Category: Sermon

Psalm 21:1–7, John 17:1–11 and Ephesians: 1:15–23

 

Some Christians like the expression that they received an answer from God through prayer. In that case, can I receive an answer from God every time I pray? In fact, all prayers are answered. It may be answered according to my will, according to God’s will, or neither. If so, would one be happy if one’s prayers were always answered? Conversely, would life be unhappy just because things don’t go my way? There are times in our lives when we face results that do not go according to our prayers, but for which we are even more grateful. I am very happy these days because the prayers from 20 years ago and 10 years ago have not been answered. At that time, my prayer did not include ministry in Canada. But I am very thankful to God right now.

Here, through Jesus’ prayer, we can see the various aspects of prayer and answer. In John 17, through Jesus’ prayer, we witness prayer in a situation that goes beyond my hopes and plans. Right now, Jesus is in a situation where things are not going according to his will and plans, on the path of the cross. What thoughts did Jesus have at that time before ascending to heaven? He must have had various complex thoughts and worries. However, Jesus faithfully carried out God’s work. We can understand this well through verses 4 and 6. “⁴ I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. ⁶ “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me, and they have obeyed your word.”  Jesus prays to God. I have completed the things my father told me to do. I have glorified the Father’s name on this earth, and I have revealed You. Those who believe in God have been left on this earth. I proclaimed God to them and taught the gospel.

However, the mysterious thing is the fact that Jesus’ prayer changes. As we now know, the situation Jesus faced was challenging. With the omnipotence received from God, Jesus has performed countless miracles to this day. However, from now on, Jesus must do the exact opposite and lay down all his divine power. He can strike the evil forces threatening Him with lightning and blow them away with a windstorm. However, he is well aware that this deviates from God’s will and plan. He has the ability, but he is in a situation where he must not use it. In a very difficult situation, Jesus still prays to God. In verse 5, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

Jesus, who must be placed in the most dishonourable situation through death on the cross, asks God: “Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory.” However, the prayer directed toward Jesus himself changes direction to a prayer for his disciples. These are verses 9 and 11. “⁹ I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. ¹¹ I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you.” Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. I want to cry every time I read this prayer. This is because Jesus’ prayer very clearly reveals His heart toward His disciples. Jesus said, “I pray for them. I can no longer be with them in the world. But God, please protect them and make them one, just as we are.” In this prayer, you can read Jesus’ love, concern, and various complex emotions. Perhaps Jesus predicted that after the crucifixion and resurrection, Christians and the church would be persecuted, scattered, and sometimes repeatedly divided through conflict. However, the key point is that Jesus’ prayer shifted toward conforming to God’s will and prioritizing others over oneself. Through this, we learn the lesson of discerning God’s will before our own plans.

The same is true of Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians. Intercessory prayer for others has power. This is because it is what God has commanded and requested. At that time, the believers received valuable teachings from the Apostle Paul for three years. However, immigrants from various regions of Türkiye had weak roots in faith. They were easily deceived by heretics. People who were knowledgeable and faithful lacked the heart to embrace beginners. So they were busy condemning one another, and the church lost its love and passion for God. It was at this time that the Apostle Paul wrote a letter while praying in prison.

Through this prayer, we can see that the Apostle Paul introduces Jesus to the believers and teaches about the church community. Paul prays that the believers will receive the spirit of wisdom and revelation and know the hope of God who calls them. He also proclaims to Christians who have just come to know Jesus that He is truly the Son of God. He continued to pray that the eyes of their hearts would be opened and that they would understand and know this so that they could accept it with faith. So he explains that Jesus is the head of the church God established for the people of this earth, and that the church is His body. Through Paul’s prayer, we come to know that Jesus is everything in our lives. This is because He gave us everything, and when we know Him, we can enjoy fullness.

Beloved, I would like to recommend this one thing through the prayers of Jesus and Paul. I hope that we become people who look beyond our circumstances and environment to God’s will and plan, whether or not our prayers are fulfilled. I pray that this week will be a time when we earnestly pray for our families and neighbours around us, just as Jesus and Paul did. Amen.

