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Welcome to Matchday 3 of the titanic clash between Love and Hatred. Matchday 1 was a household derby within the family of Jacob. The second day was a Mentor-Mentee avoidable clash between King Saul and his “boy” David that turned bloody until the former committed suicide. In both encounters, Love won convincingly but not without the usual suspense, stress and tension on the players and spectators. With the embarrassing scoreline in both games, one would have thought that Hatred would concede and turn down any of such encounters. Entirely predictable and customary of his side to steal, destroy and kill, Hatred doesn’t make a retreat nor surrenders easily. He aggressively engaged Love in another blockbuster encounter similar to a Champions League finals involving 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush (Esther 8:9).

There are individual lessons to glean from each of these encounters. The first game was a family issue, while the second relates to believers in a fellowship or Church. Matchday 3, however, broadly applies to the hatred that erupts amongst workers or professional colleagues within an organisation. Of course, the depraved nature of humankind would always be the match commissioner of such games with the devil as the sponsor, promoter or bankroller. It all started when Mordecai decided to keep to his Jewish beliefs of not kneeling to Haman after the latter was promoted as a senior officer in the palace (Esther 3:2b). Mordecai’s office colleagues drew Haman’s attention to the latter’s determination not to kneel when the former passed by. Indeed, Haman did not even recognize Mordecai until the office colleagues brought his attention to it and aroused him to hate Mordecai. Let us be careful mere gossips don’t steal our peace by loading us stuff that can only get us to hate others. They will be asleep when you can not find sleep for your eyes. Mordecai’s relatively lower rank as an officer did little to affect his dedication to their most cherished Jewish beliefs handed over to them by God. His status as a Benjamite in exile also did not influence him negatively but instead urged him to keep his trust in the God of their fathers. At this time, the Israelites or the Jews had become a sad race. They didn’t have a land, could not worship God in His temple, and didn’t have their freedom. Their ancestors had been removed from the Land of Judah many decades earlier and taken into slavery by Nebuchadnezzar.

It is, therefore, worth noting that hatred has no mercy for the exiled, depressed, the oppressed or the poor. If not, how could newly promoted and dignified Haman have time for “poor” Mordecai and his people? Esther 9:5 confirms that sheer hatred against God’s children or Love engineered the encounter between Haman and the Jews. At the exchange of pleasantries, the captain of Hatred’s side, signifying Haman, had the inscription on his armband, “The enemy of the Jews.”

Those who arouse us to hate others become the pallbearers who carry us in the coffin of disgrace in style to our graveyard at the referee’s last whistle. Resist, therefore, every influence by others and provocation to hate others.

Unfortunately, many have been drawn into an arena of hating others without any cause. Before this time, Mordecai, the gatekeeper, pre-occupied himself with the duties assigned to him per his appointment letter as security personnel at the King’s gate. He executed his task with the professionalism and diligence required of him when he reported the coup and assassination attempt on the life of his Boss. The King set a committee to investigate the intel,  and it was found credible. The two masterminders were executed (Esther 2:22). Even though what was supposed to be his upliftment or promotion at the time went to Haman, Mordecai kept his composure and did not allow bitterness to take the better part of him. If you want the power of Love to be behind you, anytime Hatred brings it on, do the right thing even if you don’t see the reward immediately afterwards.

Esther 3:5-6, “When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel or pay him honour, he was enraged. Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead, Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the kingdom of Xerxes.” Anger, pride, self-aggrandisement, wickedness and murder had all made the first eleven for the side of Hatred against Love. Unlike the first two games, this encounter was characterised by many off-the-pitch incidents. Besides the captain’s armband for the side of hatred labelled “The enemy of the Jews”, they formed a circle in their goal post to cast Lot to find a suitable formation that would daze their opponents before kick-off (Ester 3:7). It is a lesson for Love and its supporters that deep-seated hatred is well connected to diviners, mediums and evil spirits who leave no stone unturned once they move upfront. Casting Lot to determine the most spiritually conducive time date and time to carry out the massacre of the Jews tells how far hatred can take people. Even before the kick-off, Hatred appeared to be winning the psychological bit of the game. At the blast of the referee’s whistle, Hatred swings a few passes together between Lies, Exaggeration and Propaganda when Haman told King Xerxes the Jews had no regard for him nor the customs of his Kingdom (Esther 3:8-9).

Meanwhile, Esther, the King’s wife, was herself a Jew. After casting the Lot, it was not surprising Haman somehow managed to get the King’s approval to do whatever pleased him to the Jews (Esther 3:11). Is it not amazing that the King had been influenced to sign the death warrant of his own sweetheart in the person of Queen Esther without knowing? Was he under a spell? Similarly, only God knows the source of some organisational policies and laws that come to force at our various marketplaces. In hindsight, there was an order by the King to kill every Jew throughout the 127 provinces. Meanwhile, Haman or Hatred was the principal architect behind that supposedly Socio-Cultural ethnic cleansing.

Thank God Hatred does not and will never have a field day or blank cheque in his encounter with Love. When the King’s edict for the annihilation of the Jews went viral, the Bible says, “Mordecai tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly.” (Esther 4:1). However, Haman and his side, Hatred, were celebrating and drinking because the scoreboard had registered an early goal for their side (Esther 3:15). As the side of Hatred and their supporters kept on triumphing in the stands, Haman’s wife Zeresh and his friends advised him to finish the game by setting up a 75ft high pole to have Mordecai or Love hanged on it. Every wicked suggestion taken from friends and loved ones hook line and sinker confirms the assertion that Hatred is indeed very shallow, unwise and short-sighted. Little did they know that Love never walks alone even though his side is playing away in this temporal life.

The million-dollar question is, “Where were those who incited Haman to hate Mordecai when he was being hanged on the 75ft gallows? Where was Zeresh when Haman was hanging on the very gallows she designed for him to construct?

Those who incite us to hate would be nowhere when we drown in the deep waters.

In (Esther 4:8, 15-17;5:1), Mordecai expected Esther to use her feminine power and influence to negotiate with Hatred. Unfortunately, Hatred doesn’t understand any truce of such kind. His side is full of pretense at the negotiating table. It is worth noting that it doesn’t lie with humankind to unearth Hatred’s natural causes and roots. It is no secret that the makeup of women as designed by God offers them a certain edge over their male counterparts when looking for favours from them. As a celebrated beautiful Queen with a nice figure and eyes, as the Bible put it, Mordecai was not too wrong trying to remind Esther to play that card as the going was getting tough for them. After all, she was the King’s bedmate during their ordeal. Mordecai, therefore, tried pushing gentleness and lobbying into the “18” of Hatred, but the Holy Spirit intervened (Esther 4:8). Whiles Haman was boasting about his vast wealth and influence over King Xerxes, the bench of Love introduced Fasting, Prayers and Hope to take care of the midfield with Faith as the lone striker in the person of Esther. The game against Hatred is a serious game that cannot be won with one’s looks, talents or beauty alone. When the “Hamans” cast the Pur or Lot before starting the match, your husband may not see your beauty or fine-looking figure. It was, therefore, not surprising that for thirty (30) solid days, beautiful Esther’s husband had not felt like going to her or attending to her. She told Mordecai, “…But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.” (Esther 4:11b). Therefore, the technical response from the bench of Love was apt and on point just before the halftime. Fasting and prayers must rise with increasing and legendary levels of hatred against us. Prayer procured for the Jews what Queen Esther’s beauty and night wares could not bargain for. After the 3-day fasting, at the resumption of the second half of the game, “Then the King asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the Kingdom, it will be given you.” (Esther 5:3). The scoreboard here credited Love their equalizer changing the scoreline to 1-1. Love then substituted hope with wisdom by Esther’s request for a great banquet with Haman as the guest of honor (Esther 5:4-8). Hatred took another lead (2-1) when Haman went rejoicing and boasted of his invitation to the King’s banquet (Esther 5:9-13). With all of Haman’s excitements, he told his wife and friends, “…All this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.” Hatred does not know peace as long as Love is focused because no matter the honour bestowed upon Haman as the only invitee to the King’s table, he loses his peace and joy anytime he meets Mordecai sitting at the King’s gate. Haters, therefore, have no peace as long as Love is around their environment.

