Can I Disobey God for a Worthy Goal?

Have you ever faced the risk of disobeying God to achieve a worthy goal? I have gone through such difficult circumstances, but have been saved by the sheer grace of God.

Tamar, a woman in the pages of the book of Genesis in the Bible had some worthy goals (chapter 38). She had married, Er, a son of Judah, one of the sons of Jacob.  The Bible records that the Lord put Er to death because he was wicked. The father, Judah proposed his next son, Onan for furthering the family progeny. But Onan cheated Tamar. He too died as a result of divine justice. Now Judah gets panicked, fearing losing his third son, Shelah. So he gives a false hope to Tamar to wait for some time to get married to his third son. As planned Judah never gave Shelah to Tamar. Judah also becomes a widower by then.

Poor Tamar. The men in her life have all failed her. Being a widow and childless made life miserable for her. She wanted to prolong her family progeny at any cost in the same family she got married to. Now that looks like a worthy goal pertaining to the culture of that time. She also wanted to set right the wrongs the men did to her on her own. She disguised herself as a prostitute and tricked Judah and both slept together. Tamar wanted to teach Judah and the male chauvinistic society, a lesson. So, she took the seal, cord, staff of Judah as a pledge, while she was still in disguise.

When the news came that Tamar was pregnant, Judah was the first one to shout, “Burn her.” What a prejudiced society it was then and even now! Did he not commit adultery? Did not Jesus say in a similar situation, “whoever is sinless let them first stone this sinner woman”? Tamar played comedy here. She brought the pledge items and pointed out, “I became pregnant by the man who is the owner of all these.” The good thing about Judah is that he said, “She is more righteous than I.” They never had any relationship after that. I am not for words, full of praise for Tamar because she schemed and executed an unethical shortcut for a seemingly worthy goal. Later in history we learn about another widow and childless woman named, Ruth who unlike Tamar followed the law and culture of the days ethically and achieved a worthy goal.

Interestingly, Matthew chapter one records Jesus as one born in the genealogy of both Judah and Tamar and Ruth and Boaz. There is good news spelled here. We have a Saviour who whispers to us, “Whatever said and done, all that you have to do is to confess your sins and recognize your unrighteousness and sin no more.” 

"No one who conceals transgressions will prosper, but one who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy." (Prov 28:13 [NRSV])

Finishing Well

In 2006, Floyd Landis performed one of the greatest cycling performances in history. At stage 17 of the Tour de France, Landis smoked his competition as he traversed five mountain passes over the 105 mile course with frightening power. His strength and endurance led him to victory. But after the race, he was disqualified and disgraced for blood doping. Landis finished strong but he didn’t finish well.

Those who did not finish well

In the stories of the Bible I can name a few here who started well, but did not finish well. Saul was God's first choice to be the king of Israel. But he ended his life as a disobedient child of God. Young Solomon built a temple for Yahweh. Old Solomon built temples for other gods and thereafter his kingdom went down the slide. Uzziah started as a powerful and pious ruler of Judah. He died as a leper punished by God for he did things which he should not do (2 Chronicles 26, 27). Judas was one of those twelve disciples whom Jesus loved dearly as friend. But he betrayed Jesus and died in a miserable manner. John 6:66 says about a great number who turned back and did not follow Jesus. Demas proved to be a shallow rooted Christian because he deserted ministry for the sake of the world (2 Timothy 4:10). 

Those who finished well 

In stark comparison of the above mentioned characters were the lives of men and women of God who finished well. There was Samuel whose farewell address in 1 Samuel 12:2-4 is worth reading. People acknowledged Samuel as a man of integrity. There was Simeon, Anna who waited for the Saviour in the Jerusalem temple and finished their races well and rested in peace (Luke 2). Paul’s farewell address in Acts 20:18-21 tells about his life as a man in ministry well-lived. That’s why he could say almost close to his death these words of victory: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)

How can I finish well?

Well, all of us have a common goal for our life’s running race. Whether we like it or not we are going to finish it. But death is not the ultimate in the life of a believer. If only the life’s race is finished well, a believer of Jesus gets the reward of living eternally and joyfully in heaven. What is that, that is diverting us from running the race well? If it’s a life of sin we need to look to Jesus. Hebrews 12:1-3 says “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Following Jesus will help us finish well. Finishing well each day helps us finishing our years well. So at the end of every passing day it is good to ask myself, “Have I finished well?” If not I would brood about it and work on it until I finish my days well.

