Tuesday

 

Wishing all who love and live for Christ,
a Grateful Remembrance of His Coming, 2,000 years ago,
to Rescue and Reconcile us to our Creator.

Tuesday Fellowship (Thanksgiving) meeting: 7 Jan 2025 at 11am, in Plaza Hall.
Speaker: Rev Raymond Fong.
To register, text your name to 9178 9338/9484 6652.

(The Hiding Place will be selling Chinese New Year cookies.)

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Son of God – Son of Man

The 1st Coming of Christ (Messiah: Heb: Anointed One) was prophesied in the Old Testament. These prophesies were fulfilled, as recorded in the Gospels, which describe the birth, life, ministry, teaching, death and resurrection of Jesus, each from a different perspective.

Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
King	Servant	Son of Man	Son of God
For: Jews	Romans	Greeks	All Believers/Humanity
Genealogy: Matt 1 Trace back to King David & Abraham (Royal line, Jew!) Joseph’s lineage.	No Genealogy (Not relevant for servants)	Genealogy: Luke 3 Trace back through another son of David (Nathan) to Adam (1st Man) (Humanity) Mary’s lineage.	No Genealogy God has none! (Divinity: In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, the Word was God.) (John 1:1)
Focus: Teaching: Sermon on the Mount, Laws of the Kingdom. Jesus is Messiah:- Fulfillment of OT prophecies!	His Miracles. Romans focus on Action.	His Humanity. Parables, Prayer, Songs of Praise (Elizabeth, Mary, Zechariah, angels) Concern for outcasts. Angels ministering to him.	His Doctrines. “I Am” statements. All who receive, believe in his name, become children of God.(1:12) Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. (3:36)
Writer as: Teacher	Narrator	Historian	Theologian

The Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) emphasize Jesus’ humanity and public teaching in Galilee. (more Gentiles) John’s Gospel emphasises Jesus’ divinity; events took place mainly in Judea (more Jews).

Incarnation:
The Old Testament records that man was made in the image of God.
The New Testament records that God took on the image of man (Incarnation).
The Lord Jesus still bears a human body, though a resurrected one.

Pre-Incarnate Appearances:
It is believed that Jesus/God also appeared during Old Testament times to a number of people on Earth, as “The Angel of the Lord”:
(Theophany: An appearance of God in physical form.)

1. Hagar: He advised a pregnant runaway Egyptian servant girl, to return to her mistress (Sarai) and told her that she/her son (Ishmael) would have numerous descendants. (Gen 16:7-14) He spoke to her a 2nd time, to provide life-giving water for her son. (Gen 21:17-19)

2. Abraham: At Mamre, 3 men appeared: (Gen 18:1,10)

   1. “the Lord” promised to give Abraham and Sarah, a son, the following year, though Sarah was past child-bearing age.

   2. “the Lord” told Abraham about the impending destruction of Sodom.

3. Abraham: At Mt Moriah : (Gen 22:11,12 & 15)

   1. He called from heaven to stop Abraham from sacrificing Isaac.

   2. “the Lord” covenanted with Abraham to bless him, multiply his offspring as the stars of heaven and the sand on the seashore. And they will bless all nations. (Abrahamic Covenant)

4. Jacob: A man wrestled with Jacob and changed his name to “Israel,” for Jacob had “struggled with God” and with humans and had overcome. (Gen 32:24-30)

5. Moses: At Mt Horeb (Mt Sinai, Mt Paran, Mountain of God) (Exod 3:2) God spoke to Moses out of a Burning Bush, identified Himself as “I AM” and commissioned Moses to bring the children of Israel out of Egypt to a land flowing with milk and honey.

6. Joshua: “The commander of the Lord’s Army”/Lord taught Joshua a unique method of warfare by marching around the city of Jericho, with the Ark of the Covenant, trumpet blasts and a “great shout”. And the walls fell down! (Joshua 5:13-15)

7. Gideon: The Angel of the Lord called Gideon, when he was discouraged and beating wheat in a winepress to hide from the Midianites. (Judges 6:11-21)

8. Samson’s Parents: They were informed that Samson’s barren mother would bear a son, who would be a Nazirite from birth! Nazirites are to be devoted to God, do not cut their hair or drink wine. The Angel of the Lord identified himself as Christ by saying his name is “Wonderful” (Isaiah 9:6)(Judges 13)

9. Daniel’s 3 Friends: King Nebuchadnezzar saw 4 men walking in the fiery furnace and the 4th was like “a son of the gods”. (Dan 3:25)

10. Zechariah: “The angel of the Lord” and the “Lord of Heaven’s Armies” were mentioned many times in the prophecies /visions of Zechariah, giving Hope to God’s people by revealing God’s future deliverance through the coming Messiah. (Zechariah 1:12, 3:1, 12:8)

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Q1: Are you grateful for the 1st coming of Christ to the Earth? Why?

Q2: Reflect on your present relationship to Jesus, Son of God, Son of Man.

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Food For Reflection: 

And a voice from heaven said:

“This is my Son, whom I love;
with him I am well-pleased.”

Matthew 3:17

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Saturday

 

WSCS Bible Study (Sat) Group
Wishing all who follow Christ,
a Joyful Commemoration of His 1st Coming

Next Meeting: 11 Jan 2025 at 2pm (online)

The WSCS Bible Study (Sat) Group “meets” on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month.

We study Holy Scripture to know God better, and gain a better understanding of His work in the world and His ways. In the process, we encourage one another along our personal pilgrimage.

We welcome ladies of all ages! (online)