UNION CENTER UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
CHURCH OFFICE 748-6329 PASTOR BROWN 748-1358
March 9, 2008 8:30 AM
PRELUDE: Betty Phinney
ANNOUNCEMENTS: 8:25 AM
*GREETINGS & GATHERINGS:
“Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD,
who stand by night in the house of the LORD! Lift up your hands to the holy
place, and bless the LORD! May the LORD bless you from Zion, He who made
heaven and earth!”
Psalm 134:1-3 RSV
*CALL TO WORSHIP: “Out of the depths I cry to Thee, O LORD! Lord, hear my voice! Let Thy ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications! If Thou, O LORD, shouldst mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I hope; my soul waits for the LORD more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with Him is plenteous redemption. And He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.” Psalm 130 RSV
HYMNS OF PRAISE: “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” #154
“O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” #57
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: The Apostles’ Creed #881
*GLORIA PATRI: #70
UNISON PRAYER: “Most holy and gracious God, our Heavenly Father, send Your Spirit upon us in power this morning and show us once again those things that you have prepared for those who love You. Pour out upon us the realization of just how wonderful is the inheritance that we receive from You, and how immediate Your presence is, and how able and willing You are to help us each day. Give us eyes of faith to see and hearts that trust enough to praise You even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. We ask it in Jesus' name who has taught us to pray:”
LORD’S PRAYERSHARING IN CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP: “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:5,6 RSV
Welcoming Our Visiting Friends
Sharing of Our Testimonies, Joy and Blessings
Sharing our Prayer Concerns
PRAYER VERSE: “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, indeed it cannot; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh, you are in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Any one who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him.” Romans 8:7, 9 RSV
PRAYER CHORUS: “Spirit of the Living God” #393
OFFERTORY VERSE: “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through His Spirit which dwells in you. So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.” Romans 8:11,12 RSV
OFFERTORY CHORUS: CD Special
Presentations of Tithes and Offerings
*DOXOLOGY: #95
HYMN OF PREPARATION: “I Know Whom I Have Believed” #714
SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 37:1-14/John 11 Pew Bible #840/1041
MESSAGE: “Bringing Out The Dead” Pastor Brown
*HYMN OF INVITATION: “Be Still, My Soul” #534
*ALLELUIA *BENEDICTION *POSTLUDE
The Altar is open for prayer. You are welcome to come to the Altar, praying for someone or praying for yourself with commitment to Christ for the first time or for rededication of your life to Him. Someone will join you at the Altar to pray with you.
RECORD OF FAITHFULNESS & STEWARDSHIP FOR March 2, 2008
ATTENDANCE: (61/55,116) TOTAL OFFERING:$
General:$ Designated:$
THOSE WHO ARE SERVING TODAY: 8:30 AM
WORSHIP LEADER: Deborah Eckhardt
GREETERS: Jennifer and Aaron Scott
NURSERY: Betsy Shumaker
USHER: Josh Bennett
AUDIO: Bob Deuel
JR. CHURCH: Sarah Rosenbarker
CHURCH CALENDAR WEEK of March 9, 2008
TODAY: 8:30 AM First Worship Service
9:50 AM Sunday School
11:00 AM Second Worship Service
9:30 AM Wesley United Methodist Church Service
TUES: 6:00 PM Men’s Cell Group Meeting
6:00 PM Women’s Group Meeting
WED: 6:00 PM Soup/Supper
6:30 PM Bible Study
FRI: 7:00 PM TV Ministry – Cable Channel 4
CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR: Jessica Burelle, Sarah Deuel, Baby Liam Alexander Ewing (he is at home), Ed Hower, Francis Potter (Betty Fowler’s sister-in-law), Christopher Fowler (Vivian Perkin’s son), Chuck Loeffler, Bettye Tuzza, Kathleen Budnovitch (Millie Rood’s friend), Irene Boyer, Jean Warfield, George Cameron, Irving Rosenbarker, Connie Perry, Pamela Jean (Jack and Alice Black’s niece), Bob English, Jack Black, Ethel Hower, Jonathan (Nate Young’s grandson), Orin White, Jeffery Sibley, Diane Ryans, Linda Fisher, Ralph Kocik, June Smith, Chad Grindel (Ray & Betty Fowler’s grandson), Dorothy Sedlacek, Ruth Ross, Alana Otis, Don & Lillian Eckler, Andy & Ann, Mahlon Tewksbury and Paul Carpenter. We extend a Christian sympathy to the family of Jonathan Brown.
