What is your relationship with Jesus Christ? No, really.

the Last Supper

When reading the book of Matthew, chapters 26 and 27, we read of two disciples of Christ, Peter and Judas, and their betrayal of their most trusted friend, teacher, and LORD - Jesus Christ. When the disciples were asked by Christ whom did they think he (Jesus) was, Peter answered without hesitation "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:13-16). While at the last supper, when Jesus told his disciples that his betrayer was at the table with him, having supper with him, Judas asked "Teacher, I'm not the one, am I?" (Matthew 26:25).  Even after witnessing all the miracles performed by Jesus and having been a part of the inner circle of Christ, each man's understanding of who Christ was was so different. To one, he was the transcendent God; to the other, the answer "Teacher, I'm not the one, am I?" seemed to question the transcendence of Christ, "the Son of the living God."

Though they both walked with Jesus, lived and spent a lot of their time with Jesus, their understanding of who Jesus was very different. What Jesus was for each of them was as different as the night is from the day.  It depended on the quality and strength of their relationship with Christ. Though Judas was entrusted with the care of the group's finances (a very important responsibility), it was Peter who would accompany Jesus at the most crucial and personal times for Jesus.

Jesus predicted their betrayal to each individually. (Matthew 26:25, 33). Yet, both betrayed Christ. One to protect his hide, the other to make some gain! The observation I want to make is the glaring difference in the reaction of each man upon realizing their betrayal; they were so different! Peter cried bitterly out of remorse for what he had done, but Judas hopelessly went and hung himself.

I want to ask this question of you - what is your relationship with Jesus? We will all come to those cross roads in life where our decisions will be less than what God would want from us, but do we have the assurance that we can approach him for forgiveness or is it going to be hopelessness? Is your relationship such that you will run back to him or run as far away from him?

If it is hopelessness, I want to encourage you that your savior will pardon a thousand wrongs you have committed and then some more. He forgave the thief on the cross. Even though his (Jesus') suffering was tremendous because of the unimaginable torture he had to endure before his crucifixion, his heart was compassionate enough to forgive a sinner (the thief also on the cross) who was condemned to death by society and government for crimes he had committed. The one thing he will ask of you after pardoning is - sin no more! May God bless you and give you peace!

Casting Crowns - East to West

Rescue me from my rebellion

Psalms 39 (a Psalm of David)

I said to myself, " I will watch what I do
    and not sin in what I say.
I will curb my tongue
    when the ungodly are around me"
But as I stood there in silence--
    not even speaking of good things--
    the turmoil within me grew to the bursting point.
My thoughts grew hot within me
    and began to burn,
    igniting a fire of words:


Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
   Remind me that my days are numbered,
   and that my life is fleeing away.
My life is no longer than the width of my hand.
An entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
    human existence is but a breath.


We are merely moving shadows,
     and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.
     We heap up wealth for someone else to spend.


And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?
    My only hope is in you.
Rescue me from my rebellion,
    for even fools mock me when I rebel.
I am silent before you; I won't say a word.
    For my punishment is from you.
Please, don't punish me anymore!
    I am exhausted by the blows from your hand.
When you discipline people for their sins,
    their lives can be crushed like the life of a moth.
    Human existence is as frail as breath.


Hear my prayer, O LORD!
    Listen to my cries for help!
    Don't ignore my tears.
For I am your guest--
    a traveler passing through,
    as my ancestors were before me.
Spare me so I can smile again
    before I am gone and exist no more.

Over this past month, the thought that my life in light of eternity is not even a speck of time has been making me think about priorities. The average man may live to an age of 70 or 80 years and if you are like my grandfather, you will pass the 100 year mark. Even then, what is it compared to eternity that we will face after our life here on earth is over. Though the span of time in this life does not amount to even a speck of time in light of never ending perpetuity - eternity, we get so bent out of shape because of matters here in our lives that we lose sight of eternity.  Our pursuits for love, wealth, power, and acceptance make us lose sight of impacting lives in this moment of time that is our lifetime. Don't get me wrong, we need love, money, jobs, acceptance, but let it not be the all consuming driving force for our existence.  David, whom God brought out of the sheep pens to be the King of Judah and Israel, whose life was spent in pursuit of many things  through many an ups and downs in life seems to come to that realization in this Psalm. We are just "travelers" passing through, as our ancestors before us did. Let our prayers be "LORD rescue us from our rebellion" so that we may not lose sight of eternity.

Brooke Fraser - CS Lewis Song 

The blood of one is good for all...

There was always one thought that I had difficulty answering,

How could the blood of one man wash every sinner's sins away?

After all there is a limited amount of blood in any human being. The average human body has approximately 5 liters (1.5 gallons) of blood.

How could 5 liters of blood continue to be poured out on humanity, billions of people who have come and gone over the last 2,000 years since Christ walked on this planet, earth?

One day about a couple of weeks ago, while travelling to work, as I was worshiping God in my heart, I was reminded that this is the same person (God who became man for you and me) who fed 5,000 men not accounting for the women and children  with five loaves and two fishes at one time. The leftover food filled up twelve baskets full. (Matthew 14:13-21). He is the same person on another occasion fed another 4,000 men besides women and children with seven loaves and few small fishes. We read that the people ate as much as they wanted and there were seven large baskets of leftover. (Matthew 15:32-38).

He is the God who spoke everything into existence; the one who creates something out of nothing; the one who has command over nature and circumstances; all that we see and cannot see; all that we can imagine and that which is beyond our imagination.

His blood flows in perpetuity for all mankind until the end of time, washing clean every sinner who seeks him out.  He forgave the thief on the cross who hung beside him. Where there was no hope, there was Christ besides him giving him new life in paradise. His blood continues to wash our sins. Believe in this God and be saved. His grace will lead you on.

PS:  May 7, 2012 update: I am posting below what apostle Paul wrote in Romans 3:21-31 as I think it has bearing on what I wrote in the post,

Christ Took Our Punishment

²¹ But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. ²² We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are or what we have done. 

²³ For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. ²⁴ Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. ²⁵ For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, ²⁶ for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

²⁷ Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. ²⁸ So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.

²⁹ After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is. ³⁰ There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. ³¹ Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.

 May God bless you!

Selah - Before the throne of God above

Hillsongs - Deep of your grace