Jesus

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Mary: I Call You By Name

29th March

“She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize Him. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?” She thought He was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will go and get Him.” “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to Him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).”

John 20:14-16

One of the first people Jesus appeared to in His resurrected body was Mary Magdalene. We don’t know a lot about Mary, other than the fact she had been delivered from seven demons by Jesus. Some say she was a prostitute or a ‘loose woman’ before she met Jesus, yet those claims are not supported by Biblical references. What we do know about her, is that after her healing, she never left Jesus’ side. She was present throughout Jesus’ ministry, at the cross and most importantly at the tomb after Jesus’ resurrection. Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the resurrected Jesus is recorded in the Gospel of John and is especially significant for Jesus’ words when speaking with Mary.

After questioning the angels to see where Jesus’ body was, noticing that the tomb had been opened and Jesus’ body was not in the tomb, Mary encountered a Man whom she thought was the gardener. Yet in actual fact the ‘gardener’ was indeed the resurrected Jesus. However, it was Jesus’ response to Mary’s desperate questions that promoted her to recognise who Jesus really was. As soon as Jesus said “Mary”, she knew it was her Lord and Saviour. The love that could be heard through Jesus’ affirming words moved Mary to call out ‘Teacher’ or ‘Rabboni’. She knew the voice of her Good Shepherd calling her. She knew the comfort His voice brought. She knew the value of Jesus’ words. She knew that she was God’s child and that God Himself was calling her. One can only imagine the joy that Mary must have felt when Jesus called her by name.

Today, Jesus calls us too by name. He calls us as His bride. He calls us as His chosen ones. His voice is as re-assuring, affirming and loving as it was when He called out Mary’s name. His voice gives us the assurance that we are His. Heed Jesus’ loving voice. We are His beloved.

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Mary: I Call You By Name

29th March

“She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize Him. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?” She thought He was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will go and get Him.” “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to Him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).”

John 20:14-16

One of the first people Jesus appeared to in His resurrected body was Mary Magdalene. We don’t know a lot about Mary, other than the fact she had been delivered from seven demons by Jesus. Some say she was a prostitute or a ‘loose woman’ before she met Jesus, yet those claims are not supported by Biblical references. What we do know about her, is that after her healing, she never left Jesus’ side. She was present throughout Jesus’ ministry, at the cross and most importantly at the tomb after Jesus’ resurrection. Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the resurrected Jesus is recorded in the Gospel of John and is especially significant for Jesus’ words when speaking with Mary.

After questioning the angels to see where Jesus’ body was, noticing that the tomb had been opened and Jesus’ body was not in the tomb, Mary encountered a Man whom she thought was the gardener. Yet in actual fact the ‘gardener’ was indeed the resurrected Jesus. However, it was Jesus’ response to Mary’s desperate questions that promoted her to recognise who Jesus really was. As soon as Jesus said “Mary”, she knew it was her Lord and Saviour. The love that could be heard through Jesus’ affirming words moved Mary to call out ‘Teacher’ or ‘Rabboni’. She knew the voice of her Good Shepherd calling her. She knew the comfort His voice brought. She knew the value of Jesus’ words. She knew that she was God’s child and that God Himself was calling her. One can only imagine the joy that Mary must have felt when Jesus called her by name.

Today, Jesus calls us too by name. He calls us as His bride. He calls us as His chosen ones. His voice is as re-assuring, affirming and loving as it was when He called out Mary’s name. His voice gives us the assurance that we are His. Heed Jesus’ loving voice. We are His beloved.

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Jesus And His Mother

25th March

“When Jesus saw His mother standing there beside the disciple He loved, He said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And He said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.”

John 19:26-27

Jesus had much on His mind as He hung dying on the cross. The pain was killing Him – literally. He no doubt yearned to rejoin His Heavenly Father. He knew His job on earth was finished; He had accomplished everything His Heavenly Father had ordained. Yet He was also aware of His disciples’ shock. He was probably stung with grief over Peter’s denial and Judas’ betrayal. Only God knows everything that went through His mind.

But one topic is clearly recorded. As Jesus looked down from the cross, He saw the need to do something about His grieving mother. Referring to John, His beloved disciple, He said to His mother, “Dear woman, here is your son.” He then made a similar statement to John: “Here is your mother.” (Bible scholars assume that Mary’s husband, Joseph, must have passed away by this time, and thus needed assistance.)

Early in His ministry (Mark 3:31-35), Jesus had said His true family members were “anyone who does God’s will.” But here, near the end of His earthly life, His love and concern for His birth mother are apparent as well.