SPECIAL NEEDS : Vin and Sherri Rosenbarker, Alex Madison (mass on his kidney), Kim Soundararaj (breast cancer).
THOSE SERVING IN IRAQ: Alan Votakpa, Frank Simser, Kevin McPherson - Rich's cousin, now on his 8th tour in Iraq, Kyle Chanitz, Scott McPherson, Christopher Simser, Jr., Adam Tatusko and Nicholas Tokos. Please pray for our Nation, Kenya and Orissa, India.
PRAYING FOR OUR MISSIONARIES: Doug/Karen (Frisch) Lehman (Africa), Jim /Shawn Ramsay (Georgia/Mission Society), Peter/Esther Pereira (India), Dave/Jean Coles (Indonesia), Neal/Mari Hicks (Japan), Guido/Kim (Warren) Orellana (Ecuador), Dr. Jeff/Marilyn Lester (Medics International), Dr.Terry/Renee Wortz, Elizabeth Salisbury(USA), Gary/Rebecca Mink (Africa), Leroy/Peg Jones (USA), Larry/Marian Byrnes (Indiana/OMS), Christopher/Rashaell Jones (Ecuador)
UNION CENTER UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
CHURCH OFFICE 748-6329 PASTOR BROWN 748-1358
March 9, 2008 11:00 AM
PRELUDE: Betty Phinney
ANNOUNCEMENTS: 11:00 AM
*GREETINGS & GATHERINGS: “Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, who stand by night in the house of the LORD! Lift up your hands to the holy place, and bless the LORD! May the LORD bless you from Zion, He who made heaven and earth!”
Psalm 134:1-3 RSV
*CALL TO WORSHIP: “Out of the depths I cry to Thee, O LORD! Lord, hear my voice! Let Thy ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications! If Thou, O LORD, shouldst mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I hope; my soul waits for the LORD more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with Him is plenteous redemption. And He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.” Psalm 130 RSV
*A TIME OF PRAISE: “Shout
To The Lord”
”Jesus, Lover Of My Soul”
”Spirit Song”
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: The Apostles’ Creed #881
UNISON PRAYER: “Most holy and gracious God, our Heavenly Father, send Your Spirit upon us in power this morning and show us once again those things that you have prepared for those who love You. Pour out upon us the realization of just how wonderful is the inheritance that we receive from You, and how immediate Your presence is, and how able and willing You are to help us each day. Give us eyes of faith to see and hearts that trust enough to praise You even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. We ask it in Jesus' name who has taught us to pray:”
LORD’S PRAYER
CHOIR ANTHEM: “My Faith Looks Up To Thee” Adult Choir
A TIME OF PRAYER
A TIME OF WORSHIPPING WITH OUR TITHES, OFFERINGS AND
SPECIAL MUSIC
*A TIME OF WORSHIP: “All Hail The Power”
”More Love, More Power”
”Breathe”
SCRIPTURE READING: Ezekiel 37:1-14/John 11 Pew Bible #840/1041
MESSAGE: “Bringing Out The Dead” Pastor Brown
*HYMN OF INVITATION: “Be Still, My Soul” #534
*ALLELUIA *BENEDICTION *POSTLUDE
The Altar is open for prayer. You are welcome to come to the Altar, praying for someone or praying for yourself with commitment to Christ for the first time or for rededication of your life to Him. Someone will join you at the Altar to pray with you.
RECORD OF FAITHFULNESS & STEWARDSHIP FOR March 2, 2008
ATTENDANCE: (61/55,116) TOTAL OFFERING:$4,421.20
General:$2,258.10 Designated:$2,163.10
THOSE WHO ARE SERVING TODAY: 11:00 AM
WORSHIP LEADER: Debbie Haines
GREETERS: Al and Evvie Binder
NURSERY: Sandhya Naik
USHER: Rich Henry
AUDIO: Bill Jubin
JR. CHURCH: Bill and Abby Woodward _
WESLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
CHURCH OFFICE (785-5349) OR 748-6329 PASTOR BROWN 748-1358
March 9, 2008 9:30 AM
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC 9:25 AM
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
*GREETINGS & GATHERINGS: “Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, who stand by night in the house of the LORD! Lift up your hands to the holy place, and bless the LORD! May the LORD bless you from Zion, He who made heaven and earth!”
