Tag: Rev. Jaebok Gu

Luke 19:28-40, Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; and Philippians 2:5-11

 

Jesus is heading to Jerusalem with his disciples on Passover. During this journey, he visits Bethphage and Bethany to the east of Jerusalem. Bethphage is a small town less than 4 km away—the distance from our church to Red Deer Polytechnic. Jesus and his disciples came less than an hour away on foot. Now, all that Jesus has to do is enter the eastern gate of the Jerusalem temple, the Golden Gate.

When we think of Bethphage and Bethany, we might think of a family. This is the family story of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. They lived here, and the story of how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead spread to Jerusalem. A new Messiah came to the Israelites. He came during Passover, a festival commemorating their ancestors’ escape from persecution in Egypt. Many miracles and amazing teachings related to Jesus would have been shared with many people. That’s who came to Bethany. Many pilgrims were together.

From the people’s perspective, Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem must have been a big issue. To the high priests and Jewish leaders, Jesus was a significant threat to them. He shook the basic structure of Judaism. Sometimes, they planned to murder Jesus because he criticized them and the law. To protect their status and wealth, Jesus had to disappear from this world. Also, from the perspective of political leaders, including Pontius Pilate, the presence of Jesus in large crowds was not welcomed. They only needed the Pax Romana, not the peace of Jesus. They only recognized peace based on great power.

But strangely, Jesus asks his disciples for a colt today. Jesus resisted, nonviolently, the governors and Roman emperors who oppressed Israel with violent force. He could have entered Jerusalem riding a handsome horse, but he does not act like that. Riding an untrained donkey without a proper saddle may be uncomfortable. It also takes a long time. However, Jesus rides this donkey for about 4 km and heads to Jerusalem. It may have been to complete Zecariah 9:9. “See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” However, we can see Jesus’ purpose more clearly through these appearances. Jesus came not as a king of force who came through war but as a king of justice and peace who provides salvation.

The mystery continues here as well. In verse 33, we see that just one person did not own the colt. Several people own a donkey. We can see here that they were not rich. In contrast to Mary, who poured expensive perfume, poor people also participated in Jesus’ work. Perhaps the donkey is a great asset to them. But they also joyfully agree. And many people, including the disciples, shout out. This is verse 38.  “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

The Pharisees were not pleased with the disciples’ behavior, so they wanted to stop them through Jesus. But Jesus firmly told them to leave it as is. “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

Through these words, I can see the responses of those who participate in Jesus’ ministry and journey. Some gave with their money, others with their time, and some followed Jesus, praising him and spreading his word. They laid their clothes on the ground and praised Jesus as the Messiah. They did the same thing to Jesus as they did to the king of the world. At that moment, they exalted Jesus with great sincerity. They worshiped Him. And Jesus says: “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

Their excitement was through the roof. Among those who followed Jesus at the time were Israeli independence activists, and a variety of people, including patients, Jews, and Samaritans, followed him. Each person followed Jesus with different expectations. They expected that there would be significant changes in the world since he came to Jerusalem. Despite Jesus’ repeated suffering and cross predictions, they only saw Jesus’ glory, power, and authority. Of course, those who have experienced the Messiah cannot be silent. It is difficult for us to express this excitement and emotion with anything.

We have no choice but to pass on our experiences with the Messiah to our friends and neighbors. So today, Jesus also invites us to this ministry. He invites us to join in my ministry like these disciples. If we keep quiet, the stones will cry out. So, I want to advise you boldly. This Holy Week is going to be busy. I encourage you to spend every day meditating on the goodness, kindness, and love of Jesus. And I hope you have the opportunity to shout about the life, love, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ to your family and neighbors.

So, like the advice of the Apostle Paul, “have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his advantage; ⁷ rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! ⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,”

At the same time, I want this to be a week where you humbly meditate on the Lord’s ways and learn about His humility even in your busy daily life. Jesus did a lot of things in these short three years. Despite this, he continued to meditate on God’s will and plan. Like Jesus, we also want to think together about God’s will for us. So, like those who prepared the way for Jesus, we, too, want to participate in the Lord’s way and God’s plan here in Red Deer today. We are blessed that the Creator’s goodness and mercy will continue through the coming week. Amen.