Families and the Cross

Recently I saw a status message in the face book which said, “What would one call a parent who lost a child?” One good thing, our society has done is not to brand them by a name, unlike other tags like widow, orphan etc.  Mary, when she happened to see life ebbing away from her dear son cried miserably. Jesus cared for her crying. It happened with Hagar and her dying son Ishamel. Rizpah in the  Old Testament did not allow the birds of the air touch the dead bodies of her sons, Armoni and Mephibosheth. It is extremely painful for a parent to bear the death of their child.  And if at all anyone can understand the pain of a bereavement of a child, it is Jesus. He understands any other issues families undergo as well and cared for them.

Jesus’ hands and legs were nailed to the cross. He could not embrace Mary. Neither could Mary do that.  It was then, Jesus murmurs these words that show the depth of his responsibility, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And to John, his disciple he said, “Here is your mother.” (John 19:26-27).  The only commandment of the ten that comes with a promise is this: “Honour your father and mother” (Ephesians 6:2). None of us ever can shun from our responsibility towards our parents giving lame excuses. 

A pain that Mary had to undergo ever after Jesus started his ministry after the wilderness experience was to admire her son from a distance.  There are many parents even today who just have to painfully admire their children from a distance.  Education, marriage and careers separate them from their children. In Indian mission field, I have seen missionary parents living in less-privileged, culturally distant places sending their kids to boarding schools like the one in Dohnavur. They find these schools better than a place in Jharkhand in which malaria attacks them on an of average of nearly fifty times in their life time. This is a relative situation Jesus speaks about in Matthew 19:29 which says : "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life”.  Pain in families due to separation for a worthy cause pays dividends.

And why did Jesus call his mother as “woman” and why did he hand over her to “John” instead of his own brothers? The cross is also a place, where we learn about a “family” which has a different definition altogether. Jesus asked, "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." (Matthew 12:48-50). He had called his disciples as brothers elsewhere too (John 20:17). Jesus’ own brothers were not yet believers, according to John 7:5. Neither were they in the vicinity of the cross. So the definition of a family for a believer in Christ is wide and deep.

The new definition of family leads me to the following beliefs which I aspire to practice in life: As a believer, I belong to the family of Jesus, in which I, with my fellow brothers and sisters call him “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15). I would care both for my biological family and for my God-given spiritual families. I believe that adoption of kids is biblical. I also believe that my Christian faith has no allowance for differences based on caste, gender and race. 

I am happy to be a part of the family of God which promotes such values. These values are a natural outcome to people who have their salvation experience in Jesus Christ. I invite you to the cross of Jesus Christ and to taste the love of Jesus who cares for you and your family.

என் ஜெபப் பங்காளர் யார்?

93 வயதான ஒரு அமெரிக்க நண்பரிடம்,எனக்கு மிகவும்பிடித்தது, "உங்களுக்காக நான் தினமும் பல முறை ஜெபிக்கிறேன்," என்பதாகும். வேதக் கட்டளையின்படி நான் ஆண்டவரோடு அடிக்கடி பேச வேண்டும் என்று தெரிந்து வைத்திருந்தாலும், மற்றவர்கள் எனக்காக ஜெபிப்பது எனக்கப் பிரியமான‌ ஒன்றாகும். ஆனால்,யார் எனக்கு சரியான ஜெபப்பங்காளராக இருக்க முடியும் என்பதுகுறித்துநான்செய்த வேத ஆராய்ச்சியில் கற்றுக் கொண்டதை உங்களுடன் பகிர்ந்து கொள்ள விரும்புகிறேன்,

