Tag: Matthew 28:19-20

Faith in the faithfulness of God: A meditation

Fr Dr Saji K Mathew2 Comments

Jesus Christ is the pioneer/author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). The definition of ‘faith’ requires excluding the worldly ownership of it which otherwise credits only the flesh. Anything of the flesh gets reduced as a reason to boast in it, leading to Satanic pride. On the contrary, ‘faith’ as a gift from the one who pioneered it (Jesus Christ) opens up to a world of spiritual absoluteness. Therefore, faith is a journey that starts in the human life from the moment s/he is gifted with it, grows every moment by remaining connected to the source of faith, until it is perfected in the kingdom of heaven. Hence, God said, I am the Alpha and the Omega (Revelation 1:8). 

Faith as a higher order (spiritual) entity is not a quality developed and shaped within the human faculties, and demonstrated as an individual’s spiritual efficiency. Instead, faith is a journey to the assured destination (Hebrews 11:1), which begins with Jesus, advances through Jesus, and culminates in Jesus by being with Him forever. This means the world cannot experience true faith by ignoring the source of faith. Hence Jesus is the Alpha of our faith, clearly representing human dependency for faith on the divine. 

Jesus Christ being God incarnate, faith could be traced as (in other words) originating from God. If we have to name the source of faith, we can name it as the faithfulness of God. More clearly, human faith originates from the faithfulness of God. Therefore, a brief understanding of the faithfulness of God is essential. 

Deuteronomy 7:9 and Isaiah 49:7 unequivocally state that God is faithful. The faithfulness of God is embedded in the covenant He made with mankind at different stages of history. As a matter of fact, a covenant is  a mutual relationship between two parties to it. God’s relationship with mankind starts with a covenant as read in Genesis 1:28 – God blessed them, and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.  

If we look back to history, we will acknowledge and appreciate that mankind’s fall and roller coaster relationship with God never tainted the latter’s promise as His faithfulness is to all generations (Psalm 100:5) and endures forever (Psalm 117:2). The visible evidence of God’s faithfulness is the fertility and dominating presence of mankind on the earth.

God continued repeating His promise to the following generations, as a reminder of His faithfulness. For instance, we read about God’s covenant with Noah in Genesis 6:18 But I will establish my covenant with you….., as an assurance that though He is destroying the wicked generation, the first promise remains intact. Moreover, the ‘first covenant’ is repeated as we read in Genesis 9: 1-2 …..Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. The fear and dread of you shall rest on every animal of the earth, and on every bird of the air, on everything that creeps on the ground, and on all the fish of the sea, into your hand they are delivered. We see here a reminder that God’s faithfulness does not change.

Moving forward in history, God has never tried to forget or bury His promise, a mark of His faithfulness. After Noah, Abraham was assured of God’s faithfulness, this time by means of an oath (Genesis 22:16) – so that mankind could understand the way they understand. This oath followed a repetition of His promise of multiplication …..I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven, and as the sand that is on the seashore….(Genesis 22:17).  Moreover, God made sure that Abraham’s son Isaac, and his grandson Israel are aware of the covenant as we read in Genesis 26:4 and Genesis 35:11 respectively. 

By the time of Moses, God extended the message of His faithfulness from individuals (Adam, Noah and the Patriarchs) to cover the entire population as we read in Exodus 19:5 and Deuteronomy 29:10-11. As a faithful servant, Moses made sure that God’s covenant was known to all the people by way of arranging it to be read in public (Deuteronomy 31:10-11). Prior to this, God Himself ordered that the future king of Israel should have a copy of the covenant, read, and follow it, so that he may never think of himself above the covenant (Deuteronomy 17:18). This means the king should be drawing regularly from the faithfulness of God and guiding his subjects. The failure of the first King could be traced to his failure in relying on the faithfulness of God. Saul’s failure led to the rise of King David who not only submitted himself to the faithfulness of God, but also paved the way for the fulfilment of God’s faithfulness through a renewed covenant (Jeremiah 31:31; 2 Samuel 7:12-13).  

As said earlier, covenant  represents mutual relationship, and it embodies the faithfulness of God. A metaphorical description of this could be the spiritual visualisation of the covenant as the outer shell/layer of God’s faithfulness which is the core. Unfortunately, mankind often failed to maintain the same degree of commitment to the covenant relationship that God extended, as evident from the history recorded in the Old Testament. This failure prompted God to offer a renewed covenant through prophet Jeremiah 31: 31-34 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah……..

