I know that my redeemer lives,
and that in the end he will stand on the earth.
And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God;
I myself will see him
with my own eyes—I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!
(Job 19:25-27)
In my previous blog (Contemplating Pain and Suffering) I shared from scripture my understanding of the meaning of suffering. I asked the question how I would fare in times of suffering. Would I still have the same view of God - a kind, compassionate, and loving God, my heavenly father? And how I needed to establish a deeper root in my knowledge of the suffering of Christ so as to prepare myself for the possible future of pain and suffering.
Today once again I came across these famous verses in the Book of Job. These verses appeared in the middle of Job's defense against his three friends who had supposedly come to comfort him (Job 2:11). I have been trying to understand Job better. At times I feel like one of his three friends - telling Job not to be so self-righteous and defensive, and to stop blaming God for his pain. But I don't agree with them either that Job's suffering was because of unconfessed sins. We know indeed that from the beginning of the book that the reason of Job's suffering was a "bet" between God and Satan (Job 1:12)! Job was indeed blameless and upright (Job 1:1). Despite the first round of attack from Satan (when all his sheep and cattle, servants and all his children were taken from him) he said these famous words:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
may the name of the Lord be praised.”
In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. (Job 1:21-22)
Was Job confused? On the one hand he clearly felt that God had "wronged" him (vs 19:6) and ignored his cry for help (vs 19: 7). And yet he was able to declare that God was a "living redeemer". According to this commentary:
The word “Redeemer” is of great significance. The term is go'el which, along with its derivatives, is found about 118 times in the Old Testament. The basic meaning of the word is “to do the part of a kinsman,” and thus “to redeem” one’s kin from difficulty or danger (Harris 1980, 144). The Redeemer could: avenge a slain kinsman (Numbers 35:19-27); marry a deceased relative’s childless widow (Ruth 4:10); purchase a loved one out of slavery (Leviticus 25:47-55); or buy back a kinsman’s property that had passed from the family (Leviticus 25:23-25). The word is also used of God, as one who vindicates and redeems his people (Isaiah 43:1-3).
Not only was God his Redeemer, He was a "living" redeemer, with whom he could experienced from day to day until his physical death. The commentary continues:
Job really believed he was at the point of death. Never mind. Even though he will expire, his Redeemer lives. The Hebrew term “liveth” (hay) is actually an adjective, and is a common descriptive of deity (cf. Joshua 3:10; Hosea 1:10). Though not absolutely demanded, “liveth” may be employed in the extended sense, i.e., “lives forever” (Smick 1988, 942). The Septuagint reads: “For I know that he is eternal who is about to deliver me.” And so, even though Job anticipates going to his grave in suffering, nevertheless, his living-on Redeemer will have the final word. Also, the words “at the last” do not represent an adverb, suggesting a sense of time; rather, the original term is an adjective, modifying the title, Redeemer—the “last one” (Zuck 1978, 89-90). The Redeemer will be “the last”—the decisive witness.
So is God my living redeemer? Yes! He has sent Jesus to earth to redeem me from my sins (Gal 3:13-14). And he has sent his Holy Spirit to abide in me to experience his living presence until I meet him face to face. And this is a prayer from the apostle Paul for me:
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:14-19)
Monday 30 June 2014
Saturday 21 June 2014
What does the Book of Esther teach me about the Word of God?
Just finished reading the Book of Esther this morning (this is 7am in Hong Kong on Sunday which is 7pm Toronto time on Saturday). It happens that if I had been in Canada I would be listening to this sermon at the Meeting House: Christology and Bibliology. Since I am on the road I had watch the sermon online. This sermon is the second lecture of a Systematic Theology course put out by Bruxy Cavey to help us understand the foundational theology of our faith. The sermon this week speaks of the important beliefs about Jesus Christ and how "the Word of God" as we know it (usually meant the bible for most believers) must include our experience because of our relationship with Jesus, much like the authors of the scripture throughout all generations.
