I often say that during Easter and Christmas, I try to dig into the scriptures to find out as many lessons that I can discover, which are not often emphasized. I wish to share a few.
1) IMPORTANCE OF MOTHERS IN FULFILLING THE DESTINY OF THEIR CHILDREN
When God finally decided to come to earth in the form of a human being to save us, He went first to the woman in the marriage relationship (Mary) who was going to become the physical channel for Jesus to enter the world.
"Near the Cross of Jesus was His mother" (St. John 19:25). Why did His mother stand by the Cross so boldly while even His disciples, including Peter, had run away and hidden because of fear? Where were the brothers and sisters and other family members of Jesus? Only a mother such as Mary would be fully convinced that her Son hanging on that Cross, was the real Son of God.
Women should know the importance of their exclusive value to families and society and allow their faith to become unwavering regarding their destiny as women and mothers, plus continual love and care for their children. Any woman, who has spent time to wait upon God in prayer and scripture meditation along with obedience, should stand firm by her convictions, and engage in courageous, focused, and consistent pursuit of her God-given vision for her singleness (as she waits for God’s timing and choice of the best mate), or her courtship, marriage, children, and entire family. No common or unexpected trials or problems (not even crucifixion on a Cross) should deter and disappoint any woman, or deceive and distract her to compromise her godly and principled standards. Men and fathers should understand the specific God-given role of women and mothers who go through 9 tasking months of pregnancy, excruciating labour, and childcare, in order to give women all the support they need from men, especially husbands and fathers.
2) IMPORTANCE OF INTIMATE PARENTAL RELATIONS
Many parents (biological or step-parents) do not have real dependable and intimate relationship with their children. Some children do not even know where their parents are hiding. Sometimes the children also create problems with rebellion, stubbornness, sinful lifestyles, shirking of responsibility, secrecy, and running away from home.
Jesus never forgot His mother even in death and made provision for her upkeep (St. John 19:26, 27). It shows the strong loving relationship between mother and child. If you make time for God to speak with you, and make time to ponder quietly on God's dealings with you (as Mary did), God will never abandon you, and your child will never forget you, even when he or she is dying.
It is also never an excuse to neglect your mother or any parent (or guardian) by using any trials and problems as an excuse. Jesus did not use the Cross as an excuse to neglect His mother, but looked down and asked His Disciple John to take care of His mother. Are your problems the most severe among your peers in your country or overseas to become tangible excuses for your silence regarding spiritual, social, and physical needs? Even if you are being crucified where you are, you will not be excused by God and man for ignoring your mother or father. There is always something you can do. Even a phone call, a sentence of e-mail or message on social media, a prayer, loving greetings, a card, simple gift etc. can be used by God to cheer someone up, meet a need, and turn a situation around.
3) IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER
The first thing Jesus did on the cross was to pray. "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).
That prayer really stabilized Him. Remember that Jesus was fully human and fully God. Otherwise, He could have run into trouble with His endurance capabilities, and reactions towards the vexation thrown at Him with nonsensical mockery by people expected to know God.
Out of the 7 statements on the Cross, at least 4 of them were prayers. Jesus set us the example that the FIRST THING to do when any trouble erupts or any crisis arises is to PRAY. The first thing to do is not to allow panic to grip you (although natural fear will set in), and get on the phone or social media, or walk to someone to complain, lean on a confidant, yell for everyone to hear your plight, start blaming people, make yourself miserable and as always the victim, and tell everyone in order to canvass for human sympathy instead of God’s comfort.
We agree, however, that if you have a trusted counsellor, parent, or guardian who sincerely loves you, or a spiritual father (or mother), you must tell the one to advise and support you as appropriate. Whatever the case, TELL GOD FIRST, for Him to primarily be in charge. Distinguish between God-directed and wise support, versus immature or carnal human dependence, or self-pity.
Apart from personal prayer, try not to always keep problems or emergencies to yourself out of your pride, selfish independence, and secrecy, when that situation needs corporate prayer and support of true Believers and genuine lovers or family members who look out for your welfare.
The prayer of Jesus on the cross had its roots in the preparatory prayers in Gethsemane.
If you have not prepared yourself with prayer in the morning or prayed before getting to where you are in any situation, then it becomes more difficult to engage in any prayer when problems suddenly confront you, or if bad circumstances intensify.
Some versions of the Bible tell us in Luke 23:34 that "Jesus was saying Father forgive them, for they know not what they do", implying that all along while He carried the Cross, and they drove the nails into His hands etc., Jesus was saying that prayer within Himself. That made it easier for him to finally utter it on the Cross at the climax of His suffering, instead of cursing or complaining.
I often told my children before they went off to school: "Whenever there is trouble, please do not rush to call me first, but immediately call God first before calling me, even if all you have to do is to call Jesus and shout your prayer as "JEEEESUUUUS!". After that then call me. Because if I am there with you and Jesus is not there it is worse than if I am not with you but Jesus is there with you."
4) THERE IS TREMENDOUS SPIRITUAL POWER IN THE BLOOD OF JESUS
Jesus bled from 7 areas of his body to take care of the 7 major areas (sources) of our sins and problems.
