Birthday Song for Jesus.

Birthday Song for Jesus -

Happy Birthday Jesus

Happy Birthday Jesus

Happy Birthday Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Jesus.

*Thank you for coming

Thank you for the ransom

Thank you for the ransom, Jesus

Paid on my behalf.

°You reign forever

Your Kingdom ever

You reign forever, Jesus

Forever and ever.

Happy Birthday Jesus

Happy Birthday Jesus

Happy Birthday Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Jesus.

Lullaby Inspired by -

*Isaiah 53:5.

°Isaiah 9:6; Revelation 1:6.

Miracles : History, Witness and A Case Study.

       The Widow of Nain, by Harold Copping.

To those who doubt about the verse from the Gospel of Matthew 27:51-53, which reads like, "The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people (NIV)."

Apostle Paul in his letter to 1Corinthians 15:5,6 writes, "He(Jesus) appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep" (1Corinthians 15:5-6, NIV).

Even after this great testimonial of Paul saying that though some died, he saw some people still living in his time while he was writing a letter to Corinthians in AD 55-60. So, there are saints moving around in AD 55-60. Although this is factual to Paul, to some it might be a fiction. This can only be resolved by other factual evidence from a non-biblical narrative. 

Eusebius of Caesare, an early Church Historian mentions about a person by name Quadratus, an apologist of his time. Quadratus lived in the time of Emperor Hadrian who reigned Rome in the years AD 117-138. Writing a defence of Christianity about the miracles of Jesus as facts, "Our Saviour's works were always there to see, for they were true - the people who had been cured and those raised from the dead, who had not merely been seen at the moment when they were cured or raised, but were always there to see, not only when he Saviour was among us, but for a long time  after His departure; in fact some of them survived right up to my own time", (Eusebius, Church History, Book 4.3). In the same way Aristides, a loyal and devoted Christian also wrote a "Defence of the Faith", addressed to emperor Hadrian.

G.A.Williamson who translated Eusebius Church History writes a footnote saying that, "they [the Nain young man and others who were raised to life at the time of Jesus Crucifixion (Mt 27:52&53)] might well have survived till nineties(age), when Quadratus was presumably a young man". Church Historians place this incident of Quadratus giving his apology to Hadrian in the year AD 124-125.

Case Study : The first miracle of Jesus Christ of raising a dead man to life was recorded in the Gospel of Luke. Luke writes that, "Jesus went to a town called Nain,... As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. ...the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry". Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother." (Lk.7:11-15, NIV).

Observe the word what Jesus calls the dead person, "young man", which in Greek was written as "(νεανίσκος) neanískos". Greek dictionary tells that men under fourty are called as neanískos. Let's assume that the Nain boy was around 20 years of age while Jesus was a 32 year old young man (in the year AD 32). And now, let's assume that by the time Quadratus handedover his apology to Hadrian at Greece was about 50 years of age (AD124-125). If Nain young boy had lived another 50 years after he was been risen from the dead by Jesus Christ, which makes him a 70 year old man, then he would have lived till AD 82. The math goes like 32 + 50 = 82. Now as said Quadratus was 50 years of age at AD 124. If we subtract 124 - 50 = 74. Hence AD 74 was when the apologist Quadratus was born. By the time Nain young man died in the year AD 82, Quadratus would be a 8 year old boy. This makes an overlap of 8 years for both Nain young man and Quadratus lives, which gives enough information to know about this man of Nain his life and the miracle that happened and his post miraculous life after being risen from the dead. This would be the reason why Quadratus said, "...in fact some of them survived right up to my own time".

Whether my case study would be correct or incorrect, but the fact that the confessions written in history are true. Why? Because what if emperor Hadrian was interested as like Herod Antipas was fascinated by the life of John the Baptist, and wanted to bring before him the family members of the Nain young man. If Quadratus was wrong then he would have to face a severe punishment, isn't it.

So, to conclude, Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die" (John 11:25, NIV). "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades." (Revelation 1:17&18, NIV).

