Partakers Christian Podcasts

Prayer of Bonaventure

Partakers Prayer

We pray together and when Christians pray together, from different nations, different churches and different denominations - that reveals Church unity! Come! Let us pray together!

A prayer of Bonaventure

Lord Jesus,

as God’s Spirit came down and rested upon you,

may the same Spirit rest upon and be within us.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

O Yahweh,

Grant us the gift of understanding,

by which your precepts may enlighten our minds.

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O Jehovah,

Grant us counsel,

by which we may follow in your footsteps on the path of righteousness.

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O Great God,

grant us courage,

by which we may ward off the Enemy’s attacks.

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O Sovereign God,

grant us knowledge, 

by which we can distinguish good from evil.

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O Merciful God,

grant us piety,

by which we may acquire compassionate hearts.

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O Holy God,

grant us fear,

by which we may draw back from evil and submit to what is good.

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O ineffable God made known through Jesus,

grant us wisdom,

that we may taste fully the life-giving sweetness of your love.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

For we ask this, O God our Father,

In the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us

Through the Son who died and rose again!

Amen.

 

Based on a Prayer of Bonaventure 1221 –1274

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Investigating Jesus - Part 32

Investigating Jesus Part 32

Jesus’ Last Prayer:
Jesus prays for his disciples (John 17:6-19)

In this part of the prayer, Jesus prays for his disciples. Note how he describes them: they were chosen by God Himself, seen God in Jesus and have received God’s words and obeyed them (John 17:6). John 17:6, 9-10 tells us that the disciples were in the safe possession of both the Father and the Son.

John 17:7-8 shows what the disciples know. Despite misunderstanding frequently what Jesus was talking about, the disciples still grasped that Jesus had come from God. Having taught that they will endure persecution and suffering because they are his followers, Jesus prays for their safety. They will be safe, not because of their own cunning, character or conduct. They will be safe because of God’s care and protection (John 17:11-12).

As they are God’s possession, God Himself will ensure that they are watched over and protected. This security is also born from glorifying God and being witnesses for Him (John 17:10). God is glorified whenever his salvation plan is explained and told. Who are the disciples’ enemies and why do they need protecting (John 17:11-12, 15)?

The first enemy is the world who does not know God and is therefore in rebellion against God. The disciples were told of this prior to this prayer. satan is also an enemy of the disciple and will do all he can to stop God being glorified in the life of the disciple. How will God keep them safe? Through his mighty name and nature. By remaining loyal to Jesus, obedient to his teachings and telling others about Him, God’s name & nature will therefore protect them.

Jesus also prays that they may be filled with joy (John 17:13) and be dedicated wholly and solely to Him. The disciples now have a mission and purpose to fulfil – to tell others of Jesus. This mission, though whilst their responsibility, is not theirs alone but is the continuation of Jesus’ mission to bring people to reconciliation with God. Part of that mission is to live a holy life in the power of the Holy Spirit, for the Holy Spirit is the real and true pioneer evangelist. Living a holy life, means living a life not for themselves but for the glory and obedience of Jesus Christ.

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Investigating Jesus - Part 31

Investigating Jesus Part 31

Jesus’ Last Prayer:
Jesus prays for Himself (John 17:1-5)

After his final teaching on his last night before his death, Jesus now turns to prayer. Firstly, praying for Himself, then for his twelve disciples and then finally for all disciples that will follow, the church. This prayer is probably the pinnacle of revelation in John’s gospel. Here we see Jesus’ very words, revealing an unparalleled intimacy with his Father. We get a glimpse into the very heart of their relationship and see the intimate bond between them.

Jesus prays for Himself (John 17:1-5)

Central to this part of his prayer is glorification. That is the glorification of Himself in order that God the Father who sent Him will be glorified. Glorify is rarely used outside of church circles today. If ever it is, is usually in the context of somebody pretending to be better than they really are. Glorify means, in a biblical context, to have the person’s true nature disclosed. In effect, Jesus is saying in John 17:1: “May people see me for who I truly am, your Son. And may they also, through me, see your true nature, Father.”

Praying as he does, just before he knowingly goes to his death on the cross, shows the importance of the cross. For it is through the cross that God the Father and Jesus will be glorified. Jesus’ death on the cross reveals a God of love, faithfulness and forgiveness.

