Jesus who said “Neither do I condemn you”
John 8:1-11
Jesus went to the Mount of Olives (1). Jesus started to teach at dawn (2).
The scripture does not tell us why Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. In Matthew 8:20, Jesus said, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” We can know he didn’t have a comfortable place for rest. Also, v2 shows that He stayed there overnight. We can guess it was for prayer. The prayer might include the prayer to save the woman in this chapter.
The teachers of the law and Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery (3). And they asked Jesus, “In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” (5).
V6a says that they were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
The motive and intention of people who brought the woman caught in adultery were wrong and they were misusing the Law to trap the Son of God.
If Jesus would ask them to stone her, it would be contradictory to his teaching of love and forgiveness. But if Jesus would ask them not to stone her, it would be contradictory to the Law.
What was the response of Jesus? As shown in v6b, Jesus started to write something on the ground with his finger (6b).
Exodus 31:18 says it was the finger of God that inscribed the covenant law in the tablets of stone that was given to Moses. By writing on the ground with his finger, Jesus showed Jesus Himself was the Lawgiver.
The Law was given to teach us “we are sinners.”(Romans 3:20) All humans are condemned when they stand before the Law.
Here, the scripture didn’t mention what words Jesus wrote on the ground. But we can guess that He might write the names of the sin like as below.
19For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. (Matthew 15:19)
19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. (Galatians 5:19-21a)
What He wrote might make people find themselves guilty.
Then Jesus answers their question. See v7b.
“If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”
Jesus didn’t say “Do not throw a stone at her”, which would be contradictory to the Law.
Instead, Jesus asked them to throw a stone at her with a condition.
The condition is “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”
They thought the Law condemns only this woman but what Jesus said revealed the Law condemns everyone in the scene.
After answering as above, again Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground (8). This 2nd time writing on the ground is relevant to the new stone tablets written by God (Exodus 34:1) which was placed in the ark with the atonement cover over it (Exodus 40:20). This implies that the shed blood of an innocent substitute should come between the law and those it condemned [1].
What is the response of people? See v9a.
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time (9a).
None of them was without sin. Only person without sin is Jesus. Only Jesus can judge her. So they had to leave the judgment to Jesus and walk away from the scene.
‘One at a time’ implies that the Spirit of God reminded each person of his/her sin individually. Each person remembered his/her own sin. Each person dropped the stone he/she was holding. We can know that when we stand before God, we find ourselves sinners and no one can judge others.
Now everyone left the scene and only Jesus was left (9b). Only Jesus is without sin.
What did Jesus ask the woman? See v10b.
“Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
By asking these questions,
- Jesus shamed them [2]. They were guiltier than this woman because they tried to trap the Son of God.
- Jesus encouraged her [2] who might be trembling in fear and shame.
What is the answer of the woman? See v11a.
11“No one, sir,” she said.
The woman recognizes that no one threw a stone at her and no one was left to do so except Jesus.
What did Jesus declare? See v11b.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared.
By saying this, Jesus is saying that even though I am without sin
- I also do not throw the first stone at you (discharge from temporal punishment [2]).
- I do forgive your sins (discharge from eternal punishment [2]).
Here, the only person who can judge her forgives her. Instead of judging her, Jesus decided to pass the penalty she deserved to Himself on the cross. This is a powerful moment of grace that transforms a sinner like her to live a new life – the 2nd chance.
Finally, Jesus gave her the direction. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” (v11c).
The reason Jesus didn’t condemn her was not because the sin could be treated lightly but because Jesus wanted her to repent and live a new life by His grace.
It is easy for us to hide in the group of sinners and to throw stones of judgment to others. But we have to realize that we are sinners same to those toward whom we throw our stones of judgment. Jesus is without sin. But he forgave our sins. He shed his precious blood on the cross to redeem sinners.
“Neither do I condemn you,
go now and leave your life of sin.”
Thank you, Jesus for forgiving us and giving the 2nd chance of new life by your grace to take our place of punishment. Your love touches us deeply at heart. Let us be obedient children of God. Let your name glorified, your kingdom come, and your will be done.
References
[1] Pink, A. W. (1923–1945). Exposition of the Gospel of John (p. 423). Swengel, PA: Bible Truth Depot.
[2] Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (pp. 1965–1966). Peabody: Hendrickson.
