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A biological male is born with XY chromosomes and has male sex and reproductive organs. A biological female is also born with XX chromosomesand has female sex and reproductive organs. The Bible in Genesis 5:2 says, “He created them male and female…”. Centuries later in the New Testament, Jesus affirmed this when He said, “But from the beginning of the creation, God made them male and female” (Mark 10:6). Humans, therefore, have no control or input at the onset of conception regarding which sex God offers. Adam, the first created man, had no input or choice of his sex until he became a living being. When Eve, the first female, was being made, God in His wisdom put Adam into a deep sleep until He finished and handed her over to him as his wife.

Therefore, both Adam and Eve had no input in the determination of their sexes when they were made. After Adam gained back his consciousness, he expressed his excitement and said, “…This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, for she was taken out of man.” (Genesis 2:23). According to Genesis 1:31, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good…”. So God equally expressed His excitement on the sixth and last day after creating humankind and the entire universe and rested on the seventh day. The first five days saw the creation of the lights, skies, seas, dry grounds, seed and fruits bearing plants and trees, night and day, living creatures and all kinds of birds in the sea and on the earth, wild animals and the livestock according to their kinds.

Unfortunately, human beings have tempered with every creation of God irresponsibly as against the charge given when handing them over to us. This has resulted in the threatening climatic and environmental conditions we all find ourselves in today with its associated hardships and misery. Due to socio-economic factors, wildlife and the general ecosystem are equally trampled upon with impunity. At the 26^th United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP 26, held in Glasgow, leaders from around the world gathered to chart a path forward on climate action to curb emissions and address the impacts of a warming planet. Simon Kofe, the Foreign Minister of Tuvalu, said, “We cannot wait for speeches when the sea is rising around us all the time.” Former President of United States Barack Obama also said, “Saving the planet isn’t a partisan issue.” The British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, intimated, “Humanity has long since run down the clock on climate change. It’s one minute to midnight on that Doomsday clock, and we need to act now.” These troubles began after humans started tempering with everything God created without recourse to the attached manual, His word. As a result, Humanity have not known rest after God rested on the seventh day.

Until the latter days of the 20^th century, what was possibly left unscratched was the male and female gender as programmed by God for each individual. Today, some seem to have gathered the nerves to temper with this one too and propagating for others to do the same if they so wish. They refer to themselves as transgender people. A transgender person is a person who feels trapped inside the body of the opposite gender. A transgender woman lives as a woman today but was thought to be male when she was born. A transgendermanlives as a man today but was considered female when he was born.

Whereas some renowned world leaders have embraced the trans-community with laws that seek to protect their interests, others have condemned the practice outrightly. The number of children referred to the Tavistock and Portman Foundation Trust’s gender identity development service (Gids)—the NHS service through which all UK candidates for a sex change under 18 is up from 77 in 2009 to 2,590 in 2018. In November 2017, the Guardian reported that 70 per cent of referrals were female. There has been an extraordinary increase in teenagers seeking to transition from female to male in the last ten years.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russian President, Vladimir Putin, stressed that his country should adhere to its own “spiritual values and historical traditions,” he said the notion that children are “taught that a boy can become a girl and vice versa” is monstrous and “on the verge of a crime against humanity.” This article seeks to appreciate the wisdom and purposes behind the male and female gender as strategically chosen and designed by God for every single individual.

The book of Esther introduces a young lady named Hadassah, who happened to be one of the Jewish exiles and captives carried away to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. Also known as Esther, she had a lovely figure and was very beautiful. As an orphan, she was under the care of her cousin Mordecai, who worked at the palace in the citadel of Susa as one of the security operatives (Esther 2:5-7). At birth, her parents, relatives, and the Elders in Israel had no idea why God made her a female with those features. It was only a matter of time for all to appreciate that the creator makes no mistakes in choosing our gender for us. Besides her ordeal as a captive living in a foreign land exposed to an early hustling life with her gatekeeper male cousin, Esther had other challenges that confronted her. Both of her parents died when she was a little child. The obvious and preferable person to take care of Esther should have been one of her female relatives with a better appreciation of nurturing the girl child. Her tribe, Benjamin, also happened to be the smallest of all the tribes in Israel.

One of the questions and thoughts that could have occurred to her was whether she was a male in a female body. Indeed, a cursory examination of her early social, emotional and psychological challenges and the only available relative to her aid being a male could have led to her questioning why she came out from birth as a female. Besides other factors such as self-confidence, esteem and worth and innate feelings, some adolescent girls seeking sex reassignment argue that the trappings of femininity can be oppressive. However, one bitter truth is that challenges are gender insensitive at all ages and stages in this life. No matter how inexpressible it may be, the mere innate feeling one gets at a particular time due to a challenge should not warrant consideration for gender change. One of the most significant flaws of contemplating a gender reassignment surgery is the assumption of fulfilment, satisfaction and improvement of one’s self-worth afterwards.

