June 10
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BORN AGAIN
Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2 this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus *said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
– John 3:1-8
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In this account of John, we meet Nicodemus who is a ruler of the Jews. It is a fact that the Jews didn’t like to bend rules. They are so legalistic and a stickler to their laws. Interestingly, we hear from this story how Nicodemus pays a visit to Jesus at night. Could it be that he wanted to ensure that no colleagues or any Jews for that matter, sees him going to see Jesus. Most of the religious leaders were beginning to be stirred by Jesus’ teachings, miracles and claims that he is God’s son. Nicodemus even addresses Jesus as “Rabbi” meaning Teacher.
Jesus explain to Nicodemus the importance of being born of water and the Spirit and that it is a requirement to be born again in order to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus explains the difference of natural and spiritual birth to someone who is supposedly a Jewish ruler. The Spirit is not visible, according to Jesus, but His presence can be experienced by the believer.
Isn’t it interesting to see the contrast of what we can do in the natural against what we can do in the Spirit’s work? Only the Spirit of God can make one understand spiritual things. It is not on our own understanding that we are able to gain understanding on spiritual matters. It shows how a learned Jewish leader can miss out a spiritual truth because he isn’t born again yet.
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REFLECTION
• Why is the concept of being born again missed by some Christians?
• When does one become born again?
Monthly Archives: June 2020
ZEAL FOR THE FATHER’S HOUSE ILMA’S VLOG
June 9
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ZEAL FOR THE FATHER’S HOUSE
13 The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. 15 And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; 16 and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “ZEAL FOR YOUR HOUSE WILL CONSUME ME.” 18 The Jews then said to Him, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22 So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken. 23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing. 24 But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, 25 and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.
– John 2:13-25
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It is interesting the Jesus started his public life with the zeal for his father’s house. Just after his first miracle at Cana, the public witnessed his passion for keeping God’s house holy. He was just beginning his public ministry and he was consumed by the desecration of his Father’s temple. This anger at making a marketplace of his father’s house exhibits the divinity of Jesus. Even though he was angry, no one was reported hurt in this manifestation of righteous anger. His zeal for keeping holy his father’s house is amazing. It ignited the religious to keep their eyes on this Jesus who claimed God is his Father. It also became the motive for these insecure hypocrites to plot the death of someone who confronts sin outrightly. Only someone divine can make these people obey him when he showed anger at the desecration of his Father’s house. Do we show the same passion and zeal for keeping God’s temple holy? Do we keep our bodies holy for the Lord? After all, it is our body that the Trinity lives in when we become believers, isn’t it?
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REFLECTION
• How do you manifest a zeal for keeping God’s temple sanctified?
MIRACLE AT CANA ILMA’S VLOG
June 8
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MIRACLE AT CANA
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; 2 and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus *said to Him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus *said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” 6 Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. 7 Jesus *said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He *said to them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So, they took it to him. 9 When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom, 10 and said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.12 After this He went down to Capernaum, He and His mother and His brothers and His disciples; and they stayed there a few days. – John 2:1-12
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During Jesus’ time, weddings typically extended over a period of five to seven days. Usually the entire village gathered for a wedding. Cana was a smaller town than Nazareth so in this account of Jesus’ first miracle, we see that Jesus’ mother, Mary and His disciples were all invited to the wedding. In a small town, almost everyone knows everyone. We hear from this account that Mary seemed to have authority over the servants where the wedding feast was held. It would be a shame to run out of wine so she asked Jesus to solve this problem. When she asked Jesus, he answered with “Woman, my hour has not yet come.” We see here how Jesus puts her in place because this was the start of his public ministry. He works for his Father first and in his timing too. Yet, we see how Jesus responded to the request to do something to save this wedding feast from being the talk of the town if they ran out of wine. It was also the start of the many miracles that will prove that he was the Son of God, the Messiah. This first miracle manifests his glory and begins the many wonders that he will show the world.
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REFLECTION
• Why did Jesus address his mother woman instead of mother in this story?
CAN ANY GOOD THING COME OUT OF NAZARETH? ILMA’S VLOG
June 7
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CAN ANY GOOD THING COME OUT OF NAZARETH?
43 The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.” 50 Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” – John 1:43-51
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Here are some facts that may have led him to think this way. Nazareth lay in the hills twelve miles southwest of the Sea of Galilee: a fertile land. It was small. Steep ravines and ancient terraces on the northern slope confined the oval-shaped settlement. Excavations show just how small it actually was – but every bit of space was used effectively. It was built on porous rock, so as well as the buildings above the surface there were underground cisterns for water, vats for oil, and silos for grain. There was a single, ancient spring for water. It was a conservative town, clinging to traditional Jewish culture in a world that had been radically affected by Greek thought and culture. The people of Nazareth were essentially farmers, Nazareth would have had a population of around two to four hundred in antiquity, so everyone knew everyone else. Could you blame Nathaneal for asking Philip what good can come out of Nazareth? This only shows that before knowing Jesus, people can’t think out of the box. We don’t know the mind of God. Interestingly, God chose his Son to come from a humble family, a small town and yet, he is the King of all kings. As soon as he talked to Jesus, light immediately shone on his dark and blinded mind and saw Jesus in the Spirit. This is what happens when we become exposed to the Light and Life that only comes from Jesus Christ. We begin to see.
