Shining by the Word of God Mari Ikeda
A. What it means to hear the word of God (27-28)
27 As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.” 28 He replied,“Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
1. To know the Cross (29-30)
29 As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this
generation.
2. To repent (31-32)
31 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom; and now something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here.
B. The word of God is our light (33-36)
33 “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. 35 See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. 36 Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”
1. Is the light within you not darkness?
2. Shining for others
Summary
To hear the word of God means to know at first that Jesus suffered on the Cross for you. It also means to repent your sin before God and seek what He wants. The love shown on the Cross is our guiding light. This light always lightens our way and makes us shine, so that God’s love will be passed on to others through us.
For Discussion
1) What can we do in order to hear the word of God?
2) Is the light within you shining?