The side of Love crossed a deep ball into the “18” yard box of Hatred, which caused the King to suffer a sleep disorder while Mordecai was probably asleep (Esther 6:1-3). So, on the eve of the banquet, the King could not sleep. He called for the book of the chronicles, which culminated in his decision that night to honour and recognize Mordecai’s hard work in uncovering the coup plot. At that ungodly hour, Haman had visited the King’s palace to discuss how Mordecai would be impaled on the pole he had set for him. The King asked him how he could decorate the one he delights to honour. Thinking he was the only contender for that category, he outlined four (4) awards for decorating that nominee. He told the King, ” For the man, the King delights to honour, have them bring a royal robe the King has worn and a horse the King has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the King’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the King delights to honour and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, this is what is done for the man the King delights to honour! ” (Esther 6:8-9). The King commanded Haman, “Go at once, get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the King’s gate.” Wow! So Haman went sadly from the King’s court to bestow all the listed honour on Mordecai. Within minutes, the scoreboard credited four (4) own goals against Hatred and for the side of Love bringing the score to 5-2 in favour of Love.

In Esther 6:12-14, Hatred’s loyal supporters started hooting and booing them from the stands. Haman’s wife and advisers shouted from the popular stands saying, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him-you will surely come to ruin!” (Esther 6:13) Hmmm, what a late admonishing! This is the loneliness Hatred goes through when the going gets tough. It is, therefore, not worth allowing yourself to be deceived into hating anyone for whichever cause. It is simply not worth its salt. When Haman heard Esther mentioning his name to King Xerxes, he became terrified at the King’s rage and tried begging Esther for his life. The King returned from the garden to see Haman falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The referee, close to the action, whistled for an indirect free kick in the “18” yard box of Hatred. (Esther 7:8). Love converted that set-piece to a goal taking the scoreline to 6-2.

Haman took an early shower from the game when he was given a red card and impaled on the same pole he had prepared for Mordecai. Haman’s estate was bequeathed to Mordecai making the scoreline 7-2. The side of Hatred was now playing 10  against 11 during the game’s dying minutes. The King signed a new mandate that gave the Jews the right to self-defence. (Esther chapters 8-10). At this time, Hatred’s spectators turned around, cheering the Love side from the stands looking at how organized and composed they were playing. “…And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them.” (Esther 8:17b). Love scored their last goal to take the scoreline to 8-2 when the Jews struck down all their enemies and all who hated them (Esther 9:5). Mordecai was again lifted and promoted as the second in rank to King Xerxes, whiles Haman and all his ten (10) sons were executed. Love is, therefore, wiser and far more potent than Hatred on any given day.

From these three matches played so far, it will be realized that, no one can avoid clashing with Hatred since he is playing home in this temporal 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. Instead of becoming exhausted and frustrated with such encounters, let us instead 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 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). Watch out for the grand finale in my next write up, which is the last in the series of Love versus Hatred dubbed “The Easter El-Classico”.

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, 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 and racism.

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

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.  God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it” (John 3:16-17).

THE LAST SUPPER (MARK 14)

So, the two disciples went on ahead into the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover supper there.

In the evening Jesus arrived with the twelve disciples.  As they were sitting around the table eating, Jesus said, “The truth is, one of you will betray Me, one of you who is here eating with Me.”

Greatly distressed, one by one they began to ask Him, “I’m not the one, am I?”

He replied, “It is one of you twelve, one who is eating with Me now.  For I, the Son of Man, must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago.  But how terrible it will be for My betrayer.  Far better for him if he had never been born!”

As they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread and asked God’s blessing on it.  Then He broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it, for this is My body.”

And He took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it.  He gave it to them, and they all drank from it.  And He said to them, “This is My blood, poured out for many, sealing the covenant between God and His people.  I solemnly declare that I will not drink wine again until that day when I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.”

Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

JESUS PRAYS IN GETHSEMANE

And they came to an olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, “Sit here while I go and pray.”

He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be filled with horror and deep distress.  He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death.  Stay here and watch with Me.”

He went on a little farther and fell face down on the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting Him might pass him by.

“Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for You.  Please take this cup of suffering away from Me.  Yet I want Your will, not Mine.”

Then He returned and found the disciples asleep.

“Simon!” He said to Peter.  “Are you asleep?  Couldn’t you stay awake and watch with Me even one hour?  Keep alert and pray.  Otherwise, temptation will overpower you.  For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak.”

Then Jesus left them again and prayed, repeating His pleadings.

Again, He returned to them and found them sleeping, for they just couldn’t keep their eyes open.  And they didn’t know what to say.  When He returned to them the third time, He said,

“Still sleeping?  Still resting?  Enough!  The time has come.   I, the Son of Man, am betrayed into the hands of sinners.  Up, let’s be going.  See, my betrayer is here!”

JESUS IS BETRAYED AND ARRESTED

And immediately, as He said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a mob that was armed with swords and clubs.  They had been sent out by the leading priests, the teachers of religious law and the other leaders.  Judas had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I go over and give Him the kiss of greeting.  Then you can take Him away under guard.”

As soon as they arrived, Judas walked up to Jesus.  “Teacher!” he exclaimed, and gave Him the kiss.  Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him.  But someone pulled out a sword and slashed off an ear of the high priest’s servant.  Jesus asked them,

“Am I some dangerous criminal, that you come armed with swords and clubs to arrest Me?  Why didn’t you arrest Me in the Temple?  I was there teaching every day.  But these things are happening to fulfill what the Scriptures say about Me.”

Meanwhile, all His disciples deserted Him and ran away.  There was a young man following along behind, clothed only in a linen nightshirt.  When the mob tried to grab him, they tore off his clothes, but he escaped and ran away naked.

JESUS IS CRUCIFIED (MARK 15)

So, Pilate, anxious to please the crowd, released Barabbas to them.  He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip then turned Him over to the Roman soldiers to crucify Him.  They dressed Him in a purple robe and made a crown of long, sharp thorns and put it on His head.  Then they saluted, yelling, “Hail! King of the Jews!”  And they beat Him on the head with a stick, spit on Him and dropped to their knees in mock worship.  When they were finally tired of mocking Him, they took off the purple robe and put His own clothes on Him again.  Then they led Him away to be crucified.