John 12:1-8. Psalm 126; Philippians 3:4b-14;

 

Last Sunday, I was very moved by the intergenerational worship service. Many people tell me they are very proud of our children. I feel grateful that I can see hope and the future of our church.

We are all currently in the midst of Lent. In particular, today’s message is a series of very solemn words. This happened the day before Jesus entered Jerusalem. Just before that, Jesus visits Lazarus’ house. Mysteriously, in today’s reading, Mary pours perfume on Jesus’ feet. The Gospel of Matthew records differently that it was poured on Jesus’ head. This perfume is called Nerdo in Hebrew, and it is also known as Valeriana perfume. By the way, this was not produced in Israel at the time. At that time, people could only obtain what was made in India through traders. Of course, even today, to buy good Valeriana perfume, you have to pay at least $500 per lb. Moreover, the perfume offered to Jesus was of the highest quality and was worth 300 days’ wages of a worker at the time; therefore, we can infer that a year’s wages were poured out for Jesus. That’s a lot of money. She spent a year’s salary in one moment.

When we think about it rationally, we can not understand it. If I were there at the time, I wouldn’t have been able to understand Mary’s actions either. But Jesus explains. These are verses 7 and 8. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. ⁸ You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

These are the words of Jesus that pierce my heart. Even with Judas Iscariot, among the disciples who lived together for three years, no one prepared for Jesus’ future more accurately than Mary. Among the actions of Jesus in the past, they only looked at miracles and splendor. They only thought about their status, wealth, and fame. They were unable to meditate on the meaning of each step Jesus took toward Jerusalem.

However, Jesus shows God’s plan very symbolically here at Bethany, where Lazarus was risen again. He said. “Mary is now preparing for my burial.” However, Jesus, who overcomes even death, prepares for death. That’s very ironic. The disciples did not understand Jesus’ words at this time either. Rather, because many people began to believe in Jesus through Lazarus, chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well. I think that through this symbolic scene of Jesus revisiting Lazarus’ house, he was showing his disciples that there is a new stage in Jesus’ path after death. So. My entry into Jerusalem is a path to death. But it clearly shows that it doesn’t end there.

Mary took part in this. The important thing is this. She made holy consumption and holy offerings to participate in God’s work. I can’t understand it rationally. However, the church’s ministry and mission are similar in this regard. From the world’s perspective, it is unwise to donate money, time, or talent to the church. They cannot understand rationally. As you all know, you are a little older than I am. Nevertheless, many people dedicate themselves, like young people, to the missionary work of the church. A month ago, two church members invited several people to Shrove Tuesday. Some of them visited the Church. If you look purely at economic value, it is efficient to buy several pancakes from Albert’s restaurant next to the church and give them to them. This is an event that requires the time, talent, and financial resources of many members. But what we can remember is that we participate in the Lord’s ministry to invite them. We also find their experience visiting our church invaluable. It is also essential for us to continue our training as disciples of the Lord. This way, we can become more rooted in Ross Street and understand the area better. This is holy spending. And it is a sacred seed.

The Psalmist sings: “⁵ Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. ⁶ Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.”

Israel’s seasons are hot and dry, lasting from April to October. Additionally, the rainy season continues from November to March as Mediterranean winds blow. Surrounding Jerusalem are the Judean Desert to the west and the Plains of Israel to the north. So, Samaria, located approximately 170 km northwest of Jerusalem and east of Galilee, is a granary of various grains, including fruits and nuts. However, as we well know, there are desert-like areas to the right of Israel. On the way from Jerusalem to Jericho, there is a dry valley made of sandstone called Wadi-Qelt. When it rains here, it turns into a river. The same goes for the Negev mentioned in verse 4 of Psalm. It’s like a desert. During the dry season, many areas, including this one, become wilderness. Seeds need to be sown in the spring, but there are times when rainfall is insufficient. However, if farmers miss this period, they have to sow it during the drier summer months. Then, their chances of harvesting decrease even further. Even if there is a water shortage now, significant losses are expected in the future, so farmers must rely on God and sow seeds.

Of course, the original Biblical word for seed here could be interpreted as a costly seed or a massive sack of seeds. This is a very precious seed. But they put their hope in God and sow it generously. Not everyone can guarantee the growth and harvest of these seeds. But God makes a promise to us. It is through the psalmist and the Word. They will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them. Although the seed sown may have high value from the farmer’s perspective, God promises more significant results.

