The Road to Emmaus / Die Pad na Emmaus

March 31, 2025

Die pad na Émmaüs

In hierdie tyd is ons volgens die Joodse kalender ingewig tussen “ Hag Mazot”en “Hag Shavu’ot—Pasga (Passover) en die Fees van Weke, wat in Christelike term ooreenstem met die opstanding van Jesus tot op die dag van Pinkster. Dit was gedurende hierdie spesifieke tyd wat Jesus uit die dood opgestaan het en begin het om in die tuin aan Sy dissipels te verskyn.

Jesus het deur mure van Jerusalem geloop; Hy verskyn op die strand van die See van Galilee, dan is daar Sy verskyning op die pad na Emmaus.

Wat met Jesus Gebeur, Gebeur met Ons.

Kom ons begin met die Hebreeuse Profeet Hosea – “Howshea Ha’Nabiy.” “Kom en laat ons terugkeer tot die HERE; want Hy het verskeur en sal ons genees, Hy het geslaan en sal ons verbind. Hy sal ons ná twee dae lewend maak, op die derde dag ons laat opstaan, sodat ons voor sy aangesig kan lewe. En laat ons ken--laat ons dit najaag om die HERE te ken; sy opgang is so seker soos die dagbreek, en Hy sal tot ons kom soos die reën, soos die laat reëns wat die aarde besproei.” (Hosea 6:1-3)

Hier het ons drie verse- elk met ’n profesie oor Jesus, maar op ‘n manier sê Hosea al drie van hulle word op ‘n manier gelykmatig op ons toegepas. “Kom laat ons terugkeer tot die HERE.”

‘Terugkeer’ is ‘tesuba’, die Hebreeuse woord vir “bekeer” Wat beteken om terug te draai na God. Ons dink van bekering soos toe ons weer gebore is, maar Jesus sê vir die gemeente by Efese, ‘n groep mense met die korrekte lering en goeie werke, om terug te keer na hulle eerste liefde. (Op. 2:4,5) maar dan lees ons—“want Hy het verskeur en sal ons genees, Hy het geslaan en sal ons verbind.”

Wat het met Jesus gebeur? Hy was gewond. Dieselfde term word in Jesaja gebruik- letterlik: “Hy was deurboor –“paga”- om oop gesny te word. (Jes. 53:5) Hierdie woord “paga”- gewond, gesny- kom van ‘n Hebreeuse woord- om tussenbeide te tree, wat beteken Hy was in die plek van iemand anders gewond. Maar alhoewel daar ‘n verwonding was, het die Here ‘n genesing gebring.

Jesus was aan die kruis in ons plek deurboor, maar met die opstanding was Hy genees. En wanneer die Here ons wond dan sal Hy ons verbind. “Hy sal ons ná twee dae lewend maak, op die derde dag ons laat opstaan, sodat ons voor sy aangesig kan lewe.”

Wat met Jesus gebeur het gebeur met ons. Dit sê nie net Jesus sal op die derde dag opstaan nie, nee, ons sal op die derde dag opstaan. Sy dood is ons dood; daarom is Sy opstanding ons opstanding. Dink aan die opstanding as ‘n vrugbare gebeurtenis.

Ons wag nie vir die Wegraping of vir die opstanding nie; die Wegraping en die opstanding het alreeds begin, ons wag vir ons rol daarin. Die opstanding begin met die Eerste Vrugte—Jesus was die Eerste Vrugte van die Opstanding. (1 Kor. 15:20) Omdat Sy Dood ons dood is, is Sy opstanding ons opstanding. Die opstanding het alreeds begin en ons wag vir ons rol daarin. Net so met die hemelvaart; die Wegraping het alreeds begin. Ons wag nie vir die Wegraping nie, ons wag vir ons rol daarin. Dit is waarom Hebreërs 1-1-2 die konteks- “in hierdie laaste dae” voorsien. Omdat ons alreeds in die Laaste Dae is. Die Wegraping en die opstanding het alreeds begin.

Die beste manier wat ek dit kan verduidelik is deur die Normandiese inval met D-Dag in Junie 1944. Amptelik was D-Dag op die 6de Junie 1944 maar in werklikheid het dit al die 5de Junie begin toe Amerikaanse en die Britse valskerm soldate agter die Duitse linies geland het en hulle kommunikasie lyne verwoes het. Maar dit was ‘n geheim niemand het geweet wat in die werklikheid besig was om te gebeur nie alhoewel die inval in Normandië op die 5de Junie begin het, het net sekere mense geweet dit is die inval, dit was eers die volgende dag, D-Dag dat almal geweet het wat besig was om te gebeur toe die amfibiese voertuie op die strande geland het.

Dit is dieselfde met die Laaste Dae. Die Laaste Dae het alreeds begin maar net die ingeligtes weet dit. Net ons weet dit. Dit begin by die opstanding en die hemelvaart van Jesus, die wêreld weet dit nog nie. Ons is soos die Britse en Amerikaanse troepe wat agter die Duitse linies geland het om die weg voor te berei vir die groot inval.

Ons is eenvoudig net hier om die komende eeu in te lei, die koms van die Here Jesus. Jesus sal kom en die inval is inderdaad aan die kom. Die inval is alreeds besig om te gebeur, ons wag basies vir almal om dit te sien gebeur. Maar ons weet dit is alreeds besig om te gebeur. Jesus se dood is ons dood, Sy opstanding is ons opstanding.

“En laat ons ken--laat ons dit najaag om die HERE te ken; sy opgang is so seker soos die dagbreek;” Weereens, al vier die Evangelies sê Jesus het met “Hag Ha’Mazot,” die Hebreeuse Eerste Vrugte Fees, die eerste dag van die week met dagbreek toe dit nog donker was-opgestaan, maar dan word dit as ‘n Pinkster profesie gesê... “--en Hy sal tot ons kom soos die reën, soos die laat reëns wat die aarde besproei.” (Hos. 6:3) Die uitstorting van die reën wat in die watertafel-“maim hayim” gevorm word, is ‘n metafoor vir die Heilige Gees.

“Want Ek sal water giet op die dorsland en strome op die droë grond; Ek sal my Gees op jou kroos giet en my seën op jou nakomelinge.” (Jes. 44:3)

Die reën wat begin val is ‘n beeld van die Heilige Gees as Lewende Water soos ons sien in Johannes 4 en 7 waar Jesus sê die Heilige Gees is Lewende Water. As ons dus weer in Hosea daarna kyk, dan sien ons die verwonding maar ook die opstanding. Ons het die uitstorting van die Heilige Gees na die opstanding. Wat met Jesus gebeur het, gebeur met ons, Sy dood moet ons dood wees, Sy lewe is ons lewe en die krag van Sy Gees wat in ons manifesteer.

Verenigde Samehorigheid in Bar Abbas.

