The Fifth Rule:
Regarding this rule, Jesus quoted the example of “an eye for an eye and tooth for tooth” and He said “but I tell you, oppose no one who is going wrong with you if one hits at your right cheek offer him your left cheek. If anyone looks for your shirt give him your coat also. If any man demands for your services for a mile, walk with him for two miles. Give to whoever asks you whatever he wants and not to turn back with a request for a loan” As a teacher and preacher of non-violence Jesus went beyond in moral principles to Leo Tolstoy, Mahathma Gandhi and Dr Martin Luther King.
The Sixth and last rule:
This takes us into speech deeper level than the preceding one. There it was said, “one should support violence in principle against another. But in the antithesis it is said that restrain must be based on ‘love’ itself. You must have heard the saying you will love those who are not yours and hate those who oppose you.
Jesus said, “But I tell you, you will love those who are against you and pray for those who wanted to persecute you. Thereby you will become the sons of your Father in heaven. He makes the sun rises over good and bad He sends rain upon those who are in the right and in the wrong." Jesus is in this context giving utmost priority to the reign of heaven and God as the supreme authority in all things.
ABOUT THE LORD’S PRAYER
Regarding the Lord’s prayer what Jesus teaches to His disciples is the confirmation of God’s authority on everything on the earth. Jesus is further giving more stress on religion as a fundamental in word actually among people. He warns them with authority not to be in
Quest for the Living God the public while praying and while giving charity. Others should not see what your hand is doing. He should pray secretly in his house in a lonely room. Then he will have his rewards. In fasting also others need not know about it. Jesus gave these instructions to follow in this day to day life.
Jesus added “one should not pretend himself when he wanted to pray. When one prays in synagogues or in the public places it should be louder because the other people who hear your prayer would say you are praying for others to hear. But Jesus suggests us to go into an inner room, lock it and then pray to your Father and God will hear your prayer and duely reward you. Jesus asks us not to pray like pagans with louder voice because God knows your needs before you ask Him in your prayer.
Jesus then gave His disciples what kind of prayer they should pray. The prayer is not clearly with Christian theme. Some people have commented that it was a Jewish prayer and it was adopted due to some reason by Matthew. But Christian prayer should reflect the acknowledgement of grace and design of God. In assertion to that request “bring us not to the breaking point” reflects in this connection what Jesus also said in the Gethsemane garden “pray that you do not reach to breaking point.” This point both in history and in the individual encounter with His story as the great text of all history.
The clauses show there is an eschatological prayer and final clause in it refer to not to the deliverer from evil but from the evil one. What Jesus is saying in the garden is that his meeting with the power of darkness on that special night shows Jesus final struggle that would be an end of history and the final triumph of the Father.
Therefore, the Lord’s prayer is an eschatological Christian prayer with one sentence of three humble requests directed at the vindication of God in the final showdown of history. There is also another sentence with three requests asking for those who pray may be promoted from this ordeal.
The eschatological setting of the whole prayer shows that there is a reference to the coming meal to heavenly completion when Jesus made a reference to that, it must be to the last supper. As we say, he said in the last supper I tell you again I shall not drink this product of vine, until I drink it with a new vine in my Father’s reign.”
This Lord’s prayer has also some significances for the anticipation of this great feast. The prayer is for the dismissal of debts if at all there are any. There is a reference to great jubilee also, when it is said all debts were cancelled. This is too eschatological.
సాక్ష్యం 21.
A BRIEF NOTE ABOUT JOHN
When Jesus looked at his face for the first time, He prophesied that John would see visions in his old age and write the Book of Revelation. It is the last book of the Holy Bible. John was boiled mercilessly in a huge basin of boiling oil during the bad time of persecution in Rome. Then he was miraculously delivered from death. After that, he was sent to the prison island of Patmos. There he happened to write “the Book of Revelation.” Later, he was freed from Roman custody. He was made the bishop of Edessa in Turkey. In his old age, he was the only disciple that died without any persecution.
