Peter’s Denial of Christ​

The recent series of sermons on Hosea have benefitted many. I was touched by sister Qin Ting’s honest response in last week’s bulletin –  on how the good things in her life could be worshipped as other gods.

I believe each of us have our own daily dilemmas. When we are faced with whether to accept good things such as – a promotion, buying a car, upgrading to a new house, sending the children to enrichment classes, spending lavishly on food and drinks, etc. – how do we decide? Is God just a stern Father waiting to wag his finger at us? As Christians are we to constantly live under a shadow of guilt and uncertainty, wondering if our decision pleases God? Every now and then we will come across alternatives to choose from, or decisions we need specific guidance from God. But for now I ask us to consider putting something in our hearts; so that fortified by it, we are so much more at peace when it comes to making decisions. I call this something – “more of God”.

In Mark 12, a teacher of the law came and asked Jesus a question. From a commentary I read, the teachers of the law had taken the 10 commandments which Moses gave the Israelites, and expanded them: 365 negatives (you shall not…) and 248 positives (you shall…). So, it was easy for the Jews to think that their faith was just    about a series of dos and don’ts – something quite transactional.

In response to his question “Of all the commandments which is the most important?” Jesus, immediately answered him:- “The most important one is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Jesus’ answer was not transactional at all. To me, He was saying: it is good that you teach the people the dos and the don’ts. But, first and foremost, all these actions in your lives must flow out of your love for God, and your love for the people God brings into your lives each day.

We can practise many different ways to increase our love for God. For me one of two things I strive to do each day, apart from spending some time in a short devotional, is to cultivate the habit of conversing with God through the day. “Lord, I am facing a difficult question now; what do I do?”, I often say to Him in the middle of my working day. I often get peace and then use my training, intellect, and the collective wisdom of others whom I consult, and decide.

When it comes to things that tempt me to sin, I often pray: “Lord, this thing is not of You, it displeases You – take it away from me as far as the east is from the west.” After a while, the temptation’s attempt to get a hold over me is dislodged, and my heart is settled once again. No doubt each of you can practice different disciplines to grow in your love for God and your neighbour. As well as the rejection of the things the Evil One throws our way constantly to prevent the former.

May God help each of us as we seek to say to Him each day, “Father, give me more of You today”.

By brother Daniel John

Dear brother and sister,

How are you feeling today? Perhaps the Covid-19 pandemic has taken a toll on you. Working at home brings conveniences – but problems too! Fatigue from non-stop work with no more borders in your life-work continuum, misunderstandings with colleagues because of little chance to meet in person and smooth things out, strains with family due to extended periods of having to be together   in a less than spacious living-cum-working environment. Retrenchment hits and there is no sign you will get another job soon. You have been diagnosed   with a major illness and it is tough going. You just feel exhausted and downcast – and are wondering how your faith in God makes sense in all of this. Are you missing something, you ask?

Two people were walking along feeling this way, though their reasons were different back then (Luke 24:13-35). They had been disciples of Jesus, respected him greatly, and were expecting that he would lead the nation out of Roman rule. But things went very wrong; he was arrested, wrongly condemned, crucified, and buried – Three days had passed since, and they were completely dejected.

A stranger joined them in their walk and showed interest in them and asked questions about their conversation. They were surprised he did not seem aware of what had happened over the weekend – everybody in Jerusalem should have known! In their dejection they explained  what happened and poured out their grief and disappointment to him as they walked.

The stranger then did something special for them – he reminded them of writings of old from which their  rabbis taught, and they were familiar with – but had not connected to Jesus’ death on the cross. He explained that what had happened to Jesus had been foretold in the scriptures and had to happen for God’s plans to be fulfilled. Slowly, it all began to fall into place; now they understood that this was what Jesus himself taught them while he was alive, and had told them to expect. Gloom started to lift with the knowledge this man imparted; they began reflecting deeply.

When the stranger appeared to keep walking where their journey ended, they pleaded with him to stay. During the meal he did another significant thing for them – though a guest, he assumed the role of host, broke the bread, and gave it to them. Suddenly their eyes were opened to this most fantastic discovery – the stranger was Jesus, and indeed, he was alive once again.

Come back to your own situation today.

Though we know the truths of the Bible which have been taught to us, we can end up downcast when we look at our situation without Jesus’ sight. But he is the gracious Saviour. If we don’t shut Him out, he always finds a way to join us in our journey. And when we pour out our griefs and struggles to him along the walk, he gives us understanding, wisdom and strength to continue and await His plans to be worked out in us. Then, refreshed, we are often driven to express appreciatively like the two dejected travellers; “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32).

This Lent may our gracious Saviour once again revive flagging zeal for Him and strengthen your faith through all the struggles you are facing in life.