A man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, was coming in from the country just then, and they forced him to carry Jesus’ cross.  And they brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha (which means Skull Hill).  They offered Him wine drugged with myrrh, but He refused it.  Then they nailed Him to the cross.  They gambled for His clothes, throwing dice to decide who would get them.

It was nine o’clock in the morning when the crucifixion took place.  A signboard was fastened to the cross above Jesus’ head, announcing the charge against Him.  It read: “The King of the Jews.”  Two criminals were crucified with Him, their crosses on either side of His.  And the people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery.  “Ha! Look at you now!” they yelled at Him. “You can destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days, can you?  Well then, save yourself and come down from the cross!”

The leading priests and teachers of religious law also mocked Jesus.  “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but He can’t save himself!  Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down from the cross so we can see it and believe Him!”  Even the two criminals who were being crucified with Jesus ridiculed Him.

THE DEATH OF JESUS

At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock.  Then, at that time Jesus called out with a loud voice,

“Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought He was calling for the prophet Elijah. One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to Him on a stick so he could drink.  “Leave Him alone.  Let’s see whether Elijah will come and take Him down!” he said.

Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed His last.  And the curtain in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.  When the Roman officer who stood facing Him saw how He had died, he exclaimed, “Truly, this was the Son of God!”

Some women were there, watching from a distance, including Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James the younger and of Joseph) and Salome.  They had been followers of Jesus and had cared for Him while He was in Galilee.  Then they and many other women had come with Him to Jerusalem.

THE BURIAL OF JESUS

This all happened on Friday, the day of preparation, the day before the Sabbath.  As evening approached, an honored member of the high council, Joseph from Arimathea (who was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come), gathered his courage and went to Pilate to ask for Jesus’ body.  Pilate couldn’t believe that Jesus was already dead, so he called for the Roman military officer in charge and asked him.  The officer confirmed the fact, and Pilate told Joseph he could have the body.  Joseph bought a long sheet of linen cloth, and taking Jesus’ body down from the cross, he wrapped it in the cloth and laid it in a tomb that had been carved out of the rock.  Then he rolled a stone in front of the entrance.  Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Joseph saw where Jesus’ body was laid.

THE RESURRECTION – JESUS IS RISEN! (MARK 16)

The next evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Salome and Mary the mother of James went out and purchased burial spices to put on Jesus’ body.  Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they came to the tomb.  On the way they were discussing who would roll the stone away from the entrance to the tomb.  But when they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone – a very large one – had already been rolled aside.  So they entered the tomb, and there on the right sat a young man clothed in a white robe.  The women were startled, but the angel said, “Do not be so surprised.  You are looking for Jesus, the Nazarene, who was crucified. He isn’t here!  He has been raised from the dead!  Look, this is where they laid His body.  Now go and give this message to His disciples, including Peter: Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee.  You will see Him there, just as He told you before He died!”  The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, saying nothing to anyone because they were too frightened to talk.

It was early on Sunday morning when Jesus rose from the dead, and the first person who saw Him was Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom He had cast out seven demons. She went and found the disciples, who were grieving and weeping.  But when she told them that Jesus was alive and she had seen Him, they didn’t believe her.

Afterward He appeared to two who were walking from Jerusalem into the country, but they didn’t recognize Him at first because He had changed His appearance.  When they realized who He was, they rushed back to tell the others, but no one believed them. Still later He appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating together.  He rebuked them for their unbelief – their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.

And then He told them,

“Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere.  Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved.  But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.  These signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in My name, and they will speak new languages.  They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them.  They will be able to place their hands on the sick and heal them.”

When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, He was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.  And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked with them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.

God loves you so much that He sent His son Jesus Christ to die for your sins. After His resurrection and ascension into heaven, He sent His Spirit to live in our lives and empower us to live the abundant life.  But we must personally ask Him into our lives to be our Lord and Savior.  If you are sincere about asking Him into your life, why don’t you pray the suggested prayer below:

(Prayer is talking to God. God knows your heart and is not as concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart.)

Source: Thoughts-about-God.com

Some might wonder: Why all the fuss about Easter? Who cares? What difference does it make if Jesus rose from the dead?

It makes all the difference in the world. If Christ did not rise, then thousands of believers have died as martyrs for a hoax.

If He did rise, then He is still alive and can offer peace to troubled, hurting lives.

Countless scholars–among them the apostle Paul, Augustine, Sir Isaac Newton and C.S. Lewis–believed in the resurrection. We need not fear committing intellectual suicide by believing it also. Where do the facts lead?

Paul, a first-century skeptic-turned believer, wrote that “Christ died for our sins…he was buried…he was raised on the third day…he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve (Disciples). After that, he appeared to more than five hundred…at the same time, most of whom are still living.” Consider four pieces of evidence:

1. THE EXPLOSIVE GROWTH OF THE CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT:

Within a few weeks after Jesus was crucified, a movement arose which, by the later admission of its enemies, “upset the world.” What happened to ignite this movement shortly after its leader had been executed?

2. THE DISCIPLES’ CHANGED LIVES:

After Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion, most of the Disciples fled in fear. Peter denied three times that he was a follower of Jesus. (The women were braver and stayed to the end.) Yet ten out of the eleven Disciples (Judas committed suicide) were martyred for their faith. According to traditions, Peter was crucified upside down; Thomas was skewered; John was boiled in oil but survived. What turned these cowards into heroes? Each believed he had seen Jesus alive again.

3. THE EMPTY TOMB:

Jesus’ corpse was removed from the cross, wrapped like a mummy and placed in a solid-rock tomb. A one-and-a-half to two-ton stone was rolled into a slightly depressed groove to seal the tomb’s entrance.

A “Green Beret”-like unit of Roman soldiers guarded the grave. Sunday morning, the stone was found rolled away, the body was gone but the graveclothes were still in place. What happened?

Did Christ’s friends steal the body? Perhaps one of the women sweet-talked (karate-chopped?) the guards while the others moved the stone and tiptoed off with the body. Or maybe Peter (remember his bravery) or Thomas (Doubting Thomas) overpowered the guards, stole the body, then fabricated–and died for–a resurrection myth.

These theories hardly seem plausible. The guard was too powerful, the stone too heavy and the disciples too spineless to attempt such a feat.

Did Christ’s enemies steal the body? If Romans or Jewish religious leaders had the body, surely, they would have exposed it publicly and Christianity would have died out. They didn’t, and it didn’t.

The “Swoon Theory” supposes that Jesus didn’t really die but was only unconscious. The expert Roman executioners merely thought he was dead. After a few days in the tomb without food or medicine, the cool air revived him.

He burst from the 100 pounds of graveclothes, rolled away the stone with his nail-pierced hands, scared the daylights out of the Roman soldiers, walked miles on wounded feet and convinced his Disciples he’d been raised from the dead. This one is harder to believe than the resurrection itself.

4. THE APPEARANCES OF THE RISEN CHRIST:

For 40 days after his death, many different people said they saw Jesus alive. Witnesses included a woman, a shrewd tax collector, several fishermen and over 500 people at once. These claims provide further eyewitness testimony for the resurrection.

As a skeptic, I realized that attempts to explain away the evidences run into a brick wall of facts that point to one conclusion: Christ is risen.

