Daily Encouragement

January 4, 2009 - Questions And Answers

Two best ways to teach are through telling story and through question and question. In this chapter, Jesus told the story of the wedding banquet so we all could realize how His kingdom worked and how we could enter into His kingdom. Then in the following answers to his critics, Jesus taught us so much about the practical matters in life such as paying taxes, the teaching of resurrection in the Old Testament, and the most important commandments for us. Through Jesus' question to the Pharisees, we learn that He is the Messiah who was prophesied by King David.

Each section of the passages here are so important to the principles of the kingdom and our Christian growth. Let us take some time to study the teaching of Jesus thoroughly and meditate upon it. If you have any question, please email us so we all can learn more.

January 5, 2009 - What Jesus Condemns

Meditation on Matthew 23

We don't like hypocrites today. But imagine how strongly Jesus condemned the hypocrites in His days. To the Scribes and Pharisees, eight times he said "woe to you". They were the religious scholars and leaders of that day. Jesus said, they taught the Law of Moses but they did not uphold the law. They loved to be respected and recognized as religious teachers and showed off their religious garments and labels, but they did not practice the truth they taught in their own life. (v. 1-12) Let us see how Jesus condemned them so we may be warned concerning those attitude and conducts.

By their own creation of and enforcing the numerous rules, these so called religious conservatives directed people to man's own traditions therefore they led people away from the will and heart of God. As a result, they shut the door of the kingdom of God for themselves and others. In fact they led others to do evil by their own legalism and teaching which is far from God's intention. (v. 13)

These religious pretenders cooked up some schemes to take away widows' houses in the name of donation, while they prayed so beautifully to impress the donors. Jesus condemned them. (v. 14)

These hypocrites did have proselyte zeal, but they were only leading people to hell and making their disciples worst than they were. (v. 15)

Jesus said that these fools and blind also created rules for religious vows that in reality evade responsibilities. They invented concepts and wording that were utterly illogical and meaningless so to avoid fulfilling commitments. (v. 15-22)

These masquerades of religion went to extreme in the observing of the tithing laws yet neglected the essential elements of justice, mercy and faith. They looked for very minor issue of indiscretion but overlooked the major principle of charity and care. (v. 23-24)

These were the people who cleaned their outside for look but did not clean the inside of their hearts. In reality, they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. (v. 25-26)

They were decayed and corrupted to the core and full of lawlessness. But they disguised to be beautiful. (v. 27-28)

Finally Jesus accused these hypocrites as murderers and the descendants of murderers. They were guilty of killing God's servants in their father's generations as well as in their generation. They were as poisonous as serpents, brood of vipers. They would be condemned to hell. (v. 29-36)

In deed in the following passage, Jesus was lamenting for Jerusalem, the head quarter of these religious hypocrites who refused His warning and come to repentance. (v. 37f) In 70 AD. Jerusalem was reduced to rubble by the Romans.

May we take Jesus' admonition to heart!

January 6, 2009 - The Sign Of His Coming

Meditation on Matthew 24

Actually Jesus was answering two questions of the disciples in Matthew 24. As indicated in verse one to three, he was referring first of all to the destruction of Jerusalem and secondly to the sign of His coming and of the end of the age. Jesus answered their questions in a reverse manner. First, He told them the signs of His coming from verses 4 to 14.

From verse 15 to 35, He addressed the coming destruction of Jerusalem which would also be a foreshadow of the period of tribulations before the coming of Christ.

Then from verses 36 to 51, He warned us that no one would know that day or hour of His coming. But it would come suddenly as the flood of Noah. Therefore we must be ready for His coming anytime. God will reward the faithful but punish those who mistreat fellow servants and misbehave.

The interpretations of this chapter concerning the sequences of events before the end time are quite diverse within the Christian community. But one thing is for sure, the events occurred in history and happening in the world do point to the fact that Jesus' prophecies in this chapter are being fulfilled. He is coming back soon!

Let us pay attention to His instruction to be prepared for His showing up when we are not expected.

January 7, 2009 - Be Ready For The Return Of Christ

Meditation on Matthew 25

The three parables by Jesus in this chapter teach us how to prepare for his return.

The first one was about wedding which was a very important event in the lives of the ancient Jews. People could take off from work and study in order to participate in the celebration. Usually the wedding invitation was announced ahead without specific date and time of the arrival of the groom. So the bride's party would start celebrating and dancing in anticipation. When the groom's party arrived usually at night, they would walk back to the groom's home with lamps.

In this case the groom's arrival was delay. (v. 5) The virgins who were the bridesmaids felt asleep. Five of them had prepared enough oil in their lamps but the other five did not. Those who were ready to meet the Groom and joined in the procession were called wise ones. The others were foolish ones because they did not understand that one could not get prepared for the coming of the groom at the last minute and that you could not borrow your oil from someone else. May we learn to be ready for the coming of Christ all the time.