Psalm 115, John 14:15-21, and 1 Peter 3:13-22

 

I thank all the mothers and women of this land. Your life of dedication, driven by the desire for your children’s well-being, has guided many children onto the right path. I pay my deepest respects to all the women who still pray for and bless their families. In fact, in Korea, May 8th is designated as Parents’ Day. So, it is a culture to give carnations to father and mother.

We meet various advocates as we go through life. I also met them during my recent visit to Korea. I was able to meet my Sunday School teachers and friends. They reminded me of childhood episodes when I dreamed of becoming a pastor. There were parts I didn’t remember, but when the Sunday School pastor and teacher asked those who dreamed of becoming pastors to raise their hands, I was the only one out of 100 children to do so. Another friend told my mother that he didn’t raise his hand because I did. I was able to return with great strength and comfort because they told me that they are still praying for me.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus explains a new concept to his disciples. That is precisely another advocate. It is the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Truth. What kind of advocates do Jesus’ disciples need? I would like you to think about this. Jesus previously explained to His disciples the path of the cross and His various journeys. Perhaps it is a time filled with fear of what lies ahead, rather than a positive future. Political and religious persecution will come to the disciples. However, Jesus is not the only one who cares for them. God also loves them and looks forward to the world after Jesus. So, the Creator plans to send a new advocate to them. Jesus says that the Spirit comes to earth and will be with us forever. Jesus encourages them by saying that the Spirit of Truth is with the disciples and will show them what they ought to do. Even if we drive on unfamiliar roads, we have little to fear as long as we have a GPS navigation system, a cell phone, and gas. If we were to liken these three things to the Holy Spirit, truth is like a navigation system in our lives. It helps you discern what to do and what to avoid. However, there are often sections where the navigation system fails while we are driving. I once had a time when Google Maps didn’t work for about an hour in the middle of vast cornfields while passing through Montana and South Dakota. At that time, I felt very afraid. It was because it had more corn and cattle than people. Likewise, if we drift away from the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we go through life, or if we live a path that deviates from God’s guidance, we may face great fear and threat.

Next, the Holy Spirit can be compared to a mobile phone. I visited Korea recently and replaced my mother’s cell phone with a smartphone. As a result, I have been able to video call my parents more often than before. In this way, mobile phones are very helpful for communicating with people who live far apart. Likewise, the Holy Spirit helps us communicate with the invisible God. It connects us with the Creator and confirms His love for us. It often serves as a bridge between God and us, ensuring opportunities to communicate with God at all times. Even the fee is free.

Finally, the Holy Spirit can be likened to fuel. The fuel that keeps a car running enables it to keep moving anywhere. Likewise, the Holy Spirit gives us the strength to recover even when we are weary. The Holy Spirit also gives us various gifts and fruits. Through them, we gain the energy to dedicate ourselves to God’s work even now. I realize the value of gas again after the war between Iran and the U.S. What I feel even more acutely than the rising price of oil is the presence of the Holy Spirit. What would it have been like if the Holy Spirit were not in my life? If I were to ask myself, “Could I live without the help of the Holy Spirit?”, I would undoubtedly not even be able to preach here and now. It is all thanks to the Holy Advocate that I am able to preach God’s word and live by faith with you here, nearly 10,000 km from my hometown.

I believe that having a heart to help you understand and be considerate of me, a stranger, is, once again, also the help of the Holy Spirit. I, too, can wait one more time when misunderstandings arise from cultural differences or language barriers, thanks to the Holy Spirit’s help. The reason I have a heart to love you even more, and the reason you always welcome me, is because we are in God. Therefore, I describe the church as a community of faith and its members as one family in faith. If we share one faith and truth, and eat and live together, we could consider this an extended family.