John was one of the “beloved disciples” referred to in the gospel. He happened to recline to the breast of Jesus at the time of the Last Supper. And also he stood boldly with Jesus’s mother at the time of crucifixion. It was he who entered the iconography of Christian art. He was also called the John of many devotional pictures.
Some scholars were of the opinion that the book of Revelation was not written by one person John, but also another man because of the repetition of ideas. At times a topic ends and begins again at certain point. This repetition looks like insertion by another author.
According to some theory, John’s gospel was the last of all the four gospels. It must have been written in the nineties and presented probably in the beginning of the second century. For some reasons it was guarded by the School of Beloved Disciple. Then it seemed to have been widespread enough to have internal factions; and it was centered in Asia Minor and perhaps around Ephesus.
LIFE OUT OF DEATH
As mentioned in the four gospels Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem on a donkey and the crowd shouted in praise of Him, Hosanna. It was almost a royal reception to Jesus and it was not clear why the crowd shouted Jesus as the king of Jews. He knew in advance, where the donkey would be available for him and two disciples were sent to bring it for Him. Then the disciple spread their garments on the donkey which was saddled in his honour.
Quest for the Living God Then they spread the same garments on the way as it was a professional red carpet.
In this connection the other three gospel writers showed that particular scene in a different way. According to Luke once the garments were laid down on the road some branches were added to the scene and in Matthew different leaves were added and scattered in the show.
But the story of John was different in this matter. He said, Jesus did not send the two disciples to bring the donkey. The crowd already knew about Jesus’ greatness especially with the raising of Lazarus. Some people came from Bethany where they heard that sensational news about Lazarus. By that memorable incident they could estimate what type of person Jesus was. Some people by hearing about the miracles of Jesus came to that occasion. The city people happened to wave the palm leaves as the symbol of victory. The group that attended supper gathering was Pharisees and High Priests.
This third group people were very critical about the situation than the other two. Jesus while responding to the excited crowd found a donkey on His own and mounted it to show His humility. This is the situation that Jesus would tell that His reign was not of the present order. The mounting of the donkey by Jesus was like a prophetic gesture of and it protested the triumphant attitude of the large crowd who were bearing palms.
So, to say the people did not properly understand the miracle of the raising of Lazarus. We see the palms only in John’s gospel which were rejected by Him, because he knew what they symbolize. The using of palm on that particular memorable occasion became palm Sunday that we observe today.
THE LAST SUPPER
On this occasion Jesus played the role of a servant before the disciples. Before the supper started, He wished to wash the feet of all His disciples and He did it. This is of the remarkable details of the Last Supper and then John replied about the word where he called from that beloved disciple.
The role of the character played in the Last Supper as John described was really dramatic, when Jesus called “beloved disciples”. According to Jesus description the disciples were sitting at the right side of Jesus on the central couch. Judas sat on his left and Peter was at the far end of the table on the right side of Jesus. It so happened that Jesus washed the feet of Peter only as the last man.
The main purpose of washing their feet was only to teach them that they too must do like that to others as servants. In this connection, Jesus said that not only the followers wash their feet one another, but they should be also willing to die for one another. This is the culmination of the theme in the Lazarus death and that death is the way of life. A Brief Note about John
The two major themes of life and death were locked in struggle, through the whole last part of this gospel and life wins only by losing to death. This is the paradoxical outcome of this gospel.
A direction means, it contained many things, which Jesus gave to his disciples. How far he was loving the followers He was about to say.
“Greater love than this has no one that he gave his life for his dear ones”
(John 15:13).
As said above, they were to love one another as He loved them. They must be willing to die for one another. What Jesus wanted to direct them is to have a new way to them, because the love He was expecting was not simply a natural affection but the manifestation of the Fathers love. The example of the vine and the branches shows that their flourishing manifests the Father’s grandeur.
So, when Augustine (a writer) said that they lived with a fresh directive. They were “new men”, heirs of new covenant, singers of new song thus dying unto Jesus would re- animate each other.
The reclining position made it easy for the beloved disciple to keep his head on Jesus chest. When Jesus announced that one of them would betray Him, Peter immediately reacted to that and asked who it must be. For that Jesus replied, “This is the one I give the bit of bread, to offer I dip it in the drink”.