Yes. We will sow the seeds of the gospel in the past, present, and future. Sometimes, people in the world or rationally may have doubts or skepticism. And if we only look at one aspect at that moment, we may think that efficiency is low. However, Jesus became a farmer himself and planted the gospel in Israel and humankind. And now he has taken root in our lives as the seed of the gospel itself. We are all the result, and at the same time, we are also the seeds. Let’s run towards Red Deer, Alberta, and the rest of the world. God’s prize will be yours. Amen.

Matt. 4: 18 – 22; Psalm 32 v1 and 8; and 1 Corinthians 13 4-7, 13

 

We are preparing many things ahead of Easter, which is scheduled for April 20th. Children practice handbells and draw pictures related to Jesus. Adults conduct Bible studies about the areas where Jesus worked. Also, as a union of churches, each church takes turns preparing for the noon service. Sometimes, our minds can be hectic. But it is significant to remember Jesus, who loved us so much that he came to this world.

The stories in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, at the beginning of the New Testament, are the episodes that Jesus and his disciples experienced together, and the parts that the authors wanted to remember and emphasize. Therefore, there are some differences in the way the author taught lessons to the community they belonged to and lived in.

The story of Jesus and his disciples in today’s Gospel excites me. This is the story of Jesus calling four disciples who were fishermen. Luke’s Gospel provides a more detailed explanation of this episode. Jesus meets the fishermen who have been trying to catch fish all night. Then Jesus commands them to take the boat back to the lake and cast their nets. Peter and his companions cast a net and caught a large number of fish. Even though the experienced fishermen worked all night long, they hadn’t seen any fish, but Jesus helped them grab a surprising number of fish. They were surprised because it was likely a more significant catch of fish than they had ever experienced before. And now Jesus invites them to do something more valuable than making money by catching and selling fish. They immediately begin three years with Jesus, following His words.

Isn’t it fascinating? Of course, the disciples may feel that Jesus is different from other people just by letting them catch so many fish in the boat. Or maybe there were rumors about him in Galilee at the time. Or, as in Chapter 1 of the Gospel of John, Peter and Andrew may have recognized Jesus at once because they were initially disciples of John the Baptist and had been waiting for Jesus for a long time. What is important is that when Jesus called his disciples, they were pleased. So they were very excited.

Jesus did many things together with his disciples. In these three short years, he worked many miracles. He trained his disciples. He taught people correct lessons about the Bible and the Law. Sometimes, he fought against people who had wrong beliefs. But in the end, according to God’s will and plan, he went one step at a time to the cross. And He was resurrected. Reflecting on this journey of faith, we can consider why Jesus and his disciples engaged in this kind of ministry.

That’s because they had faith, hope, and love. They had faith in God. They had hope for the kingdom of God. They all had an overflowing love for people, including the Israelites. The apostle Paul expresses that among faith, hope, and love, the greatest is love. I also agree. Because love is the beginning and end. Thus, love is the greatest. Let’s sing about love today. Let us sing of our faith and hope toward God. Let us sing of the God who invites us, like his disciples, into his ministry. May the Lord bless us. Amen.

Luke 13:1-9, Psalm 63:1-8, and 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

 

When we purchase something, we have expectations about it. So here is my mobile phone. When I bought this, I expect it to be good at connecting calls with other people. In The Westminster Shorter Catechism, the first question is the most essential purpose of human beings. The Human’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy the Creator forever. When God created humans, the purpose was to make the world beautiful and bring glory to God. But what will the Creator think if humans do not live according to that purpose?

Now, let’s think about it from the perspective of a farmer. In Vancouver, I grew plants by sowing seeds in pots every year. I planted flowers one year, lettuce the following year, and tomatoes last year, but they did not bear fruit well. The tomatoes turned out the best, and I gave them as gifts to my neighbors when I moved to Red Deer. Of course, there is a reason why it does not bear fruit. It is because of the farmer who is not skilled. Honestly, I am clumsy at farming. However, as in Jesus’ parable today, he speaks of a fig tree that does not bear fruit.