The above does not constitute an exhaustive proof, rather a reasoned examination of the evidence. Each interested person should evaluate the evidence and decide if it makes sense. Of course, the truth or falsity of the resurrection is a matter of historical fact and is not dependent on anyone’s belief. If the facts support the claim, one can conclude that he arose. In any case, mere intellectual assent to the facts does little for one’s life.

Written by Rusty Wright (thoughts-about-God.com)

With just a few days until Easter, many Christians are thinking of how to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Yet despite this, there are many more Christians who view Easter as just another day of the year, just another government holiday where they do not have to work, where they get the day off of school, or as a day where they get to eat extra candy from the “Easter bunny.” Why does this happen? Why do some people no longer view Easter as important to them? Why do some people view Easter as just another day of the year?

I do not pretend to have all the answers to this question, nor do I know what goes on in the minds of people. Yet that said, I believe that many people have been listening to the beliefs and views of modern society in regards to Easter, and are letting these views take precedence in their lives, either willingly or unwillingly. There are times when it is difficult to be a Christian in the modern world. There are times when we all struggle with our faith. I am going to put the idea of Easter into context, to try to explain why it is important for us as Christians to celebrate Easter as one of, if not, the, most important “holy days” in Christianity. Potentially even more important than Christmas. 

Early Christians did not necessarily view Christmas as the most holy and important day of the year. Instead, they viewed Easter as the most important date for all Christians. There were even church councils and treatises on the topic of Easter and the dating for it, no such things exist for Christmas. I am not trying to negate Christmas; I am only putting it in context of early Christianity.

WHY WAS EASTER SO IMPORTANT TO EARLY CHRISTIANS? 

The answer is simple. Easter is so important because all of Christianity revolves around the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. If Jesus did not die for our sins, or if Jesus did not rise again after three days, then the entire hope of Christianity is based upon nothing but lies and falsities. In short, Christianity would be meaningless as a religion, because our sins would not be forgiven by Christ. If it was not for Easter we would have to continue living as the Jews of old and offering animal sacrifices to the Lord for our sins. 

The single reason why Easter was and is so important to Christianity is because it is the centre of our faith and religion, and the basis of our identity as Christians. Sure, Jesus’ birth is important, as is His ascension. But none of them saved us from our sins. Jesus’ birth is only in two of the Gospels, the ascension in another two and Acts. Yet, you know what is mentioned in every single gospel, and is the focus of each gospel? Not Jesus’ birth, not even Jesus’ teachings (though these are quite important), but Jesus’ death and resurrection. It is so important that it was seen as the cornerstone for Christianity, the rock upon which the early Church was built. 

Therefore, it can be seen that Easter should be viewed as the most important holiday for all Christians. Not just those pious believers, or those of the early Church. EVERYONE. You, me, your coworkers, your friends, that person down the pew from you, the organist and pianist. Every single Christian should view Easter as the most important event of the year. And we should not be afraid of viewing Easter this way. As Paul says in Romans 1:16, I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes-the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News is that Christ died on the cross for all of humanity, not just the Jews, but also the Gentiles that their sins may be redeemed if they believe in Him, that they will have everlasting life. If Paul is not ashamed of the Good News of Christ, then why are we? Why should we not be out celebrating Easter as if it is the most important holiday of the year? Because it is. Easter is the most important holiday of the year for us as Christians. 

Easter is just as important for us today as it was 2000 years ago in the early church. Just as important because it represents that Jesus saved us from our sins by dying and rising again after three days. 

So this Easter, instead of just accepting it as another day, instead of just welcoming the break from the work week, recognise Easter for what it is and celebrate accordingly. Set aside fanciful notions of the Easter bunny and getting candy eggs, and focus on the truth of Easter. The truth of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As we prepare for this year’s festival remember the true meaning of Easter, the truth behind Christianity, and thank God for sending His son to die for our sins so that we may have eternal life in Him! Happy Easter (in advance)!

Written by James Bruyn (www.faithatwork.ca)

It is that time of the year again, where we get to celebrate Easter habitually. If you stop and ask anyone why the world celebrates Easter, the standard responses would be: ‘celebration of Jesus’s resurrection.’

That’s right. Easter is significantly marked as a festival people of faith galvanised, to celebrate the resurrection of Christ Jesus. Although we worship Christ Jesus as the son of God; confessionally from lots of believers’ perspective, Christ Jesus is a ‘Hero.’ So, Easter is a time of the year we celebrate Christ’s heroism. However, there is one significant question we are all often naive to ask:

Why did Jesus/hero have to die and resurrect? Also, follow-up question: Is He a hero because He resurrected? 

Before we get ahead of ourselves, we need to first understand why Christ came to earth, and the question to begin with is:

WHY DID CHRIST COME TO US?

Jesus came to earth because of sin. Jesus came to save humanity from sin. In the entire multiverse, Only Jesus Christ was worthy to come and save us all from sin. A sin is an act of disobedience toward God, and it resulted in separation from God. Jesus’s ultimate mission to earth was to bridge the gap between God and us; to restore humanity’s relationship with God.

Sin entered the world through Adam and Eve, the first human and the roots of humanity. The autobiography of Adam and Eve is not a Disney fairy-tale nor ordinary allegory. It is a story full of allurements; built on the foundation of a phenomenon and supernatural occurrences. Adam and Eve’s story historically stands as a significant etiology, that evokes a sufficient explanation to the dichotomy of life and the existence of imperfection here on earth. This act of disobedience led to a relationship break up between humankind and God.

THE REPERCUSSION OF SIN

The existence of sin within humanity meant human beings were not worthy of being acquainted with God no more. Sin has affected humanity for billions of years, and that is the prime reason why our world today is not perfect. Adam and Eve’s abuse of ‘Free-Will’ subsequently afflicted human moral nature forever.

Sin is the reason there is no peace, no love, no joy in the world. Sin is the reason for centuries. We have witnessed wars and conflicts; it brought lust, greed, hatred, viruses, and many more. All of these transmitted wickedness and disabilities are the result of a perverted human moral nature.

BUT GOD…

Despite humans’ nature of sin, God’s greatest desire has always been to be acquainted with humans and dwell in eternity with them. God’s dream has always been to live with us, but unfortunately, due to our sinful nature, he had to use an ultimate strategy to restore us closer to Him and restore the entire universe to its original state.

The ultimate strategy to restore humanity required an ultimate sacrifice for sin. Moreover, this is why Christ Jesus came to earth. Jesus Christ was the ultimate sacrifice for sin. The sacrifice of Christ Jesus brought forgiveness to humanity. The sacrifice of Christ Jesus moved God’s heart and made God forgive humans’ nature of sin once and for all.

The basis of Easter rests upon the fact that Christ Jesus came to earth to end the dominance of sin. Cleansing humans and reconciling them back to God. The death of Christ on the cross was the ultimate sacrifice for sin for all. If sin was a debt, Christ paid the ultimate price. If sin was a disease, Christ brought the cure. Moreover, if sin was a prison jail, Christ brought the key for rescue; and that’s why the first Easter happened.