Judas took the bread without knowing that it identified him as the betrayer. The beloved disciple was close enough to hear what Jesus was telling in a lowered voice, after he accepted the bit of food, “what you do, do quickly.” The name of the beloved disciple is not yet revealed. But he and Peter were the only male followers who ran to the empty tomb and he over ran the older man.
He was the one whose eye sight was best at that time. When they were in the sea of Tiberius (it is another name for the sea of Galilee) it was he who recognized Jesus on the shore and told Peter that it was Jesus. It was he whom Peter asked as when Jesus would predict the death of Peter himself, he was not the part of the followers when Jesus chose the first disciple, even the other evangelists also did not mention him.
The community, which was formed by the “beloved disciple” on the details that were known to him with the deeper meaning of Jesus in the Last Supper. John’s account described the long lasting discourses. The last supper was something like the farewell function for Jesus and he was giving his final piece of advice to his people.
What must be His last advice – He said, you must love one another as I have loved you. Greater love than this has no one that he gives his life for his dear ones.” You were my
Quest for the Living God dear ones, I never called you my slaves because a slave would understand the masters acts. I called you my dear ones. What I know from my father, I shared with you. You had never left me single I had singled you on certain occasions what you wished from the Father He should give it to you”.
The following lines would show what kind of intimacy Christ had with the heavenly Father and the disciples. They meet the Father in Him and He in them.
Jesus continued His saying –
I am the vine and you the branches
One engrafted in me and I in him,
.........................................
And as my Father loves me
So I love you”.
The long but very impressive speech given by Jesus at the end of His life and also another long sermon on the mount. Though He was speaking at the last supper, he spoke from heaven and his audience were the disciples. His precious word from His speeches were referred to Christians of all times. This last discourse was the last testament of Jesus. That is meant to be read by the people only after his leaving this earth. The most important point we can remember from the occasion of the Last Supper was the promise of paradise.
“If you love me
You will heed my directive
And I will ask the Father
and He will send another champion
Who will stay with you through all time
The Spirit of Truth” (14:15-17).
Why did Jesus say that Father would send another Champion? It is because Jesus Himself was the Champion of his followers according to the writings of the Beloved Disciple school. He said, then he was returning to his Father. He also said He and the Father both were searching a champion who would stay with them. In this way Jesus comforted His disciples before He was taken away from them.
HIS AGONY OR PASSION
After the mental agony Jesus underwent in the Gethsemane garden John did not say much but he said about Jesus’ praying. While accepting the cup of suffering, He put all his emphasis on the divinity of Jesus as he went through all the ordeals. While accepting the A Brief Note about John unbearable suffering, He was not passive, but very active.
Jesus knew already that Judas would being the Roman soldiers and the temple men to the secret place where He was praying as Judas was bribed for that purpose. Then Jesus asked him whatever he wanted to do, do it immediately; since He already know what is going to come. When the crowd outside shouted, Jesus of Nazareth was their prey; he told them boldly and with dignity “I AM”. The arresting Roman soldiers were probably put at the disposal of the High priest sent by Pilate.
The soldiers took Jesus to the former high priest named Annas the father-in-law of the present priest Caiphas. As a matter of fact, both fathering law and son-in law joined together and plotted against Jesus with vengeance to get rid of Him. During the trial Nicodemus, one of the 70 judges, played an important role to save Jesus from the cruel hands of the high priest. He was also an important figure in the gospel of John.
Nicodemus was originally a gentile, but influenced by the teachings of Jesus, and became one of the admirers of Him and finally became His follower. He tried to defend Him in the trials but in vain. When the priests were plotting to make Jesus guilty, Nicodemus took the initiative and said Jesus must be given time for hearing. When he failed in everything, he at last helped to bury Jesus. Nicodemus was not a confirmed disciple of Christ, but he went into the place where the priest circle when they were following the proceedings of the trial.
Annas at last advised Caiphas to take Jesus to Pilate and demanded from him the death of Jesus. The Pilate also tried his best to save Jesus as he believed that He was an innocent man and in support of his wife who dreamed about Christ on the previous night.
