"Active Waiting" (Acts 1:1-11)

"Active Waiting" (Acts 1:1-11)

A Time of Waiting

Have you experienced a time of waiting on God anxiously? I still remember when I was around seven years old, I became very curious whether God is really alive or not. One day I typed out a short prayer with my father’s typewriter in this way: “God, if you are alive, please let this paper disappear immediately.” Then, I put the paper on the desk, and I waited and waited. But, the paper was not gone. And I was disappointed. I know it is childish, but at that time I was very serious about that.

In today's Scripture, after the disciples met the risen Christ, they expected that the Lord Jesus would restore the kingdom of God right away. They expected that the paradise would come right away. They said, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom of Israel?" But the Lord said to them, "Wait for the gift my Father promised." After he said this, he was taken up into heaven by himself. The disciples stood there, staring into the empty sky. They must have felt left all alone. Then they heard the voice from heaven, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." The disciples had to wait for 3 days for the resurrection of Jesus. They had to wait for another 10 days for the Holy Spirit. Then they had to wait for life for Jesus' second coming. Like the disciples, somehow our life seems a life of waiting in the wilderness. We are anxiously waiting for the day when our Lord will wipe every tear from our eyes. For me personally I can't wait the day when I will not need to be separate from my family but live together forever. Yes! The day will come when we will see our loved ones and worship our Lord with them forever. But in the meantime life must go on. In this regard, we can learn from the disciples' example how we may live a life of "active waiting" here and now. .  

“Vertical” Active Waiting

While the disciples were waiting for the Holy Spirit and Jesus' second coming, basically they did two things. First of all, they prayed all the time. Acts 1:14 says, “They all joined together constantly in prayer.” “Vertically” active waiting means present fully to the moment, in the conviction that we always stand in the presence of God. The disciples' whole life was a life of prayer, especially after they met the risen Christ. They prayed to receive the Holy Spirit. They prayed before making important decisions. They prayed to overcome persecution and suffering. They prayed all the time. All spiritual giants in church history have one thing in common: They spent so much time with God in prayer. For instance, John Wesley spent two hours daily in prayer. He began at four in the morning. One of his close friends wrote about Wesley as follows: “I have seen him come out of his closet with a serenity of face next to shining.” John Fletcher always said, “I would not rise from my seat, without lifting my heart to God.” Martin Luther said: “If I fail to spend two hours in prayer each morning, the devil gets the victory through the day. I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer.” Joseph Alleine arose at four o’clock for his business of praying till eight. If he heard other tradesmen working their business before he was up, he would exclaim: “O how this shames me! Does not my Master deserve more than theirs?” Active waiting means to be mindful of the presence of God by spending much time with Him through prayer.

But, not only did Jesus' disciples spend much time to pray but also they did pray “all the time.” How can we pray continually? Years ago the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, Bill Bright, suggested a good example of "praying without ceasing." He compared praying without ceasing to "breathing." When you breathe, you exhale impurities, and inhale pure air and oxygen. In "spiritual breathing,' you exhale sin by confession, and inhale the Holy Spirit's control by faith. It is called "Breath Prayer." Missionary Frank Laubach devoted his entire life to practicing this breath prayer. For life every minute he always asked the following two questions: (1) "What, Father, do you desire said?" and (2) "What, Father, do you desire done this minute?" Moment-by-moment he asked God these two questions and obeyed his guidance. You don't have to follow exactly the same process. You can develop your own questions to cultivate moment-by-moment sensitivity to the presence of God in your lives. You may ask the following questions to search your hearts: "Do I have God's peace at this moment?" "Do I have a clear conscience or ignore the warnings and promptings of the conscience this minute?" “What would Jesus do in this situation?” If we ask those questions seriously, not JUST once but on a moment-by-moment basis, the Holy Spirit will surely guide us into all truth (cf. John 16:13). I believe that prayer, especially constant prayer, is the greatest thing we can do while we live in this world. The disciples knew this and devoted their lives fully to prayer.

“Horizontal” Active Waiting

Secondly, the disciples did actively bear witness to Christ while they were anxiously waiting for their Master's return. "Horizontally," active waiting means present fully to the moment, in the conviction that we are the perfume of Christ. In Acts 1 while they were waiting for the Lord, the disciples devoted themselves to prayer all the time. And along with that constant prayer, they replaced Judas Iscariot and chose a new apostle. There was a clear purpose for that. Acts 1:22 says, “For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” Yes, we must pray always, but at the same time, we must not let our praying trap us into a state of paralysis. The disciples not only went into their closet to pray, but also they went out to the streets and market places to bear witness to Christ. Of course, they preached the Word. But at the same time, they preached Christ through their good works. They shared their possessions and resources with those in need. They shared bread with their neighbors. They served the community. So they had favor with all the people (2:47a). They were truly the perfume of Christ.

As a part of the UMC ordination process, I had to complete a hospital chaplain training at BayState hospital in Springfield, MA. It was a big challenge for me because it was an interfaith setting. At the hospital, I was not a pastor but an interfaith chaplain. I was not allowed to visit patients and take care of them the way I did at the church. I should follow their rules. There was a time when I had conflict with my supervisor. I could not accept her different point of view. We argued a lot, and the conflicts were getting worse and worse. One day I shared this problem with one of my mentors, he offered helpful advice. He said, “Don't argue any more. Instead, pray for your boss and colleagues with sincere heart. And be the perfume of Christ. Let them smell the scent of Christ, not by your word, but by your good works.” From that day I stopped passing judgment on the boss. Instead, I began to acknowledge her work. I also valued my colleagues' service. At the end of the program all the broken relationships were restored. And during final evaluation session the supervisor and the colleagues said, "Victor, we could smell the aroma of Christ." If we are the disciples of Christ, we must send forth a fragrance of Christ. More practically, we may ask the following questions to ourselves, "Am I truly blooming where I'm planted?" "Do I advance the kingdom values where I am?" "In my current job or place do I advance justice, or love, or compassion, or economic opportunity, or creation care?" Regardless of our status, wherever we are, we can do at least one thing that advances the kingdom of God. This is the pleasing aroma to God. This is active waiting. And remember, for particular individuals or groups, you are the only person who can reach out to them.

