Session 1

JESUS, the CHRIST    Who is Jesus?

"And the angel said to her, ' Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.' " Luke 1: 30-31

Christ was not mentioned as part of his Name, but is often placed together to distinguish Jesus as the Anointed one, the One sent by the Father, the Messiah for whom the Chosen People had long awaited.

Jesus, I come before you as I open this retreat time, because I want to come to know and love You better.  I depend on You entirely to teach me to pray better, to learn to praise You more, and to assist me through Your Holy Spirit to change what needs to be changed so I can live more deeply in Your Holy Presence and give You Glory.

Spirit of the Living God,    Touch Me

 SONGS,  as suggestions.  If you know others that give praise to Jesus, use them.  Daily spend time in singing his praises:

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: 

Col.1:15-20
Jesus, the Promised One    (Gen. 3:15)
             Redeemer   (Eph. 1:7)  He died to pay the price of our sins.
             Savior   (1 Tim.4:10)   Savior to those who receive Him in their heart

          in one of 3 ways:
                                    receiving Baptism of Water
                                    shedding of blood in death for him
                                    desiring to be baptized when there is no possibility.

             Jesus Christ  (Col.1:15-20)
             Lord   (Phil.2:9-11)           
             Lamb of God   ( Jn.1: 29)
             Son of God   (Jn. 3:16)
             Son  of man   (Jn.9:35-38)
             Prince of Peace   (Is. 9:6)
             Messiah   (Matt.2: 3-6)
             Word of God   (Jn.1: 1,2)
             The Good Shepherd   (Jn.10:11)
             The Way, The Truth… (Jn.14:  6)

Others of your choice.

THOUGHTS for Reflection and Prayer

             It was nearing Passover time when Jesus and his disciples went to Bethany and Jesus performed the great miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead.  (Jn.12:1ff)   The next day a crowd was anxious to see Jesus because they had heard of the sign he had done.  Among the crowd were some Greeks who wanted to speak to Jesus.  They told Philip that they wanted to see Jesus.  Philip and Andrew told Jesus.  His answer to them was, “The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified.  Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”  He is calling for a surrender of self.  (Also, our Retreat’s Goal)

          Ponder this situation.  Mary and Martha, the disciples, their feelings as well as those of Jesus, the actual calling forth of Lazarus, the excitement of the crowd, and the consternation of the Pharisees.  Place yourself there and imagine how you would have reacted?  Have you ever seen a miracle?   Were you amazed?  Was your faith increased?  Do you now love Jesus more?  God’s gifts should encourage growth and expressions of faith.  Contemplate your desires now and speak to Jesus about the many things your heart longs for.  Just remember nothing compares with wanting more and more of Jesus Himself.  Go back to the grain of wheat.  If it dies it bears much fruit. It is the same with us.  Allow yourself quiet time so Jesus can speak his words to your heart.  Spend a good portion of your time considering who Jesus is and what he is asking of you.  Ask the help of the Holy Spirit so you can come to know Jesus better.  (Consider other Scripture passages, if you need more). 

Then,

          Spend time loving Jesus, your best friend in life.  Speak your heart to him, sing from your heart to him making up words and melody if you wish, and give him thanks and praise for being Who He Is …The Great I AM. 

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Session Two - The Father’s Love in sending Jesus