I found this bible resource on the Book of Esther very helpful. In the introduction it highlights these facts that I find interesting:
Yet this book has been included as part of the "bible" and has had important lessons for believers over the centuries. For me it has been greatly refreshing reading through this book once again. It did seem like reading through a drama series with very interesting characters and captivating twists and turns. And what is wrong in learning great spiritual lessons from watching even a non-biblical drama with the help of the Holy Spirit? So the lessons I learned:
God can use a person with humble beginning to accomplish his purpose:
“Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13-14). This trip to Vietnam is an example of that. Praise the Lord for his years of preparation to bring me to this point. May I be a blessing to the people of Vietnam! May I be a channel to bring healing to the outcasts - the HIV infected and the heroin addicts. May God's name be glorified! May Esther's famous quote should always be mine also:
"And if I perish, I perish." (Esther 4:16) (Apparently there had been anti-Chinese protests in recent days!!).
I found this bible resource on the Book of Esther very helpful. In the introduction it highlights these facts that I find interesting:
- It's the only book in the bible that never mentions God's name.
- Neither Mordecai, Esther, nor the Feast of Purim is mentioned elsewhere in scripture.
- The Book of Esther was never discovered among the Dead Sea Scroll fragments and yet there are more manuscripts of the book of Esther than any other Old Testament book.
- The book does not mention any Mosaic Law, the temple, priesthood or sacrifices. Fasting was practiced but prayer was never mentioned.
- We do not know who the author was.
Yet this book has been included as part of the "bible" and has had important lessons for believers over the centuries. For me it has been greatly refreshing reading through this book once again. It did seem like reading through a drama series with very interesting characters and captivating twists and turns. And what is wrong in learning great spiritual lessons from watching even a non-biblical drama with the help of the Holy Spirit? So the lessons I learned:
God can use a person with humble beginning to accomplish his purpose:
- Esther was orphaned at an early age and she and her cousin Mordecai were among the Jews in captivity. (Esther 2:5-7)
- King Xerxes was reminded of Mordecai's role in preventing his own assassination because he couldn't sleep one night! (Esther 6:1-2): "That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes."
- The beautiful queen Vashti decided to be disobedient when the drunk King wanted to show her off! (Esther 1:10-12): "On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Karkas— to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at. But when the attendants delivered the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger.". And because of it Esther had a chance to move into the palace and eventually became the new queen.
- The evil Haman tried to eliminate the entire Jewish people instead of just Mordecai, the one Jew who displeased him, ended up hanging on the very gallows built for Mordecai's execution. (Esther 7). Mordecai took over his office at the end!
- The entire condemned Jewish people became victorious over their enemies.
“Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13-14). This trip to Vietnam is an example of that. Praise the Lord for his years of preparation to bring me to this point. May I be a blessing to the people of Vietnam! May I be a channel to bring healing to the outcasts - the HIV infected and the heroin addicts. May God's name be glorified! May Esther's famous quote should always be mine also:
"And if I perish, I perish." (Esther 4:16) (Apparently there had been anti-Chinese protests in recent days!!).
Friday 13 June 2014
Do you love me more than these?
Today's scripture reading is on Ezra 6-8 and John 21. I do enjoy listening to the scripture while reading along the passages. Biblegateway.com is particularly good to provide not only all kinds of translations and powerful search features, it also has the "listen to" feature.
I am preparing for a long trip in the next two weeks. This mission is to do a show and tell of an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) software to officials in Vietnam and funding agencies from the US to manage and assist the care of HIV positive patients and drug addicts in that country. This EMR has been developed by my university as a free and open source software (FOSS). Our intention is to help them not only in using the free software, but to demonstrate the benefits of improving care for this population. Even though I have done these kinds of trips many times, I still get jittery prior to the trip.
So today's scripture reading is particularly helpful. The Book of Ezra is a very encouraging book to read, especially when one is experiencing the pressure of working under difficult circumstances. Who can imagine that the powerful King of Persia (Darius in Ezra 6:1-11) would write a decree to continue reconstruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, specifying financial support and supplies for the temple services. This political move gave King Darius and his successors the support of the Jewish priesthood but the result is the bringing together of God's people to worship their God, even though they were captives in a foreign land. It reminded me of Joseph's words in Genesis 50:20, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.".
