March 23, 2026
March 22, 2026
At The Cross (Love Ran Red)
At The Cross (Love Ran Red)
Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, Jonas Myrin, Matt Armstrong, Matt Redman
CCLI Song #7017786
Verse 1
There's a place
Where mercy reigns and never dies
There's a place
Where streams of grace flow deep and wide
Where all the love I've ever found
Comes like a flood comes flowing down
Chorus
At the cross at the cross
I surrender my life
I'm in awe of You
I'm in awe of You
Where Your love ran red
and my sin washed white
I owe all to You
I owe all to You
Jesus
Verse 2
There's a place
Where sin and shame are powerless
Where my heart
Has peace with God and forgiveness
Where all the love
I've ever found
Comes like a flood comes flowing down
Chorus
At the cross at the cross
I surrender my life
I'm in awe of You
I'm in awe of You
Where Your love ran red
and my sin washed white
I owe all to You
I owe all to You (Jesus)
Bridge
Here my hope is found
Here on holy ground
Here I bow down
here I bow down
Here arms open wide
Here You saved my life
Here I bow down
here I bow (down)
Chorus
At the cross at the cross
I surrender my life
I'm in awe of You
I'm in awe of You
Where Your love ran red
and my sin washed white
I owe all to You
I owe all to You (Jesus)
I owe all to You
I owe all to You
Jesus
Jesus
Where Your love ran red
Where Your love ran red
끝없는 주 자비가 늘 있는 곳
Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, Jonas Myrin, Matt Armstrong, Matt Redman
CCLI Song #7049003
십자가 그 앞에 (Love Ran Red , At the cross 한국어)
1절
끝없는 주 자비가 늘 있는 곳
주 은혜 흘러가네 넓고 깊이
내 주 사랑 강물처럼
흘러가네 흘러가네
후렴
십자가 그 앞에 내 삶을 드리네
경외함으로 주 앞에 서네
붉게 흐르는 사랑의 보혈
내 죄를 희게 씻어주셨네
예수
2절
수치와 그 모든 죄 힘을 잃고
주 용서로 내 마음은 쉼을 얻네
내 주 사랑 강물처럼
흘러가네 흘러가네
후렴
십자가 그 앞에 내 삶을 드리네
경외함으로 주 앞에 서네
붉게 흐르는 사랑의 보혈
내 죄를 희게 씻어주셨네 (예수)
브릿지
소망이 있네 거룩한 땅에
무릎 꿇고 경배하네
두 팔을 벌려 날 구하신 주
무릎 꿇고 경배해
후렴
십자가 그 앞에 내 삶을 드리네
경외함으로 주 앞에 서네
붉게 흐르는 사랑의 보혈
내 죄를 희게 씻어주셨네
내 죄를 희게 씻어주셨네
예수
예수
붉게 흐르는 사랑의 보혈
Mar 22, 2026 "Turning Off the Spiritual Autopilot" (Matthew 24:36-46)
Matthew 24:36-46 New
International Version
The Day and Hour Unknown
36 “But about that day or hour
no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[a]
but only the Father.
37 As it was in the days of
Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
38 For in the days before the
flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the
day Noah entered the ark;
39 and they knew nothing about
what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will
be at the coming of the Son of Man.
40 Two men will be in the field;
one will be taken and the other left.
41 Two women will be grinding
with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
42 “Therefore keep watch, because
you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
43 But understand this: If
the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he
would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.
44 So you also must be ready,
because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
45 “Who then is the faithful
and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household
to give them their food at the proper time?
46 It will be good for that
servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.
Turning Off the Spiritual Autopilot
Matthew 24:36-46
For people who have had a lot of problems or hardship, the end times passage in Matthew does not seem to give much comfort. Jesus gave this message shortly beforehand was tried and crucified. Yet, Jesus could not bear to keep this message to himself because He wanted to warn us of what is to come.
Jesus reminds us of the first great disaster in Noah's time.