Sex reassignment surgery refers to procedures that help people transition to their self-identified gender. People may have surgery so that their physical body matches their gender identity. What happens during surgery varies depending on the procedure, and it can be facial, top, bottom surgeries or a combination of these operations. 

A trans activist woman who de-transitioned in 2018 claimed that many people with gender reassignment regret the decision and want to return to their original sex. Charlie Evans, aged 28 years, from Newcastle, UK, also said hundreds of people who wish to return to their original gender have contacted her since she announced her de-transition and stopped taking her hormone therapy. Evans was born female but decided to live as a male for almost ten years before de-transitioning.

In a cohort study in the PLos One journal edited by James Scott, it was discovered that Persons with sex reassignment have considerably higher risks for mortality, suicidal behaviour, and psychiatric morbidity than the general population.

The above conclusion from the study even proves that it does not lie within the purview of humankind to make a man out of a person born a woman at birth or vice-versa. Even God did not do that. When He needed the female gender, he did not change Adam’s gender but made a new human being in the person of Eve. It is, therefore, not surprising the health and psychological complications associated with the gender reassignment procedures.

God is not unaware of the struggles all humans go through in this life, no matter how personal or indescribable they may appear. He is always available and ready to offer the helping and restoring hand. I would, at this point, urge all guardians, relatives, friends and loved ones of all who seem to be going through one challenge or the other to offer every available support to them. We necessarily do not have to be wealthy before providing emotional, psychological, financial, social and spiritual help to others. Per his societal standing and socio-economic status at the time, Mordecai could not have been able to support Esther. Yet, as a gatekeeper, he became a shoulder upon which Esther could cry and depend in those difficult moments of her life.

Around 5^th century BC, Queen Vashti, wife of King Xerxes, the Mede-Persian King, was deposed for misconducting herself (Esther 1:10-22). To fill the vacuum, a search was to be made throughout the 127 provinces from Ethiopia to India for a suitable young virgin. “ ² Then the King’s personal attendants proposed, “Let a search be done for beautiful young virgins for the King.³ Let the King appoint commissioners in every province of his realm to bring all these beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the King’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women, and let beauty treatments be given to them. ⁴ Then let the young woman who pleases the King be Queen instead of Vashti.” This advice appealed to the King, and he followed it (Esther 2:1-4). The pre-qualification criterion was a biological female, at least to begin with.

Although they were captives in that foreign Land, Mordecai seized that golden opportunity to register Esther to participate in that pageantry. Mordecai did not have what it took to make Esther a beautiful biological female. No matter how concerned her cousin was, there was no way she could have been listed if she was not a biological female at the time. That is the preserve of God. Similarly, we cannot push our male children into opportunities solely reserved for the girl child and vice-versa. According to Esther 2:7-9, of all the contestants who had assembled at the Citadel of Susa, Esther was the one who won the favour of Hegai, the King’s eunuch and their caretaker at the time. Even though something quite unusual, which I prefer to call Grace and which others call favour, seemed to be working to her advantage, her female gender offered by God at birth, became the bedrock for that mindboggling success story of hers.

In like manner, God uses the very sex He offers us at birth to our advantage at all times. The argument that God could have still used a male to connect the Israelites to the seat of the government at the time isn’t tenable because Mordecai was a male working as a gatekeeper. God needed a female who could also be the First Lady in Susa. Therefore, our gender is not an afterthought as the transgender community is portraying gender choices to look like. You are of a particular gender at birth for reasons far beyond what you can ever imagine during your lifetime.

After Esther won that beauty contest and became the suitable replacement for Queen Vashti, the real reason for her feminine make-up began to unfold. Little did she know that the redemption, deliverance and salvation of a whole nation had been incorporated in her female gender at birth.

Even though the King’s wife, Esther, was a Jew, one official at the seat of government in the person of Haman suddenly assumed the title, “The enemy of the Jews.” As a well-connected person in officialdom, he succeeded in getting the King to sign an irreversible edict to kill all the Jews within the 127 provinces on 7^th March 473 BC (Esther 3:12). Almost 10 years before this period, Mordecai, the gatekeeper, had uncovered a credible plot to assassinate the King by two guards of his private quarters. The intel was investigated, and the culprits were impaled on a sharpened pole (Esther 2:21-23). If Mordecai were to be a female, she would not have had the opportunity to work as a gatekeeper, let alone get his name imprinted in the annals of King Xerxes’ reign history. The reason for his male make-up by God also began to unfold. Mordecai sent a message to Esther about the wicked plot of Haman about the Jews, and together, they organized three-day fasting and prayers to avert that pending calamity. Quite reminiscent of males, Mordecai lacked the fine details of how best the Jews would come out of that pending disaster even though he knew something urgent needed to be done. He said, “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace, you will escape when all other Jews are killed. If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made Queen for just such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13-14).

The original feminine race, which God has endowed with discernment and the carving out the fine details for relief and such distressful situations, then added their touch to the whole deliverance plan. She sent this reply to Mordecai, “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the King. If I must die, I must die.” So, Mordecai went away and did everything Esther had ordered him (Esther 4:15-17).

In the end, Haman, the enemy of the Jews, was hanged on the gallows he prepared for Mordecai, and a new edict was issued by the King, who provided the Jews with the right of self-defense. Males and females, therefore, have their inherent limitations. God intended that they complement and not compete with each other. The roles Mordecai and Esther played complemented each other so well to meet the set objective of averting the pending massacre of the Jews. When the devil’s plan begins to work against us, God’s original design for our lives begins to work to perfection and unto His glory.

Esther and Mordecai, who wholeheartedly embraced their God-given sexes, rose to occupy the positions as the First Lady and the Prime Minister of the Persian Empire, respectively (Esther 10:3). It must also be pointed out that Esther was not catapulted to the position of the Queen only because of her female gender. The Bible says she obeyed all the good counsel her cousin Mordecai offered her as a child, during the days of the beauty contest and even as the First Lady (Esther 2:20). We, therefore, must not ignore godly counsels and still expect to solely depend on our God-given genders to make the needed impact during our lifetime. There is a good reason God made you a male or female at birth.

Accept, therefore, your God-given biological gender, and amid challenges, you can still be a blessing to yourself, immediate family members, society and the world at large.

Written by Pastor James Orhin Agyin

Yul Edochie is a Nollywood actor. On 27th April 2022, he revealed on his Instagram page that he has a son with his colleague actress Judy Austin Muoghalu, who, he claims, is also his second wife. Yul’s first wife, May Yul Edochie, wrote under that Instagram post that, “May God judge you both.”

It is worth noting that, “May God judge you” is different from “May God condemn you”. God’s judgement is either one of “guilty & condemned” or ‘innocent & acquitted”. Yule and his second wife can pass for either in God’s sight; and even if they are found guilty before God with all the hidden facts available to God (but hidden from humans), God may still decide to have mercy on them.

It is however worth noting that, God having mercy on a guilty person (on how they respond to His Word and/or treat others) does not make their sins, right and worthy of emulation. We are to weigh all things, as Christians, and stick to what is “God’s righteousness”.

God’s righteousness on any matters is HIS ORIGINAL PLAN & PURPOSE for that matter as revealed in the Bible by the “Law of First Mention” and modeled by Christ.

On the subject of marriage, God’s ORIGINAL PLAN & PURPOSE is “One man, one wife”. We see it in Genesis 2:24-26 in the marriage between Adam and Eve. This is also seen in Christ marrying One Bride (The Church) – One Body with many different parts.

So, David or Solomon marrying more and receiving mercies regardless does not annul God’s Righteousness on the matter of marriage. All that said, ONLY JUDGE CAN GOD perfectly BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE on every matter of life.

Having said all these, the following scriptures reveals that, as humans, we may have our own judgment on matters BETWEEN PEOPLE but there are facts hidden from us humans on issues which are available to the Godhead only thus making the Godhead the ONLY EVER-RIGHTEOUS JUDGE in all such matters of life.

‘Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the LORD judge between you and me.”‘ (Genesis 16:5, NIV)

‘…”See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you”‘ (David to Saul, 1 Samuel 24:11-12, NIV)

‘…When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” And he wept aloud. “You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly.”‘ (1 Samuel 24:16-17)

‘As she was being brought out, she sent a message to her father-in-law. “I am pregnant by the man who owns these,” she said. And she added, “See if you recognize whose seal and cord and staff these are.” Judah recognized them and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn’t give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not sleep with her again’. (Genesis 38:25-26)

Selah

Blessings

Written by Apostle S. K. Fianko-Larbi

His parents called him “Barabbas” which means “son of the Father”. Others call him Jesus Barabbas which would also mean, “Jesus, son of the Father”. Probably, his parents dedicated him to God by giving him that name, for Jewish names bear their meanings. Or possibly, to prove his Father’s love and likeness for him. But neither of these were evidently seen in Barabbas’ life whilst growing up; probably due to the bad associations he kept, which tilted his life gradually away from the name he bore.

Barabbas became a hardened criminal noted for robbery, murder and rebellion. As a notorious robber and a rebel leader, Barabbas murdered people, and raped and maimed others (as is usual with armed robbers). As typical of such criminals, Barabbas may have been highly addicted to drugs and also found it very difficult to maintain a successful marriage. If he lived in this 21^st century, he may have been all over the media and the internet; he was declared wanted when he engaged in that insurrection to overthrow the government of his days. Luke affirms this by saying, “Barabbas was in prison for taking part in an insurrection in Jerusalem against the government, and for murder” (Luke 23:19 NIV). It is for this reason that no one can deny the fact that this man was a burden to society and family. All he brought home was unrest, shame and humiliation.