இயேசுசிறு பிள்ளைகளுக்காக ஜெபித்தது

ஒரு சமயம் ஜனங்கள், இயேசு தங்களுடைய சிறு பிள்ளைகள் மீது கரத்தை வைத்து ஆசீர்வதிது ஜெபிக்க வேண்டும் என்று விரும்பினர். சீடர்கள் அதை தடுத்தனர். இயேசுவோ சிறு பிள்ளைகள் பரலோக ராஜ்ஜியத்தின் பிரஜைகள் என்று சொல்லி அவர்களை ஆசீர்வதித்தார் (மத்தேயு 19:13-15). சிறு பிள்ளைகளுக்கான தேவதூதர் எப்பொழுதும் பரலோகத்திலுள்ள பிதாவை தரிசிக்கின்றனர் என்று இயேசுவே கூறியுள்ளார் (மத்தேயு 18:10). சிறு பிள்ளைகளுக்காக அக்கறை கொள்ளுகிறவரும், ஜெபித்து ஆசீர்வதிப்பவரும் யார் என்றும் தெரிந்து கொண்டோம்.

இயேசு பேதுருவுக்காக ஜெபித்தது

இயேசுவுக்கு வயதில் மூத்தவர்களும் பிள்ளைகளே ஆவர். அவர்களுக்காகவும் அவர் ஜெபிக்கிறார். அவர் சிலுவையில் அறையப்படுமுன்னர் உள்ள கடைசி நாட்களில் நடந்த சம்பவம் ஒன்றை லூக்கா 22ம் அதிகாரம் வர்ணிக்கின்றது. இவ்வதிகாரத்தில் சாத்தான் எப்படி வெற்றிகரமாக யூதாஸ் காரியத்துக்குள்ளாக நுழைந்தான் என்று காண்கிறோம். இயேசு, யூதாஸை இழந்த துயரத்தில் இருக்கும் போது தான் இந்த சம்பவம் நடைபெறுகின்றது. தனக்கு அருகிலேயே எப்பொழுதும் இருந்த பேதுருவையும் சாத்தான் சுளகினால் புடைக்க உத்தரவு பெற்றதை அறிந்த இயேசு அவனையும் இழந்து விடக்கூடாது என்ற ஆதங்கத்தில் அவனுடைய விசுவாசம் ஒழிந்து போகாமல் இருக்க ஜெபிப்பதாக அவனிடம் கூறினார். பேதுரு தன்னை சாத்தான் சுளகினால் புடைத்த சம்பவத்தை நினைவில் கொண்டவனாக தன்னுடைய நிருபத்தில் சாத்தான் கெர்ச்சிக்கின்ற சிங்கம் போல எவனை விழுங்கலாம் என்று சுற்றித் திரிவதாக கூறுகின்றான் (1 பேதுரு 5:8).

இயேசு ஒவ்வொருவரையும் நேசிக்கின்றார். அவர்களுக்காக ஜெபிக்கின்றார் என்று நாம் அறிய வேண்டும். ஆனாலும் தனக்குள்ள பொறுப்பிலிருந்து யூதாஸ் தவறி விட்டான். பேதுருவோ சாத்தான் அவனை புடைத்ததால் இயேசுவை மூன்று முறை மறுதலித்தாலும் உடனே தான் செய்த தவறுக்காக கதறி அழுதான்.

இயேசு சீடர்களுக்காக ஜெபித்தது

யோவான் 17ம் அதிகாரத்தில் இயேசு அன்று முதல் இன்று வரையிலான தன்னுடைய சீடர்களுக்காக செய்த நீண்ட ஜெபம் ஒன்றை காண்கின்றோம். 14ம் அதிகாரத்திலிருந்தே சீடர்களிடம் தன்னுடைய பிரிவைக் குறித்து சொன்னதால் கலங்கி போயிருந்த அவர்களுக்கு அந்த ஜெபம் இதமானதாக இருந்திருக்க வேண்டும். அதில் அவர் முக்கியமாக ஜெபிப்பது அவர்தம் சீடருக்கு பொல்லாத சாத்தானிடமிருந்து பாதுகாப்பு, அவர்களுடைய பரிசுத்த வாழ்வு, மற்றும் ஒற்றுமையான வாழ்க்கையாகும்.