Psalm 134:1-3 RSV
*CALL TO WORSHIP: “Out of the depths I cry to Thee, O LORD! Lord, hear my voice! Let Thy ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications! If Thou, O LORD, shouldst mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I hope; my soul waits for the LORD more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with Him is plenteous redemption. And He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.” Psalm 130 RSV
*HYMNS OF PRAISE: “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” #154
“O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” #57
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: The Apostles’ Creed #881
UNISON PRAYER: “Out of the depths I cry to Thee, O LORD! Lord, hear my voice! Let Thy ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications! If Thou, O LORD, shouldst mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I hope; my soul waits for the LORD more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with Him is plenteous redemption. And He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.” Psalm 130 RSV
LORD’S PRAYER
SHARING IN CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP: “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:5, 6 RSV
Welcoming Each Other into the House of the Lord
Sharing Of Our joys and blessings
Sharing our Prayer Concerns
PRAYER VERSE: “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, indeed it cannot; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh, you are in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Any one who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him.” Romans 8:7, 9 RSV
MORNING PRAYER
SPECIAL MUSIC: Grant, Mary and Ruth
OFFERTORY VERSE: “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through His Spirit which dwells in you. So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.” Romans 8:11, 12 RSV
Presentations of Tithes and Offerings
*DOXOLOGY #95
*HYMN OF PREPARATION: “I Know Whom I Have Believed” #714
SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 37:1-14/John 11 Pew Bible #1345/1668
MESSAGE: “Bringing Out The Dead” Pastor Brown
HYMN OF INVITATION: “Be Still, My Soul” #534
*BENEDICTION
*************************************************************************
It is wonderful that you came to worship today at the Wesley UMC. We welcome you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, whom we serve as our Lord. We pray and trust that you received the rich blessings of the Lord today. May the Lord bless you and keep you as you go into the world to live, serve, and witness. Please plan to join in a time of fellowship and sharing soon after the Worship Service. Please join us next Sunday at 9:30 AM for worship and praise. Invite your friends, family, and neighbors to join us.
***************************************************************************
LASAGNA DINNER-April 25, 2008. Serving at 5:00 p.m.
The Relay For Life of Western Broome is coming soon, June 14 and 15 at Sammon Field, Vestal. Please help us to promote the Relay in our Western Broome community by including the following announcement (or facsimile) in your church bulletin in the coming weeks. Thank you in advance for your support! Relay For Life of Western Broome will be held June 14 and 15 at Sammon Field, Vestal. Relay For Life is an overnight celebration of life and cancer survivorship. Teams of people from the community have fun while raising much needed funds to fight cancer. Contributions to the Relay For Life help the American Cancer Society fight cancer in four ways: research, education, advocacy and patient services. If you are interested in joining a team, volunteering your time or making a donation to support the Relay For Life of Western Broome, contact Gina Chapman, (607) 766-6907 or call 1-800-ACS-2345.
COMING EVENTS
Please remember to change your clocks one hour forward on March 8.
Sunday, March 9--Drama presentation, Simon Peter, with Dr. Jim Geer,
Saturday March 15--The wedding of Michelle and James.
Sunday, March 16--Palm Sunday. The Choir will present the Easter Cantata at both services.
Wednesday, March 19--Ron Goldberg will share on Passover at 6:30 p.m.
Maundy Thursday, March 20--7:00 p.m. Communion service.
Good Friday, March 21--Combined Good Friday service, will be held at the Nazarene Church, Rt. 26, Endicott, at 6:00 p.m.
Holy Saturday, March 22--11:00 a.m. Easter egg hunt for the children.
12:00 luncheon for the children, serving hotdogs and candy.
