For those of you who may be wondering what’s next, we’re pleased to announce that the same team that brought you E100 are going to launch Essential Jesus in May of 2011!

Essential Jesus is a Bible reading campaign of the same style as E100.  It contains 100 readings through the life of Jesus, including 25 in the Old Testament and 75 in the New Testament.  We’re already planning the development of the resources which will include a companion book by the same author as E100, a personal planner and a small group resource.  Plans are underway to develop an awesome resource for kids too!

Essential Jesus is a great follow-on resource from E100.  We’ll have more details soon.

Thanks for taking part in E100.  You’re a part of a crowd of more than 25,000 taking the challenge.  Praise God for all he is doing with E100!

The E100 Team

Bible Society New Zealand, Scripture Union and Wycliffe Bible Translators New Zealand

Welcome to day 100.  Today’s reading is Revelation 21:1 – 22:21

Read the Bible passage here or listen to the audio file below.

From Otago University New Testament Professor Paul Trebilco…

Revelation 21 and 22 give an amazing picture of the New Jerusalem – the future city of God where God will be with his people for eternity.

It’s hard – indeed impossible – for us to imagine heaven and eternity. But the passage is full of amazing images to help us to understand the new Jerusalem – images of God “making all things new” (21:5), of receiving “a gift from the spring of the water of life” (21:6), and of a huge city whose wall is of pure gold (21:18). We’re told that the glory of God is the light of the city, and the Lamb its lamp (21:23) and so there is no night. And the leaves of the tree of life are for the healing of the nations (22:2).

These are all images of wholeness, of re-creation, of restoration, of eternity. Such images are to bring joy and comfort and refreshment to us.

Of course we are not to be so heavenly-minded that we are of no earthly use. Revelation, like the rest of the Bible, calls us to live for God day by day, to be faithful in the pilgrimage of life even when it is tough.

But for Christians throughout the world who suffer for their faith, it is a great encouragement that this eternal life with God is a sure and dependable hope. For us in New Zealand these days, it does matter that God has such a future prepared for God’s people. For being a faithful follower of our Lord Jesus Christ here is not easy – and at times can be very demanding. The good news is that our hope is secure.

The end of the Book of Revelation is written so that we know how the story will end – and it will be a great ending! We don’t know the specifics and the details. But we do know that God will dwell with his people forever; we know that God “will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away. … See I am making all things new” (Rev 21:4-5). Amen!

Paul

Welcome to day 99.  Today’s reading is Revelation 19:1 – 20:15

Read the Bible passage here or listen to the audio file below.

From Otago University New Testament Professor Paul Trebilco…

When we look at the world all around us, it’s easy to despair. Things certainly aren’t right as they are. Will bad things always keep happening? Will evil triumph?

Revelation 19-20 speaks of God’s future judgment – that a day will come when God will judge the world. Those whose names are written in the book of life will be given eternal life. Those whose names are not written in that book will not be saved. And the powers that oppose God – Satan and Death itself – will be defeated, judged and condemned. In fact the decisive event has already happened in the cross – when Satan lost the decisive battle.

So the passage shows us that the future – and the eternal goal of all things – is in God’s hands. We can know that God will work his purposes out for our world.

In the face of evil and suffering here and now, we can in faith, be confident that God has the world and its future in his hands. We can know that God is righteous. As Revelation 19:2 says, God’s “judgments are true and just”, and Jesus here is called “Faithful and True”.

In the light of this, the key thing for us is to be part of all that God is doing now – to be part of the solution, and not part of the problem for this world. And we can also join in the praise of heaven now. For in Revelation 19:6-7 we read:

“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory”.

We can join in that praise of heaven in the present – in fact in the face of tragedy and evil in our world, giving glory to God and repeatedly reminding ourselves that “the Lord our God the Almighty reigns” is what God calls us to do.

Paul

Welcome to day 98.  Today’s reading is Revelation 4:1 – 7:17

Read the Bible passage here or listen to the audio file below.

From Otago University New Testament Professor Paul Trebilco…

Revelation 4-7 starts with a vision of worship in heaven to God and to the Lamb. The passage then describes the havoc on earth that results from the opening of the seals, and ends with the worship of heaven again.