One day, probably after their usual raid and political stirrings, he was intercepted by the Roman guards and was subsequently imprisoned. When he was taken to court, the prosecutor passed his judgement and imprisoned him for life. As if that would change him, he rather became more hardened and was known to his country folks as a notorious prisoner.

Every year, the Governor would usually grant amnesty to a prisoner. As usual, they would select the prisoner whose charge is less criminal, has been falsely accused or has really repented, and whose character has evidently been transformed.

Barabbas would not qualify for any of these categories. So, to be granted clemency was impossible. Again, his case was very different because he was not only a robber and a murderer, Barabbas was a political revolutionist. He was politically motivated to overthrow the Roman government. He may have been with the Zealot party of the Jewish sects because of his zealousness to fight the Roman government. He had committed a treasonable offence and there was no way he could be granted clemency from the same person who is his political opponent.

But this particular year the custom seemed a bit different.  He was summoned by the senior security guard who usually performs this yearly duty. He made him to follow him, and he did. Barabbas was led to the courtyard of the governor, Pontus Pilate.

Permit me to try to be a bit graphic at this juncture, let us assume that he was ushered in at the time when the great crowd who were at the forecourt of Pilate’s palace started shouting, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” (John 19:15). I believe this hardened criminal would for the first time in his lifetime break down and probably seek for mercy because none of us would prefer being killed. He may have thought, “My end has surely come… but why won’t these people allow me to serve my life sentence?

While he was still having these thoughts running through his mind, Pilate asks them [the crowd], “Shall I crucify your King?” (John 19:15). King? He would think to himself. Ha-ha, I am never a king? When did I become one? Or they are referring to me as the king of the sinners and prisoners? For that I am!

At this time, he decides to lift up his eyes to look at the Pontius Pilate on his judgement seat. When he did, he was shocked what he saw. There before the throne of Pontius Pilate, he sees this young man who is probably in his thirties, whose appearance had been marred by great beatings and scourging. The flesh on his back was torn beyond repairs, his face was highly disfigured, and there were clots of blood all over His body.

When he saw Him, his heart was further broken, but for the young man he saw. And he remembered the first time he stood before his prosecutor. Then his thoughts kept running again with lots of questions: “Is it possible that this man may have been a more notorious sinner than myself?” “But what did He really do?”  However, these questions could be mere rhetoric because, as a notorious prisoner, he had no opportunity to speak to anyone in the courtyard; he was already hated. Therefore, he only had to keep silent and watch what was happening.

Suddenly, a messenger rushes into the courtroom and seeks to whisper something into Pilate’s ears. When he was granted the permission, he said something into his ears that made his countenance fall. Later, it came out that, what the messenger whispered into Pilate’s ears was actually a message from his wife which said, “Leave that innocent man alone. (For) I suffered through a terrible nightmare about him last night” (Matthew 27:24 NLT). Perplexed, Pilate descends from his throne, takes water and washes his hands before the multitude, and declares, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. The responsibility is yours!” (Matthew 27:24 NLT).

But then, the crowd shouted and said, “We will take responsibility for his death—we and our children!” (Matthew 27:25 NLT).  In fact, Pilate became more disturbed when the people threatened saying, “If you release this man, you are no ‘friend of Caesar.’ For anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar.” (John 19:12 NLT).

So, Pilate came and stood between Jesus and Barabbas and queried, “Which of these two do you want me to release to you?” Knowing that, he did not deserve any amnesty, Barabbas was not even expecting the release. But to his amazement, the crowd shouted back at Pilate, “Barabbas!” (Matthew 27:22 NLT). Then Pilate responded, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” They shouted back, “Crucify him!” (Matthew 27:23 NLT). The people chose Barabbas, the notorious prisoner ahead of Jesus, whom the people had falsely accused, to live. Thus, Jesus must be crucified! Indeed, He [Jesus] took Barabbas’ place and died for him!

So, Barabbas was released from prison, and given the full privileges due to any citizen of the Jewish nation. He could move about without any sense of guilt or restrictions from any authority. But Jesus was released to the soldiers to be further beaten and mistreated and eventually crucified. It is very possible that while all these things were going on, Barabbas stood in the crowd and kept saying to himself, “This should have been on me; I am the one who truly deserves this”. Why would a notorious prisoner like me be spared and my life exchanged with that of a man of this stature? I am now free but I am still not worthy of this exchange! This is grace personified!

Later, as he went around among the people and listened to the crowd talk concerning this Jesus, Barabbas may have heard how Jesus was a good man, a healer, a teacher and a prophet. Barabbas would have heard how this Jesus had raised the dead, supplied food to the hungry and calmed the raging sea with a single command and even walked on water. He would have heard among the crowd how this Jesus had even claimed to be the son of God, and in fact equality with God; how He had said, anyone who had seen Him, had actually seen God. Which actually He was! He may have heard among the crowd how no one was able to accuse this Jesus of any sin; neither Pilate nor Herod (Luke 23:15). Even His friend (Judas) who betrayed Him to the Jewish authorities, remorsefully went to the authorities and returned the money he had taken from them to betray Him. For he declared, “I have sinned, for I have betrayed an innocent man” (Matthew 27:4 NLT). He may also have heard how the Jewish authorities were actually envious of Jesus so they incited their people against Him. Therefore, the whole choice was out of their own selfish interest and no fault of the man Jesus (Matthew 27:18 NLT).

