Friday, January 11, 2008
Gifts ungiven
"There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning the light." John 1:6-7
In today's reflection we read about John. John was the first witness of Jesus Christ. The moment John saw Jesus he called him "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world ... who will baptize with the Holy Spirit."
I can't say that the first words out of my mouth after meeting Jesus were nearly as dramatic. I don't think that I could be that bold today and proclaim Jesus the Son of God to a crowd of strangers. However today's reading shows us the importance of being bold in our witness of God, because while Jesus came to us with the gift of salvation the next time he will come to "separate the wheat from the chaff."
As children of God we have been given these amazing gifts of salvation and the Holy Spirit and we should be working as hard as we can so that others may also share our gifts and not be condemned for eternity.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
The Hidden Years: Reflection
I became a little lost in thought when I read this devotion page by Stott. Going off what Dan said in a previous post, it is difficult for me as well to be able to fully grasp the meaning of the full divinity and full humanity of Christ- though I do accept it fully.
Then we catch rare glimpses of how Jesus was as a child through Luke yet despite those years being "hidden" from us, I don't feel as if I know Jesus any less.
What I do know of him and what I am coming to learn of him gives me a deep understanding of how Jesus must have been as he grew. I feel that the life Jesus lived as an adult is the fullest testament to how he lived his entire life, beginning from his birth. I know he was loving and gracious to others. He honored Mary and Joseph while glorifying God. He was always kind and compassionate to everyone who needed him. I am sure that he would have stuck up for others as a child just as he did as an adult.
Still, as my love grows for Jesus, it would be nice to know how Jesus made others laugh or how he loved those around him. I find those little details to be comforting and heartwarming. One of my favorite scenes from the movie "The Passion of the Christ" was when Jesus was playfully teasing Mary as he built a table.
In any case, despite those years being "hidden," I still feel that there is a huge richness in just reflecting or pondering about those days of his youth. It helps us look forward to the one day when we could just ask him face to face.
toodles my friends.
Then we catch rare glimpses of how Jesus was as a child through Luke yet despite those years being "hidden" from us, I don't feel as if I know Jesus any less.
What I do know of him and what I am coming to learn of him gives me a deep understanding of how Jesus must have been as he grew. I feel that the life Jesus lived as an adult is the fullest testament to how he lived his entire life, beginning from his birth. I know he was loving and gracious to others. He honored Mary and Joseph while glorifying God. He was always kind and compassionate to everyone who needed him. I am sure that he would have stuck up for others as a child just as he did as an adult.
Still, as my love grows for Jesus, it would be nice to know how Jesus made others laugh or how he loved those around him. I find those little details to be comforting and heartwarming. One of my favorite scenes from the movie "The Passion of the Christ" was when Jesus was playfully teasing Mary as he built a table.
In any case, despite those years being "hidden," I still feel that there is a huge richness in just reflecting or pondering about those days of his youth. It helps us look forward to the one day when we could just ask him face to face.
toodles my friends.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
The Years of Preparation
I appreciate today's reading because it forced me to not only revisit the curious question of why Jesus's early years are so sparsely documented, but to chew on it throughout the day - and anytime spent wrestling with what I read in the Bible means less time on idle thoughts!
Peeking ahead a few chapters in Luke, we read about the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness and its interesting to note that he endured suffering as part of that trial. Its easy to attribute his victory in the wilderness, his subsequent ministry, capacity of love for others, and his sacrifice to his divine nature and leave it at that. But Stott, ala Hebrews, stresses the importance of his humanity to the power that frees us from sin as well as the relevance of the genuineness of that humanity.
Though not the best example, I can't help but think about those individuals we are in awe of due to their seemingly superhuman abilities, e.g. Michael Jordan. When I really stop to think about what I admire, it goes beyond the mere physicality but reconciling the fact that this ordinarily born peer of a human being so conditioned himself to accomplish extraordinary things.
I can't claim to understand the full implications of "100% divine, 100% human" but when I consider the extraordinary life of Christ while humanly-bound, it begs the question of what type of conditioning he had to have endured in order to leave that kind of testimony.
And when I re-read Luke 2:52 from that perspective, what initially seemed like a big hole in the account becomes painfully obvious.
Good night everyone!
