September 7
________________________________________JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD
Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” 3 So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. 4 The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; 5 and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. 6 And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 10 So the disciples went away again to their own homes. – John 20:1-10
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When Mary Magdalene came to visit the tomb of her Master on that first day of the week after Jesus was crucified, she was shocked to find that the stone had already been taken away from the tomb. The Gospel of John and archaeology support the interpretation that the tomb of Jesus would have been sealed with a cork-shaped blocking stone. In Mark 16:4 it says that “the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.” Even a passage in the apocryphal Gospel of Peter states that Pilate sent Petronius the Centurion with soldiers and they rolled there a great stone and laid it against the entrance to the sepulcher. Naturally, when Mary saw that the stones have been moved, she assumed that the soldiers have taken Jesus’ body away. So, she ran to the disciples to announce what she saw and they didn’t believe her. They had to see for themselves so they ran to the tomb to check whether Mary was right. When they saw the linen wrappings all empty, they finally believed. It is interesting to see from this account that the disciples and Mary forgot what Jesus told them about Him rising from the dead. Their limited minds didn’t fathom what Jesus has foretold before He was crucified. We also often times forget the promises and words of Jesus to us through Scriptures.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think the disciples didn’t believe Mary’s report of Jesus’ body missing?
• Why did they have to see with their own eyes that Jesus’ body wasn’t there?
Tag Archives: Christian devotional
SECRET DISCIPLES OF JESUS ILMA’S VLOG
September 6
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SECRET DISCIPLES OF JESUS
38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body. 39 Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. – John 19:38-42
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When Jesus died, there were some secret disciples that came out from hiding. The gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are referred to as the synoptic Gospels because they include many of the same stories, often in a similar sequence and in similar or sometimes identical wording. They stand in contrast to John, whose content is largely distinct. The Sanhedrin was the supreme religious body in Israel during the time of the Holy Temple. There were also smaller religious Sanhedrins in every town in Israel From the Synoptics we learn that Joseph was a wealthy member of the Sanhedrin who was looking for the coming of the kingdom and who didn’t approve of the Sanhedrin’s condemnation of Jesus. Nicodemus, who is not mentioned in the Synoptics, was also a member of the Sanhedrin (Jn 3:1) and, presumably, was wealthy, given the amount of spice he provides for Jesus’ burial (v. 39). In any case, these are both men of power, privilege and wealth. It is ironic that these two men come out of hiding and clearly associate themselves with Jesus at his death, since they would have thought his movement had come to an end. According to some accounts of the dating (see comment on 18:28; 19:14), this means they would miss the Passover itself, in which case Christ has replaced the Passover for them in keeping with John’s focus on Jesus as the Lamb of God and the fulfillment of the Jewish feasts in general.
What took the death of Jesus for these half-hearted believers to stand up for Jesus? Some Christians have a lukewarm faith and I would say that these two were such. They probably realized in the end that all the Scriptures were fulfilled in Jesus, thus they believed.
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REFLECTION
• Why do some believers hide their faith just like these two secret disciples?
SCRIPTURES FULFILLED ILMA’S VLOG
September 5
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SCRIPTURES FULFILLED
31 Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who was crucified with Him; 33 but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. 36 For these things came to pass to fulfill the Scripture, “NOT A BONE OF HIM SHALL BE BROKEN.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “THEY SHALL LOOK ON HIM WHOM THEY PIERCED.” – John 19:31-37
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In this gospel account of John, we witness the fulfillment of two Scripture verses, “Not a bone of Him shall be broken” and also “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.” What is the significance of these verses in relation to God’s plan of salvation?
Exodus 12:46 says that “It is to be eaten in a single house; you are not to bring forth any of the flesh outside of the house, nor are you to break any bone of it.”- This verse was a part of the instruction regarding the Passover lamb. This was the way the Lord set apart the Jews from the rest so that they can be saved and delivered from the enemies. The lamb was the sacrificial offering that will make the angels of the Lord recognize that they are the chosen people. John 1:29 gives us the testimony of John the Baptist regarding Jesus. When he saw Jesus coming to Him he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! The Old testament scripture refers to the lamb sacrificed to distinguish the chosen people, in the New testament, the word of God points to Jesus, who is the lamb of God who was sent to us to atone for our sins. In Psalm 34:20 David’s declaration of one of God’s promises is that He keeps all his righteous people’s bones intact. Not one of them is broken. Zechariah 12:10 says “I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn. Scripture fulfilled in Jesus’ death so that all may believe in God.
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REFLECTION
• How do these Scriptures fulfillment affect a believer’s life?
IT IS FINISHED! ILMA’S VLOG
September 4
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IT IS FINISHED!
