Holy Week Countdown

Jesus Predicts His Death

"Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." Luke 9:21-23


Leading to the first Palm Sunday, or when Jesus first entered Jerusalem as their King as have been prophesied by the Old Testament prophet Zechariah, the gospels record Jesus predicting his death, even the kind of death, his passion and his resurrection, not just once but several times.

And each time, his disciples either did not understand or worse they did not accept His words.

Misunderstood

This so describes the Lord's ministry. For He has been so misunderstood even by the very people closest to Him. And it has been like that, since the beginning and it's no different today.

So it should feel a little uneasy whenever we hear somebody say, that they know everything about Jesus, or everything that is to know about Him. In fact, it should make us shudder a little bit. For the bible shows that not even his immediate family, his closest disciples, the teachers of the law, the chief priests, the pharisees, or anybody else have ever really totally understood Him. Not even His adversary, who thought he won when Jesus was betrayed, arrested, falsely accused, got beaten up, crucified and died. No, for that was the plan all along, and no one knew beforehand.

No One Knew

No, and it is the same for all those who place their faith in Jesus. Most people will really never ever totally get you. And some, sadly never will. Not until the Holy Spirit opens their hearts, their eyes and their ears.

Today, as we start a countdown to the event that is the central point of the bible, as has been prophesied and foreshadowed in Scriptures for thousands of years -- the Holiest of Weeks. Let us remember, everything has been planned out since the beginning of time. But not everyone will come to this realization and not at the same time or the same rate. When the time is ready for them, they too will understand, not totally but just enough to keep them hungry and seeking for more. And do not worry, like God's chosen people of old, the Lord will drop fresh manna (and fresh meat) -- fresh revelation, for all of us, each and everyday, enough for today and new again for tomorrow.


Next: Palm Sunday

The Gospel

Today I am reminded of the reason why I have come to "believe" in the Gospel as written in the bible and preached by people who really aren't that much different than you and me. And this can be summed up in these two verses from the New Testament.

Matthew who wrote one of the gospels recorded that Jesus of Nazareth said in one of his teachings:

"By their fruit you will recognize them." as he recorded the first public teachings of Jesus (Matthew Chapter 7).

Back in 1999, for one reason or another, I went to a Mid-week worship service in a small Christian (Non-denominational) church where a young pastor was teaching God's Word from the bible.

Back then, I didn't even know what a Midweek Service is, much less a Worship Service. Until that time, all I know or is well familiar with is the Liturgical Service or the Liturgical Mass.

But in that one service, everything I know about the bible, or the God of the bible all came together. Before that I had so many questions about God, and faith and everything spiritual or the unseen.

Today I still have a lot of questions but that night, some of them have been given answers. It was as if I finally saw a glimpse of the picture in a puzzle that I have been putting together which until today I am still putting together.

The second verse was written by Paul in his letter recorded in Galatians Chapter 5:

"... the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."

So I guess it is obvious to many that we have seen, we have heard many teachers of the Word of God before. But have you ever noticed their "fruits"? I mean have we

contemplated on how they go about their daily living?

Do they have love for other ? Do they have inner peace? Do they have patience?

Do they have kindness, goodness, faithfulness and gentleness?

And more importantly, do they have self-control?

When I saw all that on people, not much different than me, that year back in 1999, many many years ago, withnessing it since I came back to that little church almost daily for a few years since that faithful night... I guess Matthew 7:16 (by their fruit you will know them) just came totally alive, tangible and all too real to me.

If sinners (like you and me) can be changed by this Gospel or this man we call Jesus, then  maybe, just maybe the God as written in the bible is real too.

And who is to say that that same God is not merely waiting for us to find out for ourselves.

Will you?

Listen to the Gospel according to John here.

Photo credit: Jesus Sits by the Seashore and Preaches, Brooklyn Musuem. Wikimedia Commons