Ons het ‘n teologiese term wat geken word as ‘n “verenigde samehorigheid.” (Corporate Solidarity) Dit is waar een persoon ‘n groter groep mense verteenwoordig, waar een man of een vrou ‘n beeld is van ‘n groter groep. In die Lyding verhaal, die verhaal van die dood en opstanding van Jesus, is daar ‘n hele paar belangrike “verenigde samehorigheid”, mense wat beelde is van ons. Een van die mees belangrike mense is iemand wat in Aramees “Barabbas”- “seun van die vader” genoem word. Ons sien dit toe Pilates hom in Lukas uitgebring het.

“Maar die hele menigte skreeu en sê: Weg met Hom, en laat vir ons Barábbas los!” (Luk. 23:18)

“Gee vir ons Barabbas.” Pilates wou Jesus vrylaat, hy wou die saak na Herodes verwys.

Maar Herodes sou Jesus vrygelaat het as Hy ‘n vertoning gelewer het. As Jesus gewillig was om wonders en tekens te doen dan sou Herodes gewillig wees om Hom vry te laat. (Luk. 23:8).

Let op die enigste ding wat Jesus moes gedoen het om nie na die kruis toe te gaan nie was ‘n om ‘n “Benny” of ‘n “Kenny” op te dis. Al wat Hy moes doen was om godsdienstige drog tekens- vertonings (shows) op te voer.

Jesus het nie een keer wonder en tekens en genesings, “semeion mipla’ot” in Hebreeus, toegelaat om die hoof fokus van Sy boodskap in Sy bediening te wees nie. Dit is nie waaroor Jesus se bediening gegaan het nie. Hierdie tekens volg. Daar is mense wat beweer dat wonders en tekens die sleutel is om mense tot redding te lei; Dit is was John Wimber se argument, maar die feit is Johannes 10 sê die teenoorgestelde: Jesus vra: “Oor watter een van dié werke stenig julle My?” (Vers 32)

“Die geloof is dus uit die gehoor, en die gehoor is deur die woord van God.”(Rom. 10:17)

Dit is nie om na vertonings te kyk nie. Die Antichris en die Valse Profeet gaan vertonings lewer en hulle gaan die nasies mislei. (Op. 16:13-14); Hulle gaan die Jode en die afvallige kerk mislei. (Die feit is, hulle is alreeds mislei, hulle wag net vir ‘n groter misleiding.

Herodes stuur Jesus na Pilatus en Pilatus sê” “Wel, ek sal hierdie man op ‘n manier moet loslaat, ek weet Hy is onskuldig, wat gaan ek doen? Ek weet! Ek gaan ‘n terroris in sy plek kry.”

Barabbas was iemand wat die Nuwe Testament na verwys as ‘n Zealot. (yweraar) Josephus skryf baie oor hulle, die “Sukim”. Dit was mense wat godsdiens gebruik het om hulle booshede soos moord en ander wreedhede weg te steek, baie soos Al Qaeda en die IRA of ander wat godsdiens gebruik as ‘n sambreel of ‘n propaganda oogmerk of ‘n pakket. Mense wat met die mees gruwelike kriminele aktiwiteite te doen het. Hulle teer op hulle eie mense. Josephus skryf oor die wreedheid van hierdie mense teenoor die Jode wat erger was as wat die Romeine met hulle gedoen het. Hierdie “Sukim” waarvan Barabbas een was, was wreder teenoor hulle eie mense as wat die Romeine ooit gewees het.

En dan het ons “Bar- Abbas.” Nie ‘n Hebreeuse naam nie, maar ‘n Aramese naam wat letterlik “seun van die vader” beteken.

“Wie gaan ek vrylaat? Bar-Abbas of Rabbi Yeshua Bar Jozef? Wil julle hê ek moet hierdie terroris, hierdie krimineel, moordenaar vrylaat, of wil julle hê ek moet hierdie rabbi van Galiléa loslaat wat liefde vrede en vergifnis leer, wat ‘n dogter uit die dood opgewek het, wat die blindes laat sien het, die dowes laat hoor het, die lammes laat loop het, hierdie man van liefde?”

Wie sal dit wees: “Bar-Abbas, of Rabbi Yeshua?” En dieselfde skare wat ‘n paar dae gelede Hosanna gesing het met die triomferende intog in Jerusalem- skree nou, “Kruisig Hom! Gee vir ons Bar-Abbas ! Toe Jesus gewillig was om vir hulle ‘n vertoning te lewer was almal vir hom maar toe Hy nie opgetree het soos wat hulle wou gehad het nie wou hulle niks meer met Hom te doen gehad het nie. “Kruisig Hom! Gee vir ons Bar-Abbas!” Nie almal nie maar baie van hulle was deur die godsdienstige leiers van die dag opgehits. Die Sanhedrin het hulle opgehits om te sê: “Gee vir ons Bar-Abbas!” Gee vir ons die seun van die vader!

Ons is almal Bar-Abbas

As iemand weergebore is- as mense hulle sonde bely het en Jesus aanvaar het dan het hulle ’n ander naam ontvang, en hierdie naam is “Bar-Abbas”. Elkeen van ons word ‘n seun van die Vader. “Gee ons Bar-Abbas!” Ons het ‘n seun van die Vader geword omdat Jesus deur die Vader ‘n vloek geword het vir ons sonde. Gee vir ons “Bar-Abbas!” Dit is altyd so.

Gee vir ons daardie dwelm smous in Oos New York, Jacob Prasch. Wat sal ek doen met hierdie Rabbi wat mense uit die dood laat opstaan, wat die siekes genees, wat die kreupeles laat loop, wat liefde en vrede leer, wat die dogter se lewe vir haar terug gegee het, wat sal ek met Hom doen? Maak Hom dood! Gee vir ons Jacob Prasch. Maak Hom dood! Gee vir ons John Higgens. Ek word ‘n “Bar–Abbas” omdat Jesus, wat onskuldig was, in my plek vervolg was.

Maar ek is die skuldig aan al hierdie dinge waarvan hulle Hom beskuldig het. Muitery, rebellie, laster, om mense te mislei. Ek was skuldig aan al hierdie dinge waarvan hulle Jesus beskuldig het.

Jy kan my “Jacob” noem, dit is aanvaarbaar, maar wat maak ons as my en jou regte naam- “Bar- Abbas,- Barabbas is?. Hoekom is ek Barabbas? Hoekom is ek ‘n seun van die Vader? Omdat met betrekking tot die Ware Seun van die Vader, van wie hulle gesê het “ Kruisig Hom!” Het Hy gesterf sodat ek ‘n seun van God kan word. Dit is die eerste verenigde samehorigheid.

 

Die Verenigde Samehorigheid van Simon van Cirene.

Volgens die Romeinse wet, wanneer ‘n persoon tereggestel word deur die Romeinse kruisiging metode (die Jode het mense gestenig en kruisiging was basies ‘n Grieks – Romeinse instelling) dan moes die persoon sy skuld dra wat hy in die openbaar moes vertoon deur die dra van die kruis. Die skuldige persoon moes sy eie kruis dra, dit was die Romeinse wet. Maar dan sien ons iets anders wat gebeur.