All the attempts became futile before the shouting of the people out side as they were also bribed for that shouting purpose. At last he handed over Jesus to the public by saying that he was killing an innocent man, and then washed his hands. Though Jesus was determined to death, He was in His conscious and carried the cross.
When He was put on the cross he saw four women and one man called the Beloved Disciple who were standing nearby. One of the women was His mother. He told His mother by showing the beloved disciple what he was her son. To the beloved disciple, He said that she was his mother . Since that time he took care of her. What must be the reason to keep His mother in charge of the beloved disciple was because he was very young with good physique and he had a house in Jerusalem.
He was actually recently joined as disciple probably from Jerusalem, where as the others were from Galilee.
Jesus understood that he reached the goal in order to bring sacred writings to thus completion when he sipped the wine on the hyssop, it meant he had completed the drinking
Quest for the Living God the cup His father gave Him. His mission was to die for the sake of the sinner and with His death that purpose also served. Though He was God, He died as the mortal man for the sake of the world.
In this connection, let us recollect an incident from the book of Exodus, how Moses hit the rock with his rod for water to the Israel in their wilderness. Jesus spoke with the Samaritan woman over the well of Jacob. He had applied that to Himself. He said, “rivers of waters that live flow from his depths” here, “his blood joins the water enforcing to the image of waters” the reference here was that the water and blood became symbolical that reviving life from death. Which Jesus bought to humankind. The water and blood from His side were a reference to the vine.
Augustine, a popular writer, thought that there might be a parallel between the opening of the first Adams’s side to create Eve and the opening of second Adams side to create his “bride” the body of His believers. The beloved disciple who was standing near the cross gave the information that he saw the actual piercing of Jesus’ side. The person who saw that gave his testimony as true to the best of his knowledge. What he spoke was true so that everybody should believe. This information was for fulfilling the sacred writings.
HIS RESURRECTION
John mentioned four women who were standing near the cross. But only Mary Magdalene happened to go to the tomb as the first person on the morning of Sunday. She was surprised to see the tomb empty. Then she thought somebody must have taken the body of Jesus. She immediately ran to Peter to tell the news. Then Peter with the beloved disciple went to the tomb, They were almost running to that place and the beloved disciple went faster than the other.
When they entered into the tomb, they found the winding cloth lying over there, nobody could dare enough to enter in. Simon Peter came too late because of hisage and entered the tomb. He saw the winding cloth, but the covering veil he saw separately. Then all entered but they did not believe till then, that Jesus could rise from the dead on the third day according to the sacred writings.
Again the beloved disciple was the first to believe in the resurrection which Peter and others were still in doubt. Like Mary Magdalene they were also under the impression that somebody had stolen the body.
The beloved disciple entered the tomb later than Peter, but understood earlier than him about Jesus. In course of time, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and began weeping for Christ. Then she saw a man at a distance and took him to be the gardener. It became difficult to all the disciples to recognize the raised Jesus. As a dim figure Jesus asked Mary Magdalene A Brief Note about John why she was weeping. She still took Him to be the gardener and asked him if he had taken away her master Jesus. She further requested Him to tell the place where He put Him so that she would go and take him. Then Jesus called her ‘Mary’ by turning closer she immediately recognized Him and addressed Him in Armanian language “Rabbuni” (which means master). She want to Him and about to touch his feet. Jesus said not to touch Him, because He had not yet gone to His Father. He further told her to tell all the disciples that He would go to His Father, his God and her God.
Mary Magdalene was certainly an important person for the company of the beloved disciples. She was the second one who believed in the risen Christ. She was the second one only to the beloved disciple. Above all, she was the first woman to see Jesus and immediately reported to all the disciples that she saw Christ in body and Spirit.
Then Jesus appeared to all the disciples who were hiding themselves behind one looking down. He promised them, the Holy Spirit would come to them from the Father fulfilling His promise. But Thomas, who was also called doubting Thomas did not believe all that because he was not there when Christ met them after resurrection. He believed only after putting his fingers into the wounds of Jesus.