In the famous post-resurrection "breakfast on the beach" story in John 21, Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him, perhaps to correspond to Peter's denying him three times prior to his conviction and crucifixion. The first time he asked Peter (this happened after breakfast of BBQ fish and bread Jesus himself prepared!), “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” (John 21:15) to which Peter answered, “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”. Then Jesus gave him this commission, “Feed my lambs.”. I have the following reflection:
(1) When things are going well, do I still love Jesus like I did the first time?
"Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion" (Psalm 103:2-4)
(2) Do I love him more than what the world has to offer me?
"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever." (1 John 2:15-17)
(3) It is interesting that the Lord addressed Peter as "Simon son of John" rather than "Simon Peter". He is no longer Simon the "rock" (which is what the word Peter means, the name Jesus gave him), but merely a human son. Do I love Jesus with all my human frailty? It is interesting that the word "love" Jesus used was "ἀγαπάω" or often referred to as agape love - a sacrificial type of love; whereas Peter's response was "φιλῶ" the love of natural emotion, and even tender, intimate, personal affection. Regardless, I must learn to love Jesus regardless of my many failures and past experiences. It's okay to respond to Jesus' infinite, sacrificial love with Peter's type of love - "Yes Lord, you know that I love you". Yes, Jesus is Lord and he knows my heart, even though my heart can be finicky and uncertain.
(4) Jesus' commission is for me too! "Feed my lambs" is clearly a metaphor very easily understood by Jesus' disciples in their days. They were shepherds and fishermen. It is clear that it had meant more than just telling others about the good news. The feeding and nurturing would require complete investment in the lives of those who belong to God's household. Lord, you know that I love you. Help me to spend my life in the lives of others so they too would learn of your sacrificial love for them.
I am preparing for a long trip in the next two weeks. This mission is to do a show and tell of an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) software to officials in Vietnam and funding agencies from the US to manage and assist the care of HIV positive patients and drug addicts in that country. This EMR has been developed by my university as a free and open source software (FOSS). Our intention is to help them not only in using the free software, but to demonstrate the benefits of improving care for this population. Even though I have done these kinds of trips many times, I still get jittery prior to the trip.
So today's scripture reading is particularly helpful. The Book of Ezra is a very encouraging book to read, especially when one is experiencing the pressure of working under difficult circumstances. Who can imagine that the powerful King of Persia (Darius in Ezra 6:1-11) would write a decree to continue reconstruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, specifying financial support and supplies for the temple services. This political move gave King Darius and his successors the support of the Jewish priesthood but the result is the bringing together of God's people to worship their God, even though they were captives in a foreign land. It reminded me of Joseph's words in Genesis 50:20, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.".
In the famous post-resurrection "breakfast on the beach" story in John 21, Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him, perhaps to correspond to Peter's denying him three times prior to his conviction and crucifixion. The first time he asked Peter (this happened after breakfast of BBQ fish and bread Jesus himself prepared!), “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” (John 21:15) to which Peter answered, “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”. Then Jesus gave him this commission, “Feed my lambs.”. I have the following reflection:
(1) When things are going well, do I still love Jesus like I did the first time?
"Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion" (Psalm 103:2-4)
(2) Do I love him more than what the world has to offer me?
"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever." (1 John 2:15-17)
(3) It is interesting that the Lord addressed Peter as "Simon son of John" rather than "Simon Peter". He is no longer Simon the "rock" (which is what the word Peter means, the name Jesus gave him), but merely a human son. Do I love Jesus with all my human frailty? It is interesting that the word "love" Jesus used was "ἀγαπάω" or often referred to as agape love - a sacrificial type of love; whereas Peter's response was "φιλῶ" the love of natural emotion, and even tender, intimate, personal affection. Regardless, I must learn to love Jesus regardless of my many failures and past experiences. It's okay to respond to Jesus' infinite, sacrificial love with Peter's type of love - "Yes Lord, you know that I love you". Yes, Jesus is Lord and he knows my heart, even though my heart can be finicky and uncertain.
(4) Jesus' commission is for me too! "Feed my lambs" is clearly a metaphor very easily understood by Jesus' disciples in their days. They were shepherds and fishermen. It is clear that it had meant more than just telling others about the good news. The feeding and nurturing would require complete investment in the lives of those who belong to God's household. Lord, you know that I love you. Help me to spend my life in the lives of others so they too would learn of your sacrificial love for them.