I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. (John 17:4) reveals that it was for this purpose that he came, to complete the work given. Jesus’ entire earthly life has been one to show divine love – all for the glory of the Father.

All Jesus’ works and words were completed without even a hint of hypocrisy or sinfulness. His entire life was driven by the desire to see sinful people turn to God for reconciliation and forgiveness. At the cross and through the cross alone, this is achieved. Jesus confidently prays that having laid aside his glory by taking on human form, he will return to God’s right hand, having achieved the work of redemption.

The theme of eternal life runs throughout John’s Gospel (John 3:15-16; John 10:28). What is eternal life? Eternal life is knowing God personally and intimately, and that is only achieved by faith, through Jesus’ death on the cross. It is a free offer and open to all. It is the responsibility of each individual to take up this free offer from God. Once the offer is taken up, the responsibility is then to tell others of this offer. Do you know this Jesus personally? When was the last time you told somebody else about Him? Imagine what this world would be like if more Christians were obedient in this way!

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Investigating Jesus - Part 30

Investigating Jesus Part 30

Jesus’ Last Teaching:
Disciples will have resources in the kingdom

The prime resource that Christian Disciples have is, as we have already seen, God the Holy Spirit. He is the real evangelist. In conjunction with Him, the Christian Disciple has other resources which are available for us to use: counselling, discipling and proclaiming, .

Counselling (John 16:8-11): As well as proclaiming about Jesus, the Holy Spirit speaks to people’s hearts, personally – one to one. He convinces people hearing God’s Word of three things: their own sin (John 16:8); their separation from a righteous God (John 16:10) and in regard to the judgement of satan and all who follow Him (John 16:11). In these three things, a person is led to the Cross in order to confess their sin and need of Jesus Christ and the salvation only he can give.
Discipling (John 16:12-16): Once brought to faith, the Holy Spirit performs several tasks for the Twelve Disciples: he will guide them into all truth and develop what is coming in the future (John 16:13). The New Testament is the product of this work, and that through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. For the Christian Disciple today, the Holy Spirit helps them to apply the Bible to their life in order that Jesus Christ be glorified (John 16:14).
Proclaiming (John 16:1-7): this is the proclaiming and elucidating work about Jesus that the Spirit performs. The Holy Spirit testifies about Jesus’ death on the cross and subsequent resurrection (John 16:14). If Jesus did not go back to glory, and the Holy Spirit was not sent, then the pioneering work of the Holy Spirit would be missing from evangelism and mission. Not only does the Holy Spirit direct people to Jesus, but he takes them to Him.
His position: Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33) and nothing can prevail against Him.
His presence: The twelve disciples will experience sorrow and loss when Jesus is crucified. But after the resurrection, their sorrow will turn to great joy – similar to the exceeding joy after the pains of childbirth. Christian Disciples today also have Jesus’ presence with them, particularly when engaged in doing the work of an evangelist.
His provision: Through answered prayer, joy abounds (John 16:24). Prayer is going to be of prime importance for the twelve disciples as it is a way to ensure unabated joy.

Very soon, these disciples will need all these provisions – particularly for when the man they are following, Jesus Christ, leaves them.

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Investigating Jesus - Part 29

Investigating Jesus Part 29

Jesus’ Last Teaching:
Disciples will suffer for the kingdom

John 15:18: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.”

We learn from this passage that opposition to Jesus’ message is unavoidable. The first opposition is that of the old nature attacking the new nature. Christian Disciples, Jesus said, were called out from the world (John 15:19). Christian Disciples upon conversion belong to a different place and are heading for a different place.

Secondly, opposition is to be expected simply because of who Jesus is (John 15:21). Christian Disciples share in the life of Jesus and the way the world treats Jesus is the way the world treats all his disciples (John 15:20-21). Thirdly, opposition comes through revealing evil. Jesus, as the Light of the World, exposed evil and sin through his words (John 15:22) and works (John 15:24). At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus commanded all those who follow Him, to also be “lights of the world” (Matthew 5:14-16). This is done by consistently ensuring that our works and words match our lifestyle and that no hypocrisy will be found. Opposition brings persecution, and regularly throughout history,

Christian believers have been persecuted for their faith in Jesus. In our own time, perhaps the most persecuted century of all.  Being a Christian is not an easy decision, but it is worth it. It is also endurable because of three reasons:

God remains Lord God despite all; we share in Jesus’ own sufferings and therefore have fellowship with Him (Philippians 3:10) and by being persecuted, it shows we belong to Him (John 15:19). The main reason all opposition can be endured is because the Christian Disciple is not alone. God the Holy Spirit witnesses with the Christian Disciple (John 15:26). Not as a supplementary person filling a perfunctory role, but rather as the pioneer going out to testify about Jesus ahead (John 15:26) of the Christian Disciple (John 15:27).