Jesus, the Light of the World
John 9:1-12
See v1.
1As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth.
There are many types of handicaps – lame, deaf, blindness, and others. A lame man is miserable because he cannot climb rocky mountains. A deaf man is miserable because they cannot hear birds’ singing. But a blind man is more miserable because he cannot see the wonderful nature God created. Moreover, this blind man Jesus saw was born blind. This means he could never see anything since his birth. So he couldn’t know how his mother looked like. In addition, he was poor. He was a beggar based on v8. See v2.
2His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
Disciples of Jesus asked Him the cause of the misery. They thought the cause was basically ‘sin’. So they asked Jesus whose sin caused the misery. The thought of disciples was based on retribution, which is the typical way of thinking in many cultures in the world. Retribution is embedded in the consciousness of human beings. The point of view based on retribution makes misery a fate. The person with this point of view would think the miserable man is the sinner who deserves the misery and condemn the miserable person. This will make a miserable person even more miserable. But what was the viewpoint of Jesus? See V3.
3“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.
Jesus’s viewpoint on the misery was ‘The glory of God’. Jesus says the misery was not because of sin, but the misery happened for the glory of God. This means when the miserable person overcomes the misery, that person will glorify God by his victory. The more miserable person can give God more glory through his victory over his misery. While retribution is negative, Jesus’s viewpoint is bright and positive.
Do you have any misery in your life? People might condemn you for the misery, but Jesus is different. He says to you that your misery is for the glory of God. Amen.
See v4 & 5.
4As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
Now Jesus explains how the misery can be transformed to the glory to God:
This is how: by doing the work of God who sent Jesus (4a). Jesus says we must do the work of God during the day (4a). Without Jesus, it is night (darkness) and no one can work (4b). Jesus declared that He is the light of the world (4b).
In the other words, we must do the work of God while Jesus is with us in the world. And this will transform the miserable people and it will glorify God. See v6 & 7.
6Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7“Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
Now Jesus performs the transformation: Misery to Glory.
First of all, he mixed his saliva and soil to make mud and then paste it on the man’s eyes.
The mud could make him blinder because mud would block sunlight. The mud could cause discomfort as the blindness did to his life. Therefore mud might mean further difficulty during misery. But this further difficulty was just before the healing. So this calls for patience during the misery. For the further difficulty may mean that healing and the glory of God are near.
Are you facing a difficulty that deepening your misery even though you are in Jesus? If you understand the good purpose of God for you, you will thank them. In such a situation, simply obey the command of Jesus.
Secondly, Jesus commanded him to go and wash in the Pool of Siloam. Jesus let him involved in the healing process. Here, we learn that misery2glory requires our involvement during the process. And the blind man obeyed Jesus and healed.
This blind man accepted further difficulty (mud) given by Jesus. And he had trust in Jesus and was obedient to Him even during blindness. We can learn that Jesus expects us to manage any further difficulty and obey Him during our misery. Be patient and be obedient – until the work of God may be displayed in your life through Jesus. See v8 & 9.
8His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9Some claimed that he was.
Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”
But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”
As a result of obedience, the born blind man opened his eyes. And the result of the obedience surprised others. Now people couldn’t believe their eyes. But he himself insisted that he was the beggar. It is not easy to admit the past. But this man did. It is important to admit the past to glorify God for what you are now. See v10 – 12.
10“How then were your eyes opened?” they demanded.
11He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”
12“Where is this man?” they asked him.
“I don’t know,” he said.
When people asked him how his eyes were opened, he testified what Jesus did for him. We can learn how we should testify what Jesus did for us.
Hallelujah!
Jesus is the light of the world! In Him, our negative and dark mind can become positive and bright, and misery can become a glory to God!
I pray we all experience this transformation in the light of the world, Jesus.
Also, let us transform people’s lives as well as ours by doing the work of God who sent Jesus.
Jesus, the Bread of Life
John 6:25 – 59
Jesus fed the hungry 5 thousand men plus their women and children in John 6:1 – 15. After this miracle, Jesus walked on the water to join his disciple’s boat in John 6:16 – 24.
The crowd discovered Jesus on the other side of the lake and chased after Him (25). They followed Him eagerly because they ate food that filled their physical hunger (26). What did Jesus teach them? See v27.