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REFLECTION
• What limited thoughts and beliefs are you saved from when you met Christ?
THE FIRST FOLLOWERS OF JESUS ILMA’S VLOG
June 6
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THE FIRST FOLLOWERS OF JESUS
37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 And Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So, they came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter). – John 1: 37-42
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Peter Pan’s original soundtrack begins with “Following the leader, the leader, the leader. We’re following the leader wherever he may go.” These lyrics remind me of this account of the first followers of Jesus during his public life. Prior to this, we see John the Baptist witnessing to the Messiah. According to verse 40, Andrew and Simon who were brothers must have been hearing all the prophecies of John the Baptist. They must have been listening to John about the Messiah who was going to save people from their sins. They must have been waiting for the day of the Savior’s coming. Matthew 4:18 tells us what these brothers did for a living. They were fishermen.
Andrew must have been following John the Baptist for a while before Jesus came. He must have been listening to all John’s preaching about the coming of the promised Messiah and was hopeful that one day, he too will be witness to the salvation promised to his ancestors. As soon as John testified to Jesus, Andrew’s first impulse was to look for his brother Simon and immediately gave him the news that they have found the Messiah. He brought his brother to Jesus and there Jesus changed Simon’s name to Cephas which translates to Peter.
What a privilege it was to be Jesus’ first followers! Wouldn’t you want to be one of those who saw with their own eyes the actual Son of God? As soon as they heard, they immediately believed and followed. Isn’t that what is expected of all those who want to be His disciples? Following the leader, the leader…where ever he may go.
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REFLECTION
• Share an account when you first heard of Jesus and decided to follow him?
• What have you observed with the circumstances surrounding the first disciples?
• How did they come to know about Jesus? What was their first response to it?
TESTIFYING TO THE SON OF GOD ILMA’S VLOG
June 5
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TESTIFYING TO THE SON OF GOD
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ 31 I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.” 32 John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 33 I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.” 35 Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” – John 1:29-36
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Luke 1:57-80 gives an account of the whole story of John, the Baptist, a relative of Jesus. Luke 1:80 says that John, the child became strong in the spirit and lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel. His life centered on waiting for Jesus’ coming. In Matthew 11:11, John was declared as the greatest man who had ever lived.
While John was baptizing by the river, Jesus came and immediately acknowledges Jesus as the Lamb of God, the one who is above and before him. John declares right away as he remembered the revelation given to him by the Holy Spirit. It was revealed to him that he will recognize the Messiah for the Spirit will descend upon him. As he was baptizing others, Jesus came to the river and John witnessed with his own eyes, the Son of God who was promised long ago by prophets before him.
Interestingly, John was born six months before Jesus in the account in Luke 1:39-45 as Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth, John’s mother. Even in his mother’s womb, John leaped as he heard of Jesus’ conception in Mary’s womb. He was the precursor of Jesus and all his life was focused on preparing for the Lamb of God. He acknowledges a Man who ranked higher than himself and who pre-existed him though he was born before him. John declares the divinity of Jesus and his life came about to be the evidence of Jesus coming down as human to save mankind. John was in God’s plan to bring people to repent of their sins and be saved by Jesus.
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REFLECTION
• Have you witnessed Jesus’ divinity in your own life? Did you testify for Christ?
THE VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS ILMA’S VLOG
June 4
________________________________________THE VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS
19 This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he *said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am A VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them saying, “I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know. 27 It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. – John1:19-28 (NASB)
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In this account, we hear the testimony of John the Baptizer, who was being questioned by the priests and Levites from Jerusalem about his identity. Because John had a big following and people came to him to be baptized, the religious leaders started to investigate whether he was a prophet or Elijah. He replied that he was just a messenger preparing the way for the Lord’s coming. So, the Pharisees investigated and probed and questioned him. They were asking why he baptized if he is not Christ, Elijah or a prophet. So, he gave them an answer which prophesied that someone greater than him will come and he isn’t even worthy of his presence.
We clearly see that these revelations to John the Baptizer was clearly from the Holy Spirit. The humility of this man is so evident in this exchange with the Pharisees and the religious leaders. He never claims any credit for anything even though many people think that he is full of wisdom and knowledge and anointing. How many of us believers are this humble to always point to Jesus instead of taking credit for things that we think we have accomplished on our own? Do we witness for Jesus and point to him when we get credited for truth that isn’t ours?
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REFLECTION
• How can we develop humility and the habit of pointing to Jesus always?
• What is so worth emulating in John’s character in this bible passages?
