July 5
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TRUE FOOD AND DRINK
52 Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. 54 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me. 58 This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever.”59 These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.
– John 6:52-59
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Once again, in this account, we get a glimpse of the unbelief and blindness of the Jewish leaders who claim to be knowledgeable about the laws and doctrines of their religion. Despite Jesus’ revelation of Him, being the bread of life earlier, they still grumbled and expose their narrow minds and continued unbelief. They take the statements of Jesus superficially and literally. Their hearts are not involved when they hear the truths because they are so concerned with self-protection. They wanted to ensure the people’s esteem and honor are on them and not on anyone else. They couldn’t bear the thought that what Jesus was saying was true and they are wrong. No matter how much Jesus explained to them about the requirement to have eternal life, they still couldn’t understand it.
Jesus declares that life forevermore is only through partaking of His body and blood and those who do so, gets to know Him deeper. He explains that it is only by doing so can we claim that we abide in Him and He in us. His flesh is the true food and His blood is the true drink that leads to life everlasting.
Do we partake of the true food and drink that only comes from Jesus’ sacrifice of his body and blood? So, often, we fail to partake of Christ’s body and blood which draws us away from being intimate with Him. We fail to get close to Him, so that we can remain intimate with Him. We lose life when we forget to abide and commune with Him. The world has corrupted and distracted our main purpose in life: to be united with Jesus and thus glorify the Father. We become so immersed in living isolated from Him and we begin to build walls to protect our own images and agendas.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important to feed on the true food and consume the true drink?
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GRUMBLING AND UNBELIEF ILMA’S VLOG
July 4
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GRUMBLING AND UNBELIEF
41 Therefore the Jews were grumbling about Him, because He said, “I am the bread that came down out of heaven.” 42 They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now say, ‘I have come down out of heaven’?” 43 Jesus answered and said to them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father. 47 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.” – John 6:41-51
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In this part of the story, we witness once again the inability of the Jewish leaders to comprehend what Jesus was saying. Because they studied for so long to understand the laws and history of their forefathers, they cannot believe anything Jesus said. It is ironic that they spent many years of studies so they can maintain their prestige and honor yet they fail to understand truth that Jesus reveals to them. They knew that Jesus was a carpenter’s son who didn’t have the education and accomplishments and prestige that they have. It is beyond their understanding to accept what Jesus had been saying to them. They were stuck in the narrowness of their thinking because their minds are only focused on power, law and to get the respect from others. Jesus didn’t think or act like them. He thinks out of the box. They couldn’t accept someone who didn’t have accomplishments because they have worked so hard to get where they were. Their legalistic thinking and prejudices made them fail to see truth. Isn’t legalism the reason why we fail to get revelations? Their minds and hearts were all hardened because they clung to control and power. In verse 44, Jesus kept telling them that only God chooses whom to give such wisdom. He had been telling them all along that He is the Son of God, but they are blind to see it.
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REFLECTION
• Share an experience that shows legalism can hinder one from knowing truth?
THE BREAD OF LIFE ILMA’S VLOG
July 3
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THE BREAD OF LIFE
30 So they said to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘HE GAVE THEM BREAD OUT OF HEAVEN TO EAT.’” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” 34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.” 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”– John 6:30-40
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In this revelation of Jesus, he corrects the belief of the people that it was Moses who gave them the bread out of heaven and told Jesus the story of their fathers who ate the manna in the wilderness. In verse 32, Jesus reveals to them that it is His own Father who gives the true bread out of heaven and not Moses. He himself is the bread of life. In verse 36-38, Jesus reminds them that despite all the signs he made for them to believe, they still didn’t believe. Christ reveals the will of the Father in verse 39-40, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life and will be resurrected by Him on the last day.
It is interesting how Jesus spoke the truth to all these people who wanted to have the bread of life so dearly and yet fail to understand what Jesus was actually revealing to them. Don’t most of us fail to get the meaning of the truth presented to us? Sometimes, we don’t understand things because we allow the worldly things to hinder us from those teaching moments that Jesus gives us. We do not see the spiritual side. We fail to understand spiritual things unless we believe that Jesus is the only One who can actually reveal truth and make us understand it as well. It is a divine work, not human.
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REFLECTION
• How can believers constantly feed on the bread of life?
EVERLASTING NOURISHMENT ILMA’S VLOG
July 2
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EVERLASTING NOURISHMENT
22 The next day the crowd that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other small boat there, except one, and that Jesus had not entered with His disciples into the boat, but that His disciples had gone away alone. 23 There came other small boats from Tiberias near to the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they themselves got into the small boats, and came to Capernaum seeking Jesus. 25 When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?” 26 Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.” 28 Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”– John 6:22-29
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There were five thousand men and probably women and children as well, who were fed by Jesus during the multiplication of bread. It must have been hard to get some quiet time to spend with his Father in seclusion from everyone else. The crowd wouldn’t stop following and looking for Jesus because they want more signs and wonders. What was really in their hearts? Was it because they wanted eternal life or they just wanted to be fed again? In verse 26, Jesus reveals their hearts. They didn’t seek Him because of the wonders and signs that he was doing. Jesus exposes their motives for going after Him; the need to get more nourishment. He warned them and told them not to be concerned only with earthly matters, but to care more for what is important: to feed their spirits with foods that do not perish. Once again, Jesus reveals His divinity in verse 27. He told them that He is the source of such food and if they believe in Him, they will have everlasting nourishment. He reveals God’s will to them which comes from doing the works that God wants them to do; to grow their faith in Him.
