Verse for meditation

"He is my shepherd, and he shall carry out all my purpose"; ..... "It shall be rebuilt," and of the temple, "Your foundation shall be laid" (Is. 44:28).

Sermon

The transforming work of God can be seen all through the Bible.

1. Cyrus, the gentile: partner in the work of transformation (Is. 44:21-28)

Cyrus II was the son of Cambyses I, the king of Anshan. With the rise of Cyrus, began the renowned Persian Empire that was to continue until the coming of Alexander the Great. Seven years after the death of Nebuchadnezzar, Nabonidus ascended the throne of Babylon, in 555 B.C. He was destined to be the last ruling sovereign of the neo-Babylonian Empire, for in the highlands of Iran another kingdom was forging out its own program of conquest. When the Medes and their king, Astyages, were defeated by Cyrus, the realm of Persia to assume in threatening proportions. He is a Persian emperor and founder of Achaemenid dynasty ruled Babylonia 539-530 B.C. He is believed that he belonged to the religion of Zoroastrianism, a Persian religion. This gentile emperor was in an inevitable position both in the prophetical and historical books of the Bible (Is. 41:25, 44:28, 45:1-13, 2Ch. 36:22, Ez. 1:1, Da-1:21, 10:1). His name occurs 22 times in the Bible. Extra Biblical evidence comes from the classical Greek authors Herodotus and Xenophon as well as cuneiform records. His son Cambyses II ruled Babylonia from 530 - 522 B.C. Cyrus's capital was Pasargadae in what is now Southern Iran. His policy toward the people of his empire was one of tolerance and understanding. His authorization of the rebuilding of Jerusalem temple by returning Judeans accords well with what we know from the Bible (II Chr. 32, Ez-1, Is. 45:1-3). Isaiah speaks with enthusiasm of Cyrus as the anointed one (Mesiah) of the Lord and the shepherd of the Lord (Is. 45:1, 44:28). Because of these achievements, Cyrus reign has been characterized as a great turning point in ancient history. He was gracious to the Judeans who were in exile in sending them back for the rebuilding of the temple. He also supplied the materials for the construction of the temple (Ez-3:7). He returned the remainings of the temple (Ez-1:7,8). Daniel also recorded about Cyrus as a good king (Da-1:21, 6:28, 10:1). Here we see how God is using a gentile emperor for His purpose. God's ways are amazing. The story of Cyrus is an evidence in stating that God will use any person for His glorious work of redemption, transformation and restoration.

2. Transformation of gentile (Rom-11:13-24)

As mentioned above, God transforms everyone for His purpose. According to St. Paul, without honouring the Jews, the natural branches because of their unbelief, God grafted the gentiles with wild olive tree with the original olive tree which is contrary to the nature (Rom-11:13-24). The Jews could not persist because of their unbelief and they were broken off from the natural branches. But God grafts others - all the gentiles by His grace. Thus, we see the transforming work of God which He provides to all humanity without any discrimination.

3. Sign in Cana: Evidence of transformation (John 2:1-14)

The sign in Cana stands as the first sign Jesus performed during His public ministry. When He performs this sign by giving taste, odour and colour to the water which is tasteless, colourless and odourless now turned into wine. We see a holistic transformation which Jesus gives to the mankind. John doesn't see the miracles of Jesus as mere miracles. His miracles are not merely signs, but also miracles with message. The writer reveals the work of God in transforming the society and individual through this incident of Cana. Let us also pray so that we may also receive such a transformation in our lives.

Prayer

God of grace, Who sweeps away our offenses like a cloud and our sins like the morning mist, We pray that You do not rebuke us, but deliver us from our iniquities, pour out Your grace upon us, transform us and graft us to You. For, we all belong to You, who sent Jesus into the world to save us, so that, though once sinners, we would believe in You and receive eternal life, Through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever more. Amen.