#GOFAMINTDailyDevotion Sun. 27/3/2016

26 March 2016

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27/3/2016 LESSON 4:

JESUS CHRIST: THE KING WHO PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE

Quarter’s Theme: PORTRAITS OF JEWISH KINGS

Unit 2 – Portraits Of The King Of Kings (Lesson 4)

Suggested Hymns: G.H.B. 174, 176

Devotional Reading: ISA. 53:1-12

Topic For Adults

THE COST OF OUR REDEMPTION

Topic For Youths

YOU WERE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE

Topic For Intermediates

VALUE THE GREAT SACRIFICE

Scripture Lesson

2 SAM. 7:11-15; ISA. 9:6-7; MK. 15:16-26; 16:1-13

(SOUL WINNERS CROWN COMPETITION MONTHS)

MEMORY VERSE

Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver and gold… but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

(1 Pet. 1:18-19) NKJV

DAILY DEVOTIONAL READING

Sun. 27/3/2016

Announce His Resurrection

Mk. 16:1-20

On the first day of the week, certain women who were followers of Jesus Christ went very early to the tomb where Jesus was buried. On getting there, they discovered that the large stone used to cover the tomb had been removed. As they entered the tomb, an angel announced the resurrection to them. The angel gave a specific instruction to the women to go and tell His disciples that He had risen. The promise Jesus made regarding His resurrection came to pass regardless of man-made obstacles. The power of death could not hold Him captive as He is the resurrection and life (Jn. 11:25). It is our duty to announce the good news of Jesus’ death for our sins and His resurrection for our hope to all men. During this season and always, you should announce this.

Point of Emphasis: There is no iota of doubt about His resurrection.

Prayer Point: Lord, give me grace and boldness to take the good news to others around me.

BACK GROUND

In this quarter, we have been studying the lives of Jewish kings. This week, we are deviating. We are not just learning about a Jewish king (although He is one), but about the King of kings, the everlasting Father and the Prince of peace who came into the world to pay the ultimate price for our redemption. We are concerned this week about the prophecies confirming Him as a King, His sufferings, death and His eventual resurrection to seal our redemption and to assure us of life after death. Our focus this week is to appreciate the great sacrifice paid by the great King.

NOTE ON THE TEXTS

PART 1: JESUS IS KING OF KINGS (2 SAM. 7:11-15; ISA. 9:6-7)

God made a promise to David that a king would come from His bowel but He (God) would be the father of the king and that the kingdom of that king would be established forever. Isaiah also testified to this through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that a child to be born would be the Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace

A child being called ‘God’ and ‘Everlasting Father’ is definitely quite an occurrence. Jesus was literally God who came to us as a man. Jesus was from the line of David — He was a branch on that family tree, provided by miraculous means. He would set up a kingdom of peace, and would be a Priest on His Throne. This shows His Kingship as well as His Priesthood, which would have much more commonly be separated.

Jesus was prophesied as being the King of kings prior to His birth. He was also proclaimed as such at His birth and during His life. He was revealed as a king by many who attested to His kingship, a few of those who attested are listed here:

John 1:49 – “Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel”.

Luke 23:38 – Pilate: “And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS”.

Luke 1:32-33 – Angel Gabriel revealed that Jesus would reign with an eternal kingdom.

Matthew 2:2 The Magi asked “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews”?

Herod the Great was quite paranoid. Everyone was a potential threat to his kingship. Herod took the title “King of the Jews” from Romans who acknowledged that he had rulership over a Jewish population. Imagine how angry Herod would have been when some men from afar came and asked him as to where the King of the Jews had just been born! So do you know Jesus as King of kings?

PART 2: JESUS, THE KING WHO SUFFERED AND PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE (MK. 15:16-26)

The physical and spiritual suffering of Christ began in Gethsemane. His sweat after prayers was as it were great drops of blood. Immediately after this, he was arrested and tried by the religious leaders where he was condemned by the Sanhedrin. There was also a civil trial before Pilate and Herod during which all the disciples forsook him and Peter also publicly denied him.

Jesus the King was blindfolded, mocked repeatedly, spat on and struck in the face. He was led through Jerusalem, He was scourged and delivered to be crucified. Scourging was a hideous torture. The inability of Jesus to bear His own cross was no doubt due to this severe affliction.

He was crucified at Golgotha where the crowd reviled Him. He was hung there on the cross paying the ultimate price of carrying away the sins of the whole world, hence God literally forsook Him at that time because the eyes of the Lord cannot behold iniquity.

All that happened to Jesus Christ during His arrest, trial and crucifixion were foretold in the Old Testament (e.g., Ps. 22 and Isa. 53) He needed to shed His blood to pay the ultimate price for the redemption of man, for “without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin” – Heb. 9:22, 28, 10:10.

Having paid such a great price for our redemption, we now have no reason to continue living in sin. Jesus Christ provided the opportunity for everyone to come back to God, to forsake sin and live in purity of life – 1 Pet. 1:18-25. What would you do with Jesus Christ – accept Him or reject Him?

PART 3: THE KING ROSE AGAIN TRIUM-PHANTLY (MK. 16:1-13)

After His excruciating trial and crucifixion, He died and was buried in a borrowed grave. He was there for three full days as He had earlier told His disciples and those who cared to listen. The rulers who were aware of this made all efforts to frustrate His resurrection – they rolled a big stone to cover the grave and also appointed soldiers to guard the place.

On the third day, Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went inside the empty grave of Jesus where an angel announced His resurrection to them. Later, Jesus Christ appeared personally to the women, to other two disciples and later to the Apostles to confirm that He actually rose again.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the central truths of the gospel and what distinguishes Christianity from other religions. The resurrection proves that Jesus Christ is the King of kings and the eternal God. It also proves the efficacy of His redemptive works and that we who believe in Him will also resurrect when we die – 1 Cor. 15:12-19.

Jesus Christ rose from the dead and is alive for evermore! If we believe in Him, live for Him and expect His return as the coming King, we shall also resurrect to reign with Him forever. Are you one of His own?

CONCLUSION

Long before Jesus’ birth, there was a prophecy that a child shall be born with the kingdom upon His shoulder. There were prophecies also concerning the circumstances surrounding His birth, His suffering and sacrifice to bring salvation to all mankind. Everything was fulfilled to the last letter. He came, suffered, died and resurrected to liberate His subjects. Jesus is the Redeemer King!

QUESTIONS

How can you convince a sceptic that Jesus Christ is the King of kings?
What are the implications of the sufferings and crucifixion of Christ?
How can we value the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the King of kings?
Why is Jesus’ resurrection significant to Christians?
How should we apply lessons learnt from this study?