Matthew 24:38-39 ESV
[38] For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, [39] and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Marrying, eating and drinking are not sins. But being too busy with our ordinary lives, can make us spiritually asleep. We start to ignore God and make Jesus less and less important in our lives.
Our hearts become asleep. We do not have trembling hearts or aching to become closer to God. Our work, lifestyle and other concerns shape our decisions and push us.
Jesus wants us to wake up. Jesus wants us to know what He did and suffered for us. Two days before he died, Jesus prayed. Jesus knew what he was going to endure. He asked his three most trusted disciples to pray with him and stay awake.
Matthew 26:38 ESV
[38] Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.”
The disciples fell asleep. Not because they hated Jesus or wanted Jesus to fail. They loved Jesus, but they were tired.
Matthew 26:40-43 ESV
[40] And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? [41] Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” [42] Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” [43] And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.
Jesus fought in prayer a spiritual battle. He was beaten and crucified suffering physically and carrying all our sins and shame. Jesus continues to fight for us, and many of us continue to sleep.
Some may be tempted to go to extremes and give away all their time and money. To fill their lives with busy church work. Yet, what does Jesus say?
Matthew 24:45-46 ESV
[45] “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? [46] Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.
Jesus wants us to do the work given to us and be awake. Not to just passively wait, but to actively wait. That is to give their food at the proper time. That is to repent from those things that keep us from God and to fill up that with the good works he has given us. To love others as Jesus would love them.
Carrying the heart of Jesus takes concern and effort. Moving through our Christian walk on autopilot is not what Jesus wants. We need to be conscious and make deliberate efforts to follow Jesus.
Jesus' response to the disciples who had slept was not of condemnation or revenge. It was a call to action
Matthew 26:45-46 ESV
[45] Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. [46] Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand."
Jesus wants us to love others as He loved us. Jesus wants us to reach out to the unsaved and tell them the good news. To reach out to the suffering and show His great love. Let us rise to the occasion.
March 15, 2026
Mar 15, 2026 'The Demands of Discipleship'(Luke 14:25-27, 33 & Luke 9: 57-62)
Luke 14:25-27, 33 English Standard Version
The Cost of Discipleship
25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them,
The Cost of Discipleship
25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them,
Luke 9:57-62 English Standard Version
The Cost of Following Jesus
57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
The Demands of Discipleship
Luke 14:25-27, 33, 9:57-62
These days in Korea and other countries where you can worship freely, it can seem that it is more of a trend to follow Jesus. Everyone is going to church, reading their Bible or going to early morning prayer. However, what does Jesus say to the crowds you want to follow him.
Luke 14:26 ESV
[26] “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
There is no rival to Jesus. If we claim to be followers of Jesus, nothing can equal or be more than Jesus. Jesus warns us that we need to consider the costs.
Jesus uses strong language. Hate is a strong word, but He stresses that Jesus needs to be first in our lives so much that it would seem like we hate everything else.
Jesus goes on to further to the crowds that total obedience is needed.
Luke 14:27 ESV
[27] Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
We might attend every worship service, never miss a quiet time and read our Bible diligently; however, if we are not obedient to Jesus Christ, it does not matter. We have to bear our cross and endure our suffering and avoid the earthly pleasure.
Before his message to the crowds above, he told others that if they are to follow Him, there is no retreat.
Luke 9:59-62 ESV
[59] To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” [60] And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” [61] Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” [62] Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
There are many examples of Christians who have given up their lives, their families and everything they considered valuable. Others have suffered in their lives experiencing tragedies and miseries, yet they follow Jesus without question.
Luke 14:25-27, 33, 9:57-62
These days in Korea and other countries where you can worship freely, it can seem that it is more of a trend to follow Jesus. Everyone is going to church, reading their Bible or going to early morning prayer. However, what does Jesus say to the crowds you want to follow him.
