By Zapra Chakhesang | EMN
- John 6:15 tells us, "Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself."
The feeding of thousands of persons by this man born in Bethlehem (meaning House of bread) and his converting water into fine wine, was a small foretaste of the future banquet that God's Messianic kingdom would provide for all the peoples. Isaiah 25:7,8 says, "His rule not only would end poverty and hunger but would even result in the swallowing up of death." There was every reason, as well, to trust in the justice and righteous judgement his government would bring in harmony with the Messianic prophecies. Meek and lowly ones and the downtrodden or marginalized people could take heart that his rule would wipe out injustice and oppression.
Therefore, after Jesus fed the five thousands with five loaves and two fishes, the followers of Jesus, believing they had found the Messiah whose rule would end poverty and hunger; had decided to catch him again and make him king by force. It is said that this was not the first incident. Before this, on several occasions, the followers of Jesus arrested him, caught hold of his hands, strongly grasped his waist to make him their king; but he used to slip away from their hands, went to the other opposite side standing in a distance, smiling and waving at them that he did not come for the kingship of the world.
History clearly tells us that at this period of time, Jesus was very popular among the people both in Israel and Judea. And as the vast majority were in favour and support of Jesus, he was in a very good position to become a King or a political leader. But he rejected the effort to infect him into the current political scene by "making him king" through popular acclaim. He did not overstep the bounds of his authority given by his Father.
Jesus saw too, that if He were to take the easy way out by relying on miracles, He would do it again and again until the whole purpose for which he had come into the world would be spoiled. People would come to Him not to learn about God but to get free food and clothes and houses and money like what we see today. It would be very easy for Him to gather a great following this way, but it would not be God's way.
So "Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make Him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself."
- Matthew 4:8-10 says, "Again the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. And Satan said to Jesus, "All this I will give you, if you will bow down and worship me."
(i) "All this i will give you... Bow down and worship me."
Jesus had much to medidate on and fortify himself for during the forty days, he spent fasting in the wilderness following his baptism and anointing. It was the Spirit leading that brought Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. And it was in the third temptation, the devil took him to a high mountain, from which and where he could see a very long way - a wide glorious view dazzling sight (though not quite, all the kingdoms of the world). It seems more likely that all the temptations were actually Jesus's own thoughts. In other words, these temptations, or tests of Jesus probably went only in his mind - a battle of minds and hearts, a contest of wits and words. However, that would not have made the tests any easier.
Placing Jesus upon a high mountain, Satan caused the kingdoms of the world, in all their glory, to pass in a panoramic view before him. The sunlight rays lay on templed cities, marble palaces, fertile fields, majestic roads, and fruit laden vineyards - all looked beautiful, magnificient and majestic. The traces of evil were hidden. Everything looks fine. The eyes of Jesus, so lately greeted by gloom and desolation, now gazed upon a scene of unsurpassed loveliness and prosperity. Then, the tempter's voice was heard: "All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore will worship me, all shall be Thine." Thus, Satan did his best to persuade the Son of God to bow down to him and to worship him.
Christ's mission could be fulfilled only through suffering and endurance. Before him was a life of sorrow, hardship, conflicts, torture and dreadful fears of humiliating death. He must bear the sins of the whole world. He must endure separation from His Father. As he came down to 'earth and took upon Himself human flesh and blood like you and me, fear of the cruel cross overshadowed him too. He did not want to die. Now as He thought of all the suffering that lay ahead of Him, His face clouded with pain. He said, "Now is my soul troubled." "And what shall I say, "Father, save M from this hour"? No, for this purpose I have come to this hour." He said, "Father", "Let this pass from me." But in total submission, he again said, "Yet not my will, but thine be done." "For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world." Jesus was not pushy or haughty in order to change what's on His Father's mind to his own benefit.
Jesus comes to establish a kingdom of righteousness and truth through a heavenly holy politics, not of this worldly damned politics. He would not abandon his purpose.