Peeking ahead a few chapters in Luke, we read about the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness and its interesting to note that he endured suffering as part of that trial. Its easy to attribute his victory in the wilderness, his subsequent ministry, capacity of love for others, and his sacrifice to his divine nature and leave it at that. But Stott, ala Hebrews, stresses the importance of his humanity to the power that frees us from sin as well as the relevance of the genuineness of that humanity.
Though not the best example, I can't help but think about those individuals we are in awe of due to their seemingly superhuman abilities, e.g. Michael Jordan. When I really stop to think about what I admire, it goes beyond the mere physicality but reconciling the fact that this ordinarily born peer of a human being so conditioned himself to accomplish extraordinary things.
I can't claim to understand the full implications of "100% divine, 100% human" but when I consider the extraordinary life of Christ while humanly-bound, it begs the question of what type of conditioning he had to have endured in order to leave that kind of testimony.
And when I re-read Luke 2:52 from that perspective, what initially seemed like a big hole in the account becomes painfully obvious.
Good night everyone!
Monday, January 7, 2008
The Boy in the Temple
Every year in winter break my family get together in Florida spend Christmas and New Year. That's the only time where everybody in my family (10 adults and 8 children) is able to get together and have a wonderful and fun time. My dad bought a small condo in Florida about 15 years ago so that whenever he comes to America,he has a place to stay and a place where his children can get together couple of times year. Back then it was just his unmarried children but now.... you know the number! To make a long story short, this year we've decided to have all the fathers and their children sleep in the living room and moms (me and my two sisters) sleep in a second bedroom. I have a nephew who just turned 4 years old protested to sleep with his mom so we gave him the privilege to stay with us. However it turned out to be our blessing to have him with us in the small room. This little boy prayed out loud every night before the bed voluntarily. His prayers touched our hearts. His prayers like pure, sincere, and innocent. He prayed to God as if he talked to his dad. We can sense my nephew knows Jesus as much as 4 year old can understands but without any doubt we can see that Jesus is in very special place in my nephew's heart.
By reflecting on today's reading, even at age 12, Jesus longed to be in the Father's house and reached out to people with the Word of God. Luke 2:41-52 is only passage that mentioned about Jesus' childhood in the entire Bible. Like the author conveyed to the reader, Jesus was clearly aware of who he was and what his mission and purpose was. However, what intriguing me the most was actually in the later verses; "The he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart. Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people." Luke 2: 51-52
Since I am a mom, I put myself in Mary's shoes and imagined what was like for Mary to have a first born son who was the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Imagine a mother frantically looking for her son for I don't know how many hours. Can you imagine what kinds of thoughts come across in her mind? Did someone kidnap my child? Is my son scared, hungry, hurt?
When she finally found him in the Temple, I am certain that she was relieved and rejoiced, at the same time, she was disappointed and even angry at Jesus that he didn't tell her where he was and made her worry. I as a mom would react the same as Mary did. However Jesus said in verse 49," But why did you need to search?..... didn't you know that I must be in my Father's house?" According to the Bible, Mary and Joseph didn't understand what he meant.
I think Mary and Joseph didn't understand what he meant at that time because they probably started to breath by then . They had been frantically searching for their son and found him at the temple teaching the Word of God. However Mary and Joseph had a plenty of time reflecting on the incident and what Jesus said when he was found during the long journey back to their home. I am most certain that both of them were reminded of the message of the angel who appeared to Mary. Before Jesus is their first born son, He is the Savior, the Messiah, and the Son of God. In verse 51, Jesus continued to fulfill his duty as a son to his earthly parents by being obedient to them. For Mary and Joseph, I believe that what happened in Jerusalem was turning point for them to never forget the fact that their baby is the truly Son of God who came to this earth to deli ever people from the darkness. He, too, is their messiah and Savior!
By reflecting on today's reading, even at age 12, Jesus longed to be in the Father's house and reached out to people with the Word of God. Luke 2:41-52 is only passage that mentioned about Jesus' childhood in the entire Bible. Like the author conveyed to the reader, Jesus was clearly aware of who he was and what his mission and purpose was. However, what intriguing me the most was actually in the later verses; "The he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart. Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people." Luke 2: 51-52
Since I am a mom, I put myself in Mary's shoes and imagined what was like for Mary to have a first born son who was the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Imagine a mother frantically looking for her son for I don't know how many hours. Can you imagine what kinds of thoughts come across in her mind? Did someone kidnap my child? Is my son scared, hungry, hurt?
