Scripture: Matthew 11:25-30
Aim: To help the pupil understand more completely that Jesus Christ is the Divine Son of God, the promised Messiah to Israel and Savior of sinners.
Golden Text: "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me" (John 17:20-21.
The prayers of Jesus Christ are a very interesting and informative study. Just as "never man spake as this man," we can say, "Never prayed a man as Jesus prayed."
His prayers reveal Who He is. The Heavenly Father is His Father. He is the Son of God, who existed as God before the world ever began (John 1:1-3).
Through Jesus, the Heavenly Father is revealed to mankind, and through His prayers is revealed the Divine Son of God. He reveals things to whom He will (vs. 25).
I. It is the Heavenly Father who hides things and reveals things to men (Matthew 11:25-26). Many things were revealed that had been hidden. Many things in God's operations are still hidden. Many things about God has been revealed by Jesus Christ. More is yet to be revealed.
The Father hides and reveals things according to His own will and good pleasure (vs. 26).
II. Jesus plainly revealed His relationship with the Father in His prayer (Matthew 11:27). First, the Father has committed all things into the hand of Jesus Christ.
This is verified by Christ in praying on another occasion. In John 17:1-4, Jesus acknowledged that He and the Father had the same glory before the world began (vs. 1, 4).
He acknowledged that all power (authority) was given to him over men by the Father (vs. 2).
He acknowledged that knowing Him and the Father personally and intimately constitutes eternal life (eternal salvation, vs. 2-3).
Lastly, Jesus acknowledged that He had completed the work that the Father had sent Him to do. He was ready to be offered up for the sins of men.
Second, a knowledge of the Son, Jesus Christ, can be known only as the Father reveals Him to men (Matthew 11:27).
Third, a knowledge of God the Father can be known only as the Lord Jesus Christ reveals Him to men (v. 27).
This is reveled in John 1:18, "the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." Again in Hebrews 1:3, "Who (Jesus) being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person."
Jesus expressed this truth to Philip in John 14:8-11, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?" Jesus thus confirmed that He is the divine Son of God, the Messiah come down from God.
III. Jesus' call to men indicates that He is Supreme over men (Matthew 11:28-30). Jesus calls men to come unto Him in order to find rest for their souls. He instructs them that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Only He can rest the soul of man.
"I rest my soul on Jesus,
"Though wretched and sinful and vile.
"I rest my soul on Jesus
"Through faith in God's Son I'm His child."
In closing, look at the Golden Text above and you will see more words of Christ Himself as He prayed to the Father concerning those who were His followers.
Only Christ could pray such a prayer as these prayers because the truths revealed show that He is the Messiah-Savior.
Read More:http://www.thepostsearchlight.com/news/2010/jan/22/messiah-declared-prayer/
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Rock opera 'Jesus Christ Superstar' comes to Great Falls Jan. 28
Four generations of people across the world have associated the voice of Jesus Christ with Ted Neeley.
Rock opera 'Jesus Christ Superstar' comes to Great Falls Jan. 28
By JAKE SORICH • Tribune Staff Writer • January 22, 2010
Four generations of people across the world have associated the voice of Jesus Christ with Ted Neeley.
Neeley, still going strong at age 66, has played the role of Jesus in "Jesus Christ Superstar" on and off since working in the original Broadway play in the early 1970s. He starred in the feature film in 1973 and won a Golden Globe in 1974.
Since then he has played in at least 3,000 JCS shows.
"Jesus Christ Superstar" is a rock opera that Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber adapted into a musical. It's based on St. John's Gospel account of the last week of Jesus' life, ending with his crucifixion. Much of the plot follows Judas, played by John Twiford. Judas is dissatisfied with what he views as Jesus' lack of planning and is also concerned with claims of Jesus' divinity.
This latest version is directed by Dallett Norris and choreographed by Arlene Phillips.
The score includes "I Don't Know How to Love Him," "The Crucifixion" and the signature "Superstar."
A youthful, talented cast surrounds Twiford and Neeley. Sarah Hanlon is making her JCS debut as Mary Magdalene and sings solo on "I Don't Know How to Love Him," thought by many to be the play's most revered song.
"Jesus Christ Superstar" has received several award nominations through the years. Perhaps the biggest was in 2000 when the play earned a Tony nomination for best musical revival for the production that opened at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts. Both U.S. and U.K. tours followed.
The original Broadway cast recording, which stars Ian Gillan (Jesus), Murray Head (Judas) and Yvonne Elliman (Mary Magdalene), topped the American album charts three times.
Nearly 20 years after the Broadway show ended, Neeley returned to the role in 1992 along with Carl Anderson as Judas. The touring show ran for five years. Later in 2002, ex-Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach took the helm as Jesus with Anderson returning as Judas.