27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
Jesus explains about ‘work’ in v29.
29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
Note that ‘belief’ here is not mere theological knowledge but something that leads us to obedience.
But the crowd still looked for physical bread (30-31). So Jesus taught them “the bread from heaven, the true bread, the bread of God” that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world (32-33).
So, the crowd requested this bread (34). What is the answer of Jesus? See v35.
35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
In v37 – 40
- It is the Father who enables them to come to Jesus (37, 44, 45b, 65)
- Jesus will never drive them away (37)
- They will have eternal life (40)
- They will be raised up at the last day (39, 40)
v41 – 42 shows that the Jews could not understand the spiritual meaning of what Jesus said. They thought not spiritually but physically. So, Jesus explained to them again in v43-51.
Believing Jesus depends on the Father who draws them (44). God teaches them and all who hear and learn from Him will believe Jesus (45). What does Jesus declares, who is from God and the only one who has seen the Father (46)? See v47.
47 Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.
While we are very keen on bread that gives limited life, believing Jesus brings eternal life. So Jesus calls Himself “the bread of life” (48) and “the living bread” (51a) of heaven and of eternal life (51b). This bread is the flesh of Jesus (‘my flesh’), which represents love & sacrificial giving on the cross to forgive our sins (51c).
The Jews still could not understand the word of Jesus, saying ‘my flesh’ (52). They asked “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” (52b) What is the answer of Jesus? See v53 – 58.
53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”
This time, Jesus included ‘my blood’ as real drink that gives eternal life.
Now we can conclude that what Jesus means is “When we believe in His love & sacrifice on the cross, we will remain in Him and live eternally due to His forgiveness and blessing”. I pray that whenever you read the Holy Bible, you may experience “eating His flesh and drinking His blood” and so be deeply touched by His Love and clothed with the likeness of the Christ.
DISCIPLESHIP: Priority and Provision
Matthew 6:19-34
Seek First His Kingdom and His Righteousness
I. Treasure in heaven (19 – 24)
See v19a. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,” Jesus says the reason at v19b. “where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.” Here, moths are a major agricultural pest, which cause severe damage to forests and fruit farms. Also moths destroy clothing by eating holes in it. Rust is iron oxides, formed by the reaction of iron and oxygen in the presence of water or air moisture, which destroys iron metal. Someone may say gold and silver are treasures that are not destroyed by moth or rust. But thieves may break in and steal such treasures.
Storing treasures on earth gives us great frustration, affliction and anger.
There are exploiters who consume too much time or resource of others. They are like harmful moth. Whatever you build will be getting out-dated because of new trend. Your old skills will be getting out-dated unless you keep update your skill. This is like rust to iron metal. Some people do not respect others’ copy right or IP. They are like thieves.
Have you been frustrated because you try to store up treasures on earth?
Then what does Jesus command us to do? See v20. He asks us to store up our treasures in heaven, where there is no moth, rust or thieves.
See v21. “21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “
It’s obvious that the place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being. So if the heaven is the place you most want to be, store treasures in heaven. If you want to end up in heaven, store treasures in heaven. It’s for you. Your treasures in heaven are safer than on earth. Your work for God is more rewarding than anything you invest in the world.
The lamp of the body (22 – 23)
Jesus says in v22a, “The eye is the lamp of the body.” If your eyes are good, your body has good lamps and is full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your body has bad lamps and is full of darkness. If we have good knowledge in the Bible, we can have good biblical point of view. This will be like light in our lives. If we have poor knowledge in the Bible, we may have incorrect point of view. Some people make other source rather than the Holy Bible as their knowledge base. Many people believe and follow falsehood. Many people believe in the power of money. This is like making darkness as their light. Jesus warns “If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” When they follow false lights, their darkness is great.
Two masters (24)
See v24. Jesus says “No one can serve two masters.”(24a). The reason is “Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” Then, what are the two masters in our lives? Jesus says “You cannot serve both God and Money.” They are God and Money.
Some people think they can manage their lives without recognizing God. So they don’t believe God. To them, money looks practical and first. Their master is money.
Some people believe God but serve money as master. The Pharisees are such examples.
When Jesus said “You cannot serve both God and money.” in Luke 16:13, it is written in Luke 16:14,
“14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.
The Pharisees were religious leaders. But they were devoted to money and despised the son of God, Jesus.
