3월 29일부터 시작하는 다음 한 주간은 주님의 고난을 묵상하는 주간입니다. 고난주간을 앞두고 성도들과 함께 주님을 십자가에 못박은 우리의 죄를 내어놓고 참회하는 시간을 갖기를 원합니다. 세상이 교회를 걱정하는 참담한 시대이기 때문입니다. 고난 주간이 지나가면 4월 첫 주는 무덤에서 살아나신 주님의 부활을 기념하는 부활주일이 됩니다. 그래서 오늘 3월 22일(월)부터 27일(토)까지, 오전 6시에 <한국교회 사순절 회개기도회>를 서빙고 온누리교회 본당에서 갖습니다. 이번 기도회는 오프라인 현장 예배와 온라인으로 진행합니다. 매일 6시부터 시작되는 기도회는 13분부터 38분까지 25분 메시지와 이어지는 기도회, 그리고 48분 축도로 끝날 예정입니다.
어제 아침에 이미 진행된 첫 시간은 남서울 교회 원로인 홍정길 목사님이 말씀을 전하고 하이패밀리 대표 송길원 목사님의 기도회 인도로 진행되었습니다. 오늘 화요일 아침은 은혜샘물교회에서 사역한 박은조 목사님의 메시지와 남서울교회 담임 화종부 목사님의 기도회 인도, 수요일 아침은 향상교회를 시무했던 정주채 목사님의 메시지와 신촌성결교회 담임 박노훈 목사님의 기도회 인도, 목요일은 WEC 한국대표 유병국 선교사님의 메시지와 할렐루야 교회 담임 김승옥 목사님의 기도회 인도, 금요일은 울산교회 원로이며 에스라성경대학원대학교 총장인 정근두 목사의 설교와 지구촌교회 담임 최성은 목사님의 기도회 인도, 토요일은 지구촌교회 원로인 이동원 목사님의 메시지와 서빙고 온누리교회의 담임 이재훈 목사의 기도회 인도로 짜여져 있습니다.
이번 기도회 메시지는 주제 <내가 주님을 십자가에 못박았나이다>가 시사하는 바대로 메시지를 듣는 성도들의 회개에 포커스가 맞추어져 있지 않고 어쩌면 설교자 자신의 죄를 고백하는 <내가 주님을 십자가에 못박았나이다>에 놓여 있을 것입니다. 십자가에 주님을 못박은 죄를 범한 이는 사형을 집행한 그날 당번 로마의 군인들이나, 그를 십자가에 내어준 총독 빌라도나, 빌라도에게 “그를 십자가에 못 박게 하소서 십자가에 못 박게 하소서”라고 소리지르던 군중들이 아니라 그 배후에서 군중을 움직이던 노련한 종교정치가들도 아니라는 것을 알게 되기를 기대하며 아침 6시에 온라인으로 접속하는 것은 고난주간을 의미있게 맞이하는 좋은 기회가 될 것입니다.
누가복음서의 기록입니다. “그 행렬이 예루살렘에 가까이 이르렀을 때 예수께서는 도성을 바라보고 우시며 말씀하셨다. `영원한 평화에 이르는 길이 네 앞에 있는데 너는 그 길에서 돌아서 버렸구나 … 하나님께서 네게 주신 기회를 네가 거절하였기 때문이다.” 백성의 열렬한 환호를 받으시는 장면과 너무 대조적입니다. “예수께서 올리브 산의 내리막길에 가까이 이르시자 온 무리의 제자들이 기뻐하며 자기들이 본 모든 기적에 대해 큰 소리로 하나님을 찬양하기 시작했습니다. “복되도다. 주의 이름으로 오시는 왕이여!” “하늘에는 평화, 지극히 높은 곳에서는 영광!” 마지막 기회를 놓치는 예루살렘을 향해서 우시던 주님을 기억하는 고난주간을 앞둔 사순절이 되기를 바랍니다. 주님이 우시는 마지막 기회가 아니기를 빕니다.
The upcoming week starting March 29 is a sacred time dedicated to meditating on our Lord's suffering. In anticipation of Passion Week, I wish to come together with our congregation to lay bare the sins of ours that nailed the Lord to the cross and enter into heartfelt repentance. For we live in deeply sorrowful times when the world worries about the church instead of finding hope in it. Once Passion Week passes, the first week of April will welcome Resurrection Sunday, celebrating our Lord who rose triumphant from the tomb. Thus, from today, Monday, March 22, to Saturday, March 27, at 6:00 AM each morning, the is being held in the main sanctuary of Seobinggo Onnuri Church. This gathering is held both in person and online. Starting each morning at 6:00 AM, it features a 25-minute message from 6:13 to 6:38 AM, followed by corporate prayer, and concludes with the benediction at 6:48 AM.
Yesterday morning's opening service was delivered by Rev. Hong Jung-gil, Pastor Emeritus of Namseoul Church, and the prayer time was led by Rev. Song Gil-won, President of Hi Family. This Tuesday morning featured a message by Rev. Park Eun-jo, formerly of Eunhye Saemmul Church, with prayer led by Rev. Hwa Jong-boo, Senior Pastor of Namseoul Church; Wednesday morning features a message by Rev. Jeong Joo-chae, formerly of HyangSang Church, and prayer led by Rev. Park No-hoon, Senior Pastor of Sinchon Holiness Church; Thursday features a message by Missionary Yoo Byung-gook, Director of WEC Korea, and prayer led by Rev. Kim Seung-ok, Senior Pastor of Hallelujah Church; Friday features a sermon by Rev. Keun-Doo Jung, Pastor Emeritus of Ulsan Church and President of Ezra Bible Graduate University, with prayer led by Rev. Choi Sung-eun, Senior Pastor of Global Mission Church; and Saturday concludes with a message by Rev. Daniel Dong-won Lee, Pastor Emeritus of Global Mission Church, and prayer led by Rev. Lee Jae-hoon, Senior Pastor of Seobinggo Onnuri Church.