“En toe hulle Hom weglei, neem hulle 'n sekere Simon van Ciréne wat van die veld af gekom het, en sit die kruis op hom om dit agter Jesus aan te dra.” (Luk. 23:26)

Hoekom het Jesus nie Sy eie kruis gedra nie? Omdat volgens die Romeinse wet sou dit beteken dat Hy skuldig was vir dit waarvoor Hy veroordeel sou word.

Jesus was nie skuldig vir dit waarvoor Hy veroordeel sou word nie; Simon was skuldig, ek was, jy was, ons was, Richard Wurmbrand was skuldig, hy was ‘n Joodse gelowige wat ‘n Christen geword het—My vrou het hom geken voordat hy gered is van die Joodse gemeenskap in Roemenië- hy was as ‘n Jood deur die Nazi’s vervolg en ook deur die Kommuniste as ‘n Christen. Hulle het hom vir 14 jaar toegesluit, hulle het sy vrou gearresteer, hulle het hom wreed mishandel en gemartel. My vrou kon met hom in Roemeens praat en hy het ‘n preek aangehaal wat hy gepreek het waar hy gesê het: “Jesus het nie net eenvoudig gesê ek gaan in jou plek sterf nie! Hy het gesê- Ek gaan in jou plek sterf, maar kom jy hier en sterf saam met My.”

Hy sal ons ná twee dae lewend maak, op die derde dag ons laat opstaan, sodat ons voor sy aangesig kan lewe, (Hos. 6:2) omdat Sy opstanding ons opstanding is en Sy dood is ons dood, en so het Simon hom gevolg-- Simon het Hom gevolg. “Neem op jou kruis en volg My”. (Mat. 10:38; 16:24).

“My las is lig” (Mat. 11:30). Hy het die ware werk gedoen en ons is geroep om die kruis te dra. Hy moes aan die kruis vas genael word. Neem die kruis op! Kruisig die ou natuur, kruisig daardie ou man! Kruisig daardie ou vrou!- die ou skepping. (Rom. 6:6) Neem op jou kruis en volg My!

As iemand skuldig is aan dit, kruisig dit en volg My. Ja, ons het ‘n ander naam. Miskien is jou naam “Jack” of “Jill” of miskien “Harry” of “Griet”, dit maak nie saak wat jou naam is nie, jou naam is ook “Simon van Ciréne” As jy ‘n ware Christen is, neem op jou kruis.

Die Verenigde Samehorigheid van die twee Kriminele.

Maar daar is ook ‘n derde verenigde samehorigheid wat baie belangrik is, ons lees daarvan in dieselfde hoofstuk wat gaan oor die kruisiging.

“En een van die kwaaddoeners wat opgehang is, het Hom gesmaad en gesê: As U die Christus is, verlos Uself en ons. Maar die ander een antwoord en bestraf hom en sê: Vrees jy ook God nie, terwyl jy in dieselfde oordeel is? --ons tog regverdiglik, want ons ontvang die verdiende loon vir ons dade, maar Hy het niks verkeerds gedoen nie. En hy sê vir Jesus: Dink aan my, Here, wanneer U in u koninkryk kom. En Jesus antwoord hom: Voorwaar Ek sê vir jou, vandag sal jy saam met My in die Paradys wees.” (Luk. (23:39-43)

 

Dit is belangrik. Ons is almal kriminele; ons is almal diewe; ons is almal moordenaars. Ek is ‘n dief en ‘n leuenaar. Die Bybel sê as iemand iets begeer wat aan iemand anders behoort dan is dit in die oë van ‘n Heilige volmaakte God dieselfde asof dit gesteel is. As ons iemand se vrou of man begeer, of by ‘n getroude man of vrou wil slaap dan is dit volgens God dieselfde asof dit alreeds gebeur het. (Mat. 5:27-28) Ons is almal hoereerders, ons is almal moordenaars. (Mt. 5:21-26).

As ek kyk na al die politieke korrupsie in die wêreld en die skynheiligheid van die media en Moslems dan bevind ek my in ‘n geestelike stryd om nie woedend te raak nie. Ek haat die sonde, nie die sondaar nie. Ek onthou dat afgesonder van die genade van Jesus is ek nie beter as hulle nie. Ons is Almal moordenaars.

Ons lees in die Boek Job en Klaagliedere dat niemand ‘n rede het om te kla nie. Daar is diegene wat ‘n baie slegte deel in die lewe ontvang het, ek is baie jammer daaroor, dit is moeilik, maar dit maak nie saak wat met hulle gebeur nie, dit maak nie saak hoe onregverdig dit is nie, omdat ons sondaars in die oë Here is, het ons geen rede om te kla vir dit wat ons ontvang het nie.

Jesus is die enigste Persoon wat nie sonde gehad het nie en Hy het die slegste deel van alles ontvang. Hy was totaal onskuldig maar Hy het nie gekla nie; Hy het nie ’n woord gesê nie. (Hand. 8:32) Ons kan kla en kerm (kvetch) maar Jesus het dit nie gedoen nie.

En so het ons ‘n derde verenigde gemeenskaplikheid: Die kriminele of, die “goeie” en of die “slegte” een. Een van hulle op die kruis sê: “Jesus, U is, is die Messias, kry ons hier af.” Al wat hy wou gehad het is dat Jesus iets vir hom moes doen in hierdie lewe en in hierdie wêreld.

Daar is mense wat heel gelukkig is om te bely dat hulle Christene is, of dat hulle na Jesus gekom het, hulle hand op te steek met ‘n kansel oproep, of om ‘n kerkraad vergadering by te woon, met die idee dat Jesus iets vir hulle in hierdie wêreld en lewe gaan doen.

Ek wil nou nie sê dat Jesus nie kan nie of dat Hy nie iets vir ons in hierdie wêreld en lewe doen nie, Hy doen dit verseker. Maar dit is nie waaroor dit gaan nie. Daar is Christene wat niks anders as ‘n tronksel ken nie. Met tye bedien ek in Indonesië in Aceh waar mense onder die Sharia wet is waar Christene gemartel word. Die enigste ding wat Jesus vir hulle gee is ‘n martelaar kroon en jy hoor hulle nie kla nie.

Die “goeie” dief sê, “Kyk, dit maak nie saak wat met my gebeur nie, ek ken my sonde, Jesus het nie sonde gehad nie. Asseblief Here dink aan my in U Koninkryk.” Al twee van hulle roep uit na Jesus maar met wat se motief? Daar is mense wat na Jesus roep net om vry kaartjie te kry, ‘n goeie lewe in hierdie wêreld, en hulle mis die hele punt. Aan die ander kant is die “goeie dief” iemand wat na Jesus roep en sê: “Ek weet wat ek is, ek weet hoe sleg ek is en ek weet hoe totaal goed U is. Here dink aan my in U Koninkryk”

Ons is almal kwaaddoeners, die vraag is wil ons ‘n “goeie” een of ‘n “slegte” een wees? ‘n “goeie” dief is nie die een wat nie gevang word nie; ‘n goeie dief is die een wat weet hy verdien om gevang te word en dat Jesus hom na alles wil vergewe.