The author of Hebrews exposited this in 8:6-13. Accordingly, there are better promises in the new covenant. Moreover, there is now a mediator (Jesus Christ), anointed to pioneer and perfect the faith of mankind, by being faithful to the faithfulness of God. A point to note here is that the new covenant was not because God’s initial covenant had flaws. Hebrews 8: 9 allays such doubts by stating explicitly that since the people did not continue in my covenant…, the aim and objectives of it could not be achieved. This said, Hebrews 12:32 does  praise a few Old Testament personalities who submitted themselves to the faithfulness of God and even suffered for it. However, the conclusion is Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect (Hebrews 12: 39-40).  

The summary of the faith of the Old Testament generation could be described as their failure in staying focused on the source of true faith, the faithfulness of God. Instead, the people and later the Kings were found wandering away from the faithfulness of God, and trying to build up a faith system which was worldly and demonic- faith in foreign gods and idols. Yet, the faithfulness of God remained unaffected, and sent His only begotten Son out of His steadfast love (see John 3:16) who would help mankind with faith. Thus, Jesus Christ became the incarnation of God’s faithfulness, and a source of faith for mankind who were reeling under the weight of failure to build up true faith. As we read, Jesus offered the spring of faithfulness to all those who are thirsty (John 7:37 cf. Isaiah 55:1). Hence Hebrews 12:2 glorifies Jesus as the pioneer and perfecter of faith. 

The Greek word used for ‘pioneer’ is archegon which means originator, author, founder, prince and leader; and for ‘perfecter’ is teleioten which also means completer and finisher. These two words take us to Revelation 21: 6 …I am the Alpha  and the Omega, the beginning and the end, which sheds more light in understanding Jesus Christ as the author and finisher of faith as said in Hebrews 12:2.

Since Jesus Christ is the source of our faith, we have no alternative choice but to draw near to Him to build up true faith. Jesus brings everyone thirsty (of faith) to the source of faith which is the faithfulness of God. Revelation 21:6 relays the Lord’s announcement, To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life (also see John 7:37-38). These verses nullify the scope of faith independent of the faithfulness of God. In other words, faith is drawn from the faithfulness of God, and hence no room and scope for any form of demonstration of human capabilities.

The invitation to the feast of God’s faithfulness is extended to the entire humanity (Matthew 22: 9 cf. Luke 14:21-23), and to receive and accept the invitation is a blessing (see Revelation 19:9). 

The Hebrew word for faith, aman, clearly points to the dependability factor. Aman  has several meanings in Hebrew as listed below:

  1. To support with the arm, to carry a child- for e.g. Isaiah 49:23 (support); Numbers 11:12 (carry a child); Isaiah 60:4 (carry).
  2. To guard and bring up – Esther 2:7 (bring up); 2 Kings 10:1 &5 (guardian).
  3. To nurse (Ruth 4:16; 2 Samuel 4:4). 
  4. Sure, enduring, firm – Hosea 5:9 (sure/certain); 1 Samuel 2:35; 2 Samuel 7:16; 1 Kings 11:38 (enduring); Isaiah 7:9; 22:23 &25 (firm).
  5. Assured, lasting – Isaiah 33:16; Deuteronomy 28:59. 
  6. Faithful, trustworthy – Deuteronomy 7:9; Numbers 12:7; 1 Samuel 22:14; Proverbs 25:13; Jeremiah 42:5 (faithful); Isaiah 8:2 (trustworthy/reliable); Proverbs 11:13 (trustworthy); Job 12:20 (trusted); Isaiah 28:16 (trust); Psalm 78:22 & 32 (faith, believe); Isaiah 7:9; Psalm 106:24 (faith); Genesis 45:26; Exodus 4:1 & 5; Job 9:16; Proverbs 14:15 (believe),
  7. Verify, confirm – Genesis 42:20 (verify); 1 Kings 8:26 (confirm).
  8. Stand still – Job 39:24. 
  9. Right (turn to) – Isaiah 30:21.

The above meanings invites us to the varied and rich properties of faith which can only be drawn from the faithfulness of God. We also get to know how these varieties (as evident from the different meanings) converge in one true God. The different varieties that the faithfulness of God contains are support, nursing, guardianship, firmness, trust, assurance, confirmation, stability, and more of heavenly experiences, as the Hebrew word aman means. 

The richness of the faithfulness of God enables us to understand mankind’s need for someone who could guide them to the source of faith, the faithfulness of God. The provision of “something better” (Hebrews 11:40) justifies the difference between the faith of the Old Testament generation and the one pioneered and perfected by Jesus Christ. The “something better” or rather the best of faith cannot be achieved without the help of Jesus. In fact, it is He who distributes faith in varied measurement (Romans 12:3) not as a reward but as a gift (Romans 5:15; also see 1 Corinthians 12:9). 