 

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Investigating Jesus - Part 28

Investigating Jesus Part 28
Jesus’ Last Teaching: Disciples must bear fruit for the kingdom

Before he is crucified, Jesus is saying goodbye to his disciples and giving them some final teaching before he departs. Several times he has told them he is going away (John 13:33; John 14:3-4, 19, 28).

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” (John 15:1-2).

As usual Jesus uses Old Testament language, for in the Old Testament, the nation of Israel is often seen as a vine (Jeremiah 2:21; Psalm 80). However, as a vine, Israel had not produced fruit that God had expected as explained here:
I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard: My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside.
He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines. He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well. Then he looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit.”
‘Now you dwellers in Jerusalem and people of Judah,
judge between me and my vineyard.
What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it? When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad? (Isaiah 5:1-4)

With Jesus describing Himself as the true Vine, the implication is clear that the nation of Israel was but an imperfect precursor to his perfect self. With Jesus as the vine, all believers are the branches, and all believers draw spiritual nourishment from Him.

As part of this nourishment, sometimes pruning is required (John 15:2). Cleansing is also required in order that fruit be borne from the Christian Disciple. This cleansing is through regular confession of sin and partaking of Holy Communion as explained in the foot-washing scene of John 13.

What more are His disciples and follower to do? They are to prove to others, they are his followers and his disciples. I n doing so, they are also showing that they truly love him. Jesus tells them they are to continue loving Him and to sacrificially love others joyfully (John 15:12-14). By doing these things, which is now their mission statement, they will bear much good fruit for God’s greater glory (John 15:8).

This of course is to be true of us today, if we are Christian Disciples. Having spoken of love and bearing fruit, Jesus now declares a warning and the context into which he is sending them. Something which although they have heard before, they haven’t quite grasped it fully.

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Investigating Jesus - Part 27

Investigating Jesus Part 27

Jesus Encounters a Woman caught in adultery

Jesus, as all Rabbis and teachers did, was at the temple teaching and talking with people. It was also part of the role of the rabbi/teachers to ascertain what to do in certain difficult moral and legal situations. As part of this role, the Pharisees dragged in an unknown woman charged with adultery. Likewise, with the Samaritan woman, we don’t know this woman’s name either. The Pharisees lay a trap for Jesus. If Jesus said to stone the woman, then the Romans could arrest Jesus, for it was Roman law that any death must be conducted by them and not by others.

If Jesus says to release the woman, then the Pharisees would say that Jesus is contravening Scripture and the Law of Moses. What does Jesus do? He writes in the dirt (John 8:6). We don’t know what he wrote, but from the Greek word for ‘write’, we understand that he was seemingly writing a report. Additionally, when Jesus says: “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7), he is in fact saying “If any one of you is without this sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”.

Ergo, if any of the Pharisees had not committed adultery, whether in the mind or the actual physical act, then they could have stoned her. As it was, they left one by one, the oldest first (John 8:9). Jesus showed the Pharisees up as hypocrites, who were quick to condemn others, so maybe Jesus was reminding them also of: “O LORD, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you will be put to shame. Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the LORD, the spring of living water.” (Jeremiah 17:13)

So instead of passing judgement on the woman and by eluding the trap of the Pharisees, Jesus passed judgement on the judges. Jesus having forgiven the woman of her sin, then charges her to leave her life of sin (John 8:11). This reminds us that with the forgiveness of sin, comes a responsibility to live a life worthy of Jesus and to pursue righteousness.

What can we say?

With the women we have seen in the last 2 podcasts, Jesus has showed his compassion and forgiveness. These two women were outcasts of their society, but Jesus showed them mercy and forgiveness and loved them. We read of the many people coming to faith because of the Samaritan woman’s testimony. There is no room in Christianity for actions and attitudes that defy Jesus’ ever-reaching and all-encompassing forgiveness and love. His Gospel, as he always shows, is for all people everywhere, regardless of gender, race, age, culture or social status.