இயேசு எனக்காக ஜெபிக்கிறார்

 எலியாவைப் போன்ற நீதிமான்களின் ஜெபத்தை ஆண்டவர் கேட்கின்றார் (யாக்கோபு 5:16). நோய்களிலிருந்து குணம் பெற, நம்மால் ஜெபிக்க முடியாத நேரங்களில், நாம் சபையில் உள்ள மூப்பரை அழைத்து ஜெபிக்க யாக்கோபு ஆலோசனைத் தருகின்றார். இரண்டு, மூன்று பேர் சேர்ந்து ஜெபிக்கும் போது அது வல்லமையான ஜெபம் என்றும் வேதம் கூறுகின்றது.

ஆனால், இப்பூமியிலுள்ள நீதிமான்கள் யாரைக் காட்டிலும் இயேசு வே பரிசுத்தமும் நீதியுமுள்ள ஆசாரியர். அவரே நமக்காக எப்பொழுதும் பரலோகத்தில் வேண்டுதல் செய்கிறவர்(எபிரேயர் 7:25, ரோமர் 8:34). எல்லாவற்றிற்கும் மேலான உண்மை என்னவென்றால், நாம் வேண்டிக் கொள்வது இன்னதென்று அறியாத வேளைகளில் ஆவியானவர் நமக்காக வாக்குக்கு அடங்காத பெருமூச்சுகளோடு வேண்டுதல் செய்கிறார் என்பதாகும் (ரோமர் 8:26-27). இந்த ஜெப விண்ணப்பங்கள் நாம் பாவம் செய்யாமல் இருக்க வேண்டும் என்பதற்காக என்று யோவான் கூறுகின்றார் (1 யோவான் 2:1).

நாம் எப்பொழுதும் ஜெபிப்பவர்களாக, பொறுப்பான பிள்ளைகளாக வாழ வேண்டும். நாம் மகிழிந்து களிகூற வேண்டிய விஷயம் என்னவென்றால், நாம் இயேசுவின் விலை மதிப்பில்லாத இரத்தத்தால் மூடப்பட்டவர்கள் என்பதாகும். கல்வாரியில் நம்முடைய பாவங்களுக்காக அவர் சிந்தின இரத்தமே இயேசுவை யாரைக் காட்டிலும் எட்டாத‌ உயரத்தில் வைத்துள்ளது. பரிசுத்த மான‌ இந்த ஆசாரியரை என் ஜெப பங்காளராக வைத்திருப்பது சரி தானே!

Who can be my “Perfect Prayer Partner?”

We have an American friend who is 93 years old. Whenever we meet or talk over phone, the one thing that he never forgets to mention is this: “I am praying for your family and ministry daily.” I marvel at this one statement. I am always happy about people praying for me, though I strictly obey the Biblical command that I also need to pray. So then, who can be my perfect prayer partner? In a recent study of the Bible, I was fascinated by the fact that Jesus prays for people. There were occasions in His life time on earth when he prayed for others.

Jesus Prayed for Little Children

On one occasion, people wanted Jesus to place his hands and pray for their little children. The disciples rebuked them. But Jesus evaluated them as citizens of heaven and placed his hands on them and blessed them (Matthew 19:13-15). Jesus said that children have angels who always represent them to the Father in Heaven (Matthew 18:10). We need to be aware of the fact that children are always prayed for and cared for.

Jesus Prayed for Peter

Jesus prays for His children, both young and old.  Luke 22 describes the incidents in the last few days of Jesus, before he was crucified. This chapter describes how Satan successfully triumphed in the life of Judas Iscariot. It was in such a brooding situation Jesus knew that Peter, the closest disciple of Jesus also was going to deny him. It is clearly stated that Satan said to Jesus that he is going to sift (make him sin) Peter like wheat (v. 31).  But Jesus said that he has prayed for Simon that his faith may not fail. He knew that Peter would turn back to Jesus and so he wanted him to strengthen his brothers. Peter having this image of Satan who tried to sift him writes in his letter later, warning us about Satan who prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).

We need to know that Jesus loves every one and prays for them. But there is always the role of a human responsibility in which Judas failed and yielded to Satan. Simon though he denied, later confessed and turned back and strengthened his brothers.

