Third Sunday Meditation: One In Messiah

"Peace, peace to him who is far off,

both Jew and Gentile and to him who is near!

says the Lord.

I create the fruit of his lips and I will heal him,

make the fruit of his lips blossom anew with

speech in thankful praise."

Ezekiel 57:19

"But the Scriptures picture all mankind as sinners

shut up and imprisoned by sin, so that the inheritance,

the blessing, which was promised through faith in

Jesus Christ the Messiah might be given to all

those who believe, who adhere to and trust in 

 and rely on Him.

Now before the faith came, we were perpetually

guarded under the Law, kept in custody in preparation for 

the faith that was destined to be revealed,

So that the Law served to us Jews as our

trainer, our guardian, our guide to Christ to lead us,

until Christ came, that we might be justified, declared righteous,

put in right standing with God by and through faith.

But now that faith has come, we are no longer under

a trainer, the guardian of our childhood.

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith.

For as many of you as were baptized

unto Christ, into a spiritual union and communion with Christ,

the Anointed One, the Messiah have clothed yourselves

with Christ. 

There is now no distinction, neither Jew nor Greek (Gentile)

there is neither slave nor free, there is not male and female;

for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

And if you belong to Christ, are in Him Who is

Abraham's Seed, then you are Abraham's offspring

and spiritual heirs according to promise."

Galatians 3:22-29

Le Christ dans la nuit

(Christ in the night)

Marc Chagall

(1948)

Jesus, Who bought us with His blood,

And makes our souls His care;

Was known of old as Israel's God,

And answered Jabez' prayer.

Jabez! A child of grief! The name

Befits poor sinners well;

For Jesus bore the cross and shame,

To save our souls from hell.

Teach us, O Lord, like him, to plead

For mercies from above;

O come, and bless our souls indeed,

With light and joy, and love.

The Gospel's promised land is wide

We fain would enter in;

But we are pressed, on every side,

With unbelief and sin.

Arise, O Lord, enlarge our coast,

Let us possess the whole;

That Satan may no longer boast

He can Thy work control.

Oh, may Thine hand be with us still,

Our Guide and Guardian be;

To keep us safe from every ill,

Till death shall set us free.

Help us on Thee to cast our care,

And on Thy Word to rest;

That Israel's God Who heareth prayer

Will grant us our request.

"Jesus Who Bought Us With His Blood"

Words By John Newton

(1779)

Music: Ballerma, Francois H. Barthelemon

(1741-1808)

Adapted by Robert Simpson 

in "A Selection of Sacred Music"

(1833)