Beloved, Jesus spoke clearly to His disciples. It is in verse 18: “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” The Lord is surely with us. A good advocate also comes into our lives. And we, too, will come to know that Jesus is within us. What greater comfort could there be than this?

You may sometimes suffer hardships for doing good. Unintended accidents may occur in my life or to my neighbours. And as Tolstoy expressed in the novel “Anna Karenina”, “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” Misfortune and hardship torment humans in all kinds of forms. However, what is clear is that God gives believers the strength to rise again over those difficulties. Therefore, I hope you dwell with the Spirit of Truth this week as well. Your family will be enriched by the peace given by the Lord. Amen.

 

 

Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16, John 14:1-14, and 1 Peter 2:2-10

 

Thanks to your consideration, I was able to have a safe trip to Korea last month. Thank you. Spending a lot of time with my parents allowed me to realize the importance of family again. I thank God for giving us the gift of family.

Today’s readings help us to meditate on Jesus Christ and the life of God’s people. Today’s Gospel of John is set after events such as Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, the various attempts to kill Him, the prediction of His death, Judas’ betrayal, Peter’s denial, and the washing of His disciples’ feet. At that time, the disciples were very worried amidst various anxious and urgent situations. However, Jesus comforted his disciples. He says that even if I die, I am going to prepare places for you. And that in the future, you too will dwell with me where I am. The disciples could not immediately understand Jesus’ words amidst anxiety and worry. However, Jesus answers Thomas’s question as follows. “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” It is a very bold and declarative expression. Jesus, who was speaking these words, was also filled with anxiety and worry. However, Jesus comforts the disciples with steadfast faith in God.

He is the way, the truth, and the life toward God. Jesus is the way and the method toward God. Through Him, we can pray, know the truth, and obtain eternal life. With Him, we can know the nature of God and His deep love. From verse 10, we can learn about the doctrine of the Trinity. “Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me?” We learn the concept of Perichoresis, which states that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. What does Perichoresis mean? Perichoresis in Christian theology refers to the mutual interpenetration and indwelling of the Father and the Son. We believe this. We believe in God’s love shown through Jesus. We believe in the boundless love of God the Father who sent Jesus. Therefore, we believe in God’s presence in Jesus. We believe in the miracles and ministry shown through Jesus. We also believe in the promise that He will answer when we ask in the name of Jesus. Therefore, I hope that we all walk together with Jesus, who has become the way and the bridge toward God, upon this faith. By believing in Jesus, we hope that we, as His disciples, will do today what He did in the past.

Lastly, the Apostle Paul gives us an identity as the people of God. This is 1 Peter verse 9. “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” We are chosen people. And we are the people who responded to that choice. Two thousand years ago, Jesus came into the world and invited many Jews, including the Pharisees and Scribes, to a new life. However, not many people responded to that. Even among the disciples, many betrayed Jesus in the days leading up to his crucifixion. Therefore, we must all share this gospel with our families and neighbours. I was chosen, and my family was invited as well. And we must encourage our friends to live as people of a holy nation. This work is not easy, and sometimes it can be embarrassing. The results may not be dramatic compared to the time invested. However, we must remember. Right now, we are merely sowing the seeds of the gospel. Now is the season to sow the seeds of it in this land, and the harvest may come 30 or 60 years from now. One thing is certain: the time of harvest will surely come. The history of the Christian gospel began 2,000 years ago with a single grain of good news falling to the ground. That has given us the gift of assurance of heaven and the hope of resurrection today. Let us live as God’s holy people this week as well. Remembering God’s grace and mercy given to us, I hope you abide in the truth. Amen.

Isaiah 50:4-9a, Psalm 31:9-16, and Matthew 27:27-54

 

It is Palm Sunday. There were crowds who welcomed Jesus by waving palm branches to celebrate the coming of the King. Through them, we can read the crowd’s mind. There was a group that dreamed of political independence from the Roman Empire through Jesus. There were also religious groups that viewed Jesus as the Messiah. All of them desired to achieve something through Jesus. They thought of Jesus as a means. It is a very blasphemous expression. They had to worship Jesus and live as His disciples well. However, they had their own ulterior motives.

