Blaze Youth

Point Cook will be Blazin’ again this Friday when Blaze Youth meet at Featherbrook Community Centre, Windorah Drive. Come Join us for Fun Games and Activities.

The passage talks about the Jewish religious leaders who “study the scriptures diligently because [they] think that in them you have eternal life. They are the very scriptures that testify about me, and yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” (me as in Jesus who said this)

Wow. These religious leaders were so caught up in religion that they missed the point of the scriptures they so “diligently” study. The scriptures they were reading at the time were from the Old Testament (obviously because the New Testament record Jesus’ life etc). The scriptures where “about me” said Jesus. If you read the Old Testament, it documents life when man was trying to reach God. There was a gap (sin) that needed to be filled by sacrifice. 

One of the events in the old testament that clearly display that they were “about [him]” was in Genesis 22 when Abraham was asked to sacrifice his teenage son Isaac. The bible says that God said to Abraham “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” But God didn’t let Isaac die. That was not the son that needed to die Jesus would be sent. God is the one who “ gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
Yet the religious leaders could not see that these stories where a shadow of what was to come. They could not recognise Jesus as the messiah. In fact earlier in the chapter vs 1-15 they were scolding the man Jesus had just healed and enabled to walk, for carrying his matt on the Sabbath. They were constantly following rules which actually took their attention off seeking God. 2 Timothy 3 vs 5 says “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof”. This is what the Jewish leaders were doing, they were outwardly displaying “godliness” by “diligently” studying the scriptures but they missed the point of them. Jesus. By doing this they actually “deny” the power of God, which is what they are seeking. 

Religion distracts you by focussing your energies on obeying rules and traditions, and takes your eyes away from God. When we get into the word of God with a heart to know him we understand its true meaning, the fact it’s a story of love and redemption.

⁹ When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

 ¹⁰ Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. ¹¹ There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

   ¹² “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. ¹³ And so you will bear testimony to me. ¹⁴ But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. ¹⁵ For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. ¹⁶ You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. ¹⁷ Everyone will hate you because of me. ¹⁸ But not a hair of your head will perish. ¹⁹ Stand firm, and you will win life

Jesus died on the cross to forgive our sins, and bring us LIFE! Sin leads to death and is what separated us from God. But “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” 

What does this mean?

1 Suffering completed

2 Sacrifice fulfilled

3 Satan defeated

4 Salvation secured

All our burdens, all our shame God our freedom- he has overcome! We dont need to make sacrifices, they wont be enough. Nothing we do will be enough. He is the final and perfect sacrifice for sin.

Jesus last words on the cross: “Tetelestai” (it is finished)

Turn to him who loves you, unconditionally, unendingly. Remember that the SAME power and spirit that raised Jesus from the grave, lives IN US.