The second parable dealt with the use of what the Master had given to the servants. Two were good and faithful in using their capital by multiplying. At the time of judgment, they received the same commendation and reward. But the third one was lazy and gave excuse for not doing any thing but hid his given possession. Thus he was thrown out in the outer darkness with great remorse. Christians must learn from this to be good and faithful in using their ability, spiritual gifts and possessions to serve God. That is being ready for the coming of Christ. Otherwise what we have will be given to others who serve God faithfully. The lazy ones will suffer total loss.

The third parable describes the future judgment of Christ when He will come. Those who have met the needs of needy with compassion will be rewarded to inherit the kingdom prepared for them by the Messiah. But those who did not take care of the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, or the prisoner at all will go away to eternal punishment. This parable tells us that those who are true Christians will take on the character and mission of Christ to minister to the needs of our neighbors. If not, that is faith without work, it is dead. (James 2:26) We are not saved by work but we do serve Christ if we truly have faith. That is the indication of readiness for His coming.

January 8, 2009 - Betrayal, Forsaken, And Arrest

Meditation on Matthew 26

We can see the ugly side of human beings in this account by Matthew. Can you imagine that the religious authority plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him! Then Jesus' own disciples were indignant about the love and care of the woman who poured fragrant oil on Jesus because they thought it was a waste. And Judas decided to betray Jesus to the chief priests for thirty pieces of silver. All the disciples eventually forsook Jesus and fled when Jesus was arrested in the middle of the night. Immediately the Sanhedrin conducted an illegal trial on Jesus and sought false testimony again Him. Sadly, even Peter who vowed his commitment to Jesus during the Passover meal did deny Jesus before others three times during the night.

All these crimes and sins are terrible against the Savior. He knew these were just the beginning. More unbearable pain and sufferings were coming. That's why Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane "O my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." (v. 39 NKJV)

We thank God that Jesus did pray again saying, "O my Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done." (v. 42)

He bore all those sins and the sin of all mankind by shedding His blood for the remission of our sins. This was already foretold to the disciples during the Passover meal when the perfect lamb was killed and became a symbol of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. Therefore we are forever grateful to Jesus whose blood has established the new covenant of His love and forgiveness for us. (v.26-29)

Yes, mankind is sinful and wicked. But Jesus still can forgive us no matter how sinful we are if we come to Him with repentance and faith.

January 9, 2009 - The Darkest Day In History

Meditation on Matthew 27

During the trial of Jesus, Governor Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent. He gave the Jews a choice to release Jesus or a known criminal and murderer, Barabbas. But the crowd under the persuasion of the religious authorities chose to crucify Jesus instead. Pilate washed his hand in front of the crowd to shun his responsibility of convicting Jesus. But he handed Jesus over to be flogged and crucified anyway.

The solders set a crown of thorns on Jesus' head. They tortured him and mocked him before they brought him to a place called Golgotha (skull) and nailed him to the cross. Crucifixion was the most cruel, painful and shameful execution. Jesus endured that without drinking any drug. The crowd and passerby and the religious leaders all hurled insults at him.

"From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?'- which means, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'" (v. 45-46 NIV)

Indeed it was the darkest hour when the Son of God bore the sins of you and me in His body on the cross. (1 Peter 2:24) That was the reason why Jesus felt the greatest pain because God the Father had forsaken Him because of the load of sins He bore.

When Jesus gave up his spirit, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rock split. Matthew said that the tomb broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. The centurion and the guards who saw all these things and the earthquake were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!" (v. 54)

Jesus was later buried. The Jewish authority obtained a special team of guards on his tomb which was also blocked by a huge rock. But death could not confine the Son of God. Another earthquake was coming! (Matthew 28:2)

The darkest hour of history was but a prelude to the greatest victory for mankind.

January 10, 2009 - Greeting From Jesus!

Meditation on Matthew 28

As the Sabbath after Jesus' burial began to finish and the first day of the week (Sunday) began to dawn, there was a great earthquake. An angel of the Lord came to roll away the stone that sealed the tomb of Jesus and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow. The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. But the angel told the women not to be afraid, that Jesus was not there for He had risen, and gave them instruction to tell the disciples the news and to meet Jesus at Galilee. While they ran to tell the disciples, Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" (v. 9)

This was the first greetings after Jesus' resurrection. This must also be the greatest greeting for them to receive. The literal meaning of the Greek word Matthew used for "Greetings" was rejoice. How happy they should be to see Jesus. So it is for us today who have received Jesus as our personal Savior and Lord by faith to rejoice because He is risen from the dead.

The guards were bribed by the chief priests to tell others that the disciples had stolen Jesus' body while they slept. This lie was unbelievable because it was death penalty for a Roman guard who felt asleep on the job. Besides, how could all of the guards be sleeping?

In Matthew's final account, Jesus met with His disciples and gave them the solemn instruction of the Great Commission. They were to make disciples of all nations as they went, baptizing them and teaching them to observe all things that Jesus had commanded them. Jesus promised His presence with them to the end of the age. From the context, this assurance then should be for all the disciples of all ages.

As we obey the risen Savior, I believe He will be with us and wants us to rejoice in Him. He will take away our sorrow and heartaches. He will supply us with joy and provide for our needs just in time as we serve Him. He is alive. He knows your condition.