23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece. 24 So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be”; this was to fulfill the Scripture: “THEY DIVIDED MY OUTER GARMENTS AMONG THEM, AND FOR MY CLOTHING THEY CAST LOTS.” 25 Therefore the soldiers did these things. But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour the disciple took her into his own household.28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. 30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
– John 19:23-30
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In this gospel account, we witness the fulfillment of the prophecies that was spoken about in Scripture long ago before Jesus was born. The garments of the Lord will be divided through casting lots. These soldiers had no idea that they were players in the whole scheme of God’s plan: to bring the only Son to die on the cross to save mankind. There had to be people who will bring about such wickedness to fulfill the victory of righteousness.
What a loving trait Jesus portrayed in this final work of salvation. He was still thinking of His mother and ensured that his beloved disciple John took care of her now that he was gone. In those times, widows are the most helpless since no one is going to look after them. Mary’s husband Joseph must have passed on a long time ago because we hear how Jesus was responsible for her needs to be met. He passed on that responsibility to look after Mary to his most beloved disciple, John. Who else can He rely on but the one who loved Him so? This scene was the final end to Jesus’ humanity and also the completion of the work of salvation that He was doing for His Father.
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REFLECTION
• Why is completing a work for the Lord important in a Christian’s life?
VERDICT OF CRUCIFIXION ILMA’S VLOG
September 3
________________________________________VERDICT OF CRUCIFIXION
13 Therefore when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold, your King!” 15 So they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”16 So he then handed Him over to them to be crucified. 17 They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. 18 There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between. 19 Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written, “JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 20 Therefore many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin and in Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews’; but that He said, ‘I am King of the Jews.’” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” – John 19:13-22
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In this account, we get another glimpse of the power-hungry Jews who wanted Jesus crucified. All the characters in this scene played a huge part in the judgement given to kill Jesus. They had no idea that it was all in God’s plan to use them so that the promise of God to bring a savior will be fulfilled. No amount of persuasion will change the minds of the Pharisees and all the other Jewish leaders. They were exposed with their hypocrisy by Jesus himself. They had to stop this person who they thought was claiming to be the Son of God, without wanting to accept the fact that He was really who he said He was. In verse 21, these Jews manifest the manipulation and control that we so often experience with people who are evil and wicked. They wanted to correct what Pilate ordered to inscribe on the cross from the “King of the Jews” to adding the point that it was Jesus’ claim. It manifests their legalism and cruelty. They had to retaliate towards someone who exposed their falseness. They needed to save their reputation and anyone who messes with their law-abiding principle will pay for it.
What a shame it is when we become so legalistic and resort to protecting our reputation even though we know that we are fraudulent and great pretenders!
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REFLECTION
• Do we have a right to protect ourselves to those who attack us? Why or why not?
THE TORMENTORS OF JESUS ILMA’S VLOG
September 2
________________________________________THE TORMENTORS OF JESUS
Pilate then took Jesus and scourged Him. 2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him; 3 and they began to come up to Him and say, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and to give Him slaps in the face. 4 Pilate came out again and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you so that you may know that I find no guilt in Him.” 5 Jesus then came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold, the Man!” 6 So when the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out saying, “Crucify, crucify!” Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him.” 7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God.” 8 Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid; 9 and he entered into the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?” 11 Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” 12 As a result of this Pilate made efforts to release Him, but the Jews cried out saying, “If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar.” – John 19:1-12
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In this gospel account of John, the main characters are those who dirtied their hands in contributing to Jesus’ crucifixion. The soldiers also did their part in tormenting the Lord as they scourged Jesus, put on Him a crown of thorns. They gave Him a purple robe so that they can ridicule Him and make fun of Him claiming to be king. Another character in this story is Pilate, who had no backbone to really prevent Jesus’ crucifixion because of the threat of the Jews. When he reminded Jesus that it was in his hands that his life is dependent on. Jesus answered Pilate in truth and corrected him with regards to who is the only one who has the authority over Him. He reminded Pilate that the only reason why he has authority is because God has given him such and told him that those who brought this all about are the ones who are really the sinners. Pilate must have been touched in his heart because in verse 12, it says that he made all the efforts to release Jesus. He had no idea that he had a role to play in the big plan of man’s salvation.
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REFLECTION
• How can we become a tormentor of the Lord in our lives now?
KING OF THE JEWS ILMA’S VLOG
September 1
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KING OF THE JEWS
33 Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?” 35 Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” 37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” 38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him. 39 But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release for you the King of the Jews?” 40 So they cried out again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a robber. – John 18:33-40
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In this account of John’s gospel, we hear the conversation between Jesus and Pilate. When Pilate asked Jesus if he was king of the Jews, Jesus asked him if he was speaking on his own. We hear at the start that Pilate is a man who do not want to be caught politically incorrect. When Pilate asked Jesus what He had done, the Lord gave him a more complete answer, but it was an answer that only those in the Spirit will comprehend. We hear Jesus only speak the truth and never beat around the bush. Interestingly, Pilate asked Jesus what is truth in verse 38. That gives us a glimpse of his ignorance to the truth. The ensuring verses further gives us a clearer character sketch of this person. He was a very careful man, ensuring that he doesn’t make a mistake or get blamed for a wrong verdict that he will give to Jesus. So, he washes his hands from this responsibility and find a way to release Jesus. He baited the Jewish leaders with Barabbas, who was a real criminal.