Bach left the production in April 2003 following a disagreement with the director. Neeley's latest run began in 2006, and he has been on tour since.
(2 of 2)
The play has been performed around the world including in Ireland, Hungary, India, New Zealand, Italy, France, Mexico, Chile, Bulgaria, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland, Russia, Poland, Czech Republic, Greece, Australia, Philippines, South Africa, Panama, Colombia, Croatia and Bolivia. Takeshi Kaga from the original "Iron Chef" played Jesus in the 1976 Japanese version.
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Over the years the production has sparked its share of controversy. Religious leaders claim the character of Judas is too sympathetic and find some of his criticisms of Jesus offensive.
But theater fans have long flocked to the show. The original Broadway show ran for 771 performances and the subsequent revivals in 1977 and later in 2000 were performed more than 300 times.
"'Jesus Christ Superstar' is that rare musical — or rock opera, for the purists out there — that affects its audience in deep psychological, physical and, yes, religious ways," a reviewer in Buffalo, N.Y., wrote. "This touring production, which stars the surprisingly vivid and powerful Ted Neeley, is a well-sung and competently acted tour de force that no doubt gave longtime 'Superstar' fans a deep degree of satisfaction."
Neeley, Twiford and cast will be onstage at the Mansfield Theater in Great Falls on Jan. 28. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $47 and $52, all seats are reserved.
Tickets are available by calling 455-8514 or by going online to http://ticketing.greatfallsmt.net.
Rock opera 'Jesus Christ Superstar' comes to Great Falls Jan. 28
By JAKE SORICH • Tribune Staff Writer • January 22, 2010
Four generations of people across the world have associated the voice of Jesus Christ with Ted Neeley.
Neeley, still going strong at age 66, has played the role of Jesus in "Jesus Christ Superstar" on and off since working in the original Broadway play in the early 1970s. He starred in the feature film in 1973 and won a Golden Globe in 1974.
Since then he has played in at least 3,000 JCS shows.
"Jesus Christ Superstar" is a rock opera that Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber adapted into a musical. It's based on St. John's Gospel account of the last week of Jesus' life, ending with his crucifixion. Much of the plot follows Judas, played by John Twiford. Judas is dissatisfied with what he views as Jesus' lack of planning and is also concerned with claims of Jesus' divinity.
This latest version is directed by Dallett Norris and choreographed by Arlene Phillips.
The score includes "I Don't Know How to Love Him," "The Crucifixion" and the signature "Superstar."
A youthful, talented cast surrounds Twiford and Neeley. Sarah Hanlon is making her JCS debut as Mary Magdalene and sings solo on "I Don't Know How to Love Him," thought by many to be the play's most revered song.
"Jesus Christ Superstar" has received several award nominations through the years. Perhaps the biggest was in 2000 when the play earned a Tony nomination for best musical revival for the production that opened at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts. Both U.S. and U.K. tours followed.
The original Broadway cast recording, which stars Ian Gillan (Jesus), Murray Head (Judas) and Yvonne Elliman (Mary Magdalene), topped the American album charts three times.
Nearly 20 years after the Broadway show ended, Neeley returned to the role in 1992 along with Carl Anderson as Judas. The touring show ran for five years. Later in 2002, ex-Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach took the helm as Jesus with Anderson returning as Judas.
Bach left the production in April 2003 following a disagreement with the director. Neeley's latest run began in 2006, and he has been on tour since.
(2 of 2)
The play has been performed around the world including in Ireland, Hungary, India, New Zealand, Italy, France, Mexico, Chile, Bulgaria, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland, Russia, Poland, Czech Republic, Greece, Australia, Philippines, South Africa, Panama, Colombia, Croatia and Bolivia. Takeshi Kaga from the original "Iron Chef" played Jesus in the 1976 Japanese version.
Advertisement
Over the years the production has sparked its share of controversy. Religious leaders claim the character of Judas is too sympathetic and find some of his criticisms of Jesus offensive.
But theater fans have long flocked to the show. The original Broadway show ran for 771 performances and the subsequent revivals in 1977 and later in 2000 were performed more than 300 times.
"'Jesus Christ Superstar' is that rare musical — or rock opera, for the purists out there — that affects its audience in deep psychological, physical and, yes, religious ways," a reviewer in Buffalo, N.Y., wrote. "This touring production, which stars the surprisingly vivid and powerful Ted Neeley, is a well-sung and competently acted tour de force that no doubt gave longtime 'Superstar' fans a deep degree of satisfaction."
Neeley, Twiford and cast will be onstage at the Mansfield Theater in Great Falls on Jan. 28. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $47 and $52, all seats are reserved.
Tickets are available by calling 455-8514 or by going online to http://ticketing.greatfallsmt.net.
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