With the same temptation, Satan approaches men, and here he has better success than with Christ. Christ bids them "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness." But Satan walks by their side, takes them to the mountains and says: "All the kingdoms and glories of the world are delivered unto me... And he declared it to serve his own purpose of deception. He requires that they sacrifice integrity, disregard conscience, and indulge selfishness and all sorts of corruptions.
"Whatsoever may be in regard to life-eternal, in order to make a success in the world you must serve me. I hold your welfare in my hands. I can give you riches, money, pleasures, honor, glory and happiness." "Do not allow yourselves to be carried away with whimsical notions of honesty or self-sacrifice. I will prepare the way before you", the devil incites.
In today's context, putting it in a simple plain word: the tempter cleverly allures his victims by saying, "Instead of living a meager, poor and hard life for the sake of honesty, why not come to the god of this world? Come and join the easy way. You may become an elect! Come on! Contest! You will have the position and power to make money. This is the way how to fulfill the desires of the kingdom of the world", the tempter persuades.
Thus, multitudes are deceived. And many bow down and emotionally worship the tempter, and with excitement each one saying to himself, "This is what I have been looking for in life!" And many rush in where the angels and even Jesus himself feared to tread upon. Yet God has given freedom of choice to all.
They consent to live for the service and glory of self, and the devil is satisfied. While Satan allures them with the hope of worldly dominion, he gains dominion over their souls. Not long after it leads many to consequences. Many are injured. They have been enslaved and their freedom taken away. They have become most harassed victims with full of tensions, stresses and anxieties in the hands of the so called own supporters. Whether won or defeated, they are trapped with a sense of indebtedness to them, and the most unfortunate thing is, that passes on as long as they are alive and unto their wives and children even when they are no more. Of course, we know someone who is truly gifted and has the true calling, is to sacrifice for the sake of the people; if not, it is difficult for a society to do well. And leaders who have made great sacrifices, and who will come to make in future must be highly appreciated and remembered. But whether fit or unfit, many set themselves to contest, and as all the candidates are not declared winners, many have been thrown into the hell of debts as today politics has become so expensive that it takes a lot of money to even be defeated. It is said, to be a successful leader, a person needs three ingredients: "Courage, wisdom and appetite. Among the three, wisdom is more important than the other too." Whether won or defeated, all have been pushed to the extreme pressure to make money to recoup and recover their loses or prepare themselves to face the next same election again grossly violating all ethics, and that has become the root cause of all these corruptions of today.
If a few enjoy: it is shortlived and temporal, and the endings of most are: "The greater the heights, the greater is the fall; and the higher the soar, the greater is the hit and hurt on the ground. Except by death or who willfully gave up in the middle, everyone of them is destined to have this ending.
Some might have accumulated huge wealth! It's all a wealth of corruption and hell. If not for a senseless creature, the mental torture is endless for any sensible possessor. Because it's all of a stolen wealth - a wealth that belonged to the poor and needy, the crippled and the disabled, the blind, the deaf, the dumb, the lame, the aged and the people. The kingdom of God is not in this stolen wealth.
"Liberty is not selfish indulgence and that freedom is shown in loving service" (Galatians 5:1-6, 10). The Bible (1 Cor 6:10) says, "Nor thieves, nor greedy people, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God." Their souls shall ever be in endless torments, their conscience money and alms givings will not relieve their tormented souls. Our lives on earth determine where we spend eternity. Whatever is done without the merit of Heaven is fake and temporal.
(a) In the context of Nagaland : till the middle 1980's, Nagas were all economically and financially equals in the State of nature. No RCC building or multi-storied building was there. How can one sneer to scorn at his friend's poverty? Thirty years ago, the rich politician's father was poorer than his friend's father! Is anyone rich now by becoming a politician? Sham! They have become rich only by looting the Nagas.
For good goverance, there are rules and regulations written in volumes of books, but to make things precise, practical and achievable, the Chief Minister is to check, correct, discipline, sack and remove the corrupt Ministers in order to establish a good and strong government to bring development and deliver goods to the people. Instead, he becomes more corrupt than the corrupt Ministers in his own government.