As the theme "It Was I Who Crucified the Lord" suggests, the focus of the messages during this prayer gathering will not be on pointing fingers and demanding repentance from the congregation; rather, it will center upon the preachers themselves confessing their own sins: "It was I who crucified the Lord." The guilty ones who crucified the Lord were not simply the Roman soldiers on duty that fateful execution day, nor Governor Pilate who handed Him over to the cross, nor the hysterical mob crying out, "Crucify him! Crucify him!", nor even the shrewd religious politicians pulling the strings behind the scenes. Joining online at 6:00 AM each morning with the humble realization that we ourselves bear this guilt will offer a truly meaningful preparation for Passion Week.
As recorded in the Gospel of Luke:
"As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, 'If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes... because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.'"
What a stark contrast this weeping presents to the exuberant cheers of the crowds:
"When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 'Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!' 'Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!'"
As we prepare for Passion Week in this Lenten season, may we deeply remember the Lord who wept over Jerusalem as it squandered its final opportunity. I earnestly pray that this season will not pass as yet another wasted, final opportunity over which our Lord must weep.
Die komende week wat op 29 Maart begin, is 'n gewyde tyd waarin ons die lyding van die Here bepeins. Aan die vooroand van die Lydensweek wil ons saam met die gelowiges ons sondes na vore bring en ware berou toon oor die sondes waardeur ons die Here aan die kruis genael het. Ons leef immers in 'n somber tyd waarin die wêreld hom oor die kerk bekommer. Ná die Lydensweek breek die eerste week van April aan, wanneer ons op Opstandingsondag die Here gedenk wat lewend uit die graf opgestaan het. Daarom word daar vanaf vandag, Maandag 22 Maart tot Saterdag 27 Maart, elke oggend om 06:00 die in die hoofsaak van die Seobinggo Onnuri-gemeente gehou. Hierdie bidure vind sowel op die kerkterrein as aanlyn plaas. Die byeenkomste begin daagliks om 06:00, met 'n boodskap van 25 minute tussen 06:13 en 06:38, gevolg deur die biduur, en sluit om 06:48 af met die seënbede.
Gisteroggend se openingsbyeenkoms is gelei deur ds. Hong Jung-gil, emeritusleraar van Namseoul-gemeente, wat die Woord verkondig het, waarna ds. Song Gil-won, hoof van Hi Family, die gebed gelei het. Vanoggend, Dinsdag, het ds. Park Eun-jo, voorheen van Eunhye Saemmul-gemeente, die boodskap gebring en ds. Hwa Jong-boo van Namseoul-gemeente het die gebed gelei; Woensdagoggend spreek ds. Jeong Joo-chae, voorheen van HyangSang-gemeente, met ds. Park No-hoon van Sinchon Heiligheidsgemeente as gebedsleier; Donderdag lewer sendeling Yoo Byung-gook, hoof van WEC Korea, die boodskap en ds. Kim Seung-ok van Halleluja-gemeente lei die gebed; Vrydag lewer ds. Keun-Doo Jung, emeritusleraar van Ulsan Gemeente en Rektor van Ezra Bybelse Nagraadse Universiteit, die preek terwyl ds. Choi Sung-eun van Global Mission-gemeente die gebed lei; en Saterdag word die reeks afgesluit deur ds. Daniel Dong-won Lee, emeritusleraar van Global Mission-gemeente, met ds. Lee Jae-hoon van Seobinggo Onnuri-gemeente aan die stuur van die gebed.
Soos die tema "Dit is ek wat die Here gekruisig het" aandui, sal die klem van hierdie biduurboodskappe nie val op die skuldbelydenis van die hoorders nie, maar eerder op die predikers se eie belydenis van skuld: "Dit is ek wat die Here gekruisig het." Dié wat die Here aan die kruis genael het, was nie slegs die Romeinse soldate wat daardie dag aan diens was nie, nóg goewerneur Pilatus wat Hom oorgelewer het, nóg die skare wat uitgeroep het: "Kruisig Hom, kruisig Hom!", nóg selfs die geslepe godsdienspolitici wat die skare agter die skerms opgesweep het. As ons soggens om 06:00 aanlyn inskakel met die besef dat hierdie skuld ook op óns rus, sal dit 'n kosbare en betekenisvolle voorbereiding vir die Lydensweek wees.
So staan dit geskrywe in die Evangelie volgens Lukas:
"Toe Hy naby kom en die stad sien, het Hy daaroor gehuil en gesê: 'As jy vandag tog maar wou besef wat vir jou vrede kon bring! Maar nou is dit vir jou oë bedek... omdat jy die genadetyd toe God na jou toe gekom het, nie erken het nie.'"
Wat 'n skreiende teenstelling is dit tog met die uitbundige toejuiging van die mense:
"Toe Hy al naby die afdraande van die Olyfberg kom, het die hele skare volgelinge met blydskap God met 'n harde stem begin prys oor al die kragtige dade wat hulle gesien het. Hulle het uitgeroep: 'Geseënd is die Koning wat kom in die Naam van die Here!' 'Vrede in die hemel en eer in die hoogste hemele!'"
Mag hierdie Lydenstyd voor die Lydensweek 'n tyd wees waarin ons die Here gedenk wat oor Jerusalem geween het omdat die stad sy laaste geleentheid verbeur het. Laat ons vurig bid dat dit nie 'n laaste geleentheid sal wees waaroor ons Here moet ween nie.