Of course, it will be very unusual for Barabbas to go home after hearing all these about this man. So, he followed them to Golgotha, the place where they finally nailed Jesus to the cross. He saw how Jesus hanged there for about six hours with two others who were executed because they were thieves, and he watched this innocent man die out of pain and agony. Barabbas watched how Jesus prayed for the very soldiers who were nailing Him to the cross and those who were mocking at Him saying, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34 NLT). He watched how Jesus demonstrated His love for His mother even on the cross when He said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to Apostle John, “Here is your mother.” (John 19:26–27NLT). He committed His mother’s care into John’s hands. What a loving saviour this Jesus is! Barabbas watched how his story played out for one of the thieves who hang on the cross beside Jesus. He saw how Jesus promised the thief on the cross who sought for His mercy to be with Him in His kingdom that, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43 NLT).

As Barabbas kept watching, he heard Jesus shout with a loud voice and said, “I am thirsty” (John 19:28 NIV); again, “It is finished!” (John 19:28 NIV); and finally, “Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46 NIV). Then, as he looked, Jesus bowed His head on the cross and gave up His spirit (John 19:30 NLT).

Barabbas then saw how at Jesus’ death darkness covered the earth. He again witnessed how the earth trembled vigorously, rocks split apart, and the veil of the temple got broken.

Barabbas saw how the Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and the unfolding events. He also heard how they declared, “This man truly was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:51-54). All these were confirmation of the very things he had heard the crowd say Jesus claimed about Himself when He was alive.

Seeing and hearing all these things, I can imagine Barabbas, a hardened criminal bursting into tears all over his face and shivering as the events unfold one after the other. I can imagine a Barabbas who has been filled with exceeding joy and gratitude for his release from a life sentence but at the same time, is highly sorrowful for what his Saviour must go through just to make up for his release.

Later, Matthew would report that, as evening approached, Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea who had become a follower of Jesus, mastered courage and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body, and he was given permission. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long sheet of clean linen cloth. He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance and left.  (Matthew 27:57-60 NLT)

Matthew would continue that, on the next day, on the Sabbath, the Saturday, the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. They told him, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise from the dead.’ So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.” Pilate replied, “Take guards and secure it the best you can.” So, they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it. (Matthew 27:62-66 NLT).

The most shocking part of the whole story would happen on the third day, the resurrection Sunday morning. The whole Jewish nation would come to a standstill because Matthew would report that, the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests that the man who had died on the cross and had been securely buried for three days, had actually resurrected just as He said when He was alive! (Matthew 28:11 NLT). Disappointed and afraid, the elders of the Jewish nation would try their best to conceal this story. They would bribe the security guard to conceal the matter of the resurrection but it would be too late. Jesus would keep manifesting Himself to as many people as possible (over five hundred people 1Cor, 15:4-8 NKJV) and giving proofs of His resurrection by allowing people to feel the places on His body where He was wounded and even by eating with His disciples.

The Bible gives no clue, and secular history does not help to know whether Barabbas went back to his life of crime or eventually became a Christian, but it would be surprising if he had failed to show appreciation for the mercy and grace Jesus shown him, and vowed to follow Him all the days of his life as well as to testify of Him to others.

The freedom Barabbas enjoyed at the expense of Jesus’ suffering echoes the words of the prophet Isaiah which says that, “Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all” (Isaiah 53:4-6 NLT).

Isaiah’s prophecy would help us to begin to appreciate that, beyond the envy and the self-interest of the Jews who killed Jesus by the hands of the Romans, God was actually working through all those happenings to demonstrate His compassion and grace to the world through the sufferings of Jesus. Jesus was actually being exchanged for notorious and hardened sinners (criminals) like Barabbas according to the plan (wisdom) of God. Hallelujah!

To sum it up, Barabbas was released from condemnation he never anticipated at the expense of Jesus’ death. In like manner, all humanity can now be allowed to go free with no condemnation (Romans 8:1) if they would accept God’s own provision for their sin, Jesus (John 1:29) and put their confidence in Him. Just as the scriptures declare, “If you (anyone) openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9 NLT).

I, therefore recommend to you Jesus Christ, the true saviour of the world. He has paid the debt for the sin of the world through His death and resurrection. He has now opened the door for all who were formerly aliens and enemies as far as the Kingdom of God is concerned to enter into an eternal covenant and a personal relationship with God, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, by way of becoming members of His household forever!

Written by P/Ovr. Isaac Kwabena Tagoe (Pentecost University-STML)

The super titanic Easter clash between Love and Hatred happens to be the grand finale between the sides. Also dubbed “The Easter El Classico”, it is the Hatred people suffer for the simple reason of casting their vote for the Lord Jesus Christ. One can view it as the persecution of believers for their faith in Christ. Having lost by convincing margins in the first three matches in my last three articles in succession, Hatred marshals all its arsenals in the final deicidal and titanic clash with Love. The winner of this encounter settles the matter for good, thereby making the second league in Love’s home a mere formality. Before kick-off, their respective National anthems, team sheets and mottos are as displayed below.

Team Sheet of Love: Patience, Kindness, Humility, Hope, Perseverance, Truth, Trust, Peace, Joy, goodness, Self-Control, Faith, Resurrection Power, Selflessness, Respect, Forgiveness, Forbearance, gentleness, Unity, Compassion, Fasting, Prayer and faithfulness.

Team Sheet of Hatred: Anger, Envy, Jealousy, Pride, Slander, Selfish Ambition, Unforgiving spirit, Strife, Bitterness, Worldliness, Wickedness, Hypocrisy, Greed, Dishonesty, Lies, Nepotism, Rebellion, Death, factions, witchcraft, Propaganda, Tribalism and racism.

NATIONAL ANTHEM OF LOVE

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

MOTTO OF LOVE: NOT I, BUT CHRIST

NATIONAL ANTHEM OF HATRED

I will give you all the Kingdoms of the world and their splendor if only you will bow to me and worship me. (Matthew 4:8-9).

MOTTO OF HATRED: FOLLOW YOUR HEART DESIRES.

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, His star arose, and the magi followed on to worship Him. King Herod heard it, and together with the inhabitants of Jerusalem, they became disturbed (Matthew 2:4). Herod and the people’s rage at His birth explains the hatred the world powers, and its subjects have for all who access the new birth in Christ Jesus. It is, therefore, an automatic and challenging game all believers of Christ Jesus will necessarily have to honour in the days that follow their repentance until they join their maker. In essence, the day one confesses Christ is the day of exchanging pleasantries to play against the side of Hatred. Even as Christ suffered Hatred at His birth, lifetime and death, so would all who His followers suffer the same. In Matthew 2:7-12, Hatred attempted to score an offside goal against Love through a wicked pass from Deception to Lies. King Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared and said to them, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me so that I too may go and worship him.”

The bench of Love, after this scare, signalled his players to tighten the midfield and make Wisdom the lone striker to sustain the pressure. Jesus’ parents, therefore, had to run away unceremoniously during the night to Egypt with Him. When Herod or Hatred realized the planned early offside goal did not work, all males below the age of two years were killed, thinking Jesus could be one of them. The constant stay of Jesus in Bethlehem during the time would have resulted in more massacres of innocent lives just because of Hatred. Believers are, therefore, to watch the Holy Spirit or the bench for the right signals when Hatred starts his incursions due to our newly found faith in Christ. 

We must avoid some of his wicked and offensive crosses by moving into empty spaces. Out of sight could be the wisest thing in dealing with Hatred. Herod could not have killed Jesus, but His continuous stay in Bethlehem in those early days of the game would have caused a lot of innocent lives and confusion. Wisdom is what prevailed in that strategic retreat of Jesus and His parents to Egypt. The scoreboard credited Hatred by an early goal owing to Love’s escape to Egypt. In like manner, the spillover of Hatred’s incursions on us and innocent lives may warrant a relocation or transfer for a while according to God’s direction. Love scored their equalizer when King Herod died, and an Angel instructed  Jesus and His parents to return home and pitch their camp in Nazarite in the District of Galilee. The scoreline was, therefore, 1-1. (Matt 2:13-15; 19-21). On their return from Egypt, the District and particular locality to lodge were all sanctioned and approved by God. In this grand finale, Love was playing with Hatred; every careless move or loss of concentration would be at the peril of their own lives.

If God, in His wisdom, could orchestrate a temporal transfer of His begotten Son to manage Hatred’s fury? What makes us think we can survive in his continual presence even when the Holy Spirit suggests otherwise for us? In like manner, Joseph’s continual stay with the level of his brothers’ hatred for him in Cannan would have spelt doom for him and the entire family. The Bible says the more he spoke to them, the more hate they developed for him (Genesis 37:4-5). As believers, let us allow God to hide us for a while under the shadow of His wings when the storm of Hatred begins to hit hard at our boats.

With the stadium packed to total capacity and burnt on satisfying his home fans with the bragging rights, Hatred resorted to a compact play luring Love to his half and relying on counterattacks. Imploring all manner of tactics and foul play, the bankroller of Hatred started engaging some three critical players of Love to compromise them by playing the game soft for his side. They were Fasting, Humility and Obedience. This was the temptation for Jesus to turn stone into bread, throw Himself down to show off His powers and be offered material wealth and power in return for bowing in worship to him (Matt 4:1-8). Love, however, prevailed in all of these three attempts and was credited to them as goals. The scoreline became 4-1 in their favour just before halftime.

Then comes the argument of some scholars who argue it was Jesus’ presentation style that courted for Himself unwarranted attacks of hatred during the days of His earthly ministry. Have you also fallen to this propaganda? Of course, Yes, He tackled Hypocrisy, Paganism, Phariseeism, False Prophetism and False Teachings that were prevalent during His day. (Matt 6:2-7, 7:15, 23:13-33). Although Jesus’ head-on collision in the air with these players of Hatred put Him in harm’s way, it has become a blessing to all today and helped sharpened theological discourse for generations. Of what use will Truth be to the side of Love if he isn’t given any pass on the field of play? Why must he be denied playtime due to the possible mudslinging campaign against him from Hatred and his supporters in the stands? Some will still hate you for the imports of your submission and not the style of your presentation. None of us can pretend to be more gentle than Jesus Christ. No amount of sugar-coating of the truth will sound comfortable in the ears of a defective  heart engulfed with Hatred.

One other source of hatred for believers is our good deeds. When our lights shine before men, and the glory to God ascends on high, the devil throws lower the belts blows at us. One day, Jesus healed someone on the Sabbath. Instead of busing the sick in Jerusalem to be healed, the Pharisees met and plotted how to kill Him. Are you still at a loss as to why your good deeds have attracted so much hatred against you? Jesus realizing the presence of wickedness on the side of Hatred, withdrew wisely from the scene. Wisdom was, therefore, doing most of the running on the pitch at the resumption of the second half. In Matthew 26:3-4, the Chief Priest and his cohorts designed another plot to kill Jesus but this time using one of the goalkeeper trainers in the Love team in the person of Judas Iscariot. Without leaving any stone unturned, Hatred conspired with all the influential secular and religious gurus of the day and managed to bribe his way by compromising some vital inner supporters of Love.

They offered Judas a bribe to influence his goalkeeper to pretend and allow an own against his side. Unfortunately, Judas accepted the bribe and looked for the slightest opportunity to betray his side. As believers, let’s not be surprised if close associates strangely begin to behave unusually around us. The bankroller of Hatred might have compromised them. As stated earlier, the side of Hatred has no respect for fair play on his home grounds and will, therefore, resort to unorthodox moves when he is getting frustrated on the field of play. After taking the bribe, Judas hypocritically asked Jesus whether he was the one going to betray Him. He asked Jesus, “hope am not the one.” Jesus or the side of Love, however, maintained their focus and concentration and avoided any needless banter and arguments with the referee. As Hypocrisy and Lies were mounting pressure, the technical bench of Love pulled Prayer from the defence to lead the attack in the last quarter of the regulation time (Matthew 26:36-46).

Resorting to arguments, writing Memos and fighting for equal rights and justice is a game strategy the devil lures us to play when the going gets tough for him. That is what suits his game plan. So Jesus was smart to remind Peter not to fall to Satan’s game strategy when the latter cut off the ear of Malchus with his sword during the former’s arrest (John 18:10-11). Peter had dozed off at the 3hr marathon prayer at Gethsamane, so his reaction to the sword of hatred was not surprising. As believers, prayer must rise with increasing hatred, hypocrisy and provocation. When Jesus was arrested, the scoreboard credited Hatred with a goal bringing the scoreline to 4-2. In Matthew 26:67, the soldiers spat on Jesus’ face and slapped Him. The board turned 4-3, and when the pressure was mounting, Love withdrew Prayer to play just behind gentleness and Forbearance. The Bible says in Matthew 26:63a, “But Jesus remained silent.”

During Jesus’ interrogation and before His crucifixion, Judas, who betrayed him, committed suicide out of remorse and the scoreboard credited Love with that goal against Hatred. “When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. I have sinned, he said, for I have betrayed innocent blood. What is that to us? They replied. That’s your responsibility. So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.” (Matthew 27:1-10). It is instructive to learn that the “Judases” die before the “Jesuses” they betray for material possessions or favours from people in authority even in this life. Is it possible for people to bribe believers and compromise them to do the devil’s bidding? Unfortunately, Yes! If Judas, one of the chosen Apostles, could crumble under human influence, authority and the Socio-religious gurus of his day, we must all be on our guard.

A few thought-provoking questions; Where was Judas when Jesus took his colleague Apostles to pray on Mount Olives? Because he came with the soldiers to arrest Jesus. How come he was the only one the Chief Priest and his men contacted for negotiations as to how best Jesus could be handed over to them? How come the Teachers of the Law and the scribes liked and trusted him, but the Bible called him a thief in John 12:6? How come Judas could still manage to be with his colleague Apostles but still maintain close links with the Chief Priests and those opposed to Jesus’ ministry at the time? Was he trying to impress his society as a person with a balanced spiritual and socio-political lifestyle?