So, believe in the Holy Scriptures, because they are History.

The Advent - The Coronation of a (the) King.

"When you see the earth set under the Cross, remember that the whole world is subject to the Power and Empire of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer".*

The monarch while receiving the Orb which represents the dominion of the Lord over the whole earth and the monarch as His representative accepts this Orb says the pledge, "Receive this orb set under the cross, and remember that the whole world is subject to the power and empire of Christ our Redeemer.” In other words, the Sovereign’s Orb is a reminder, not of the King’s power but of the limits of his power.

Even the monarch limits his own power and gives way to the dominion of the Lord.

Prophet Isaiah 9:6,7 reads, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this."

In Gospel of Luke, first chapter, angel Gabriel greeting Mary and gives a good news that, "You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him "Jesus". He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” (v31-33, NIV).

In Matthew 2:11, One of the three gifts that were received from the Wisemen by Mary and Jesus included Gold, which represents the Kingship, and the Divine nature of the Lord.

One of the Apocryphal books, the Psalms of Solomon 17: 32-36 read as,

"He will have the nation's to serve Him under his yoke..the nation's may come from the ends of the earth to see His glory...He himself is a righteous King over them... their King is the anointed Lord."

"[LORD] hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  ...[And] on His head are many Crowns. He has a name written on Him.... He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is the "Word of God". The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. ...He will rule them with an iron scepter. ... On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written: "KING of kings and LORD of lords."

- Matthew 6:9,10; Revelation 19:13-16 (NIV).

We should be aware of this Scripture from John 6:15, "Jesus, knowing that they (people who ate 5 barley loaves and 2 fish) intended to come and make him (Jesus) King by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself." So, there was a strong impulse in the people's heart that Jesus should be the king, but this would destroy the plan what Father intended for Him. So Jesus withdrew from there.

Another incident that followed to show Jesus as King is in Zechariah 9:9. The prophecy was fulfilled in Matthew 21:1-11, when Jesus rode on a donkey. F F Bruce writes that, "once upon a time the ass has been the beast on which judges and kings rode in Israel. But since Solomon's time the horse had replaced the ass for this purpose. ...Jesus accordingly presented Himself to the people of Jerusalem as their King." (The Spreading Flame).

Before His crucifixion, when Jesus stood before Pilate, Pilate asked Him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" “You have said so,” Jesus replied. Then He continues saying that, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth." (Matthew 27:11; John 18:36,37 NIV).

The truth is that, Jesus came to this world to shed His blood for each and everyone of us, past, present and future. He said, "This is my blood of the (new) covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins", "as the Son of Man... to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 26:28; 20:28, NIV).

But, He (Jesus) will soon come back and take you... (John 14:3).

Till then, let the Sovereignty of the Lord reign over all the earth forever and ever. Amen. As His representatives we need to take the orb as a responsibility of spreading the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ to the very ends of the earth (Matthew 28:18-20).

- Words within parentheses are my own.

- *Quote inspired from British Coronation Service.

Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III with Orb

"globus cruciger" (Latin for ‘cross-bearing orb’)

Timothy and Elagabalus: Compare and Contrast.

It's a story of two grand mother's, two mother's (of two one is an Aunt and the other is a mother), and two son's: overall it's a story of two families - compared and contrasted.