SO EASTER HAPPENED

Easter brought salvation. The significance of Easter is not the fact that Christ Jesus resurrected from death; in fact, history records that Christ was not the first or the last human to die and resurrect. The significance of Easter is in the fact that Christ Jesus became a sacrifice for our sins. He chose the bloody execution to bear our punishment of sin. His blood spilled to cleanse humanity forever. He carried our sins on the cross to crucify its power forever. Death was sin’s greatest punishment and prison for sinners, but Christ Jesus defeated death and turned death into a doorway to eternity; exclusively for those who accept Christ Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.

IT IS A BIG DEAL

Easter is not another holiday celebration on the calendar; Easter is significantly a memorable day historically for Christians (Christ’s follower). We celebrate a saviour and a hero who lives. During Easter, we remember the labour of Christ Jesus for our sins. We celebrate Easter with joy because Christ set us free from the power of sin and its punishment.

Easter iconically reminds us of God’s demonstration of love and commitment to humanity. Easter is a time of the year we commune to celebrate together as One because we are saved by One blood, One body and One man Christ Jesus. As Christ Jesus said:

“DO THIS, IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.”

That is why we celebrate Easter. When we celebrate, we remember Christ’s sacrifice for us: The body that was broken so we could have an eternal body. The blood that he shed to cleanse our sins and draw us closer to God and dwell in eternity with God when our earthly bodies expire.

The first Easter brought forgiveness and victory over sin. Satan’s brutal punishment over humanity was: sin and death. However, Jesus conquered all of that. His suffering and labor birthed forgiveness over sin for humanity because Christ is the son of God. So he took our sins upon himself, so His Father (God) would forgive us.

This is why we celebrate Easter: Easter is a celebration for the reconciliation of humanity and God by Christ Jesus’s death and resurrection. Also is an end to the powers of sin and punishment for those who believe in Christ Jesus. The blood of Jesus birthed forgiveness, which is the grace we now stand undercovered.

Written by Marc Bope (dailyps.com)

“Jesus is the only way to God” may be the most controversial claim of Christianity, so we had better have good reason for it. And I think we do.

WHAT DOES JESUS SAY? 

Let us start with Jesus. We certainly do not want to claim something for Him that He would not claim for Himself. If the Gospels are historically reliable (and we have overwhelming evidence they are), then we have Jesus’ own words and we discover He claims to be the only way to God.

In John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Jesus does not leave much room for debate. Indeed, Jesus says whoever rejects Him “rejects the One who sent [Him]” (Luke 10:16). So according to Jesus, there is no other path to God. If you think highly of Jesus, eventually you have to grapple with His claims about Himself.

IS JESUS SPECIAL? 

Those who claim all religions are basically the same simply have not studied them closely. This is because religions make contradictory claims.

Hinduism, for instance, says God is an impersonal force while Christianity teaches God is a personal being. Both cannot be right. Also, Jesus is completely unique among the religions of the world. Jesus’ disciples taught that Jesus is God (John 1:1, Philippians 2:5–7) because Jesus claimed that Himself (Mark 14:61–64, John 10:30–34). No other founder of a major world religion claimed to be God.

Now, Jesus was either right or wrong and He provided a standard to verify His claims. Jesus said His resurrection from the dead would be confirmation (Matthew 12:38–42, Mark 14:28). Siddhartha, the founder of Buddhism, is still in his grave. Muhammad, the founder of Islam, is still in his grave. But not Jesus. He is risen, providing the ultimate evidence for the truth of His unique claims.

WHY IS JESUS THE ONLY WAY? 

We are conditioned by our culture to think of religion as a personal preference. We are told, “You’ve got yours, I’ve got mine and there’s no right one.” So, to claim Jesus is the only way to God is like claiming chocolate ice cream is the one true flavor. It sounds absurd. However, preference is the wrong category for religious truth, and ice cream the wrong analogy.

Instead, we ought to think of religion the way we think of medicine. Each religion recognises the world is sick and offers its own diagnosis, just as a doctor would. In addition, each religion offers a potential cure. And we do not choose medicine like we choose dessert. It would be absurd to say, “Doctor, I prefer aspirin over chemotherapy.” Instead, we want to know what is true. Which cure actually works.

When you examine the diagnosis and cures offered by other religions, you discover they differ radically from Christianity. In John 8:24, Jesus says “if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” Here Jesus offers both diagnosis and cure. Sin is the disease we are all infected with and Jesus is the cure. So, why is Jesus the only way? Because Jesus is the only medicine that can cure the spiritual disease—sin—that is killing us.

Source: www.str.org

Humanity is now facing the ravages of two global pandemics raging simultaneously; namely, HIV/AIDS and COVID-19. Global attention seems to have shifted to the COVID-19 pandemic at the expense of other pandemics such as the HIV/AIDS, a concern that has been expressed by many experts, including Magnani et al (2022): “The COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns as to its impact on other health programs. One such program that appears particularly vulnerable is HIV and AIDS.”

It is against this backdrop that this article discusses the public health responses to the HIV/AIDS menace and the need to check its spread without ignoring that of the COVID-19 pandemic. The discussion in this article is premised on the fact that every pandemic is a critical public health issue which must be combated with vigour until it is entirely eradicated, or humanity develops a cure for it. 

A Brief Background to HIV/AIDS

Like most pandemics, information about the origin of HIV is sketchy. Scientists, however, source it to Africa and human contact with chimpanzees around the 1920s (Gallagher, 2014). The disease was recognized as a pandemic in the 1980s with the discovery of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) as its causative virus (although many believe its existence predates its discovery) and it has since claimed millions of lives.

In 1981, the disease was discovered in the US among gay partners, making the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to name it Gay-Related Immune Deficiency (GRID)because of its prevalence among the gay community at the time (Canadian Foundation for Aids Research [CANFAR], 2022). Later in 1982, the CDC revised its notes and re-named it Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), and, in 1984, the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) was proved to be the cause of AIDS.

The virus’ rate of spread was so swift that by 1982, it was widespread among all persons using injectable drugs like heroine because of the corporate use of a single injection on many people. Contaminated blood transfusion was another cause for infection. By 1985, scientists had realised that the virus could be transmitted through unprotected heterosexual intercourse making it possible for people to contract the disease through sex.

Unsterile injection or use of sharp medical equipment to pierce patients also spread the virus to people. Other causes of infection were considered such as vertical transmission from mother to child and transfusion of infected blood products. By these developments, it became necessary to fight the spread of the disease through political and scientific means leading to the first international conference on HIV/AIDS organized in 1986 in Georgia, USA.

Discovering of Drugs

In 1988, a great discovery by scientists brought a relief to humanity when news about Anti-Retroviral Drugs, azidothymidine (AZT) was approved for use by the US Food and Drugs Administration. Afterwards, scientists have discovered many other drugs. Although these medicines are not curative of the virus, they have the potential to help reduce the rate of transmission and also prolong and improve the quality of life of patients as long as they continue to use them.

In December of the same year, the first World AIDS’ Day was celebrated amidst the alarming infection of the disease. The situation was so precarious that by 1990, the worldwide infection rate was around 10 million people and by 2000, an estimated number of 33 million people were living with the pandemic.

Critical Interventions

It is felicitous to say that since the declaration of the HIV/AIDS as a global pandemic, world leaders, medical and the scientific community have responded to the onslaught of the HIV/AIDS pandemic with the alacrity it required and put in place stringent measures to address the condition. Countries around the world, including African nations had their own robust way of dealing with it.