Saint Paul explains how Jesus was qualified to pioneer and perfect the faith for the sake of mankind. …..He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death-even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted and gave Him the name, so that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bent….(Philippians 2:8-10). The humility of the last Adam (Jesus Christ) demonstrated His faithfulness, and through the authority, He could fulfil the faithfulness of God promised to the first Adam (Genesis 1:28). Accordingly, we see Jesus measuring out faith to be “fruitful and multiply”, in John 15:5; and “fill the earth and subdue it” in Matthew 28:19-20; and dominate it in Mark 16:17.  

Since faith is a gift measured out by God, we look up to the mercy seat in the heavens (Psalm 123:1) in the same way ….as the eyes of the servants look at the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress….(Psalm 123:2). Moreover, faith is not acquired by one’s own work but is a grace of God, there is no room for humans to boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). This is evident from the example of Jesus’ brief conversation with the father of a boy with a spirit of seizure. When Jesus clarified the unlimited expanse of faith, the boy’s father cried out Lord help me with my unbelief (lack of faith) (Mark 9:22-24). 

As said in Romans 12:6, faith is measured out and bestowed to individuals in different proportions. This does not mean that the individuals just walk away with whatever they have received and use it at their own discretion. The expectation regarding its use is embedded in the fact that faith is collective. This means the varied measures of faith received by each individual must be used for helping others, as each person is a member of the body of Christ (Romans 12:4-5). In other words, faith, though gifted on an individual basis, can only be enjoyed collectively, by sharing with one another. Hence, we see Saint Paul not considering himself high but humbled longing to share and draw encouragement from the faith of the Romans (Romans 1:12). This mutual sharing leads to fructification and multiplication (Genesis 1:28) of faith, of course by living in the faithfulness of Jesus Christ (John 15:5). 

In summary, God’s eternal relationship with mankind started when Adam and Eve were created. The faithfulness of His relationship was articulated through his covenant (Genesis 1:28). This covenant relationship continued through Noah, Abraham, Moses and the Old Testament generation. The faithfulness of God was given a human embodiment through Jesus Christ, at the appointed time. 

The gospel witnesses the descending of the faithfulness of God through Jesus Christ who first pioneered and perfected faith, and imparted the faithfulness of God to mankind. The vertical dimension of faith is thus discerned when God descended to earth from the heavens. Once descended, the first step was to pioneer and perfect the faith so that everyone thirsting for faith knows the sources and could draw from the faithfulness of God. The pioneering of faith is evident through the faithfulness of the Son of God (Philippians 2:6-8), who after being successful, qualified Himself to measure out faith to mankind. The humility of Jesus Christ was the point of initiation of the horizontal dimension of faith, through the disciples (Matthew 28:19-20), which then spread out to the whole of mankind, and is continuing until the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

The vertical and horizontal dimensions of faith represents the vibrant relationship between mankind and God. Jesus Christ opened a new and living way for us (Hebrews 10:20), and whoever approaches God through this living way has full assurance of faith (Hebrews 10:22), which is the vertical dimension. In the same way as God is faithful (Hebrews 10:23) in His relationship with mankind, the responsibility to honour this relationship rests with mankind who is expected to drive the horizontality of the relationship by loving one another and sharing (Hebrews 10:24-25) the faith drawn from the faithfulness of God. 

In short, we draw faith from the faithfulness of God, and keep growing our faith by sharing it with our fellow beings, and look forward to perfecting our faith in Jesus Christ at His second coming.

May God help us to develop faith in the faithfulness of God!!

In Lord’s service

Fr Saji K. Mathew

…since I am a virgin

Fr Dr Saji K Mathew2 Comments

Mary said to the angel, How can this be, since I am a virgin (Luke 1:34)

Day one of the Advent Lent marks the beginning of a 25 days journey culminating in the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ. Mother Mary was the entry point of the saviour to this world. As such, reception of the Lord at this entry point draws great significance. God has made human beings with a free-will. It means human beings have the freedom of choice to make decisions that they deem right or wrong. Mother Mary as a human being was not an exception to this. She could outrightly reject the announcement of a pregnancy outside the wedlock. Apparently, Mother Mary did not do so but wholeheartedly submitted herself to the will of God to be accepted and conceived in her womb. 

Though the spiritual discourse about faith is conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1), Mother Mary could not accept what angel Gabriel communicated to her about the spiritual conception, and hence sought further clarification. There is a prima facie double standard exhibited by angel Gabriel in a similar situation as we read in Luke 1: 20, when Zechariah the priest asked how will I know that this is so? (Luke 1:18). One may ask why Zechariah the priest was punished whereas Mother Mary was extended a patient hearing. The answer to this question could be found in angel Gabriel’s statement. He said, I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God (Luke 1:19). The expansion of this statement leads us to look into Zechariah’s position. He was the priest of God, and, like angel Gabriel, he also stood in the presence of God. Hence, Zechariah should have known that as a priest, he is a responsible receptor of God’s message and shall convey it to the people of God. It could then be genuinely asked, if the representative of God is unable to believe in God’s promises, how would he be able to carry and deliver the same to the people of God.  