Are We There Yet?

So are we there yet? No, we are not there yet. We are still actively waiting for the Day. In the meantime we may still have life problems to solve, we may have disease, we may have to say goodbye to our loved ones. But we have good news. God gives us the mountaintop experience to overcome all these things. He gives us himself, the Holy Spirit, to be with us forever (John 14:16). And for now, that is enough. John Wesley, in his last moment, said, "The best of all is, God is with us." Yes, God is here with us always. We don't know the times or dates, but we do know where we are going. In the meantime let us wait actively for our Master's return by constant prayer and good works. Like Moses, we may die in the wilderness before entering the Promised Land. We may die before receiving all that God has promised (Heb 11:39). But, by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we have been to the mountaintop. From the mountaintop we have seen the glimpse of the glory of the Promised Land. That is enough for now. As we leave this room, this mountaintop, and return to our wandering in the desert below, let us remember the words of another great leader who did wait actively for the Day through constant prayer and good works. These are the final words of Martin Luther King’s last speech before he was assassinated on the following day: “Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we, as a people will get to the Promised Land.” Amen.

“Guard Your Heart!” (Proverbs 4:23)

“Guard Your Heart!”

(Proverbs 4:23)

Most. Intense. Battleground

Do you know where the most intense battleground in the world today? The answer is “our heart.” One time Pastor David Ross, a representative of Youth With A Mission (YWAM) Korea, led a Bible camp for Korean-American junior high school students. As a part of the retreat practice he took the students to Harlem and did street evangelism with them. After the retreat, Pastor David received an overwhelming number of phone calls of complaint from the parents. They said, “How dare you take my precious children to that place? Do you have any idea how dangerous place Harlem is?” David answered, “The most dangerous place is not Harlem but a comfortable couch in front of the T.V. because the enemy does tempt our children’s hearts as much as he pleases there.” The Bible says “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (Pr 4:23, NIV). Our heart is the place where life starts. It determines the course of our life. It affects everything we do. Satan is well aware of this more than anyone else. He carries full-scale attack to poison our hearts. He puts his thoughts into our hearts. John 13:2 says, “The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him” (NRSV). Satan constantly puts his thoughts into our hearts. That is why we must guard our hearts with all diligence. Our next question is then how can we guard our hearts?

Discern the Voices

First, we must discern the voice of God from that of the devil. Normally, we think that all thoughts in our hearts are from ours. But actually, there are three different kinds of the voices which speak to our hearts: the voice of God, the voice of self and the voice of Satan. God puts his thoughts into our hearts. In John 14:26 Jesus said to his disciples, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (NIV). And we already learned that Satan also puts his thoughts into our hearts. We must discern the voice of God from that of Satan. In Galatians 5 Apostle Paul contrasts one to the other. The voice of Satan always prompts us to fall into temptation: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and the list goes on (vv. 19-21). The devil’s purpose is clear: He comes only to steal and kill and destroy (John 10:10a). His voice destroys us. It destroys our relationship with God and with others. But the voice of God gives us life. It is all about love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (vv. 22-23).

It sounds simple to distinguish the voice of God from that of the devil. But in fact, it is not because Satan disguises himself as an angel of light when he speaks to our hearts (2 Cor 11:14). Judas Iscariot never dreamed that the devil put it into his heart to betray Jesus. Eve never knew that she was deceived by the serpent until she ate the fruit. The serpent approached her in a friendly manner. He pretended to stand by her, saying, “You will be like God.” Then, how can we discern between the two voices? We must follow Jesus’ example. When Jesus was tempted by the devil, immediately he was able to discern where that voice came from. How was that possible? It was possible because he was filled with the truth of God, the word of God. Three times Jesus defeated the enemy’s temptations by proclaiming the word of God. There are many ways to identify counterfeit money. But the best way to identify it is to thoroughly know about genuine money. Then, intuitively we can tell the difference between the two. When we have the word in our hearts, we can discern the roots of the thoughts, the roots of the voices. David said in Psalm 119:11, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” This is the first step to guard our hearts.

Resist the Devil

The second step is to resist the devil. James 4:7 says, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Have you ever embarrassed by the thoughts that came to your mind? Yes, I have embarrassed many times by the evil thoughts, sexual immorality, murder, slander and pride. Actually, the devil puts those evil thoughts in our hearts. That’s how he works in us. When those things happen, we must resist the devil right away. Martin Luther said, “You cannot keep birds from flying over your head but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.” Oftentimes we underestimate the dangers of the evil thoughts. We say “That’s just a thought.” But when we harbor evil thoughts, Satan actually takes over us. After the devil put his thoughts into Judas’ heart, Jesus gave him several chances to turn back. Jesus said to the disciples, “You are clean, though not everyone of you” (John 13:10). The disciples didn’t understand. Only Judas knew what Jesus was talking about. But he chose to harbor the evil thoughts. Then, Jesus said, “He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me” (v.18). Again only Judas knew that Jesus was talking to him. But he continued to harbor the evil thoughts. Then, Jesus said more directly, “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me” (v. 21). But Judas continued to harbor the evil thoughts. And finally, Jesus said, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish" (v. 26). But Judas continued to harbor the evil thoughts. After this, Satan entered into Judas (v. 27). So when all kinds of evil thoughts – murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying and slander (Matt 15:19) – come to your minds, say NO to them immediately in the name of Jesus. Never, never, never, harbor those evil thoughts!