God Bless you,
By Daniel John

“A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.” Mark 15:21  (NIV)

Condemned Roman prisoners were paraded by the soldiers along the street, carrying the cross that would be used to crucify them, towards the execution ground. It was a form of public humiliation and crowds lined the street to watch the gruesome spectacle, with some even following behind the procession to watch the crucifixion. Jesus had been flogged so badly that he was injured and bleeding. Before long he was stumbling, unable to carry his cross any further.

Roman law allowed soldiers to compel passers-by to help them carry their loads for a mile. The centurion in charge seized upon a man called Simon and made him carry the cross for Jesus, Jesus stumbling along in front.

The passage tells us that Simon came from Cyrene, which today is the eastern part of Libya, North Africa. History tells us that at that time, a large population of Jews lived in Cyrene. We can therefore assume that Simon was a Jew who had probably come to Jerusalem to visit the temple to participate in a Jewish ceremony.

Imagine the thoughts that went through Simon’s mind then. “God, why me? Touching this condemned man, his bloodied cross, is going to make me ceremonially unclean – the blood on my clothes; everyone will know – I won’t be allowed into the temple. When word of this gets back to my hometown what will they think – I was involved in some horrible crime? My reputation – this is terrible…”.

Don’t we followers of Christ often think in similar ways when the Lord gives us a difficult assignment or allows us to go through a trial or difficulty? “Lord, why me? Why this way?”

As we look into the verse once more we see that Simon is described by reference to his two sons, Alexander and Rufus. This tells us that Simon’s sons were followers of Christ, in order for Mark to record their names in that way. Perhaps Simon was already a follower of Christ, or as a result of the encounter, he became one.

Bible Scholars believe that when Paul wrote the following words in Romans 16:13 – “Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.” – he was referring to Simon’s son, Rufus. If so, Simon’s wife (Rufus’s mother) was a great disciple who had encouraged Paul in his Christian life.

Imagine then Simon looking back later and reflecting how that incident had changed his life. Imagine the blessed joy of being recorded in Mark’s gospel as a person who helped Jesus in his hour of need.

Today, can I look at a situation differently when I am asked to be inconvenienced to stop to help someone in need? How might we be blessed if we make it a point to always re-look at everything through Christ’s eyes?

May meditating on Simon’s act of helping Jesus carry the cross be a blessing to you today.

God Bless you!

By Daniel John (YCKC Bulletin 15 March 2020)

The Sermon on the Mount: Attainable ideals?

 We have been listening to sermons on various Sermon on the Mount passages (Matthew 5-7). Are they really applicable to us today, and if so, how can we possibly apply them? Whether we are young or older Christians in the faith, one response stands out: every one of them teaches us a principle which is in such stark contrast to how human beings generally live.

We all live in community and can daily feel the pervading spirit around us. Maxims like – ‘you only live once’, ‘get as much out of life as you can’, ‘who will ever know about it ?’, and ‘what is sex for if not for pleasure ?’ constantly confront us – especially as we encounter issues or situations where we need to make decisions or sometimes take ethical stands.

As one Christian writer puts it, Jesus’ counterpoints to certain purely secular views can be expressed thus:

You cannot be happy unless you are rich! – Blessed are the poor in spirit

Don’t let him get away with it! – Blessed are the patient

Laugh and the world laughs with you – Blessed are those who mourn

Nature gave you sex instincts – you ought to give them free expression – Blessed are the clean of heart

Seek to be popular and well-known – Blessed are you when men revile you and speak all manner of evil against you falsely because of Me

In time of peace prepare for war – Blessed are the peacemakers.

There is no doubt that with human strength alone, none of Jesus’ teachings are achievable. What’s more, when we do start practising them, we will draw upon ourselves the wrath of the world because we are not in sync with its spirit. What then are we to do? – treat them as fanciful ideals which we politely listen to every now and then, and then lightly brush off as unattainable? Emphatically not! We see that Jesus wants us to live them out fully — rejecting the spirit of the world, and following His Spirit instead.

Jesus died for us to be transformed

Several times in the Sermon we hear Jesus say – ‘You have heard that it was said…., BUT I TELL YOU…..  Jesus died for us so that we may be presented perfect to the Heavenly Father – so he tells us the new way of living we must follow. And He commands: ‘Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect’ (Matt 5:48). We must therefore take the Sermon’s teachings as achievable and strive for them daily in all aspects of our lives.

Jesus gave us the power to be transformed

Jesus knew that the Sermon set an impossible standard for humans. So He gave you and me supernatural power to carry them out. How? In John 16:13,14 He promised his disciples that when He left them, He would give them the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit. Struggling Christian young or old, be assured and encouraged; Christ has empowered you by the Holy Spirit who is now living in you. You are enabled to live out the Sermon with joy despite the hostility of the spirit of the world.

 Commit afresh to live out the Sermon on the Mount

Are you and I compromising? Settling for less than what Jesus wants us to have in our daily walk here on earth?

Let us recommit ourselves afresh to boldly living out the principles of the Sermon that Jesus has taught us and reaping the fruits that come with it.

God Bless you,

By Daniel John, Elder (YCKC Bulletin 30 June 2019)