 

Verenigde Samehorigheid Ná die Opstanding.

Ons het gekyk na verenigde samehorighede, maar hierdie verenigde samehorigheid oorskry Jesus se kruisiging; hulle tree in werking na Jesus se opstanding. En so in hierdie tyd van die jaar lees ons in die volgende hoofstuk van Lukas ‘n verstommende verhaal. Hierdie verhaal vertel ons iets wat op so baie maniere in ‘n neutedop so baie van wat die Christen lewe behoort te wees maar wat baie van ons nie regtig verstaan nie.

“En twee van hulle was dieselfde dag op pad na 'n dorp wat agt myl van Jerusalem af was, met die naam van Émmaüs. En hulle was in gesprek met mekaar oor al hierdie dinge wat voorgeval het. En terwyl hulle praat en mekaar ondervra, kom Jesus self nader en loop met hulle saam.

Maar hulle oë is weerhou, sodat hulle Hom nie kon herken nie.”

“Hulle oë is weerhou, sodat hulle Hom nie kon herken nie.”

“En Hy sê vir hulle: Watter woorde is dit wat julle met mekaar loop en wissel, en waarom is julle bedroef? En die een wie se naam Kléopas was, antwoord en sê vir Hom: Is U alleen 'n vreemdeling in Jerusalem en weet U nie van die dinge wat in hierdie dae daarin gebeur het nie?.

Weereens, dit is belangrik om die tye te verstaan, hier was dit die periode tussen die Pasga en die Fees van Weke. Beide die Pasga en die Fees van Weke—Pasga en Pinkster—was pelgrims feeste. Die Jode het van verskeie streke afgekom om dit in Jerusalem te vier en as dit vir hulle moontlik was het hulle in Jerusalem oorgebly inplaas daarvan om heen en weer te reis. Baie mense het die plek besoek, ons kan dit vergelyk met ‘n vakansie oord en mense getalle wat toeneem gedurende die seisoen en ook die vermindering ná die seisoen.

“En Hy sê vir hulle: Watter dinge? En hulle antwoord Hom: Die dinge aangaande Jesus, die Nasaréner, wat 'n profeet was, kragtig in werk en woord voor God en die hele volk; en hoe ons owerpriesters en owerstes Hom oorgelewer het tot die doodstraf en Hom gekruisig het.”

Let op die strafbaarheid van die godsdienstige instellings, in daardie tyd was dit die Sanhedrin, vandag is dit die Vatikaan Curia en die Wêreld Raad van Kerke, hulle kruisig Jesus vandag nog.

“En ons het gehoop dat dit Hy was wat Israel sou verlos; maar nou is dit vandag, met dit alles, die derde dag vandat dit plaasgevind het.”

Die “derde dag” in Bybelse tipologie is altyd ‘n skadu verwysing na ‘n opstanding ondervinding.

“Maar sommige vroue uit ons het ons ook ontstel nadat hulle vroeg by die graf was; en toe hulle sy liggaam nie kry nie, het hulle gekom en gesê dat hulle ook 'n gesig gesien het van engele wat sê dat Hy lewe. En sommige van die wat saam met ons was, het na die graf gegaan en dit net so gevind soos die vroue ook gesê het; maar Hom het hulle nie gesien nie.”

“En Hy sê vir hulle: o Onverstandiges, met harte wat traag is om te glo alles wat die profete gespreek het! Moes die Christus nie hierdie dinge ly en in sy heerlikheid ingaan nie? En Hy het begin van Moses en al die profete af en vir hulle uitgelê in al die Skrifte die dinge wat op Hom betrekking het. Daarop kom hulle naby die dorp waarheen hulle op reis was, en Hy het gemaak of Hy verder wou gaan; maar hulle het by Hom aangedring en gesê: Bly by ons, want dit is amper aand en die dag het gedaal; en Hy het ingegaan om by hulle te bly.”

(Let op, hulle nooi Hom in.) 

“Toe is hulle oë geopen en hulle het Hom herken, en Hy het uit hulle gesig verdwyn. En hulle sê vir mekaar: Was ons hart nie brandende in ons toe Hy met ons op die pad gepraat en vir ons die Skrifte uitgelê het nie? Toe staan hulle in dieselfde uur op en gaan na Jerusalem terug en vind die elf en die wat saam met hulle bymekaar was, wat sê: Die Here het waarlik opgestaan en het aan Simon verskyn. Toe vertel hulle wat op die pad gebeur het en hoe Hy aan hulle bekend geword het by die breking van die brood.” (Luk. 24:13-35)

Tot vandag toe hou Ortodokse Jode die week na Pasga miniatuur Seder etes. Die Apostels kon dit nie bywoon nie omdat Jesus vir hulle gesê het dat Hy nie weer die Pasga sal neem tot en met die Huwelik aandete van die Lam (Luk. 22:14-18). Die Apostels kon nie daar wees nie. Maar Jesus openbaar Homself by die breking van die brood en dit is altyd na die derde dag soos wat Hosea gesê het. (Hos. 6:2).

Die Derde Dag

Die vraag wat dikwels gevra word, is: Hoe kom ons by die drie dae en drie nagte van Jesus se kruisiging uit? Het Jesus op ’n Woensdag of op ‘n Donderdag gesterf?

“En dit was omtrent die sesde uur, en daar het duisternis oor die hele aarde gekom tot die negende uur toe-” (Luk. 23:43) Met ander woorde van 12 uur die middag af tot 3 uur die middag.

Die Jode bereken tyd van sonsondergang tot sonsondergang, dit word altyd gebaseer op die skeppings verhaal in Genesis- ‘Owr’ na ‘choshek’- lig tot donker. Dit maak nie saak hoeveel ure van die dag oor is nie omdat as die son onder gegaan het was dit gereken as ‘n dag. Dit kon nie ‘n verduistering gewees nie om twee redes, eerstens dit was die 14de Nissan.

Die Jode volg ‘n maan kalender. Dit is die teenoorgestelde fase van die maan siklus vir ‘n sonsverduistering om plaas te vind. Dit kon nie ‘n sonsverduistering gewees het nie; iets moes met die son gebeur het. Hosea sê Hy sal ons op die derde dag laat opstaan. (Hos. 6:2) Die Hebreeuse profeet sê dit het ‘n toekomstige eskatologiese betekenis.

“En in dié dag, spreek die Here HERE, laat Ek die son op die middag ondergaan en vir die aarde die lig duister word terwyl dit nog dag is.” (Amos 8:9) Toe Jesus op die kruis gesterf het- het die son ondergegaan, net soos wat Amos geprofeteer het.