Jesus Prayed for His Disciples

John 17 is a record of the longest prayer of Jesus. It comes again in a gloomy context where we find Jesus giving his farewell address from chapter 14 onwards. It would have been really soothing to the disciples whose hearts were by then aching (14:1). Some words which are often repeated here in this prayer are regarding: glory, protection, sanctification and oneness. Jesus prays attributing all glory which is due to God and God alone. The rest of the three are his greatest concerns for the disciples living then and for all those disciples living in the years to come. He prays for protection for a disciple in particular from the ‘evil one,’ Satan. This was what he prayed for Peter. Jesus prayed that his disciples live a holy life. He also prays for a unity in diversity among his disciples.

Jesus Prays for Me

Jesus is the holy and righteous priest in whom we can rely upon, compared to earthly human beings. There may be righteous people like Elijah whose fervent prayers God hears (James 5:16). There are elders in churches whom Apostle James suggests to call and pray for healing and restoration. They are of a help in times we cannot pray. A unison prayer of a two or three is powerful and effective. But we need to always remember that we have Jesus, the perfect priest and the sacrifice himself who intercedes for us always (Hebrews 7:25, Romans 8:34). Still great is the fact that the Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses when we do not know what we ought to pray. The Spirit intercedes for us in wordless groans (Romans 8:26-27). What a compassionate Godhead we have?  These compassionate, intercessory prayers are for us believers that we would not sin against God (1 John 2:1).  What more do we need?

It is mandatory that we pray and we behave as responsible children of God. Let us always be happy that the followers of Jesus are covered in His blood. It was the shedding of His holy blood for our sins in the cross that puts Him up the pedestal than any others. No wonder, I fall in love with Jesus,  my perfect priest and prayer partner all over again. 

“Go find my brothers and tell them!” - A Reflection from the Life of Magdalene Mary

Magdalene Mary is one woman who has been misunderstood during her life time and even now. What is her true story? She was one among the few named women in the gospels. Her name comes in all the gospels, 14 times. She was always listed first among any named women. The risen Christ firstly appeared to Magdalene Mary. She has been widely accepted as an “Apostle to the Apostles”. The gospels in the Bible imply that Magdalene Mary should have been in a leadership position among disciples.

Her Story
She is called Magdalene Mary, because she comes from a small town, “Magdala.” She was troubled as a youth, possessed by seven demons. Her life changed, from being a vessel of dishonour to an ornament of Jesus’ power. Because Luke 8:1-3 follows the unnamed sinner woman’s story, many tend to connect Magdalene and the sinner woman, and thereby call Magdalene Mary as a “reformed prostitute.” Demonic possession and sin of a woman need not have to do with an immoral behaviour always. Mary Magdalene became a follower of Jesus. She and a women’s group served Jesus and his team by taking care of their food and lodging, out of their own means (Luke 8:1-3)

Magdalene Mary followed Jesus all the way till the cross, while the “twelve’’ who were all men, did not do that. The “top two” disciples, Peter and John gave up, searching for Jesus at the empty tomb and went back home (John 20:3-9). But Magdalene Mary persistently waited at the empty tomb, all alone. So, God planned angels to talk to her at the empty tomb. To her surprise and shock, she then saw Jesus and she tried to hold on to him, conveying a message, that she did not want to lose him physically anymore. But Jesus gave a spiritual mandate to her to tell the good news to the other brothers (John 20:17). But we also see that the disciples did not believe her (Mark 16:11). Jesus appeared to the disciples, the men later. But they were stubborn and cynical and Jesus had to rebuke them (Mark 16:14).

The writers of the four gospels differ in their accounts about the resurrection, but they all agree that Magdalene Mary played a central role in meeting the risen Christ and that she told others. But Paul also did not acknowledge Magdalene Mary or the other women, as witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:4-8). Mary Magdalene should have been even among the 120, which included women, on the day of the Pentecost, mentioned in Acts 1 & 2.

Traditions say that Magdalene Mary served as an evangelist and went as far as France to proclaim the good news. The truth and the good news today is: it is Jesus who entitles women to take their place alongside brothers in churches and ministries today, like how he empowered Magdalene Mary. We all have the same spiritual mandate of telling about a risen Christ to the men and women in villages, towns, hills and everywhere! Dusting off all criticisms, women can find their strength in the words of Jesus. HE says to you and me today, “Go find my brothers and tell them!” Let us therefore do it!!