January 8:  Accepting His Love.

HIS KNOWLEDGE.
"When you were under the fig tree, I saw you."--John 1:48

Have you ever been surprised by how much someone knows you?  I went to preach at a church in Central California and spent the whole weekend there; we had a fantastic time studying the Scriptures together.  A couple of ladies, whom I had never met, approached me and told me that they knew me since I was one year of age.  I was startled!  They went on to explain that they were teenagers in a local church in Argentina, where my dad was the pastor.  I had turned one year old in that church!  They knew me and they knew my family!  It's a small world!

Nathanael was more than surprised by Jesus' knowledge of him!  After Jesus had called Philip to follow Him (see John 1:43), Philip found Nathanael and excitedly announced: "We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote--Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph" (verse 45).  But Nathanael was less than impressed; his prejudice against Nazareth didn't let him see beyond the stereotype: "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" (verse 46).  Instead of arguing, Philip invited him to come and see for himself.  Before Nathanael could utter a word, Jesus said to him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" (verse 47).  Can you imagine Nathanael's mind racing, wondering how He knew him?  Jesus had revealed that He really knew him and stated that Nathanael was "Israel" without the "Jacob" part, without the deception, dishonesty, treachery, and trickery associated with the patriarch Jacob.  "Nathanael said to Him, 'How do You know me?' Jesus answered and said to him, 'Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you' " (verse 48).  I am speechless, and so was Nathanael.  This revelation made a profound impact on him, and from his heart came his confession: "Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel" (verse 49).  God knows us intimately.  When you opened this book this morning, He saw you.  When you cried yourself to sleep last night, He saw you.  He knows your joys, your sadness, your dreams, your trials.  No need to hide anything from Him.  He knows everything about you and He loves you!

My Response:_______________________________________________

January 7:  Accepting His Love.

HIS INFLUENCE.
This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true.--John 21:24

Don Quixote, the seventeenth-century classic of Miguel de Cervantes, and the Broadway musical, Man of La Mancha, showcase a woman of shady reputation named Aldonza.  In the novel, the mad knight sees her through the eyes of grace, and calls her Dulcinea, which means sweet.  Yet, she rejects this new identity, because she is more than aware of who she really is.  However, in the end, the influence of his love, and the way he views her, completely changes her into a sweet and reputable woman.  Many believe that Cervantes wrote this work during the time of the Inquisition as a veiled spiritual allegory of the gospel.

John, the disciple, was not known for his sweetness.  He had such a bad temper that Jesus nicknamed him and his brother James, Boanerges, which means "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17).  I don't think I would have chosen him...but Jesus did.  The "thunder" brothers wanted the best place in the upcoming kingdom (see Mark 10:35-45) and came up with the idea of sending fire from heaven on a Samaritan village that didn't show Jesus hospitality (see Luke 9:51-55).  But John, along with the other disciples, were ordinary people who were exposed to Jesus' extraordinary grace. *  Jesus treated them with love, and His grace changed them.  This selfish and angry disciple became known as the disciple of love.  He doesn't even use his own name in his Gospel but identifies himself as "the disciple Jesus loved" (John 13:23; 19:26; 21:7; 21:20).  In their last dinner together, John was reclining on Jesus' bosom, as close to Him as possible (John 13:23, 25).  Jesus' love had influenced and captured him.  John chose to accept the extraordinary love of Jesus, and this became the guiding principle in his ministry.  John uses the word love fifty-seven times in his Gospel, and fifty-two times in his letters; one hundred nine times in total! (compare Matthew's seventeen times, Mark's eight times and Luke's nineteen times).  If you are struggling with a character trait that God needs to work on, bask in the grace of Jesus, and let His love and grace influence you from inside out.

My Response:_______________________________________________
* For an Additional study of the twelve disciples, see Elizabeth Talbot and Aivare Ozolins, Jesus 101: Radical Discipleship (Nappa, ID: Pacific Press, 2016

January 6:  Accepting His Love.

HIS MAJESTY.
They rejoiced exceedingly with great joy....They fell to the ground and worshiped Him.--Matthew 2:10, 11

I have happy childhood memories in South America of leaving my shoes outside my bedroom so that the wise men would leave me gifts as they passed by. Sometimes, just for fun, children would leave straw and water for the camels.  The story of the Magi has been celebrated in many Latin American countries on January 6 as the feast of Epiphany, highlighting how God reached out to all nations with the good news of the Savior's birth.