A crucial point in Revelation is in Chapter 5 verse 2. There an angel asks, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” The scroll is about God’s judgement.

No one is found who is worthy to open the scroll. But then one of the elders says, “Do not weep. See the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” This is Jesus; as the Lion of the tribe of Judah he is clearly the strong, conquering Messiah.

Yet note how Rev 5:6 goes on: “Then I saw … a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered”. John is told of the Lion, but when John sees the Lion of Judah, what he sees is actually the Lamb, who has been killed and has risen to Life. The Lion is revealed as a Lamb.

Jesus conquers, but as the Lamb who has been slain. It is through his death on the cross that Jesus has conquered sin and evil. Jesus is the powerful Lion, but he establishes the Kingdom through his death. He shows he is the Lord of Lords, by suffering and dying as the Lamb, dying for the world, and for those he so loves. He reigns – because he died. So the Lion is the Lamb. This challenges all our worldly ideas of power.

Jesus, our Lord, is the all-powerful one, who has conquered all his enemies. But he has conquered as the slaughtered Lamb. He is the Servant Lord. This is the one we are to follow, who as Revelation 7:17 says, will be our Shepherd and “will guide us to springs of the water of life”.

Paul

Welcome to day 97.  Today’s reading is Revelation 2:1 – 3:22

Read the Bible passage here or listen to the audio file below.

From Otago University New Testament Professor Paul Trebilco…

In Revelation 2-3, we have seven real letters that John wrote to particular churches in Western Asia Minor – modern day Turkey – at the end of the first century. These churches are in a whole range of situations – some have been faithful and are commended, but most of them have in some way fallen short of what God wants them to be. They are urged to repent.

These seven letters remind us that life in the church has never been easy. Some of these churches – like the church in Pergamum – were in very hostile environments and are commended for holding fast to the faith. Others have gone off the rails theologically – and are called back to be faithful. Or there is the infamous church at Laodicea that was well off materially, but had become spiritually impoverished and unfruitful.

Only two churches are wholeheartedly commended – Smyrna and Philadelphia. Smyrna is said to be poverty-stricken (2:9) and Philadelphia is said to “have but little power, and yet you have kept my word” (3:8). Both churches seem to be weak, powerless and insignificant in the eyes of the world. Yet they clearly rely on God’s power. This reminds us that the most important thing about any church is not its size or so-called success, but rather whether it really relies on God in everything it does. When we are weak and insignificant the Lord Jesus can be strong through us – provided we depend on him.

But the risen Jesus also does not give up on all of these wayward or highly mixed churches. The church will not be perfect this side of heaven – what is important is that we take heed of the words of the Son of God to us in Scripture and through each other and that we “listen to what the Sprit is saying to the churches”.

Paul

Welcome to day 96.  Today’s reading is Revelation 1:1 – 1:20.

Read the Bible passage here or listen to the audio file below.

From Otago University New Testament Professor Paul Trebilco…

The Book Revelation is of course a vision from God. But it opens in Revelation 1 as a letter – John is writing to seven churches in Asia Minor. As a letter it would have been of great relevance to these first readers.

It was a message of comfort, encouragement and hope to Christians who had been experiencing a very hard time and who were facing on-going persecution.

In this situation, the seven churches are called “seven lampstands” and they are told in Revelation 1:13 that Jesus stands in their midst – he is with them as they suffer!

Chapter 1 also gives us a vision of the risen Jesus in radiant, divine glory. John sees Jesus as the Holy One with ultimate power and authority. The vision of the awesome character of the risen Lord causes John to collapse as if he was dead. He is then told that Jesus is “the first and the last” – the one who is the source of all life, and the goal of all life. He is “the living one”.

The astounding thing is that “the living one” was dead (v18) – he died on the cross. Yet he also now says “I am alive forever and ever and I have the keys of Death and of Hades”.

In the cross, Jesus, the source of life, has submitted to death. But he has conquered death, and is alive forever! He has the keys of Death and of Hades – which means he has conquered both!

So these seven churches to whom John writes are to know that whatever happens to them – and whatever happens to us – Jesus is the Lord of all, and even Lord over death itself.

Paul

Welcome to day 95.  Today’s reading is 1 John 3:11 – 4:21

Read the Bible passage here or listen to the audio file below.