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REFLECTION
• What kinds of food lead to everlasting nourishment?
July 1
________________________________________JESUS WALKS ON WATER
15 So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone.16 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 17 and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea began to be stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. 19 Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were frightened. 20 But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 So they were willing to receive Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going. – John 6:15-21
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In this account of John, we hear and get a deeper understanding of how Jesus is. In verse 16, we see his omniscience, knowing already what people were going to do after feeding over the five thousand men plus women and children. We see how He values time to withdraw from the crowd and be by Himself alone. Do we do this as followers of Jesus? Do we come out of the world and spend time alone with the Father. I am sure, Jesus wanted to have time with His heavenly Father and be renewed. After all, he was in a human form. A lot of people don’t even know how to be still and recharge after a long day of work. We don’t prepare ourselves to change our busy lives and learn to rest in the Lord.
The next scene was night. The disciples got into the boat to cross the sea to Capernaum. The wind began blowing and getting stronger. Four miles later, they saw Jesus walking on water but they didn’t recognize who it was so they were afraid. Isn’t this very true of us as well, we get fearful when we do not recognize what we are seeing? Why do you think Jesus showed them that He was walking on water? What was the lesson he was teaching him here?
In verse 20, we also see another angle of Jesus’ assurance of his love, he made sure that they knew who he was. So, they calmed down and let him into the boat and another miracle happened, they reached the boat faster than they could have gotten there. They witness miracle after miracle this day and yet, they didn’t see it at that time. There are times that a blessing or a favor was given to us and sometimes we fail to praise the Lord.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important to be still and recharge as Jesus did here in this account?
MULTIPLICATION MIRACLE ILMA’S VLOG
June 30
________________________________________MULTIPLICATION MIRACLE
After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias). 2 A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat down with His disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near. 5 Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?” 6 This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do. 7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.” 8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So, the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise, also of the fish as much as they wanted. 12 When they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing will be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14 Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”– John 6:1-14
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In this wonderful miracle that Jesus did to a massive number of people, we become witnesses to God’s power and provision. We see how Jesus tested his disciples what to do and how to solve the problem of feeding the multitude of people who had been following Jesus for a miracle in their lives. Philip laid the financial side of the problem while Andrew couldn’t fathom how five barley loaves and two fish can suffice for the many hungry mouths. There were five thousand men but I am sure, there were also women that came along with these men, so let’s presume that we double or triple the size. It must have been ten to twenty thousand people present to witness and be recipients of Jesus multiplication of two fishes and five barley loaves. This is massive and probably one of the miracles that many were witnesses and recipients of the bread and fish. This greatly shows Jesus’ divinity and provision.
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REFLECTION
• How can some people miss the miracles of Jesus even though they are recipients?
YOU DO NOT HAVE THE LOVE OF GOD IN YOU ILMA’S VLOG
________________________________________YOU DO NOT HAVE THE LOVE OF GOD IN YOU
39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; 40 and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. 41 I do not receive glory from men; 42 but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. 43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”
– John 5:39-47
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In this account of John, we hear Jesus reveals the heart of the Jews. He exposes the condition of their hearts. In verse 39 he narrates how they have searched to gain eternal life in Scriptures but don’t believe Him who is the actual subject of the whole Scriptures. In verse 40, Jesus identifies the reason why they continue to live in darkness. In verse 41, Jesus separates himself from the nature of humans, he is not concerned about what they say about Him and in verse 42, He gets to the reason why they haven’t accepted Him; they do not have the love of God in them. This explains the reason why their hearts are hardened and they cannot see revelations that He had been speaking to them. In verse 43-44, Jesus further expounds on the reason why they keep on rejecting Him even though He claims that He is sent by the Father; they are only after getting credit for what they do instead of bringing glory from the One true God. Jesus gives a true sketch of their character; they are only concerned with power and accolades for themselves so they can be looked up to by others. They do things for showing off humbling themselves and loving God and others. They idolize themselves too much for them to believe God. This was a warning to all those who have unbelief. One of the reasons why we may not be able to get revelations is because we are so busy prioritizing our own selfish nature. We are so concerned with our own achievements and reputation that we fail to bring glory to the only One who deserves it all, God himself. 2 Corinthians 4:4 reiterates the same thing Jesus was talking about where the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers who fail to see the true image of God.