THE WORD MADE FLESH ILMA’S VLOG
June 3
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THE WORD MADE FLESH
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’” 16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. – John 1:14-18 (NASB)
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In this part of chapter one of John’s gospel, He tells us how Jesus became human and lived among us. He announces how he himself was with Christ and was a witness to the fullness of his glory, abounding in grace and truth. He mentions that even though Christ came after him, in every way, Jesus was before him. As John 1:1-2 mentions, Jesus which is the Word already existed, even before creation was made. He acknowledges Jesus’ divinity in verse 15 and focuses on what Christ’s coming to the world did for us. We received the gift of grace upon grace.
Matthew Henry says in his commentary that all fullness dwells in him, from which alone fallen sinners have, and shall receive, by faith, all that renders them wise, strong, holy, useful and happy. Our receivings by Christ are all summed up in this one word, grace, a gift so great, so rich, so invaluable; the good will of God towards us, and the good work of God in us.
Verse 17 mentions that importance of the Law which was given to Moses but grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ. It is when Jesus became flesh that we got a glimpse of God and we are given the Holy Spirit to dwell in us when he died for us on the cross. Jesus was the only way we will be able to come close to the Father and only through him can we be empowered by His own Spirit.
How easy it is for us humans to take credit for anything we are able to accomplish and forget that everything that we have is a gift from God through Jesus Christ. If we don’t believe in Him, we are nothing. We also receive truth when Christ came because by dying on the cross for us, we are given the gift of counsel of God’s truth through the Holy Spirit who lives in the hearts of all believers.
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REFLECTION
• What is the meaning of grace and truth in your life as a Christian?
• How has the world twisted these gifts and made us focus on works of the flesh?
THE WITNESS TO THE LIGHT ILMA’S VLOG
June 2
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THE WITNESS TO THE LIGHT
6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.– John 1:6-13
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John introduces himself in this chapter as a witness to the Light. The Light he refers to here is Jesus as he previously mentioned in John 1:4. The main purpose of the witness to the Light which is John himself so that many will believe in Jesus Christ. John humbly dismisses his importance in verse 8 and points to Jesus. He explains in verse 9 that no man can enlighten another man but only the true Light does. Verse 10 explains how Jesus became human and lived among men, among the world that He created together with his Father and yet humankind does not recognize Him. Verse 11 tells us the irony of being rejected by your own creation. They did not accept Him. Verse 12 is a promise to those who will receive Him- they become God’s children, even to those who believe in His name. In verse 13, we are given the revelation that we didn’t choose him out of our own will but that he chose us. It means that nothing we do is of our own will, but God is the only one who decides which ones belong to Him. He also gives them the Holy Spirit to dwell in their hearts so that they do not do succumb to their natural tendencies but to submit to the will of God.
Do we even get close to witnesses to the Light just like John did? Does our lives manifest evidences of the Light that Jesus shone on this dark world? It is human nature to live in darkness and to follow his natural inclination to selfish ambitions and cravings. John gives us a reminder that if we do not become a witness to Jesus, the world will continue to live in the darkness that it was before Jesus shone his light on sinful mankind. Do we live for ourselves or do we stay faithful to the purpose of our lives which is to shine for Jesus?
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REFLECTION
• How can we be a testament to unbelievers?
• Why is it important to remember that we are just witnesses and not the Light itself? What happens when we forget this?
THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST ILMA’S VLOG
June 1
________________________________________THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. – John 1:1-5 (NASB)
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John’s writing approach is very different from Matthew, Mark and Luke (synoptic gospels-covering the same miracles, parables and events in Jesus’ life) because his gospel emphasizes Jesus’ divinity and identity.
In chapter one, we are given a revelation of the divinity of Jesus Christ from the start. Jesus is called the Word describing that the Word was with God at the start of creation. The Word and Jesus are interchangeable. In Genesis 1, everything was created by God uttering the phrase “Let there be…” and so it did. He just said the word and it was done. In the second verse, we get the revelation that Jesus was with God. Interesting that John revealed that Word was Jesus and God used words to create everything. Verse 3 states that Jesus was the reason why everything came into being and that apart from Christ, nothing becomes anything. Verse 4 reiterates the preceding verse because only in Christ will we have life because he is the light of men. Verse 5 visualizes the light that Jesus brings to this dark world but men do not want to stay in it.
Observe the way John wrote the opening verses of this first chapter. There is not much fanfare and historical background description as the three other gospels were written. John goes straight to how Jesus was already there even before God created everything. He brings us all to the purpose of our creation. Paul says the same thing in Romans 12:36 – For “from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.” It reveals to us the divinity of Jesus. He is supreme over all beings and things and He was the reason for God’s creation. Shouldn’t Jesus be essence of our existence? Could we continue to live without intentionality of bringing Him glory after knowing that everything was created for Him?
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think Jesus was called Word? Why did God use the Word to create?
• Have you intentionally lived your Christian life to bring Jesus glory?