Put on the Lord Jesus Christ

Our heart is the most intense battleground. To guard our heart we must discern the voice of God from that of the devil. So when the devil puts his thoughts into our heart, we must resist him right away. But there is more! We must put on the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. (Say No to those evil thoughts right away!) But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires” (Rom 13:13-14, ESV). Putting on Christ each day doesn’t mean wearing him as an imposition or a burden. It means wearing him as a protection. We must wear the asbestos fire-proof suit when we rescue people from the flames. Jesus is our fire-proof suit. We must wear a bullet proof vest when we confront the pistols of criminals. Jesus is our bullet proof vest. We work diligently to protect our possessions. We work hard to protect our family. But too often we neglect to guard the source of our life, our heart. The Christian life is not just waking; it is war. The Bible says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand” (Eph 6:12-13, NLT/NIV). To put on the full armor of God means to put on the Lord Jesus Christ.

How Do We Put on the Lord Jesus Christ?

Then how do we do that? Jesus Christ is the Word that became flesh (John 1:14). So we can put on Christ by holding fast the Word. When you are tempted to feel condemned, proclaim Colossians 1:13-14 to yourself: “I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins in Christ!” When you are tempted to feel unworthy, proclaim Hebrews 4:14-16 to yourself: “I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ!” When you are tempted to live for yourself, proclaim 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: “I have been bought with a price, and I belong to Christ.” The word of Christ guards our hearts and revives our souls. When I was serving as a youth pastor in Cambridge, MA, I spent much time on training three small group leaders. The enemy hit the leaders hard. He caused the relationship problems among them. Two of them fell into a love triangle, and the other broke up with one of the group members. Eventually, one leader moved to another state for further study, and the others went back to Korea. Then, great dissension arose within the young adult group, and some of them left the church. Within a few months the number of the members decreased sharply, and the love of the members grew cold. I was greatly discouraged. Satan whispered to me, “It is over. You failed!” I was crushed and wept. I was about to quit. And I talked to God, “Lord, I am sorry. I am afraid I failed.” And the Lord spoke to me, “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many students in this city.” (Acts 18:9-10) As soon as I heard this word of God, I was able to guard my heart and stand firm again.

Our Lord Jesus Christ promised all of us, “The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26). I commend you to put on not just your clothes but also Jesus Christ every morning. I strongly commend you to give your very first hour of the day to Christ. Every morning spend time with Christ before you meet or talk to someone else. Put on Christ before the enemy puts his thoughts into your heart. Putting on the Lord Jesus Christ daily is not just the alternative to harboring evil thoughts. It is the only way to kill these sinful thoughts and win the battle all the time. The darkness is always pushed out by the light. Let us put on the armor of light. Let us put on the Lord Jesus Christ. “God is with us, we will not fall; God will help us at break of day” (Ps 46:5). Amen.

“Living the Resurrection” (Luke 24:1-9) - Easter Sunday Service -

“Living the Resurrection” (Luke 24:1-9)

- Easter Sunday Service -

Remember!

One of my favorite books that I reread on a regular basis is Pilgrim’s Progress written by John Bunyan. It is a story of one pilgrim’s remarkable journey to the heavenly kingdom. It is very interesting that each name in the story reflects his or her personality. The name of the main character is “Christian.” One time Christian lost his way and was captured by Giant Despair on his journey. And he was thrown into the dungeon of Doubting Castle. The giant said to Christian, “You will never get out alive!” For three days and three nights the giant guarded him carefully. There was nothing to eat or drink. There seemed no hope of release. Christian even saw the skulls in the dungeon. After three days, he began to despair. But then, suddenly he exclaimed, “I just remembered I have a key called Promise! I believe it will open any lock in Doubting Castle!” And he used his key and safely escaped from the castle.

In today’s scripture, the women were filled with grief and despair. They lost their loved one. They lost the purpose of life. They lost all hope. In verse 1, they went to Jesus’ tomb with great grief. But, what’s surprising is that in verse 9, they came back from the tomb with joy and hope. Matthew 28:8 says, “So the women hurried away form the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to his disciples.” So what happened for them between verse 1 and verse 9? We can find the answer in verse 8: “Then they remembered Jesus’ words.” On Easter morning the women were filled with despair and didn’t know what to do. At the very moment the angels appeared to them and said, “Remember how Jesus told you.” And the women remembered Jesus’ words. Surprisingly, their grief and despair began to melt away. Are you pressed on every side by troubles? Use the key that God already gave you. You may say, “I already tried it, but it didn’t work.” Or you may say, “I already know the word of God. But it is no use in my case. I need something new.” But the message these women heard today was not a new message. “The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and on the third day be raised again!” They heard this message over and over since the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. But, they didn’t get the meaning of it. But today, in the most difficult moment the word of God became alive and revived their souls.

  

Assurance of Pardon

The women’s mourning turned into joy. The resurrection of Jesus totally transformed their lives. How about us? Does really Jesus’ resurrection affect our lives today? Yes indeed! It affects all areas of our lives. It affects our past, our present and our future! First of all, Jesus’ resurrection gives us assurance of pardon of our past sins. Apostle Paul says in Romans 4:25, “Jesus was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God” (NLT). By his resurrection, God proved that Jesus is righteous and truly the Son of God. By his resurrection, God counts those who believe in Jesus as righteous before him. I don’t know about you, but for me this is the greatest blessing. I am a beloved husband and father of three children. I am also a pastor loved by you. But, if my past sins are exposed, I cannot stand here. And I am not sure whether my wife and children would accept me as their family. My sins are like scarlet, but by the blood of Jesus and by his resurrection, my sins are all cleansed like snow. This morning I stand here not as a hypocrite but as a forgiven child of God. I stand in agreement with David wholeheartedly. In Psalm 32:1 he says, “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.” Yes, I am blessed. You are blessed. We are blessed in Christ. So, do not let your past have authority over you. By his resurrection, you are a whole new person! The old life is gone, and a new life has begun!

