Tag Archives: suffering

tetelestai

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Tetelestai.

Do you know any Greek words? (Besides gyro!)

As Jesus was hanging on the cross, he spoke this word, tetelestai. See John 19:30

A summary of its definition would be:

“To bring to an end, complete, fulfill, reaching the end (aim). It is well-illustrated with the old pirate’s telescope, unfolding (extending out) one stage at a time to function at full-strength (capacity effectiveness).”

As you watch the final video in the Suffering Beyond Belief series, think about that phrase.

Jesus completed something but what, exactly, was it?

 

I hope that this practical and scientific look at the suffering of Jesus has been enlightening.

What he did for us is truly amazing.

Is your faith expanded or emptied?

There will be one more post regarding these videos that will recap all of them. Also, in that post, I will share my personal thoughts about Jesus and the cross.

Thank you.

Cranberry Tea Time: It Is Finished

Flogging

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When you were young(er), did you ever snap someone with a towel?

You know what I am talking about, right?

At the pool or in the locker room, you have a wet towel. After a few spins, it becomes a weapon. You flick the towel and SNAP!, your friend grabs his thigh and screams.

If you hit it just right, you can draw blood.

It sounds mean but we were just having a bit of fun as kids can do.

How to Snap a Towel: 12 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow

But I am not talking about snapping a towel here.

Part 3, in my Suffering Beyond Belief series, is about whipping. Specifically, the whipping of Jesus.

 

 

I cannot comprehend the pain, torture, and agony that a person would experience while being flogged. It boggles my mind.

As we see again, Jesus takes all of it. And yet there is more.

You can look for part 4 later this week.

As always, thank you for reading/watching.

Suffering Beyond Belief

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I am back! It has been almost four months since my last post.

Now I want to start writing again.

For most of my life, I have let fear control me.

More specifically, when I am afraid, I freeze.

frozen in fear

Fear of failure or letting someone down (and 50 other reasons why I fear), typically brings me to a position of nothing.

I don’t move.

No progress. No fighting head-on. Lack of courage.

But I am stepping out right now.

Despite my fears, I want to post some videos I have created.

There are a total of 5 of them.

I’ve entitled the series, “Suffering Beyond Belief”.

Here is the link to Episode 1

 

To be honest, I am not even sure why I am afraid. I just know that I was fearful of posting since last December.

I could probably list some reasons but that would be stupid. And defeating.

Today is a new day. I am moving on from a state of fear.

These videos have a few reasons why they exist:

  1. They are educational. I teach high school science and these videos were mandatory for my students.
  2. They are entertaining. Well, not super exciting but I don’t think they are boring.
  3. They are enriching. I believe these videos can bolster one’s faith.

If you stick with me and watch all five videos, you should be able to answer this question;

Does science expand your faith and or empty your faith?

scienceand faith

Thanks for reading and watching. See you soon.

Lent, pt. 13

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As I mentioned yesterday, I want to share some thoughts on Mark 5.

Here are the verses:

“A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”” NIV Mark 5:24b-34

This is a somewhat familiar story. It might not rank with the feeding of the 5000 or David and Goliath, but it still has great meaning and potential for you and me.

This passage is multi-faceted so it will take a few days to get through it.

To start with, there is an overall aspect that is most important.

For the woman in the story, her goal was to get to Jesus.

Let that sink in.

Jesus was the goal.

For us, during this Lent season, Jesus should be our goal.

Whatever the pain, people, or problems that we encounter, Jesus is our aim.

As you sleep tonight, dream of that goal. That glorious goal of someday being with Jesus.

Ah, what a glorious day indeed.

See you tomorrow!