The voters elect a leader expecting him to get a Minister-berth with a portfolio incharge of a good Department, so that he will be able to help them. Yet, in real reality, the Minister's prime-duty is to check, correct, discipline, remove and set right the corrupt officers; and to streamline the working system and introduce better infrastructure, policies and programmes in the Department to bring real developments to the people by strictly insisting honesty, transparency and efficiency. And each and every Head of the Department has to do and enforce the same.
The word "Office" means "something done for others" (specified kind of), and "Officer" means "person holding position of authority and trust, commissioned to perform divine service." "Minister" means "head of government department", "to serve, render aid or service, to give help as a Minister".. Instead of doing that, the Minister becomes more corrupt than the corrupt officers. He becomes the first to loot the money alloted to the Department. By seeing this, the corrupt officers are boldened, and in collaboration they loot and share using the officers' stealing skills, and so, no development today.
They are not good leaders nor good officers, but like whores and robbers, incorrigibly corrupt, beyond reform. They do not know what they should do. Their understanding has been stolen away by their greed.
Still the disappointment thing is, the new intending candidates who are in the row to contest, are not planning to bring reform, nor change, nor development, but aiming to loot and garner as much as and as smart as the present leaders. They contest not to serve the people, but for profits. Their principle is money begets money. They spend to buy votes, in order to make more money.
Today, winning the elections of an Assembly Constituency in Nagaland does no longer count the values of a leader's ability, nor quality, nor talent, nor honesty, nor integrity, nor ideology, nor character, nor qualification. Winning simply lies in money-power. Only money decides. He who has more money to buy more votes, is voted to power by the poor-ignorant-purchasable voters. A sale for a hand-out money with which one can never become rich or be free except enslaving and impoverishing oneself and it only makes one poor longer. Isn't it like the shameful biblical character of Esau who, in hunger and impatience, sold his birth-right for a plate of vegetable food, and lost his leadership over his own younger brother? That was the price of impatience!
Yes, sometimes your vote which is your right, may look small and look like only as good as a plate of vegetable food, in extreme hunger. But someone like Jacob(Esau's own brother) who wants leadership, knows that there is great value in that your right, and will bargain to buy it by observing your hunger. Know, in that your small vote lies God's given power. You can raise a government with your vote, and you can pull down a government by the same vote. In your vote, you have a power equal to/with an MLA, or a Minister, or Chief Minister, or Prime Minister. You can set up a good leader with it, or you can remove a corrupt leader with it. Your vote looks small, but it is very powerful. Your vote is your birth-right. It is your democratic right. It is your constitutional right. It is your leadership. It is your pride and prestige. It is your will. It is sacred and holy. In it lies the spirit and power of leadership. If you sell it, the spirit and all these values and powers of leadership will vanish from you as in the case of Esau. One can learn a lesson in the case of Esau and Jacob: brother selling right to own brother, and brother buying right from own brother. With this right you can build your leadership. With this vote, you can establish a government of your choice. And God has given you the freedom of choice. Your vote is, indeed, priceless. It is not cheap. It is not for sale. Selling your vote is against God's will. Use it wisely. Use it to the best of your conscience, with all patience and decency, for your own good and for the good of your descendants if you want them to be a choosen nation, a better people. Vote to bring a change.
The Ordinary Thief steals your money, bag, watch, gold chain etc. But the Political Thief steals your share, future, career, development, education, health and business. You yourself choose the Political Thief to rob you. Police will chase and arrest the Ordinary Thief, but Police will protect and serve the Political Thief. Today there is no development and the Nagas suffer because you had sold your birth-right, you had lost your leadership.
