Sunday Meditation, April 19
Christ, Our Resurrected Temple
The best news of the Christian gospel is that the supremely glorious Creator of the universe has acted in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection to remove every obstacle between us and himself so that we may find everlasting joy in seeing and savoring his infinite beauty.
— John Piper
Scripture for Meditation: John 2:18-22
So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.*
Hymn of Rejoicing: Come, People of the Risen King
Come, people of the Risen King, who delight to bring Him praise;
Come all and tune your hearts to sing to the Morning Star of grace.
From the shifting shadows of the earth we will lift our eyes to Him,
Where steady arms of mercy reach to gather children in.Refrain:
Rejoice, Rejoice! Let every tongue rejoice!
One heart, one voice; O Church of Christ, rejoice!Come, those whose joy is morning sun, And those weeping through the night;
Come, those who tell of battles won, and those struggling in the fight.
For His perfect love will never change, and His mercies never cease,
But follow us through all our days with the certain hope of peace.
Come, young and old from every land—men and women of the faith;
Come, those with full or empty hands—find the riches of His grace.
Over all the world, His people sing—shore to shore we hear them call
The truth that cries through every age: “Our God is all in all”!— Keith & Kristyn Getty & Stuart Townend. © 2001 Thankyou Music. CCLI #2783020
Hymn of Triumph: See, the Conqueror Mounts in Triumph
See, the conqueror mounts in triumph; see the King in royal state,
Riding on the clouds, His chariot, to His heavenly palace gate.
Hark! the choirs of angel voices joyful alleluias sing,
And the portals high are lifted to receive their heavenly king.Who is this that comes in glory, with the trump of jubilee?
Lord of battles, God of armies, He has gained the victory.
He who on the cross did suffer, He who from the grave arose,
He has vanquished sin and Satan, He by death has spoiled His foes.[Bridge]
Thou hast raised our human nature in the clouds to God’s right hand;
There we sit in heavenly places, there with Thee in glory stand:
Jesus reigns, adored by angels; man with God is on the throne;
Mighty Lord, in Thine ascension we by faith behold our own.— Copyright 2011 One Eyed Cat Music (BMI). Text by Christopher Wordsworth, 1807-1885. Music by Jennifer Somers, Tyler Somers, and Mitch Dane. CCLI #2783020
Prayer of Blessing
Responsive Reading: I Corinthians 15:21-28
For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.
When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.
Hymn of Approach: And Can It Be
And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?He left His Father’s throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace;
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:’Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For, O my God, it found out me.
’Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For, O my God, it found out me.Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Amazing love! How can it be
That thou, my God, shouldst die for me?— Charles Wesley, 1707-1788
Prayer of Corporate Confession
Silence for Personal Confession
Assurance of Pardon: I Corinthians 15:49
Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.
Response: Thanks be to God.
Hymn of Resurrection: For All the Saints
For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Allelu!Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might;
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia, Allelu!The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest;
Sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed.
Alleluia, Allelu!But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of glory passes on His way.
Alleluia, Alleluia!— Text: William Walsham How, 1823-1897. Music: © 1997 Christopher Miner Music. CCLI #2783020
Hymn of Hope: Christ, Our Hope in Life and Death
What is our hope in life and death?
Christ alone, Christ alone.
What is our only confidence?
That our souls to him belong.Who holds our days within his hand?
What comes apart from his command?
And what will keep us to the end?
The love of Christ in which we stand.Chorus:
O sing hallelujah! Our hope springs eternal.
O sing hallelujah! Now and ever we confess:
Christ our hope in life and death.What truth can calm the troubled soul?
God is good, God is good.
Where is his grace and goodness known?
In our great Redeemer's bloodWho holds our faith when fears arise?
Who stands above the stormy trial?
Who sends the waves that bring us nigh unto the shore,
The rock of Christ?Chorus:
O sing hallelujah! Our hope springs eternal.
O sing hallelujah! Now and ever we confess:
Christ our hope in life and death.Unto the grave, what will we sing?
Christ, He lives! Christ, he lives!
And what reward will heaven bring?
Everlasting life with him.There we will rise to meet the Lord;
Then sin and death will be destroyed.
And we will feast in endless joy,
When Christ is ours forevermore.Chorus:
O sing hallelujah! Our hope springs eternal.
O sing hallelujah! Now and ever we confess:
Christ our hope in life and death.
(repeat)
Now and ever we confess:
Christ our hope in life and death.— Keith Getty, Jordan Kauflin, Matt Papa, Matt Boswell, Matthew Merker. 2020 Getty Music Publishing, Messenger Hymns, Love Your Enemies Publishing, Matthew Merker Music, Getty Music Hymns and Songs, Jordan Kauflin Music (Admin by Music Services). CCLI #2783020
Ministry of the Word
*All Scripture, English Standard Version. © 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission.