Oh! That's a Thought!

Why Easter Sunday?

2011-04-23T21:54:00.000-07:00

It's Easter Sunday. Forget the chocolate bunnies, the peeps, the truffles, or the colored eggs. Those are about as trivial as Santa Claus and his twelve reindeer during Christmas.

While all the sweets may leave a tasty feeling in your mouth, if we were celebrating the creation of candy, then Easter Sunday would make sense to have the "I Want Candy" song being played as its theme (no, not the original meaning of that song... candy meaning the sweet, sugary substance that humans enjoy consuming), but it's not.

We've been working through the Passion Week weekend here online, beginning with Good Friday and then asking the question of why there were three days of Christ staying dead before Easter Sunday. We now culminate this important discussion with the question of "Why Easter Sunday?"

We've hit the point about the significance of Good Friday, when Jesus Christ died as our substitute, taking the penalty of our sin and dying for us. We weren't even alive when He did this act of ultimate sacrifice and selflessness, and yet, He died for us. His death prevents us from going into the most horrific place known to man: hell.

Christ then stayed dead for three days. Why? Three days was the fulfillment of prophecy. It was a sign of completion (Christ being completely dead), and those three days developed the faith of those who were anticipating Sunday when the women wanted to go see Christ's body.

For Christ's sacrifice to be complete, He had to come back alive. Death is the result of sin. Since Christ did not sin, He could not stay dead. For those of you who think Christ sinned, I would like to hear about those claims (and not accusations... anyone can make accusations... show me proof!). By resurrecting from the grave, Christ defeated death. No longer does death have a hold on anyone who believes in Christ as their personal Savior and Lord.

Those of you who don't believe might ask, "Hey, what about the claims that the disciples stole the body and pretended that Jesus rose again from the dead?" The disciples were scared so much, they locked themselves up in a room and didn't leave (John 20:19). They fled when Jesus needed them the most... before His death (Mark 14:50). Only when Mary Magdalene, who was bold enough to go Easter Sunday morning to the tomb, went to the disciples and told them about Jesus coming back alive. That's when John and Peter ran to the tomb, and they were very confused at what happened (John 20:1-10). They didn't even think about stealing Jesus' body. What makes you think, then, that they did it?

Not only was this the case, but Jesus appeared to hundreds of people during the period of forty days after His resurrection. You can't hallucinate that many people and pay them to lie. Someone was going to buckle if that were the case. Frankly, if I was living a lie, then I wouldn't be living as boldly as the disciples did in the book of Acts after Jesus' resurrection. They knew the truth - their Lord and Savior is alive.

When Christ came back alive, He also fulfilled prophecies that He declared and that was also foretold many years past. In Genesis 3, when Adam and Eve sinned, it was stated by God that He would send a Savior. This Savior, the seed of the woman, who would be bruised on the heel by the serpent, would crush the serpent's head. Christ tasted death, but He crushed Satan and death by coming back alive. If you can't stay dead, then why fear death?

Christ also predicted that He would rise again on the third day. As I mentioned in previous postings, if Jesus was not God, then this would not have happened. If you don't believe me, then you tell me when you die, how many days you'll stay dead, and then come back alive. I dare you. I can't do it. However, Jesus did tell us when He would come back alive... on the third day... on Easter Sunday.

Why Easter Sunday? Because God loves His Son, Jesus, and He loves you. God did not have to save you. In His justice, He could have allowed you to stay condemned. However, God loves you and wants to give you a chance at new life. Easter Sunday happened because He loves us. We have an obligation - to accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord. Without this, you can't be saved. It's like the judge saying, "Okay, someone else has paid your penalty, so you can go now. Just sign this piece of paper saying that you are accepting this gift of freedom", and then you saying to the judge,"No, judge, I stand on my own. I don't need someone else's help on this. I'm not going to sign that piece of paper." Your stubborn refusal will just keep you behind bars.

What's next? Easter Sunday should be a day when you celebrate the risen Lord. It's not about candy. It's not about Easter chicks and Easter bunnies (as cute and furry they may be... especially with "Hop" being out in theaters). It's about God's greatest demonstration of love for you. Being a Christian isn't a handicap... not being one is. You have a chance to have a relationship with God Himself. He has opened the door for you. It is freedom that you can experience.

Now for some of you, you probably are saying, "Oh, those Christians don't have any fun, and they certainly are hypocritical and stuck up." Let me be the first to say... I'm sorry. We are not perfect, and even though we say we are trying to change... we mess it up. Sometimes we try to improve, only to slide further back than when we were before. It's not an excuse... it's reality. However, we are doing what we can to change and be more like Christ. You know change is difficult. Our desire to change is hampered by our human nature. I ask that you don't hold God responsible for our mistakes.

About not having fun? Folks, if you think fun is spending time being drunk and out-of-control, then I can't really say much other than this: Time being on this earth is short. You don't know if you're going to die in the next second, minute, or day. What you also don't realize is that no matter how much you enjoy your life on this earth, the life after this earth awaits. You have the chance to have a wonderful life and relationship with God! You can begin fulfilling your true purpose in being a creature on this earth! What better way to live a free life by understanding why you're here in the first place! Christ died for you for that exact reason... for you to be forgiven for your sin, to have a restored relationship with God, and to live eternally in freedom with God! Why mar all that for temporary "pleasures" of this world?

Easter Sunday is here for one reason: You. God loves you so much, that He did this for YOU. Won't you take the time to just consider? Just take some time to consider what we presented here to you these last few days. If you choose to reject Christ, I will still be praying for you. If you choose to accept Christ, then congratulations... welcome to God's family. You are now living a truly free life. You have grasped the reason why we celebrate Easter Sunday.

May God bless you this day. May He demonstrate to you His love, grace, and mercy, for that is the reason why we have Easter Sunday.

Hope you have a blessed Easter wherever you are,
Jonathan Oh

Why Three Days?

2011-04-22T21:31:00.000-07:00

Good Friday is done. There is that day between Friday and Sunday. For most people, it's just the day between the two holidays those Christians are celebrating. Good Friday is all about doom and gloom, about some person dying named Jesus Christ. On Easter Sunday, it's about some person rising again from the dead, like that would really happen. Why not have it all happen on one day?

Three days is a significant time period for us during this Resurrection weekend. There are a few reasons why Jesus Christ had to die and be dead for three days. If Christ had not died for three days, then there would be serious questions remaining on Christ's power and triumph over death.

For those of you who had not had the chance to read the post "Why Good Friday?", read it first before proceeding.

First, three days demonstrates completion. It is one of a few numbers considered significant in the Bible. Seven and twelve are the other two primary numbers demonstrating completeness. Why would completeness be critical here? If Jesus were to have "died" and risen again within the same day, maybe even two days, many people would have questioned Christ's death in the first place. Even today, many people who do not believe wonder if Jesus really died (or simply don't believe that Jesus died). We read in John 19:34 about the real evidence of Christ's death: "But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water" (ESV). The body does not clearly separate blood and water while it is living. It is a complete system. If someone stabbed you, you'll bleed blood. You're not spilling out water. However, when Christ died, we see that He was truly dead, and His body had completely shut down.

This all happened on Good Friday. However, three days remained before He was to rise again. For those of you counting, at that time, a day was considered a day when it was reached, not when it was completed. Therefore, Christ died on Friday and rose again Sunday... that's three days.

Why three days? Besides to demonstrate that Christ was truly dead, it was also fulfillment to prophecy. We see Christ's prophecy of His death of three days in His referral of Jonah's three days in the belly of the whale (Matthew 12:40), and we also read Christ stating He would also be torn down (destroyed) and be resurrected on the third day (using the temple as a reference... His body being the Temple) (John 2:19). Christ is no liar. He said He would be dead for three days. Who in their right mind would know how long he himself will stay dead? When you're dead, you're dead. If you say you're going to only be dead for three days, either you're a liar, deranged, or telling the truth. If Christ only stayed dead for one or two days, or if He rose again four days later, He is a liar. However, He was dead for three days, just as He said. Christ is proving He is telling the truth, that He is fulfilling His own prophecy, which means He is God.