When they loved money, they were against God and they were evil.
Paul says “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.”
See 1 Timothy 6:9,10.
9People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
1 Timothy 6:6-8 teaches us to be content.
6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
Solomon, the king of Wisdom said in Ecclesiastes 5:10-20,
10 Whoever loves money never has money enough;
whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.
This too is meaningless.
11 As goods increase,
so do those who consume them.
And what benefit are they to the owner
except to feast his eyes on them?
12 The sleep of a laborer is sweet,
whether he eats little or much,
but the abundance of a rich man
permits him no sleep.
13 I have seen a grievous evil under the sun:
wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner,
14 or wealth lost through some misfortune,
so that when he has a son
there is nothing left for him.
15 Naked a man comes from his mother’s womb,
and as he comes, so he departs.
He takes nothing from his labor
that he can carry in his hand.
16 This too is a grievous evil:
As a man comes, so he departs,
and what does he gain,
since he toils for the wind?
17 All his days he eats in darkness,
with great frustration, affliction and anger.
18 Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him—for this is his lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God. 20 He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.
I tried to first earn money to serve God. I know nothing wrong with earning money. But when the priority was wrong and money became like master in the life, I experienced great frustration by many things including people who take advantage of others for their own wealth. In difficulty, I recognized that God is wiser than me (1 Corinthians 1:25). When I decided to serve God in highest priority, God gave me stable income & more time for God’s work. Amen. Let us serve God first and money will follow. Our God is good God!
II. Do not worry about life (25 – 34)
See v25a. “…do not worry about your life” and Jesus says the reason at v25b-32.
Jesus showed example of birds that God feeds them even though birds do not sow, reap or store. We are much more valuable than birds. Also he showed example of lilies that God clothes them even though they do not labor or spin. Jesus says God clothes them, which could be here today and tomorrow thrown into the fire, then how much more will he clothes us. Our heavenly Father knows that we need food, drink and clothes.
Food, drink and clothes are our basic needs. So if we don’t have faith on God and worry about them, our priority of life will become ensuring these things. But instead, what does Jesus ask us to do as a first priority? See v33.
33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
This word teaches us priority of our life. What is the highest priority in your life each day? It is “seeking God’s Kingdom and God’s righteousness”. This is the 1st priority among all other things everyday. If you do so, Jesus promises “all these things will be given to you as well.” (33b) This is a promise of God.
While you will experience frustration if you try to store up treasures on earth, you will experience God’s provision if you seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.
When I saw churches continued to help the poor during Global Financial Crisis in 2009, I recognized that God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:25) and I decided to obey God’s Word by faith. I started to read the Bible and pray to God everyday. I entrusted my situation to God, expecting His help. Since then, my situation has been improved. I found Holy Spirit opened the way for me to gospel my neighbors. So, I started to gospel my neighbors. I realized that God takes care of what I need daily – food, house, and finance. When we care for His business, in return, God cares for our business.
Now I know that this happens because he actually promised as shown at v33.
This change on priority came naturally since I put reading the Bible and prayer in the first priority in the morning each day. I read the Bible only for 5 minutes in the beginning.
I pray everyone here today seek first God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness everyday, live on God’s amazing provision everyday and store treasures in heaven everyday!
DISCIPLESHIP: Maximizing the potentials
Luke 19:11-27
In the parable, the master gave his servants ten minas and said to them “Put this money to work until I come back.” (13)
Here ‘the master’ represents ‘Jesus’ and ‘servants’ represent ‘us’ (his believers/followers). ‘Minas’ represent everything God gave us – life, time, talents, money, possessions, wisdom, skills, health, ……
God is the owner of ‘minas’ each of us received
God is the owner of our life, time, talents, money, possessions, wisdom, skills, health, ……
We are not owners but stewards of them. What does God want us to do with them? See v13.
“Put this money to work (13).” Let us pay careful attention to this command.
It is God’s command not to hide, waste or misuse but to make useful use of them
Our life, time, talents, money, possessions, wisdom, skills, health, …… are not there for nothing but for purpose. Hiding, wasting, or misusing them is sin before God. It is our obligation to make useful use of them.
God gave us many things but it is our job to ‘make them work’
When we would put money to work, it is our job to write business plan, buy goods & equipment, advertise and sell.
