eternal-life

What Good Thing Must I Do to Gain Eternal Life

Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he inquired.

Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”

“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.”

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Whoever Wants to Become Great Must Serve

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”

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Get up! Pick up Your Mat and Walk

Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.

One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

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Remember the Lord

When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.”

Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”

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A Touch of Faith

These passages record two intertwined miracles-both demonstrating the profound impact of simple, resolute faith. Jesus, after crossing the lake, is immediately approached by Jairus, a synagogue leader desperate for the healing of his dying daughter. Amidst the pressing crowd, another desperate figure emerges-a woman afflicted for twelve years with a condition that not only drained her body but also her societal worth and spiritual life, as her bleeding rendered her unclean by Old Testament Law. This backdrop sets a stark contrast between the crowd’s curiosity and the woman’s profound need for deliverance, illustrating how physical proximity to Jesus doesn’t equate to spiritual closeness unless coupled with faith.

The woman’s approach to Jesus signifies more than just physical healing; it symbolizes a breaking free from societal constraints and personal despair. Her condition, causing continuous bleeding, relate to us since life in this world is one of continuous hardships that drain one’s spirit without relief. Living on the margins of society, she represents those among us caught in the painful cycle of isolation and suffering due to various life’s burdens-be it chronic illness, mental health struggles, or societal rejection. Her belief that merely touching Jesus’ garment would restore her health highlights a profound faith and understanding of Jesus’ divine nature, which she pursued despite the overwhelming obstacles presented by the dense crowd and her physical weakness.

This miraculous healing juxtaposed with the resurrection of Jairus’ daughter encapsulates the essence of Jesus’ ministry-offering hope and renewal to all, regardless of their societal status or the nature of their affliction. Both miracles are connected not just by their proximity in the scripture but by their shared theme of faith overcoming despair. The woman’s healing interrupts Jesus’ journey to Jairus’ house, yet both stories beautifully illustrate that Jesus’ power to heal and revitalize is boundless, transcending all human barriers and reaching those who feel unworthy or forgotten.

This message encourage us to reflect on our lives, recognizing areas where we might be ‘bleeding’ and in need of the touch of faith and the spark of life from Jesus Christ. It challenges us to reach out in faith, believing in His power to transform even the most desperate situations.

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I Will Pour Out My Spirit on All People

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

“‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved

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On This Rock I Will Build My Church

Near the town of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked His disciples a pivotal question: “Who do people say that I am?” This wasn’t just casual curiosity; it was a critical moment that set the stage for a significant revelation. When Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” it marked a turning point. For the first time, Jesus spoke of building His church, emphasizing that it would be founded on the truth of Peter’s confession about His divine identity.

This conversation is crucial for us today as it challenges us to consider our own beliefs. Who do we say Jesus is? In society, it’s often acceptable to view Jesus as a moral teacher or a historical figure-a perspective that doesn’t disrupt the status quo. However, recognizing Him as the Messiah, the Son of the living God, involves a deeper, more personal acknowledgment of His role in our lives. This acknowledgment shapes not just personal faith but also the essence and direction of the church itself.

Reflecting on this, we see the church as more than a building or a gathering; it is a community founded on the rock-solid belief in Jesus as Christ and his saving grace in our lives. This foundation is what keeps the church steady against challenges. In our lives and communities, affirming the grace of Jesus Christ and role invites us to build everything on this solid ground. This belief influences how we interact within our communities, uphold our values, and face the complexities of life with faith and conviction.

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Holiness

God calls us holy people of God and makes us holy. God has the power to sanctify or make holy those who believe in Him. Jesus came not to condemn but to save from sin. We need to remember the story of the adulterous woman who was brought to Jesus; Jesus said that he doesn’t condemn but to go and leave the life of sin. This message emphasizes the compassionate and redemptive aspect of Jesus’ message and at the same time how our life should reflect the grace that we have received. It’s more important for believers to align themselves with the character of God rather than simply following rules or being outwardly “right”.

We are encouraged to introspect and consider whether their actions, attitudes, and behaviors align with the example set by Jesus Christ. It is important to live a life that mirrors the teachings and character of Jesus. We have attained holiness through the sacrificial death of Jesus and we should live a holy life that involves experiencing and embodying God’s grace and love, which empowers believers to live free from the influence of sin.

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Jesus Walks on Water

Water means a lot of things to us; it can mean the unknown situation that is out of our control, causing us to be anxious. We may face many ongoing crises that come to us as dark nights, complete pitch darkness where we cannot see anything before us. At this moment, Jesus is coming to us, and He is above the storms. He is in control.

Taking the step forward, trying to change is much better and easier than being stuck in our situation. We don’t need to make a perfect move, and there is no such thing as a perfect step, but as we take a step, God will guide our steps and walk with us.

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