Tehillah Generation Chapel
Daily Manna
Thursday, April 28, 2016
Topic: The empty tomb 26
Reading: Matthew 27:57-66, 28:1-15
Scripture: He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee. (Luke 24:6)
Note: Very much aware of the restrictive cultural barriers well intentioned people have to cross or grapple with in satisfying the demands of the law, the tradition of the elders, as well as fulfilling the purpose for which the heavenly Father expected of everyone who desired to worship Him truthfully and in Spirit, Jesus knew that it would require standing up to the status quo to stand any chance of bringing the perishing to eternal life.
Jesus’ conversation with the woman of Samaria revealed his utmost commitment to the purpose of his heavenly Father and his own inner desire to bring the woman to eternal life. Jesus understood that the law was made for man and not man for the law. If the law and cultural tradition were going to restrict him and create a barrier between him and his goal, he was ready to defy the expectations of men to satisfy his divine purpose.
Humans, as social beings crave for sense of belonging to society, groups and the establishment. One of the major setbacks against people who tried to challenge the powers that be in the time of Christ was the fear of excommunication from worship in the temple or the synagogues. This fear tool of excommunication was used as an intimidation strategy by the powers that be to threaten people into falling in line with the establishment. Everyone wants to belong and feel accepted.
Thus, the essence of the lostness of man and his redemption were relegated to the back burner in preference to peripheral values such as sense of belonging to society. Man was taken out of the centre. The worship of God in Spirit and in Truth was taken out of the centre. Man became a creature subject to the control of his fellow man, instead of being subject to the control of the Spirit of God.
Food for thought: The fear of man is a snare that can create a barrier between you and God, between purpose and failure, between potential and ordinariness.
Declaration: Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29)
© Author: Rev Fred Aboe
