Repent and Call

As the world is going through lockdown to stop the spread of Covid19, Repent is the word that is often mentioned by religious and spiritual leaders.

Peter, one of the disciples of Jesus tells about the salvation through Christ. In 1 Peter 1, he testifies that God saved his children not through any gold or silver, but by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. So if anyone wants to know God, it can be only through Jesus because he is the only mediator between men and God. Once when you start accepting Jesus Christ as your saviour, you are born again and your faith and hope will be in God rather than any man/woman on the world.

When you are born again, Christ will live in your life. Without your knowledge he will guide you, teach you and help you in all your deeds through His Spirit. It does not mean that you will not have sorrows or distress in life. But when these problems come, you will call upon the Lord who saved you with salvation (Psalm 116).

As mentioned above, salvation is been provided through the blood of Christ Jesus. You cannot be close with God without salvation.

Getting saved is a very easy process. But many fail in that. People believe that if they have a Christian name, they are saved. Sorry, they are not.

How much sinner you are, other than you and God, no one knows. So according to Acts 2, Peter tells to the people to repent upon their sins to God, not man. Repent and accept the fact that Jesus died for these sins you have done, and through accepting Jesus as your personal saviour, you are saved, your sins are forgiven and forgotten by God.

May The Lord help you who read this to take this bold step to repent and accept Christ as their saviour and be saved and have a blessed life in Jesus name.

By Faith

There are people who does lot of physical activities to see God’s glory in their life. Some carry cross and walk certain distance, or some mountain, some light candles in front of cross, some donate to the poor and to the church, some gets involve in church activities. As the lent days are going by, some won’t eat non veg foods. Well, fasting is good for you physically, but not to see the glory of God in your life.

To see the glory of God, or the Kingdom of God, you need to be saved; you need to be born again. Now, this is confusing. Yes, you are in this world born of a father and mother. In the Bible Jesus teaches to Nicodemus, a Jewish leader to be born again to see the kingdom of God. Born again means you need to be born of water and the Spirit. (John 3)

I have seen people who got baptized, living a confused life. They just had a dip in water to give an addition to the preachers baptism count.

Judas is a person who was a disciple of Jesus. He walked with Jesus, talked with him, ate with him, but never had Jesus in his heart. Same way, after Jesus’s resurrection, there were people who saw him, heard his teaching, but never believed him. So being born again, or salvation does happen to a person spiritually, inside him.

Salvation is simple. The one who believes in faith that Jesus is their saviour is saved. Saviour means, the son of God who came to earth as human, obeyed the laws, did no sin, but took all your sins upon him and got the punishment for the sins you have done, to make you free from that sin and save you from the eternal punishment. So salvation happens in your faith, belief and the way you think about your life and Jesus, not by any other means.

In the Old Testament God gave law to his people through Moses. But in the New Testament God gave Jesus to us, so that even if you try to obey all the law, to see the Kingdom of God, you need to accept Jesus Christ as your saviour, who saved you from all the punishments. God’s faithful servant Abraham was called to be the father of God’s chosen children not by his obedience of law, but by his faith in God. (Romans 4)

When troubles and problems hit your life, this faith is needed to overcome the situation. For healing, this faith is needed. For any miracle, this faith is needed. The devils always try to test your faith. To overcome that, you need to constantly read and meditate upon the word of God. God provides you encouragement and motivate you to stay in faith and see His wonders.

Let The Lord who created you, be your first priority and build your faith and may you testify – My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth (Psalms 121)

Ash Wednesday

Son of God - John

The author of the Gospel of John was “son of thunder”, the disciple whom Jesus loved. In this gospel, we are shown that the baby of Bethlehem was none other than “the one and only, who came from the Father” (John 1:14). All things were made by him (John 1:3), in him was life (John 1:4), yet he became flesh and made his dwelling among us (John 1:14). No person can see God; therefore, Christ came to declare him.

We open the gospel of John and find an unwritten question – What do you think of Christ? In the first 18 verses, John discusses about Christ and gives us the answers. It opens like the book of Genesis, Jesus portrayed as the Son of God. Our Lord had no beginning. He was in the beginning. He is eternal. Christ was before all things, therefore Jesus is no part of creation – He is the Creator. “The Word was with God”. He is the Second person of the Triune God (God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit). He is called “The Word”. He came to declare God, to tell about God.

“If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well” – John 14:7.

In the first chapter we see John the Baptist confessing that he knew Jesus was the Messiah because he saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him (John 1:32). So he says, “I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God” (John 1:34).

We see in John 1:35-40, Christ calling his first disciples. It is different from that of Luke. Both the gospels we see Andrew being called. But in John, the second person’s name is not mentioned. But in these verses it is mentioned that Andrew went and called Peter. So the person who was with Andrew when Christ called them was not Peter. But when you read the last chapter of John, we see John himself testifying that he is the person who was not mentioned by name in the Gospel. So technically we can prove that John, not Peter is the first disciple. But that does not matter in our way towards our life destiny. Jesus is our main objective, not who his first disciple is.

