#chogen

Chōgen (重源) (1121-1206), also known as Shunjōbō Chōgen (俊乗坊重源), was a Japanese Buddhist monk. From 1181 he devoted twenty-five years of his life to the endowment and rebuilding of Tōdai-ji after its destruction in war.

Painted wooden sculpture, 82 cm, beginning 13th century

A pamphlet from the Shunjōdō Hall (俊乗堂) of Tōdaiji Temple (東大寺) in Nara, featuring a close-up of the hall’s sculpted image of the monk Chōgen (重源) (1121-1206) who was responsible for collecting funds for the rebuilding of Tōdaiji after its wartime destruction in 1180

And God Said – excerpt from Unbreakable, Andrew Wilson. “In the beginning, God. Everything was shapeless, and empty, and dark.  Blobs of unsorted, unformed matter drifting though space. An enormous cosmic splodge. A Scribble.   And God said, “Lights”. And it happened.   And God said, and it happened. And God said, and it happened.   And the snake said, “did God really say that? Are you going to let your lives be restricted by what you think He said?” And the humans didn’t. And it all went wrong.   And God said, and it happened.   And God said, and Israel didn’t although sometimes they did, but mostly they didn’t. And God said, and it happened.   And God said, “Here’s my boy. I love Him. Listen.”   And the snake said, “Are you really the Son of God? Why not do this, then?”   And Jesus said “It is written.”   And the humans said, “Who do you think you are?”   And Jesus said, “It is written in the scriptures”   And the Snake said, “give it up, Miracle Boy”   And Jesus Said “How else will the Scriptures be fulfilled?”   And the humans said, “Crucify Him.” And it happened.  

Silence.   “Did God really say?”  

And God said, “Lights.”   And it happened. “

 Point 1: The Bible is the Word of God.

If someone wrote a book on how to transform from Ugly Betty to Scarlet Johansson or a book on how to beat Faker in LOL, or how to become a billionaire, we would be reading it eagerly and with anticipation. In fact, we would read it day-night and follow every word.

So why can’t we do that with the Bible?

 We should not see reading the Bible like a textbook or a chore or like it’s “How To Kill a Mockingbird” In an English Lesson Friday period 6.

 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1  

 The Word was there at the very beginning, It is written by God. Author and Creator of the World. It is incomparable to any best-selling book in history. It is the living and breathing. When we take the Bible in our hands, we are in fact holding the words and thoughts of God. We have the words spoken to ancient prophets and words that have lived through the ages.

 Not only that, God speaks through the Scriptures. His words are not just for communication, but for creation. When God says, it happens. It is amazing, that when we hold and read the Bible, we are in fact reading that words from which everything came into being.

  Point 2: The bible is no ordinary book.

And because the Bible is the Word of God, it is no ordinary book.

 “Harry wept” (Harry potter), “Bella wept.” (Twilight) is completely different to “Jesus wept.” John 11:35. The depth and the meaning is incomparable. The bible is the only book that tugs at the reader every single time. And every single time in a different way.

 It is infallible, there is no mistake in it. “The Law of the Lord if perfect” Psalm 19:7

The bible is complete, Revelation 22:18-19. You don’t need a series or 7 books to be made to 9 movies. It’s perfect and it is finished.

The Bible has complete Authority. God says and it happens.

The bible is sufficient. The word of God can take somebody, a person dying, hopeless and empty, a sinner and save them. It is complete for our salvation. Not only that, it teaches us and transforms us. There was a man who once asked a missionary for a bible so he can use it to roll his cigarettes. The missionary gave him one, but on the condition that before he rips it out he has to read it. The man has not even finished the book of John when he came back in tears, asking about Jesus Christ. The Word of God saves.

The bible is effective. It has power 1 Thessalonians 1:5.

The Bible is the truth, John 17:17. So when we have questions and need answers – don’t go to Google! Go to the Bible. The world corrupts us continuously with lies, we must go to the Word of God, the Word of life.

 Point 3: Jesus did, so should we.

“Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness

4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.

6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,

    and they will lift you up in their hands,

    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.

9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.” Matthew 4:1-11

 Jesus Christ, the Son of God used the Scriptures to fight. Now, let that sink in for a moment. Jesus Christ, The Son of God used the Scriptures to fight.

Although Jesus was 100% man, He was 100% God, that means that He had power to use all of heaven’s resources. But He chose to fight during temptation using the Word of God. Jesus said “It is written” not once, not a tactical change against the devil but every single time. Basically Jesus is saying “You (devil) are trying to tempt me, but the Scriptures have spoken. End of conversation.” Whenever we are tempted or facing challenges, we have to use the Word of God. 

Jesus shows His love for the Word through his heart (He is satisfied, it is enough), through his mind (He understands the Word) and His will (His obedience to the Scriptures).

All of this is true for Jesus, and as Christians (“like Christ”), this should also be true for us.

Through our bible study AND through our quiet time, our prayer should be that we grow to become like Christ. To be satisfied with the Word of God, to understand it and to obey it.

 Application:

The bible is determinative. How we use it and apply it will determine our lives. The Christian life is not based on what we do, because Jesus did it all, but rather on how we respond.

Will we see the Bible as something precious that so many of our brothers and sisters have lost their lives for, as the Word of God that brought all things into being? Will we read the Bible with the expectancy to hear God speak to us and to discover Him more? Will we follow Jesus’ example or will we remain in the dark, remain reading it from one ear and out the other completely disregarding the sacrifices of many and the power Scripture holds?

 References:

Unbreakable, Andrew Wilson.