What held Jesus to the cross?

"And it was the third hour, and they crucified him."

Mark 15:25 (KJV)

Almost all of us are very much familiar with the story of the crucifixion of Christ. It is arguably Christianity's most dreadful moment (regarding the Lord's suffering in the hands of men), yet at the same time, paved way for the most glorious victory over sin (regarding Christ as the final perfect offering for the sins of all mankind).

During Christ's torture, a vast majority of people went out to support the persecution. The guards and roman soldiers mocked Him. The people were spitting on His face. His disciples abandoned Him, except for John the Beloved. All those confessing to be His followers were nowhere to be found. The religious leaders had the tenacity to mock Jesus because they thought that they were so sure that He was nothing but a blasphemous, superficial, pretend Saviour of all humanity. But on the other hand, Jesus, being God in flesh, was capable of omnipotence and almighty power, yet He chose to continue on with all the sufferings and persecutions. Why? Considering the situation and the atmosphere during Christ's horrible sufferings, a question arises: "What held Jesus to the cross?" And mind you, it was not the spike nails that held Jesus to the cross. Our Saviour is tougher than nails.

I believe, in the light of the Scriptures, there are two things that held our Saviour to that cruel cross.

1. His Sovereign Love - John 3:16

John 3:16 perfectly declares God's display of unconditional love towards men. While Christ was on that cross, He could have considered another alternative. An option was that He could have just simply come down. Had He willed, He could have just violated the natural laws, and exercise His divine power; those nails could have been pulled out effortlessly; the cross could easily be bent; His wounds could miraculously heal; and everything would have been as if nothing had happened. But Christ knew that if he had chosen that path, Salvation and the redemption of sins would not be possible. He put our interests above His own. He did not come down. When He was dangling on that cross, He chose to hold on and die. He chose His sovereign love towards us. (And by the way, in three days, He proved that He is also tougher than the cross - such a glorious way to appreciate victory.) 

2. Our Sinful Lapse - Romans 3:23-24

The reason behind Christ's death on the cross was that for sinners to finally have redemption from sin's prison, and to have an eternal restoration of his broken relationship with God. He gave a way for us to escape eternal judgment and torment. Because of Christ's sacrifice and victory over sin and death, we now have access to the fulness of God's glory through His grace. When we look at ourselves in the mirror, do we really deserve God's love? Do we really deserve His mercy, compassion, and grace? As limited, sinful human beings, we do not. And yet, God freely gives.

To conclude this article, God's sovereign love and our sinful lapse should ultimately teach us humility and thanksgiving. Obviously, we cannot, through our own human efforts, do anything that could "pay" Him back for what He did for us. But God never required for us to pay Him back. He just wants us to love Him back with our best.

God bless.

Read More

Verse of the Day #1

Matthew 5:16 (KJV)

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

"We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we won't need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don't fire cannons to call attention to their shining - they just shine."

-Dwight L. Moody

Read More

Danger of Overfamiliarity with the Bible

"Tungkol saan ang message sermon mamaya? Ah, alam ko na pala 'yon."

"Exhortation na naman tungkol sa Giving? Alam ko na 'to e."

"Ito ba yung lesson sa Sunday School class? Alam ko na yan."

"Eto pala yung lesson sa devotion ko bukas. Alam ko na 'to."

Sometimes, we become too familiar with the Bible and its teachings that we tend to say, "Alam ko na 'yan" (I know that already).  The danger of overfamiliarity with the Bible is that it causes Christians to be less observant, less analytic, and less evaluative of the Scriptures that they read, missing out on the more important lessons of the Word. People often think that what they know of a certain verse or passage is the entirety of the message that is there for the taking. What we sometimes fail to realize is that the Word of God is so rich that a single verse may take on several different meanings depending on your circumstance, the working of the Holy Spirit, and the revelation of God. (Now, before we look at an example, let me clarify that the "several meanings" mentioned is not the interpretation or hermeneutics of Scriptures, but the practical application of Scriptures to one's life). Take for example:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

John 3:16

*In the hands of a soul winner, it is the Evangelistic Message - God's plan of Salvation.

*In the hands of an offering/giving exhorter, it is a Challenge for Giving - we give because God gave.

*In the hands of a lost soul, it is Hope - there is God's gift of life.

*In the hands of a discouraged fellow, it is God's Perfect Love - God so loved the world.

*In the hands of doubters, it is Assurance - God made a promise.

The point is, when we read the Scriptures, we should always be eager and enthusiastic to always learn more of what God is trying to say to us. The treasures of God's Word are very profound and precious (Psalms 19:7-10), that we ought to learn how to study the Scriptures diligently (2 Timothy 2:15).

Beware of the dangers of overfamiliarity with the Bible.

God bless!

