Sunday Meditation, April 11

Christ, the Light for the Nations

Scripture for Meditation: John 20:35, 36

So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”

Prayer of Blessing

Responsive Reading: Isaiah 52:13-53:6

Behold, my servant shall act wisely;

he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted.

As many were astonished at you—his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—

so shall he sprinkle many nations.

Kings shall shut their mouths because of him, for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand. Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;

and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Instrumental Meditation

Prayer of Corporate Confession

Silence for Personal Confession

Assurance of Pardon: Isaiah 53:11

Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.

Response: Thanks be to God.

Ministry of the Word

Transition to Singing

Feel free to leave at this time or stay for the singing.

Hymn of Praise: Hallelujah! What a Savior!

“Man of sorrows,” what a name for the Son of God who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim! Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude, in my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood! Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Guilty, vile, and helpless, we; spotless Lamb of God was He;
Full atonement! Can it be?  Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Lifted up was He to die, “It is finished,” was His cry;
Now in heav’n exalted high! Hallelujah! What a Savior!

When He comes, our glorious King, all His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew this song we’ll sing: Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Philip P. Bliss, 1838-1876

Hymn of Suffering: Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted

Stricken, smitten, and afflicted, see Him dying on the tree!
’Tis the Christ by man rejected; yes, my soul, ’tis He, ’tis He!
’Tis the long expected prophet, David’s Son, yet David’s Lord;
By His Son God now has spoken: ’Tis the true and faithful Word.

Tell me, ye who hear Him groaning, was there ever grief like His?
Friends through fear His cause disowning, foes insulting his distress:
Many hands were raised to wound Him, none would interpose to save;
But the deepest stroke that pierced Him was the stroke that Justice gave.

Ye who think of sin but lightly, nor suppose the evil great,
Here may view its nature rightly, here its guilt may estimate.
Mark the Sacrifice appointed! See Who bears the awful load!
Tis the Word, the Lord’s Anointed, Son of Man, and Son of God.

Here we have a firm foundation, here the refuge of the lost;
Christ's the Rock of our salvation, His the Name of which we boast.
Lamb of God for sinners wounded! Sacrifice to cancel guilt!
None shall ever be confounded who on Him their hope have built.

Thomas Kelly, 1769-1854. Alt. 1961

Hymn of Light: In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found.
He is my light, my strength, my song,
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone!—who took on flesh—
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied,
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow’r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand,
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the pow’r of Christ I'll stand.

Written by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend
© 2001 Kingsway’s Thankyou Music
Used by permission. CCLI #2783020

*All Scripture, English Standard Version. © 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission.