The Power of The Gospel

The Power of The Gospel

 Luke 19:1-10

CROSSOVER Reflection

Insight #1

Objective: To be able to understand that the Gospel IS the power of God to draw a sinner to Him for salvation.

Observation: The story of Zac is a good illustration to explain that a person with a correct understanding of God will find himself drawn to encounter Him personally. 

           

            Gospel means “good news” and by that we have the idea that a person who hears it will surely get happy. By logic, any good news that makes a person sad is not really good news.

            What made Zac that he wanted to see Jesus? What motivated him to find ways at all cost just to overcome the surrounding obstacles at hand; the crowd that is prejudice toward him because he is a tax collector, his stature being short that he can hardly see Jesus? What prompted him to run that he should pull up first the skirt of his robe to knee knowing that he would be humiliated by doing so? What braved him to climbed the thorny sycamore tree and jumped from one branch to another just to get an angle for him to see Jesus clearly. It was a no ordinary experience to Zac, really.

            Passion is defined as something that a person is willing to die for. In other words, it is what we call a “burning desire”! If this is the case, how then it was true in Zac’s life. Was he the one to develop it within him? I don’t think so…considering the reality of his whole situation (the spiritual and social aspects)! Zac is totally sucked…prejudiced, condemned by the public. He is totally helpless. Fearful.

            I see something that answers the question of what made Zac to desire to see Jesus. I believe it is the GOSPEL that Zac heard that birthed the desire within him.

            Zac heard about Jesus performing miracles, healing the sick, cast out demons, touching while healing the leper, loved the unlovable, and the like. Zac could now have a picture of who Jesus is! He could now imagine how lovely and gracious the person of Jesus! And finally, he realized that he has now found the answer he has been looking for.

            Zac not only heard about the gospel, he personally met the real Gospel and He is Jesus. Zac received salvation! He experienced restoration and a changed life! HE IS A BRAND NEW CREATION!

Note: RIGHT BELIEVING LEADS TO RIGHT LIVING!

Grace is unmerited and undeserved favor of God.

            -Unmerited means not by merit/demerit or by point system

            -Undeserved means for the undeserving!

Jesus made the undeserving Zac deserving to receive His goodness and favor.

Other references:

Psalm 116:12

Romans 2:4

Romans 1:16-17

16 Dili ko ikaulaw ang Maayong Balita kay kini mao ang gahom sa Dios aron pagluwas sa tanan nga motuo, una sa mga Judio, ingon man sa mga dili Judio. 17 Kay gipadayag sa Maayong Balita ang paagi sa Dios sa paghimong matarong sa tawo ug kini pinaagi sa pagtuo gikan sa sinugdan hangtod sa kataposan. Sumala sa kasulatan, “Ang gihimong matarong sa Dios mabuhi pinaagi sa pagtuo.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

Mga igsoon, pahinumdoman ko kamo sa Maayong Balita nga giwali ko kaninyo. Gidawat ninyo kini ug gibarogan ninyo ang inyong pagtuo. 2 Mao kini ang Maayong Balita, ang mensahe nga akong giwali kaninyo. Maluwas kamo pinaagi sa Maayong Balita kon magpabilin kamo niini nga malig-on–gawas kon taphaw lamang ang inyong pagtuo. 3 Gitudlo ko kaninyo ang akong nadawat nga mahinungdanon kaayo: kini mao nga si Cristo namatay alang sa atong mga sala sumala sa nahisulat sa Kasulatan. 4 Gilubong siya ug sa ikatulo ka adlaw gibanhaw sumala sa nahisulat sa Kasulatan.