Sometimes, we get so caught up in the important work we are doing that we neglect our commitments to our loved ones. If anyone could have claimed that His ministry was the top priority, it would have been Jesus. But even in the middle of His most important act of ministry, even while enduring unspeakable physical and spiritual agony, Jesus cared enough about His mother to ensure she would not be left vulnerable and alone. His charged His closest disciple with her care. May we, too, remember to care for our loved ones even while we carry out the other work God has given us to do.1 May we never forget the importance of ‘mothers’ in our lives. Jesus didn’t, neither should we!

1Men’s Study Bible, Pg 1422, A Son and a Mother

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Jesus Born In Bethlehem

24th December

“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on My behalf.”

Micah 5:2

Bethlehem was not considered the most notorious place for a Messiah to be born. In fact it was a very small town, even village, yet from it, this prophetic promise rang true; The Messiah was truly born. A ruler of Israel had finally come. His origins were in the distant past; namely at the beginning of time. Jesus’ birth fulfilled so many prophecies, of which this one of them.

Furthermore, this small village was so full of people at the time of Jesus’ birth, that there was not even a room that Jesus could be born. Instead of the majesty of a King’s room, He was born in a lowly stable, and put to sleep in an animals feeding trough.

Jesus showed us one of the greatest messages through His birth; Small beginnings are not insignificant: Wealth does not dictate the plan God has for your life. Jesus, being born in a lowly stable in Bethlehem, demonstrated complete humility and showed us that life should not be dictated by circumstance but by the plan God has for you. For it was from a lowly stable that the King of Kings and Lords of Lords was born and through His life, we can all be saved.

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Second Chance Jesus

18th December

“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sins, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”

2 Corinthians 5:21

Today’s message is very simple, but contains a truth that if accepted, could transform your life. They are not my words but God’s words through the Apostle Paul written to the church in Corinth and applicable for our lives too. The truth is this..

God sent Jesus to this world, to be an offering for our sins, so that we could be made right with God….THROUGH CHRIST.

How incredible. That blessing includes you and I. It includes all who believe in it. Friends, that is why Jesus came. He came to give us another chance, and to redeem and restore our relationship with God. He wants us to succeed. If He didn’t, He wouldn’t have sent His Only Begotten Son to suffer at the hands of the very people He created. Moreover, it is not a second chance He gives, but a third, fourth, fifth…. In fact His grace is unlimited for all those who call upon it. Jesus radically stepped into this world for us for our sakes.

Even more amazing, is that He didn’t wait for us to become good before He became an offering for us. He died while we were still sinners. He rose again victorious and patiently waits for us to accept His love, grace and forgiveness through the gentle leading of the Holy Spirit. And even after we accept it and still stumble into sin (or sometimes even purposefully sin), He still is waiting patiently to forgive and restore us until we call on His Name and ask for forgiveness. This is the nature of the man (and God!), Jesus Christ, who came to this earth over 2000 years ago. And if He had to do it just for you, He would have!!

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The Humble Saviour

17th December

““And you will recognise by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” . . . “They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.””

Luke 2:12-16

Jesus, the King of the world, the creator of the universe, humbled Himself and became flesh. Not only did He leave His royal throne, not only did He give up His divine privileges but He also was born to a poor, humble family and laid to sleep in an animals feeding trough (due to the fact that there was no lodging available for them). Moreover, He was wrapped in nothing more than strips of cloth to protect Him from the cool of the night.

This same Jesus was the One who allowed Himself to be sacrificed on the cross and give Himself as a ransom for the very people He created, to free them from the chains of sin that they themselves bound themselves with, when Adam and Eve rebelled against God. The baby Jesus, that is so famously acted out in nativity stories across the world, is the same Jesus that made a way for you to have eternal life and life free from the chains of sin, a life forgiven and an identity restored. It is in Jesus that we can have life and life in all it’s fullness.

Next time you see a nativity play, remember that Jesus humbly allowed Himself to be found in the form an innocent baby, so that years later, He could restore the relationship between humanity and God; that includes YOU!

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The Name Above All Names

5th -6th December

Weekend Edition

“You can ask for anything in My Name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask Me for anything in My Name, and I will do it!”

John 14:14

Jesus Saves – it’s in His Name. There in no coincidence why there is power in the Name of Jesus. It was a divine name given to Joseph by an angel when Mary fell pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit. The angel appeared to Joseph in a dream bringing comfort to him, as his fiancé, Mary, had become pregnant. He knew that the child was not from him, so as an honourable man, he decided to separate with Mary quietly. The angel reassured Joseph that this baby was God’s plan to save the world from their sins and that Mary had fallen pregnant by the power of God. He appropriately pronounced that the baby should be called Jesus – which means ‘the Lord saves’!