Then Christ said, “happy are those who see me not and still have trust”
John’s gospel is finally ended at 20:30-31, but he did not mention many other miracle which Jesus did with His disciples. Whatever it may be, we have to trust that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God and that trust would make us live with the power of His rule.
Then the conclusion said about the appearances of Jesus to His disciples after they returned to Galilee. As a stranger he enquired how much fish they caught. They were actually not fishing. They replied to His question they did not find any. Then the stranger told them to cast their net into the right side of their boat. When the net was full of fish, among all disciples it was the beloved disciple that recognized Jesus and first told Peter about him.
Peter, who was always impetuous in his action, jumped into the water to reach Jesus. Finally Jesus ate with them. He asked Peter three times whether he love Him whole heartedly. He replied positively. Jesus then told him to feed the Lord’s sheep.
Peter lived for abut 129 years perhaps the longest lived of all the disciples. The legend says that he died on the cross upside down because he did not want to be crucified like Jesus (really by upside down crucifixion, the blood will be forced to the head and would bleed to a swifter and easier death). The earliest and direct information about his death was send in a letter from Clement of Rome to the Christian gathering in Corinth. His death was presumed by Clement that Peter died of rivalry and grudge among the brothers. But there was authentic information abut his execution. Killing Christians through crucifixion was normal in those days.
CHAPTER - 7
సాక్ష్యం 22.
DEBORA AND JAEL - WOMEN OF ZEAL
The word 'zeal' is often associated with fanatism. This 'zeal' can be used in good sense as well as bad. In bad sense some countries have been encouraging the youth in the name of 'fanatical zeal' to kill the innocent in the form of human bombs. In the good sense, this 'zeal' can also be called 'righteous bond of zeal'. It motivates many missionaries to take up the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the remote and the most dangerous parts of the world to motivate people to enjoy the free gift of salvation with remission of sin, washed in the blood of Christ who died on the cross for the sins of humanity.
This righteous brand of zeal tempts leaders of the world to fight for whatever they believe to be right. And it is this righteousness of zeal that causes millions of Gods' people to live and suffer for the Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The "Bible" has a good number of zealous men and women who boldly served God. Abraham and Moses in their zealous love for God were accepted and honoured. His commandment. We have the most noted Pagan Rahab from Jerico city (Joshua 2nd Chapter), whose zeal caused her to risk her life for the sake of two Hebrew spices. King David used his zeal to become a great warrior but his religious zeal for the Lord can be found in the 4th Chapter of "The Book of Judges".
In like manner, we come across in the 'Bible' two women characters of the same zeal for the word of God. They are "Debora and Jael" who lived out their religious zeal with such strength, boldness, conviction and finally action that even after thousands of years their lives and achievement remained as memories to God's righteous zeal and the people who ever study the Bible can understand their achievements and adventurous act. The Christians of twenty first century would certainly learn more from their wonderful action.
Lack of Zeal (Judges 4.1-3)
The children of Israel did evil again in the sight of God when "Ehud" the king had died. That was the usual patron of the life of Israel. Their life was good as long as the king was alive. But after his death they suffered much for want of good and able leader. In addition
Quest for the Living God to that they also suffered from epidemic of lovelessness towards God.
A Bad case of Gentile affiliation:
God wanted to turn His people towards Himself. So, as to teach them a lesson God sold them to a cannanite king by name "Jabin" which was like a man sold to slavery. In the same way Israelites were also sold unto Cannanite king.
For humiliating discipline it was Jabin's right hand of cruelty and the main culprit in affliction of pain upon Israel was Sisera, captain of the Canannite army. Then the Isreal had to spend 20 long years so as to receive the cruel and unscrupulous treatment in the hands of Sisera. But it became a task among people as Siseras was Jabins and God's correct choice to ill-treat Israel till they remember their God then repent and respect Him.
Sisera must have enjoyed a lot in his role as a chief bully and tyrant and according to the Bible the children of Israel were greatly oppressed. Only after they suffered enough in the hands of Sisera they repented and cried unto God.