As Zechariah stood in the presence of God, he did not need a confirmation of God’s voice. As an honest and committed priest, Zechariah could have easily discerned the angel as his co or fellow being in the service of God. The doubt expressed by the priest of God unveils his inability to feel the presence of God as well as see his fellow beings who also stood in God’s presence. 

The punishment awarded by angel Gabriel was an eye opener for Zechariah. He possibly learned for the first time in his life that priesthood is not just inherited but a profession called by name (Isaiah 43:1). The words and deeds of a priest need to be aligned to his spiritual discernment received as a grace when he stands in the presence of God. Jesus said Let your words be Yes, Yes or No, No; anything more than this comes from the evil one (Matthew 5:37). On the contrary, Zechariah is seen applying his rationalist mind and questioning his fellow servant in Lord, angel Gabriel. The overwhelming of one’s spirit by his/her mind could result in a random and thoughtless response than a spiritually guided one. Hence, Saint Paul exhorts the faithful en-masse to redirect their tongue to thanksgiving: Entirely out of place is obscene, silly, and vulgar talk; but instead, let there be thanksgiving (Ephesians 5:4). Zechariah could better make use of the situation to thank God when he received the most precious gift that he was actually seeking ever since his marriage with Elizabeth.

Mother Mary’s question, how can this be, since I am a virgin is not just an innocent question but a cautious response. Unlike Zechariah who had the privilege to stand in the presence of the Lord, Mother Mary was a layperson. However, her status in the lower hierarchy of ranks was not an excuse for abstaining from the discernment of the scripture, as evident from the below paragraph. Saint Paul later cautioned in Galatians 1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed. 

There is  insufficient ground to blame Mother Mary for not outrightly accepting the message conveyed through angel Gabriel. Neither can she be blamed for asking a question in this case. The justification for the Mother’s question could be found in an incident that provoked God to anger- When people began to multiply on the face of the ground, and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that they were fair; and they took wives for themselves of all that they chose Genesis 6:1-2. Please note, the Hebrew tradition identifies the sons of God as angels (also see Job 1:6; 2:1 & 38:7). 

If Mother Mary had suspected the intention of the angel or tried to confirm that the message was true indeed, it only confirms her familiarity with the scripture. Moreover, the Mother’s query could be accepted as something that could be emulated in a world struggling to distinguish between true and fake messages. In a world where the preference is for leadership over followership, there is increased competition among the corporate churches to attract followers in quantity over quality. The tactic used to multiply is unfortunately faked messages that feed itching ears (2 Timothy 4:3). As a result, the discourse has vastly shifted from a ‘witnessing’ church to a balance-sheet based church, thus nullifying the “Great Commission” – Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you (Matthew 28:19-20). 

Mother Mary’s question to angel Gabriel represents the witnessing church needing confirmation- that the message is truly from God. Saint John exhorts, Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God…..(1 John 4:1). In line with the Genesis 6:1-2 tragedy, Saint Paul further cautions, even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). 

Unlike the way how angel Gabriel dealt with Zechariah, Mother Mary was treated with compassion. We read the detailed explanation of the angel, ….the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you…(Luke 1;35). The true body of Christ (the church) should experience and witness the shadow of the Most High and the brooding of the Holy Spirit, both undoubtedly absent from a balance-sheet oriented church. Unlike the latter, a witnessing church will be devoid of marketing gimmicks, beats of heavy metals (music), las-vegas style lightings, and demonstration of human powers. Instead, there will only be a sound of sheer silence (1 Kings 19:12). In fact, Mount Horeb could be interpreted as a shadow or prototype of a true church. Prophet Elijah misunderstood the strong mountain splitting and rock shattering wind as the arrival of God (1 Kings 19:11), but was proved wrong. He was again wrong interpreting the earthquake and fire as the Lord’s arrival (1 Kings 19;11-12).

The arrival of Messiah was awaiting a heroic welcome from the people of God. The latter wanted their national and community pride kindled with an earth shattering entry mode of the Messiah as is stated in Isaiah 64: 1-2 O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence- as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil- to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence! 

To the disappointment of many, none of those things happened. Instead a trusted lieutenant was sent to an innocent virgin. Unlike a pompous summit or a red carpet visit to the hall of fame, the entire meeting took just a few minutes which silently marked the end of an age and the beginning of a new era for the world. Interesting and noteworthy is the brief exchange between the angel and Mother Mary that encompassed the greatest question ever asked (how can this be, since I am a virgin) and the answer to it which communicated the most powerful of all the words (Holy Spirit and Most High).  

May God bless you. Amen.