The disciples were disappointed, paralysed with confusion and fear.
When Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, he was greeted with jubilation as the Messiah. Everyone expected the Son of David to fulfil the prophecies.
Jesus was to establish a new kingdom in Israel and cast out the Romans.
Instead, Jesus was arrested as a criminal and executed on the cross.
Not only had they lost their champion.
When Jesus was arrested, they had fled like cowards.
They had lost their support and were ashamed that they themselves had failed.
But it was even worse. They were terrified. Would the religious leaders arrest and kill them too?
They were also probably sleepless and exhausted.
How long did the disciples tremble in this fearful despair?
But they did not realise that they were in the midst of a miracle.
When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons.
She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping.
When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it. Mk 16:9–11 NIV
Are you disappointed? Have others let you down? Have you failed yourself?
Jesus wants to come to you, but sometimes he waits.
Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. Mk 16:14 NIV
Despite everything, God has good plans for you. He loves you.
I prayed for my parents for years. Finally, they both came to faith on their deathbeds.
Are you stressed with the wait? Please never give up.
The desperate apostles were in the midst of an amazing miracle. Are you too? Why not?
Friday, November 15, 2024
Are you in the Middle of a Miracle?
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
God Wants to Comfort You
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Mt 5:4 NRSV
Who can expect comfort from God?
According to some commentaries, this only applies to people who are sorry for their sins and want to repent, or to Christians who mourn in a close relationship with Jesus because of the sins in the world.
It is undoubtedly true that God forgives and comforts us when we hate our sins and want to repent.
It is also true that Jesus weeps over the sins of the world. When we weep in close communion with him, we experience the comfort of his tender love.
But can we only expect God's comfort when we mourn over sin?
When your child or sister dies, are you happy? No. You are devastated. This has nothing to do with sin, but God is love. He loves you deeply and wants to comfort you.
If your beloved dog dies, do you think your grief is not important to God?
I appreciate good Bible commentaries. I've been an avid student of the Bible for years.
But beware of pious sermons that focus on sin with a narrow religious view.
This religious mindset all too often leads to a critical attitude when dealing with neighbours and colleagues.
With a narrow focus on virtue and sin, one can become unconsciously judgemental, like the Pharisees in the Bible.
This way of thinking also often leads to unloving religiosity in congregations and painful guilt complexes in Christians who want to be holy.
Meanwhile, when the crowd gathered by the thousands, so that they trampled on one another, he began to speak first to his disciples, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is, their hypocrisy. Lk 12:1 NRSV
He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds. Ps 147:3 NRSV
Whatever your reason for suffering, Jesus wants to comfort you. If you choose to believe in His love and trust Him, you will experience His comforting love.
Am I saying that your sin is not an issue for Jesus?
God forbid! Jesus died to take the punishment for our sin. Jesus feels your pain; He loves you unconditionally just as you are, but He not only wants to forgive your sins completely, He also wants to remove them.
He wants to help you live a whole new life and enjoy His loving friendship.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
The Promises of Jesus
You can always trust Jesus.
You can trust Jesus when you are sick.
That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick.
This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.” Matthew 8:16-17 (ESV)
And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.
Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. Acts 10:38 (NLT)
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Heb13:8 (NKJV)
You can trust Jesus when you are guilty.
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 Jn 1:8-9 (ESV)
You can trust Jesus when you feel rejected.
However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. John 6:37 (NLT)
All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. John 6:37 (NKJV)
You can trust Jesus when you don’t know if God accepts you.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJV)
The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake.
He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. 2 Peter 3:9 (NLT)
...for he longs for all to be saved and to understand this truth: 1 Tim 2:4 (TLB)
You can trust Jesus when you feel pressurised, tired and overwhelmed.
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 (NLT)
You can trust Jesus when you feel empty and unsatisfied.
And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. John 6:35 (NKJV)
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.
I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10 (NKJV)
You can trust Jesus when you feel alone.
"But I will send you the Comforter—the Holy Spirit, the source of all truth.
He will come to you from the Father and will tell you all about me. John 15:26 (TLB)
Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.
And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 (NLT)
You can trust Jesus to speak to you.
You can trust Jesus when you are grieving over the loss of what was precious to you.
for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10 (NKJV)
You can trust Jesus to care for your children.