Matthew contrasts the Magi, who have come to worship (2:2), with Herod the king and all the people of Jerusalem, who are troubled by the news (verse 3).  As the dignitaries from the East followed God's guidance and arrived to where the Child was, they "rejoiced exceedingly with great joy" (2:10).  The language is lush and flamboyant as Matthew describes a super-joyful occasion, fit for a king (see a similar phrase used in 1 Kings 1:40).  I love that the Greek word for "great" is mega!  Even now, I believe that those who follow God's leading towards a greater revelation of Jesus experience mega joy, which is above whatever circumstances we find ourselves in.  When they arrived to the place where the Child was found, "they fell to the ground and worshiped Him" (verse 11).  The original language says that they prostrated themselves, which means completely falling to the ground.  What a scene!  Non-Jews were worshiping Jesus when the rest of Israel was not!  These were distinguished and learned people, who had traveled from afar and had even been granted an audience with Herod the Great.  Now they are giving homage to a baby in a humble home.  God has a way of turning our world upside down!  They even brought Him expensive gifts, as was the custom to honor a king (Matthew 2:11, compare with 1 Kings 10:2).  In Jesus, God has given us the Greatest Gift!  We will joyfully worship Jesus throughout eternity, showing him our gratitude and honor.  Let's start today!  For "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing" (Revelation 5:12).

My Response:_____________________________________________

January 5:  Accepting His Love.

HIS KINGSHIP.
"Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?"--Matthew 2:2

Whether in the tombs and treasures of Egypt or Buckingham Palace in the United Kingdom; whether in ancient kingdoms or modern monarchies, one common thread runs throughout history: the splendor and grandeur that surrounds kings and queens.  I have visited many such majestic buildings, and I have always marveled at the beauty and riches in honor of mortal men and women.  And I wonder about the contrast between earthly royalties and Jesus, the King of kings, who walked on this earth two thousand years ago.  Who would pay Him homage?

Matthew shocks his audience by narrating the visit of the Magi.  The story starts by placing Jesus in the territory and tribe of the Davidic kings, hence the clarification that this is Bethlehem of Judea, where David was born: "Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea" (Matthew 2:1).  At that time, Herod was the king (verses 1, 3), and these wise men went straight to the palace in Jerusalem, perhaps expecting the new King to be born in the royal family.  But they were in for a surprise!  They spoke to King Herod about another King of the Jews, thus introducing tension between the two kings from the very beginning of the story.  Herod clearly understood that their inquiry was related to the Messiah (see verse 4).  It is a notable fact that the Magi used the title "King of the Jews" instead of "our King," which indicates that they were Gentiles.  Evidently, Matthew included this story to highlight the inclusivity of Jesus' mission (see Jesus' command to make disciples of all nations, Matthew 28:19).  Yet what I find most fascinating about the title "King of the Jews" is that the only other use of it in Matthew is found in the story of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus (Matthew 27:11, 29, 37), and once again, it is spoken by Gentiles.  It was the legal charge placed on the cross by Pilate: "This is Jesus the King of the Jews" (verse 37).  The One who loved us to the point of death has revealed to us how the story ends: Jesus Wins!  He will return, as the King of kings, to take us home.  Until then, let's honor Him and invite Him to be the King of our lives, reigning in our hearts! 

My Response:___________________________________________________

January 4:  Accepting His Love.

HIS CONQUEST.
"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."--Mark 1:15

As the Olympics, the World Cup of soccer is a much-awaited world-wide event involving many countries, represented by their national teams.  In 1978, Argentina hosted the Cup, and the national team won the trophy.  I will never forget this victory.  I was in high school, and the country ground to an absolute stop for three days in order to celebrate this momentous event.  Even though the victory had been won by able athletes, all of us had won; their victory was ours, the victory belonged to the whole country!  They were our representatives!