I feel very sad when I imagine Jesus entering the city of Jerusalem. As Jesus enters the midst of suffering, the disciples fight over who will have power second only to Jesus. Some people calculate the potential benefits they might gain. Some people are plotting to betray Jesus. I think that even the donkey carrying Jesus must have mistaken the cheers people were sending to Jesus for being directed at itself. But was it only the donkey that did like that? I can easily imagine some disciples acting all high and mighty and boasting as if they were Jesus himself. How desperate must Jesus have been to tell His disciples to perform miracles and cast out demons without Him?

When expectations for Jesus turned into disappointment, betrayal was widespread. Peter, who promised to protect Jesus, denies Jesus three times in the future. Jesus’s final entry into Jerusalem, made despite knowing all of this, is an incredibly painful moment. It breaks my heart to look at Jesus from a human perspective. Jesus must repeatedly witness the betrayal of the disciples He trusted. Jesus must helplessly watch as what He had educated and trained for three years crumbles. Even though Jesus has great power, He does not use it. He just acts that way solely to obey God’s will.

He was even placed in a worse position than Barabbas, the robber. How distressing is it if someone tries to kill me? However, the chief priests and leaders make various efforts to kill Jesus. The governor’s soldiers insult and mock Jesus. They make Jesus kneel, spit on him, hit him on the head, and assault him. They nail his arms to the cross and mock him to the very end, calling him the King of the Jews.

If I were in Jesus’ position, I would not have been able to endure it as Jesus did. I probably wasn’t thorough enough with God’s will and plan. However, Jesus trusted God even in the worst moment of his life. In the midst of suffering, he sought God and relied on the Creator. It is to accomplish God’s work. It is for the glory of God. Beyond the passion, it is to complete God’s plan of salvation for us.

It is very challenging for us to follow Jesus’ ministry and perseverance. However, what I wish to propose is to remember the one person who exists in the midst of this pain. The Bible described him with this one verse. He is from Cyrene, named Simon, and the soldiers forced him to carry the cross. He came on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem from Cyrene in Libya, Africa. He happened to encounter the procession of Jesus’s crucifixion. Even Jesus, who bore the cross, was wronged, and Simon was also forced to carry Jesus’ cross. It would be very shameful if he did not know about Jesus. However, he was with Jesus during that tough moment of suffering. Due to this sacred intervention, he was recorded in the Bible and continues to be repeated by Christians to this day.

The work of the holy God sometimes visits humans at unexpected moments like this. At that time, I hope that we will become like Simon of Cyrene, silently carrying out the Lord’s work and helping God’s ministry. May we spend this holy week as disciples, creating the mysteries of God that are currently unknowable. Amen.

Ezekiel 37:1-14, Psalm 130, and John 11:1-45

 

It is the 5th Sunday in Lent. Lately, I have been meditating on life, death, faith, and grace. When I think about the life of Jesus, I see it as the way to save humanity. At the same time, it was a way to kill Jesus himself. It is truly ironic. It is difficult to understand giving up my own life for the sake of saving someone else’s life. However, through the grace of Jesus, we have become Christians, and we too are motivated to live an altruistic life like Jesus.

In the Book of Ezekiel, a vision of dry bones is described. When the power of Jehovah comes, God’s breath enters, flesh is formed, skin is covered, and life is created. What do you feel when you read Ezekiel chapter 37? It looks like a scene from a science fiction movie. But what if these things actually happened around us? What if, at Red Deer Cemetery, Mount Calvary Cemetery, and Alto Reste Cemetery, bones paired up, new flesh grew on them, spoke human language, and chased us? It is not Halloween right now. Actually, I am very scared.

