At the Cross

By Rev. Dr. J. Bino Rajeshwar

These are sermons preached during the Lenten season. They have been arranged in such a way that is very useful for meditation and soul upliftment. They were preached when I was a priest in the Diocese of Amritsar–Church of North India, India.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing India
• Release date: Dec 17, 2018
• ISBN: 9781543704464

Rev. Dr. J. Bino Rajeshwar

Bino Rajeshwar Johnson (Pen Name – Rajeshwaran) a. Education – B.Com. M.A. (Religion and Philosophy), B.Th. (Theology) (studied in Trinity theological college – Singapore), Ph.D. (Religion and Politics), Dip. In community development, Cert. In Developmental Journalism, Cert in Study Skills b. Priest / social worker / human rights evangelist / Teaching religion in Theological colleges c. 25th June 1959 (59 Years) Born in Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, India d. Worked in the Church of North India as priest for some time. Then worked as a teacher in schools and did independent ministry all over India. Now involved with the upliftment of the poor

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Copyright © 2019 by Bino Rajeshwar Johnson.

ISBN:                Softcover              978-1-5437-0447-1

                          eBook                   978-1-5437-0446-4

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Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. [Biblica]

www.partridgepublishing.com/india

Dedicated

To

Uncle J. S. Donald

And

Aunty Vimala Donald

For giving me an opportunity

To see the spiritual world

From a different perspective

CONTENTS

LENT PART ONE

1.     Introduction

2.     Ash Wednesday

3.     6th Sunday before Easter: The contrast between the failure of Adam and obedience of Jesus Christ, whose victory we are call to share

4.     5th Sunday before Easter: Jesus the Messiah accepted suffering according to His father’s will and calls his disciples to follow Him

5.     Annunciation of Mary

6.     4th before Easter: The transfiguration reveals the true glory and authority of Jesus, the son of God.

7.     3rd Sunday before Easter: True greatness is shown in humble service and self sacrifice.

8.     2nd Sunday before Easter: The wisdom and power of God are most clearly revealed in the weakness and foolishness of the cross

9.     Palm Sunday: Christ enters Jerusalem to offer His life for the salvation of the world.

10.   Monday before Easter: Jesus laments over the city which rejects Him

11.   Tuesday before Easter: Are you prepared to die?

12.   Wednesday before Easter: Betrayal

13.   Maundy Thursday: Jesus gives His disciples a new commandment and institutes the Lord’s supper.

14.   Introspection on Good Friday

15.   Word one: Father forgive them for they know not what they do

16.   Word two: Today thou shall be with me in paradise.

17.   Word three: Woman Behold thy son…. Behold thy mother.

18.   Word four: My God, My God why has thou forsaken me?

19.   Word five: I thirst

20.   Word Six: It is finished

21.   Word seven: Father into thy hands I command my spirit.

22.   Easter Eve

23.   Easter: Victory Over Death

24.   Conclusion

LENT PART TWO

25.   The Sacrifice Of Christ As Seen Through Eastern Scriptures And Literature

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LENT PART ONE

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Lent is about eliminating bad past

To make space for new life

Paul claimed the future by letting go of the past (Philippians 3:12-21)

Notes on Ash Wednesday: DAY BY DAY – Feb/April 1992- Page 34.

LUKE 18: 9-14: I tell you this ……. everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.

Ash Wednesday is the first day of the lent season. This day marks the starting of the period of discipline and penitence. Ash Wednesday is a day of ritual dating back to our early Christian communities. Our predecessors were often so tortured for their faith that some became apostates, ones who denied their beliefs. Later when persecution subsided, these same apostles repented and wanted to rejoin the worshiping community. The Church established public penance, including the wearing of sackcloth and ashes, as a condition for re-entry. This mild form of suffering reminded apostles that during their absence the faithful had suffered profoundly. Some had even died.

However, singling out apostates with ashes suggested that they were the only ones in need of forgiveness. Church leaders knew better. Hence a LENT was set aside as a time when all would examine their own sinfulness and ask God’s forgiveness. The observance of Ash Wednesday senders on the ashes from burned palms used in the previous year’s Palm Sunday procession. A Priest or a Pastor blesses the ashes and uses them to make a cross on the forehead of worshipers. This blessing is based on the biblical passage ……….. For dust thou art and untrue dust thou shall returned (Genesis 3:19). Ashes also served as a symbol of purification and penitence.We join in the ashes and in observance of Lend to remind ourselves that we too are sinners in need of God’s compassion and mercy.

"Create in me a clean heart O’ God,

And

Renew a right spirit within me"

–Psalm 51:11

SCRIPTURE PASSAGES FOR PERSONAL MEDITATION

Psalms 32, 95 & 143/Hebrews 12: 1-14/Amos 5:6-15

GOD CALLS EVERYONE URGENTLY TO REPENT

Joel 2:12-7, II Corinthians: 20:6-2, Luke 13: 1-9 or Mathew 6: 1-6, 16-18

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Everyone likes to go to Heaven. Everyone wants a seat in Heaven. Everyone wants to be one with God.

But how does one go to Heaven?

How does one reserve a seat in Heaven?

How can we go near to God?

How can we be one with God?

The answer my friends to this is repentance.

REPENTANCE

Yes my dear friends the answer is Repentance. What is repentance? What do we repent for?

Repentance means a change of heart. Repentance means you regret for your misdeeds. Repentance means you feel sorry for the things that you have done wrongly.Repentance means your present life comes to an end and you become a complete new man. Repentance means that you are finally realizing that there is something wrong in you and you need to change.

YES MY FRIENDS WE NEED TO REPENT

YES WE NEED TO CHANGE

YES WE NEED TO HAVE A NEW SELF

If we say that we have no need to change (Repent) then we should stop to think for a while. If we say why should I change? I have never done anything wrong. Then maybe we should stop to think for a while. Is It? HAVE WE NEVER DONE ANYTHING WRONG? Jesus in Luke 13: 1-9 says that everyone needs to repent. Let us look at the parable of the fig tree in Luke 15: 1-9. How the owner has asked the gardener to cut down the fig tree after giving some more time if it does not bear fruit.

IInd Corinthians 5:20 says that we are Ambassadors of Christ. So our job is a responsible one. Whatever we do, will reflect on the character of Jesus Christ. The way we walk, the way we behave, the way we respond all ultimately reflect on the very name of Jesus Christ & Yahweh.

Are we living up to the name of Jesus Christ? If not there is something wrong with us. If there is something wrong with us we need to change. If we need to change we need to repent.

Joel 2:12 says, Yet even now – return to me with all your heart –. Therefore we should repent with all our heart as the psalmist in psalm 130 says, out of the depth have I cried unto thee O’ Lord. Our response should come from deep within us. At this juncture I remember a poem from the Good Seed (1994)

                            Room for pleasure, room for business

                            But for Christ the crucified

                            Not a place that He can enter

                            In the Heart for which He died.

                            Have You anytime for Jesus

                            As in Grace He calls again?

                            Oh, today is time accepted;

                            Tomorrow you may call in vain