Once I finished reading this entry, I was a bit hit by the 2nd and 3rd truths that Stott explains. They were "historical truths" and "physical truths." In our society today, the school system continues to teach about History and the different historical figures that lived before our time. If there are these truths exist, why aren't biblical events being taught in everyday classrooms? I don't understand why it's a taboo to talk about the historical events in the bible in public when they are clearly recorded events.
Secondly, the death and resurrection of Christ is a physical truth. Stott tells us that there is evidence that proves the events that took place in the bible. I think that this society is contradicting itself when they dismiss the death and resurrection. After all, the world is obsessed with proving everything and anything through physical evidence. If the evidence is so clear cut and there for everyone to see, why reject it?
I think that with these two truths alone, even an atheist can just come to believe. God has given documented history and physical evidence to help everyone understand easily. If things are laid so that everyone can see, why is it so hard for people to understand and accept? I wonder why I, myself as a Christian, have doubts if things are so easy to understand. Why has the world created a taboo on talking about these two truths if history and phyical truths are valued so much in society? It's supposed to be so easy.... but it's not. Maybe we're all just really thick headed...
Friday, April 11, 2008
Thursday, April 10, 2008
the conversation peter did not want to have
"yes Lord, You know that I love You". john 21: 15
the scene in question is the one in which jesus confronts peter about his denial of the Lord, but the conversation does not go the way peter probably anticipated.
instead of rebuking peter, jesus merely asks peter whether he loves Him. the first time He asks this of peter is especially interesting. jesus asks, "simon son of john do you truly love me more than these?"
more than what, we might ask.
i think jesus meant, "peter do you truly love me more than these other disciples love me?" which recalls the times that peter boasted that even if all the other disciples fell away, that he would follow jesus to the death.
the denial that he ever knew jesus undoubtedly cured peter of any illusions that he was better than anybody else at loving jesus. i think peter truly loved jesus, but did not know the extent of his own weakness.
peter's no different from any of us. we may all say we love jesus, but the test as to whether this is true really comes when the confession costs us something.
i think peter learned a profound lesson from this experience. he loved the Lord but he no longer boasted that he loved Him "more than anyone else".
and peter was not afraid to confess, even after such a serious failing, that he loved the Lord. he knew that "the Lord knew all things" (john 21:17).
this passage showed me that true and genuine love for jesus covers over a multitude of sins and failings. i suppose almost anything can be forgiven if the Lord who "knows all things" looks into our hearts and sees genuine love for Himself.
Doubting Thomas
John 21: 24-29
Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!"
But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."
A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
Thomas is one of the people of the Bible that I have most closely sympathized. No, sympathize… because it is an on-going struggle. I have come to understand what a huge stumbling block this is in my walk. Most of my problems seem to all point to a form of doubt or unbelief (and the lack of understanding about who God is). Unlike me, Thomas was more vocal, "Unless I see… and put my finger… I will not believe it." Is it arrogance? Or perhaps it is also being more authentic… maybe others felt the same way (before they saw Jesus) but too frightened to say (they were hiding behind locked doors). But because of his professed doubt, it became an area of blessing… he was invited to touch the Lords hands and reach out and touch his side!
Our Abba Father knows what is in our hearts. But to be bold and to take it to the Lord… to say, "show me Jesus." I have been struggling with death and dying… it was all consuming and the fear of it was "un-holy." But Jesus met me there too. He was kind and loving and with much Grace and Mercy taught me to believe and to trust Him.
God used Thomas to take the gospel to the non believers. And he was able to say that he touched Jesus' hands and side! So, people like Thomas gives me hope that God can use our doubts and struggles. They can become milestones and areas of growth.
Posted by Helen Whang
Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!"
But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."
A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
Thomas is one of the people of the Bible that I have most closely sympathized. No, sympathize… because it is an on-going struggle. I have come to understand what a huge stumbling block this is in my walk. Most of my problems seem to all point to a form of doubt or unbelief (and the lack of understanding about who God is). Unlike me, Thomas was more vocal, "Unless I see… and put my finger… I will not believe it." Is it arrogance? Or perhaps it is also being more authentic… maybe others felt the same way (before they saw Jesus) but too frightened to say (they were hiding behind locked doors). But because of his professed doubt, it became an area of blessing… he was invited to touch the Lords hands and reach out and touch his side!
