The Eighth Tribe, 1980 (7. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1980-03-01 / 3. szám
March, 1980 THE EIGHTH TRIBE Page 3 SEASON FOR SELF-SEARCHING .... The most solemn season of the Christian Church year begins Ash Wednesday. Christians the world over contemplate the fact that mankind was formed from dust and will eventually return to dust. During Lent, man is forced to come to terms with the knowledge that the body will one day die and decay. Now is a good time to meditate on the Suffering Savior who died that all might live. That Jesus would permit Himself to endure human pain, both physical and emotional, is an overwhelming thought! Not only did He come to earth, but He allowed Himself to experience the discomforts endured by most men. He thus served as an example so all might see, learn, and try to imitate. Temptations to evil are present in various forms. Gluttony, materialism and false gods are some of the sins which tempt men everyday. Jesus was tempted by Satan also. His courage in the face of such wickedness is inspiring to all. After fasting for 40 days and 40 nights, Jesus suffered physically. He was hungry. The devil told Him to turn the stones into loaves of bread. Jesus responded, “Not by bread alone does man live, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4) The devil then placed Jesus on the pinnacle of the temple and told Him to throw Himself down so that the angels might save Him. Jesus noted, “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” (Matthew 4:7) Then Satan tempted Him with worldly riches, claiming all could be given Christ if only He would prostrate Himself before the devil. “Begone Satan,” Jesus said. “The Lord thy God shalt thou worship and him only shalt thou serve.” (Matthew 4:10) The fear of personal demise is perhaps the greatest agony experienced by all individuals. People who have been told of a disease which will claim their lives are often haunted by fear. Jesus knew the physical suffering awaiting Him. He was afraid. In the poignant scene of the agony in the garden, Luke dramatically describes the Lord’s emotions. “And he himself withdrew about a stone’s throw, and kneeling down, he began to pray, saying, ‘Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not my will hut thine he done.’ And there appeared to him an angel from heaven to strengthen him. And falling into an agony he prayed the more earnestly. And his sweat became as drops of blood running down upon the ground.” (Luke 22:41-44) Friends who have betrayed a confidence, gossipped or manipulated others for their own gain are inevitably encountered during life. Relationships are broken, and the division is caused by false friends who have deeply hurt another. Jesus also had such friends. Not only did Judas turn Him over to His enemies for a sum of money, but the means in which the betrayal took place is perhaps the greatest irony in history. “And while he was yet speaking, Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, came and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the Scribes and the elders. Now his betrayer had given them a sign, saying, ‘Whomever I kiss, that is he; lay hold of him, and lead him safely away.’ And when he came, he went straght up to him, and said, ‘Rabbi!’ and kissed him. And they seized him and held him.” (Mark 14:41-46) Judas was not the only friend who caused Christ pain. After He was arrested, all of His apostles, with the exception of John, ran away from Him and hid. Only John stood bravely near Him at the foot of the cross. Even Peter, the apostle chosen to lead the church, was a disappointment. At the Last Supper, Peter told Jesus he would always remain faithful to Him. “Even if I should have to die with thee, I will not deny thee!” (Mark 14:31) Although his intentions were good, Peter, in the face of danger, wavered and denied His master three times. He told the bystanders, accusing him of being associated with Christ, “I do not know this man you are talking about.” (Mark 14:71) Though He had done no wrong, after His arrest, Christ the King, was tried and sentenced to death. He was brutally scourged and beaten. He was crowned with thorns, spit upon and mocked. He was forced to carry a cross and crucified. Scientists claim that the suffering described in Scriptures, could not be endured by any human being—so intense was the torment and brutality. Yet in the face of such severity, Christ prayed for others, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.” (Luke 23:24) Indeed, Isaiah prophesized the Messiah’s death, giving a reason for His intense suffering. “Yet it was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured, while we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted. But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins; upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed.” (Isaiah 53:4-5) The Suffering Jesus thus endured more pain than any human being ever will. The hurts, disappointments and pain experienced by mankind are minor compared to the Lord’s suffering. As we prepare ourselves for the most holiest days of the Christian Faith—Good Friday and Easter—let us reaffirm our faitli in God, loyalty to the country in which we live. Let us renew our obligation to fulfill the legacy left to us by our parents: support of this magazine and the Eighth Tribe Foundation. We wish our readers a Happy and Joyous Easter.