Hope for Tomorrow

Secondly, the resurrection of Jesus gives us hope for tomorrow. Because Jesus has been raised from the dead, we will be also raised. This is “Resurrection faith.” The Bible says, “If there is no resurrection, we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1Co 15:19-20). There is a myth, called “the 4-minute mile.” Since 1864, for almost a century, numerous athletes had tried to run 1 mile in 4 minutes, but no one could make it. So, people began to believe that it is impossible to run 1 mile in 4 minutes. But, in 1945 one physician gave a paper that a human is able to run 1 mile in 4 minutes. Surprisingly, in two years 127 athletes did run 1 mile in 4 minutes. Jesus Christ conquered death and opened the door to eternal life so that we may follow him. When we have the hope of resurrection, we can endure our troubles today. Even death, our last enemy, becomes a gateway to heaven. Our God is the God of the living. He is the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. What does it mean? Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; they all died in this world, but now they are alive with Christ. That is why our God is the God of the living. Not only Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but also we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses. All of them are alive. In this world, they lived as aliens and strangers, but they desired a better place, “heavenly homeland.” Some of them were tortured. Some suffered flogging, chains, and imprisonment. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. But, they refused to be released. Why? Because they did not put their hope in this world but in a better life after the resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus gives us living hope for tomorrow.

Power for Today

Jesus’ resurrection gives us not only assurance of pardon for yesterday and hope for tomorrow but also “power” to live for today. By the resurrection of Jesus, the greatest gift from God is given to us, that is, “the Holy Spirit.” After Jesus was raised from the dead, he appeared to his disciples and said, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to everyone” (Mark 16:15, NLT) Then, he gave them divine power, the power of the Spirit. He said, “When you drink deadly poison, it will not hurt you at all” (v. 18). How can we love the unlovable? How can we forgive those who deeply hurt us? How can we continue to serve the unthankful? We cannot, but the Holy Spirit within us is able to do everything. The Spirit removes poisons, whether it is verbal poison, or any kind of poisons he can remove so that they will not harm us at all. Sometimes we are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; struck down, but not destroyed because the Spirit of the resurrected Jesus is with us and within us all the time. Mongooses are cat-sized small animals. But, they are well known for their ability to fight and kill venomous snakes, particularly cobras. How is that possible? It is possible because they are immune to snake venom. When you get hurt by others, remember you are immune to that poison by the resurrection power of Jesus! Invite the Holy Spirit. Welcome him. Proclaim his power of love by faith!

Remember!

When Jesus was arrested and crucified, most of the people left him. But, the women stayed around him. They were standing near the cross. They followed Arimathea Joseph to see Jesus’ tomb, and they were standing outside the tomb weeping. They were powerless. They didn’t know what to do, but they did not leave Jesus. They remained in Jesus, and the risen Christ came and restored them. When you are filled with despair, when you feel depressed, do not leave Jesus. Stay close to him. Remember his word. The word of Christ is living and active (Heb 4:12). The word of Christ is perfect and revives the soul (Psalm 19:7) Jesus said, “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life” (John 6:63). In other words, when we read the Bible and meditate on the word, we become filled with the Spirit of God. When we fill our hearts with the words of Christ, we become filled with the Life of God. So, when you are troubled in every way, stay still and hold fast his promise. Remember his word, and he will come and save you. Remember, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have assurance of pardon of our past. We have hope for tomorrow. We have all the power we need to live for today. We are more than enough in Christ. Amen.

“I AM the Messiah” (John 12:12-19) - The God We Can Know VI -

“I AM the Messiah” (John 12:12-19)

- The God We Can Know VI -

Why the Triumphal Entry?

Today’s text is well known as “Jesus’ Triumphal Entry.” This story is recorded in all four Gospels (cf. Matt 21: 1–11; Mark 11: 1– 11; Luke 19: 29– 38). It shows the importance of this event. In the ancient world “triumphal entries” were fairly common. When a king wins the battle, he would return to his city, bringing the spoils of his battles and stories of conquest. So when John says that the crowd “went out to meet Jesus (v.13),” this is a common expression used for cities meeting their triumphant, returning king. Then, you may ask, “Is the triumphal entry necessary for Jesus?” The answer is “YES!” It is necessary for Jesus to declare his kingship. He intentionally declares his kingship by this triumphal entry, riding on a donkey. Zechariah 9:9 says, “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Jesus has chosen to fulfill this prophecy by entering Jerusalem, riding on a donkey. Here he is saying with his action: “Yes, I am the Messiah.” He is saying, “I am lowly and gentle. I am not, in my first coming, on a white war-horse with a sword. I am not coming to condemn you. I am coming to save you this time. Today is the day of salvation!” And in today’s passage the people take palm branches as a sign of honor for a victorious person and go out to meet Jesus. They shout, “Hosanna,” which means, “Save us now!” They give Jesus their praises. The people seem to recognize their King, their Savior. But the Bible says there are two different kinds of people, two different kinds of Hosannas.

The Crowd’s Hosanna (12:12-19)

The first kind of Hosanna is the crowd’s Hosanna. Many scholars believe that the regular population of Jerusalem in Jesus’ time was about 50,000 and that during Passover it grew to perhaps 100,000 to 120,000. A first-century Historian Josephus even describes one Passover 2,700,000 people took part in the city. Imagine that tens of thousands of people would gather and shout, “Hosanna!” That would be such a marvelous sight. It is natural for the Pharisees to say, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!” (v.19) Such praise for Jesus is perfectly appropriate. He is worthy to be praised. We ought to give Jesus all our praises just as the crowd did in the text. Luke 19:40 reminds us that if we do not do this, nature itself will cry out! The crowd did the right thing in the right place at the right time. However, their hearts were not right before God. Their motivation to worship was to achieve their visions. The people were looking for someone who would set them free from political oppression by the Roman Regime. They were looking for someone who would liberate them from religious rules and regulations. They were looking for someone who would stop a vicious economic cycle. Then they found Jesus. They saw his “power” to raise Lazarus from the dead. In verse 17 John says, “Now the crowd that was with Jesus when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word.” Those people continue to follow Jesus from Bethany, spread the word, and today many people join and shout out loud, “Hosanna! You are the Savior!” However, one week later the very same crowd turns into a mob, crying out, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” (John 19:6). Why? Because Jesus fails to satisfy their immediate needs. Jesus is worthy of our praise all the time. But too often we only look at Jesus through our own needs and our own issues. When he satisfies our needs, we praise him. But when he fails to satisfy them, we turn our back on him and even deny him.

