Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

To get pearls, one must dive deep!

Tag: Who is Jesus’ brother?

Family Relationship :: Woman, behold thy son! … Behold thy mother!

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On March 23, 2016

In Christian, Good Friday, Seven Sayings

Jesus’ third saying from the Cross was directed to his mother and to his beloved disciple who was standing by her. To her, he said, “Woman, behold thy son!” and to him, he said, “Behold thy mother!” In this saying, Jesus takes two people who are unrelated and establishes a family relationship (mother – son) between them.

Points to ponder:
To all who receive Jesus and who believe in his name, he gave them the power to be called the sons of God (John 1:12) and Jesus expressed that whoever does the will of God his Father, is his brother and sister and mother (Matthew 12:50). In other words, Jesus relates those who are unrelated into a family – the very family of God. On the Cross, Jesus established a family relationship. Today, he seeks to establish your relationship and mine with God himself. Have you tasted the joy of God’s salvation? O taste and see (behold) that the Lord God is good (Psalm 34:8) wanting you to become part of his family. Do you believe? Behold …

John 19:26-27 (KJV)
26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

Comforting Christ

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On January 19, 2016

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 24:66-67 records that when the servant told his master Isaac (Genesis 24:65) as to how the Lord God had shown him favor in identifying Rebekah to be his bride, Isaac took Rebekah as his wife and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

Rebekah was willing to serve above and beyond the call of duty (Genesis 24:17-20) and go, leaving her family (Genesis 24:57-59) to her bridegroom. When Isaac heard of these things from his servant (Genesis 24:65-66), he took her to be his wife and loved her. Rebekah becomes the comforter of Isaac after his mother’s death.

Points to ponder:
As the church of God, who believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, are we: willing to Serve beyond our call of duty?; willing to Go, leaving our own, for Jesus the bridegroom (Revelation 19)? Jesus loved and continues to love the church and gave himself for her (Ephesians 5:25). He expressed that anyone who does the will of God his Father in heaven is his brother, sister and mother (Matthew 12:50), and when they are persecuted (and martyred) for the sake of being part of his family (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6), it grieves him (Acts 9:4; Acts 22:7). The question, that we need to ask ourselves then is: Just as Rebekah comforted Isaac, do you and I comfort Christ, the comforter? (John 14:16; John 16:7).

Genesis 24:66-67 (KJV)
66 And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.
67 And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

Brother Jesus

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On April 7, 2010

In Christian

It is only a few days since we celebrated Resurrection Day 2010, and I wonder as to why we don’t celebrate the Risen Lord Jesus Christ, every day of our lives. Jesus conquered death once and for all, for all those who believe in His Name and that is reason enough for everyone that believes in Him to rejoice always, and yes again I say rejoice (Philippians 4:4). And it is today that I also celebrate the birth of my brother, Ragland Remo Paul. He was named ‘Ragland’ by my missionary parents, Dr. R.A.C. Paul and Dr. Iris Grace Rajakumari Paul, in memory of the English missionary, Rev. Thomas G. Ragland (1815-1858), who gave his life serving Jesus on his mission to the people in Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu, India. My brother’s middle name  ‘Remo’ was given by a lady of the Bondo tribe, to whom my parents had been called and chosen to serve. ‘Remo’ in the Bondo dialect means ‘man’. So ‘Remo’, my brother celebrates his birthday and I thank God for having appointed it so that I would be related to him, who I vividly remember as my friend and protector, while I was growing up, after the death of my earthly missionary father. My other siblings, David Livingston Paul and Mary Smrutha Paul would agree that Remo has also been a provider. But besides, Remo (and David), I want to also remember and celebrate another brother of mine.

John 20 records the appearance of Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ to the Mary Magdalene outside the tomb. Many expositors have preached on this, but I am yet to hear of anyone preach on the conversation that ensued between Mary and Jesus. Jesus tells Mary that she is not to cling on to him but to go to his brothers and tell them that he was to ascend to God, our Father and our God (John 20:17). Did you notice the establishment of a new relationship in those words? Jesus escalates his intimacy with His believers. In John 15:15, he called his disciples, not servants but friends, and now from being friends of His, these disciples had turned to be his brothers (and sisters). Who is it that is the brother (or sister or mother) of Christ Jesus? All those who do the will of God, the heavenly Father (Matthew 12:50).

So today, I thank God for my brother Remo, and his life. And I thank God for Jesus who loves me enough to call me His brother! Happy birthday, brother Remo. Thank you, Brother Jesus.

Point(s) to ponder:
Are you/I doing the will of God the heavenly Father so that Jesus can call you/I His brother or sister or mother?

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