Luke 14:26 ESV
[26] “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
There is no rival to Jesus. If we claim to be followers of Jesus, nothing can equal or be more than Jesus. Jesus warns us that we need to consider the costs.
Jesus uses strong language. Hate is a strong word, but He stresses that Jesus needs to be first in our lives so much that it would seem like we hate everything else.
Jesus goes on to further to the crowds that total obedience is needed.
Luke 14:27 ESV
[27] Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
We might attend every worship service, never miss a quiet time and read our Bible diligently; however, if we are not obedient to Jesus Christ, it does not matter. We have to bear our cross and endure our suffering and avoid the earthly pleasure.
Before his message to the crowds above, he told others that if they are to follow Him, there is no retreat.
Luke 9:59-62 ESV
[59] To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” [60] And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” [61] Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” [62] Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
There are many examples of Christians who have given up their lives, their families and everything they considered valuable. Others have suffered in their lives experiencing tragedies and miseries, yet they follow Jesus without question.
March 9, 2026
Mar 8, 2026 “The economy of God”(Matthew 20:1-16)
Matthew 20:1-16 New
International Version
The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.
2 He
agreed to pay them a denarius[a]
for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing.
4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’
5 So they went.
“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing.
6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others
standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing
nothing?’
7 “‘Because no one has hired
us,’ they answered.
“He
said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’
8 “When evening came, the
owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their
wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’
9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius.
10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius.
11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner.
12 ‘These who were hired
last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have
borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’
13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius?
14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you.
15 Don’t I have the right to do what
I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
16 “So the last will be first,
and the first will be last.”
The Economy of God
Matthew 20:1-16
People care about fairness. No one wants to work for eight hours while someone else works only one hour and gets paid the same amount. In Matthew 20, the vineyard owner is not being fair to his workers.
Jesus starts the parable with a vineyard owner going to the marketplace to hire some workers early in the morning, sunrise. The owner finds some workers and hires them for one denarius to do a full day's work on his field. This is fair and normal.
The owner returns to the workers' market and finds more men just standing around. The men are standing around because they have no work, so the owner hires them and agrees to pay them a fair wage. He makes several return trips to the market. In fact, he makes three additional trips throughout the day, hiring more workers each time.
The owner then has his supervisor pay the last ones to start work first. This means the one who came first to work would see what the later workers received. This was intentional.
Jesus shows us in this parable that God desires to save everyone. when you come to God or what work you have done is inconsequential. It also makes us in the church reflect on how we have done this with God. We feel God is not fair when we see immature or weak Christians being saved while others who have given up so much receive the same.
God's justice is a rescue system. It is about bringing all broken people back together, not about ranking or selecting who will be saved or who will serve in the Kingdom of God.
Much like the workers hired later in the day, there are many of us who want to be with God and are waiting for His invitation. We might have received our invitation later than others and are grateful for this. We might have received our invitation earlier than others and should be still grateful that we are saved.
There was nothing the workers could do but wait to be hired. It is the same with our salvation. There is nothing we could do to be saved. Isn't it enough that we are saved as well as countless others?
Matthew 20:1-16
People care about fairness. No one wants to work for eight hours while someone else works only one hour and gets paid the same amount. In Matthew 20, the vineyard owner is not being fair to his workers.
Jesus starts the parable with a vineyard owner going to the marketplace to hire some workers early in the morning, sunrise. The owner finds some workers and hires them for one denarius to do a full day's work on his field. This is fair and normal.
The owner returns to the workers' market and finds more men just standing around. The men are standing around because they have no work, so the owner hires them and agrees to pay them a fair wage. He makes several return trips to the market. In fact, he makes three additional trips throughout the day, hiring more workers each time.
The owner then has his supervisor pay the last ones to start work first. This means the one who came first to work would see what the later workers received. This was intentional.
Jesus shows us in this parable that God desires to save everyone. when you come to God or what work you have done is inconsequential. It also makes us in the church reflect on how we have done this with God. We feel God is not fair when we see immature or weak Christians being saved while others who have given up so much receive the same.