Though there is almost a two hundred years gap between the two, their mothers, Julia Mamaea (actually *Aunt) and other Eunice, both were attracted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, one by Apostle Paul and the other by Origen. Julia knew the Lord, but when she came to know that Origen was in the city, she called him up, spent time in enquiring more about the Lord. Eunice is a jewesses who has the knowledge about the Lord, but she came to know about the incarnated Lord Jesus Christ through Apostle Paul. Their sons, one accepted the Lord as his Saviour, the other didn't. One came to be called by Paul as the "true child in faith and my beloved child" (1Tim :2; 2Tim 1:2), the other became an emperor of Rome (reigned from AD/CE 218-222). While one walked in the fear of the Lord, the other started a new cult religion of his own. While one started/planted new Churches all around, the other planted a temple for Sun god (El-Gabal) and built a temple for his patron god on Palatine hill, Rome. While one evangelized about Jesus Christ, above all other faiths fearlessly. The other kept tolerance with other religions, and forcing people to worship Sun god, his patron deity. While one was appointed to a servitude job as an overseer (later was appointed the first Bishop of the Church at Ephesus), the other was a high priest at the temple of Sun god. After living a faithful life (2Tim 3:10,11) at the age of 80 or 90 years one became a martyr, stoned to death for preaching against idolatry [According to Heb 13:23, once Timothy was arrested and imprisoned, but was set free or escaped death]. The other was murdered (his mother too) after reigning Rome for four years at an early age by his own guards for forcing people to worship his patron deity Sun god. Of these two, one was Timothy, the disciple of Apostle Paul (Ac 16:1), the other was Elagabalus, the  emperor of Rome. The name Timothy means "God honours", its like God honoured him for his servitude. Whereas the name Elagabalus means in Arabic "god of the mountain", its like thefting the pride of God and paralleling himself with the God. 1Kings 20:28 reads that the God of Israel is called "the God of the mountains". Historians say that though Elagabalus married four women, he was a gay and a transgender which is against the nature which God prescribed (Romans 1:26-28; 1Tim 1:10). Timothy on the other hand followed what was taught by Paul (2Timothy 3:10-14). When Eunice sent Timothy to the Lord's service (1Tim 4:14; 1:18; 2Tim 1:6), Timothy made every moment count in accordance to his mother's faith. But Elagabalus, didn't fulfill his grand mother's (Julia Maesa) plans, so Julia Maesa (grand mother) had to look to Alexander Severus (AD/CE 222-235), the successor of Elagabalus. Today we can see the relics of St.Timothy are venerated at Cathedral of Termoli, Italy, but after emperor Elagabalus brutal murder his body, decapitated his head and was thrown into river Tiber in Italy.

To conclude both were nurtured by devote mothers (one is Aunt), but their choice, paths, and faith were different. Proverbs 22:6 reads, "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it" (ESV). How are we training our children?

*Julia Mamaea was daughter of Julia Maesa and younger sister of Julia Soaemias mother of emperor Elagabalus.

Sources:

1. Holy Bible,

2. Bible Encyclopaedia,

3. Eusebius - Church History,

4. Wikipedia.

Julia Mamaea, Aunt of Emperor Elagabalus.

Julia Soaemias mother of emperor Elagabalus.

St.Timothy relics at Cathedral of Our Lady of the Purification in Termoli, Italy.

Is It Mandatory For Man To Do The Dishes? 2Kings 21:13.

Misinterpretation of 2Kings 21:13.

I was watching on FB Reels, YT Shots, Instagram posts and memes these days on social media about Man doing with cleaning of dishes in the kitchen. Though it started as fun but soon it might take a serious turn. So, I decided to try and give a better understanding of the Scripture.

As "a man" wipeth - the word "man" was never there in the hebrew scriptures, but the meaning was implied to it. It was more of implied to God rather than man (husband/son). It is God who warns Israel that as the remnant of food is wiped from the bowl, leaving no crumbs or the last drop, the bowl can be turned upside down. In the same way God is going to handover them (Israelites) to enemies who will spoil and plunder as like nothing left in their bowels or plates, because they have done evil before the Lord since they came out of Egypt (2Kings 21:13,14,15). So v13 has nothing to do with a man (husband/son) doing dishes, but there is nothing wrong in helping your woman/mother/sister in the kitchen. It's not mandatory that the man has to do with the dishes in his house.