In Korea, cemeteries are located on mountains quite far from residential areas. However, in North America and Europe, cemeteries are often seen located within cities or next to churches. There are such differences in a society’s culture and its members’ perceptions of death. The more some feel that the world after death is far away, the more death is a space some must keep away from. Consequently, they had to establish themselves somewhere far away. Cemeteries have become undesirable facilities. However, in Christianity, death is always with us. Ironically, we witness a cruel instrument of execution every Sunday. It is the cross. It made Jesus suffer terribly. It is the place where Jesus, whom we love so much, passed away. Jesus endured terrible suffering on the cross. What is the reason? It is precisely for us. It was for me. Jesus did that to save me. Jesus showed us death and resurrection. Therefore, we can witness the cross of suffering being transformed into the cross of glory.

There is another death besides Jesus. It is the death of Mary and her sister Martha’s brother, Lazarus. It is so desperate that these sisters plead with Jesus for Lazarus, whose condition has worsened severely. “Lord, please visit our home and heal our brother.” They know. They believe that Jesus has such power. However, unlike Jesus’ usual response, he does not immediately grant their request. Instead, he goes to meet Lazarus only after delaying for two more days. By the time Jesus arrived, Lazarus was already dead.

It was an era when medical technology and treatment were inadequate. Therefore, to prevent the spread of diseases and external contamination after death, people at the time immediately placed the body in a tomb. Likewise, Lazarus has already spent four days in the tomb. Anyone can see that life has biologically ceased. Martha resented Jesus for arriving late. How upset she must have been, in truth? To be honest, I am also very upset these days. This is because I believe that God often calls our members to heaven. So, on the one hand, I also feel that I have lost my beloved members to God.

However, what I feel and believe is this: the fact that God’s embrace is more peaceful than our side. It is also to manifest the glory of God through the moment of the end of all these lives and the beginning of another life. Just as so much snow and rain were needed in winter for summer farming, we cannot experience heaven and eternal life without this condition of death. It is cruel, but true. While it is impossible for us, all of this is possible for God. It was proven in Ezekiel’s vision and confirmed through the proclamation of Jesus Christ. Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. The author of the Gospel of John describes this scene very impressively, like a drama trailer. “I am the resurrection and the life.” It was done just as Jesus said. This also serves as a preview of Jesus’s future path. The power of God, who raised Lazarus from the dead, breathed life into countless bodies in the valley of dry bones. And the Creator raised Lazarus and raised Jesus.

Then how should we wait for the work of God’s power to take place? It is waiting with faith and expectation. As the watchman waited for the morning, he looked forward to the majestic light, safety, and the sense of liberation that would come with the shift change after the darkest and most solitary night shift. I served on night duty in the Presidential Security Service in Seoul for over a year, so I can deeply relate to the feelings of a watchman.

While working on the mountain behind the Blue House in pitch darkness, I worried that people or animals might break in. On the one hand, I was worried that an accident might occur because we were on duty carrying bullets. It is especially dark for 30 minutes before sunrise. This is a time when it is difficult for watchmen and soldiers to fight off drowsiness. It is the most dangerous time. So, I spent that time praying that there wouldn’t be any problems until morning. However, the author of the Psalms waits for God even more earnestly than a watchman waits for the morning. This is because the poet, facing a desperate situation, earnestly awaits God’s salvation and forgiveness. He implores God’s help and mercy.

I also pray for God’s work. Please let God stop the countless wars all over the world. Please have pity on the sacrifice of the children who died without reason. Comfort the hearts of those parents. Furthermore, may God visit all bereaved families facing sudden separation with hope, just as He did the sisters Mary and Martha. May the power of God, who opened the eyes of the blind and raised Lazarus from the dead, work in Your people. Also, please bless each and every member who is now in heaven, and breathe life into their bones.

Beloved, I hope that we all witness the glory of God in our daily lives, just as Jesus Christ said. And let us proclaim: “Just as dry bones come to life for the glory of God, dying souls will come to life.” I pray that God, who used Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago, will use us today as the breath of God, saving lives. Amen.