First, it is the perspective of Jesus and the vineyard’s owner. There was a fig tree in front of my home. The tree produced fruit well without much care. However, fig trees are easy to grow, but they soon attract other insects once they bear fruit. So it gets easily damaged. So, once it bears fruit, it must be sold immediately. It grows exceptionally well in West Asia, such as Türkiye and Israel. Sometimes, Costco sells sun-dried figs, which are grown there.

Conversely, what about grapes? Grapes require a lot of care from farmers. Pests easily damage it. It spoils well and is greatly affected by temperature changes. So farmers need to fertilize and manage it well. Also, once the grapes bear fruit, they have a lot of uses. The fig tree can be used to make various products, including jam. It has good storage properties so that it can be moved across the country. Profitability is also good.

However, the fig tree has not produced fruit for three years. This isn’t common because fig trees usually bear fruit the year they are planted. However, even if the master waited three times, he could not see the figs. The vineyard owner may feel like he has wasted time and money. He may regret planting the vine there instead.

Second is the perspective of a vineyard manager. I presume that the vineyard manager is someone who the landowner trusts. So, I think the owner did not fire the person caring for the fig tree, which had not produced fruit for three years. He did his part. The point is that the vineyard was well managed. And he asks the owner, who criticized the fig tree again. ⁸ “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. ⁹ If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

If he had been an unfaithful farmer, the owner would not have respected his words upon hearing this. However, what I want to pay attention is the heart of the vineyard farmer. ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it.

Please give me one more chance. It sounds like a lawyer speaking in court. Give him one more opportunity. I will become his guardian and take good care of him.

Third is the fig tree’s perspective. Since Jesus spoke in parables, let us think we are a fig tree. Strangely enough, a fig tree was planted in the vineyard. The owner expected that he would be able to get the fruit quickly. But the fig tree feels unfair. ‘Everyone is a vine except me.’ We can think it may have been confused about its own identity. When a fig tree sees grape vines, it may mistakenly believe I am a vine. Why can’t I bear grapes? It may frustrate the tree. I’m healthier than the vines, so why aren’t the grapes growing? Maybe I will get cut off. The tree can feel anxious.

Today, I am giving a sermon in a different way than usual. I think of God, Jesus, and humans in the images of the vineyard owner, farmer, and fig tree. When we look at the vineyard owner, we can think of God being upset. God created humans and sent them to this earth because the Creator wanted them to be happy with him, but they did not live according to that purpose. Sometimes, he judged them by flooding through massive waters. They were kicked out of their homes, ruled by other countries, and had their freedom taken away. However, it does not meet God’s desires and expectations. However, at that very moment, Jesus, like a vineyard farmer, is positioned as a mediator between God and humans. He is trusted by God just as the vineyard owner trusts him. He does his best to serve humanity. It’s 100 percent dedication. And he says it to God. Please give them another chance.

Perhaps we humans are like the fig tree and do not even know what we did wrong. Someone can say it like this. “I just feel wronged. I just lived the way I was born.”  Without knowing the purpose of being born on this earth, human beings can live in this world, looking for what they are comfortable with and like. People can just be happy and follow other people’s trends. For the sake of humankind, Jesus is taking steps toward the cross today, one step at a time. Like the farmer who does his best for his fig tree, we can see God’s plan for us here.

God expects us to bear the fruit of faith. The Creator expects us to bear the fruit of hope. The love of God expects us to bear the fruit of love. Now, we have been guaranteed another opportunity through Christ let us spread the gospel to people like the fig tree who have forgotten the purpose of living in this world. The end will be a happy ending that we can all enjoy together. Amen.

Luke 9: 37-43, Psalm 27, and Philippians 3: 17- 4:1

 

Today’s Gospel of Luke includes Jesus’ various intentions for us. Among them, I see Jesus coming down from the Mount of Transfiguration and rebuking the disciples and the Boy’s father for their lack of faith. Verse 41 also has significant meaning. Through these words, Jesus foretells that he will not be with the Israelites long. Of course, it is not enough to precisely interpret that there was a prediction of Jesus’ passion and resurrection. However, through these comments of Jesus, we can realize that Jesus knew God’s will and plan more clearly during prayer. The third thing is that Jesus rebuked the impure spirit. By the power of God, demons were driven out. What can we learn from this very brief, dramatic scene?