Friday 6 June 2014
Jesus' farewell speech
Today's reading of the scripture is from John 16. This is the continuation of Jesus' farewell speech to his beloved disciples. He began in John 13:31 after exposing Judas the traitor, who immediately left the Passover party to go to the priests. This was a very difficult moment for Jesus. He was surrounded by the disciples he loved with whom he had spent the last three years, nurturing and preparing them for a difficult life ahead. He said to them,
“My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:33-35)
So this is his first great commission: Love one another! He had shown them what love looked like. He washed his disciples' feet. In a little while he would show them more of this love - the ultimate sacrifice of dying on the cross for the sins of the world. He died not only for his friends, but also his enemies - "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Roman 5:8). This is what Francis Schaeffer called the ultimate apologetic - we prove it to the world that we are Jesus' disciples by the love we give to one another!
Jesus continued his farewell speech by encouraging his disciples (yes, it is for us too!) that even though he would no longer be with them, he had not abandoned them. In fact, he would be preparing a place for us - "My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." (John 14:2-3). He understood how difficult it would be for his disciples to continue to believe in him in his absence so he promised them that the Holy Spirit would come to dwell in them and among them - "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live." (John 14:16-19).
And this is the second great commission: Remain in his love! Like the branches of the vine tree we must remain in Jesus' love in order for us to bear much fruit - "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." (John 15:5-8). And what wonderful fruit - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (Galatians 5:22-25)! And the only way to get it is to remain in Jesus' love; not the kind of love that we give out of our own strength and our own will - "If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:3).
"All this I have told you so that you will not fall away." (John 16:1). Jesus' disciples would expect the world to hate them because the message of Jesus would convict them of their sin (of killing the innocent Jesus) - "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.", "If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin." (John 15:22,24). While the disciples suffered they look forward to the future. Jesus had promised them that their temporary grieve would eventually (in a little while) turn to joy - "Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. " (John 16:20).
So I may not be experiencing the same level of hatred and rejection as Jesus' disciples experienced (in fact, tradition suggested that all the apostles except for apostle John died as martyrs), I can learn from Jesus' farewell speech that the future (in just a little while) will be worth the wait! We will see Jesus as he is - "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." (1 Corinthians 13:12). We can have the kind of peace only Jesus can give - “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).
“My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:33-35)
So this is his first great commission: Love one another! He had shown them what love looked like. He washed his disciples' feet. In a little while he would show them more of this love - the ultimate sacrifice of dying on the cross for the sins of the world. He died not only for his friends, but also his enemies - "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Roman 5:8). This is what Francis Schaeffer called the ultimate apologetic - we prove it to the world that we are Jesus' disciples by the love we give to one another!
Jesus continued his farewell speech by encouraging his disciples (yes, it is for us too!) that even though he would no longer be with them, he had not abandoned them. In fact, he would be preparing a place for us - "My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." (John 14:2-3). He understood how difficult it would be for his disciples to continue to believe in him in his absence so he promised them that the Holy Spirit would come to dwell in them and among them - "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live." (John 14:16-19).
And this is the second great commission: Remain in his love! Like the branches of the vine tree we must remain in Jesus' love in order for us to bear much fruit - "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." (John 15:5-8). And what wonderful fruit - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (Galatians 5:22-25)! And the only way to get it is to remain in Jesus' love; not the kind of love that we give out of our own strength and our own will - "If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:3).
"All this I have told you so that you will not fall away." (John 16:1). Jesus' disciples would expect the world to hate them because the message of Jesus would convict them of their sin (of killing the innocent Jesus) - "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.", "If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin." (John 15:22,24). While the disciples suffered they look forward to the future. Jesus had promised them that their temporary grieve would eventually (in a little while) turn to joy - "Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. " (John 16:20).
So I may not be experiencing the same level of hatred and rejection as Jesus' disciples experienced (in fact, tradition suggested that all the apostles except for apostle John died as martyrs), I can learn from Jesus' farewell speech that the future (in just a little while) will be worth the wait! We will see Jesus as he is - "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." (1 Corinthians 13:12). We can have the kind of peace only Jesus can give - “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).
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