We can reflect on the cowardice and lack of accountability of Pilate in this story. Don’t we also have a tendency to wash our hands of any decision that may put us in trouble? We like to ensure that we are protected and free from being blamed. Despite the truth that is presented right in front of us, we still do not do the righteous and true action.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important for believers to be in truth and stand up for it?
MORE DENIALS BY PETER ILMA’S VLOG
August 31
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MORE DENIALS BY PETER
25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it, and said, “I am not.” 26 One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” 27 Peter then denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.28 Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. 29 Therefore Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?” 30 They answered and said to him, “If this Man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him to you.” 31 So Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law.” The Jews said to him, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death,” 32 to fulfill the word of Jesus which He spoke, signifying by what kind of death He was about to die. – John 18:25-32
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This account is the beginning of Jesus’ presentation to Pilate. What was interesting in this story is how Simon Peter kept on following where they were bringing Jesus. He didn’t want to take his eyes off his Master and yet, as soon as he is being questioned about his identity, he denied two more times his association with the Lord. Aside from the truth that Jesus prophesied about Peter denying Him three times, what must have led him to do so? Let us take a look why Peter actually resorted to two more occasions of denying the Master whom he used to boast about: that He will always be loyal and follow Him. I surmise that he kept on following Jesus, curious how Jesus was going to handle the process of crucifixion. He probably is wondering how his Master could just let Jesus allow all these suffering He is going through to happen. He may have been wishing that Jesus prove all these people that He is God after all. He didn’t understand the concept that God’s will have to be done and even the Son of God had no desire to change it.
The moment Peter was recognized by someone who was in the group of soldiers who arrested Jesus in the garden, he feared for his life. He didn’t want end up like Jesus, unable to help Himself and die on the cross. He resorted to self-protect. We all do it: we automatically preserve our own lives for our own sake. We deny the Lord when we do not stand up for truth or when we do not totally become his slaves. When we cater to our own interest, we forget that we are supposed to sacrifice our own lives for him.
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REFLECTION
• Despite Peter’s denials, why was he still chosen by God to build His chu
JESUS’ ARREST & PETER’S FIRST DENIAL ILMA’S VLOG
August 30
________________________________________JESUS’ ARREST & PETER’S FIRST DENIAL
12 So the Roman cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him, 13 and led Him to Annas first; for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people.15 Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest, 16 but Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in. 17 Then the slave-girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” 18 Now the slaves and the officers were standing there, having made a charcoal fire, for it was cold and they were warming themselves; and Peter was also with them, standing and warming himself.19 The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret. 21 Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said.” 22 When He had said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, “Is that the way You answer the high priest?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?” 24 So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. – John 18:12-24
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In this account, the saga of the suffering of Jesus begins. He was arrested by the Roman officers to be presented to Annas who was the father in law of Caiaphas, the high priest. Peter, followed them and was watching what they were going to do to his Master. Jesus was interrogated about his disciples and what He had been teaching them. When Peter was recognized by a slave girl of the high priest, he automatically denied that He was with Jesus. What an interesting way to show his loyalty to Jesus! Self-protection is second nature to us all when we feel threatened. But it is not Jesus’ requirement for his followers. We see how God loves his disciples so much and how he understands their fears and struggles. It is in this scene that soldier first struck Jesus when He answered his question.
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REFLECTION
• Why do we automatically protect ourselves and deny the Lord at times?
SANCTIFIED BY TRUTH ILMA’S VLOG
August 27
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SANCTIFIED BY TRUTH
13 But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. 20 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. – John 17:13-21
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This account is still a part of Jesus’ prayer to the heavenly Father for the sake of His disciples. He was concerned for them because He knows that they will still be in the world while He is joining His Father soon. He pleads His Father to keep His disciple holy because they will be surrounded by corruption and evil. As He asks His Father, we hear much affection in His words in verses 14-19. He intimately knows his disciples very well and recognizes their challenges if He goes to join His Father. What a wonderful thing to know that every need of these disciples will be met! Jesus knows their suffering and how they will be marinated in persecution, evil and attacks. This is why He was interceding for them so that His Father can sanctify them in truth. In verse 20, Jesus wants the disciples to be protected by the truth which comes only from God’s word. He wants to ensures that they are kept pure by Scriptures. The aim for such sanctity is so that they will be united with the Father and Himself as well.
Jesus mentions also that this is not only the case for His disciples, but also for anyone who believes in Him through Scriptures.
The main reason why all believers need to be sanctified is because they will be witnesses for the Father and the Son. It will bring glory to them both. It will lead others to believe and want to know Jesus and the Father more.
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REFLECTION
• Why do we need to be sanctified when we become followers of Jesus?
• What happens when Christians do not keep pure for the Lord?
• Why is it important to worship the Lord in truth?