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Summary of today’s message (5/3/2017) Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God (Matthew 4:1~11) The main theme for this morning is, ‘Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of living God.’ This is what the Bible reveals to us that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of living God, and whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. Because Jesus is the messiah who came to save us, now we have eternal life in God whom we have our faith in. Because Jesus is the Son of God, our sins are forgiven, and now we are called the people of God in the kingdom of God. But nowadays, people do not want to hear that, nor believe that. Rather, they ask Christians, “What’s that got to do with my life? What Jesus really can do for me now? They only see God as just a miracle maker, or someone who can turn impossible things into possible ones for them. So they come into a relationship with him for a while, and walk away because nothing has been done according to their expectations. Actually the same thing happened in the Bible. Israel people waited for their Messiah who would come to rescue them, free them, and give eternity. But when their long-expected Jesus Christ came, people rejected him, just a few believed and accepted him as the Messiah and the Son of living God. Our God is the creator, redeemer and sustainer of our life and future. And He does make things happen for his glory and his people. In order for his people to believe, God had to make sure that Jesus was the one they waited for. So through Matthew, God revealed the truth that Jesus was the one he sent to save his people. Matthew 3:17, after Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist, God says, “a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I live; with him I am well pleased.’ And again, in Matthew 17, the transfiguration of Jesus, God says, ‘… a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” Salvation does not mean we get what we want, Salvation does not mean we are free to do whatever we like to do. But Salvation means life in God, Salvation means God’s punishment is fully paid, and Salvation means forgiveness of our sins through life, death and resurrection of Jesus. So we have freedom to walk away from our ways and choose God’s way for his glory. It is all about our perspective of how to perceive our life in this world and our attitude to live as the people of God in this world. As long as we have faith in God and believe that Jesus is our Messiah and the Son of living God, we must rely on God’s perspective and build up our faithful attitude to live as God’s people in this world. Now let’s look at today’ reading. Jesus was led by the spirit into wilderness to be tested by the devil. He was led by the spirit of God, so there is a purpose of God, which is to prove Jesus is the Son of God. So when the devil asked him, “if you are the Son of God, turn this stone into bread.” The devil knew Jesus was hungry after 40 days and nights of fasting. And the way he replied was, “IT IS WRITTEN: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of GOD.” He said it because he is the Son of God. Second temptation is the same, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. Doesn’t God promise to protect you?” Again Jesus said, ““IT IS ALSO WRITTEN: ‘Do not put the Lord your GOD to the test.’” And the third temptation, Jesus said again, “FOR IT IS WRITTEN: ‘Worship the Lord your GOD, and serve him only.” The devil did not believe that Jesus was the Son of God. So Jesus re-cited the Bible three times to make his point, which is “I am the Messiah that the Bible proclaimed about. I am the Son of God as you called me, so no one or nothing can separate us because we are one.” (dk) Weekly Reading (6/3 ~ 12/3) - Mon (6/3) Genesis 12:1~4 - Tue (7/3) Genesis 12:4~20 - Wed (8/3) Romans 4:1~5, 13~17 - Thu (9/)3 Romans 4:18~25 - Fri (10/3) John 3:1~17 - Sat (11/3) Psalm 120 - Sun (12/2) Matthew 17:1~9, Psalm 121, Genesis 12:1~4, Romans 4:1~4,13~17