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Investigating Jesus - Part 26

Investigating Jesus Part 26
Jesus Encounters the Samaritan Woman at the Well

In John 4, w we come to see somebody who accepted Jesus for who he was. Jesus went via Samaria as it was the shortest route back to Galilee. It was hot. Jesus was thirsty and wanted a drink. His disciples had gone into town to get food. So, he asks a Samaritan woman to fetch Him some water from the well. That he asked a Samaritan would have been bad enough, but to also talk to a woman. What does this tell us about the woman? We don’t know the name of this woman, but by looking at this conversation between Jesus and her, we do discover several things about her.

We can see straight away that she was a Samaritan. There was equal animosity between Jews and Samaritans, as seen in “For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.” (John 4:9) This could equally be translated as “for Jews do not ask any favours of the Samaritans”. The Samaritans were a mixed-race people of both Jewish and Assyrian descent from the time of the division of Israel into two parts and the annexation of the Northern kingdom by Assyria, who had repopulated the area. (2 Kings 17).

She was therefore an outcast, that is why she was fetching water at the hottest part of the day. But not only because she was a Samaritan but also highly likely due to her sexual immorality having had 5 husbands and currently in a 6th relationship (John 4:18). This Samaritan woman also affirms that she was waiting for the Messiah (John 4:25).

What does this tell us about Jesus?

This encounter not only tells us about the Samaritan woman, it also reveals more about Jesus Himself.

• He showed great humility by asking for a drink of water; he was putting Himself in her debt.
• Tells us of his genuine humanity. He was tired, drained, hot, thirsty and hungry – normal every day human feelings and reactions.
• Jesus contravened tradition in that he spoke to a woman who was a Samaritan and a sinner. Respectable Jewish men never did that sort of thing.
• He knew the woman’s life of sinfulness (John 4:17).
• Tells us of his divinity, when he offered her the water of eternal life (John 4:14).
•  He could spiritually satisfy (John 4:14).
• Loved the woman, and gave her the most revealing and explicit statement we have in the Gospels as to who he really was (John 4:26).
  

In showing love for the woman, he transcended cultural barriers. Ordinary Jewish men would never ask a Samaritan woman for a drink. Hence the disciples’ reaction in John 4:27. But Jesus is no ordinary man, his love is for all, whether they be rich, learned, male, female, wanted and unwanted. This act shows that Jesus’ offer of salvation is for all people, and not just the Jews.
The woman misunderstood the living water Jesus offered as she probably thought he meant running water or water from a river. But the living water Jesus offered was spiritual water to cleanse her from sin and give eternal life. Elsewhere in the Old Testament, God is described as “a fountain of living water” (Jeremiah 2:13). When the disciples returned, the woman left her water jar and went back to the town to tell other people about Jesus (John 4:29-30). Many people came to faith in Jesus because of the woman’s testimony (John 4:39-42) and knew Him as the saviour of the world (John 4:42). As Jesus’ ministry continues, we know that he spoke to people regardless of their social status, education, nationality or gender.

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Investigating Jesus - Part 25

Investigating Jesus

Part 25

 We know Jesus spoke to and interacted with large crowds. The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and the feeding of large crowds (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-15) are just two of examples. We also have records of his encounters with individuals and their reactions. People who we talk to about Jesus, often have three reactions: rejection (either in sorrow or anger); leave with more to think about it; and acceptance. We are going to look at two encounters that we find in the Gospels, what Jesus had to say to them and their subsequent reactions.

Rich young ruler

As Jesus started on his way; a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honour your father and mother.'" "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy." Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God." (Mark 10:17-22).

This story is in all three synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke. Luke describes him as a wealthy ruler (Luke 18:18-27). Matthew describes him as a young man (Matthew 19:16-26). In Mark’s account, he is simply a man (Mark 10:17-22). Put altogether that makes him a rich young ruler. He runs up to Jesus and falls on his knees before Him. He wants eternal life, wants it now and so asks Jesus about it. When he calls Jesus a good teacher, Jesus responds “No one is good—except God alone.”

