Muskoka Lakes Ministry of Knox, Port Carling & Zion, Torrance
Sunday Oct 10, 2021
Message: Covenant of Love
Reverend Glynis Faith
____________________________________
Announcements
________________________________________
* Monday evening 7pm via Zoom ~ ‘The Story’ study group meets
* Thursday evening 7:30 pm via Zoom ~ the Bible study group meets
*
________________________________________
Prayer of Adoration & Confession
________________________________________
All honour and glory and praise belong to You, Lord God Almighty. You are merciful and kind – loving and generous. All blessings come from You. Life, love, goodness, peace, joy originate from You.
On this Thanksgiving Sunday we confess our failure to acknowledge all our blessings as a gift from You. We confess that we often pride ourselves in our accomplishments, accepting credit and praise joyfully, instead of acknowledging Your hand in our gifts and achievements.
Father, forgive us our pridefulness, showing us Your presence and provision in all blessings. Teach us true thankfulness, filling our hearts with deep gratitude on this Thanksgiving Sunday. In Christ we pray. AMEN

WORDS OF ASSURANCE
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . . In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins. Thanks be to God. AME______________________________________
Prayer of Thanksgiving ~ The Lord’s Prayer
________________________________________
On this Thanksgiving day, O Lord, may we be reminded of the richness of our land and the freedoms available to us here in Canada. Father, we thank you for home and native land.
Today, as we read about Jesus and His disciples in the Upper Room enjoying an intimate meal and fellowship prior to Christ’s death on the Cross, may we be reminded of the vows said at our baptism – of our public confession of faith in Christ – and of our covenant to follow Him. Lord Jesus, we thank you for showing us how to our lives honouring the covenants of old and for the new commandment to love others as You have loved us.
Truly we are richly blessed. Truly we have much to share. Truly we have everything to be thankful for. Holy Spirit, fill our minds and hearts with a keen awareness of all our blessings, igniting in us a spirit of thankfulness and generosity.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit we thank you for the congregation here at (ZION // KNOX) and the community we serve. May our commitment to You and the way we live out the new covenant together shine the Gospel into the lives of the people of (Torrance // Port Carling)
Smile Your blessings upon us as we repeat the prayer Jesus taught us saying: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil; for Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. AMEN
________________________________________
“ Covenant of Love ”
________________________________________
John 13:1-17, 34-35;14:1-3
13:1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
(and verses 34-35)

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. /// As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
(Let’s also read Chapter 14:1-3)
14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. “
________________________________________

Simon Peter was concerned about Jesus washing his feet, and Jesus said, “you do not realize what I am doing, but later you will understand.” - - May God bless our understanding of these words from John’s Gospel, that we too might understand God’s will for our lives. AMEN

The disciples would certainly have been confused by Jesus taking off his outer clothing and wrapping a towel around His waist as He knelt down to wash their feet. Not that long ago Peter confessed Jesus as the Messiah, and only a servant washes feet. Jesus assures them they will soon understand.

On this Thanksgiving Sunday I invite you to step into the Upper Room with Jesus and His disciples. Enter the room and look around at the simplicity of it all – plain walls – tables set together in the center of the room – the Passover meal laid out for them to share and celebrate together.

The Cross lay ahead for Jesus, but in this room, at this hour, He reclines with His disciples to share one last intimate meal.

In these last hours – at this last meal – in this room the One they called Rabbi – teacher – Messiah and Lord humbles Himself to wash His disciple’s feet and He gives them a new commandment, “love one another. “ And to make it clearer, “love one another, as I have loved you.” Love, not just with words, but with actions.

It was hard for the disciples to understand what Jesus was doing and saying at the moment, but in the coming days, weeks, months and years they would begin to understand more and more of what Jesus was showing and teaching them.

Jesus continues to call us (you and I) into the New Covenant – to love one another by following His example.

The disciples were familiar with the covenants of old. There was the unconditional covenant God made with Abraham. God would make his descendant numerous. They would be blessed. They would be a blessing to others, and through them, God would bless all nations.

Then there was the Mosaic Covenant – also knows as the Laws of Moses, or more familiarly, the 10 Commandments. These laws, or rules, were a guidebook of how to live in relationship with God and with one another.

Now Jesus initiates this New Covenant. The new covenant does not negate the old ones – we are still to acknowledge our blessing, or as the old hymn says ‘count your blessings.’ We are still called to be a blessing to others and to live in God’s ways that He can bless others through us.

The Ten Commandments do not disappear, they are summed up quiet nicely in the new commandment: Listen to Jesus, the Son of God and love as He loves - - - - live your life by His example.

In the Upper Room, and the hours that would follow, the words and actions of Jesus would express the symbols of covenant, symbols the disciples would understand and interpret following Christ’s death and resurrections. Symbols that would enable them to understand God’s great love for them - - symbols that would guide them in starting the early church, where God would be worshipped and Christ’s mission on earth would continue.