Mary’s Hosanna (12:1-8)

Today’s text says there is another kind of Hosanna. It is Mary’s Hosanna. The day before the triumphal entry, Jesus spends time with Lazarus and his siblings. While they are having a dinner, Mary comes in with a jar of very expensive perfume, that is worth a year’s wages (Minimum wage of ME is now $7.25 per hour, and per capita income in this area/ in a 5-mile radius is about $20,000). So Mary now anoints Jesus’ feet with the perfume worth $20,000, wiping his feet with her hair. “What a waste!” That was the people’s response in the room (cf. Matt 26:8). They didn’t understand. For them, it was too much. It was a lavish waste. But for Mary, it was just such a joy and privilege to honor Jesus in this extravagant way. She had been waiting for this moment for a long time, probably for life. She was ready to give up everything, even her life for Christ without reserve. Why is then Mary’s devotion so extravagant and special from others? It is because she experienced the extravagant love of Christ in a very special way. Mary always listened to Jesus’ words attentively. She sat at Jesus’ feet, hanging on every word he said (Luke 10:39). And she saw how Jesus healed the sick and forgave sins. Mary herself was also forgiven and set free from guilt, sin and shame. For the first time she was finally able to find rest for her soul. But there comes a time when she personally experiences Christ’s love the most: “the death of her brother Lazarus.” She lost the pillar of the family. She lost all hope and doesn’t know what to do from now on. And Jesus comes and comforts her and raises Lazarus from the dead. Now she does know that Jesus is indeed the Savior of the world. And she remembers Jesus’ words that he would suffer many things and must be killed, because he said this before at least three times (cf. Matt 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:17-19). She knows intuitively there isn’t much time left. When Jesus visits her hometown, she gives her best to Jesus. Pouring a $20,000 perfume upon his feet is the least Mary can do for Jesus who loves her so unconditionally. That is Mary’s Hosanna.

While I was meditating on Mary’s Hosanna during the week, one person came to my mind. That was Ruby Kendrick, who was a missionary to Korea. She was born in Texas in 1883. At an early age, she experienced the extravagant love of Christ and decided to be a missionary. At the age of 24 she arrived in Korea all alone. In Korea, she just started to learn Korean language, at the same time she taught Sunday School. Less than a year later, Ruby Kendrick died of appendicitis in Korea. At her request she was buried in Korea. Her last words home were, “If I had a thousand lives, Korea should have them all.” What a waste! What made Ruby Kendrick give up her life for Korean people she had never seen before? She loved Korea for Christ. She served Korea for Christ. In the letter she wrote just before passing away, she wrote following words:

“Dad, mom! This land, Korea, is truly a beautiful land. They all resemble God. I see their good heart and zeal for the gospel, and I believe that in few years it will be a land overflowing with the love of Christ...

But the persecution is getting stronger. Two days ago, three or four of those who have accepted Christ less than a week have been dragged away and were martyred. Missionary Thomas and James were also martyred… Tonight, I have strong desire to return home.

I remember you mom who resisted to the last moment of me leaving the port because of the stories of the hate of foreigners and opposition to the gospel.

Dad, Mom! Perhaps, this may be the last letter I will be writing…

I will bury my heart in this land. I realized that this passion for Korea that I have is not mine but God’s passion toward Korea. Mom, Dad! I love you.”

I am grateful for Ruby Kendrick and those who said YES to partner with God’s heart and gave their lives to others. Their fruit is now seen all over the world. I am one of many beneficiaries. Before I came to the US in 2006, I visited the Foreign Missionary Cemetery and expressed my respect to Ruby Kendrick and many other missionaries. Ruby Kendrick passed away more than a hundred years ago, but her devotion is still remembered up to this day and her fragrance fills Korea and all over the world.

Our Hosanna

Missionary C.T. Studd said, “If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for him.” I think Mary would say exactly the same. As we are moving forward to the Resurrection Celebration, I exhort all of us to prepare our extravagant perfume for Christ. Here are three specific things that we can do: First, come to Easter Services! I think one of the most precious gifts that we can offer to Christ would be ourselves, our presence with a grateful heart. So I encourage you to make every effort to attend the Easter services to honor and praise our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This week the church offers several services: Maundy Thursday (6 pm, Hodgdon UMC), Good Friday (6 pm, Houlton UMC), and Easer Sunday (9:00 am, Hodgdon/10:15 am, Houlton). Second, invite your friends! One of my favorite hymns is “Because He Lives.” A refrain of this song is as follows: “Because he lives, I can face tomorrow. Because he lives, all fear is gone. Because I know, he holds the future. And life is worth living, just because he lives!” Yes indeed! Because of Easter our past is forgiven, our life is worth living and we have a future in heaven! Hallelujah! Why don’t we share this good news to our neighbor and friends? I encourage you to invite them to the Easter services. Third, prepare your personal gifts to Christ! I encourage all of us to give our best for our King, Jesus Christ, just as Mary did. There is a time for everything (Ecc 3:1). There is a time for devotion. To die for Christ is a glorious thing. But to live for Christ is an equally or even more glorious thing. As we are moving forward to this precious time of the Holy Week, let us ask ourselves this question: “How can I live for Christ?” “How can I show my devotion to Christ?” 

“I AM the True Vine” (John 15:1-8) - The God We Can Know V -

“I AM the True Vine” (John 15:1-8)

- The God We Can Know V -

Into the Storm

When I was a little boy, one of my favorite things to do was to ride on a motorbike, of course as a passenger. At that time, my grandfather was a pastor and did lots of visitations on his motorbike. When he had free time, he used to give me a ride and take a round to downtown. When he did speed up or turn the corner, he always said to me, “Hold fast to me!” On his motorbike I just felt like I was flying. I felt literally on top of the world. In today’s scripture Jesus says the same thing to his disciples. “Hold fast to me! Remain in me!” When we read John 15, normally what comes to our mind is a typical idyllic, relaxed, romantic scene. But actually, Jesus was saying this on the very night when he was betrayed. It was his farewell speech. We can imagine the atmosphere of the upper room might be like the calm before the storm. The disciples now know trouble is coming, but they don’t know what to do. They are afraid. Jesus says to them, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled (John 14:1). Remain in me!” Then, what does it mean by “Remain in Christ”? How do we remain in him? In today’s text Jesus tells us how we should remain in him.