Now Jesus could have been correcting the young man, but more likely Jesus was asking: “Do you know what you are saying and how close to the truth about me you are?” This young man had fully kept the commandments listed by Jesus (Mark 10:19).

However, when Jesus said to the young ruler, that to follow Him, he would have to give up all his wealth to have treasure in heaven and eternal life, the man left disconsolate. That was a step too far for the rich young ruler. He wanted his riches and eternal life but Jesus said he couldn’t have both. He remains, as far as we know, the only person who left Jesus’ presence sorrowful, and that due to putting his trust in his riches and wealth alone. Now riches are not necessarily wrong, but they do make trusting fully in God very difficult (Mark 10:23).

Nicodemus

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. (John 3:1-3)

Nicodemus wants to know more about Jesus and investigate Him personally, instead of merely following many the other Jewish leaders. What do we know about Nicodemus?

• From other sources, we know he may well have been from a family of wealthy landowners
• He protested Jesus’ condemnation without a trial (John 7:50-52).
• Took gifts to anoint Jesus’ body (John 19:39-40).
• He was a member of the Jewish ruling council, the Sanhedrin and a leading teacher and learned scholar of the Scriptures

Nicodemus was probably one of the many looking for a kingdom of God based around a political Messiah; hence him admitting that due to his miraculous signs, Jesus must have been from God. They wanted a Messiah who was a political leader and somebody who would lead Israel once again to be a shining light for the whole world to come to Jerusalem and worship the one true living God. However, Jesus corrects Nicodemus and says that it is not through a new Israel that God’s kingdom will be seen, but by being “born again”. Three times in this conversation, Jesus repeats about being “born again”. Jesus seemed astonished that this noted Jewish teacher didn’t already know what he was talking about, being as Nicodemus was a highly educated and learned teacher.

What does “born again” mean?

• It is not a physical rebirth and nor is it merely a turning over a new leaf.
• It is not baptism because Jesus has not instituted baptism yet.
• It is the new covenant; which Nicodemus should have known about it (Jeremiah 31 and Ezekiel 36). It is being born with water and spirit – cleansed of sin and indwelt with the Holy Spirit
• It is being born from above, which is looking to the one who has come down from heaven. For the phrase “born again” can also be translated “born from above”.
• Bing born again, involves looking to Jesus and trusting in Him, just as the ancient Israelites were saved by looking at the bronze snake (Numbers 21:8).
• Being born again is on an individual basis just as physical birth is. Nobody knows the date and time of their own birth unless they are told by somebody.

Here we have two different reactions to Jesus: The rich young ruler who left full of sorrow; the Jewish leader who left with more to think about regarding this Jesus. In each encounter, Jesus is remarkably comfortable with both people.

We see there is no barrier which Jesus is afraid to cross to meet people and show them the love of God. Jesus loved the rich young ruler (Mark 10:21). The love of Jesus Christ surrounded those he met, just as his love surrounds all people today. His message of salvation, through Him alone, is for everybody of all time.

 

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Investigating Jesus - Part 24

Investigating Jesus Part 24

 Jesus - The "I AM"

"If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." (John 15:7-8).

Those are the seven “I AM” statements, which as well as equating Himself with God as the “I AM”, Jesus is also promoting his exclusivity as the only Saviour. He does not say I am a true vine; a way, a truth and a life. Nor does he say I am a resurrection and a life. He does not say “I am a door to life”, just as he does not say “I am a shepherd”, “a light” or “a bread of life”.

No! We investigated together that Jesus said that He is the only way, the only truth and the only life. Jesus is the one great shepherd and the only door to life. Jesus is the only light of the world and the only true bread of life. As his disciples, currently in the Western world, we get shouted at and criticized for holding such exclusive views.

But if Jesus was not God and he was only one path to God, would Jesus have needed to go through the agony of the cross, as payment for the sins of the world? Of course, he wouldn’t have needed to. That he did shows that he is the only path and only means of access to God. It is only through the resurrected Jesus that salvation can be assured and then only by a childlike faith and not by any other means. That is why we should not capitulate to current trends to unite all religions, which say that all paths lead to God. Jesus Christ Himself, as we have seen, has said that he, and he alone, is the way to God and salvation is only through his work on the cross for all those who trust and believe in Him.

In the next of this series released every Sunday, we will start to look at some of the people that Jesus met during his time here on earth.

 

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