Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Marcos 1:14-20)

Sang napriso si Juan nga manugbautiso, nagkadto si Jesus sa Galilea kag nagwali sang Maayong Balita nga halin sa Dios.

Nagsiling siya, "Nag-abot na ang tion nga gintagna sang mga propeta sang una. Ang paghari sang Dios malapit na gid. Gani maghinulsol kamo sa inyo mga sala kag magtuo sa Maayong Balita."

Isa sadto ka adlaw, sang nagalakat si Jesus sa higad sang Linaw sang Galilea, nakita niya ang mag-utod nga si Simon kag si Andres nga nagaladlad sang pukot. Mga mangingisda sila.

Nagsiling si Jesus sa ila, "Sunod kamo sa akon kag indi na isda ang inyo pangitaon, kay tudluan ko kamo sa pagpangisda sang mga tawo."

Sa gilayon ginbayaan nila ang ila mga pukot kag nagsunod sa iya.

Pagkatapos sadto, nagpadayon si Jesus sa paglakat, kag sa unhan nakita niya ang mag-utod nga si Santiago kag si Juan nga mga anak ni Zebedeo. Yara sila sa ila sakayan nga nagapamuna sang ila pukot.

Gintawag dayon sila ni Jesus. Ginbayaan nila didto sa sakayan ang ila amay nga si Zebedeo upod sang mga sinuhulan nga mga tawo, kag nagsunod sila kay Jesus.

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Meditation:

What is the gospel of God which Jesus came to preach? The word "gospel" literally means "good news". When a king had good news to deliver to his subjects he sent messengers or heralds throughout the land to make a public announcement – such as the birth of a new king or the defeat of an invading army or occupied force. God sent his prophets to announce the coming of God's anointed King and Messiah. After Jesus was baptised in the River Jordan and anointed by the Spirit he begins his ministry of preaching the gospel – the good news that the kingdom of God was now at hand for all who were ready to receive it.

What is the kingdom of God? The word "kingdom" means something more than a territory or an area of land. It literally means "sovereignty" or "reign" and the power to "rule" and exercise authority. The prophets announced that God would establish a kingdom not just for one nation or people but for the whole world. The scriptures tell us that God's throne is in heaven and his rule is over all (Psalm 103:19). His kingdom is bigger and more powerful than anything we can imagine because it is universal and everlasting (Daniel 4:3). His kingdom is full of glory, power, and splendor (Psalm 145:11-13). In the Book of Daniel we are told that this kingdom is given to the Son of Man and to the saints (Daniel 7:14,18,22,27). The Son of Man is a Messianic title for God's anointed King. The New Testament word for "Messiah" is "Christ" which literally means the "Anointed One" or the "Anointed King". God sent us his Son not to establish an earthly kingdom but to bring us into his heavenly kingdom – a kingdom ruled by truth, justice, peace, and holiness. The kingdom of God is the central theme of Jesus' mission. It's the core of his gospel message.

As soon as John the Baptist had finished his testimony, Jesus began his in Galilee, his home district. John's enemies had sought to silence him, but the gospel cannot be silenced. Jesus proclaimed that the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. Jesus takes up John's message of repentance and calls disciples to believe in the gospel--the good news he has come to deliver. What is the good news which Jesus delivers? It is the good news of peace (restoration of relationship with God - Ephesians 6:15), of hope (the hope of heaven and everlasting life - Colossians 1:23 ), of truth (God's word is true and reliable - Colossians 1:5), of promise (he rewards those who seek him - Ephesians 3:6)), of immortality (God gives everlasting life - 2 Timothy 1:10), and the good news of salvation (liberty from sin and freedom to live as sons and daughters of God - Ephesians 1:13).

How do we enter the kingdom of God? In announcing the good news, Jesus gave two explicit things each of us must do to in order to receive the kingdom of God: repent and believe. When we submit to Christ's rule in our lives and believe the gospel message the Lord Jesus gives us the grace and power to live a new way of life as citizens of his kingdom. He gives us grace to renounce the kingdom of darkness ruled by sin and Satan, the father of lies (John 8:44) and the ruler of this present world (John 12:31). That is why repentance is the first step. Repentance means to change – to change my way of thinking, my attitude, disposition, and life choices so that Christ can be the Lord and Master of my heart rather than sin, selfishness, and greed. If we are only sorry for the consequences of our sins, we will very likely keep repeating the sin that is mastering us. True repentance requires a contrite heart (Psalm 51:17) and sorrow for sin and a firm resolution to avoid it in the future. The Lord Jesus gives us grace to see sin for what it really is – a rejection of his love and wisdom for our lives and a refusal to do what is good and in accord with his will. His grace brings pardon and help for turning away from everything that would keep us from his love and truth. To believe is to take Jesus at his word and to recognize that God loved us so much that he sent his only begotten Son to free us from bondage to sin and harmful desires. God made the supreme sacrifice of his Son on the cross to bring us back to a relationship of peace and friendship with himself. He is our Father and he wants us to live as his sons and daughters. God loved us first and he invites us in love to surrender our lives to him. Do you believe that the gospel – the good news of Jesus – has power to free you from bondage to sin and fear?