Fast forward a few years and we find Peter and John standing on trial before the council, after praying in the Name of Jesus for a crippled man to walk again and being arrested by the religious leaders for their actions. Peter’s defence of his actions continue to stand as a testimony to the greatness of Jesus’ Name throughout the generations…

“Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful Name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead… There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:10 – 12)

Let us also be reminded that that same Name is as powerful and real today as it was when the angel first gave Jesus His Name in Joseph’s dream. Let us boldly call on the Name of Jesus, for it is at His Name every knee shall bow and tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Jesus saves, He heals, He delivers, He comforts and He rules! Let us boldly proclaim His Name! Jesus Saves!

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Victory Over Sin And Death

24th November

“But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.”

1 Corinthians 15:57-58

Today’s devotion is a simple reminder that Jesus has overcome sin and death. We do not need to be a people and body who live in the darkness. We are children of light. We are children who have the resurrected Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. It is in Him that victory is found. Moreover, it is because of Jesus’ victory that our lives are transformed.

It is no wonder that Paul encourages us to ‘be strong and immovable’! We live the power of Jesus’ victory. May God, this morning, grant us all an understanding of what it means to live in that power. May we understand how we can live strong and immovable lives for Christ and in Christ. May we fully understand that we don’t need to give into sin, but we can stand firm in Jesus!

Lord, may You fill our lives with a deeper understanding of Your power and victory over sin and death. Lord, guard our hearts and minds to be strong and immovable in You. Amen

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1st October

The Man Jesus – Our Atoning Sacrifice

“This is good and pleases God our Saviour, who wants everyone to be saved and understand the truth. For, there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity – the man Christ Jesus. He gave His life to purchase freedom for everyone.”

1 Timothy 2:3-5a

As mentioned yesterday, God’s heart is that all men might be saved and have a knowledge of who Jesus is. After all, when Jesus left the earth after His bodily resurrection, He commissioned not only the disciples but all believers, “to be My witnesses telling people about Me everywhere…” God wants all men to be saved; yet there are so many who reject His free gift of love and mercy.

Yet that shouldn’t stop our willingness to share God’s goodness with others. So great is God’s love for humanity that Jesus gave up His own life “to purchase freedom” for us. All of us were separated from God by sin until we surrendered our lives to Christ. He became the Mediator between God and us, so we no longer were separated from God but reconciled to Him. That is good news. No matter how bad we have been to others, to ourselves and to God, we all can have an opportunity to come freely to God because of Jesus Christ. Sin separates and builds a divide between us and God, but Christ’s sacrifice is the bridge back to Him.

This is a message that the world needs to hear. The promise that we can be saved from our sin, we are loved by God and that because of Jesus, we can be reconciled back to God. Let pray and action walk hand in hand, as we look to share Jesus with the nations.

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The Power Of Jesus’ Prophetic Words: Part 2

1st September

“Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!” When they came out to see Him, they begged Him to stay in their village. So He did for two more days. . . . . They they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard Him ourselves.””

John 4:39-42

Yesterday we learnt of Jesus’ encounter with a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. We learnt how Jesus met her where she was at in her life and ministered His love and grace to her. We learned how He spoke a prophetic word to the woman revealing her sinful lifestyle, yet He did so in a loving and kind way, not in a condemning and judgemental way. So great was this word from Jesus, that the woman ran back to the village with great joy, telling her fellow villagers about Jesus.

We then pick up the story again in verse 39. Amazingly, because of the prophetic words of Jesus to the woman, many believed. Even more amazing, was that Samaritan people where begging Jesus to stay in Samaria to continue to teach and share His message with them. So great were Jesus’ words to the Samaritan woman, that not only did it radically change her life but the lives of so many others.

Yet the key passage in this whole story is found in verse 42. “Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard Him ourselves. Now we know He is indeed the Saviour of the world.” How incredible that Jesus’ few words to the Samaritan woman had such a big impact. Furthermore, Jesus’ own words to them, revealed His true identity as the Saviour of the world.

However, the power of a testimony and the power of a prophetic word can only lead people to Jesus. It is when they meet Him and hear Him for themselves that their lives are completely changed. The Samaritan’s woman’s words only led the people to Jesus, moreover, it was Jesus’ own words, that radically changed their lives, ‘because we have heard Him ourselves‘.

When we encounter Jesus’ love for ourselves, we become a beacon of His grace and His love. It is then our privilege is to lead other people to Christ and let the Holy Spirit fully reveal the character and person of Jesus to them personally.