Easter celebrations, Sunday, March 23--6:30 Sunrise service,
7:30 a.m. family breakfast
8:30 and 11:00 a.m. Easter Worship services.
Sunday, March 30--The youth will be sharing an Easter drama during both services.
The Relay For Life of Western Broome is coming soon, June 14 and 15 at Sammon Field, Vestal. Please help us to promote the Relay in our Western Broome community by including the following announcement (or facsimile) in your church bulletin in the coming weeks. Thank you in advance for your support! Relay For Life of Western Broome will be held June 14 and 15 at Sammon Field, Vestal. Relay For Life is an overnight celebration of life and cancer survivorship. Teams of people from the community have fun while raising much needed funds to fight cancer. Contributions to the Relay For Life help the American Cancer Society fight cancer in four ways: research, education, advocacy and patient services. If you are interested in joining a team, volunteering your time or making a donation to support the Relay For Life of Western Broome, contact Gina Chapman, (607) 766-6907 or call 1-800-ACS-2345
MAINE FIRE STATION ANNUAL CHICKEN BBQ--Psalm Sunday, March 16, 2008, Maine Fire Station, 11:00 a.m. until sold out. TAKE OUT ONLY.
$7.00 full dinner, $6.00 just for chicken or $3 for children’s meal.
YOUTH CONCERT--On Friday, April 11 at 7:00 p.m. there will be a "Five 4 Five" concert held at the Boulevard United Methodist Church. Five 4 Five is a national tour that features five bands in concert for just $5. The bands are: DIZMAS, THE SEND, A DREAM TOO LATE, CHILDREN 18:3, AND CAYERIO. The event is being sponsored by the Union Center, Boulevard, and Hawleyton United Methodist Churches, First Presbyterian Church of Endicott, and First Baptist Church of Owego. Tickets are available at itickets.com or by calling 1-800-965-9324. Tickets can be purchased directly from Union Center UMC—Pastor Brown, umcgospel@aol.com or by calling, 607-748-6329. First Presbyterian Church—Jeremy Finn, JMFinn@hotmail.com or by calling 748-1544. Hawleton United Methodist--Ray Haskell, wpuckey@stny.rr.com or by calling 669-4373. First Baptist Church Owego--Rev Marlene Steenburg, mcsteenburg@aol.com or by calling 607-687-2417. Boulevard United Methodist Church--Rev Tony, blvdumc@stny.rr.com or by calling 607-797-5675.
BUILDING PROJECT FUNDRAISER EVENT-April, 2008. For more information contact Deborah Eckhardt at 772-2472.
DEAR CHURCH FAMILY-After returning from our EXCEL weekend, where the focus was “surrender, service and scripture”, the youth group has decided to begin this New Year with a service project for the soldiers related to members of our church family. You can help. There will be collection boxes placed in the fellowship hall and the narthex of the Church, we will be collecting the following items through the month of February and will send our boxes early in March. Thank you in advance for your help with this project.
Batteries, powdered drink mixes, toothbrushes and toothpaste, shaving cream and razors, soap, playing cards, phone cards, gum and hard candy, popcorn, bug spray, lip gloss, magazines, game and puzzle books, granola bars, small hand held games, breath mints, paperback books, DVDs, combs and brushes.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR A FUN EVENT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!
What: Silent Auction FUNdraiser toward the building fund
When: Saturday April 19, 2008
Where: Fellowship Hall
Why: To raise money, excitement and awareness of what the Lord can do as we collect money for the building fund.
What kinds of things will be auctioned off?
This highly depends on the creativity of our congregation and those who are willing to go out and generate donations. Some initial ideas?
Gift baskets from those who sell Pampered Chef, PartyLite, Lia Sophia, Avon, Mary Kay, etc.
Gift certificates from those who provide services – haircuts, piano lessons, voice lessons, cake decorating, oil changes, professional services such as counseling, audiology, massage, tutoring, etc.
Donations from those who sew, quilt, crochet, or create other works of art such as beautiful paintings
Gift certificates/gift baskets from local businesses not far from our church, such as Our Country Hearts, Giant markets, Nezuntoz, Phil’s Chicken House, (where do you go out to eat after church?), etc
Gift certificate/Gift basket from Arrowhead Christian Bookstore and other local Christian stores, then take a look in the Christian Yellow Pages, who else would be willing to make a donation.
