The story of Nicodemus edifies the value of Humility. He held a high position in the Jewish nation. He was highly educated, possessed talents and was honored member of the national council. Though rich, educated and honored, he had been especially attracted by the humble Nazarene, our Lord Jesus. He did not talk with Him about state affairs, though he was a ruler, but about the concerns of his own soul and its salvation.
Prophet David uttered these words, in his long lasting tiredness and while becoming troubled due to its extent. So, he cried out to the Lord saying: “How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?” (Psalm 13:1-6)
A Good Servant is referred to the sixth Sunday of the Great Lent mentioned in the parable of the three talents in Mathew’s Gospel. Our Lord Jesus Christ told the story to the disciples for He would to illustrate His teachings about the need to use talents and gifts faithfully.
Anger in the biblical dictionary is defined as “A violent passion of the mind excited by a real or supposed injury; usually accompanied with a propensity to take vengeance, or to obtain satisfaction from the offending party. This passion however varies in degrees of violence, and in ingenuous minds, may be attended only with a desire to reprove or chide the offender.” (King James Dictionary)
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ sat on the Mount of Olives in the Apostasy era and the disciples came to him and asked, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?” And Lord Jesus answered them,” Take heed that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, “I am Christ,” and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of the sufferings. (Matthew 24:3)
God is a good father, who wills safety for His children, for they will be reversed from suffering. During Torah, while Israelis were imprisoned by the Egyptians, God protected them from their enemy scam and their sufferings they brought on them. As it was His will to free them Egyptians and called upon and Prophet Moses and said, “Therefore say to the children of Israel: “I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.” (Exodus 6:6-7)
The impotent man was embedded for 38 years before when Lord Jesus Christ healed him. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” Lord Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath. (John 5:6-9)
Holy Temple is built for sanctifying humans, for prayers and giving alms for he shall have God’s mercy. As stated, “And the Lord said to him: “I have heard your prayer and your supplication that you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built to put My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.” (1 Kings 9:3)
The Sermon on the Mount of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, specifically His Beatitudes evokes about blessing, revealed through the beatitude on as to how to be blessed. “To be blessed” means “being in an enviable state of those who are in God’s heavenly Kingdom.” Focusing on a particular Beatitude which is “Blessed are the merciful, for they will obtain mercy,” it is important to understand, we shall be merciful for God shall have mercy on us. (Matthew 5:7)
Counterfeit preaching and lies about the existence of evil and the devil as well as his existence in this world confuse people hindering them to reach the truth. However, through learning the words of God, it is probable to understand the truth. One of the best gospel passages for us to learn about the devil, evil and temptation is the reading in Matthew’s Gospel about the Temptation of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (Matthew 4:1-11)