In die Bybel in verskillende tye het God tyd versteur .

Volgens Paulus is daar basies drie hemele. (2 Kor. 12:2) Die eerste hemel– die atmosfeer van die aarde; die tweede hemel- die buite ruimte; en die derde hemel- die ewigheid.

Maar tyd word altyd bereken en gekalibreer op die basis van die tweede hemel se planetariese beweging. Streng gesproke is daar atomiese horlosies wat nie deur die planetarium beweging werk nie maar deur die uitstraling van atomiese gedeeltes, maar tot hierdie uurwerk moet ook hulle berekeninge in nanosekondes uitdruk.

Tyd is afhanklik van die tweede hemel.

In Jesaja en Openbaring wanneer daar gepraat word van die “shamayim” – die hemele wat toegerol word soos ‘n boek (Jes. 34:4; Op. 6:14), wat beteken die buiteruimte verdwyn en die ewigheid ontmoet die aarde. Dit is wat gebeur; dan bestaan tyd nie meer nie.

Ons het twee woorde in Grieks vir tyd—“kronos” en “kairos.” Kronos is ’n kronologie van gebeure wat beteken ons het kronologie in die ewigheid maar daar is nie tyd nie. Ewigheid is nie ‘n uurwerk wat aanhou loop nie, omdat daar nie ‘n uurwerk is nie. God doen iets met tyd.

In die Boek Josua het God die son laat stil staan. (Jos. 10:12-13). In Openbaring 8:12 gaan God dit weer doen, ’n dag van 24 uur sal verkort word na 16 ure.

Met koning Hiskia se genesing het God die son laat terug beweeg. (2 Kon. 20:9-11).

As ons lees hoe oud Hiskia was gedurende sy regering dan het ons ’n man wat net so oud as Jesus sou gewees het—in sy 30’s- met die tyd wat terug gegaan het, so die tyd moes aangeloop het.

Met ander woorde toe die son met Jesus onder gegaan het, het die son met Jesus aan beweeg en die teenoorgestelde gebeur wat met Hiskia gebeur het.

Hier was ‘n man in sy dertigs wie se lewe verleng was omdat die uurwerk teruggeloop het, die son het terug gegaan, en soos met Jesus, is ’n man met dieselfde ouderdom se lewe verkort omdat dit aangeloop het. Dit het met Hiskia gebeur, en ons sien dit in Openbaring en in die Boek Josua.

In verskillende tye het God met tyd ingemeng. Toe die Here Jesus gesterf het, het die son twee keer ondergegaan. Gekruisig op ‘n Vrydag? Nee, nie op “Goeie Vrydag” nie. Mattheus , Markus Lukas en Johannes sê dit het met Pasga gebeur volgens die Maan Kalender, nie op die Paasfees (Easter) volgens die son kalender nie. Easter is ’n heidense fees. In die 4de eeu het die Roomse Katolieke kerk dit verander. Jesus het nie op ‘n “Goeie Vrydag” gesterf nie, maar ons kan sê Hy het op [‘n ] Vrydag gesterf. Die son het Vrydag onder gegaan, Jesus is van die kruis af, om 3 uur kom die son op, die son gaan weer onder op Vrydag nag, die son kom Saterdag op en gaan Saterdag aand onder en ons tel nog steeds 3 letterlike dae en nagte.. As Jesus op ‘n Donderdag gekruisig was dan het ons ‘n probleem gehad, ons sou 4 gehad het. Maar dit moes 3 dae en drie nagte gewees het, dieselfde as met Lasarus (Joh. 11:14), dieselfde met die twee getuienisse (Op. 11:9) en Jona. (Joh. 1:17)

 

Die Verenigde samehorigheid van Cleopas en die Dissipel

En met dit alles is dit die derde dag en Jesus is op pad na Emmaus en terwyl Hy op pad is ontmoet Hy Cleapas en ‘n ander dissipel, maar hulle oë is weerhou om Hom te sien, Jesus loop saam met hulle maar hulle kan Hom nie werklik sien nie.

“Watter woorde is dit wat julle met mekaar loop en wissel?” En hulle vertel Hom van al die dinge wat gebeur het, asof Hy nie weet nie en Hy antwoord.... o Onverstandiges, met harte wat traag is om te glo alles wat die profete gespreek het!...Was dit nie nodig dat hierdie dinge moes gebeur het nie? Let op, Jesus betreur dit omdat hulle die Skrifte nie ken nie.

“En Hy het begin van Moses en al die profete af en vir hulle uitgelê in al die Skrifte die dinge wat op Hom betrekking het.” (Luk. 24:25-27) Skrifte, die Skrifte, die Skrifte. o Onverstandiges--- met harte wat traag is om te glo” Alles wat in die Skrifte is.

Baie van ons het voorkeur Bybel verse en Skrifgedeeltes. Tot klein kindertjies het voorkeur slaaptyd stories soos Dawid en Goliat, dit is goed, maar ‘n voorkeur is nie inklusief nie. Al die Skrifte is belangrik. Drie keer (ingeslote Luk. 24:32) beklemtoon Jesus die Skrifte, die Skrifte, die Skrifte. Hy is die Woord wat vlees geword het; Hy is die “Logos”. Die Bybel is Jesus in druk—die Skrifte.

Jesus het saam met hulle geloop maar hulle het dit nie geweet nie. Hy probeer die Skrifte aan hulle verduidelik maar hulle begryp dit nie. Jesus het sekerlik uit die dood opgestaan maar hulle kan dit nie regtig verstaan nie, hulle weet nie of dit waar is nie. En so het ons ‘n situasie waar Jesus se eie dissipels nie die Skrifte kon verstaan nie of die feit kon begryp dat dit Hy was wat saam met hulle geloop het nie. Hulle het hom nie werklik gesien nie en Hom ook nie werklik gehoor nie terwyl Hy saam met hulle, by hulle was.

HY was saam met hulle, maar hulle was nie regtig saam met Hom nie.

Ek is seker Jesus is saam met my, maar die vraag is, is ek altyd regtig saam met Hom?

Hy is hier, maar sien ek Hom? Nie as ek die Skrifte nie verstaan nie. Hy is daar en Hy praat met my maar verstaan ek wat Hy sê? Nie as ek nie die Skrifte begryp nie.

Wanneer ons bid dan praat ons met God, maar wanneer ons die Bybel lees dan praat God met ons, dit is ‘n dubbelbaan gesprek. So, ek wandel met Hom, ek gaan kerk toe en luister na preke maar wanneer ek in verkeers knoop vasval dan wil ek van hierdie mense uit die wegruim—die man met die selfoon teen sy oor en sigaret in die mond, in al hierdie dinge is Jesus met my, maar herken ek Hom? Sal ek die sneller trek as Hy sigbaar langs my sit? Die feit dat Hy nie sigbaar by my sit nie ontken nie die waarheid dat Hy nog steeds werklik by my is nie. Hy hoor wat ek sê, maar hoor ek wat Hy sê? Hy sien my maar sien ek Hom? Hy probeer aan my verduidelik maar luister ek?