God's justice is a rescue system. It is about bringing all broken people back together, not about ranking or selecting who will be saved or who will serve in the Kingdom of God.
Much like the workers hired later in the day, there are many of us who want to be with God and are waiting for His invitation. We might have received our invitation later than others and are grateful for this. We might have received our invitation earlier than others and should be still grateful that we are saved.
There was nothing the workers could do but wait to be hired. It is the same with our salvation. There is nothing we could do to be saved. Isn't it enough that we are saved as well as countless others?
March 7, 2026
Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling
Softly And Tenderly
William Lamartine Thompson
CCLI Song #28380
© Words: Public Domain; Music: Public Domain
Verse 1
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling
Calling for you and for me
See on the portals He's waiting and watching
Watching for you and for me
Verse 2
Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading
Pleading for you and for me
Why should we linger and heed not His mercies
Mercies for you and for me
Chorus
Come home come home
Ye who are weary come home
Earnestly tenderly Jesus is calling
Calling O sinner come home
Verse 3
Time is now fleeting the moments are passing
Passing from you and from me
Shadows are gathering death-beds are coming
Coming for you and for me
Verse 4
O for the wonderful love He has promised
Promised for you and for me
Tho we have sinned He has mercy and pardon
Pardon for you and for me
Chorus
Come home come home
Ye who are weary come home
Earnestly tenderly Jesus is calling
Calling O sinner come home
Calling O sinner come home
예수가 우리를 부르는 소리
(Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling)
새 528장. (통 318장)
1. 예수가 우리를 부르는 소리
그 음성 부드러워
문 앞에 나와서 사면을 보며
우리를 기다리네
2. 간절히 오라고 부르실 때에
우리는 지체하랴
주님의 은혜를 왜 아니 받고
못 들은 체하려나
오라 오라
방황치 말고 오라
죄 있는 자들아 이리로 오라
주 예수 앞에 오라
3. 세월이 살같이 빠르게 지나
쾌락이 끝이 나고
사망의 그늘이 너와 내 앞에
둘리며 가리우네
오라 오라
방황치 말고 오라
죄 있는 자들아 이리로 오라
주 예수 앞에 오라
4. 우리를 위하여 예비해 두신
영원한 집이 있어
죄 많은 세상을 떠나게 될 때
영접해 주시겠네
오라 오라
방황치 말고 오라
오라 오라
방황치 말고 오라
오라 오라
방황치 말고 오라
죄 있는 자들아 이리로 오라
주 예수 앞에 오라
March 1, 2026
My Jesus, I Love Thee
My Jesus I Love Thee
CCLI Song #27817
Adoniram Judson Gordon | William Ralph Featherstone
© Words: Public Domain; Music: Public Domain
Adoniram Judson Gordon | William Ralph Featherstone
© Words: Public Domain; Music: Public Domain
Verse 1
My Jesus I love Thee I know Thou art mine
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign
My gracious Redeemer my Savior art Thou
If ever I loved Thee my Jesus 'tis now
My Jesus I love Thee I know Thou art mine
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign
My gracious Redeemer my Savior art Thou
If ever I loved Thee my Jesus 'tis now
Verse 2
I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me
And purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow
If ever I loved Thee my Jesus 'tis now
I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me
And purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow
If ever I loved Thee my Jesus 'tis now
Verse 3
I'll love Thee in life I will love Thee in death
And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath
And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow
If ever I loved Thee my Jesus 'tis now
I'll love Thee in life I will love Thee in death
And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath
And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow
If ever I loved Thee my Jesus 'tis now
Verse 4
In mansions of glory and endless delight
I'll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright
I'll sing with the glittering crown on my brow
If ever I loved Thee my Jesus 'tis now
In mansions of glory and endless delight
I'll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright
I'll sing with the glittering crown on my brow
If ever I loved Thee my Jesus 'tis now
If ever I loved Thee my Jesus 'tis now
내 주 되신 주를 참 사랑하고
새 315 통 512
1. 내 주 되신 주를 참 사랑하고
곧 그에게 죄를 다 고합니다
큰 은혜를 주신 내 예수시니
이전보다 더욱 사랑합니다
2. 주 날 사랑하사 구하시려고
저 십자가 고난 당하셨도다
그 가시관 쓰신 내 주 뵈오니
이전보다 더욱 사랑합니다
3. 내 평생에 힘쓸 그 큰 의무는
주 예수의 덕을 늘 기림이라
숨질 때에까지 내 할 말씀은
이전보다 더욱 사랑합니다
4. 그 영광의 나라 나 들어가서
그 풍성한 은혜 늘 감사하리
금 면류관 쓰고 나 찬송할 말
이전보다 더욱 사랑합니다
February 26, 2026
Mar 1, 2026 "The Greatest of Being Small" (Matthew 18:1-4)
Matthew 18 New International Version
The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven
18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus
and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.