In the public ministry of Jesus, we see him giving wonderful teachings about eternal life to Nicodemus (John 3:16) and the new birth (John 3:6). Nicodemus was a moral upright man, yet Christ said to him, “You must be born again” (John 3:7) in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. Being born again means, being born in Christ so that you live a life with Christ’s characteristics. Another place he saw an immoral woman face-to-face and showed her what kind of life she was leading. Christ did not condemn her or pass judgement upon her, but he did reveal to her that he is the water of life. People are trying everything, but they still are unhappy and restless. She went back and her simple testimony brought a whole town to Christ (John 4:1-42). She can be called as the first ambassador of Jesus Christ.

The raising of Lazarus is the final sign we see on John’s Gospel. Here the great claim Jesus made for himself to Martha is recorded, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:15-26). He talks about eternal life.

In John 13:18-30, Jesus foretells his betrayal by Judas. Christs last week can be seen from John 13 to 17. We call it Passion Week.

·         The triumphant entry into Jerusalem

·         The cleansing of the Temple

·         The conflicts in the temple

·         The discourse on the Mount of Olives

·         Preparation for the Passover

·         The Last Supper with his disciples

After announcing his going, the Lord gives his disciples “a new commandment”, that they love one another (John 13:34-35). Discipleship is tested not by the creed you recite, not by the hymns you sing, not by the ritual you observe, but by the fact that you love one another. After he ended his talk with the disciples, Jesus spoke to the Father.

Immediately following his prayer, Jesus went into the garden of Gethsemane, knowing all things that should come upon him. Jesus was now ready to give the real sign which he told in John 2 – “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days” John 2:18-19.

Almost as sad as Judas was Peter, the deserter in the hour of need, denying three times that he had any connection with Jesus. This is a lesson for us – overconfidence.

Jesus was crucified on Golgotha, “place of a skull”. They crucify him afresh and put him to an open shame. Salvation is costly. Christ died for our sins. It cost him his life.

From John 20 we see, on the third day, the tomb was empty. The grave clothes were all in order. Jesus had risen from the dead. Jesus appeared 11 times in all after resurrection which helped his disciples to believe that he was God. Jesus wanted every doubt to be removed from each one of his disciples (Thomas the doubter John 20:28). They must carry out his great commission and bear the Gospel into the entire world (John 20:21).

In conclusion, people had sinned and lost the image of God, so Christ “the image of the invisible God” came to dwell in people. No person could see God; therefore the only begotten Son who was in with Father came to declare him to us. Jesus is God himself in human form, coming to earth. Jesus is the witness of the Father to humans. Jesus knew the Father and came to tell what he knew. He wanted humans to know the Father as he knew him. In John 1:13, we see what salvation is not – being born of natural descent. The new birth when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and saviour makes us “children of God”.

I pray that you accept the free salvation which is being given by Christ Jesus by praying and asking to forgive your sins and make you his child so that you will be born again and be his child.

Gift of God - Matthew

The Gospel of Mathew starts with the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham. This statement links Christ with two of the great covenants God made with David and Abraham. God’s covenant with David consisted of the promise of a King to sit upon his throne forever (2 Samuel 7:8-13). Gods covenant with Abraham promised that through him should all families of the earth be blessed (Genesis 12:3). David’s son was a King and Abraham’s son was a sacrifice. Mathew opens with the birth of a King and closes with the offering of a sacrifice.

Jesus is associated with the Jewish nation. Mathew used wisdom in not alienating the Jews who might read the story. He is convincing them that this one fulfilled every prophecy spoken concerning their promised Messiah. He quotes freely from the Old Testament. On every page he is trying to connect the Gospel with the prophets and show that all of their teaching is being fulfilled in the person and kingdom of Jesus Christ. Mathew, the author is no doubt a Jewish believer in Jesus (Mathew 9:9; 10:3). He was a tax collector at Capernaum under the Roman law when Jesus chose him as one of the 12 disciples. In Luke we find his other name, Levi.

The Gospel of Mathew breaks the silence of 400 years between Malachi’s prophecy and the announcement of the birth of Jesus. Israel was under the domination of the Roman Empire. No man of the house of David had been allowed to sit upon the throne for 600 years. Mathew traces Jesus line back to Abraham and David to show he was a Jew. He shows Jesus as of royal descent, the King, the promised ruler of Israel. Of the 3 gospels, Mathew alone tells of the visit of the wise men from the east (Mathew 2:2).

The birth of Jesus was followed by 12 years of silence until his visit with the teachers in Jerusalem. Then silence shut him in again, with the only word “carpenter” (Mathew 13:55), to let us know what he was doing. Jesus took 30 years of preparation for 3 years of ministry.