Also this command implies to make ‘profit’
God gave us potentials. It is our job to develop and use our skills and talents to maximize the potentials.
When the master was made King and came back, two servants who did the job and made profit were richly rewarded (15 – 19).
But another servant hid the mina and didn’t use it at all (20).
Why? See verse 20.
This servant was afraid of the master because he thought that the master was ‘a hard man’. He had ‘fear’ and ‘negative thought’. ‘fear’ paralyses the potential. ‘negative thought’ hinders ‘progress’ and ‘success’.
This servant explains what ‘a hard man’ means by saying “You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.” (21)
He thought what he received from the master was too few to make it work. So he blamed the master saying the above.
To avoid being like this servant,
Thank God for what we have
Let us stop thinking that God gave us too few (money, talents, health, ……). God gave us air to breath and water to drink. God gave us time and space. God gave us free will. Our God is good God. He loves us. Trust God.
Put down fear and negative thought
Be brave and positive to progress and succeed.
And do your job to make it work!
I pray we all may do our job well to maximize our potentials for the glory of God! Amen.
DISCIPLESHIP: Humility
Luke 18:9-14
The Pharisees were religious and political leaders in the society. They were wealthy and respected by people. They were privileged group of people in the society. They were noted for their strict observance of the Law & the elders’ traditions.
Here, the prayer of the Pharisee contained his despise toward sinners. So he thanked God that he was not like them (11). This shows that he was arrogant. In addition, he confessed he fasted twice a week and tithed from all he got (12). But the Law required only an annual fast (Leviticus 16:29) and a tithe was required on certain items, not all items possessed(Deuteronomy 14:22-23). So he was doing more than what God asked. This shows that he was relying on self-righteousness. Also he thought he was righteous and didn’t request forgiveness from God. As a result, he didn’t receive it.
On the other hand, the tax collector was HUMBLE.
Israel was a colony of Roman Empire. Roman Empire employed Jews as Tax collectors and let them collect tax from the Jews. Tax collectors were considered as extortionist because they collected more than what was required, for personal gain. Also they were considered as traitors because they represented Roman Empire despite they were Jews. The Jews wouldn’t very happy about such collection, which made their job very tough.
The tax collector in the parable might had enough of hatred & despise during his tough job. His attitude and prayer in the temple showed how much he was humiliated as a tax collector.
The tax collector expressed his repentance and humility through his attitude and words. He stood far off. He would not even look up to heaven. He beat his breast in anguish over his sins. He called himself a sinner. He pleaded God for mercy. As a result, the tax collector went home justified[1].
Jesus warns against self-righteousness and arrogance but teaches the value of humility.
[1] Psalm 32:1-2
1 Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
2 Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.
[References]
Following reference was used in several part of this message.
http://www.ccel.org/contrib/exec_outlines/pa/pa_33.htm
DISCIPLESHIP: Taking up one’s cross
Luke 9:23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”
Crucifixion was the cruel death penalty sentenced to people who have rebelled against Roman Empire. Jesus was crucified not because of His rebellion against Roman Empire but because of jealousy of people who didn’t believe Him. So it was unjust for Him to be crucified. But Jesus has voluntarily taken up His cross in order to obey God’s will for Him to pay for our sin and save us.
Based on His motive of taking up the cross, the cross represents ‘sacrifice’, ‘Love (Agape)’ and ‘obedience to the Father’. Based on His purpose of taking up the cross, the cross represents ‘forgiveness’, and ‘reconciliation’. Based on the result of taking up the cross, the cross represents ‘shame’, ‘pain’, ‘humiliation’ as well as ‘God’s wisdom and glory’ revealed through it.
In Luke 9:23, Jesus asks to take up our cross daily and follow Him.
So, I would say ‘taking up the cross’ means …
Living sacrificial life, obeying God, practicing unconditional love and forgiveness, bearing shame, pain and humiliation for the mission God entrusted us to do, trusting God whose wisdom and glory will be revealed through our obedience.
Above description of the cross may sound familiar but it may take each individual certain amount of time in order to understand deeply enough. No worries. God will help you in your life journey.
As for Uni students, they are very busy on their study courses. So if they can make commitment to regular bible study 1 hour per week as well as managing their course works well, it would be ‘taking up their cross’ to follow Jesus.
