The Burial of Jesus

⁵⁷When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. ⁵⁸This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. ⁵⁹And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,⁶⁰and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away.

⁶¹And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the grave.

a short time ago Jesus rode into town welcomed by crowds of people with shouting and praises... but where are his beloved disciples now? Peter the rock, the sons of thunder!?

truthfully, i don't blame them... i would have been terrified and looked for a place to hide where no one recognized me too

this Joseph of Arimathea went boldly to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus! and since all had scattered, he and a handful of ladies did the ceremonial things according to custom and respectfully laid the body in the tomb...

Joseph and the two Marys courage was a contrast to the scattered disciples

Matt 27: 45-56

⁴⁵From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. ⁴⁶About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi,^[c]lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"^[d]

⁴⁷When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He's calling Elijah."

⁴⁸Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. ⁴⁹The rest said, "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to save him."

⁵⁰And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

⁵¹At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. ⁵²The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. ⁵³They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

⁵⁴When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son^[e] of God!"

⁵⁵Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. ⁵⁶Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.

What stood out to me the most from this passage is how the curtain in the temple was torn in two. The curtain that stood as a physical symbol of mankind's separation from God due to sin has become no longer necessary as Jesus atoned for our sins. For me, this portion of the passage ignites a sense of wonder as if I'm looking into out onto the ocean. It's magnificent and so beautiful just looking at the surface but you have this sense that there's so much more beneath the surface and all around. I guess the ocean may spark different feelings for different people just as this passage would and different people may have different reasons for liking or disliking the ocean.

Though there is so much more to this passage and even in verse 51 alone, I like this verse because the torn curtain means that I am no longer separated from God because Jesus has suffered and died on the cross. In fact, I don’t need anyone –whether a priest, teacher or prophet to take me to God or to bring God to me because Jesus has made the way. However, I am very thankful that God brought into my life priests, teachers and prophets to speak and teach this truth to me.

When I feel the burden of my sin, I do feel separated from God. And I still have the habit of thinking, “what can I do?” to fix the wrong I’ve done or “who can help me?” be righteous for I cannot seem to be able on my own. This verse reminds me that there is nothing I can do to make my wrongs right and that’s why Jesus had to die on my behalf. There is no need for me to seek out anyone on whom I can depend on their righteousness or wisdom to bring me to God because only the righteousness of God's only Son tore open the curtain that separated the Holy from the unholy. Jesus has already done all there is to be done and because He shed His blood for me on the cross, I myself can approach the throne of God.

The Crucifixion

I cannot fathom what Jesus had gone through the very last monent before his death.
We read in Matthew 26:42 where Jesus was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. He wresled with God but he prayed that God's would be done through him. Jesus' ultimate submission and obedient took him to Calvary to be hang on the Cross.
In Matthew 27:32-44, we read even at the point of Jesus' death, people still mocked and ridiculed him. They shouted out Jesus as a helpless, pitiful self- proclaimed messiah who couldn't even save himself. According to the Bible, we know that Jesus didn't say a single word in response to their mockery. He could had knocked them all down instantly if he wanted.(Maybe I want them to....). Moreover, he had absolutely no problem coming down from the cross if he wanted. However, Jesus stayed on the cross for us. His unfailing and undying love for us kept him there. Only through the sacrifice of sinless man, we are delievered from the eternal comdemnation and seperation from God.
"Once again I looked upon the cross where you died.
I am humbled by your mercy and I'm broken inside.
once again I thnk you, once again I pour out my heart."




When the people mocked and ridiculed Jesus, Jesus never said any words

The Soldiers Mock Jesus

Matthew 27:27-31

27 Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

The imagery of this passage is very heartbreaking and disturbing. It reminds me of the movie The Passion of the Christ, and I just remembering cringing during this scene. I can't help but think what fools these soldiers were for treating Jesus in this way, but I also know that this was all according to God's plan. Piggybacking on Christine's reflection from yesterday, would we stand up for Christ during the moments we witness others mocking Jesus? Would we defend His name? There have been many moments in my life where I knew I should have spoken up but failed to do so. Maybe the older you the get, the less concerned you are about what others think...but regardless...I think this is a very challenging area in my life and maybe as well as others?

