Jesus' Words

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⁴⁹ The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
⁵⁰ “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.”
The man took Jesus at his word and departed. ⁵¹ While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. ⁵² When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.”
⁵³ Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed.

John 4: 49-53, NIV

Faith in Jesus' words is important. When He says He will, He will.
BELIEVE.

Everything Jesus says is true.
BELIEVE.


[Journal entry: February 20, 2012]

Drawing That Sword

7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.

8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”[a]

10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)

11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

- John 18:7-11

When the soldiers and some officials went to arrest Jesus, He did not deny that He was who they were looking for.  He said it with full authority, "I am He."  Every word Jesus uttered fulfilled what was prophesied about Him (verses 8-9).

Worship

Photo courtesy: www.myoneresolution.com

WORSHIP according to New International Version (NIV) Life Application Bible Study is "to express praise and devotion."

NIV's concordance:

1 Chronicles 16:29

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    bring an offering and come before him.
Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.

Psalm 95:6

Come, let us bow down in worship,
    let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;

Psalm 100:2  

Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.

The Olympians

Photo courtesy: ehow.com

 

We have a neighbor who wakes up as early as 2AM to prepare the things he needs for his business.  the other day, he told us that he saw three men at the back of our house (at the back is an empty lot) at 3AM. They were attempting to trespass inside our house through our fence.  Fortunately, we have a high fence with all the pointed grills and barbwires "garnished" on top of it.  Plus, we have watchdogs that are always alert in giving us (and the intruders) warnings.  So I guess, those three Olympian wannabes wanted to be counted in the Olympics for high jump competition, but to no avail.

The Word, The Life, The Light

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him, nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness but the darkness has not understood it.

The true life that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

- John 1: 1-5, 9

‘The Word’ is stressed in this scripture, and since the beginning of time the Word has already existed.  When I read this passage before, it was just as though my eyes passed by these verses without me actually understanding it.  Not until last night that I took time to really understand the scripture word per word.  I slowly read it; I chew on it; I repeatedly read it.  Thanks to the Holy Spirit, He has given me the understanding of this verse, and I now appreciate the weight and the power of this verse.

Schedule of Activities

 

What kept Jesus busy during His three-year residency on earth?  Jesus’ schedule book must have been full-packed with tons of activities (preemptive states not yet included).  And, oh! His scheduled activities had been written way before He stepped on the planet Earth.

So again I ask: What kept Jesus busy on earth? According to the book of Mark, I enumerate most, but not all, the following:

When Jesus Turned Around

When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!" When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.  Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?" They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"  "Come," he replied, "and you will see."  So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him.  It was about the tenth hour.

John 1:36-39

"What do you want?" was Jesus' first question to the two disciples following Him.  It caught my attention for two reasons: (1) Jesus asked, and (2) Jesus gave a friendly tone which lead to an invitation.  Let me expound on my two points.

Never Left Alone

If you love me, you will obey what I command.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever -- the Spirit of truth.  The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him.  But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.  I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

- John 14: 15-18

Jesus did not leave the world and gave His disciples with nothing.  Before He left, He assured His disciples that He will be with them in Spirit. The same goes for us. The Holy Spirit, the Counselor, is the One living in us.  Though we may not see Him, we know that He is living in us.  Jesus promised that He will not leave us as orphans but that He will come to us in the form of Holy Spirit.

We, the children of God, are never left alone in this world.  God sent the Counselor, the Spirit of truth, to reside in us teaching us, reminding us of Jesus' words, convicting us of sin, showing us God's righteousness, guiding us in truth, giving us insight into the future events, giving us understanding, and bringing glory to Christ.

Throwing Stones

"Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment."

- John 7:24

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."

- John 8:7

Oftentimes, we are quick to pass judgment on others by their appearances and by what they do.  We judge or condemn as if we are sinless and as if we are all the time right.  Jesus emphasized the importance of right judgment, compassion, and forgiveness.

I, if not all the time, am sometimes guilty of it -- passing judgment on others when they sin as if I'm the only righteous one.  But the truth is, I and the others are on the same boat:  someone who also sinned and is only a recipient of God's grace.

Even Jesus did not condemn the adulterous woman.  But instead He declared, "Go now and leave your life of sin." (John 8:11)

So what right do I have to pass judgment on others? None. Not even an inch.  It is only God who can judge others and myself.  Jesus, our model, set an example on how to show compassion and forgiveness to others who sinned.


[PRAYER]
Father God, forgive me for at times I am quick to judge others of their faults.  Forgive me, I sometimes think I'm righteous and sinless.  Thank You, for reminding me that I am also the same with others: a person who sinned and saved by grace.

Lord, teach me to show compassion and to release forgiveness to those who need them just as You have shown compassion and forgiveness to me.  Thank You for Your love and forgiveness. And thank You for teaching me Your ways through Your Son, Jesus.  Amen!


[Journal entry: October 26, 2011]

Just Plainly

After he said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going to wake him up." His disciples  replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better." Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.  So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe.  But let us go to him."

- John 11:11-14

As I read these lines, I can't help but to giggle.  In my thoughts, "The disciples are funny.  Sometimes, they are just plain stupid.  They could not read between the lines." But the Lord is so patient in dealing with them.  Jesus handpicked these twelve apostles; for three years, they followed Jesus.  They were with Him wherever He went.  They were firsthand witnesses of Jesus' powers and miracles.  They were recipients, immediate, that is, of Jesus' teachings.  The secrets of God's kingdom were revealed to them.

But in spite of these, they struggled with doubt, unbelief, fear, and not to forget, "dull moments."  They just could not understand Jesus' figure of speech, and most of the time, He would tell them what He meant on simple terms.  I could just imagine that Jesus would again and again reconstruct His statements so that His "elementary students" could understand (hehehe).

I commend Jesus for His patience in putting up with His disciples.  After all, they were a work in progress. Just like me.  I can totally relate to these disciples.  Dumb and stubborn as I am, most of the time, Jesus has been patient with me.  Lotsa moments, Jesus would have told me what He meant plainly.  Good thing, Jesus is so patient with me and with us all.  Good thing, too, no matter how dumb sometimes I could be, He still chooses to reveal the things of God to me.

[PRAYER]

Father God, I depend on You for Your Holy Spirit to give me wisdom and understanding of Your Word and of the things that You reveal to me.  Thank You, God, for despite Your people's "sheepness" You still chose to reveal Yourself and of the marvelous things about You and about Your Son, Jesus.  Thank You, Jesus, for giving us a Counselor to guide us, to instruct, to enlighten, and to empower us.  Thank You for the gift of wisdom, understanding, and discernment.  Every good gift comes from You, Lord.  This I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

[Journal entry: October 28, 2011]

I'm Ending the Day by Claiming Promises

The Bible has hundreds of written promises.  God has promised His children and not one of them has ever failed.  God is faithful in keeping His promises.  So tonight, I will start and I will end this day in claiming His promises for my life.

I claim these promises in Jesus' name:

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Acts 16:31

"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved - you and your household."

Psalm 32:8

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.

Psalm 37:4

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Isaiah 40:29-31

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.

1 Corinthians 2:9

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him."

Philippians 4:19

And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Jude 1:24

To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy.

Habakkuk 3:19

The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights.

Revelation 3:11

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.

Philippians 1:6

Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Matthew 5:8

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

John 14:2

In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.

Psalm 46:1

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Psalm 28:8

The Lord is the strength of His people, a fortress of salvation for His anointed one.

Jeremiah 30:17

But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declared the Lord, because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.

Proverbs 8:17

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.

1 John 2:25

And this is what He promised us - even eternal life.

[Journal entry: October 6, 2011]