First let’s consider what covenant meant to the people of ancient times. This is a difficult concept for us to fully understand today, as our society has loopholes and plenty of ways to break or nullify contracts. But those listening to Jesus in the Upper Room understood a covenant to be a solemn, binding, legal agreement with dire consequences if it were to be broken.

Knowing some of the elements involved in ancient covenants helps us to better understand some of the strange things we read in Scripture. Examples of these are:
1) Verbal promises or oaths, where each party laid out and accepted the expectations of the other. (no need for extensive written documents that only lawyers can interpret)
2) Articles of clothing were exchanged, especially a belt. The article exchanged represented the other person and the importance of caring for them by honouring the covenant made. Exchanging belts was especially meaningful, as the belt was where a person held their sword or other protective weapon, thus exchanging belts symbolized protecting the other by honouring one’s contract.
3) Cut – A covenant was cut, not made. This was often done through the blood sacrifice of a large animal cut into two mirrored images. Both individuals entering into a covenant joined together to dig a shallow trench and let the blood of the sacrifice flow through it. The flesh was then placed along both sides of the trench and each party would walk through the blood-filled trench to symbolize the serious nature of the covenant they were making. ///////// Symbolically they were declaring “may God do to me what has been done to these animals if I break this covenant.” / /////////// Interestingly, it is thought that the modern day expression ‘to cut a deal’ may have its origins in this ancient practice. (Should encourage us to think carefully before cutting a deal or taking a vow, don’t you think?)
4) A sign, or monument, was often constructed to give witness to the covenant – the stacking of a pillar of stones was a common sign we see throughout the Old Testament.
5) Sharing a meal together symbolized the trust they had in one another to honour their promise. Oftentimes the meal would include the meat of the sacrificed animal.
6) At times a name would be changed to symbolize the covenant, such as God changing Abram to Abraham and Sarai to Sarah.

Symbols of the marriage covenant included ritual bathing to cleanse and prepare oneself, public vows before and after the ceremony, a year long time of preparation where the man would build an extension onto his father’s house to make a home for his bride and the family they planned (does this sound family from the conclusion of our reading today?) The groom did not announce the date or time of the wedding, so the bride and her maidens would keep their oil lamps lit at all times, so they would be prepared for his arrival, when the groomsmen would carry the bride to her father-in-law’s house.

Does some of this covenant symbolism sound familiar to you? Perhaps knowing the signs and symbols, along with the serious nature with which people entered into covenant will help us better understand what we are reading in Scripture and will remind us to honour the vows we make to God and before God.

Sharing an intimate meal with His disciples, washing their feet, promises made, going to prepare a room for us in His father’s house. It may not have made a lot of sense to the disciples at the time, but as Jesus had promised, one day they would understand.

From the Upper Room to the Cross, where Christ’s blood was shed – the Cross that would be an everlasting sign, symbolizing the depth of God’s love and the sacrifice made for our salvation.

From the Cross to the tomb, where it seemed like all was lost, but all was not lost, and the empty tomb became a symbol of God’s amazing grace – a reminder of the gift of eternal life Christ promised to all who would live in covenant with Him.

And then there is the Church – the bride of Christ – made up of all who believe in Jesus, the Son of God – made up of those who choose to enter into covenant with Christ, to live as He lived, to obey His commands and teach others to do the same

Christ has gone to prepare a room for you in His father’s house and with it, a great banquet – a grand celebration. We have much much much much to be thankful for on this Thanksgiving weekend, especially Christ’s covenant of love towards us. He has honoured His covenant with you.

We are Christ’s church – people of the covenant. The question we need to ask ourselves is: are we living our lives in preparation for Christ’s return? Are we honouring our covenant relationship with Jesus and with one another?

I invite you to pray with me: Lord Jesus, help us to live as you have taught and called us to do. Teach us Your ways and guide us along the straight and narrow path. May we never forget what our salvation cost, and may we ever be grateful for the blessing of God’s great love and grace. Holy Spirit, help us to understand and live our lives honouring the covenant we enter into with faith. In Christ’s wonderful name we pray AME_________________________________
Offering
________________________________________
DONATIONS TO ZION, TORRANCE
Mail cheques to Zion Presbyterian Church 1046 Torrance Rd, Torrance, ON, P0C 1M0
E-Transfers to zionchurchpc@gmail.com No security question required
Pick up ~ Please call the office (705) 765 3797 to arrange pick up

DONATIONS TO KNOX, PORT CARLING
Mail cheques to Knox Presbyterian Church Box 283, Port Carling, ON,
P0B 1J0
E-Transfers to KnoxChurchPC@gmail.com No security question required
Pick up ~ Please call the office (705) 765-3797 to arrange pick up