- MSVMatienzo (2015)

Read More

Remember God's Grace

"We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also

that ye receive not the grace of God in vain."

- 2 Corinthians 6:1

Paul's words recorded in 2 Corinthians 6:1 was a reminder to the Corinthian believers. During Paul's time, many Christians were tossing aside the clear message of God's good grace. Many false teachers were proclaiming different messages that twist and pervert the assuring substance of the grace of God. It is because of this that Paul had to make a statement that the Corinthian believers should "receive not the grace of God in vain."

Regarding this issue, Christians of today are not an exception. At times, we also become guilty of this crime of neglecting / forgetting / receiving in vain the grace of God. We sometimes become overwhelmed with the pressures of this life, the problems of necessities, and the worries of tomorrow, that we tend to focus on our difficulties rather than the God of our deliverance. In essence, Paul's reminders are also relevant to us. In this article, we will examine three things about God's grace that would remind us of how the grace of our God is and will always be sufficient for us (2 Corinthians 12:9).

1. Remember God's Saving Grace - Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 3:24

Since our God has the immutable power of saving us from eternal damnation through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, then why, oh Christian, are you worrying about the troubles of your present circumstance? If God is able to save us from unquenchable hellfire, then He would definitely be able to deliver us from our momentary problems in this life.

God's saving grace has given us: 

     - a unique POSITION of being SONS OF GOD (John 1:12, 1 Peter 2:9), 
     - a renewed PURPOSE of being SERVANTS OF GOD (Romans 12:1, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14),
     - and a guided PRACTICE of having the STANDARDS OF GOD (1 Peter 1:15-16).

When faced with overwhelming stumbling blocks, remember God's saving grace.

2. Remember God's Supplying Grace

Once we put our whole faith and trust in God, it goes without saying that we are also putting our faith in the miraculous and awe-inspiring ways of God's provisions. According to the gospels, God continually provides for the needs of the birds of the air (Matthew 6:25-27). So why should any Christian worry about his/her needs, when the God of all sufficiency provides from His storehouse of grace and blessings? God only wants us to do two things: 1.) First things first, trust God and walk according to His will (Matthew 6:33), and 2.) Pray in faith unto God and ask, seek, and knock (Luke 11:9-10).

God provides for us three things (in order of least important to most important):

     - Our MATERIAL needs - these are bodily, physical, and tangible needs.
     - Our CIRCUMSTANTIAL needs - these are the basic necessities of man.
     - Our SPIRITUAL needs - these are virtues, doctrines, and values we need from the Word of God.

In times of pressing needs, remember that one of the names of our God is Jehovah-Jireh - "the Lord will provide".

3. Remember God's Sustaining Grace - Psalms 55:22

There is a slight difference between the words SUPPLYING and SUSTAINING. By definition, the word SUPPLYING means to give, to provide, to satisfy and urgent necessity (Dictionary). On the other hand, the word SUSTAINING means to keep alive, to keep going, to provide for to continue (Dictionary). In a much clearer illustration, consider the following:

- SUPPLYING is God giving you your needs for ONE WEEK.
- SUSTAINING is God giving you your needs WEEKLY.

It is God's grace that keeps us going every day of our lives. You might say that you are the one who works hard for everything that you have in your life, and that it is only through your efforts that you have achieved and gained much. Then, my friend, let me remind you of the free air and oxygen that you consume every so often. Oh, how unfortunate it would be when you wake up one morning with a note on your head stating that from that point onwards, you are going to be paying for your own oxygen, a dollar for every intake.

God's sustaining grace teaches us of three very promising truths:

     - God's EVERYDAY SUPPLY - Philippians 4:19, 2 Corinthians 4:16
     - God's EVERLASTING SUFFICIENCY - 2 Corinthians 12:9, 2 Corinthians 3:5
     - God's ENDURING STEADFASTNESS (Faithfulness) - Lamentations 3:22-23, 1 Corinthians 1:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:24, Hebrews 10:23, 1 Peter 4:19

In conclusion to this article, in times of troubles, difficulties, and doubts, we should always remember God's grace: His saving grace, His supplying grace, and His sustaining grace.

God bless!

-MSVMatienzo (2014)

Read More

Forever?

Reflection Paper on Chapter 3 of John Haughey’s

Should Anyone Say Forever?

            In this paper, I would like to address the notion of permanence as conceived in the present times and how it is being overused, to the point that it is already losing its meaning.

