Tragedy Happens

Unforeseen Occurrence Befalls Them All

  

Upon waking this morning about 6:34, I heard about the accident that happen in Marcos Hi way in which there are 47 casualties, from the 47 casualties 7 died. The tourist bus going down to Baguio City hit a delivery truck which causes a terrible accident. From the news I heard some of them are being amputated, severely crushed, wounded and the dilemma of each passenger is so hard to imagine.

Sometimes we may ask is this God’s plan? Why does He permit suffering and strife for innocent and good people?  

When I asked my mother about her reaction about the tragedy that happens, she boldly says that tragedies are not works of our Loving and merciful God.  Our creator wants all His creation to be happy in a peaceful and sickness free world.  And she tells if one of my children is suffering or dies because of accident she would absolutely be lonely and crying as well. So how much more to our Creator who considered us as His children?

Thus I conclude that , God permits suffering and tragedy because of an  important reason, but He for his part never allows suffering. He wants us all to be happy, and enjoy all His creation, for some reason His purpose had been blemish because of the treason and slanderous acts of His archenemy Satan the Devil. And for humans especially our first parent chooses to follow the devil and rebelled to our Father.  The Bible says here in James 1:13: When under trial, let no one say: ‘I am being tried by God.’ For with evil things God cannot be tried nor does he himself try anyone. Suffering can afflict anyone—even those who are favored by God. And as we can relate from the bible characters they don’t blame God if they are being punished by an army officer, have no food and drinks and troubled deeply inside.

And there are also other reasons why accidents happen, these accidents happens because of the wrong decision and choices of people, some drive recklessly or they are sleepy, drunk, and in true sense they do not know what are they doing. The word is true when they say that whatever the man is sowing he will also reap, in these related example  such as the accident that happened in Marcos hi way, the driver is driving   fast in going down in a slippery curve road,  base to the passengers that were interviewed. And in addition the weather is windy with rain showers, and  we do not know if the driver is still in  condition to drive since they are from the long tour from the lowlands.

Other reason of tragedy is we cannot foretell things that will happen in the future events or thing that is in random, such as; they ignore the warning signs they do not know that the weather is bad, the road is slippery or we can say they are in the right place in the wrong time, or in the wrong place in the wrong time as what He knew what God’s Word had earlier stated: “Time and unforeseen occurrence befall them all.” Ecclesiastes 9:11

And from my point of view tragedy happens because of our mistakes as humans, and untoward or unforeseen incidents. Tragedy happens not because God wants us to suffer like hell. So it is not logical for me to say I am suffering right now because that is God’s plan for me. Rather I say “I could endure all things with the help of our loving heavenly Father.”

YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE

YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE

Are we leaving in paradise right now, or the paradise is still to come in the near future. I am referring to the scriptures recorded at Luke 23:43. The scripture reads “and Jesus said to him, TODAY, you would be with me in Paradise”. (Luke 23:43) In verse 42 the robber told Jesus to remember him when he goes to his kingdom of which Jesus answered him in verse 43. How would you understand the text is there a spirit realm that people would be in paradise at once? For better emphasis let take the account at Daniel 7:14 “ To him (Jesus) there were given ruler ship and dignity and kingdom, that the peoples, national groups and languages should all serve even him. His ruler ship is an indefinitely ruler ship that will not pass away, and his kingdom one that will not be brought to ruin.” The scriptures foretold that when rulership and dignity and KINGDOM WOULD BE GIVEN TO Jesus, all people should also serve him. Therefore those subjects of the kingdom would be here on earth. By what the evildoers said to Jesus he was evidently expressing the hope that Jesus would remember him when that time comes. How then would Jesus be with the evil doers? The bible book of John 5:28 and 29 give well meaning to the hope of a resurrection as the bible scriptures reads” Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice. And come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, those who practice vile things, to a resurrection of judgement.” Jesus will raise the evildoers from the dead, make provision for his physical needs and extend to him the opportunity to learn and conform to God’s requirements for eternal life. Jesus saw in the evildoer’s repentant and respectful attitude a basis for including him among the billions of people who will be resurrected to earthly life and the opportunity to prove their worthiness to live forever in paradise.