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REFLECTION
• Who are those people who do not have the love of God in themselves?
DIVINE TESTIMONY ILMA’S VLOG
June 28
________________________________________DIVINE TESTIMONY
36 But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works that I do—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.37 And the Father who sent Me, He has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form. 38 You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent.– John 5:36-38
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In these very words of Jesus, we become witness to the superiority of Divine testimony against any human testament. Jesus talks about how much greater his own testimony is which is manifested in obeying the work that the Father wanted Him to finish. Verse 36 reveals to us that the actual work Christ is doing for the Father who sent him is in itself the proof that He is the Son of God, sent to save mankind. Both the Son of God is a divine testimony to humankind to witness and God the Father also gives his own endorsement of his witness to His Son’s obedience and completing His work. Verse 38 warns us that unless we believe in the Son of God, His word will not live in you. The faith is a pre-requisite for us to have revelations from God’s word. Without believing in Jesus Christ, we will not be able to live the truth that comes from the word of God. It is when we accept Christ as our Lord and Master that we receive the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Only then can the Spirit of God live inside us and empower us with the truth from Scriptures.
Studying the word of God without believing in Jesus Christ does nothing for the reader who may just be curious about what they can get from it. Although it may pierce the reader’s heart as they read, it is a divine choice that makes them accept Jesus as their Savior. John 15:16 says “you did not choose me but I chose you and appointed you.” When we get invited to his kingdom, he also gives us the ability to receive it. Nothing is from our own choice. The only choice we have is if we accepted him, we must choose to follow and obey Him and give up our lives for Him. When we live holy lives for Jesus, we become a testimony for Him and we will surely get a testament from the Father Himself for doing so. Wouldn’t you want to hear how God will give a testimony of how you have stayed loyal in fulfilling his requirements to receive eternal life? Faith is essential in getting revelations from the Holy Spirit himself. It is like we get downloaded with all the truths that once was kept from us when we were still living a life without Jesus.
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REFLECTION
• Why should a believer not be so concerned about what other people say about them? Why should they be more concerned about Divine testimony?
TWO RESURRECTIONS ILMA’S VLOG
June 26
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TWO RESURRECTIONS
24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. 25 Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; 27 and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, 29 and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.– John 5:24-29
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In this account, we hear Jesus continue to reveal what God has in store for those who hears His word and believes Him who has sent Him. He talks about two resurrections in this exposition to the Jewish leaders who have been constantly hounding him when He healed a man on a Sabbath day. He emphasizes the importance of believing the Father who has sent Him so mankind will have eternal life. In verse 25, He explains that even those who have physically died will come to life if they have believed in the Son of God, in other words, they will be resurrected just like Jesus is going to be resurrected. Jesus was speaking of things to come to these Jewish leaders who cannot comprehend any of these truths He was speaking about. Their unbelief hinders them from understanding truth. They were stuck in their obsession to persecute this man who claims that he is equal with God. Jesus further expounds at more revelations in verse 28-29 where he presents the two resurrections, one will be for those who did good deeds and another one for those who did evil. He talks here of consequences of believing and following Him and the aftermath of continued evil deeds. In other words, Jesus talks about hell and heaven here.
I do not know of any other religion who has a god who became human in order to save mankind from their sinful nature and won over death by coming back to life after he was crucified. In my quest for God, I tried many other religions in my youth and nothing can ever compare to what Jesus Christ offers. No other religion offers eternal life by believing that God came in human form to cleanse those who believe him from sin and re-unite with their creator.
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REFLECTION
• What happens when people deny the existence of hell?
RELIGION HINDERS TRUTH AND FAITH ILMA’S VLOG
June 25
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RELIGION HINDERS TRUTH AND FAITH
17 But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.”18 For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.19 Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. 22 For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. – John 5:17-23
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After Jesus healed a man who couldn’t walk for 38 years on a Sabbath, the Jewish leaders couldn’t stop looking for reasons to convict the man who healed on a prohibited day. So, as soon as they learned that it was Jesus, they didn’t waste time but to interrogate him. What really irked these legalistic leaders more was Jesus’ reply that He is the Son of God and that he can do anything that the Father can. They couldn’t believe that a man would claim equality with the God they knew who was all about following the law. It is sad to watch people bound by religion and laws. They couldn’t see beyond the law. They lost sight of what is truth and became prisoners of following rules. Jesus’ calm reply made them go berserk at nailing down this man and adding more reasons to convict the Lord. Interesting how Jesus showed them that his work was to follow what the Father does and also claimed that God has given him the same power as Him. The religious couldn’t see how it is possible that this uneducated man who has no position of high esteem can be the Son of God. Isn’t this story telling us how religion and legalism can actually keep us from salvation? Many people have gone off course in their Christian walk. Religion destroys our relationship with God and others. When the law comes first than your obedience and faith, it hinders you from living a free life.
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REFLECTION
• How does religion contribute to growing one’s faith in God?
• Why do many people think that relationship with God is done through religion?