"Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day,
And he saw it, and was glad" (John 8:56)
It was gladness for the salvation of the Lord, not only for his descendants, but with the redemption of Isaac, He had promised him that all the tribes of the earth will be blessed with his offspring. God is not just a King over one people, over one tribe, or over one tongue, but He is King over the whole earth. "When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take Him by force, to make Him a king, He departed again into a mountain Himself alone." (John 6: 15). He is the King of the Jews, because He came to reign over a kingdom, not only over the Jews but over all the earth; not as an apparent King, by material force and temporary authority, but as a true King over the hearts. May the human being follow His heavenly kingdom with all his being and not only superficially. Thus the Psalm says, "For God is the King of all the earth. Sing praises with understanding," (Psalm 47:7). His throne is in the heart of the believers that are everywhere. "The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham," (Psalm 47:9).
Let us learn from the Lord Jesus Christ, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords. He did not gain His authority by force but from Him who said to him, "I will declare the decree. The Lord has said unto Me, 'You are My Son. Today, I have begotten YOU. Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance and the ends of the earth for Your possession.' " (Psalm 2: 7-8). "So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him, 'You are My Son. Today, I have begotten You.' " (Hebrew 5:5).
This glory, that Satan wanted to usurp for himself, the Lord Himself had given it up so that man might ascend to His heights. This joy in the heart of Abraham, the patriarch (the father of the fathers), shows that the Lord was his king, that His throne was in his heart, for he had chosen his seed to be His special people, His very own, and that all the nations will be blessed with his offspring. God awaits that we possess Christ in our hearts, as Abraham, the father of our fathers did, so that we might be blessed, and that through us, he would reign over the others and spread His spiritual kingdom. If you wish to spread goodness or reform a matter, or even stop evil, remember that the Lord must be sitting on His throne, which is your heart, before you attempt any of these works. If God is sitting on His throne within you, you will not fight evil, for He said, "But I say unto you, that you resist not evil. But, whosoever shall smite you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also," (Matthew 5: 39). You shall not ask to let fire come down from heaven as Elijah did because "The Son of man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them," (Luke 9: 56). You shall serve all people, as he said, "The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many," (Mark 10:45). You will not depend on earthly power to subdue people as He said, "Do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels," (Matthew 26:53). You will not judge. (John 8:11 and John 8:15). You shall forgive. (Luke 23:34). How many good deeds shall we perform when the Lord reigns within us!
Abraham saw the day of the Lord Jesus with the spirit of prophecy when he offered his son Isaac. We saw the salvation of God that was accomplished on the cross. Let us rejoice with Him as our father Abraham did, and may this gladness be a measure of the Lord's reign over us and of His kingdom in our hearts.
St. Paul said: "Finally, my brothers rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe." ( Philippians 3: 1). "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!" (Philippians 4: 4).
Copyright © 2007 Saint Antony Coptic Orthodox Monastery, California, U.S.A. The above article may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of Saint Antony Coptic Orthodox Monastery, California, U.S.A. |