Certainly paradise will be in the near future and we need to strive to be part of that restoration of paradise. As of now we need to but in mind that paradise is real to us that someday we will be with Jesus in His government that would not be brought to ruin.

Matthew 21:43

Matthew 21:43

In one instance   (Matthew 21:23) Jesus went into the temple to teach, then  the chief priests and the older men of the people came up to him while he was teaching and they said rudely : “By what authority do you do these things? And who gave you this authority?”

In response Jesus give three Illustrations like the illustration about the two children (Mt 21:28-31), the marriage feast for the king’s son (Mt 22:1-14). In addition the murderous cultivators (Mt 21:33-44; where in verse 43, Jesus made this startling declaration to the Jews of his day: “The kingdom of God will be taken from you and be given to a nation producing its fruits.” (Matt. 21:43) The statement is a straight blow to the chief priest and the pharissees but have a profound meaning on those who made up the new nation and the gives a great effect on us today.

Let us take into consideration the first statement. “The kingdom of God will be taken from you”, the statement is address to the chief priest and the Pharisees. In the Illustration of two children, Jesus indicates that the chief priests and the older men are comparable to the first child, professing to serve God but actually failing to do so. In his illustration about the murderous cultivator, the cultivators who beat up, killed and stoned the slaves of the vineyard owner to harvest the fruits and even worst they plan to kill the owner’s son, thinking that they can seize the vineyard as their own, illustrate the chief priest and the older men. Because of their corruptible and evil deeds, the Jewish religious leaders who despise, beat murder and stoned the slaves of Jehovah or His prophets and disciples including his beloved son Jesus Christ. The Law of Covenant does not produce a kingdom of priest and a holy nation: that would serve in heaven forever”. As Exudus 19:5, 6 state, however. The second statement here in Matthew 21:43 serve a remedy to preserve the holy nation stating “and (the Kingdom of God) be given to a nation producing its fruits.” To clarify in the illustration of the Two Children, the second child, figuratively represented by the harlots and the tax collectors. Believed John the Baptizer, who at first rudely refused to serve God but later felt regret and change their course. They are truly the one who follows their Father. In addition, in the illustration of the Marriage feast for the King’s Son, the invited individuals did not accept the wedding invitation and acted with disgrace.  Thus the King invited persons outside the Kingdom both wicked and good who are willing enough to change for the occasion because there are many invited but few individuals deserves to be part of the feast. So who then composed the Nation Producing its Fruits? The apostle Peter clearly identified this new nation. He wrote the following to his fellow Christians: (1 Pet. 2:9, 10) “You are ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for special possession, that you should declare abroad the excellencies’ of the one that called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”. Thus, the fleshly Israel is no longer God’s covenant poeple, but the new nation under the new covenant composed of anointed Christians, who have the heavenly hope. They are “the Israel of God.” (Gal. 6:16) They are “bought from among mankind as first fruits to God and to the Lamb” to serve as “priests” and to “rule as kings with [Jesus] for the thousand years.”

So by what authority did Jesus did those things and who give him the Authority, it is no other than Jehovah God the supreme ruler of the heavenly and earthly kingdom.