It was only from the 4th century B.C., the Athenians - the Greeks blessed with a number of great thinkers and writers, they began to exercise their voting-right which was found so good to the eye of the world. Till then, many countries had been suffering for the past thousand years under the despotic rules of kings, queens and cruel dictators without any voice or voting-right. And for all the past thousand years, millions and millions of people fought and sacrificed their lives in order to have this voting-right. So it came to us as we have it today. It came to India only about 66 years ago. It came to Nagaland about 49 years back. Your vote is a very hard-earned right. Your vote is your voice. It is your freedom. It is your independence. In a case like Nagaland, it was bought with lives and blood. Know, it is a right very costly. Kingdoms come, kingdoms go. How long or for how many years can you go on availing your voting right in future? It is not guranteed forever. Know, how to defend it.
A few years back it was out in the local Newspapers; just in a day's polling, a Pastor could cast his vote thirty nine times in proxy voting for money. Pastors and deacons were being used to the maximum as most faithful distributors of money to buy votes. This is the type of a priesthood we have in our Churches today. And as stated earlier, as such is the system of elections in Nagaland today; except for a few, amongst the elected legislators, many are found to be simply money-headed people with lower or inferior calibre hovering over the chance to loot the public-exchequer; but not for politics, nor for development, nor for principle, nor for ideology, nor for the people, nor for the state nor for legislation. They intend to contest and win, not to lead with example or develop, but to cheat and amass money with an unsatiable greed, insensitive to the needs of the people and development. Their dream is to become rich quick by looting the State exchequer.
The biggest loss the present politicians as well as the bureaucrats have been incuring to the Naga people today is, the money sanctioned against the plan-projects, without executing the works, those money are diverted, withdrawn and embezzled. They embezzle the public-money to self-satisfaction for self-development, and to buy votes. And with the money embezzled, they go on buying lands and houses of the poors. They build numerous marble buildings for summer and winter in five years. They build double in ten years. Some have owned a number of buildings for rent in cities and towns, owned a number of villages, owned a number of international hotels, National Schools, swimming pools etc. During 2003-2008 and 2008-2012, money were excessively withdrawn without austerity measures; and money meant for 2013-2017 were also used and exhausted in advance. Who who were going to be the political leaders during 2013-2017, were bound to extremely suffer. It was 'seen by us all, they had really suffered inclusive of all the Nagas. It seems no member had understood it except one.
Today their own supporters go on pointing with their fingers to the tall buildings in the air, contemptuously saying, “We voted him to power and he had built all these for himself - all with stolen money. God be the judge!”, they said. With the embezzled money, they are able to even buy legislators to be on their side. "Funds mean for developmental activities were misappropriated to finance the Chief Ministerial chair." And the state suffers because the present political leadership lacks vision, direction and commitment to the peoples' welfare. There is a total mess due to lack of governance which has paralysed administration, and yet the bureaucracy seems to be content waiting the time. The Nagas are being led to a dangerous stage now nearing an anarchy.
They run their offices as the highest seats of profit by looting. Their offices have become most deceitful, dishonest and cruel powers. Each officer could build two-three multi-storied marble buildings for both summer and winter which could never be built with mere monthly salaries.
They have looted Nagaland to poverty. Therefore, the ethical standard of politics, and the high public respect for political leadership has gone down so low, today. There is an urgent call for change.
Now a number of new political parties have come up, but headed by the same old corrupt leaders. What a change, or what a difference can we expect? There is no leader who sincerely talks about the need to bring a change. They are like fickle chameleons change from colour to colour bowing and worshipping an equal leader who promises them position and more money.
King Solomon, the known wisest man on earth, whose achievements had touched the zenith of worldly leadership, power, wisdom, authority, riches, glory, fame, and fabulous luxuries by overtaxing and looting his subjects; who married and enjoyed a thousand beautiful wives including queens and many foreign wives which later on turned him - a man of best heart - from God forsaking wisdom. And from a thousand wives, not even one wise son was born to Solomon. His kingdom was bound to be destroyed by one of his foolish sons. It was too late to realise even for a wise man like Solomon too. And it came about in the end of Solomon's growing old; endless troubles and sorrows came upon him. And the great thinker and philosopher, Solomon repeatedly said the phrase, "Meaningless", "Meaningless." "Everything is meaningless." And in the end, he said, "Here is the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandents, for this is the whole duty of a man. For God will bring every deed into judgement, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil"(Ecc.12:13,14). And with a foolish son on the throne, Solomon's kingdom was not spared after his death.