Also when we choose not to speak up, are we in turn mocking Jesus as well?

Jesus before Pilate (Matthew 27:11-26)

Pontius Pilate had the power as governor to free Jesus. He knew that the chief priests and the elders had brought him there because of jealousy and spite. He knew in his conscience that he was innocent. His wife even sends a note to him to not have anything to do with the innocent man. He tries to defend Jesus to the crowd but the pressure is too much and he gives in. He had too much to lose (popularity, his own ambitions, his position). However, before making his decision he washes his hands clean of this innocent man's blood and says it is the crowd's responsibility.
I think as Christians we too have found ourselves in moments where we do not stand up to the crowds that mock our faith and our God. God gives us the knowledge, the power and prompts us to defend Him and his word but we back down and stay quiet because we might have too much to lose--just like Pilate. And just like Pilate we wash our hands of responsibility too by saying we are not like them.

This passage shows that we do bear the responsibility when our Lord is unfairly mocked and blasphemed and we sit quiet and do nothing with the power and knowledge that we are given.

judas hangs himself

"what is that to us?" they replied. "that's your responsibility."

judas is "seized with remorse" when he recognizes the enormity of his sin. he feels the need to confess his guilt to someone, but having burned all his bridges with the other disciples, judas has no one else to turn to but the chief priests and elders.   "i have sinned," he tells them, "for i have betrayed innocent blood." their answer to him is predictably callous and unfeeling: "what is that to us?that's your responsibility".      

judas accepts their "sentence". unable to bear his guilt, he goes and hangs himself. i can't help thinking that if he had truly repented to God, even then he would have been forgiven. instead, judas tries to atone for his sin himself by returning "the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and elders". the chief priests and elders refuse the money, stating, "that's your responsibility".

poor judas! if only he had really repented. Jesus would have taken judas's sin and said, "that's MY responsibility".  He would have died even for the sin of judas's betrayal if only judas had repented.  how many of us are "seized with remorse" for the consequences of our sins, but fail to truly repent of them? this passage shows us that it is not enough just to feel badly about our sin. "feeling badly" is the worldly sorrow that leads to death; true repentance is the "godly" sorrow that leads to salvation and eternal life.
 

Peter disowns Jesus

69Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. "You also were with Jesus of Galilee," she said.
70But he denied it before them all. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said.
71Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him and said to the people there, "This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth."
72He denied it again, with an oath: "I don't know the man!"
73After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, "Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away."
74Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, "I don't know the man!"
Immediately a rooster crowed.

75Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: "Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly. ( The Message)

When I read the bible, I see Peter a little bit different from the other disciples. He was the one who walked on water, the one that knew Jesus was the Son of God ...but here he denied his Master, not because he didn't love Him, he was afraid of what could happened. I can't imagine how much pain and guilty he felt .

But it doesn't end in guilty, in John, when Jesus appeard to his disciples, he looked for Peter, and restated him asking 3 times: Simon son of John, do you truly love me? This is the most important part, the restoration.

Even when we fail with God, he doesn't leave us....

I will be leaving for mission trip next week to Amazon, so wont' be able to post for a while. Keep me in your prayers =)

Before the high priest 26:57-68

57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled.
58 But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.
59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death.
60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.
61 Finally two came forward and declared, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.'"
62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?"
63 But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Chirst, the Son of God."
64 "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.
66 What do you think?" "He is worthy of death," they answered.
67 Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him
68 and said, "Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?"


Getting hot and humid here in Korea. How's there?

We all know about what was happening those days after Jesus got arrested. Every time I read these parts, it is so sad to imagine how hurt it was for Jesus to see his ex-followers showing their backs and calling him a sinner. His inner pain must have been as strong as his physical pain. Jesus would be very sad if I don't listen to him or don't believe what he says, following the world not Jesus.