When Jesus preached the gospel message he called others to follow as his disciples and he gave them a mission – "to catch people for the kingdom of God". What kind of disciples did he choose? Smelly fishermen! In the choice of the first apostles we see a characteristic feature of Jesus' work: he chose very ordinary people. They were non-professionals, had no wealth or position. They were chosen from the common people who did ordinary things, had no special education, and no social advantages. Jesus wanted ordinary people who could take an assignment and do it extraordinarily well. He chose these individuals, not for what they were, but for what they would be capable of becoming under his direction and power. When the Lord calls us to serve, we must not think we have nothing to offer. The Lord takes what ordinary people, like us, can offer and uses it for greatness in his kingdom. Do you believe that God wants to work through and in you for his glory?

Jesus speaks the same message to us today: we will "catch people" for the kingdom of God if we allow the light of Jesus Christ to shine through us. God wants others to see the light of Christ in us in the way we live, speak, and witness the joy of the gospel. Paul the Apostles says, But thanks be to God, who in Christ Jesus always leads us in triumph, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing (2 Corinthians 2:15). Do you witness to those around you the joy of the gospel and do you pray for your neighbors, co-workers, and relatives that they may come to know the Lord Jesus Christ and grow in the knowledge of his love?

"Lord Jesus, you have called me personally by name, just as you called your first disciples, Simon, Andrew, James, and John. Help me to believe your word and follow you faithfully. Fill me with the joy of the gospel that your light may shine through me to many others."

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Juan 3:22-30)

Pagkatapos sini nagkadto si Jesus kag ang iya mga sumulunod sa kaumahan sang Judea. Nagtiner sila didto nga nagapangbautiso sa mga tawo.

Nagapangbautiso man si Juan didto sa Enon, malapit sa Salim, kay madamo ang tubig didto. Nagkaladto ang mga tawo kay Juan agod magpabautiso.

(Wala pa sadto napriso si Juan.)

Karon ang iban sa mga sumulunod ni Juan kag ang isa ka Judio nagbinais parte sa bautiso.

Sang ulihi nagkadto sila kay Juan kag nagsiling, "Manunudlo, nadumduman mo bala adtong tawo nga upod mo anay didto sa tabok sang suba sang Jordan, nga imo ginpakilala sa mga tawo? Nagapangbautiso na siya karon kag halos ang tanan nga mga tawo didto na nagakadto sa iya!"

Nagsabat si Juan, "Wala gid sing sarang mahimo ang tawo kon indi pagbuot sang Dios.

Kamo mismo makapamatuod nga nagsiling ako nga indi ako ang Cristo, kundi ginpadala lang ako sang Dios una sa iya para magbalita nga siya magaabot na.

Pareho bala kon may kasal: ang nobya para gid lang sa nobyo, kag ang amigo sang nobyo nga nagatambong kag nagahulat nagakalipay kon mabatian niya nga yara na ang nobyo. Pareho man sa akon karon, nalipay gid ako nga ang mga tawo nagakadto na kay Jesus.

Kinahanglan magdugang pa gid ang pagkabantog ni Jesus, kag ako iya dapat na nga kalimtan."

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Meditation: 

Do you know the joy of the Lord? When the associates of John the Baptist complain that all are now going to Jesus, John in his characteristic humility exclaimed that he was not the Messiah but only the messenger sent to prepare his way. John describes the Messiah as the Bridegroom and himself as the friend of the Bridegroom. The image of marriage and the wedding feast is used throughout the scriptures to describe God's joy in his people, who are regarded as his bride. As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you (Isaiah 62:5). John acted as the best man in arranging the marriage and in making preparations for the marriage feast. John and his disciples rejoice that the Bridegroom has come to make his bride, the church, ready for the marriage feast. We see this fulfilled in the New Jerusalem in the marriage feast of the Lamb and his Bride (see Revelations 21-22). Do you look with joyful anticipation to the consummation of God's plan for his people at the end of the ages? 

"Lord Jesus, help me to fix my eyes on your kingdom and to pray with eager longing and with joyful hope for the day when your people will be fully united with you in the heavenly marriage feast. May there be no nothing in my life which might hinder me from giving you may all, you who are my joy and life".