3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
The Greatest of Being Small
Matthew 18:1-4
We live in a world of hierarchies. We constantly rate and rank each other on everything. Whether it is age, salary, position, education or even looks, we are always comparing ourselves to others and trying to move up the ladder of success.
In Matthew, the disciples wanted to know who was going to be the greatest in Heaven, or better to say, they wanted to know which of the disciples were going to be Jesus's number two. Jesus knew their hearts and knew the problem of taking earthly ideas into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Jesus showed the disciples the correct way to think about entering Heaven.
Matthew 18:3-4 ESV
[3] and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. [4] Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus is not interested in perfect people. You don't need to be more successful than the next person. God loves the humble and we have to realize that our status and success will not get us into heaven. In fact, Jesus chose a child to show the perfect example of how we could be.
Children are totally dependent on Their parents. They do not have any finances or power to protect themselves or take care of themselves. Like children, we need to be completely dependent on God. Calling on Jesus to help us with every difficulty and give all the glory to God.
Greatest in Heaven is not about how high you can climb, but how much we are willing to humble ourselves. There are many people who do ministry but are quiet and unseen. They do not want the credit but only to do God' s work with humility. They do not need others to validate them or to move up their social status.
The world might look down on those people who work hard for God's kingdom not for their own benefit but to please God for no reward. The world will laugh at us for making ourselves lower for God's sake.
Heaven is not a place where giants made a fortress to promote themselves, but a place where the humble has sacrificed and they call out for God to rescue them. Heaven is a place for respite.
As our ego shrinks, Jesus will grow larger in our lives.
February 23, 2026
Feb 22, 2026 “Walking on Water”(Matthew 14:22-33)
Matthew 14:22-33 New International Version
Jesus Walks on the Water
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.
23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone,
24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.
26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.
33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Walking on Water
Matthew 14:22-33
When can you remember the last time you felt like your life was completely surrounded by darkness?
Matthew 14:24 ESV
[24] but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.
The disciples were in a very scary place when they were in the middle of a storm. The disciples had obeyed Jesus and they were in the middle of a storm. It was not like Jonah, who had purposely disobeyed God. The obedient disciples were scared, but this sometimes happens. We find ourselves in situations that are too much and we cannot control it.
Matthew 14:25-26 ESV
[25] And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. [26] But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear.
When things are looking terrible, Jesus comes to the disciples walking on the water. At first the disciples do not recognize that it is Jesus. This is true for us. Jesus will meet us in difficult times. It might be that we were obedient, but life can be like that. Jesus will use difficult times to meet us.
Matthew 14:27-29 ESV
[27] But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” [28] And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” [29] He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.
After Peter sees that it is Jesus, Peter asks Jesus if he should come to Him. Jesus calls him to come.