***Jesus was not interested in setting up a kingdom like those of the world; full of vice, wickedness, corruption and temporal. His plan was far different. He sought a kingdom in which everybody would be good, kind, unselfish and free from corruption. A kingdom in which righteousness, justice, truth, love and peace would rule without end; and injustice, discrimination, poverty and hunger will be no more where dishonesty, thieves and extortioners will be unknown. Jesus' ordained purpose is to establish on earth a kingdom of heaven with the most refined and highest civilization in the universe free from self-destruction of sin. There is a call, if there is one who can stand up firm to build the kingdom of heaven that Jesus wants on earth. As for falling down before Satan to worship him for cheap glory he could give, Jesus would have none of it.
Jesus was allured by the tempter to fall into worldly leadership, power, riches, fame and popularity. Thus the devil tempted even the Son of God. But Jesus sternly said to the god of temptation, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: "Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only." And the devil departed from Him. It had caused Satan to withdraw, "until another convenient time".
Jesus had endured the severest test. He has endured the test, greater than we shall ever be called to endure. Satan's highest bid had failed. The loyalty and purpose of Jesus could not be subverted. By His victory, Jesus set shining example of utter trust, self-effacing devotion, and of no compromise with evil, to all who should join Him in the struggle against temptation of the temporal worldly position, glory, power and riches. He had shown us we too are to be careful when we make a choice for life. His victory is ours. Resist the devil like Jesus, and he will flee from you.
Like Jesus, honestly do a thing that is eternal good which will live and for which your name too will live forever.
Do not amass possessions by dishonest means, because on the day you die, at your funeral, though someone may shower praises of flattery before men, your name will be remembered as a thief before the Lord written in the book of the damned forever. It is a false legacy. History will never forgive it. Be a leader! Yes. But be an honest leader to be a witness and stand for the truth. That is a true legacy. "God is your throne forever".(Heb.1:8).
Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you a king?" In reply to Pilate Jesus meant to tell. "Yes, Pilate, you are right. I am the king of the truth. And my career and ministry on this earth is to be a bearing witness to the truth." Pilate again asked, "What is the truth?" But without waiting for the answer, he rushed out to the crowd. Though, found no fault at all in him in the dig, out of fear he miserably failed to defend justice and had surrendered the truth, who was Jesus, to be crucified by washing his hands before the public. A timid act which has been, since then, condemned by generation to generation. In life, if you happen to meet a truth to defend, have the courage to do it. Do not betray the truth like Pontious Pilate. For Jesus was the truth. And that truth was the truth which would "set men free".
, in his book titled "ZIPPORAH" page-270 wrote like this. "Moses said to the Israelites, the word of Almighty is addressed to free men." "Freedom is like water at the bottom of a well. We must learn to bring it out into the light of day, and then we must learn to drink it. You are not yet capable of that."
"What do you mean?" asked the Israelites, in surprise. "How have we done wrong?"
Moses explained to the people, "I freed you from slavery, thanks to the strong hand of the Everlasting, but in your hearts you are still slaves. In your hearts you are still in the desert. We are not worthy of milk and honey. And in the desert you will die." "Your children and grandchildren, who have never known slavery, will enter Cannan and discover the Promised Land, not you."
In the same way, thanks be unto the Everlasting God for delivering the Nagas from darkness to light, and from jungle headhunting age open to the present advanced civilization through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and along with it came the recent education. But in our hearts, we are still in the jungle; in our minds we are still primitive, not refined. We are not yet fit to enter or discover the "Promised Land".
In St. John 8:31-36 Jesus says, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." The Jews answered him, "We are not slaves. How can you say that we shall be set free?" Jesus replied, "Everyone who sins is a slave to sin." It means everyone who steals, tells a lie, or corrupts is a slave to Satan. Jesus further says, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." Matt.11:28-30 Jesus says, "Come... learn from me... and you will find rest for your souls."