From musician, Kris Baines…

I love to read the letters that the Apostle John wrote, because they demonstrate so vividly, the change that took place in his life, through his relationship with Jesus.

The subject that John writes most about is love – love for God, and love for others – but ironically, this is the same John, who along with his brother James, were known as “The Son’s Of Thunder” – and I know they didn’t get that name because they were always bursting into tears when they had to do something difficult, or because their favourite hobby was bird watching.

Not at all – in fact, it was these two brothers, who got so outraged at the way people were responding, or rather, not responding, to the ministry of Jesus – that they wanted to copy Elijah and call down fire from heaven and turn everyone into toast!

And yet here we see, years later, after being transformed by Christ – the title John was affectionately known by – was “the Apostle of love”.

John came to know, deep in his heart, that as Jesus had said previously – ALL of the teaching of the Bible, ALL of the words of Jesus – can be summed up in one simple message – and that is to LOVE GOD, AND LOVE OTHERS.

John reminds us that from the beginning, God had commanded this – as he speaks of Cain – who ended up murdering his brother Abel because his heart was not right towards God.

When my HORIZONTAL relationships are not as they should be – when there is a lack of love flowing from me towards others – it is ALWAYS because of a breakdown in my VERTICAL relationship with God.

And so what John is showing me in his writings – is that I CANNOT love others effectively, unless I am loving God first – and also – I CANNOT say that I am loving God, if I am not loving the people He has placed in my life.

The only remedy in that situation, is to make and take time to meditate on the love God has shown us, by sending Jesus, because as we do, we realize afresh, how greatly HE FIRST LOVED US, and this in turn, helps us to love others.

Also, when fear comes into my life, and torments me – it can only truly be dealt with – when I look to Jesus, and meditate upon the perfect love He has shown me – and then all of my fears are eclipsed by the greatness of His love, and the security I have in knowing that He is with me, and He is for me, not against me. This may have to be a constant moment by moment choice, but it is the ONLY way to effectively deal with fear.

Kris

Welcome to day 94.  Today’s reading is James 1:1 – 2:26

Read the Bible passage here or listen to the audio file below.

From musician, Kris Baines…

Probably one of the best quotes I have heard, on the issue of faith versus works, is this: “It is faith alone that saves, but the faith that saves is not alone”.

And that pretty much sums up my understanding of what James is trying to get across, when he talks about faith and works. You see it’s easy for a person to say they are a Christian, or a follower of Jesus, but it’s another thing altogether to show that they are.

On the other hand, it’s easy for a person to make others think they’re a Christian, because of what they do externally, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that a change has taken place in the heart.

So how do we make sense of all of this? Well really, the focus I should have is on my own faith, ensuring that I am walking right with God, and truly in a relationship with Him – and the way I know that, is whether the FAITH that I have, or say that I have, is authentic, because of the works that I do – BUT – the works must come because of my faith , not as a way to get or grow my faith.

I know how easy it is to preach and teach about the things we should be doing as believers, and the ways in which we should be living. But having the faith to speak about them, doesn’t amount to having the faith to actually demonstrate and live them out in my life.

Having said that – the temptation is always there to superficially show works of faith, in an effort to make people think we are more spiritual than we really are – and if we’re honest, we don’t always correct people who think we are more spiritual than we really are.

You know, a situation such as when that person who asked you to pray about something says, “thanks so much for your prayers – it really made a difference to know you have been interceding for me and taking the time to pray” – and we suddenly think “oh no, I completely forgot about that” but say “you’re welcome – praise the Lord!”

What God wants for all of us is a faith that works from the inside out, being backed up by works of faith, that shows we are sincere and genuine in our relationship with God.

And as the examples of Abraham and Rahab in this passage demonstrate to us – it was the acting upon the Word of God, that proved their faith IN the God of the Word – and that is what makes the difference between being a doer, or a hearer only.

Kris

Welcome to day 93.  Today’s reading is 1 Peter 1:1 – 2:12

Read the Bible passage here or listen to the audio file below.