Remain “Vitally” (v.2)

First, Jesus says, “Remain vitally.” According to verse 2, there are two kinds of branches: one is a fruitful branch and the other is a fruitless branch. The difference between the two is that one is connected to the vine, but the other is not. On the surface, it is hard to tell the difference. Both of them look the same. But, if we take a closer look, smell them, and touch them, we can easily tell which one is real. The fake branch has no life. It has no connection with the vine. So, it bears no fruit. In Jesus’ time there were lots of fake branches, including the Pharisees and religious leaders. On the surface, they looked like vital branches. They worshipped. They gave tithes. They gave to the poor. They even fasted twice a week. So, they thought, ‘I am a good believer. I am a Spirit-filled person.’ But, Jesus said to them, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean” (Mt 23:27). What’s wrong with them? They worshipped, but they had never stood before “the throne, high and lifted up.” They fasted, but they had never cried out in despair because of their sins. They gave to the poor, but they had never received God’s forgiveness and mercy. They were not connected to the Vine.

What is the cure? The best cure is our absolute honesty. In Mark 10 there was a blind man, named, Bartimaeus. He was sitting beside the road and begging people. He was not satisfied about his life physically, emotionally, and spiritually. One day he heard that Jesus was nearby. He didn’t pretend to be ok. Instead, he began to shout desperately, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many people rebuked him, “Be quiet!” But he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Then, Jesus called him and asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man knew exactly what he needed most. He answered, “Rabbi, I am blind. But, I want to see!” Jesus said, “Go, your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight, and since that time he became a follower of Jesus. Our response must be the same. If you are not satisfied about your spiritual life, do not pretend to be ok. Instead, come to Jesus, come to the his throne of grace and cry out to him, “Lord, have mercy on me. I am blind. But, I want to see.” Are you personally connected to the Vine, Jesus Christ? Do you really receive your nourishment and life from him? That is the first question we need to answer as we read today’s passage.

Remain “Actively” (v. 4)

Secondly, Jesus says, “Remain actively.” We as the branches need to cling to the vine with all our hearts and with all our strength. In verse 4, Jesus says, “Remain in me, and I will remain in you.” Jesus is Almighty God, but he always treats us respectfully. He never forces us. In Revelation 3:20, Jesus beautifully describes how he invites us and waits for each of us. He says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Only when we are willing to open the door for him and remain in him, then he will come in and remain in us through the Person of the Holy Spirit.

When a storm is coming, all we have to do is to hold fast to Christ with all our strength. In Ephesians 5:18 Paul says, “Be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Then, he expounds how to be filled with the Spirit. He says, “You can be filled with the Spirit by worshipping the Lord, by singing praises, by giving thanks, and by serving others!” When we are filled with the Spirit, we like to pray. But, the same is true in reverse. Sometimes, we are not in the mood to pray, but when we pray by the act of will, we come to be filled with the Spirit. When we are filled with the Spirit, we love to read the Bible. But, the same is true in reverse. When we read the Bible by the act of will, we come to be filled with the Spirit. In his early ministry John Wesley learned a lot from the Moravian brothers and sisters. But, Philipp Molther, one of the Moravian leaders, began to teach a doctrine of “stillness.” He told people to be still and do nothing until they were born again. He insisted that we should stop trying to do good and abandon all the rites of the church until faith comes. Unfortunately, the Moravians fell into unhealthy mysticism and disappeared in history. But Wesley did encourage people to practice “Means of Grace.” He commended them to pray, attend worship service, receive the Communion, do good works, and give to the poor, whether they are in the mood or not. We cannot make the wind, but we can hoist a sail to receive it. When trouble comes, when spiritual depression comes, do not shrink back in stillness. Instead, come to Christ all the more. Stay connected to Christ and his body, the Church all the more, and you will be restored and filled with the Spirit again!

Remain “Faithfully” (v.5)

Thirdly, Jesus says, “Remain faithfully” until bearing fruit. This is the hardest part for many of us. Each tree has its own purpose of existence. Some trees provide habitat and furniture. Some supply firewood. In verse 5 Jesus says, “I am the vine. You are the branches.” The grapevine exists solely for bearing fruit. But it takes time to bear fruit even if a branch is well connected to the vine. We don’t know how long it may take, but only the Gardner, our Heavenly Father, does know when. So, it is very important for us to remain faithfully and trust in Christ until we bear fruit. One day, Henri Nouwen, a Catholic priest and writer, had a chance to see circus. He was very impressed by the performance of the trapeze artist. After the circus, he met the flyer. He shared how impressed he was. But then, the flyer said, “The public might think that I am the great star of the trapeze, but the real star is my catcher. He has to be there for me with split-second precision and grab me out of the air as I come to him in the long jump.” Henri asked, “How does it work?” The man said, “The secret is that the flyer does nothing and the catcher does everything. When I fly to the catcher, I have simply to stretch out my arms and hands and wait for him to catch me.” The man continued, “The worst thing the flyer can do is to try to catch the catcher. I am not supposed to catch him. It's his task to catch me. If I grabbed his wrists, I might break them, or he might break mine, and that would be the end for both of us. A flyer must fly, and a catcher must catch, and the flyer must trust, with outstretched arms, that his catcher will be there for him.” God is the Catcher, and we are the flyer. As the flyer, all we have to do is to stretch out our arms and trust and wait for the catcher. Then, God, the Catcher, will be there for us and grab us in his perfect time.

