Saturday, August 7, 2021

Dear Road Church Friends,

Two weeks ago my message was on the story of the feeding of the 5000 in the Gospel of John 6:1-13. Tomorrow we will look at the next two verses which bring that story to a surprising conclusion. In a rush of patriotic gratitude, the formidable crowd of 5000 men determined to put Jesus forward to the nation as its new king. They represented a potential army greater than the Roman Legion that was stationed in Palestine. Here is a golden opportunity for Jesus to fulfill his appointed destiny as God’s Messiah. What better way for Jesus to send his disciples to the nations of the world, clothed in the regalia of royal ambassadors, preaching the gospel of the kingdom to the nations, while Jesus himself is sitting like Solomon in royal splendor on David’s throne in Jerusalem, for all the world to marvel at. Yet, Jesus ran away in horror at the very thought of that. The picture of Solomonic splendor did not appeal to him at all. He preferred the shame of the cross to the glory of the crown. However, he did not abandon his vision of bringing God’s rule and kingdom to the world. He taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth…” The question remains: What kind of king, and what kind of kingdom are we praying for? And, most importantly, what does it require of us? This is a question of fundamental importance that will be addressed in tomorrow’s lesson. Gather with us Sunday at 10 am and join in the discussion.

SCRIPTURE :  John 6:14-15                             SERMON: “What Kind Of King?”

     When the crowd saw the sign that he had done, they began to say to one another, “This man must be the prophet like Moses and king like David who we have been looking for!” When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he fled to the mountain and hid himself from them.

WHAT GOD HATH PROMISED

God hath not promised skies always blue,

Flower strewn pathways all our lives through;

God hath not promised sun without rain,

Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

But God hath promised strength for the day,

Rest for the labor, light for the way,

Grace for the trials, help from above,

Unfailing sympathy, undying love.

by Annie Johnson Flint

    May the grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you.

Pastor Norm

Road Church Pastor Norm’s morning message on FACEBOOK: https://fb.watch/7fJtCHcS9P/