God’s Word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
I became a born-again Christian through the faith of my relative sister when I was 18-year old. She told me that Psalm 119 was her favourite chapter in the Holy Bible. I call her my spiritual mother.
My spiritual mother was a Sunday school teacher to take care of children in a small local church. I didn’t have anyone among family members and relatives who guided me biblically for the 1st 18 years of my life. This means that I was in spiritual darkness for a long time. So, I understand how important to have a spiritual parent in childhood and young adulthood. After being born again, I continued to study the Holy Bible for many years.
While driving from Parramatta toward the Blue Mountains via Great Western Highway for half-an-hour at night, there are some parts of the highway with no street light. So, it is impossible to drive without headlight in those parts of the highway. In those places, I find myself in total darkness and realize how important a lamp for my wheel and a light on my path are. Sometimes, I have to turn on high beam to see as far as possible.
Without God’s Word, we are in spiritual darkness. In darkness, how important a lamp for our feet and a light on our path are!
The Holy Bible is written Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16, 17). I can’t imagine living without God’s Word. There is no exception for this importance in student life in universities. Without God’s Word, students are in spiritual darkness as a matter of fact. Even for Christians who have studied the whole Holy Bible, regular bible reading is important to remind themselves of what are written in the Holy Bible. Regular bible study will help you to have a lamp for the feet, a light on the path.
One of easy-to-read books in the Holy Bible, I think, for young people is Proverbs (http://www.biblica.com/en-us/bible/online-bible/niv/proverbs/1/).
The Holy Bible can be downloaded to your smartphone. I find “The Bible” application is good and it can be downloaded by searching “YouVersion” in Google Play.
I pray our weekly post in our website, daily text message to your mobile, meetings and events may help your spiritual growth and Psalm 119:105 may become your confession.
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
Amen
Young man, I say to you, get up!
Luke 7:11-17
The parade of Jesus met the parade of a dead person. It was an encounter between the life and the death.
Who was this dead person? He was the only son of a widow.
Widow means a woman whose spouse has died. A widow is sad, lonely and helpless. The Holy Bible teaches us to take care of the alien, the fatherless and the widow[1].
This widow had one and only son. This son was her only hope in her life. But she lost him at his young age. This was the heart-breaking and unbearably sad situation. This son is supposed to grow up, get a job, marry with a right person, live happily and take care of his mother. Nothing could replace this son. When she lost her son, she lost the whole world. She lost what she should not.
Jesus comforted her by saying “Don’t cry” (13b).
Jesus sympathises our weaknesses[2]. He takes our hunger, thirst, loneliness, poverty, sickness, and misery as His own[3]. Jesus initiated the following miracle because He sympathised the situation.
Jesus touched the coffin and the parade stopped. Jesus said “Young man, I say to you, get up!” (14b)
At His Word, what happened to the dead man? See v15a.
The dead man sat up and began to talk (15a)
At his Word, the dead man was raised. As shown in Mark 4:39, when Jesus said to the wind and the waves, “Quiet! Be Still!”, they obeyed[4]. Jesus is son of God, and God almighty created the heavens and the earth by his Word (Genesis 1). Jesus is God[5]. The Word spoken by Jesus was of God almighty.
Jesus gave him back to his mother (15b). Here, I want to pay attention to the word ‘gave back’. This word teaches us the sovereignty of Jesus. When this widow lost her son, it was final in human eyes. But in Jesus, God almighty, it is not. There is no fate in Jesus. Never ask a fortune-teller about the future. Believe God and create the brightest future.
Through Jesus, the parade of the death, sorrow and anxiety turned into the parade of life, joy and praise (16-17).
What is your current situation that Jesus sympathises?
Have you ever disappointed someone or your family member who you are important to?
Are you powerlessly lying in coffin of any failure?
I pray that you may be wakened up at the command of Jesus:
“Young man, I say to you, get up!” (14b)
[1] Isaiah 1:17b Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.
Hebrews 13:2 (NASB) Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.
James 1:27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Exodus 22:22 Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan.
Jeremiah 7:6-7 6 if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, 7 then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your forefathers for ever and ever.
[2] Hebrew 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.
[3] Matthew 25:34 – 45 34“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
41“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
[4] Mark 4:39 39He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
[5] Colossians 1:15 – 16 15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