Remember his pain, his tear, and his blood whenever you don't feel like living in Jesus or Gods words.

Jesus Arrested

⁴⁷While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. ⁴⁸Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him." ⁴⁹Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him.

⁵⁰Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for."

Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. ⁵¹With that, one of Jesus' companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

⁵²"Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. ⁵³Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?"

⁵⁵At that time Jesus said to the crowd, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. ⁵⁶But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

Today's passage talks about the details behind Jesus's arrest.

Everybody knows about Judas's betrayal with a kiss, or how one of Jesus's disciples cuts off the ear of the servant to the high priest, or how all the disciples deserted Jesus and ran away to save themselves.

But as I was reading today's passage, I was struck by verses 52 to 56. I was awed by the magnitude of the authority that Jesus Christ held, and he admitted it to everyone his authority over the heavens and earth, but he willingly chose to be arrest and be led away to his death without fighting back. I thought it was funny how this passage describes all the weapons and soldiers the priest called to come and arrest Jesus, when it was completely unnecessary because Jesus went with them peacefully. And if he wanted to fight back, he didn't need a sword or a club, he could have called upon his Father and a legion of angels would descend from the heavens and strike down all his enemies.

I'm amazed by Jesus's obedience to God's Will. He was arrested purely out of jealousy and hate. He did all this just so he could fulfill God's promises and prophecies.

I think I will never understand what exactly was going through his mind when all this went down because if I was Jesus, I would have called out to my Father and have the angels come and smite down all the bad men, but I see how truly great Jesus Christ was because he chose not to fight back but to obey instead.

...in the garden

Jesus went to the garden of Gethsemane to pray. Verse 39 says, "...he fell with his face to the ground and prayed." Knowing what was ahead of him, Jesus went to prepare by being before God... "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." His heart was heavy: "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death."

Jesus took three of his disciples with him. Even the Son of God found comfort in the company of believers. "...Stay here and keep watch with me."

Jesus warns us: "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."

Even though he knows we are weak... and that we will fail him again and again, he invites us daily to be with him in the garden.

A betrayal vs. a denial

Again, sorry for the late post...

Actually, I think they're are two betrayals. Judas betrays Jesus in secret for selfish reasons, 30 pieces of silver. Peter betrays Jesus in the open with a loud outcry, denying his relationship with Him. Jesus knows about both and addressed each one Each person was convicted in their own way but only one was restored to Christ What made the difference? I'm not so sure. Both Judas and Peter sinned against Jesus. In fact, every person on earth has and will sin, betray and deny Jesus in one way or another. But what makes a Christian follow Christ forever and what makes another fall away forever? Jesus foretold both of their misdeeds and both of these men did exactly what Jesus said they would do. However, only one was restored to Christ. Have we all not confessed our love for Christ? Have we all not known Him for however many years- some of us more than the time Judas spent with Him? And, have we all not betrayed and denied Jesus just as Judas and Peter had done? Who will remain and who will fall away? What will make the difference in the end? A love that can be refined? Faith that can be strengthened? Perhaps. Perhaps like Peter, if you know Jesus as Christ and love Him though imperfectly, His grace will be sufficient even through your greatest sin.

The Lord's Supper

17-20) Preparations for the Passover: remembering redemption.
Now on the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread: This must have been a very moving commemoration for Jesus. Passover remembers the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, which was the central act of redemption in the Old Testament. Jesus now provided a new center of redemption, to be remembered by a new ceremonial meal.

(21-25) Jesus gives Judas a last opportunity to repent.

"Now as they were eating, He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?” He answered and said, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me. The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, “Rabbi, is it I?” He said to him, “You have said it.”

Even it was terrible hypocrisy for Judas to ask such a question, Jesus did not say this to condemn Judas, but to call him to repentance. It is fair to assume that He said it with love in His eyes, and Jesus showed Judas that He loved him, even knowing his treachery.