In addition to that, three days also developed the faith of those around Him. It is the development of patience and anticipation of those who were awaiting His resurrection. While no one truly was waiting for Christ to come back alive Easter Sunday because of a lack of faith, a few women were waiting to go to the tomb but was hindered by the fact that Saturday was the Sabbath and were restricted from going due to the law (Luke 23:56). Imagine how frightened the women were come Sunday morning... Roman soldiers guarding the tomb (Matthew 27:66), and no one was going to roll that stone away for them (Mark 16:3). It was a real test of their faith and courage to seek Christ's tomb, but they had to wait. His disciples had really given up at that time, hiding because their Master was dead (John 20:19). Three days is a long time for anybody to be dead. Most bodies start decaying and smelling at the time. Who would even think Christ could possibly come back from the dead at that time?

But three days is only part of the picture. Good Friday is significant because Christ saved us from the fiery and horrible pits of hell. He died in our place when we justly deserve death and eternal separation from God by being in hell. Three days - Christ stayed dead. He was utterly and completely dead. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Jesus was dead in the tomb for three days. He predicted that He would be dead for three days, and He stayed dead for three days. Those who were His followers had to develop their faith in anticipation for Sunday. They had to muster their courage in order to approach His tomb Easter Sunday.

But Easter Sunday comes next. None of this matters if Easter Sunday did not happen. Christ truly did rise again, and that significance will be posted here Saturday night.

Blessings,
JO

Why Good Friday?

2011-04-21T22:14:00.001-07:00

Every year, "those Christians" get together, talking about some guy dying on the cross, and supposedly He rises again.

The guy's name? Jesus Christ.

What's the big deal about Good Friday? Why do millions of these people gather at churches across the world to recognize this holiday?

You probably heard the same tale time and time again... Jesus came to earth, died on the Cross, and rose again on Easter Sunday. Sure, we've heard that one before.

But without realizing the significance of this death, Jesus' death is just that... someone dying.

Arguably, one of the most controversial terms in our political correct world today is "hell." I'm not talking about the "Go to Hell, Carolina" chant that Duke students yell at their archrivals every time they play basketball. I'm talking about a real place, the place that when mentioned, a lot of people roll their eyes, saying, "Yeah, right. That place."

Hell IS a real place. It's clear in the Bible what this place is... a lake of fire (Revelation 20:10), where the worm does not die (Mark 9:48), a place that is worth losing an arm or a foot or an eye in order to not getting into it (Mark 9:45-47). It's also a place of complete isolation and separation from the Holy Almighty God (Luke 16:26). For those of you who say "Okay, the Bible says something about it, but is it even true?" There is very little I can do to try and convince you on this point. The best thing I would say to you is, "Read it, and see for yourself." I would challenge you to disprove what we Christians consider God's Word. (And don't think pointing out one verse in one corner and one verse in another corner will be considered a challenge... the Bible is readable, but it must be read properly, just as reading a math textbook requires proper understanding on what it means.)

Why am I pointing out hell in a Good Friday blog post? It is the significance of hell that points out the significance of Jesus Christ's death. If hell really isn't a bad place, then why would we need to be saved by God? If hell is really not a bad destination, then why do Christians make it their mission to preach the Good News to everyone?

I have to admit that this point was driven home to me by Dr. Larry Dixon at Columbia International University in a piece that he wrote and is being used in a Systematic Theology class. If it doesn't matter where we are headed, then Christ's sacrifice is absolutely useless.

Hell is not only a real place, it is a really bad place. It is the eternal place of suffering and turmoil. No amount of attempts of self-preservation will help you once you enter into this place. The pain and the misery that awaits those who are headed in that direction have no idea what is coming next.

Now some of you are saying, "Dude, you're doing the doomsday scenario thing. It's all smoke and alarms. It's not real."