When Israel were in such depressed condition, Debora came into the picture. She was a prophetess. She led the Israel when they were in difficulties under the servitude of Sisera and Jabin. She was so to say a woman among women and a leader among leaders. She was an extra ordinary woman with wisdom and piety. She was to say in nutshell, the mouth piece of God Himself. Debora devoted all her life and was intimately acquainted with God. As a matter of fact, there was not a man at that time in Israel to defend them from the cannanites.
So, in such circumstances God gave a call to Debora to take the leadership to defend the Israelites. It was really a wonderful thing, because Debora, being a woman, was going to liberate Israelites from the clutches of Jabin and Sisera. Debora was residing in the hill area of the territory of Ephraim. It is also said "She lived under palm trees".
A worthy leader for the people:
These two words "Free Time" were brought to Debora's vocabulary when she woke up early in the morning. She would be greeted by a group of Israelites who went to help for the judgement as Moses did in the wilderness. Debora judged them always with compassion, sympathy and devotion to God.
Twenty long years passed and Israelites learnt a lesson. The merciful God inclined to come to their rescue. Now we come across a new character entering the scene and that was Barak. Actually God did not know and directly summon Barak, but God wanted to make use of his services through Debora. She had a great God for Israel. So, she wanted to do something to Israel as they were in desperate position. She sent for Barak to go towards mount Tabor with ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and from the children of Debora and Jael - Women of Zeal Zebulun. Now Barak became an important man in the sight of God to conquer Sisera and his canannites collection of iron chariots.
Barak seemed to have not much experience of war, but God spoke to him through Debora that "He that Lord will draw unto this to the river of Kish. Sisera the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude and I will deliver him unto thine hand" God showed him an ideal location for the battle. The mount of "Tabor" so that the Israel would look down up to the far canannites and attack them at the correct time. God again assured Barak that he would win the battle.
Debora was a patriotic Israelite who had zeal for her people and the nation. With heroic spirit and enthusiasm she delivered God's message to Barak. The people's love, affection and respect for her made the perfect person to handle the proclamation of war. Now the time had come for Barak to act according to the proclamation. The only thing he had to do was to perform his duty as per script and the victory would be automatically Israels.
Unfortunately Barak forgot what God had told him. It seemed he became discouraged to march forward by himself. And so came to Debora and told her by grabbing her apron strings if she will go with him, I will go only, if she will not go with him, I will not go". She tried her best by encouraging him, with the words that God was with him and he was a chosen man, but still he had no confidence and spiritually speaking, he needed Debora to hold his hand.
One probable reason might be for Barak's lack of confidence was primarily, he did not know about God, and also the Spirit and promise of God, that he would deliver. Barak was under the impression that Debora would accompany him to the battle field, he was sure and certain of the Lord's presence and hence the fulfillment of His promise.
After hearing the disheartening words of Barak, Debora whole heartedly accepted to follow him to the battle front. And she also put him a condition by saying "I will surely go with thee', much to Barak's relief "Notwithstanding the journey that alone takest shall not be for thine honour, for the Lord shall sell Sisera unto the hand of a woman. Barak did not whole heartedly believe in God and obey Him. Had he honoured the early promises of God made with him and followed accordingly, he would have become the hero of Israel.
As Barak missed the chance, because of his unbelief towards God's promise, God had decided to give that rare honour to a woman and that woman was not even Debora, but a new character "Jael".
Barak's confidence was boosted up to certain extent with the presence of Debora. He plunged into action by collecting 10,000 army and boldly led them to Mount 'Tabor' and ready for war. He was at the top of 1390 feet above the valley of "Jazreel". As per the
Quest for the Living God plan, the war would be found on moral grounds. Sisera as a captain came to know, the enemy was at the top of the mountain and he was also ready for war. Debora's and Barak's zeal for the nation of Israel was forged in truth and morality.
Debora finally encouraged Barak by saying "Barak up, for this is the day in which the Lord had delivered Sisera unto thine hands". These words made him more courageous to command the army then with Debora all came down the hill. The presence of the army of Barak created havoc and terror in the minds of canannities. And this havoc made Sisera leaving every thing and fled from the battlefield. The Israel, killed all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the swords of Israel left not even one was alive.
