SUNDAY 11TH FEBRUARY 2018, 7TH SUNDAY BEFORE EASTER
THEME: LOOK WE ARE GOING UP TO JERUSALEM
Psalm 31:1-5, Hebrews 13:10-16, Matthew 17:9-12
Psalm 31:1-5 New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 31[a]
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness.
2 Turn your ear to me,
come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
a strong fortress to save me.
3 Since you are my rock and my fortress,
for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
4 Keep me free from the trap that is set for me,
for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hands I commit my spirit;
deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.
Footnotes:
- Psalm 31:1 In Hebrew texts 31:1-24 is numbered 31:2-25.
Hebrews 13:10-16 New International Version (NIV)
10 We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat.
11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. 14 For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.
15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Matthew 17:9-12 New International Version (NIV)
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
10 The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”
11 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things.12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.”
This incident happened just after the Transfiguration when Jesus was glorified on the mountain top and affirmed by His Father , God, in front of Peter, James and John. Here the Apostles and Jesus talk about His soon coming death and resurrection, They also talk about Elijah. John the Baptist was like the Prophet Elijah coming back to earth as prophesied in Malachi 4:5-6. John the Baptist was killed by King Herod.
This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday , the start of Lent. During this period we will remember Jesus’s sufferings for us and prepare for Easter. Remember to attend the important Church service on Ash Wednesday, 14th February in the evening. The English service will begin at 6pm.
JUMAPILI TAREHE 11 FEBRUARI, SIKU YA BWANA YA 7 KABLA PASAKA
WAZO KUU: TAZAMENI TUNAPANDA KWENDA YERUSALEMU
Zaburi 31:1-5, Waebrania 13:10-16, Mathayo 17:9-12
Zaburi 31:1-5
1 Nimekukimbilia Wewe, Bwana, Nisiaibike milele. Kwa haki yako uniponye,
2 Unitegee sikio lako, uniokoe hima. Uwe kwangu mwamba wa nguvu, Nyumba yenye maboma ya kuniokoa.
3 Ndiwe genge langu na ngome yangu; Kwa ajili ya jina lako uniongoze, unichunge.
4 Utanitoa katika wavu walionitegea kwa siri, Maana Wewe ndiwe ngome yangu.
5 Mikononi mwako naiweka roho yangu; Umenikomboa, Ee Bwana, Mungu wa kweli.
Waebrania 13:10-16
10 Tuna madhabahu ambayo wale waihudumiao ile hema hawana ruhusa kula vitu vyake.
11 Maana wanyama wale ambao damu yao huletwa ndani ya patakatifu na kuhani mkuu kwa ajili ya dhambi, viwiliwili vyao huteketezwa nje ya kambi.
12 Kwa ajili hii Yesu naye, ili awatakase watu kwa damu yake mwenyewe, aliteswa nje ya lango.
13 Basi na tutoke tumwendee nje ya kambi, tukichukua shutumu lake.
14 Maana hapa hatuna mji udumuo, bali twautafuta ule ujao.
15 Basi, kwa njia yake yeye, na tumpe Mungu dhabihu ya sifa daima, yaani, tunda la midomo iliungamayo jina lake.
16 Lakini msisahau kutenda mema na kushirikiana; maana sadaka kama hizi ndizo zimpendezazo Mungu.
Mathayo 17:9-12
9 Na walipokuwa wakishuka mlimani, Yesu aliwaagiza, akasema, Msimwambie mtu ye yote habari ya maono hayo, hata Mwana wa Adamu atakapofufuka katika wafu.
10 Wanafunzi wake wakamwuliza, wakisema, Basi kwa nini waandishi hunena ya kwamba imempasa Eliya kuja kwanza?
11 Naye akajibu, akawaambia, Kweli Eliya yuaja kwanza, naye atatengeneza yote,
12 ila nawaambia, ya kwamba Eliya amekwisha kuja, wasimtambue, lakini wakamtenda yote waliyotaka. Vivyo hivyo Mwana wa Adamu naye yuaenda kuteswa kwao.
Maneno haya juu ni maelezo ya yaliotokea mara baada ya Kung’aa kwa Yesu. Yesu alikwenda mlimani na Mitume Petro, Yohana na Yakobo na alitukuzwa mbele yao na Elia na Musa walitokea kuongea naye.
Katika somo hapo juu Yesu anaongea na Mitume, Yesu anaendelea kuwafundisha kuhusu kifo na kufufuka kwake ambavyo vilikuwa vimekaribia. Pia waliongea kuhusu Eliya. Yohana Mbatizaji alifananishwa na Nabii Eliya. Nabii Malaki alitabiri kwamba Nabii Eliya atarudi ( Malaki 4:5-6). Yohana Mbatizaji aliuawa na Mfalme Herode.
Jumatano wiki hii, tarehe 14 Februari ni Siku ya Majivu na Mwanzo wa kipindi cha Kwaresma. Usisahau kuhudhuria ibada Jumatano saa 11 jioni. Katika kipindi cha Kwaresma tunakumbuka mateso ya Yesu Kristo.