Mark opens his book by stating, "The beginning of the gospel [good news] of Jesus Christ" (Mark 1:1).  The Greek noun euangelion is translated into English as "good news" or "gospel"--term that comes from the Old English godspell, which means "good news."  This term was used when messengers came from the battlefield, announcing that the king had fought on behalf of his subjects and had won; the messengers who brought the good news were called evangelists.  The Greek term was used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament (LXX) to announce God's ultimate deliverance of His people:

      How lovely on the mountains
      Are the feet of him who brings good news,
      Who announces peace
      And brings good news of happiness,
      Who announces salvation,
      And says to Zion, "Your God reigns!"
      (Isaiah 52:7).

When Jesus proclaimed, "The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:15), He was announcing that the good news of God's victory through Jesus was about to be revealed.  It is highly significant that Mark chose this term to introduce his book about Jesus.  Jesus has won the battle on our behalf!  Don't ever let fear of the future, or anything else, take away the joy of your salvation.  Jesus our Representative and Substitute, has conquered in our place!  Rejoice!

My Response:______________________________________

January 3:  Accepting His Love.

HIS DESCRIPTION.
To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood...to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever.  Amen.--Revelation 1:5, 6

It was overwhelming, standing at the end of the main street of the ancient city of Ephesus, with its amazingly well-preserved ruins and its magnificent amphitheater.  I envisioned travelers crowding through the city in the time when John wrote the book of Revelation.  I also visited the island of Patmos, where John received the unveiling of Jesus.  I tried to imagine how John must have felt on this island, about fifty miles southwest of Ephesus, being shown the final chapter of the world's history and the indisputable announcement:  Jesus Wins!

In light of the revelations he received, how would John introduce Jesus to the audience?  There are two verbs in John's opening description of Jesus that we will focus on, because they give us assurance from the very beginning of this book.  "Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.  To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood" (Revelation 1:4-5).  Let's start with the phrase: "who loves us" (verse 5).  This present tense verb reminds us of the ongoing love of Jesus Christ for us, right now and forever.  The original meaning is continuous: He loves us and keeps loving and loving and loving us.  Then comes the second phrase: "And released us from our sins by His blood" (verse 5).  In the original Greek, the past tense of the verb "to release" is what is called an aorist participle, which means a completed action in the past.  Therefore, here we find two verbs that describe the relationship of Jesus with us: He loves us, continually and unceasingly, and He has purchased our freedom on the cross.  These two verbs form the core of the everlasting gospel.  Many have not experienced real, unconditional love in this world, yet God's message changes that.  The last chapter of the world's history starts with the reminder that Jesus loves us, and that He has freed us.  These two realities will sustain us every day until we see Him face to face!

My Response:________________________________________

January 2:  Accepting His Love.

His Love.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."--John 3:16.

I had barely opened the door of my second-floor condo when I was shocked by the sight of a big snake!  I instinctively jumped back and ran out.  Later I called my neighbors and the department of animal control, and someone came and got the reptile out of my place.  But it took me many months to get over the trauma.

This experience reminds me how Jesus used a snake to teach us about salvation and love. Snakes have a way of getting our attention, but that's not the reason why Jesus reminded Nicodemus of an ancient experience with these animals as a visualization of Himself and how God loved the world so much that He sent His Son to die.  In this first extended dialogue in John's Gospel, Jesus is explaining God's love and salvation to a teacher of the law.  Nicodemuus, judging by the signs Christ was doing, starts with an impressive assertion about Jesus having come from God (John 3:2).  But Jesus does not engage in reciprocal flattery; instead, He tells Nicodemus that he must be born again (verses 5, 7).  When Nicodemus misinterprets Jesus' words, the Savior resorts to the history of Israel.  He alludes to an event recorded in Numbers 21:4-9, when venomous serpents started biting the Israelites after God had withdrawn His protection due to their unbelief.  God instructed Moses to make a bronze snake and place it on a pole.  Whoever looked at it would be saved.  And Jesus, explaining the gospel to Nicodemus, says: "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life.  For God so loved the world" (John 3:14-16).  Yes, God's unfailing love is so amazing that He provided the Antidote for His sinful children.  Jesus is heaven's greatest Gift!  As much as we enjoy healthy love in this world, it is still stained by our sin and shortcomings.  Yet God's love for us is perfect and unfailing, and we can always count on it!  For God so loved you...that He gave His Son!

My Response:____________________________________________________

January 1:  Accepting His Love.