When she finally found him in the Temple, I am certain that she was relieved and rejoiced, at the same time, she was disappointed and even angry at Jesus that he didn't tell her where he was and made her worry. I as a mom would react the same as Mary did. However Jesus said in verse 49," But why did you need to search?..... didn't you know that I must be in my Father's house?" According to the Bible, Mary and Joseph didn't understand what he meant.
I think Mary and Joseph didn't understand what he meant at that time because they probably started to breath by then . They had been frantically searching for their son and found him at the temple teaching the Word of God. However Mary and Joseph had a plenty of time reflecting on the incident and what Jesus said when he was found during the long journey back to their home. I am most certain that both of them were reminded of the message of the angel who appeared to Mary. Before Jesus is their first born son, He is the Savior, the Messiah, and the Son of God. In verse 51, Jesus continued to fulfill his duty as a son to his earthly parents by being obedient to them. For Mary and Joseph, I believe that what happened in Jerusalem was turning point for them to never forget the fact that their baby is the truly Son of God who came to this earth to deli ever people from the darkness. He, too, is their messiah and Savior!
Friday, January 4, 2008
The Gospel of John -- The Word became flesh
"The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us." (John 1:14)
the fact of the incarnation--that Jesus the eternal Son of God, the One through whom all things were made, actually became flesh and made His dwelling among us, is something i have a hard time grasping, no matter how many times i think about it.
every year, christmas presents an opportunity to reflect on such wonderful truths, but it seems like the older i get in my christian faith, the more amazing is the wonder of it all.
and as unbelievable as the incarnation was, i used to wonder about the following question just as much: what happened to jesus's humanity when He died on the cross for our sins, was resurrected by the Father, and taken up into heaven?
i used to think that Jesus became a man for just the duration of His earthly life, in order to complete the work God gave Him to do. when Jesus was resurrected and taken up into glory, i thought that He would assume the divinity that He had before He ever came into the world.
in other words, i thought that Jesus would fully assume His divinity
without the humanity.
but i have come to realize that this is just not true.
Jesus will never, ever be again what He was before He was incarnated on earth.
when Jesus the Son of God left His eternal glory, and took upon Himself our human nature, He did so for all eternity . . .
for all eternity He will bear our human nature.
even now, as Jesus sits at the right hand of God the Father, He is as fully in His essence man as He is God. He is the Son of God, but also the Son of Man; conceived by the Holy Spirit but born of the Virgin Mary.
now we can understand why theologians describe the incarnation as the humiliation of Jesus.
there is no other word adequate to describe how much Jesus lowered Himself for us.
Glory be to God in the highest that Christ ever came into the world to save sinners such as us.
as we reflect upon these glorious truths, may we be moved to worship and adoration and gratitude for Jesus who left His eternal glory, and walked among us, forever taking upon Himself our wretched human nature.
and as we grow in our knowledge of Him, may we be able to testify along with the Apostle John that "we have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth".
Full of grace and truth.
the fact of the incarnation--that Jesus the eternal Son of God, the One through whom all things were made, actually became flesh and made His dwelling among us, is something i have a hard time grasping, no matter how many times i think about it.
every year, christmas presents an opportunity to reflect on such wonderful truths, but it seems like the older i get in my christian faith, the more amazing is the wonder of it all.
and as unbelievable as the incarnation was, i used to wonder about the following question just as much: what happened to jesus's humanity when He died on the cross for our sins, was resurrected by the Father, and taken up into heaven?
i used to think that Jesus became a man for just the duration of His earthly life, in order to complete the work God gave Him to do. when Jesus was resurrected and taken up into glory, i thought that He would assume the divinity that He had before He ever came into the world.
in other words, i thought that Jesus would fully assume His divinity
without the humanity.
but i have come to realize that this is just not true.
Jesus will never, ever be again what He was before He was incarnated on earth.
when Jesus the Son of God left His eternal glory, and took upon Himself our human nature, He did so for all eternity . . .
for all eternity He will bear our human nature.
even now, as Jesus sits at the right hand of God the Father, He is as fully in His essence man as He is God. He is the Son of God, but also the Son of Man; conceived by the Holy Spirit but born of the Virgin Mary.
now we can understand why theologians describe the incarnation as the humiliation of Jesus.
there is no other word adequate to describe how much Jesus lowered Himself for us.