1. His Head --- to take care of the sins of our minds (planning sinful and wicked acts; thoughts of hatred and resentment or envy; wishing evil for people etc.).
2. His side (near his heart) --- to take care of the sins of our hearts (the feelings of hatred, lust, and evil etc. that comes from within us).
3. His Right Hand --- to take care of the sins committed with our right hands (representing our strengths and human power plus gifts, favours, riches, and endowments).
4. His Left Hand --- sins committed with our left hands (where are weaknesses, deficiencies, and enemies are, which lead us to engage in sinful acts).
5. His Right Foot --- to take care of the sins committed with our right feet (where we have our gifts and power or riches, and where more strength resides for kicking, rushing, refusing to move and act, and going to places to do evil).
6. His Left Foot --- to take care of sins committed by our feet in places where we are too weak to run away from temptations, procrastinate, and refuse to go and do what is right).
7. His Back --- His stripes and wounds to heal our diseases, and take care of the sins we commit by turning our back on people, gossiping, backbiting, undermining, stabbing people behind them, and refusing to turn and look at the poor and needy in order to care for people’s needs. The wounds at the back of Jesus also took care of the hidden troubles and attacks that pounce on us from behind that we don’t see because of our spiritual blindness and lack of wisdom and insight. The Body of Jesus, therefore, took care of all of our sins, weaknesses, and needs!
5) Jesus entrusted the care of His mother to His disciple John for a purpose.
Although John was single, Jesus entrusted the care of His mother into the hands of John. He could not even give His mother to his brothers and sisters (who were then Unbelievers) or to Peter who was married (who was then spiritually unstable and was far away from Jesus, denying Him). John was described as "the disciple Jesus loved" (St. John 13:23) and was very close to the Cross as well during the crucifixion of Jesus.
In the same way, the Lord will also entrust precious things into the hands of those who have clearly established a loving and obedient relationship with Him (not just following Him aimlessly, merely religious or going to church as fashion, or observing traditions). God can trust those who decide to walk closely with Him, no matter the circumstances. Can you imagine the gossip around town, mixed with some envy and malice in the hearts of some family members and friends when they heard that unmarried disciple John had taken the middle-aged woman Mary to his home? Dirty-minded folk would even “wonder what immorality must have been going between them in that house”. Peter was older than John and is often regarded by many as the leader of the 12 Disciples, but we learn that God could bypass an elderly person or a leader who is not prepared and trustworthy, and close enough to the Lord at a particular time, and rather entrust important things to the younger or more faithful member of the group.
6) Heaven (God) is the source of all genuine power.
These are days when people are seeking all kinds of power and miracles to satisfy their desires, but the devil also has several of his “counterfeit powers” in operation. If, during His trial, Jesus declared to Pilate that "he could have no power at all against Him unless power was given him from above" (St. John 19:11), how could any of us expect to receive any form of genuine power from any other source? Or who would think that any power (to breathe, eat, use our emotions, exercise talents and gifts, make plans, do our job, receive favor, obtain any form of results etc.) comes from only human effort, or is generated from other forms of spiritual sources that God has not allowed or given?
We should always carefully check the kind of faith, Biblical source, level of obedience, holy living, honesty, and the private lifestyle of any religious person, prophet, pastor, leader, miracle worker, parent, friend, man or woman of God, and person promising to give us solutions to our spiritual and social problems. Some parents, family members, and friends get deceived and trapped in occult practices, and infect their children, family members or friends with the demons. Many false prophets and teachers are running around these days with revelations, miraculous signs, prophecies, strange and contorted ideas, unbiblical instructions, weird practices, and gargantuan promises for protection and prosperity, all of which are fake, ungodly, witchcraft in disguise, and satanic-inspired. Watch out carefully! Test everything with the Bible, let the Holy Spirit talk to your spirit, and check the peace of God in your mind and heart!
No matter your situation today, Jesus took care of every human need on the cross and declared; "It is finished!" (St. John 19:30). Let us take it all by faith. Your faith must be rooted in God's word. But first ensure that you have given your heart to Jesus by faith, asked Him to wash all of your sins in His Blood, and pray to accept him into your soul as your Savior and Lord. Then grow in Christ by meditating on some scripture DAILY, accompanied by prayers to God the Father through Jesus Christ.
If you are already a Christian, then draw closer to the Lord in deeper COMMITMENT with consistent Bible study and fervent PRAYERS OF FAITH, plus diligent efforts to use scripture to control your mind, actions, feelings, and attitude. Strive to live in HUMILITY, OBEDIENCE, and HOLINESS to the end, in order to derive all the benefits of God's grace through what Jesus accomplished for you.
GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU! HAVE A HAPPY AND PEACEFUL EASTER!
ENJOY A FRUITFUL, MEANINGFUL, AND JOYFUL LIFE IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD, AFTER THE EASTER CELEBRATIONS ARE OVER!
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By Rev. Dr. Samuel Kisseadoo.
Professor of Biology. International Evangelist. Bible Teacher. Author. Conference Speaker. Relationships, Marriage, and Family Counsellor. Founder and President, Fruitful Ministries International Incorporated (An Evangelistic and Teaching Christian Organization).
Website: www.fruitfulministriesint.com. Email: [email protected]
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