Matthew 14:30 ESV
[30] But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”
Unfortunately , Peter starts to sink. Peter sinks because his focus went off Jesus. He started to look at the waves. The storm had not intensified the waves did not get higher or the winds blow harder. Peter stopped looking at Jesus and focus on his situation.
Faith takes effort. It requires action and deliberate action. We need to stop studying our problems and calculating. Faith is necessary to do the great things God wants us to do. Peter is smart enough to cry out to Jesus. Peter's Faith is not perfect, but He knows Jesus.
Matthew 14:31-32 ESV
[31] Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” [32] And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
Jesus doesn't hesitate or scold him, but reaches out to help Peter. Jesus does ask Peter why he doubted, but this is after Jesus pulls him up. Yes, Jesus asks why Peter doubted but it is not to shame him, but to help him grow.
Jesus is not looking to point out our sins, but to have victory. The real victory was getting into the boat with Jesus. The moment they get into the boat, the wind stops. The wind is quiet and the boat is now still.
Matthew 14:33 ESV
[33] And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.
Maybe you, too feel like you are in the storm. Your situation is scaring you or out of control, but when Jesus comes into rescue you, you can give praise to God.
We must remember that it is not our mistakes, our problems or fears that define us, but rather our relationship with Jesus.
February 15, 2026
Feb 15, 2026 “Lord of the Sabbath”(Matthew 12:1-8)
Matthew 12:1-8 New International
Version
Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath
12 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields
on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain
and eat them.
2 When the Pharisees saw this,
they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”
3 He answered, “Haven’t you
read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
4 He entered the house of
God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for
them to do, but only for the priests.
5 Or haven’t you read in the
Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet
are innocent?
6 I tell you that something
greater than the temple is here.
7 If you had known what these
words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’[a]
you would not have condemned the innocent.
8 For the Son of Man is Lord
of the Sabbath.”
Footnotes
- Matthew 12:7
Hosea 6:6
Lord of the
Sabbath
Matthew 12:1-8
The Pharisees see the disciples eating unpicked
grain on the Sabbath. The Pharisees did not see hungry people but the law being
broken. The tradition or law of keeping the sabbath has been around for many years
at this time, yet what was more important- keeping the law or caring for the person?
Mosaic law forbade work on the Sabbath. Harvesting
grain to eat was considered work. Jesus is the voice of God and does not change
the law but looks at the law. Jesus takes the story of King David who violated the
law by eating consecrated bread. The scriptures do not condemn David but celebrates
the salvation of eating the bread.
Matthew 12:3-4 ESV
[3] He said to them, “Have you not read what David
did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: [4] how he entered the house
of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat
nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?
Jesus then looks at the temple priests who must
work harder on the Sabbath to fulfill their duties.
Jesus comes to the conclusion that the law was
to save us and not to tie us down. Often times we forget the essence of the laws.
The essence of the Sabbath was to give people rest. Over time this day of rest became
a burden.
Jesus did not come to tear down the law, but to
restore it. At the centre of the law is restoration and life. The law was never
made to oppress people. It was made to give life. This brings up the question, "What
really pleases God?"
God desire mercy. The Hebrew word for mercy is
a covenantal mercy(*chesed-steadfast love, kindness toward His people). Sacrifice
without mercy is not what God wants. Living a life that pleases God is what God
truly wants.
Matthew 12:7 ESV
[7] And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire
mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.
It is no good coming to church, praying, taking
on roles at church, giving alms to the poor while not being merciful. The character
of God is seen in Jesus, he was merciful, compassionate, and giving.
Jesus is saying the sabbath is not a regulation
but it is himself. Jesus healed, set people free, and restored people. Jesus fulfilled
the sabbath. The standard of our faith is not how well we keep the rules but how
we reflect Jesus.
We need to experience the love of God and share
that with others. We need to reflect Jesus. The way life is given is mercy-the same
compassion that is given by God. It is not calling people out or judging them. When
Jesus is the centre of the service, worship and Sabbath, restoration will happen
wherever you go.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)