In Ghana, public education about the devastating effect of the pandemic was common place, in fact, in all our institutions, including faith-based organizations. The establishment of the Ghana AIDS Commission in 2002 and subsequently by the Ghana AIDS Commission Act 2016, Act 938 of Parliament, to deal with the HIV/AIDS pandemic is a testament of Ghana’s effort in fighting the rapid spread of the disease.

Forty-One Years Celebration of HIV/AIDS

Having been around for the past 41 years, HIV/AIDS may now be considered a quadragenarian pandemic; the world has been living with it without a successful cure or a viable vaccine to stop its spread.

Despite advances in our scientific understanding of HIV and its prevention and treatment as well as years of significant effort by the global health community and leading government and civil society organizations, too many people with HIV or at risk for HIV still do not have access to prevention, care, and treatment, and there is still no cure (Global Statistics, 2022).

Why is the production of a potent HIV/AIDS vaccine taking so long, compared to the swiftness with which vaccines for other pandemics were discovered? It took the scientific community less than two years to develop vaccines for Ebola and COVID-19, yet HIV/AIDS, which has claimed many lives over the past 41 years had no viable cure till date. Of great public interest is the realisation that even public education about the pandemic is declining. What plausible reasons could the scientific community advance for these obvious laxities?

COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS

About 445,096,612 people have been infected with the COVID-19 virus recording 5,998,301 deaths as at March 6, 2022 (World Health Organisation, 2022). Conversely, an estimated 79.3 million people have contracted the virus “and 36.3 million people have died of AIDS-related illnesses” (Global Information and Education on HIV and AIDS, 2022) in the past 41 years.

Although the infection rate has reduced drastically over the years, HIV/AIDS continues to have a disproportionate toll on the lives of humanity to the extent that “in 2020 an estimated 37.7 million people were living with the HIV virus (including 1.7 million children), with a global HIV prevalence of 0.7% among adults. Around 16% of these people (6.1 million) are not aware that they have the virus” (UNAIDS in Global information and education on HIV and AIDS, 2021).

The World Health Organization (WHO) (2021) admits that “HIV/AIDS remains one of the world’s most significant public health challenges, particularly in low-and middle-income countries.” The organization warns that the global community would have “to redouble our efforts to avoid the worst-case scenario of 7.7 million HIV-related deaths over the next 10 years”. This report presupposes that the world may slack into an alarming HIV-related condition if stakeholders do not step up efforts in combating the pandemic.

The WHO (2021) attributes the increasing new HIV infection to “service disruptions during COVID-19, and the slowing public health response to HIV.” For example, WHO (2021) reports that 37 countries in Africa suffered “disruption in antiretroviral therapy
services caused by COVID-19 in March 2021.” This concern is corroborated by Booston et al (2021), “The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting HIV care globally, with gaps in HIV treatment expected to increase HIV transmission and HIV-related mortality”.

The critical concern is that there are two dangerous pandemics raging and devastating the world, and there is, therefore, the need to pay equal attention to them. As indicated earlier, while COVID-19 has claimed more than 5.9 million, HIV/AIDS has killed 36.3 million people and still counting.

Although WHO recommends for every person who may be at risk of HIV infection to have access to testing for the virus, to what extent is this directive being enforced and how available are the testing kits to the average person in society? Sadly, a cursory observation shows that the public education about HIV/AIDS has drastically reduced and needs to be revived. 

The Ravages of HIV/AIDS Are Ongoing

An urgent attention to HIV/AIDS is still very necessary. Its devastating effect must be a burden to society and the following information affirms this claim:

It’s one of the largest killers globally; but for some countries – particularly across Sub-Saharan Africa, it’s the leading cause of death.… For countries in Southern Sub-Saharan Africa, deaths from HIV/AIDS are more than 50% higher than deaths from heart disease, and more than twice that of cancer deaths (Roser and Ritchie, 2019).

A report on a number of worldwide deaths in 2019 published by Global Burden Disease (2021) indicates that HIV/AIDS killed 863,837 people worldwide in 2019 ahead of malaria, hepatitis B, and meningitis. WHO (2022: 20) indicates that by the end of 2021, “diarrhoea diseases, malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS” remained in the top 10 causes of deaths. According to the organization, despite the decrease in HIV/AIDS prevalence cases thus far, “the current pace of improvements is not rapid enough for many indicators to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets by 2030, because of the rate of new HIV infections being recorded.

In 2020, the estimated number of newly-infected people with HIV were between 1.5 million and 2.0 million (UNAIDS, 2022) and this suggests that the HIV/AIDS pandemic is still a serious public health issue that the world must pay much attention to. For example, some reports suggest that Ghana lost 14,181 people to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in 2020 (NACP, 2019a, in Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research [ISSER], College of Humanities, University of Ghana, 2020:1). This figure is far more than COVID-19 deaths of 1,442 since its first reporting in Ghana in 2020.

Why is it taking a long period to eradicate the spread of HIV/AIDS pandemic in the world? The ISSER observes that, “complacency resulting from reduction in HIV infection rates from past years, the notion that HIV is no longer a threat, and the societal belief that the virus is non-existent” are among other factors affecting the vigorous combat against the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Ghana.

While it is a positive sign to celebrate the decline of the virus, the discussion so far indicates that it is still active and remains a dangerous pandemic in human history. Studies conducted in England and South Africa concluded that “the risk of dying from COVID-19 among people with HIV was double that of the general population” (UNAIDS, 2022).

The challenge now is that humanity is caught up in the center of two dangerous pandemics, HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 of which the former tends to accelerate the mortality rate of the latter among those with comorbidity. Thus, it is very important to deal equally with these two pandemics as a major public health issue of our time.  

Conclusion

It can be noticed from this discussion that global leaders, the medical community, and all stakeholders in combating the spread of HIV/AIDS have made some kind of progress in containing the pandemic. That notwithstanding, there are several lingering challenges about the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS pandemic that need to be addressed.

The advent of COVID-19 teaches a great lesson of how global pandemics are combated with all the energies, financial resources, and any available resources or means to contain it. Many believe that same effort must be applied in our fight against HIV/AIDS pandemic. The world should, however, be reminded that pandemics by their nature are not friendly to human lives and survival; the more a pandemic is allowed for whatever reason to fester, the more it destroys lives.

Therefore, we should be very careful to refrain from advancing any hypothesis that would make us appear apologists of HIV/AIDS, but rather join the campaign against its spread so that together we can eradicate it from the world. The earlier we fight it with the same or even more vigorous approach as we are doing with COVID-19, the better it will be for the survival of humanity.

Therefore, this discussion calls for a revisit by all stakeholders to the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS on all fronts. If every stakeholder gets involved and there is a concerted global marshalling of resources to address the condition, as we are doing with COVID-19, HIV/AIDS will soon be among the list of pandemics that occurred in history and no longer a threat to public health.

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https://www.avert.org/global-hiv-and-aids-statistics#footnote1_ot3mcne, 2022-03-01.

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University of Ghana. 2020. Current HIV/AIDS Status, Access to Antiretroviral

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https://isser.ug.edu.gh/sites/isser.ug.edu.gh/files/Current%20HIV.AIDS%20Status%20- %20Adobea%20Owusum%20%26%20Kofi%20Asante.pdf, 2022-03-01.

