, many times I have visited with patients who decline the visit, saying they are not dying.

At one point, I was making morning rounds in a regular medical unit when one of the patients asked whether I knew something she didn’t. She thought her prognosis was very poor and I was coming to prepare her for the worst news.

Of course, if you are religiously observant, a chaplain can offer you Communion, light Shabbat candles, read scriptures, provide anointing, among other religious Rites. A chaplain is someone whose job is to help patients, families and hospital staff find their place both emotionally and spiritually.

But chaplains are not just for religious folks, they’re for everybody. Since all humans are spiritual beings, regardless of their belief system, chaplains are for them all. “A chaplain is for people of faith and those of none,” source unknown.

Most of you reading this article know very well that being in hospital can be very isolating, probably having been in a hospital yourself or having a loved one in hospital as a patient. It is the role of a chaplains to come in and pull the curtains back in that dark room and help patient remember there is more to their life than being a patient. The chaplain does not necessarily visit to talk to the patients, but also to listen and empathize with them. As a chaplain, I find myself many times simply sitting and listening to patients narrates their stories.

Monica was in the best hospital, as she later told me. She had been seen by professional doctors and nurses who were very caring, but she observed that they had no time to listen to her. The chaplain is a safe person to talk to, someone with no agenda except the wellbeing of the patient, and who has time to listen. Chaplains are resources for all things: religious, spiritual, emotional, social, etc. While doctors and other staff might be able to fill some of those needs, chaplains are professionals in this area.

Because many people don’t know about chaplaincy services, or hesitate to call on a chaplain even if one is available, the service is under-used. Some of my duties are to help patients with Medical Power of Attorney, Directives to Physician, bedside prayer, serve Holy Communion, be a liaison between the patient and local community or churches, and so much more. Most patients decline this free service, thinking it costs.

When I arrived in Ida’s room, the visit just what her mother needed. Monica later told me she needed someone wearing normal clothes (not scrubs and lab coats), who sat with her and asked about Ida, listened to her story, and said a little healing prayer for Ida.

I later learned Monica was not a practicing Christian, yet she needed a chaplain to provide for her emotional and spiritual needs. During our visit, Monica was in tears, and finally she was able to express emotions.

It is my advice that, if you find yourself in the hospital as a patient or with a loved one as a patient, like Monica and Ida, why not asks the nurse if the chaplain can drop in on you. A little human contact might do you good — no religious beliefs required.