Friend of a Jewish Carpenter.
In the Gospels' account of Jesus' resurrection, it says that he appeared to Mary Magdalene early in the morning (Mk. 16:9-10), to his disciples and to the other women also early in the morning. All these appearances happened on the day of his resurrection. There is no record of the Risen Christ meeting his mother Mary first.
“No one took his life from him; he gave it up in a voluntary, unique act.” Jesus is the willing sacrifice!
A normal practice of the Passover was to slaughter the sacrificial lamb on the afternoon of 14 Nisan and ate it together at sunset of 15 Nisan.
Judas was not actually acting on his own. It was Satan who took charge of the action. Of course we can infer that Judas opened the door to his heart and allowed Satan to come in. Thus, he cannot be exonerated. His action does not render him free from moral responsibility.
These events showed that the conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders was heating up and would eventually lead to his passion and death.
The Cleansing of the Temple displays God's judgment on those who had drifted away from the real purpose of the rituals inside the Temple. Jesus used the lesson of the cursing of the fig tree as an opportunity to build his disciples' faith and encourage them to pray.
The Triumphal Entry was Jesus’ act of proclaiming himself as the Messiah!
Week Five: Responding to Jesus and His works This week’s reflection focuses on our response to the presence of Jesus and his works found in Luke 17:11-19:27 NASB. Luke reminds his readers that Jesus “was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee” (Luke 17:11 NASB). In fact this is the final episode in the travelogue. The next passages talk about Jesus teaching in the Temple inside Jerusalem (Luke 19:45-21:38 NASB).
Week Four: Lost in His Own Home The older brother’s character shows that one does not have to leave his home in order to be lost or be called a prodigal son. A person can be estranged from God even if he is always inside the church. However, everyone is invited to return to God and repent, both the sinners and the clean ones.
Week Three: Contentment and Vigilance "God did not promise us exemption from problems, affliction and trials. It is imperative that we go through these things here on earth as followers of Christ."
Week Two: No Amount of Proof is Sufficient for those Who Choose Not to Believe
Week One: Rethinking Our Concept of Being a Neighbor and Our Treatment of Jesus The Lenten season has started. It is a season of forty days, except Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. Though the season is not formally observed in many Evangelical or nondenominational churches, it is still, the best season to reflect on Jesus’ journey to the Cross. I invite you to reflect with me in this series entitled “On the Way to THE CRUX. Reflections on Jesus’ Journey to the Cross.”
The idea of writing a novel came out when Rizal realized that Filipinos were almost an unknown nation in Europe. In Madrid they mistaken to be Chinese. “Street urchins ran after them shouting ‘Chink! Chink!’ And indeed, half in self-mockery, half in defiance, the Filipinos in Madrid referred to one another as ‘slit-eyed Chinese’” (Leon Ma. Guerrero, The First Filipino).
David's action first and foremost, was in recognition of God’s anointing for Saul as king over Israel.
Martin Luther "Even if I knew tomorrow that the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree."
The rehabilitation of Pasig River, Boracay, and Manila Bay is an example of pagbabalik-loob and pagpapakatao. It is a manifestation of our return to our role as God’s representative (God’s image) to his creation.
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” (Psalm 23:1 NIV)