JESUS LAST DAYS

WEEK LEADING TO JESUS' DEATH & RESURRECTION

Month/Day	2008	DATE	LOCATION	SOME OF THE EVENT(S)	MATTHEW	MARK	LUKE	JOHN	GM Book
March 16	Sunday		Jericho - Bethany	Jesus travels 12 miles over difficult terrain					Chapter 101
	Evening	Nisan 8	Bethany	Arrives at Bethany six days before Passover				11:55-12:1
March 17	Monday			Sabbath – Jesus staying at Lazarus’s home
	Evening	Nisan 9	Bethany	Feast at Simon the leper's house; Mary anoints Jesus; Jews come to see Jesus and Lazarus	26:6-13	14:3-9		12:2-11
March 18	Tuesday		Bethany - Jerusalem	Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem	21:1-11,14-17	11:1-11	19:29-44	12:12-19	Chapter 102
	Evening	Nisan 10	Bethany	Returns to Lazarus’ home after teaching in the Temple
March 19	Wednesday		Bethany - Jerusalem	Barren fig tree cursed; second temple cleansing	21:18,19,12,13	11:12-19	19:45-48	12:20-50	Chapters103, & 104
				Chief priests & scribes scheme to kill Jesus
				Unbelief of Jews despite hearing God’s voice
	Evening	Nisan 11	Bethany	Returns to Lazarus’ home after 2nd day of final ministry					Chapters 105, 106, 107
March 20	Thursday		Bethany - Jerusalem	Barren fig tree found withered (lesson on faith)	21:19-22	11:20-25
			Jerusalem, temple	Christ's authority questioned; illustration of two sons, wicked cultivators, marriage feast	21:23-32 21:33-22:14	11:27-33 12:1-12	20:1-8 20:9-19
				Questions to test Jesus on tax, resurrection, commandment	22:15-40	12:13-34	20:20-40		Chapter 108
				Jesus' question on Messiah's ancestry stumps Pharisees, Scathing denunciation of Scribes and Pharisees	22:41-46 23:1-39	12:35-37 12:38-40	20:41-44 20:45-47		Chapter 109
				Observes widow’s contribution		12:41-44	21:1-4		Chapter 110
			Mount of Olives	Predict Jerusalem's fall, Sign of presence, end of system; Illustrations: ten virgins, talents, sheep and goats	24:1-51 25:1-46	13:1-37	21:5-38		Chapter 111
	Evening	Nisan 12	Bethany	Jesus in quiet retirement with his apostles					Chapter 112
March 21	Friday		Jerusalem	Religious leaders plot Jesus' death, Judas bargains with priests for Jesus' betrayal	26:1-5 26:14-16	14:1, 2 14:10, 11	22:1, 2 22:3-6
	Evening	Nisan 13	Bethany	Sixth and final night before Passover celebration
March 22	Saturday	afternoon	Near and in Jerusalem	Arrangements for the Passover	26:17-19	14:12-16	22:7-13
	Evening	Nisan 14	Jerusalem	Lamb slaughtered and Passover feast eaten with the 12	26:20, 21	14:17, 18	22:14-18		Chapter 113
				Jesus washes the feet of his apostles				13:1-20
				Judas identified as traitor and dismissed	26:21-25	14:18-21	22:21-23	13:21-30	Chapter 114
				Memorial supper instituted with the 11 [1Co 11:23-25]	26:26-29	14:22-25	22:19-20,24-30
				Denial by Peter and dispersion of apostles foretold	26:31-35	14:27-31	22:31-38	13:31-38	Chapter 115
				Helper; mutual love; tribulation; Jesus' prayer				14:1-17, 26	Chapter 116
			Gethsemane	Agony in the garden; Jesus' betrayal and arrest	26:30, 36-56	14:26, 32-52	22:39-54	18:1-12	Chs117, 118
March 23	Sunday	morning	Jerusalem	Trial by Annas, Caiaphas, Sanhedrin; Peter denies	26:57-27:1	14:53-15:1	22:55-71	18:13-27	Chs119, 120
				Judas the betrayer hangs himself  [Ac 1:18-19]	27:3-10				Chapter 121
				Before Pilate, then Herod, and then back to Pilate	27:2, 11-14	15:1-5	23:1-12	18:28-38	Chs121 - 123
				Delivered to death, after Pilate seeks his release	27:15-30	15:6-19	23:13-25	18:39-19:16	Chapter 124
		afternoon	Golgotha, Jerusalem	Jesus' death on a torture stake, and accompanying events	27:31-56	15:20-41	23:26-49	19:16-30	Chs 125, 126
		Evening	Jerusalem	Jesus' body removed from the torture stake and buried	27:57-61	15:42-47	23:50-56	19:31-42	Chapter 127 & 128
March 24	Monday	Nisan 15	Jerusalem	Priests and Pharisees get guard for tomb	27:62-66
March 25	Tuesday	Nisan 16	Jerusalem & vicinity	Jesus' resurrection and events of that day	28:1-15	16:1-8