Even though Jesus Christ was son of God, when he came to the world, he prepared himself to serve people. If you want to be in medical profession, you need to spend lots of time and years for your preparation. You cannot serve God without preparation. Even Paul had good knowledge on the Old Testament, before he saw Jesus and took his apostolic work.  I pray that God will help you in the preparation and call you at the right time to serve him.

When you read the book of Mathew in New Testament, chapters 3 to 16, we see the proclamation of the Kingdom. First, we see in Mathew 3:2,3, the voice : “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near. This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah, a voice of one calling in the desert. Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him”. In Mathew 4 we see, Jesus, the King stepping from his personal and private life into his public ministry. He is facing a crisis. Satan met him. After the blessing of Father God in Mathew 3:17, Jesus comes forth to carry out the plans for which he came into the world. He was led into the wilderness to face the first major conflict of his public ministry.

Jesus preached sermons from mountain. This sermon contained the laws of his kingdom (Mathew 5-7). After more than 2000 years, this Sermon on the Mount has lost none of its majesty or power. The teachings of this sermon overtop all human teachings. Christ shows us that sin lies not just committing the act, but in the motive behind it as well (Mathew 5:21-22. 27-28).

We see amazing miracles in Mathew 8 and 9. He met human needs. There are twelve amazing miracles in these two chapters.

Jesus not only preached himself but he also gathered others around him. A King must have subjects. He would reflect his light through human instruments. He says, “You are the light of the world” (Mathew 5:14). Jesus still has a great message for the world and he needs us to carry it. He was calling men and women into his companionship to train them to carry on his work. In Mathew 13, through parables, Jesus likened the kingdom of heaven to

·         The sower

·         The weeds

·         A mustard seed

·         A net

·         Yeas in the dough

·         A hidden treasure

·         A pearl of great value.

These parables, called the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven (Mathew 13:11), describe what the result of the presence of the gospel of Christ in the world will be during this present age until the time of his return when he will gather the harvest (Mathew 13:40-43).

Jesus found his helpers not in the temple among the doctors or priests, nor in the colleges of Jerusalem. He found them on the seashore mending their nets. Jesus did not call many mighty or noble, but rather chose the foolish things of the world to confound the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27). We can see in the Old Testament how God called David who was least in his family with all his brothers serving as Royal soldiers. Yes, sometimes God will select the fools who are willing to carry on his word without questioning him. At this moment the question I want to ask you is, are you a person who is willing to be a fool for God so that God can use you to do mighty things?

When you read the Gospel of Mathew 12, we see much controversy among the leaders concerning Jesus. Then we see a Life’s most important question in Mathew 16:13. “What do you think of Christ?” This is the question we need to ask ourselves. Peter replied to this question, “You are the Christ, the son of the living God”. It grasps Christ as the Messiah, the fulfilment of the prophecies of the Old Hebrew prophets. This confession is great because it exalts Christ as the son of God and lifts him above humanity and crowns him with deity.

Mathew 21 to 28, we see the Triumph of the King. On the morning of Palm Sunday it was understood that Jesus was to enter the city. Jesus for the first time permitted a public recognition and celebration of his rights as Messiah-King. The end was approaching with awful swiftness and he must offer himself as Messiah, even if only to be rejected.

Christ’s authority was brought into question as he went into the temple and ordered the merchants out, overturning their tables and telling them they had made the house of God a den of thieves. A bitter controversy followed. “Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words” (Mathew 22:15). He bade farewell to Jerusalem until he would come again to sit on David’s throne

Much of Jesus discourse in Mathew 24 and 25 is devoted to Christ’s second coming. He exhorts us to be ready in the parables of the faithful servant (Mathew 24: 45-51), the ten virgins (Mathew 25:1-13) and of the talents (Mathew 25:14-30).

Although a large number of disciples believed in Jesus and followed him, the opposition of the religious leaders was bitter and they determined to put him to death. On the grounds of blasphemy, and of claiming to be King of the Jews, thus making himself the enemy of the Roman emperor, Jesus was delivered up by Pilate to be crucified. After hanging on that cross, the saviour died, not from physical suffering alone but of a broken heart, for he bore the sins of the whole world. We hear his triumphant cry, “It is finished”. He paid the debt of sin and became the world’s redeemer.

Jesus was put in Joseph’s tomb, and on the third day he arose, as he had said. People thought he was dead and his kingdom had failed. By his resurrection, Christ assured his disciples that the king still lived and that one day he will come back to establish his kingdom on earth.

The climax of the book is found in his great commission. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Mathew 28:18-20).

Christian faith is no national or racial religion. It knows no bounds of mountain or sea, but it envelops the globe. We are called not to run the world with armies and make people submit under the sword, nor are we called to bribe people and make them submit to get the numbers. A follower of Christ is called to be an example to the people around him and teach them and show them how to live a Christ centred life and pray for their needs so that the Spirit of God will turn them in the path of living water. May God bless you to be a faithful servant of the most high.