But I'm telling you now... it's real. Not believing does not make it any less rational or real. For those of you who want to use rationality as an argument, let's put it this way... we not only say we know the truth, but we are saying that God's truth is given to us. No one dares to claim they know about everything in this world. However, if there is a supreme God who provides us with the truth, then how is it rational to ignore the truth?

The issue of sin has plagued all mankind since the Fall of Man... courtesy of Adam and Eve. Some of you might say, "Okay, so couldn't God just forgive us?" Yes, He could do that, but then, what love is that? It's about as deep as someone being murdered, and then the victim's family goes "Oh, okay. No big deal. I forgive you." Man died when he sinned against God. The soul corrupted... unable to commune with God. What God created as perfect, man screwed it up. God is holy, and He is just. If there is sin, then someone must pay for it.

Here's the thing... God did show His love, a much greater love then what He could have shown by just forgiving us. He provided His Son Jesus Christ in order to pay for our sin. This is the equivalent of a man killing someone, and then the victim's father saying, "I not only forgive you, but I am going to give you my son to take your place in the death penalty." What insane person on earth would ever do that? Heck, I would never consider doing that.

But God did. He gave Jesus Christ, His Son, to die for us on the Cross in our place. It is pain unbearable. Jesus cried out to His Father, screaming, "My God, MY GOD! Why have you forsaken me?" In other words, "God, You have ditched me. Where the heck are you at the time I need You the most?" It's the pain where no one can help you.

That is the reason why Good Friday is so important to "those Christians." The pain, agony, and shame of my sin can be wiped away because Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior, and Friend, died in my place. What I deserve is death. What I received was grace and mercy... grace to receive what I don't deserve, which is the free gift of eternal life, and mercy to not receive what I really do deserve, which is death and eternal punishment in the fiery pits of hell.

And that's not all... Easter Sunday completes the story! That is coming up in Saturday's post. However, I hope that this "rant" helps you see that what we Christians believe is not a message of hate and restriction, which I think a lot of people see us in that way. A lot of people say, "Being a Christian just has so many rules... don't do this, don't do that." I would say that's wrong... The message of the Good News is love incomprehensible and true freedom. We can't explain why God would do this, but we know that God's nature is to love us. Is He just? Absolutely. Is He love? Even a greater absolutely!

Good Friday is a significant holiday. It contains a very sad overshadow to it, but light of Easter Sunday peeks into this day, for on the third day, He rose again.

May this Good Friday be one where you remember why Christians observe this sacred day. Easter Sunday is just around the corner, and so is the most powerful reason for our salvation... the defeat of death, and the blockade on the path to hell.

~ JO

Thanking God for what you have

2011-03-26T18:56:00.000-07:00

How often do you have moments when you feel like no one cares about you? Or maybe you wish you had more money or stuff... maybe a cool iPad 2 or one of those nifty Android smartphones. Simply put... you're not happy. Things can always be better for you.

Maybe you wish that you didn't have certain things... such as a pesky sibling or an annoying relative. Maybe there's something you take for granted... and don't realize that not having it really does affect you.

I had the unpleasant experience two weeks ago of getting my wisdom teeth removed. I only had three... I don't know how much worse it would have been if I had four! For almost a week, I had to endure through pain, pasty/soupy food, and feeling absolutely unproductive. If I talked for any more than two minutes at a time, it hurt! I mean, it hurt so much that I couldn't do anything... that included watching TV.

Some of you may be thinking I'm a little bit of a masochist because I didn't take my prescribed narcotics... I just didn't want to touch the stuff. Advil and Aleve were somewhat helpful, but it still did hurt... a lot.

As I endured through the horrible pain and suffering (pascho in Koine Greek... it means "I am suffering"), I realized just how important my mouth really is. Seriously... we might complain about our crooked teeth or somebody's kiss of death breath, but very rarely do we realize just how horrible it really is to not be able to eat or talk.