Tetragrammaton YHWH and Jesus

This is a tetragrammaton. The first letter of every word of the signboard (hebrew) that was fixed above the cross on which Jesus was crucified spells the name YHWH, which in 15th to 17th centuries AD or a little earlier by adding the vowels YHWH was pronounced "Yehowah", and in English we call Him "Jehovah". The vowels are supplied from another adoration word "Adonay". "Adon" literally means "my Lord". We can see this tetragrammaton in Exodus 6:2, "I am the LORD (Yehowah)". This is one beautiful example which equates Jesus with His Father. Jesus said that "I and my Father are one.. the Father is in Me, and I in Him", in John 10:30, 38. When Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father, Jesus said, "He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father", (John 14:8,9) and says again in v10 and 11, that "I am in the Father, and the Father in Me". When Jesus has come to know that the time for His crucifixion has come, Jesus said, "Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again". The people therefore, that stood by and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. (John 12:28,29). We can see a similar thing happening at Jesus baptism in Gospel of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, the witnessing of the Father from heaven, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased", (Matt 3:17; Mk 1:11; Lk 3:22). There are still more instances of equating Jesus with the Father in the Holy Bible. 

I Am In His Likeness

FALSE - This theory is totally abandoned.

This theory was forwarded by American Anthropologist Elwyn Simons in 1960', when he discovered a part of the upper jaw which coincides with the already found part of the upper jaw in 1932 in Siwalik hills (ranging from Sikkim to Northern Pakistan). But his student David Pilbeam has discovered a complete Ramapithecus jaw in 1976, found that the distinctive V shape and thus differed markedly from the parabolic shape of the jaws of members of the human lineage. He soon repudiated his belief in Ramapithecus as a human ancestor, and the theory was largely abandoned by the early 1980s.

Moreover, a question regarding the molecular chemistry concluded that the albumins coincide with that of various animal species. This was brought forward by American Biochemist Allan Wilson and American Anthropologist Vincent Sarich in 1960'.

Later Ramapithecus jaw was resembled with Sivapithecus which also was found in Siwalik hills, which is the ancestor of Orangutan🦧.

Hence, Ramapithecus or the Sivapithecus were not the ancestors of the entire Human race.

The Bible says that "we are made in the Image of God in their moral, spiritual, and intellectual nature" (Genesis 1:27).

Source: Britannica.

"Hosanna": Call upon the name of the Lord.

"Hosanna": Call upon the name of the Lord. -

The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

Matthew 21:9 (NIV), (Psalm 118:25,26).

"Hosanna"(Hebrew), etymology says that Hosanna is a single word derived by joining two Hebrew separate words, "Yesa" and "Na".

Where, "Yesa", pronounced "yaw-shah", means, "deliverance, rescue, liberty, welfare, salvation".

And, "Na", pronounced "naw", means, "please, now, (in old fashioned form - pray)".

We can see this word in Psalm 118:25, "Save now, I...", as pleading the Lord as they ascend the Holy Temple steps. The commentators say that this Psalm was sung annually at the Passover celebration, or at other ceremonies. 

As the Israelites on their pilgrimage they are asking the Lord to save them. Is it just the Israelites that should be saved? Or is the whole world that God wants to rescue out? We can deduce the meaning "world" from Psalm 107. I see four kinds of people asking the Lord for Help. Verses from 4-7, 10-14, 17-20, and 23-30. The CSB version starts with the words, Some (V4), Others (v19), Fools (v17), and Others (v23). I would like to name them as Israelites, Gentiles, Backslidden, and the Apostles, not just for easy understanding but the essence of these verses makes this sense.

Israelites (v4-7) - Exodus first chapter starts with the genealogy of the sons of Jacob who was renamed as Israel (Genesis 35:10). After crossing the Red Sea, they were wandering in the hot desolate place because of their stubbornness for forty years (Deuteronomy 2:7). Psalm 107:4-7, addresses these people as "finding no way to a city where they could live (107:4, CSB). When their spirits or their souls failed or fainted (v5), they cried out to the Lord in their trouble (v6). And then came the Lord to rescue them (v6). He led them through the right path (v7) until they reached the city (Jerusalem) that they could live at peace by the time of David. 

