The Sign of Jonah: Death, Burial, and Resurrection
Speaker: Pastor Caleb Chiu, Pastor Richard Kao
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There is a fellowship with Christ that can only be experienced through suffering.
When Jesus was asked by the Pharisees to show a sign from Heaven, He points to the story of Jonah. The three days he spent in the whale's belly mirrors the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
As we know, dwelling within the stomach of a whale isn't the most comfortable experience. However, Jonah was transformed inside the whale. When he came out, he carried a new zeal that became the catalyst to overturning the destiny of an entire city.
Jonah was able to be a part of this just because he was called to it by God; in fact, he ran the opposite way from where he was supposed to be. Despite him turning away, he was able to be transformed because of his experience of suffering, and the revelation that He received in knowing that only through Him did he still live.
In the same way, the death and resurrection of Jesus is our testimony. If we experience and share in the suffering that He went through, only then can we begin to understand the magnitude of His love. Without the blood of Jesus, we would have no presence to experience for ourselves. Our faith rests on the foundation of the finished work that Jesus did on the cross.~
Lord, may you touch our hearts and make us more like Jonah. Fill us with a lifelong zeal for you that comes when we recognize the power of your resurrection. May you do the work within us in preparation for us to touch our city. May we fellowship in Your suffering so that You can transform us. Turn our feet to where you have called us even if we are fearful!
Leviticus: It’s All About Jesus
Speaker: Pastor Caleb Chiu
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It's all about Jesus.
Everything. Is about Jesus.
Even in Old Testament books like Leviticus that may seem dry at first read but, as we look closer, reveal the wisdom and poetry of a God, of a Father who had a plan for redemption all along.
Leviticus 14:1-8 details the process by which a person diseased with leprosy is pronounced clean by the priest. In God's masterful wisdom, it is also a picture of the Gospel - of how Christ, our Great High Priest, cleanses us from sin. We are made clean through the cross (cedar wood) and through His blood (scarlet yarn). And it is through our faith and confession (hyssop) that we apply His blood to cover our lives.
Christ's death (the bird that is killed) and resurrection life (the live bird that is released) come together. Like the live bird dipped in water and blood, we are released to spread the washing of water and the covering of His blood over our families and communities, as we overcome the accuser - by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11).
~Holy Spirit, open our eyes and stir our hearts to the profound affection of Your redemption of our souls.
Father, this was Your plan all along - that the suffering Lamb would release life and make a way for us to come home to You.
Jesus, perfect Lamb who was slain and raised to life, thank you. May we never lose the gift of tenderness and tears.
May we never become familiar with the Gospel.