His Victory.
"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."--John 16:33

I had heard the story before and I knew the ending, but it still gripped me every time my dad told it in a sermon.  The story was about a boy who loved and admired the main hero in a book series.  He had just bought the latest volume and realized that this book was very different!  Unlike the previous books, this time his hero was being beaten and seemed to be losing!  Not very far into the book, the boy couldn't take it anymore and, holding his breath, went straight to the last chapter.  With trembling hands, he turned to the last page and read the last paragraph.  And there, in the last sentences of the story, he discovered that, despite the many seeming defeats, his hero was the victor after all, and the villain was destroyed.  Now that he knew the ending, he was at peace and went back to the place where he had left off and continued reading the book.  This time, having new information, whenever the villain seemed to be winning, the boy would say aloud, "If he knew what I know--if he just knew what I know!"

Jesus has told us the end of the story; He has overcome!  Furthermore, He highlighted the contrast of two realities: Himself and the world.  In Him we may have peace, yet in the world we will have tribulation (verse 33).  After informing the disciples of their impending personal failure (verse 32), Jesus proclaims that "in Him" they may have peace.  Every day we face the choice of which reality to empower: the world and its troubles, which are sure to come, or the love and inward peace that we may find in Jesus, focusing on His already-attained victory on the cross.  As in the case of the introductory story, it makes a world of difference to know how the story ends.  When we face sickness, death, loss, and various troubles, let's remember that evil is a conquered enemy.  When I posted a photo of my dad's hand in mine, to announce his passing, I added the phrase that is now the title of this devotional book: Jesus Wins!  Jesus' victorious love is the basis of our faith!

My Response:_________________________________________

December 31:  An Eternity of Bliss.

Happiness and Eternal Fulfillment.
You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasure of living with you forever.--Psalm 16:11, NLT

THE YEARS OF ETERNITY, as they roll, will bring richer and still more glorious revelations of God and of Christ.  As knowledge is progressive, so will love, reverence, and happiness increase.  The more men learn of God, the greater will be their admiration of His character.  As Jesus opens before them the riches of redemption and the amazing achievements in the great controversy with Satan, the hearts of the ransomed thrill with more fervent devotion, and with more rapturous joy they sweep the harps of gold; and ten thousand times ten thousands and thousands of thousands of voices unite to swell the mighty chorus of praise....

The great controversy is ended.  Sin and sinners are no more.  The entire universe is clean.  One pulse of harmony and gladness beats through the vast creation.  From Him who created all, flow life and light and gladness, throughout the realms of illimitable space.  From the minutest atom to the greatest world, all things, animate and inanimate, in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, declare that God is love.--The Great Controversy, 678.

                                  "Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me
                                         to repay all people according to their deeds.
                                   I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,
                                                      the Beginning and the End."
                                                                                           --Revelation 22:12, 13, NLT

December 30:  An Eternity of Bliss.

A New and Perfect Creation.
"But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy."--Isaiah 65:18, NIV

THERE, IMMORTAL MINDS will contemplate with never-failing delight the wonders of creative power, the mysteries of redeeming love.  There will be no cruel, deceiving foe to tempt to forgetfulness of God.  Every faculty will be developed, every capacity increased.  The acquirement of knowledge will not weary the mind or exhaust the energies.  There the grandest ambitions realized; and still there will arise new heights to surmount, new wonders to admire, new truths to comprehend, fresh objects to call forth the powers of mind and soul and body.

All the treasures of the universe will be open to the study of God's redeemed.  Unfettered by morality, they wing their tireless flight to worlds afar--worlds that thrilled with sorrow at the spectacle of human woe and rang with songs of gladness at the tidings of a ransomed soul.  With unutterable delight the children of earth enter into the joy and the wisdom of unfallen beings.  They share the treasures of knowledge and understanding gained through ages in contemplation of God's handiwork.  With undimmed vision they gaze upon the glory of creation--suns and stars and systems, all in their appointed order circling the throne of Deity.  Upon all things, from the least to the greatest, the Creator's name is written, and in all are the riches of His power displayed.--The Great Controversy, 677.

                                                       "See, I will create
                                              new heavens and a new earth.
                                       The former things will not be remembered,
                                                nor will they come to mind."
                                                                                  --Isaiah 65:17, NIV