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HIV and AIDS control efforts among female sex workers in Indonesia. BMC Women’s

Health. https://bmcwomenshealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12905-021-01583-z, 2022-03-01.

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Vincent Anane Denteh (Rev.)

Email: vadentcop@gmail.com

© 2022

“El Classico” is the term used to refer to football matches between Spain’s most famous and bitterest rivals: FC Barcelona and Real Madrid C.F. In the Ghanaian context, it will be games between Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko.  The euphoria and escalated tensions that characterise such games is only a shadow of the actual “El Classico” between Love and Hatred. The supporters of the rival teams are one of the significant sources of the heightened tensions that even turns bloody on some occasions. Similarly, the forces behind Love and Hatred may explain why de-escalation of the tensions cannot be possible until the end of the age into eternity. God is the owner of the FC Love with Jesus and the Holy Spirit as the CEO and Managers, respectively. Satan is also the bankroller of Hatred FC with The Self and Evil spirits as CEO and Managers, respectively. Some emotional supporters of rival clubs do not even attempt to follow the match proceedings until the referee blows the whistle to bring the game to an end. Even when one team is leading, its supporters sit on the edge in the stands until proceedings are brought to an end.

Similarly, in many instances, Hatred leads Love on the scoreboard in most games, especially during the game’s early minutes. Somehow, Love comes in to get the equaliser and goes ahead to win all encounters with Hatred.

This article, divided into four parts, analyses four different matches between Love and Hatred and glean unique lessons from them. We will also learn a lot about how the Technical benches of both sides read the games and made their substitutions. Matches between the sides from the tiniest hamlet to the highest world stage are always graced with tensions, intrigues, suspense and an avalanche of off-the-pitch occurrences. The first match labelled Part (I) is a local derby in the household of Jacob. Part (II) was an FA Cup between the two sides, whiles Part (III) will be the “Champions League”. The final bit, Part (IV), was the Club World Cup between the sides dubbed “The Easter El Classico”. The article also seeks to outline strategies for those in the Love colours and their supporters of what should be done anytime it appears Hatred has taken an early lead. It is crucial because Hatred and its Technical team do well anytime Love seems to have lost concentration due to the noisy and intimidating tactics of its supporters. The first leg in all the four encounters played in Hatred’s home grounds (i.e. This world) explains the reason the noise of its supporters appears to have overshadowed the cheering songs and well-organized choruses from supporters in the Love stands. About Love and its supporters, Jesus said, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” (John 17:16).

Hatred incited the first encounter in Jacob’s household when Joseph’s brothers needlessly hated him. This encounter largely applies to feud amongst family members or close relations that degenerates into deep seated hatred. Joseph’s brothers took offence when Joseph started reporting their evil deeds to their father when they were all out tending the flocks (Genesis 37:2). They did not also take kindly to the ornate designer robe Jacob their Dad made for Joseph due to the special love he had for him. What was Joseph’s fault here? Did he have any control over being born to his father at his old age? Then what appeared to have broken the camel’s back began to unfold. Even though people do not choose which dreams to have while asleep, they envied him for having what they saw as offensive and treasonable dreams regarding the hierarchical structure of authority. After sharing the first dream, his brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us? And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.” (Genesis 37:8). How wrong was teenage Joseph happily sharing some of his night dreams with his blood brothers and parents for help and direction during family gatherings? Is that the case that even the topics to be discussed as siblings must be carefully selected? How come Joseph’s parents could contain, manage and keep the content of his second dream, which suggested they would bow to him someday without giving hatred a field day to operate in their hearts? Did they hear and interpret the two dreams differently? Or was it that his brothers had underlying heart conditions or some undercurrents that made them predisposed to hatred for him? Be it as it may and rather unfortunate, the side of hatred had already left the dressing room and moved onto the pitch to exchange pleasantries for a possible showdown with Love, even in that small household.  

One day, Jacob sent Joseph to seek the welfare of his brothers when they took the flock for tending. As they saw him afar, wondering in the bushes looking for them, they planned, mapped out a strategy to adopt on the field of play to kill him and get rid of the fulfilment of the dream of they ever serving or bowing down to him. When he got to them, they bound and detained him in an empty cistern awaiting his assassination soon after finishing their meals. Joseph begged them to spare his life, but their level of hatred would not allow them of any reasoning. An effort by Reuben, their senior-most brother, to rescue him proved futile. It became apparent that Hatred was having the better exchanges in that encounter at least when Joseph was bound in that empty cistern waiting to be slaughtered. One wonders how the brothers could sit and eat their meals whiles their little brother was gnashing his teeth in that empty cistern bound at the junction of life and death. That is what hatred is all about. It blinds its adherents, captivates the mind and renders their hearts callous until they see mayhem visited on their perceived opponents. Gentle Love started swinging some few passes together when mysteriously, a vehicle to Egypt approached just when Judah had prevailed upon his brothers to spare his life but rather offload him to the Ishmaelites. The brothers finally agreed and had Joseph sold to Egypt. The brothers or Hatred left the scene back home with the notion that they had defeated Love or the one who instead sought their welfare. Wait a minute! The match had just started, and like all soccer encounters, unless the referee blows the last whistle, none of the teams is safe jubilating.

Today, we can all outline areas Joseph might have gone wrong to concede such an early goal. It is said that talk is indeed cheap! Some believers have blamed him for not keeping quiet on the wrongs of his brothers when tending the flocks because he courted needless troubles for himself. Is that what you also think? Is that what the Bible admonishes believers to do? Will the Holy Spirit allow us to condone wrongs or sins perpetrated by others in the full glare of our eyes? Ephesians 5:11 reads, “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” Joseph, therefore, acted according to scripture and did no wrong in exposing the evil deeds of his brothers. Was that not why, Love also started warming up to meet hatred on the field booth-for-booth? Most believers have today bought into the propaganda of not bothering ourselves in the house, churches or the organisations we work for when we see people doing the wrong thing. Yet we fast and pray to operate in the overtaking anointing of people like Mordecai, who rose from a gatekeeper to the highest office in the Kingdom of Persia.

Meanwhile, we forget that Mordecai rose to that office not only through prayer and fasting but also by his loyalty and the professional act of exposing the assassination conspiracy against the King of the Persian empire then (Esther 2:21-23). Let’s not turn a blind eye to evil no matter how little, just because of the hatred battles it generates. We do not want to uncover sins by others that we are privy to, yet we want God to lift us unto glorious heights. It does not work that way, please! Any act taken per Biblical instructions automatically invokes the power behind Love to keep our defence, hold the midfield and lead the attack anytime Hatred brings it on.