Be it as it may, the end of Judas is a lesson for believers of today who, for societal acceptance, tries to conform and adjust themselves to suit worldly expectation and Christian standards. One cannot be in Abraham’s bosom and lie on Delilah’s lap at the same time. 2 Corinthians 6:14 says, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? Love was leading Hatred by two goals (i.e. 5-3), but this lead was all cancelled when the people flogged Him and began shouting “crucify Him”. At the 5-5 scoreline, the 4th referee displayed five additional minutes to cater for the injury time. In anticipation of the match entering extra time, both technical benches decided to make their last substitution for the few minutes left. Hatred removed Anger and brought on Death, whiles Love removed Peace and introduced Resurrection Power. Forgiveness picked a pass from Patience in the centre half, gave it Wisdom, dribbled one, and sent a deep cross into Hatred’s “18” yard box, but Death did not know what to do with the ball in the air, and so handled it with his hands. The referee close to the action whistled for a professional foul against Hatred and issued a red card to Death (Matthew 27:62-66). Death had mistakenly laid its icy hands on the Lord Jesus Christ, and just afterwards, the Temple curtains tore from top to bottom. “From noon until three in the afternoon, darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (Matthew 27:45). The stadium gate was, thus, opened freely for all who were listening to the proceedings outside the walls to enter and watch the last minutes of the game. Whiles some of Hatred’s supporters were jubilating in the stands, others were uncomfortable sitting on edge due to the position of the infringement awarded to Love.

Hatred formed his defence wall with all his remaining ten players on the field apart from their goalkeeper. Their supporters in the VIP stands made up of the Chief Priest, Teachers of the Law, Pharisees, Pilate and the Roman Soldiers all stood their feet to inspire them so they could send the game into extra time. The side of Love began discussing who and how to kick that ball. Frustration had set in the supporters of Love, whiles the side of Hatred wished the game ran into extra time because they were exhausted. The referee positioned the ball at the spot, and Resurrection Power from the side of Love got close, touched the ball and positioned it well while everyone stood with some praying and others singing. Due to the tense nature of the last minutes and the fear of the home side maltreating them, Peter, John and the other disciples of Christ left the stadium to listen to their radio outside the stadium.

Meanwhile, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary seated at the centre line kept their gauze on the last kick of the game. Resurrection looked at the human wall of Hatred, went back and fired a supersonic shot that went straight into the net of Hatred. When Peter and John heard Mary and the other Women screaming GOALLL!, John outrun Peter back to the stadium and onto the pitch for jubilation (John 20:4). “He is not here; He has risen, just as he said…” was the lyrics of the jubilant supporters of Love (Matt 28:6).The referee then blew his last whistle to bring the game to a close. Resurrection Power’s strike became the winning goal in that tense and difficult battle to win Love the eternal bragging rights over Hatred even on his home soil. Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:14 that if Christ did not resurrect, Believers would have been the most miserable of all. That goal and the victory automatically opened the door for the non-suspecting supporters of Hatred to join their counterparts in Love by removing their replica jerseys and paraphernalia and replacing them with those of Love. The resurrection of Christ Jesus from the dead has given Love a permanent edge over Hatred now and forever. Though the last game between the sides was a thorny one, Love in the person of Christ has forever subdued Hatred and will therefore beat him at any given day and time. Let us, therefore, Love as believers because God is Love.

Joseph’s brothers bowed to him and he became the Prime Minister of Egypt. King Saul had committed suicide at the time of David’s inauguration as Israel’s King. Haman and his ten sons were hanged on the gallows he designed and constructed for Mordecai. The hatred Christ suffered which ended up in His crucifixion is what has reconciled humankind to God their maker. Love has, therefore, stamped his authority over Hatred for good and swallowed him up in victory. It will, however, be realized in the four write ups that no one can avoid clashing with Hatred in this  life. If you manage to prevent him within the family setting, you will meet him in Church. If you swerve him in the body of Christ, you are most likely to clash with him at the workplace or in your organization. It is all because of the decision you have made for Christ and never to go the world’s way anymore. No matter how difficult the first leg appears here where Hatred is playing home, Love, the visitors always has an edge over Hatred. Instead of becoming exhausted and frustrated with such encounters, let us rather be encouraged in the strength and winning power Love has over the fighting spirit of Hatred. At the return league on Love’s home soil which will also be the coronation game at the culmination of the age, it will be all joy because every hassling, sweat and tears from our eyes will be wiped away (Revelations 21:4).

God will decorate Love with his trophy and Hatred, his bankroller, and his supporters gnashing their teeth. You do not deserve to gnash your teeth with satan and his fallen angels, who are the Architects of all hatred. If hatred has taken over your life, please repent and allow Love, which is God in Christ Jesus, to flow through your spirit and soul. God bless you.

Written by Pastor James Orhin Agyin (j.orhinagyin20@icloud.com)