Lewe ek en Wandel ek in die Krag van die Opstanding?

Die punt is, Jesus is inderdaad iemand wat dood was, en vir geen oomblik twyfel ek oor die historiese werklikheid van Jesus se kruisiging nie. Ek betwyfel nie vir een oomblik dat Hy in my plek gesterf het en dat hy gekruisig was nie.

Wat ek wel bevraagteken is hoeveel van Jakob Prasch, van my ou self is besig om saam met Hom te sterf? Dat Hy na die kruis gegaan het is ek baie seker van; maar hoe getrou dra ek dit en wandel ek in Sy voetspore soos wat Simon gewandel het? Dit is die hoofsaak.

Jesus het opgestaan maar hulle betwyfel dit. Het hy opgestaan? Ek betwyfel dit glad nie—maar dit is nie die vraag nie, die vraag is lewe ek en wandel ek met Hom in die krag van die opstanding? Dit is my vraag. Dat hy gesterf het en opgestaan het, is ek seker van, maar het ek gesterf en opgestaan? Dit is die probleem. Die Skrifte is daar maar hoe goed verstaan ek dit? Hy is met my, maar sien ek Hom en herken ek Hom? Hoor ek wat Hy sê? Maar let op, Hy maak Hom aan hulle bekend met die breek van die brood, Hy eet saam met hulle.

In die Bybel, die rede waarom ‘n persoon geëet het nadat die Here hom of haar uit die dood opgewek het was omdat dit ‘n bewys was dat daar ’n letterlike opstanding plaasgevind het, geeste eet nie. Toe Jesus die dogter opgewek het Hy gesê hulle moet vir haar iets gee om te eet. (Mr. 5:43) Dieselfde met Lasarus. (Joh. 12:2)

God weet van die Jehovah se getuienisse lank voordat hulle begin bestaan het en dat hulle gaan beweer dat die opstanding nie letterlik en fisies was nie. Geeste eet nie. Jesus het letterlik geëet omdat dit ‘n letterlike opstanding was, maar dit is met die breek van die brood wat Hy Homself gemanifesteer het.

Let op Jesus het gemaak of Hy verder wou gaan. “Dit is hier waar ek julle gaan los- groete, Ek gaan vêrder op hierdie pad.” En hulle sê nee “nee, nee, kom in, bly by ons!” “Ons wil meer hoor!” Verklaar die Skrifte vir ons!” “Verklaar U Woord vir ons!” Vertel ons meer van Jesus!” “Asseblief bly by ons!” Hulle moes Hom innooi.

Die Nodigheid om Hom in te nooi.

Vandag is dit presies dieselfde. As daar ooit ‘n groep Christene was wat vandag nog op die pad na Emmaus loop dan is dit die Christene van Laodicea. En Hy sê: “Ek staan by die deur en klop” (Op. 3:20) Hy sê: “Kyk, julle sien My nie; Julle hoor My nie regtig nie. Julle sien nie julle eie naaktheid vir wat dit is nie; Julle sien nie julle ware geestelike toestand vir wat dit is nie. Julle is verblind deur materialisme en oorvloed. Julle dink dit is ‘n barometer vir ‘n groot seën?”

Dit is seëninge, maar dit is nie die skietlood nie; dit is nie die lakmoes toets nie. Hulle kan net nie sien nie en hulle kan ook nie hoor nie, (Op. 3:17-18) behalwe die wat ore het. (Op. 3:22) Dit is wat Jesus sê...”Kyk, Ek staan by die deur en Ek klop. As iemand my stem hoor en die deur oopmaak, sal Ek ingaan na hom toe en saam met hom maaltyd hou, en hy met My.” (Op. 3:20)

Baie mense soos ek gebruik gewoonlik hierdie vers in die loop van Evangelisasie en dit is goed en aanvaarbaar, maar dit is nie primêr waarvan hier gepraat word in sy eksegetiese konteks nie.

Jesus praat nie hoofsaaklik met ongeredde mense nie alhoewel dit op ‘n manier van toepassing is op hulle; Jesus praat met ons. “Laat My inkom Ek wil saam met julle eet.” “Laat My saam met julle eet.” Eet saam met My en Ek sal saam met jou eet. “Ek sal hierdie dinge aan jou verduidelik.” Jesus wou verder gaan op die pad. Hy maak asof Hy verder wou gaan. Hulle moes Hom vra om in te kom en dit is net toe hulle Hom vra om in te kom dat Hy Homself aan hulle geopenbaar het, en toe verstaan hulle die Skrifte; Toe sien hulle Hom vir wie Hy is; en toe, en net toe, het hulle Sy Woord verstaan vir wat dit is. En toe, en net toe het hulle werklik gesien en waarlik gehoor.

Ja, Hy het opgestaan, maar wandel ons in die krag van daardie opstanding? Ja, Hy het gesterf, maar het ons gesterf? Ja, Sy Woord is die Waarheid, maar drie keer sê Hy vir Sy dissipels dat hulle dwaas is omdat hulle die Woord t nie verstaan het nie. Hulle kon nie sien nie en ook nie hoor nie.

Ons wandel op dieselfde pad met Jesus. Hy is volkome tevrede en volkome vasbeslote om self die pad te loop, maar Hy sal nooit ‘n uitnodiging na ‘n middag maal van die hand wys nie.

God Seën.