Sisera was the only surviver of the battle, from Canannites. He fled from the battlefield and looked for refuge and found the tent of Jael by mistake. Actually, we know very little about her except, she was the wife of "Heber" the Kenite. On that fateful day Sisera thought he entered the tent of a friend. As his death was destined, he entered the tent of his enemy. Whatever might be the past history of Jael, we see here as the most courageous woman of action.
Jael had a wonderful plan in her mind and that master plan was to get rid of the biggest enemy of Israel, that was Sisera. She saw him completely who was in exhausted condition. She mentally prepared to jump into action, because she was after all a woman and he was the captain of the army. Her action was just timely. She told him "Turn in my Lord, turn in, turn to me, fear not". But Sisera did not know what was in her mind. He believed her fully in what she said. And finally Jael won the confidence of Sisera.
Then she gave him a bottle of milk and covered his face with a blanket, while he was in deep sleep. We can understand her tension and anxiety that woman of those days were supposed to be meek and mild. But we are wrong in our conclusion. When we look at the timely bold action of Jael at the appropriate time, she took the peg of her tent and workman's hammer. She smote the nail into the temple of Sisera and fastened it to the ground. Jael did that wonderful job with courage, confidence and utmost skill. And that act made Israel very happy.
Barak was still in search of Sisera and finally came to the tent of Jael. She showed him the gruesome sight. He looked down and found how the peg was pierced into his head and all the glory went to her only. She brought victory to Israel and glory to God. In her excitement as she brought freedom to the Israel, she composed a song, which was recorded in the 5th chapter of Judges. The song was to commemorate the victory and glowing tributes to Jael. She took the nail to her left hand and hammer to her right hand and smote Sisera. All the name and glory went to Jael only, but not to Barak though he started the war and obeyed God. Debora and Jael - Women of Zeal
The collective zeal of Debora, Barak and Jael took sometime to liberate Israel from the tyranny of Canannites. The three really did a wonderful job and God subdued on that day Jabin the King of Canannites before the children of Israel. Actually God fought the battle and Israel got freedom.
The lives of Debora, Barak and Jael were the best examples for Christians of today as the proper way to direct our 'zeal' for God's service. Proper zeal does not come from fanatical beliefs or out of control or emotions or false political views, but it will come from the "soul" and it knows the God's will. As far as we could understand, Debora and Barak acted according to the plan and will of God. It is clearly understood as God was behind the scene and guided Jael to make an end of Sisera. Let us all too try to do things of God as done by Debora, Barak and Jael and win God's favour and win abundant blessings.
* * *
సాక్ష్యం 23.
THE TEMPLE OF ISRAEL
Since the time of king Solomon, the temple of Israel was given a prominent place in the scripture. In this context it is better that we should study the details about the past and future and about the temple. Why should we have such fascination to know about the buildings that were destroyed and some were yet to be built? To acquire the full information, we must go back to the beginning of the creation.
God after He created Adam and Eve, His plan and desire was to dwell with the man in the garden of Eden. But unfortunately sin entered the scene and caused Adam and Eve to go out of the garden of Eden. Still God wanted to give man only a chance to re-establish his relationship with God. That is to say, God wanted to dwell again in the presence of humanity. But man’s sinfulness must have been prohibiting this kind of relationship. This situation could not be changed, until Moses brought the Israel out of Egypt from bondage to the mount Sinai.
Then in that mount Sinai, God provided man again to dwell in the presence of His people. He gave them the law called the Ten Commandments. But they did not obey to the law. It was pointed out that no one was able to keep the law except the God man Jesus. Therefore God, in His infinite grace and mercy, gave them another means of experiencing the presence of the living God. He gave it to them by introducing the “Tabernacle”, then came the priesthood to take care of everything, and thereafter came sacrificial system. This sacrificial system became necessary for covering of “sins” of the people. And because of this temporary covering, God was again able to dwell in the presence of his people. God did this in the form of the “Shekinah” which means “the presence of God”. His glory could dwell above the “ark of the covenant”. The introduction of priesthood and sacrificial system became quite necessary because of the nature of people in those days. The Temple of Israel