Gentiles (v10-14) - Other than descendants of Seth (see the genealogies in Matthew 1:2-16 and Luke 3:23-38), rest of the people have parted their way away from the Lord. They sat in darkness and gloom or the shadow of death. They were prisoners in cruel chains, because they rebelled against the Most High (v10,11). Nobody was there to rescue them (v12) for they followed their own paths, some with demi gods, some made themselves gods, some with ablutions and some with penance, etc., At last when they cried out for help (v13), the Lord brought them out of the darkness and the shadow of death (v14). He broke the chains that bound them till then.

Backslidden (v17-20) - I see these people as once they had sufficient faith to follow Him, but as they continued in the association of Jesus as followers and as disciples, they were uncomfortable or incompatible with the teachings of Jesus and started to disassociate and left the group. We can see such kind of people from John 6:22-66. One of His own disciple Judas Iscariot deserted Him, His own brothers made fun of Him (John 7:3-5; Matthew 13:55,57). Charles Taze Russell, Ellen G.White, etc., are some who fall in the same club. Psalm 107:17, names such people as fools. They fooled themselves because of their rebellious ways, they sinned against God. However, some have lost their lives, but even if those who now are ready to give up their past life and ask for help, He is ready to help them. John 3:16 reads, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son (Jesus Christ), that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." He sent His Word (the Word) to rescue them from the Pit [sehiyt(heb) - destruction, pitfall] (Psalm 107:20).

The Apostles or the Church (v23-30) - I will sum up this scenario with Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; and Luke 8:22-25, where we can see Jesus hushing the sudden storm. Sometimes we are in the boat of faithful believing Church, but at some stormy situations we feel we are left all alone, skeptical, and uncertain of our destiny. Some even take hasty decisions. The disciples of Jesus were in the same situation in spite of knowing that they have a man who is an extraordinary person with them. For the past few days they witnessed some unbelievable miracles done by this man Jesus. But still they worried about their life. Their courage has melted down, all their skill to save themselves was useless (v27). Now, they cried out to the Lord, and He stilled the wild waves to a calm (v28,29). When we are in a weary situation, just remember the promise, call upon the name of the Lord and we will be saved (Romans 10:13).

This promise has worked when Jesus Christ gave up Himself upon the Cross of Calvary for every human being to rescue him from eternal death. Colossians 1:13,14 reads, "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins" and Ephesians 1:7 reads, "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins..." He really heard us, when we cried out "Hosanna", "Lord! Save us now". We can see this affirmation of those who are been saved in Revelation 7:9-12, "After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” All the angels.. the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” (NIV).

Eve for Adam and Adam for Eve.

Why God create Eve for Adam and Adam for Eve? 

Obviously the answer would be Genesis 2:18, "It is not good for the man to be alone."

Alone? Most think it is easy to be all alone. Some even think that staying all alone is better, because responsibility is burdensome. However, man can live alone with a community around him. But can he live all alone just as the only living entity in this world? To understand the scenario, let's look at one example. 

In 1984 an Astronaut Bruce McCandless II, flew away from the space shuttle "Challenger", all alone into the space untethered. He flew away 100 meters from the space shuttle, freely floating in the space. Later, when he was asked about his experience of being in space all alone and freely floating, he answered, "it was extremely cold - think about the silence - just think about you all alone in space."

Frightening isn't it?

That's the reason why God created them male and female (Ge.1:27) - one for the other, so that no one will feel lonely.

1Corinthians 11:11 reads, "Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman." 

Picture taken from https://www.nasa.gov/content/images/bruce-mccandless

Emperor Nero - the Blood Bather.

Emperor Nero - the Blood Bather.

This extravagant and luxurious bathtub of emperor Nero, made of Porphyry granite rock, a hard igneous rock containing crystals of feldspar in a fine-grained groundmass. The Daily Beast in it's news says, the bathtubs worth has been estimated to be worth $2 billion (this world’s most valuable bathtubs market value has yet to be proven). It's in the Vatican.