 According to the chapter, people often measure the superior quality and quantity of their commitment through the use of the word “forever.” This poses a problematic as “the promise of forever is becoming obsolete.” In the present days, most people have a sweeping overfamiliarity of the word “forever.” This overfamiliarity tends to lead towards the watering down of the meaning of the word. Instead of focusing primarily on the permanence of a commitment, the word “forever” no longer means an immeasurable span of time, but a word that may or may not be permanent. “Forever,” nowadays, is used too much. Some use it to sugarcoat words of endearment. Some use the word to refer to a very long span of time. However, in the literal sense, “forever” does not only denote a “long span of time,” but an eternally immeasurable span of time. It is arguably a heavy word that is often misused in a very light context. Thus, there arises different misconceptions and skepticism nowadays when people describe their commitments as one that would last “forever.”

The real trouble here is not that the word “forever” should not be used. It is that people should consider what the permanence of commitment really means. Otherwise, there would be misconceptions, miscommunications, and even shattering of commitments merely because of the lack of understanding of the word. It is not and will never be wrong for anyone to quantify and qualify their commitments in terms of spans of time, or range of vitality. But it is always of utmost importance for people to realize the real meaning and implication of a commitment sealed by the word “forever.”

Read More

PH 103 - Pilosopiya ng Relihiyon

Long test namin noong isang gabi sa Philosophy of Religion. Ito ang tanong:

"Kung sakaling magising ka isang umaga at nalaman mong wala naman pala talagang Diyos, magbabago ba ang iyong buhay?"

Ito ang sagot (conclusion part lang. Masyadong mahaba yung sagot ko e):

         "Malaking pagbabago ang mangyayari sa aking buhay kung sakaling magising ako isang umaga, at malaman kong wala naman pala talagang Diyos. Mag-iiba ang aking mga ideolohiya. Magbabago ang lahat ng aking mga pananaw sa mga bagay sa aking kapaligiran, may buhay man o wala. Maglalaho sa aking isipan ang imahe ng isang Ama na sa aki'y nagmamahal at kumakalinga. At sa aking paggising sa umagang iyon, kung wala naman pala talagang Diyos, ako'y magmimistulang isang batang ampon na namulat sa katotohanang wala talaga akong ama. Maihahalintulad sa isang gusali na nabuwal ang haligi at mga pundasyon. Marahil hindi iyon ang maging katapusan ng aking pag-iral, subalit panigurado na ang lahat ng aking mga kaisipan, paniniwala, at ideolohiya ay guguho at lalatag sa pinong pinong pagkadurog.

          Kung ang kahulugan ng aking pag-iral ay "Mula sa Diyos, Para sa Diyos," ano na lamang ang magiging saysay ng aking paghinga sa umagang wala naman pala talagang Diyos? Marahil ay bumalik ako sa kawalan, magbubuo ng panibagong pundasyon sa mga gumuhong kaisipan, magpapa-ampon sa panibagong ama na paniniwalaan, at maghahanap ng panibagong dahilan ng aking paggising sa susunod pang mga umaga." (Matienzo, 2014)

Read More

PAYATAS (Part 1) - Humans of Payatas

BRGY. PAYATAS, QUEZON CITY. No. The mountain on the background is not the mountain we know. It's garbage.

          So our 3-day stay-out immersion in Payatas just concluded. For three days, we aimed to experience how people from Payatas go about their everyday lives. We observed, mingled, went around, and even conducted interviews to dig even deeper. For the first part of my 2-part blog article, these are the Humans of Payatas (Based on the Photoblog - Humans of New York).

"Saan ka galing kanina?"

"Nagbenta po. Kalakal."

"Magkano binayad sayo? Ano bibilhin mo?"

"Limang piso po. Pambili po ng pagkain."

--

"Na-demolish yung dati namin na tinitirahan. Binayaran nila kami.

Nung pinapili kami kung pera o tirahan, tirahan na lang pinili namin.

Kesa naman mangupahan kami sa iba. Isusubo mo na lang,

ipambabayad mo pa ng renta."

--

"Bakit d'yan ka sa kanal naglalaro? Hindi ka ba narurumihan?"

"Hindi po. Sanay na po e."

--

"Taga-Isabela talaga ako. Nagtrabaho ako dito sa Maynila.

Sa trabaho kami nagkakilala ng Mister ko.

Nagpalipat-lipatkami ng tirahan na inuupahan.

Nung dumami na ang mga anak namin, di na namin kinaya mangupahan.

May nakilala kami na nagbebenta ng lupa na mura lang.

P1000, pwesto na yun. Kaso, sa tambakan naman ng basura yung mapapabigay samin.

Kinuha na rin namin."

--

"Wala po kaming manika e.

Bakit? Lalaki lang po ba ang pwedeng maglaro ng holen?"

--

"Ganito lang ang buhay namin dito. Simple.

Walang makukuhanan ng kabuhayan kundi sa basura ng iba.

Pero nakakaraos naman. P120 sa isang araw.

Minsan, nagkakasya na rin."

NEXT PART: PAYATAS (Part 2) - Reflection

Read More