Baskets that have a cookbook and cookie cutters, a basket with candles and bubble bath, wine and crackers, kitchen towels and a special recipe, a basket of books that you’ve already read (in good condition) and would like to pass along
A basket of baby bibs, onesies, baby toys, diapers, etc
A kid’s basket with crayons, coloring books, stickers, doodle pad, little toys, etc
Get your family, Sunday school class, men’s group, woman’s group, youth group etc to donate a collective basket. Options are limitless here!!! Creativity will be the key! We don’t need expensive donations - think of things that would make nice gifts, items that people would be willing to bid on!
Stay tuned as more details will be made available as April draws near!
Thank you in advance for your participation and willingness to generously donate to this FUNdraiser! If you have questions, more ideas or want to be involved in this event, please contact Deborah Eckhardt, 772-2472.
This evening, March 9, 7:00 p.m.
A Special Evening Worship Experience
“Simon Peter”
This evening, March 9, at 7:00 p.m., we will be sharing in a special kind of worship experience with the presentation of the dramatic monologue, “Simon Peter”. This presentation provides us with a worship experience through sacred drama and music, by sharing a part of this disciple’s life with our Lord Jesus Christ. Through his monologue, Peter shares with us some of the joys and conflicts of knowing Christ as a brother, of walking and talking with Him, and of experiencing the power of His Spirit. As we listen to him, we, too, can share in his agony in denial and, then, in his tremendous victory through forgiveness. We will each have the opportunity to reflect upon our own lives, to consider what they have been, and then to share, with Peter, in the promise of what they can be through the presence and power of the living God. Please plan to attend! (And bring a friend or two!)
NOTES FOR MARCH 9, 2008
The Gospel of St. John has been qualified as the greatest document treasured by humanity, and it is very easy to understand:
1- The first half: There are 7 miracles (chapters 1-11)... the book of the Signs.
2- The second half: The Holy Week (chapters 12-21)...
the book of the Passion... half of the book! The 7 miracles are not
called just "miracles", but "signs", or "miraculous
signs", because each one is a "sign" of what the life of a
Christian should be.
Our Life on Earth should be a
Wedding Feast!:
And it is fitting that the first
miraculous sign is a "wedding
feast", at Cana, showing that the life of a Christian on
earth is a "wedding feast"… the honeymoon will be after death, in the
seventh miracle of the resurrection of Lazarus, in chapter 11… but this life on
earth is a wedding feast: Your soul is invited at this wedding feast, and not
as any guest, but as the bride of the Lamb… your soul is the bride of Jesus,
the Lamb!... now!, on your wedding feast of life on earth!... yes, now!
Seven Treasures: In the first half of John (1-11), on
top of the 7 miracles there are 7 Treasures...and still much more:
The
7 Sign-Miracles:
1- The conversion of water into wine
at the Cana wedding, Jn.2:1-11 (commented on chapter 2).
2- Healing the Nobleman's son,
Jn.4:46-54 (commented on chapter 3).
3- Healing the paralytic man at the
pool of Bethesda, Jn.5:1-39 (commented on chapter 5)
4- The feeding of the 5,000,
Jn.6:1-14. The only miracle reported in the 4 Gospels: Mt.14:13-21, Mk.6:32-34,
Lk.9:10-17.
5- Walking on the sea, Jn.6:15-21,
also in Mt.14:22-36, Mk.6:45-56.
6- Blind from birth healed at the
pool of Siloam, Jn.9:1-41.
7- Raising of Lazarus, Jn.11:1-44.
There is another miracle in chapter 21: The catching of the fish.
The 7
Treasures:
1- The Hymn of the Word, Jn.1:1-18.
2- The 3 Witnesses of John the
Baptist, Jn.1:19-51, 3:22-36.
3- The conversation with Nicodemus,
Jn.3
4- The encounter with the Samaritan
Woman,.. and the Nobleman
Jn.4
5- The 8 "I am" of Jesus
6- The Sermon of the Bread of Life,
Jn.6
7- The Good Shepherd, Jn.10 The
7 Discourses of Jesus... the 14!:
In Matthew Jesus the king gives
decrees, sermons without interruption... here in John there are like
dialogues, other people ask or comment, often called Discourses.