One Thing

How do we abide in Christ? Jesus offers a vivid image – be a branch! Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches. Jesus is the driver, and we are the passengers. Jesus is the catcher, and we are the flyers. Jesus is the treasure, and we are the jars of clay. In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge and power and strength and life! (Col 2:3; Rev 5:12) In 2 Corinthians 13:5 Apostle Paul says, “Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don't drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it” (MSG). When storms are coming, we need to examine one thing that we have Jesus. If we have Jesus and hold fast to him and remain in him vitally, actively, faithfully, there is nothing to fear. Jesus promised, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b) Lastly, I want you to sing with me the song, “I’d rather have Jesus.” My prayer is that this song will be our confession of faith all the days of our lives.

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands;
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand

Than to be the king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin’s dread sway;
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

Lenten Service: “True Fasting” (Isaiah 58)

“True Fasting” (Isaiah 58)

“What Are You Giving Up for Lent?”

Lent is a time of self-denial. “What are you giving up for Lent?” It’s a question we get at this time of the year. Twitter reveals top 100 ideas of 2015. Here is the list of the top 10: First, School. Second, chocolate. Third, Twitter. Fourth, alcohol. Fifth, social networking. Sixth, swearing. Seventh, soda. Eighth, sweets. Ninth, fast food. And tenth, coffee. So what are you giving up for Lent? And why are you giving them up? In his book Story of the Student Christian Movement, Tissington Tatlow says, “Self-denial is not denying to ourselves luxuries such as chocolates, cakes, cigarettes and cocktails (although it might include this); it is actually denying or disowning ourselves, renouncing our supposed right to go our own way.” Actually, this is not a new statement at all. About 2700 years ago the Lord our God said exactly the same thing to the Israelites through the prophet Isaiah. Then, what is the heart of fasting? What is the heart of self-denial? In Isaiah 58 God gives us a clear answer.

Do No Harm

God defines it in three ways. The first step of true fasting is to do no harm. In Isaiah 58:3-5 the Lord says, “But they also complain, 'Why do we fast and you don't look our way? Why do we humble ourselves and you don't even notice?' "Well, here's why: "The bottom line on your 'fast days' is profit. You drive your employees much too hard. You fast, but at the same time you bicker and fight. You fast, but you swing a mean fist. The kind of fasting you do won't get your prayers off the ground. Do you think this is the kind of fast day I'm after: a day to show off humility? To put on a pious long face and parade around solemnly in black? Do you call that fasting, a fast day that I, GOD, would like?” (MSG) At that time, many people observed the feasts of the Lord and did fast, but at the same time, they kept doing evil things. They did fast, but they kept going their own way. If we truly resolve to do no harm, we can no longer gossip. We can no longer speak ill of others. We can no longer take revenge. True fasting is to do no harm to others. It sounds simple, but it is not an easy rule, because it does demand a radical trust in God’s presence and power. To do no harm is an act of disarming, laying aside our weapons and leaving room for God’s intervention.

Do Good

The second step of true fasting is to do good. In vv. 6-9 the Lord says, "This is the kind of fast day I'm after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. What I'm interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families. Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once. Your righteousness will pave your way. The GOD of glory will secure your passage. Then when you pray, GOD will answer. You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.' To do good sounds simple. But what doest it mean by that? Where do we begin? Doing good is not limited to those like us or those who like us. Doing good is directed at “everyone,” even those who do not fit our category of “worthy” to receive any good. For those who cut in ahead of us in traffic, and even for those who consider us less than a child of God, still we must commit ourselves to seeking good for everyone in every circumstance. That is what it means to do good. 

Stay in God’s Love

The third step of true fasting is to stay in love with God. God concludes in vv. 13-14.  "If you watch your step on the Sabbath and don't use my holy day for personal advantage, If you treat the Sabbath as a day of joy, GOD's holy day as a celebration, If you honor it by refusing 'business as usual,' making money, running here and there-Then you'll be free to enjoy GOD! Oh, I'll make you ride high and soar above it all. I'll make you feast on the inheritance of your ancestor Jacob." Yes! GOD says so!” The Israelites did fast, but they broke the Sabbath. God made the Sabbath holy. It was the day of resting in order to worship and have fellowship with God. But the people broke the Sabbath. On that day they did fast, but they did whatever they wanted. They did fast, but they went their own way. They did fast, but they sought their own pleasure. God says to them, “No, that’s not the heart of fasting. Come back to me and stay in my love.”

“Not My Will, But Your Will Be Done!”

Giving up chocolate and coffee can be a good spiritual discipline for self-denial. But our fasting should be more than that. So today I would like to exhort you to try this little exercise. Every time you give up something, chocolate or coffee or anything, pray this short prayer, “Not my will, but your will be done! Not my way, but your way, Lord!” “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Mc 6:8, NIV) Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let us do no harm, do good, and stay in love with God always! Amen.

“I AM the Good Shepherd” (John 10:7-15) - The God We Can Know IV –

“I AM the Good Shepherd” (John 10:7-15)

- The God We Can Know IV –

Whose Voice Do You Follow?

A George Barna survey asked high school students where they turn first in times of tension, confusion or crisis. Their answers were shocking: No. 25 on the list was their father; No. 11 on the list was their mother; secular music and personal friends topped the list. In other words, in times of tragedy young people may well look to false shepherds or immature shepherds at best. We do live in a modern desert. We as believers are called “sheep” – needy, defenseless, prone to wander and stubborn. Predators are everywhere. We hear confusing voices from everywhere. Drugs and alcohol are used to escape reality and cope with the pressures of life. Moral standards have more to do with what feels good to us rather than God’s word. The pervasive moral atmosphere says “God is irrelevant and there are no rules.” In the midst of this moral chaos, in this threatening desert, whose voice, which shepherd do you follow?

I AM Not …

In today’s text Jesus says “I am the good shepherd.” What does it mean by that? Which shepherd is a good shepherd? Jesus defines what the good shepherd means by differentiating himself from false shepherds. First, Jesus says, “I am not a thief or a robber” (v.1). Thieves and robbers come to harm the sheep. They just take advantage of the sheep. Here Jesus is saying, “I don’t want your possessions but you!” Second, Jesus says, “I am not a stranger” (v.5). Strangers don’t know the sheep, and the sheep don’t know them. They don’t have any personal relationship with each other. Here Jesus is saying, “I am not the god of deism who exists and created the world, but does not interfere with his creation.” Third, Jesus says, “I am not a hired hand” (v.12). The hired hand feeds the sheep and takes care of the sheep, but when trouble comes, he abandons the sheep and runs away, because his relationship with the sheep is established based on his interest, not on trust.