I became mighty thankful after that experience. I began to appreciate more of what God has given me. So what if I don't look like that "perfect guy" on the beach? I don't have to look like The Situation. God didn't design me that way... if He did, then you'll probably be watching me on "Jersey Shore" or on some other hot TV show. However, the talents God has given me is a responsibility that I bear. I must use it for God's glory. I can't make the excuse Moses tried to use... "God, I can't speak." This was the guy who could have been the prince of Egypt, and he was groomed for it, and now, he was telling God he couldn't do it. God wasn't happy about that... "Who made man's mouth?"

I hope that you realize that you have amazing talents. Some are talented with music... others with knowledge... and still others, the ability to inspire and build others up. Use those talents... and be thankful for what God has given you. Engage that mind of yours... laziness never pays, and it comes with a price.

Hope you have a blessed day wherever you are,
Jonathan Oh

God is with you

2011-03-06T07:31:00.000-08:00

But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me. (Psalm 13:5-6 ESV)

For most of you, March is a difficult month. Many, if not all of your New Year's Resolutions, have gone by the wayside. You're only halfway to the summer vacation months, but your tank of energy is near empty. If people around you are making your life difficult, you might feel a little bit like King David in Psalm 13:

How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? (Psalm 13:1-2 ESV)

It's understandable that during difficult situations, God seems distant. You're going, "Where in the world is God?" Sometimes it feels that your prayers aren't going pass the ceiling. It looks like God is answering your prayers with a big, fat NO. How do you deal with that?

First off, I want to say that you're not alone. Many people suffer with this feeling of being distant from God. Some of you are even saying, "I'm spending a lot of time with God through praying and reading God's Word. What am I missing?"

Sometimes the best way to grow closer to God are in situations like these. Even when it seems like those around you who don't follow God are prospering, true joy and happiness awaits for those who are in Christ. Nothing on this earth will satisfy.

Just like David is crying out to God in this psalm, you should also be crying out to God. Pour out your heart to God. God desires to hear from you, and He knows exactly what you're going through. God will draw close to you when you come closer to Him.

Take heart, and trust in God's steadfast love. Even in difficult times, sing to the Lord. You will be able to experience God in ways you never have before. If we can help you do that, don't hesitate to let us know. E-mail me at jonathan.oh@sandolpc.org.

In Christ,
Jonathan Oh

Don't Sink or Swim... Walk.

2011-01-16T06:28:00.000-08:00

Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." - Matthew 14:27 (NIV)

How is 2011 going for you? Has it been a smooth start, or has it already been one where the waves and sea are crashing against you?

In Matthew 14:22-33, Jesus had just performed a significant miracle: The feeding of 5000 men (and that number doesn't include women and children, which could easily drive the entire number of people served to about 15,000) from five loaves of bread and two fish. No one on earth could do something like that, but oddly enough, the disciples still didn't get it.

In the passage, Jesus goes off to pray while the disciples head across the sea. I wonder if the disciples were asking themselves, "Hey, if we leave Jesus here and take the boat across, how is He going to get Himself to the other side to meet us?" By the time they were halfway across, they forgot that question. It was too stormy, and they were desperately trying to survive.

Jesus, after praying, decided to meet His disciples... by walking on water. No doubt the disciples freaked out (v. 26). They thought it was a ghost. However, Jesus told them that it was Him who was coming to meet them.

Here is a critical point in the passage: Peter, who was known to put His foot in His mouth a few times, decided to ask Jesus to allow Peter to come across the water. Jesus granted him this wish, and Peter is the only other man on earth to walk on water. We might find it foolish for Peter to ask such a request, but maybe out of a little mouth flap came a level of faith that is incredibly high.

However, sometimes spiritual highs come with some serious resistance. In verse 30, we see Peter seeing the big waves, and He started to get scared, and that caused Him to sink. We might sit here and think, "Aw, come on... it was a good thing Peter had until he got insecure."

Our lives are much like Peter's. We are insecure in many ways, and even though we go through events that really get us fired up for God, reality sets in. Faith in God is never designed to be easy, and it's okay to make a mistake. What matters is that you see that ultimately your faith must be fully rested in God. Notice that Jesus still helped Peter as He was sinking. He did ask a pointed question: "Why did you doubt?" (v. 31) However, Jesus took care of Peter.