(26-29) Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper
"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

This is how we remember what Jesus did for us. As we eat the bread we should remember how Jesus was broken, pierced, and beaten with stripes for our redemption. As we drink the cup we should remember that His blood, His life was poured out on Calvary for us.
This is how we fellowship with Jesus. Because His redemption has reconciled us to God, we can now sit down to a meal with Jesus, and enjoy each other’s company.
The new covenant concerns an inner transformation that cleanses us from all sin. This transformation puts God’s Word and will in us and this covenant is all about a new, close, relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
In the last verse, we see Jesus looked forward to a future celebration of the Passover in heaven, one that He has not yet celebrated with His people. He is waiting for all His people to be gathered to Him and then there will be a great supper. This is the fulfillment in My Father’s kingdom that Jesus longed for.
We as His people also look forward to meeting our Savior and Redeemer!!

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

Matthew 26:14-16

14 Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.



Judas had no problem handing Jesus over for 30 silver coins. He found the coins to be more valuable than Jesus. Although we know the value of Jesus and the cost He paid on the cross, often times we "hand Him over" for something else in exchange. It may not always be money, but they are certain things in our lives that we know we rather have than following after Him. Every time we deliberately choose to sin, we are handing over Jesus.

May we continue to be conscious of our actions, and prevent ourselves from exchanging Jesus for something that is of no value compared Him.

Jesus Anointed at Bethany (Matthew 26:6-13)

 This unnamed woman took probably one of the most expensive things she owns and pours it all on Jesus...not sparing a drop.  The disciples gawk at this and call it wasteful and discuss how she could have sold it and helped the poor. Jesus corrects them and says that the woman did a beautiful thing and that she had prepared his body for burial and that her story will be told wherever the gospel is preached.

This passage makes me think that Jesus really does love when we give him our all. This woman lavishly poured the expensive perfume without thinking about just how much of it to pour. Jesus loved this.

I know there are times where I have seen the actions or read about the actions of a believer that really lived radically for God and I too have thought as the disciples that they didn't have to go that far, or that they were kind of excessive or impractical.  This passage has helped me understand that there is no such thing as too much for God. The woman in the passage was driven by a heart full of thanksgiving and love for God. I pray that I too would love God lavishly and give Him my all.

the plot against Jesus

and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him. But not during the Feast," they said, "or there may be a riot among the people."

if the word of God is a mirror as it states in james 1:23, then theoretically we should be able to see something of ourselves reflected even in this obscure passage. if this is true, then we see the worst of ourselves in the chief priests and elders of the people. they wanted to get rid of Jesus in "some sly way" and "kill Him" off, but "not during the Feast" because "there may be a riot among the people".
 
i wonder if we also metaphorically plot to "get rid of Jesus" in our own lives because His lordship and authority and His rightful claim of ownership over us compete too much with our desire to rule our lives our own way. how do we "get rid of Him"? well, we avoid Him by not coming to Him in prayer, or by not reading His Word and allowing Him to speak to us, or we even directly disobey Him by doing things we know are displeasing to Him.  these sort of actions effectively "kill" Him off. yet we do it "in some sly way", lest there be a "riot" or an "uproar" among the people of God with whom we associate.  we don't want to risk our reputation within the christian community or the disapproval of our christian friends.
 
i suppose we are so horrified by the reflection of ourselves in the "mirror" of God's Word that we seldom really want to look into it.

Judgment of the nations

31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." (NIV)

Trough all chapter 24 and 25 Jesus is telling to his people about being ready for the second coming. No one knows the date and the time only the Father does, when it happen will be a judgment. Jesus will separate the people one from another, we can all live as if we are his people, but in the end we will see who really lived a life that pleased Him.

In verse 40 Jesus says 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' It means our treatment of Christ manifests in how we treat those who has His Spirit. He is interest in true love, the sheep were unconsciously good, kind and concerned, not waiting for any reward.

I believe that the more we are closer to God the more we can be like sheeps, if we want to love our neighbors without Jesus's love is almost impossible. I pray for more of Christ in our lives.