A plausible fact is that Nero's new found love Poppaea Sabina, married to Marcus Salvius Otho, as her second marriage. He is a Roman Consul's son, who was sent by Nero to govern Lusitania (Portugal) though inexperienced. Barry Strauss says that, Poppaea was one of the great beauties of the day. Nero wrote a poem about her beautiful amber (golden brown) hair. She is said to have bathed daily in the milk of five hundred asses to preserve her skin and even inspired in her day a line of cosmetics named after her. She is six years older than Nero. Josephus (Life, 3) tells, "when Nero visited Rome in AD 63, he was introduced to Poppaea by a Jewish actor and was befriended by her." Tacitus (Annals XVI,6) says that, "on her death in AD 65, Poppaea was not cremated in the Roman custom but was buried (as like the foreign custom)." Josephus (Antiquities, XX.8.11) indicates that she was a 'God fearer'. F.F.Bruce (The Spreading Flame, pg 176) writes, "the empress Poppaea whom Nero married in that year (AD 62 ?) was a friend of Jews." Some claim that she urged Nero to kill his mother Agripppina.

After the great fire in Rome, which according to Seutonius states with no reservations that Nero set the city on fire [(Life of Nero, 38); cf. Pliny the Elder, Natural History, XVII, 5]. Nero found a scapegoat, in the new found faith Christians to accuse. Out of fear that there might be possible civil disturbances in the governance of Rome with the Christians, he accused them of starting a fire. Another possibility is that Nero planned a colossal project to build, and he needs space to build it. According to Tacitus, Nero punished those guilty not only of starting the fire - a crime to which they had supposedly confessed. In his private estate across the Tiber river in the Vatican territory, which included a circus. Romans liked to watch the scenes of their myths to be enacted. As a part of this the victims were worn animal skins and were torn apart by dogs. Others were crucified or burned to death at night like living torches. Nero watched this going around as a charioteer. Eusebius in his Church History, writes that, his own mother and wife, with many others who were his near relatives, he killed like strangers and enemies with various kinds of death. He also goes on to write about the martyrdom of apostles Peter and Paul under Nero. These martyrdoms were witnessed by later writers like Roman Tertullian, ecclesiastical writer Caius, and Dionysius bishop of Corinth. 

Did such a ruthless tyrant did bathe in his bathtub with water? It is no exaggeration when I say that he bathed with the blood of the martyrs, other than his relatives in his luxurious bathtub. 

The Second Century Church Father, Tertullian, made a statement that is still relevant today, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church."

Matthew 5:10-12 reads, "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Choose Jesus Above All Else.

My perception for this day -

Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

Matthew 8:21-22.

"Let the dead bury their own dead" - one might think of what a harsh attitude from Jesus. But, is Jesus really being stringent? Of course not, if we understand Him and of His urgency for the Kingdom. We must understand the ancient death, mourning, funeral and ritual practices of the Jews. However, I don't want to take a deep dive into the subject, but want to make an ancient practice point of the Jews. Deuteronomy 34:8, reads "The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over." A little beyond Moses, Joseph, the son of Jacob (Israel), waited forty days for the body of Jacob to be embalmed. The Egyptians usually take seventy days to embalam a Pharaoh. Joseph being the Regent of Egypt, Jacob's body  might have been embalmed in the Egyptian way of medical practices. The Scripture supports it, "He (Joseph) commanded his servants who were physicians to embalm..." (Ex 50:2). And because Joseph is not a Pharaoh, there might been a little change in the embalming process which took only forty days. Exodus 50:3 reads, that Egyptians took seventy days for mourning. Whether the forty days for embalming was included in the seventy days of mourning is not clear (Ex 50:3). If the forty days are not included, then the number of days it took for embalming and mourning will be 110 days. A few more days for traveling from Egypt to Israel: according to Deuteronomy 1:2, it will take eleven days to travel from Mount Horeb (Sinai) to Kadesh-barnea, near Negev desert (Num 13:17). It would not take more than eleven days for the spies to travel from the Wilderness of Paran (Num 13:3) to the land of Canaan. And an addition of seven more days for Joseph's mourning before the funeral. This will take the total number of days between 88 to 128 (including or excluding the embalming days) before funeral.