From musician, Kris Baines…

If there is one thing that many people in our world so desperately need today, it is hope. Some would say they DO have hope, but the hope they speak of is more like wishful thinking, or faith in “something” that makes them feel better. That’s what it was like for me, before I found the true hope that is only found in Christ. I used to say that I was on good terms with God, and used to think that if I died I would go to the proverbial “better place” – but all that was my own imagination, and ignorance of the truth.

Thankfully, in Christ we have a hope that is based not on wishful thinking, but on changeless promises. Thankfully, in Christ we have a hope that is based not in something, but someone – who has personally invested Himself in our lives, by giving His life, that we might be restored into a relationship with Him.

That is the big difference between RELIGION and RELATIONSHIP and this is Peter’s focus as he writes this letter to the church – and what a dynamic, transparent and vibrant relationship, Peter had with his Lord.

Before I became a believer, the biggest thing that put me off Christianity, was that I thought it was a religion, defined by do’s and don’ts and rules and regulations. I thought that it was all about what I had to DO to get to heaven, rather than being about what Jesus had DONE for me.

Now Peter was a zealous kind of guy, and it took him a while to get it in his head that Jesus didn’t need his help – or to put it another way – Jesus didn’t need his ability – He just needed his availability.

Peter wrote that all of man’s efforts to bring man glory, is just like grass and flowers that grow, but then after a short period of time – they fade away. Peter came to realise and understand first hand, that it is only the work of God, and the Word of God, that will endure forever.

If you think about it, pretty much all of the religions in the world, are based around the idea that man has to do something, to get to his god, to heaven, or to a state of god-likeness.

What sets Christianity apart, is that it stands alone, as being based upon what God has done, and how God has reached down to get man, through the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Religion is a dead hope – but Relationship with Christ, is a living hope – and there is nothing greater than the living hope we have as believers through the person and work of Christ.

Simply, put– as followers of Christ, we have the unique situation that we don’t just hold onto our hope – rather, our hope holds onto us – and He will never let us go.

Kris

Welcome to day 92.  Today’s reading is 2 Corinthians 4:1 – 6:2

Read the Bible passage here or listen to the audio file below.

From musician, Kris Baines…

Something that took me a few years to get my head around, after becoming a Christian, was that God didn’t send Jesus to earth to die for my sins so that He could give me an improved life, but rather, it was so He could give me a new life – and what a difference there is between the two!

Before I got saved, I can’t tell you how many times I tried to “turn over a new leaf”, or “make a fresh start” – but it always ended in failure and despair.

But what an incredible thing it was, upon entering into a relationship with God, to discover that in Christ, I was a NEW creation – and ALL things had been made new – not just some of them.

I admit I have sometimes found it hard to shake the guilt of things that I have said or done, before coming to Christ – and I must say, that it is only by reading passages like these ones in 2 Corinthians, that I am reminded that God really has wiped my slate clean – I really am forgiven because of what Jesus did on the cross – and in addition to this – it is no longer down to me to strive to be a better person, because I have the BEST person, living right inside of me!

What I could never do, to gain favour with God, Christ HAS done, on my behalf.

And then how awesome it is, to grasp and experience the truth that he who has been forgiven much, loves much. I know at least for myself, that the more I experience and understand the depths of God’s forgiveness, the more I love Him and desire to be close to Him.

As new creations in Christ, we have not only been forgiven of our sins – but we have also been adopted into the family of God – in other words, we bear His name, and are seen as blameless before Him. But then it gets even better – God actually wants us to fellowship with Him – even more than we want Him to fellowship with us!

So it’s no wonder that when we grasp the magnitude of God’s love towards us, by sending Jesus to die for us, we end up feeling homesick for heaven.

God has given us the assurance of a heavenly building, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens – and that is our destination, when we have done all that He has called us to do during our time here on earth.

Paul ends this great passage of Scripture, by reminding us of our responsibility towards others, as new creations in Christ. Today is the day of salvation – today is the moment when we have opportunities that may only last for this day – and that challenges me that TODAY is the day, I need to be living for God, loving Him with all my heart, soul and strength – and doing the things He has called me to do.

There are people in our lives, who may ONLY ever get to hear about Jesus, and see what it looks like to be a follower of Jesus – by watching us – so let us be ready, and willing to freely share, what we have freely received, as new creations in Christ.

Kris