Others have also blamed Joseph extensively for being talkative or telling his family members the dreams he had. They argue Joseph should have picked the right signals when his brothers refused to speak kindly to him due to the special ornate robe Jacob had given him and how he reported their evil deeds to the latter when they came from the field. Yes, a sound argument, though quite bitter and unfortunate to learn that is the reality of life in this temporal life. Joseph did not broadcast this dream on any radio or TV channel when he woke up after the dream. In that case, it could be argued that he was courting needless troubles and envy for himself. It is possible he shared it at one of their household devotions since the parents were present when he shared the dreams with the brothers. Which heart and ears did his parents possess which made them keep those dreams in their hearts instead of developing a hatred for him? Is it not disheartening that those you may quickly refer to as brothers and sisters in the Lord are the very ones who cannot just contain the blessings God might have reserved for you from your mother’s womb? The message from Joseph’s dream was rightly interpreted by the family but processed differently. Was the message, therefore, or its carrier the problem? Or the recipients and its processing that was the issue? Do we think God will change His mind from blessing and showing mercy to others just because we disapprove of it or hate them? In Exodus 33:19b, God told Moses, “…I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” As believers, let us accept and celebrate the success of others in the household, churches and the various organisations we find ourselves in. Your hatred for them will never have any single justification today, tomorrow or in the next life. Joseph, therefore, contributed very little to the heightened hatred his brothers developed for him. In like manner, we as believers would have very little control in the needless qualms people pick against us, which matures into deep-seated hatred. Bound to be hated in a world ruled by its Prince, the devil, believers must only learn not to waste too much time on why the level of hatred but quickly wear the Love jersey, employ its formation on the pitch and intermittently watch the technical bench for ideas anytime hatred is seen to be on the offensive.

Fast forward, a severe famine struck the whole world at the time Joseph had risen to be the Prime Minister of Egypt by the help, workings and machinations of Love. Jacob sent his sons to buy grain in Egypt for their survival and livestock.  So when Joseph’s brothers arrived at his office in Egypt, “they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. “. Joseph recognised his brothers when he saw them and immediately remembered his dreams about them after they bowed down to him. He tried drilling them by calling them spies, but they argued, “No, my lord, ” they answered. Your servants have come to buy food.” (Genesis 42:6-10).  It is worth noting that Joseph’s brothers did not only bow to him; they called him “their Lord” and also servants of him. This great goal was the heartwarming late equaliser by Love for that early goal scored by hatred against Joseph and jubilated by its supporters. The referee then whistled for halftime. Hatred has bowed with the face on the ground and called Love, “My Lord”! In Genesis 42:11-13, Joseph’s brothers mounted a strong defence before Joseph to prove they were not spies. They said, “Your servants are honest men”, brothers from the same father, with one left with their Dad and the other no more in existence. Anytime Hatred bows or calls Love his Lord, the scoreboard changes and credits Love with an additional goal. So Love, at this point, was leading Hatred by a goal just after the second half had begun. Referring to themselves as honest brothers with one of their brothers no more in existence was when the technical bench of Love realised lies and dishonesty had come into the game as substitutes at the resumption of the second half. How do you sell someone to strangers even when he pleaded for his life, kill a goat and smear the blood on his ornate robe, report back home that an animal had devoured him and turn around arguing vehemently that you are honest men? Those who easily hate are victims of certain propaganda or lies, or they are liars themselves. How often haven’t we realised we were made to hate someone, a group of people, by virtue of their ethnicity, colour or race due to a lie we grew with or learned from others? I believed certain stories about some ethnic groups as I was growing up. Even though I didn’t hate them, I was always on my guard to watch such tendencies in my engagements with them every time our paths crossed. As I got the opportunity to get closer, I realised how sweet and honest a people they were and how that lie could have ruined my relationship with them if not for God’s help. So anytime truth begins to take its rightful stand, hatred tends to fade off until it sublimes into thin air. The technical team of Love then made a substitute by bringing on board “forgiveness” even though they led by a lone goal. Remember, the Holy Spirit is the head of Love’s technical bench. Joseph then overheard Rueben, the firstborn, telling his brothers in their native language, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood.” (Genesis 42:22). Joseph turned away from them and began to weep. Joseph returned and ordered his servants to fill their sacks with grains but put back each man’s silver in his sack and add provisions for their journey back to Cannan (Genesis 42:25).

This was “forgiveness”, announcing his presence in the game and swinging a few passes together. It is, therefore, not surprising to see people weeping uncontrollably anytime they are confronted with letting go of something that hurts them. It is part of the healing process. The famine became severe back home, and they had to return to Egypt to repurchase grain, but this time with Benjamin as a bail condition for Simeon’s release. When they arrived, Joseph instructed his steward to give them water to wash their feet and provided them with fodder for their donkeys because he wanted to dine with them. “When Joseph came home, they presented the gifts they had brought into the house, and they bowed down before him to the ground. He asked them how they were, and then he said, How is your aged father you told me about? Is he still living? They replied, “Your servant, our father is still alive and well.” And they bowed down, prostrating themselves before him.” (Genesis 42:24-28). This was the moment Love registered his third goal against Hatred. Forgiveness’ inclusion from the bench had changed the game entirely and put so much pressure on the defence system of Hatred.  The midfield and defence of Hatred find it extremely difficult to tackle “Forgiveness” when he gets the ball. It is, therefore, not surprising that Romans 12:19-21 said, “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: It is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord. On the contrary: If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  When he saw Benjamin seated, he again was deeply moved, rushed into his private chamber and wept for the second time. I am sure, so many things were running through his mind, especially the phrase by his brothers that says, “The younger brother is with the father, and one is no more”. After he had washed his face, he came out and, controlling himself, said, “Serve the food” (Genesis 43:31). The steward returned each one’s silver in his sack loaded with grain and intentionally put Joseph’s silver cup in Benjamin’s sack. They were accosted a few miles away and brought back to Egypt. When they got to the palace, Judah and his brothers threw themselves to the ground before Joseph, again, making it four goals to one (4-1) against Hatred. (Genesis 44:13). Dejected as they appeared, Judah mounted a spirited defence to Joseph for Benjamin’s release because per the deal struck, the one with the silver cup was to be an enslaved person in the palace. By the time Judah was done with his submission, Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants. He cried out, saying, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it. Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence” (Genesis 45:1-2). Joseph’s brothers terrified and their inability to answer him was the fifth goal Love scored against Hatred. Forgiveness on the side of Love was the one turning all the bitterness and tendencies of paying back his brothers into tears. If you have to weep and cry out indoors or outdoors to get every little trace of anger, bitterness and pain out of your system, do so because you are already on the winning side. The Bible also establishes that the brothers got terrified and could not answer a word to him when he finally revealed himself to them.  In like manner, Hatred is always and will forever be terrified before Love. Joseph had them bring his father Jacob and his relatives, numbering seventy, to stay with him in Egypt. “So Joseph settled his father and his brothers in Egypt and gave them property in the best part of the land, the district of Rameses, as Pharaoh directed and provided them with food according to the number of their families.” (Genesis 47:12-13)

In that hot local derby between the two sides in Jacob’s household which many would like to watch repeatedly, Love whipped Hatred 5-1, and that victory still resounds. No matter how difficult the first leg appears here in this life where Hatred is playing home, Love, the visitors always have the edge over Hatred. The latter is allergic to every principle of fair play on the field, but Love supporters should never lose heart and be discouraged. The second leg, scheduled at the end of this present age in Love’s home, would be a formality where the teaming supporters Hatred has managed to recruit will gnash their teeth. 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. You do not deserve to gnash your teeth with satan and his fallen angels, who are the Architects of all hatred in this life. Watch out for the FA Cup between the two sides in my next article.

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, 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 and racism.

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