The ancient jewish burials streatched over an entire year. The elder son, in this scenario, Joseph being the precedent of all the sons of Jacob (Ge 50:18), was obligated to gather the skeletal remains and place them in an ossurary (if this was the practice). But placing the skeletal remains of the bereaved person in an ossurary is practiced in the time of Jesus. 

Was Jesus demanding the disciple to follow Him leaving his father and mother? Not at all, instead, He is demanding the disciple to choose the priority. What was the need for the disciple to choose Jesus above all else? All the twelve apostles of Jesus, just followed Jesus the moment He asked them to follow Him. They left everything (Matt 4:18-21; Mk 2:13,14) before following Jesus. Jesus was in a sort of urgency to complete the task His Father has laid upon Him. In the Gospel of John 16:16, Jesus speaks of His unexplained urgency in a few words, "In a while you will see me no more..." Jesus clearly knows that, He has a very less time and a huge task ahead to complete. Within this very short period of time, He has to groom and fashion the rustic twelve into a civilized, meek and courageous people, filled with Holy Spirit. He has to make them understand who He is (Matt 16:13-16), at the same time He has to expound them that He is the fulfillment of the Scriptures (Matt 5:17,18; 8:17; Jn 12:38-42), which was later protrayed by the apostles in their Gospels and the letters. To credence this urgency of Jesus, He speaks to a scribe who approached in eagerness to follow Him wherever He goes. Jesus answered him back,"Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head” (Matt 8:20). What was Jesus trying to mean? Doesn't Jesus have a house to live in? Doesn't His apostles have their houses to shelter Jesus? Recent Archaeological excavations have exposed a building which is supposed to be of Peter (St.Peter's Church, Capernaum). Gospel of Matthew 2:15, reads that Levi (Matthew) gave a dinner to Jesus and others at his house. So, everybody has a (own) house to live in. Then, what was Jesus meant by these words? He speaks of His urgency to finish the task. Jesus was so focused that He wanted His apostles to learn fast. In this process, Jesus sometimes even rebuked them (Matt 17:14-17; Mk 4:40; 16:14; etc). To make them learn fast, Jesus was so attentive, that He was not ready to leave them alone or to send them back to their homes. Jesus wanted his disciples to be with Him day and night, every moment, every hour. He made constant travels up and down Israel with His disciples. He always wanted them to listen to Him. 

As Jesus knew that He has a very short time and a big task to accomplish, Jesus wanted those who are eager to follow Him must choose the priority before anything else, even if it be their dear ones. 

"While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." (Matt 12:46-50).

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." (LK 14:26,27).

The Steps of Choice

Steps of Choice -

On the left are the steps to Mars Hill (Aeropagus, Ac 17:19 in Athens), where a council would sit to decide which god(s) to be allowed and devoted in the city. As said in Psalm 115:4-8, which are of no use. They are just to make a business (Ac 19:24-28).

Now to the right are the steps to the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem (the Temple Mount, Israel), where people ascend with praise and worship, meditating upon His nature. Psalm 136, 121, 134, (Psalms 120 -137 are all Songs of Ascent), how glorious will it be.

"Hineini" - Here I am.

"Here I am" - Hineini (Hebrew)

The term is just like a father answering his enquiring son in day-to-day life (Ge.22:7). The word "Hineini" gives us hope, assurance, and strength in times of trouble to the one in need. We can see both humans and God replying with this word.

1. God answering to humans :

Isaiah 58:9 and 65:1.

2. Humans answering to God in humility :

Genesis 22:1 and v11.

Just close your eyes and call upon the Lord, as in Romans 8:15, "For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” ", and as in Galatians 4:6, "And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” ".

We can be sure of Him answering us back,  "Hineini, Hineini", my son.