JP/ Moriel / 08/2017 / vertaal

Don't bit ethe hand that feeds you - Irish hypocrisy towards Israel

By David Passmore • August 21, 2026
Don't bite the hand that feeds you - Irish hypocrisy towards Israel Rubin Rothler LLB, LLM Amongst European nations, Ireland in recent years has gained the reputation as being the leading anti-Zionist country. The Irish Republic has never been favourably inclined to Israel. It only established an Embassy in Tel Aviv in 1996. In poll after poll the vast majority of the Irish public have indicated hostility towards Zionism and strong support for Palestinian Statehood. The curious aberration to this is that in British Ruled Northern Ireland support is demarcated along sectarian lines. Catholic Republican areas predictably tend to ardently support the Palestinian cause, while Protestant Unionist communities are overwhelmingly pro-Israel. Perhaps some credence can be given to sentiments of traditional Catholic antisemitism hardwired into the Irish psyche as contributing towards this disposition. It was certainly odd that the Irish government promptly sent a delegation to the Nazi German Ambassador in Dublin to convey condolences after news of Hitler's suicide broke at the end of WW2. But more concretely if you were to ask the average Irish protester on a pro-Palestine march the basis of their empathy for the Palestinian cause, they would point to the ostensible parallels between the Irish experience of fighting for independence from British colonial oppression to the plight of Palestinians living under Israeli occupation. Further remonstrations on a diplomatic level concern the actions of the IDF interreacting with Irish Peace Keepers in Southern Lebanon that have caused the deaths of several Irish Peace Keepers over the decades in friendly fire incidents. Ireland has contributed the most peace keepers to this mission per capita and the government has condemned Israel for these deaths that they view as avoidable. This animosity towards Israel is unbalanced. There are reasons to consider that Ireland and Israel have a shared experience of national liberation. Both countries fought the British in the pursuit of independence. Both countries made great efforts to resurrect their ancient languages for modern wide scale use. Both the Irish and Jews form major diaspora communities in New York. Despite all this Ireland ranks as Israel's second largest export market after the US. The preponderance of Israeli exports to Ireland comprises electronic integrated circuits, micro-assemblies, and tech manufacturing components. American multinational colossal tech corporations like Intel are substantially engrossed in this trade through the chain of supply. Ireland and Israel are hubs for design and manufacture of high-tech hardware components for US corporations. So, due to the nature of the most prosperous and competitive sectors of their respective economies, Israel and Ireland are inextricably bound in bilateral trade ties. Resolutions from the Irish government to impose sanctions on West Bank originating produce is merely perfunctory rhetoric. Such actions amount to a drop in the bucket in terms of impact to overall trade. The stark reliance of Ireland on advanced Israeli aviation equipment recently caused a spectacle when Ireland's new government jet struggled to land in heavy fog due to it being ordered without an advanced Israeli made navigation system. This was directly due to a short-sighted government decision not to buy Israeli military technology. There is a marked disparity between the official position of the Irish government designed for domestic public consumption and the economic policies that it actually pursues towards Israel. The government is acutely aware that the US is massively invested in the Irish economy and they don't want to do anything to jeopardise this. Washington demands that their enterprises in Dublin are intertwined with operations in Israel. The Irish government dare not even prevent US military supply flights refuelling at Shannon Airport on their way to Tel Aviv. The Irish government knows that times change and now the gripping social issue is the anti-immigrant/anti-Islam popular street protests. Soon the anti-Israel protests could become a mere side show only really promoted by Sinn Fein given the pressing ramifications of mass migration. So, in the meantime certain politicians will rile against the occupation, purported genocide and pass paltry sanctions against insignificant produce from the West Bank. All the while making hand over fist in money with the Israelis where it really matters in tech.  (Author is an Israeli American lawyer academically qualified in British and in U.S.A. law, and a graduate of the School of Oriental & African Studies, London. He is a Jewish believer in Jesus and is currently based in Israel).

The tide has Changed

By David Passmore • July 31, 2026
The Tide Has Changed Rubin Rothler LLB, LLM The America that Netanyahu touched down on is a changed America. The death of Lindsey Graham represents a changing of the guard. Graham was a staunch Israeli ally who will most probably become an increasingly rare breed in Washington. Sixty percent of Americans now hold a unfavourable view of Israel which politicians are finding difficult to ignore. It was once unthinkable to believe that New York City with such a strong Jewish electoral base and influence on all sectors of economic and cultural life would have a mayor that is so hostile to Israel to such an extent that he is calling for the arrest of its Prime Minister. From all accounts Netanyahu was cordially welcomed at the White House. The official press release stated that the talks were constructive. What is more telling is what was left unsaid particularly concerning the proposed sale of F35's to Israel's new regional adversary -Turkey. Trump is keen to find a swift resolution to the Iran War, while Netanyahu is opposed to a premature departure. When the US and Israel initiated their attacks on Iran over five months ago, Trump and Netanyahu appeared united in the War's goals and purpose. But as the protracted conflict has staggered to topple the Iranian regime fractures have emerged. Much has been said about the imminent political realities both leaders face. The Republicans could take a big hit in the November midterm elections should the war continue and global energy markets be negatively impacted. Netanyahu is anxious to demonstrate a big win to the Israeli public with the upcoming October election. In Israel, the Iran War is not viewed in isolation, but rather as an extension of the response to the colossal disaster of the October 7th massacre. Netanyahu must rehabilitate his reputation as a competent steward of national security having had the greatest loss of civilian life in an attack happening under his watch. Aside from the Iran issue, Trump is being pressured by Erdogan to insist upon Israeli withdrawal from Syrian territory pre-emptively seized by Israel following the toppling of Assad. Trump has also indicated disapproval of the extent of continuing Israeli measures against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, questioning the proportionality employed. Netanyahu is not in an envious position. Throughout his tenure and political career, he lauded his ability to engage successfully with the American public by zealously advocating Israel's position. Yet under his government Israel's reputation has plummeted in the US. Trump may be the last US President to extend such overwhelming bilateral support to Israel. The days of politicians like Lindsey Graham are fast ending. While John Fetteman and Marco Rubio appear to be remaining more solid, even some of the most warmly inclined leading Republican and Democrat voices like Donald Trump and Rahm Emanuel have nuanced their support for Israel. The tide has shifted and will at best level off if not continuing to shift further.  (Author is an Israeli American lawyer academically qualified in British and in U.S.A. law, and a graduate of the School of Oriental & African Studies, London. He is a Jewish believer in Jesus and is currently based in Israel).