"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

The talents, 25:14-30

14 Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.
15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.
16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more.
17 So also, the one with the two talents gainged two more.
18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
19 After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.
20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master', he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'
21 His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
22 The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'You entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'
23 His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
24 Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said,'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
26 His master replied. 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you know that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?
27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.
29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.
30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'


Hello, I'm getting very busy these days working everyday. I saw the volleyball pics! they looked awesome.(I wish I could try that too)

This passage is about the three servants who got the money from their master according to their ability. As they get the talents with different amounts, we got a lot of many things from God but not same things. Some have money, some have great talents, or the others have good brains. Whatever we got, God wants us to produce our own things and bear fruits to please him. But sometimes we make an excuse like "My talent is this much, so I can't do that. Someone who got more will do it but not me.", which makes no products or fruits.

He knows me so well and he knows how far I can go. All the things that He's giving me is what I can deal with, with my ability.

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

Hello everyone...I'm sorry for the late post. I was trying to enter a new post all morning long, but the system at Blogger was down and wouldn't allow me to. So that is the reason for the late post.

Today's passage is the parable that Jesus gives about ten virgins waiting for the bridegroom to come before their wedding banquet. They all go out together into the night to await for his arrival with their lamps in hand. Five of them didn't take any extra oil with them, while the other five were prepared and brought a jar of oil along with them.

The story tells us that the bridegroom wasn't due to arrive for awhile, so all ten grew sleepy and fell asleep. At midnight, the bridegroom was here and they were called out to meet him with their lamps. The five foolish ones ran out of oil and begged the smart ones to share with them, but there wasn't enough to go around.

The foolish ones were advise to go out and buy some, but in their absent, the bridegroom came and entered the banquet with the five wise virgins and shut the door. Later the five foolish virgins came back and begged to enter the banquet. But the bridegroom turned the away, telling them that he didn't know who they were.

Jesus says, "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour."

I think Jesus is telling us that were need to be wise with our time until either we join him in Heaven or his arrival with the second coming. We don't know when we'll die or when Jesus will return. So I think he's trying to tell us to be smart and plan ahead in what we do, say, and think. What I mean by this is that we should be conscious of our decisions and action in how they will affect God's will for His kingdom and his world.

The five wise virgins knew that the bridegroom could possibly take a really long time to arrive to their banquet, so they were prepare in bringing an extra jar of oil for their lamps for when they were to greet him with. I think he's trying to tell us to not only think about how our decisions and actions affect ourselves but the world around us and what it's doing for God's kingdom. Their thoughts and actions make an impact in this world for His kingdom because they are constant and reliable. They're stable and dependable. Plus, it shows that they see the importance of the arrival of the bridegroom, which is Jesus Christ.

The five foolish virgins didn't think ahead and went out with their lamps and thought that they'll just go with the flow and see what happens. These people may start out with Jesus/God on their mind, but their preparation is done haphazardly and half-heartily. They will come up short or give misgivings to why they are doing things, proclaiming that it is God's work but it's really for their glory or just another job/chore. These people will miss their chance when they come face to face with Jesus on the day of judgment because he will not know who these people are.

I'm not saying that we need to constantly diligent as we're waiting for Jesus's arrival or our call to go home. Even all ten virgins became tired and fell asleep, but through our everyday lives, we should be thinking and living like it could be our last. I think mainly what Jesus is trying to tell us is that we don't know when our time will be up, so don't be foolish and waste the time that He's given you on this earth. Live it wisely, be thoughtful of your actions and decision and I think he wants us to be mindful of our sins so that we will come before him and repent. I think He wants us to make an impression, whether it's big or small, on this world and its people with according to the way we live.

The Day and Hour Unknown

Matthew 24:36-51

We are to look for the signs of the end times. Some of these signs are frightening: natural disasters, social melt down, loss of what we know as good... but no one knows "not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father" knows when that is!

The passages tells us what a "faithful servant" might be doing when the master returns. Or what might happen to a wicked one and how he will be dealt with: "He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." And for all eternity!

