OzThoughts - Monday
Susan Lehmann
It is the season of Advent and throughout the world,
Salvationists and other Christians are sharing the good news of Christmas
being
the birth of Jesus. A lot of time will be spent reminding people of whom
Jesus
really is and how he came to this Earth to be our Saviour from sin.
Today's reading has the critical Pharisees and religious
leaders listening to Jesus' words and asking not "Who is he?" but "Who does
he
think he is?" and going on to accuse him of blasphemy.
Jesus answered them in a few well chosen questions and then
demonstrated his authority and power by saying to the paraplegic man
"Get up. Take
your bedroll and go home."
We see who Jesus is, and his power and authority as Luke
records for us:
"Without a moment's hesitation, he did
it-got up, took his blanket, and left for home, giving glory to God all the
way. The people rubbed their eyes, incredulous-and then also gave glory to
God.
Awestruck, they said, "We've never seen anything like that! ""
[Listen: Vocal : http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_3370.mp3
or:
Look and listen: (Scunthorpe
Salvation Army Band Playing Christmas Carols)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g77x5c0b5NA]
(Seec all original 10 verses of this song after the
Scripture reading)
Who is he in yonder stall,
At whose feet the shepherds fall?
Chorus
'Tis the Lord! O wondrous story,
'Tis the Lord, the King of Glory!
At his feet we humbly fall,
Crown him, crown him Lord of all!
2.
Who is he in deep distress,
Fasting in the wilderness?
3.
Who is he to whom they bring
All the sick and sorrowing?
4.
Who is he on yonder tree
Dies in grief and agony?
5.
Who is he who from the grave
Comes to succor, help and save?
6.
Who is he whom from his throne
Rules through all the worlds alone?
Author: Benjamin Russell Hanby (1833-97)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 104
Luke 5:17-26 (The Message)
17One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and religion
teachers were sitting around. They had come from nearly every village in
Galilee and Judea, even
as far away as Jerusalem,
to be there. The healing power of God was on him.
18-20Some men arrived carrying a paraplegic on a stretcher.
They were looking for a way to get into the house and set him before Jesus.
When they couldn't find a way in because of the crowd, they went up on the
roof, removed some tiles, and let him down in the middle of everyone, right
in
front of Jesus. Impressed by their bold belief, he said, "Friend, I
forgive your sins."
21That set the religion scholars and Pharisees buzzing.
"Who does he think he is? That's blasphemous talk! God and only God can
forgive sins."
22-26Jesus knew exactly what they were thinking and said,
"Why all this gossipy whispering? Which is simpler: to say 'I forgive your
sins,' or to say 'Get up and start walking'? Well, just so it's clear that
I'm
the Son of Man and authorized to do either, or both. . . ." He now spoke
directly to the paraplegic: "Get up. Take your bedroll and go home."
Without a moment's hesitation, he did it-got up, took his blanket, and left
for
home, giving glory to God all the way. The people rubbed their eyes,
incredulous-and then also gave glory to God. Awestruck, they said, "We've
never seen anything like that!"
All 10
verses: (http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/234
)
1.
Who is He in yonder
stall,
At whose feet the shepherds fall?
Chorus:
'Tis
the Lord! oh wondrous story!
'Tis the Lord! the King of glory!
At His feet we humbly fall,
Crown Him! crown Him, Lord of all!
2.
Who is He in deep
distress,
Fasting in the wilderness?
3.
Who is He the people
bless
For His words of gentleness?
4.
Who is He to whom they
bring
All the sick and sorrowing?
5.
Who is He that stands
and weeps
At the grave where Lazarus sleeps?
6.
Who is He the gathering
throng
Greet with loud triumphant song?
7.
Lo! at midnight, who is He
Prays in dark Gethsemane?
8.
Who is He on yonder
tree
Dies in grief and agony?
9.
Who is He who from the
grave
Comes to succor, help, and save?
10. Who is He who from His throne
Rules through all the worlds alone?
..........................
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