Glory be to God in the highest that Christ ever came into the world to save sinners such as us.
as we reflect upon these glorious truths, may we be moved to worship and adoration and gratitude for Jesus who left His eternal glory, and walked among us, forever taking upon Himself our wretched human nature.
and as we grow in our knowledge of Him, may we be able to testify along with the Apostle John that "we have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth".
Full of grace and truth.
Jesus Paid Too Much To Pick and Choose
"He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fullfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."
Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
As I was reading this, it was strange that I was only able to think how people often times pick and choose when it comes to accepting one another. The text is about what Jesus said before he ascended into heaven, but what does it have to do with 'pick and choose'? You must think, "what is this guy saying?"
When I read the scripture or hear a good sermon, I have this strange understanding of how the text should be applied. And I find it quite helpful because many times it's exactly what I should do. Everyone understands that the text teaches how the gospel is to be shared and we as Christians should be compassionate towards non-believers and obey Jesus' command to spread the good news. The lesson I got from this text is that we should not judge each other and show compassion to everyone we encounter.
"The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."
Jesus' suffering was too high of a price for us to pick and choose who we should share the gopel with or open our arms to or love or hate or eat JJamppong with.. just kidding. My point is that we only tend to think of this text in relations with sharing the gospel, but Jesus' precious love should be reflected in our lives so that we are not judging people, but accepting them for who they are and showing the same compassion that Jesus demonstrated on the cross. God shows us that we are all equal and to him we are all precious. Today's message reminds me to treat people without any prejudice or pre-conceived notions or misconceptions, but show love to all as Jesus has shown His love to me and to all of us.
Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
As I was reading this, it was strange that I was only able to think how people often times pick and choose when it comes to accepting one another. The text is about what Jesus said before he ascended into heaven, but what does it have to do with 'pick and choose'? You must think, "what is this guy saying?"
When I read the scripture or hear a good sermon, I have this strange understanding of how the text should be applied. And I find it quite helpful because many times it's exactly what I should do. Everyone understands that the text teaches how the gospel is to be shared and we as Christians should be compassionate towards non-believers and obey Jesus' command to spread the good news. The lesson I got from this text is that we should not judge each other and show compassion to everyone we encounter.
"The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."
Jesus' suffering was too high of a price for us to pick and choose who we should share the gopel with or open our arms to or love or hate or eat JJamppong with.. just kidding. My point is that we only tend to think of this text in relations with sharing the gospel, but Jesus' precious love should be reflected in our lives so that we are not judging people, but accepting them for who they are and showing the same compassion that Jesus demonstrated on the cross. God shows us that we are all equal and to him we are all precious. Today's message reminds me to treat people without any prejudice or pre-conceived notions or misconceptions, but show love to all as Jesus has shown His love to me and to all of us.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
The Awesomeness of the Gospels
"Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught." Luke 1: 1-4
Luke's gospel is unique in that he was a Gentile that converted to Christianity, and not one of the original 12 disciples. This gives us a a unique historical, investigative presentation of Christ from an outsider --a 3rd party verification of eyewitness accounts and events that transpired. Luke's gospel is written for Theophilus but also talks to every reader today to give further credibility on the authenticity and historical accuracy of the accounts. Never thought of the book of Luke in this way.
I am reminded again of the awesomeness of these four Gospels. How four separate accounts of Christ, at different times all tell the same story but each serves a unique purpose in revealing who Christ was and is to every person. Written by man but definitely orchestrated by God.
Happy New Year everyone!
Luke's gospel is unique in that he was a Gentile that converted to Christianity, and not one of the original 12 disciples. This gives us a a unique historical, investigative presentation of Christ from an outsider --a 3rd party verification of eyewitness accounts and events that transpired. Luke's gospel is written for Theophilus but also talks to every reader today to give further credibility on the authenticity and historical accuracy of the accounts. Never thought of the book of Luke in this way.
I am reminded again of the awesomeness of these four Gospels. How four separate accounts of Christ, at different times all tell the same story but each serves a unique purpose in revealing who Christ was and is to every person. Written by man but definitely orchestrated by God.
Happy New Year everyone!
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