First, we can imagine the situation in Israel at that time. We remember that Jesus performed many miracles. Among them, the ministry of casting out demons appears everywhere. Even today, casting out demons occurs in some countries. However, these places generally lack medical facilities. This phenomenon is common in societies suffering physically and mentally from war, famine, and poverty. At this time, it is natural to invite the highest religious leader in the society to seek a solution. Looking at Israel’s situation at the time, it was a colonial life under the continuous rule of the Babylonian Empire, the Persian Empire, and Rome. In the meantime, some people resisted for the country’s independence. However, what came back was an even more devastating military suppression. The lives of people ruled by other countries are tough. Politics and economy are unstable. There isn’t enough food either. Also, taxes are very high. There is no strong friend country that stands on Israel’s side. This is the sorrow of a weak country. Citizens of these countries suffer from diseases big and small. It isn’t easy to receive treatment in time. Not only are there a shortage of doctors, but there is also a shortage of medications to prescribe them. So there were no groundbreaking alternatives other than basic methods such as applying olive oil or keeping clean. There must have been a lot of resentment built up in the hearts of these people. Even if they resist social problems, they cannot solve them. Some of them are physically ill and fall into wrong thoughts. Sometimes they have delusions and even threaten people. What they need more than anything is plenty of food, comfort, love, and hospitality.

The case is a little different, but a guest who wasn’t familiar with the Soup mission came to visit last week. And he ate soup with us. Under the guidance of a church member, he went down to the lower hall and ate soup. I don’t know how many bowls he ate. He also had some tea and a snack and left quietly. I remember his face before he came to church and when he left the church. At first he seemed very tired. It was hard to feel vitality in his face. However, after eating together and being welcomed by church members, I saw him leave with great confidence on his face. Although it is a tiny thing, our church is doing these things. Although we are not Jesus and cannot drive out the impure spirit, we can drive out the darkness in a person’s heart. It is through faith and love. And we too can handle the Lord’s ministry and have the Lord’s hope. We know the service you do throughout Red Deer. In addition, I remember and bless your precious spirit of service and support through the church. And we experience that the light of hope can shine into a person’s life through us. That’s how we become miracle makers. This is possible through faith in God.

How about David who wrote Psalm 27? Before becoming king, he had to fight on the battlefield. He received both jealousy and threats from opposing forces, including King Saul. He suffered enough to record wicked and enemies in the Bible. But he was not discouraged. Instead, he relied on and trusted God more. As verse 1 says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid?” The Lord, who is light, guided David. And Creator leads us. Let us now shine the light we received back into the world like a mirror. Let us trust like David in the Lord, who is the power of life. Ultimately, we will experience verse 13. “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”

Recently, the president of a country offered to sell a gold card that would lead to citizenship for $5 million. Of course, I don’t know if it’s worth it. However, citizenship defines where I belong and my identity. As I spoke during my recent visit, Canadians, Chinese, Koreans, and Japanese take pride in their countries. Many countries in East Asia are not friendly with each other. Among Westerners, military strategists often worry that China, Japan, and South Korea might ally. But that is not possible. Cooperation is difficult because both parties have extreme pride and self-esteem. What power does citizenship have? The country begins with protecting its citizens. Canada’s strength comes from projecting its capabilities to rescue its citizens when they are in trouble abroad. During the coronavirus pandemic, when citizens on a cruise in Japan were detained, a charter flight was sent to rescue them. It also rescued Pastor Hyeonsu Lim of Toronto, detained while traveling to North Korea.

What is the power of heavenly citizenship? It is the peace of knowing that I am under the influence of God’s kingdom. It is a belief that God protects me with his almighty arms. It is the joy that She gives me as a gift. You don’t have to worry about this happiness being taken away from you. There is no need to be anxious. Therefore, we need to understand the kingdom of heaven and how it defines us. As citizens of heaven, we learn and use the language of heaven. It is the language of love. It is a language of encouragement. It is a language that cares for and saves our neighbors in need. Also, as citizens, we must follow the law. What are the laws of the kingdom of God? It’s simple. This is how to love God and love your neighbors. And it was refined into 10 detailed provisions.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, stand firm in the Lord in this way! The Lord, who is light, will heal us all, give us strength, and guide us all on His path. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Amen.