I have always found these images so graphic... it takes my breath away. I remember my mother comforting me because she found me crying in my sleep, having nightmares after hearing these same verses. It was a long time ago... but it still scares me.

The Bible says that we are the bride of Christ. The image that comforts me and gives me hope for the end times is the one of the bride looking out for her groom to arrive... oil lamp in hand, walking out to the road, in the dark to meet Him... in anticipation of being in His sweet embrace!

Come Lord quickly, come...

Signs of the End of the Age

32"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it[d]is near, right at the door. 34I tell you the truth, this generation[e] will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Hello my sisters,

On my trip overseas I've been watching a lot of BBC news with Sung. It's been a while since I've watched the news on TV but it seems BBC shows a larger range of news coverage from all over the world. And, all over the world there are many news of disasters, tribulation and hardships. News of oil spills, massacres, hurricane and tornado disasters and others. I have to say "the signs of the end times" have entered my mind again and again throughout this trip. It made me wonder if I am living in a way that would prepare me for that last day. I've thought about how people in the days of Noah were eating and drinking, marrying and being merry up until the very day the rain started falling. I wonder if I should be doing something else than eating and drinking and being merry. I wonder how I can invest my life more wisely, live my life in a way that would be pleasing to God. Moreover, I've wondered about how I can live without wasting my time left on earth.

The thought that enters my mind now is that as Jesus explained the signs of the end times, I don't think He intended to instill worry or fear. I think His warning was intending the exact opposite. In fear and full of worry people will eagerly seek out a savior but Jesus tells us that while tribulations and hardships will come with the end times, we are not to be rash and be in haste to run after false saviors or after people or places that claim to be of God.
Many other thoughts have crossed my mind over today's passage but the verse I would like to take away is verse 35. "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."
May we remember to look to the Word of God as our everpresent help and guide wherever we are and whatever tribulations we may face.

Seven Woes

Matthew 23:1-12
The scribes and Pharisees explained the law of Moses, and enforced obedience to it. They are charged with hypocrisy in religion. We can only judge according to outward appearance; but God searches the heart.
They made phylacteries. These were scrolls of paper or parchment, wherein were written four paragraphs of the law, to be worn on their foreheads and left arms, Exodus 13:2-10; 13:11-16; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 11:13-21.
They want to be noticed by people and thought of as a zelously religious people.
Jesus point out that there is only one that deserves highest respect and praise from people is God. He is the greatest because He was humble himmself to come down to this earth from the Heavenly throne as a human to suffer and die to save us from the eternal comdomnation. Who can be greater than He?
Matthew 23:13-33
The scribes and Pharisees were enemies to the gospel of Christ, and therefore to the salvation of the souls of men. It is bad to keep away from Christ ourselves, but worse also to keep others from him.
They were very strict and precise in smaller matters of the law, but careless and loose in what is more important and valuble.
While they would seem to be godly, they were neither sober nor righteous. We are really, what we are inwardly. Outward motives may keep the outside clean, while the inside is filthy; but if the heart and spirit be made new, there will be newness of life; here we must begin with ourselves.

Whose Son Is the Christ?

Matthew 22:41-46

41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42"What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?"
"The son of David," they replied.
43 He said to them, "How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him 'Lord'? For he says, 44" 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet." 45 If then David calls him 'Lord,' how can he be his son?" 46 No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.


I see here that Jesus is establishing His title and authority before the Pharisees gathered around Him. He asks them a simple yet controversial question that they were not able to answer or chose not to answer. Jesus is not only the son of David, but more importantly He is our Lord which also includes David.

I wonder why none of the Pharisees said a word. I could only imagine that what Jesus was saying rang true to them, and pretty much put them in their place. I also see Jesus' authority being so powerful that nothing more had to be said after His point.

As I think about how I can apply this very passage into my own life, it makes me reflect about how I view God's authority over my life. Do I consciously live a life that respects and honors His authority? Do I understand the authority He has over my life?