1- On the source of eternal life and
witness, Jn.5:19-47
2- On the Bread of Life, Jn.6:35 to
7:1
3- On the source of truth, Jn.7:14-29.
4- The Adulterous Woman and the
Light of the World, Jn.8:12-20.
5- On the object of faith,
Jn.8:21-30.
6- On spiritual freedom, Jn.8:31-59.
7- On the unity of the Godhead,
Jn.10:22-38.
There are also another 2 Discourses of Jesus in the first 11
Chapters of John, included in some of the Treasures, as on the spiritual
regeneration in chapter 3 of Nicodemus, and on eternal life in chapter 4 of the
Samaritan woman.
And in the Second Part of John there are another 5 great
Discourses of Jesus: On the World's Redeemer (12:20-36), on the approaching
separation (13:31 to 14:31), on union with Christ in His Church (15:1-27), on
the Holy Spirit and the future (16:1-33), and on oneness of God and the Church
in the Priestly Prayer of Jesus in chapter 17... all of the last 4 Discourses
in the Sermon of the Last Supper... so, a total of 14 great Discourses
make St. John
the Gospel of the Discourses of Jesus.
The sermon or discourse of the Last supper is the
longest of Jesus in the Gospels, in 5 chapters, Jn.13-17, the most intimate,
repeating again and again 6 subjects, four times each. In the center, chapter
15 is the Mystical body of Christ, the Church, we in Christ, in His Church, and
He in us... and the last chapter, 17, 'the priestly prayer of Jesus', is often
referred as the most divine words ever pronounced on earth... and in Heaven!
The 7 Witnesses
of he Gospel:
"The Gospel of St. John was written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that trough this belief you may have life in his name" (Jn.20:31).
John brings seven witnesses to
the stand to prove this fact:
1- John the Baptist: "This is the
Son of God" (1:34).
2- Nathanael: "You are the Son f
God" (1:49.
3- Peter: "You are the Christ,
the Son of the living God" (6:69).
4- Martha: "You are the Christ,
the Son of God" (11:27).
5- Thomas: You are "My Lord and
my God" (20:28).
6- John himself: "Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of God" (20:31).
7- Christ himself: "I am he, the
Messiah" (4:26), "I and the Father are one" (10:30,
and Jn.17, 4 times), "I am the Son of God" (10:36), "He
who sees me sees the Father" (14:9).
Praise to you, my sweet Jesus, you are the Christ, the Son of the living God, God the Son, truly God and truly Man. I adore you, I believe in you, and I receive you in my heart, for the glory of the Father, with the power of the Holy Spirit, for the good of your Church, and for our own good. Thank you my Lord and my God. Amen.
Gospel of the Holy Spirit...
and of the Father:
All along, John is a theology of the Holy Spirit and of the
Father.
- In John 3, 4 and 7, there are the rivers of the living
water with the 'born again' told to Nicodemus, the Samaritan, and in the great
feast of John 7.
- John 14 and 16 are the summit of the theology of the Holy
Spirit, as part of the Sermon of the Last Supper in John 13-17
- God the Father is all over the book, as in John 8, and
specially in 17, 'the priestly prayer of Jesus'.
The 8 "I Am" of Jesus:
In the Gospel of John Jesus repeats eight times He is "I am", the same "I am" He told Moses in Exodus 3:14:
1- "I am the bread of
life" (6:35)
2- "I am the light of the world" (8:12)
3- "I am the door" (10:7,9)
4- "I am the good shepherd", (10:11)
5- "I am the resurrection and the life" (11:25
6- "I am the way, and the truth, and the life"
(14:6))
7- "I am the true vine" (15:1)…
8- ... and those seven "I am" are toppled with the
eight one with savor of power and eternity, "before Abraham was, I
am"… not "I was", but "I am"… Jesus always
eternally the same I am, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today
and forever" (Heb.13:8). I am the immutable one, but the author of all change and movement... I
am the one who nourishes you, and heals you, and saves you, the one always with
you to love you.