Our Abba Father knows what is in our hearts. But to be bold and to take it to the Lord… to say, "show me Jesus." I have been struggling with death and dying… it was all consuming and the fear of it was "un-holy." But Jesus met me there too. He was kind and loving and with much Grace and Mercy taught me to believe and to trust Him.
God used Thomas to take the gospel to the non believers. And he was able to say that he touched Jesus' hands and side! So, people like Thomas gives me hope that God can use our doubts and struggles. They can become milestones and areas of growth.
Posted by Helen Whang
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
The Upper Room
Jesus came and stood among them and said,'...Peace be with you! As the Father
has sent me, I'm sending you." John 20:19,21
Today's reading was quite interesting. I started to think about when Jesus was on the cross saying His last few words. "It is finished"
In God's realm or spiritual realm, that is the moment when EVERYTHING changed. Since that moment, we are no longer bounded by our sins. That is the actual moment where He set us free. But did the disciples know that? Obviously not. They were hiding in the room trembling with fear. But after Jesus appeared to them, they started to go out and spread the Gospel with courage. So it seemed like, this was the moment when EVERYTHING changed in our realm. Realization of His resurrection changed the attitudes of these disciples as John Stott mentioned in previous readings. Not only that, He gave us missions to do. Like how our Father sent Him, He is sending us to do what He did for us. It all makes sense because the word Christian means "to be like Christ". And then He told us to receive the Holy Spirit and said, "If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven, if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." Now, this can be little controversial. According to Stott, this very quote of Jesus is the reason why Catholics believe that priests have the authority to forgive. Though most Catholics are nice people and very kind, even this small misinterpretation can be dangerous. Who has the authority to forgive? If priests have the authority, why did Jesus have to die for us? That is diminishing Jesus and taking away all the glory from Him. It defeats the whole purpose of Christ. Who interpreted it that way? Was someone lacking laminins in his brain? Sorry I got carried away.... Then, what does Jesus mean? Here is a better explanation I found:
This statement reminds me of another like it in Matthew's gospel. In
Matthew 16:19 we find Jesus saying "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of
heaven; and whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and
whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."Here Jesus is
giving to us, the church, the keys of the kingdom. By that I think He means that
we hold the keys to the truth of the gospel message. By the gospel message we
open the door for others to enter in. Here He is getting at this business of
forgiveness. How can we be involved in seeing people forgiven? By opening the
door to the kingdom for them. The key is the gospel message. We forgive by
sharing the message which can set others free.
Exactly!!!! He is telling us to share the Gospel. Amen.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Mary Magdalene
I'm little lost with Sunday's reading. The author identifies that there is difference between handling and holding Jesus but doesn't really elaborate why Jesus wouldn't allow Mary to hold on to him. Can anyone share their thoughts on this and how this can be applied to our lives? Thanks.
The Emmaus Walk
At the Sunday bible study, we watch video clip called “How great is our GOD”. It was about how huge stars are in the universe, and how small humanity is compare to GOD’s creation. And also talked about how awesomely we are made by his unique ways.
In the video clip, there was star with glowing cross on it, and the human cells are held by cross looking protein. And the speaker tries to tell us cross is everywhere by showing us stars and the very small cell in our body.
It was very cool way to show “How great is our GOD”, because we saw how big stars are and how things are working in our body. And the speaker explains very convincing and visible ways. I kind knew how big universe is and how awesome human body works. But actually seeing through the visible comparison, it was very over whelming.
As hard to believe what I’m seeing, I had hard time try to believe somehow cross appearing on the star and the human body is tries to tell us about Christ. Maybe my little faith couldn’t handle that part of video clip well. But at least my little faith knows how awesome and great GOD is.
In the video clip, there was star with glowing cross on it, and the human cells are held by cross looking protein. And the speaker tries to tell us cross is everywhere by showing us stars and the very small cell in our body.
It was very cool way to show “How great is our GOD”, because we saw how big stars are and how things are working in our body. And the speaker explains very convincing and visible ways. I kind knew how big universe is and how awesome human body works. But actually seeing through the visible comparison, it was very over whelming.
As hard to believe what I’m seeing, I had hard time try to believe somehow cross appearing on the star and the human body is tries to tell us about Christ. Maybe my little faith couldn’t handle that part of video clip well. But at least my little faith knows how awesome and great GOD is.
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