In our life's storms, we are tempted to get freaked out, and we will run into times of being afraid. There's nothing wrong depending on God during a difficult time. There's nothing wrong depending on God during the good times. In fact, we should be depending on God all the time. Fear sets in only when we know that we are not in a controlled situation. God is always in control. If you trust in Him to control the situation, you can rest in the fact that He will take care of you.

Insecurity is easy to find. Dependence on God is harder to apply. However, God cares immensely for you. Have faith to ask Jesus to walk on water in your own life. You will encounter incredible things that you never experienced before.

2011: Request to be different

2011-01-01T07:58:00.001-08:00

“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,
“‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.” (Matthew 11:16-19 ESV)

Happy New Year, and welcome to 2011!

What an opportunity for a fresh start... a clean slate... maybe a few resolutions to straighten out your life?

Usually people think about losing weight, quitting a bad habit, or maybe even going to church more often. Great goals always come around January 1, and there is nothing wrong with that. On New Year's Eve on December 31, 2010, I was among all the folks at church who took the time to write down prayer requests for the year 2011. These aren't just goals -- these are requests for God to answer. They're more than just resolutions -- these are things we are submitting to God. It probably isn't what most people consider the typical New Year's Eve activity.

Take a look at this passage from Matthew. John the Baptist, who was sitting in jail, wondered whether Jesus Christ was the Messiah to come, or if He was merely some special teacher. You can't exactly blame John, who totally was expecting a powerful Messiah who would overthrow the Romans and be in power. Sure, John also believed Jesus as the Messiah, but when you're stuck in jail, somehow that thought doesn't really help.

Jesus told the messengers to tell John about all the wonderful things that are happening because God the Son is on this earth. After speaking about that, Jesus talks about John the Baptist. John was an odd character... he wore some rad clothes, and frankly, he probably looked a little crazy too. Many folks, including the priests and teachers, despised John. Jesus points out how John isn't playing their games, and they hate him for it.

As Christians, we can't be sucked into the same worldly pattern, conforming to what the people want. We are definitely in the world, but we are not of the world. We are to shine the light for Christ. John was definitely frowned upon by others, and guess what those same people did to Jesus?

New Year's Day comes around every 365.25 days. It's time for a fresh start. Why don't we start off with a simple request: That we may be a radical force in the world to bring truth and light to a place that only appreciates the self-centered world of popularity and materialism? If our focus is the reflect who Christ is, then all those resolutions become prayer requests, and God hears our requests. He may not answer them in the way we want it, but He will definitely give us the best answer.

If you don't know who Christ is, let me invite you to explore more about the person we Christians call "Our Savior." For because He loved us so much, He was sent to die for us, and if we believe in Him, we will live forever in a pure, unbreakable relationship with God.

Welcome to 2011. May this New Year bring you much joy, happiness, peace, and ultimately, a life of light to all.

Many blessings wherever you are,
Jonathan Oh

2011: A New Blog

2010-12-11T10:06:00.000-08:00

Howdy, howdy!

This, I should say, is version 4.0 of my blog. The blogs of my college and early working years are archived and gone. Don't ask for them... they're not that interesting anyway.

2011 will be a fascinating year for me. I embark on a brand new online project, which I feel will be revolutionary, but that's just my humble opinion. More details on that as I continue to develop and program "it". ;) Maybe I should give it a codename or something... I'll call it "Bedford Falls."

Meanwhile, if you had read my previous blog postings, you may have known about my perspective on social media... it's good and beneficial to the general public, but don't let it consume you. That's the perspective I will hold with this blog. I'll post to it as often as I am interested and am able, and you are welcome to join along for the ride.

Aside from project "Bedford Falls," I'll do a little political and IT analysis here from time to time, and you're welcome to fire away your thoughts. I'll also dabble on spiritual things as well.

In the meantime, I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas. May the joyous celebration of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be a blessing to you this holiday season! See you in 2011.

Hope you have a good day wherever you are,
JO