I AM …

But Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd.” The good shepherd calls the sheep by name, guides them, goes before them, and provides pasture for food and water. But the most important and striking feature of the good shepherd is that he lays down his life for the sheep. In verse 11 Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Again in verse 15 he says, “And I lay down my life for the sheep.” In the Judean desert at night sheep were often herded into walled enclosures. These enclosures provided walls, but the door was just a bare entrance. No gate. It was an opening in the wall for sheep to go in and out freely. At night, the shepherd would lie down in the doorway to protect the sheep from predators. The shepherd literally became the door of the sheep-fold. In this context, Jesus said in verse 7, “I am the gate for the sheep.” The good shepherd is willing to come between his flock and danger. He is willing to die for them.

Why Did Jesus Have to Die?

Then, why did Jesus, the good shepherd, have to die? To answer this question it is important to know what kinds of dangers the sheep are facing. The greatest danger of the sheep is not from outside, but from within. It is called, “sin.” What is sin? As a young man, once John Wesley asked his mother for a definition of sin. Susanna replied in a letter: "Take this rule: whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off your relish of spiritual things; in short, whatever increases the strength and authority of your body over your mind, that thing is sin to you, however innocent it may be in itself." (Letter, June 8, 125). Sin is anything that separates us from God. God made Adam and Eve, and it was very good in his eyes. But Adam and Eve chose to disobey God and desired to be equal with God. That separated them from God. All of us, like sheep, have done our own thing, gone our own way. Sin is pride, arrogance, self-centeredness, self-love, the desire to be equal with God, and the autonomous reason, morality, and culture without God.

The gravity of sin is this: Sin never goes away by itself. It only accumulates. Probably, many of you have seen the buildings and roofs that collapsed under the weight of snow. Sin is just like that. We don’t know. We don’t feel like we are accumulating sins. But the day will come like a thief. Romans 2:5 says, “But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.” Whether willing or not, we will face up to this gravity of sin. What are the consequences of sin? The Bible says, “The wages of sin is death” (6:23) and “after that we have to face the judgment” (Heb 9:27). What can wash away our sins? Hebrews 9:22 says, “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” That is why Jesus, the good shepherd, had to lay down his life for us. Christ died for us. More specifically, Christ died for our sins. Even more specifically, Christ died our death. We never came to him for ourselves. Instead, all of us without exception have gone our own way. God sent his kings, judges, and prophets to show the way of salvation. But we ignored them, persecuted them, and even killed them. Finally, just as Moses had lifted up the snake in the desert, so Jesus had to be lifted up (John 3:14). And when Jesus was lifted up high from the earth, he did draw all people to himself (12:32).

Feed My Sheep

In his first letter Peter says, “For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (1 Peter 2:25). Peter was able to say this, because he himself experienced this. At first, although he was one of Jesus’ disciples, he was going his own way. He had his own plan. He had his own ambition. When Jesus began to explain his suffering and death for the first time, literally Peter took him side and rebuked him, saying, “Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you!” (Matt 16:21-22) On the night when Jesus was betrayed, he prophesied that his disciples would all fall away because of him. But Peter declared, “Even if all fall away because of you, I will never fall away!” (26:33) He did mean it. But he didn’t have power to overcome his sinful nature. He didn’t have power to overcome the power of sin and death. He disowned Jesus three times. After that, Peter was wandering and going astray. But after Jesus was risen, he went ahead of Peter into Galilee. He appeared to him and prepared breakfast for him. When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Peter three times, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter said, “Yes, Lord. You know that I love you.” And Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” He did reinstate Peter. Peter personally experienced unconditional love and forgiveness of sin. He returned to his Shepherd and came to believe that Christ indeed died for him, that Christ died for his sins, and that Christ died his death. Only then, was Peter able to follow in Jesus steps and too lay down his life for Jesus’ sheep (1 Peter 2:21).

Love Begets Love

John 3:16 tells us how much God loves us: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” And 1 John 3:16 tells us how much we as God’s beloved children should love others: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” Only love begets love. Anne was born on April 14, 1866. At the age of five she contracted an eye disease called trachoma. When she was eight years old, she became blind. That same year her mother died. After that, her father abandoned her and her brother, Jimmie. They were sent to almshouse. Jimmie suffered and died after three months. After that, Anne attended the Perkins School for the Blind. She had never been to school before and lacked social graces. She had hard time there. But there was one person who loved Anne devotedly and became her good friend and teacher. Her name was Laura Bridgman. Laura spent time with Anne and taught her the manual alphabet. And while there, Anne had a series of eye operations, and it significantly improved her vision. Eventually, Anne was able to graduate from the school at age 20 as the valedictorian of her class. After about a year, she got the job offer. It was to teach a seven year old girl who was deaf, blind and mute. She decided to repay debts of love and accept the job offer. She began to teach the girl and helped her to fully blossom. Her name was Anne Sullivan, and her student was Helen Keller. Love begets love.

To Thy Precious Bleeding Side

Jesus says, “My sheep listen to my voice. I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). This morning whose voice are you listening to? Which shepherd are you following? Frances Jane Crosby, who became blind at the age of six weeks, answers to this question in this way: “I am Thine, O Lord. I have heard Thy voice, and it told Thy love to me; but I long to rise in the arms of faith and be closer drawn to Thee. Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to the cross where Thou hast died; draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to Thy precious bleeding side.” Are you weary, are you heavy hearted? Come to Jesus’ bleeding side. Are you longing for new life and the life to the full? Come to Jesus’ bleeding side. Are you having a hard time forgiving others? Come to Jesus’ bleeding side not just once or twice, but every day and night. And you will find rest for your souls and be able to feed many and not faint! Amen.