The Saudi Nuclear Deal: An attempt to alter the Regional Balance of Power

By David Passmore • July 24, 2026
The Saudi Nuclear Deal: An attempt to alter the Regional Balance of Power Rubin Rothler LLB, LLM The initiative to develop a civilian nuclear program in Saudi Arabia with US assistance isn't new. There were concrete plans discussed towards these ends during the first Trump Administration. The recent announcement to actualize this deal follows the geo-political regional tumult in the wake of the Iran War. Several dimensions of motivation underlie the US decision. An overarching US strategic agenda is to keep the Saudis firmly in the American sphere of influence. Washington knows all too well that the Chinese and Russians are eager to offer their nuclear technical assistance to the Saudis in order to draw them closer to their camp. On a personal note, the nuclear agreement is a significant achievement for Bin Salaman. The Saudis have long had designs to diversify their energy supplies. Having a civilian nuclear program also adds prestige to Saudi Arabia as an emerging market economy. For the US, a monopoly on contracting companies for the requisite construction offers lucrative economic opportunities. Although the Civilian Nuclear deal does not allow the enrichment of Uranium, the Saudis will be in a position to do so if Washington gives the green light. This will act as a counterbalanced threat hanging over the Iranians. After the recent flare up of renewed fighting with Iran due to their lack of adherence to the moratorium of understanding, something had to budge in Trump's estimation. A reconfiguration of the power balance in the Gulf by introducing the potential of Saudi Arabia to be able to acquire nuclear weapons shifts the dynamic and places further pressure on Iran to strictly abstain from nuclear proliferation. Despite Israeli concerns about the agreement, Trump sought to assuage their alarm by making it contingent upon Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with them. Given the inherently unstable nature of an autocratic Saudi regime Israel views a diplomatic relationship with the Saudis as being on precarious footing in the long term. Israel is already forced to contend with the implications of one nuclear armed Muslim state - Pakistan and it will further weaken its own deterrent capability if another similarly capable hostile neighbour were to emerge in the future. The roles of Turkey and Qatar in all this foray are a wild card. Officially Turkey is served under the NATO nuclear umbrella for defence that is subject to US control. However, its civilian nuclear program remains in its infancy. Now with the Saudi deal, Erdogan may be inclined to exert pressure on the US to help accelerate his own nuclear program. Just as Erdogan's efforts to acquire F35 fighter jets from the US greatly disturbed Israeli military planners, a heightened Turkish nuclear ability will intensify this fear. Qatar views itself as pursuing its own independent foreign policy that has managed to remain rather neutral during the current war, thereby escaping the ire of Iran's strikes on US regional assets. Overall, the Qatari government has grown closer to the Turkish vision for the region and so likely isn't particularly amiable to the Saudi agreement. Ultimately the Saudi deal is a gamble. Many will see it as throwing more fuel on the fire which will further imperil the tinder box region and heighten tensions. But Trump finds himself at a continuing impasse with a stubborn regime in Tehran that is leveraging their geographic hold on the straits of Hormuz to inflict damage on the global energy markets. Iranian strikes upon US Arab regional allies have underscored the de facto alliance between Israel and the Arabs against Iran and its Shia proxies. The US hopes to use the Saudi nuclear deal as a means of making this alliance official by having Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords as a pre-condition.  (Author is an Israeli American lawyer academically qualified in British and in U.S.A. law, and a graduate of the School of Oriental & African Studies, London. He is a Jewish believer in Jesus and is currently based in Israel).

Circling the Wagons

By David Passmore • July 14, 2026
Circling the wagons Ruben Rothler LLB, LLM Israel is a society riddled with tension and division. It is sociologically, if not politically miraculous that a country drawing Jews from all over the world is able to exist at all. The army affords a degree of integration as a melting pot. But this is only a marginal source of national unity in the overall scheme of things. More so are the myriads of external threats that face this small country. In the former generation the Ashkenazi (Jews of European descent) - Sephardic (Jews of Oriental descent) divide was far more pronounced. The dominant Ashkenazi establishment held the reins of political and economic power which was resented by the Sephardim. However, due to a combination of inter-marriage and political accommodation much of the chasm that separated these distinct groups was forged. Menachem Begin (an Ashkenazi politician) in 1970 successfully ran on the Likud Party ticket with a campaign that brought Sephardic Jews under his conservative political umbrella. Later the immigration of Russian Jews following the end of Communism would add a whole new dimension to the Israeli demographic milieu. The younger generation of these immigrants tended to adapt well to Israeli society and contributed much to the economy. The wider division in Israeli society that crosses ethnic lines concerns that between religious and secular Jews. This can be further bifurcated to the clash between the secular and specifically ultra-orthodox Jews (Haredim) as distinguished from the national religious Jews (Dati Leumi). The Secular and the Religious generally part on what they envisage a Jewish State to entail. Religious Jews desire the State to strictly adhere to the stipulations of Jewish Law (Halacha), while at present Halakhic influence is largely limited to certain areas of Family Law concerning Jewish citizens. Wider considerations of promoting a socially conservative political agenda would also be forefront amongst the religious mindset broadly. Secular Jews view the imposition of such proposed measures as a serious infringement of their civil rights. With regard to the Haredim, the bone of contention looms larger, in that this group is fundamentally opposed to participating in society at large. This is acutely manifested in diminished contribution to the work force and a refusal to be conscripted into the army. The 2023 judicial reform protests posed a significant threat to social civil order. The nation appeared to be bitterly divided into two opposing camps. This split reflected broader divisions concerning visions of how the country should be governed. The judicial reforms would have weakened the Supreme Court's ability to render the Executive branch accountable. However, the Supreme Court was also accused of using its considerable powers to promote a socially liberal agenda. Left wing secular Israelis tended to oppose the proposed reforms while those on the right (which included the majority of Religious Jews) supported the reforms. Every weekend droves of protesters were brought onto the streets causing major disturbances to traffic. The polarising nature of this impasse threatened the future of Israeli democracy. It was the October 7th attack that brought a swift end to this public debate and civil strife. The nation instinctually united in response to this common existential threat. The judicial reforms were shelved for a future point when the urgent security threats subsided. However, as the war dragged on the enduring issue of Haredi refusal to conscript into the army became more pronounced. Mounting casualties combined with ever increasing manpower demands to field troops on the multiple theatres of action on which the IDF is engaged has depleted the ranks, and the army is now in much need of fresh conscripts. Haredi belligerent refusal to participate in the pressing national defence has escalated from being a political debate to a matter of very practical vital importance. Overall we can observe that the challenges to national unity in successive generations since the establishment of Israel has recurrently been ameliorated by the common necessity of defence towards outside threats. Most recently we can see this happening with regard to the global anti Semitism and anti-Zionism that has been raging since the October 7th atrocities. These hostile attitudes have paradoxically acted as a force which promotes nationalism and a sense of national cohesion in Israel that otherwise might not functionally exist.  (Author is an Israeli American lawyer academically qualified in British and in U.S.A. law, and a graduate of the School of Oriental & African Studies, London. He is a Jewish believer in Jesus and is currently based in Israel).

A Divided Nation

By David Passmore • July 8, 2026
A Divided Nation Rubin Rothler LLB, LLM The Haredi community has had a complicated, paradoxical relationship with the State since its founding. Rooted in a Talmudic precept that the Jews are forbidden to resettle the land of Israel en masse by force before the coming of the Messiah, the secular democratic State of Israel presents itself as blasphemous by its mere existence. Yet due to practical considerations such as the need to obtain funding for its religious academies the Haredi leadership reached a settlement with the State's founders that exempted Haredi men from being conscripted for military service. This was at a time when the Haredi population in Israel was relatively small. Over the past decades this demographic ballooned until the point that soon the majority of Jewish children in Israel will be born into Haredi families. Such a situation is clearly unsustainable. Recently the Knesset's (Parliament's) Haredi parties have pressured their coalition partners in government to codify Torah Study as part of the Country's Basic Laws. This was purposefully done to elevate the status of their institutions to be on parity with service in the IDF. Israel is yet to promulgate a written Constitution, so legislation classed as a Basic Law holds Constitutional status for all intents and purposes. These moves by the religious parties represent a back door power grab to enshrine in law very significant hurdles to prevent the enlistment of Haredi men. The burden of Israel's defence is comparatively massive for a country its size and it is vastly disproportionately shouldered by the secular population. Until now there have been political initiatives to conscript the Haredim. But given the huge manpower shortages emerging in the wake of near continual conflict on multiple fronts since the events of October 7th this matter has become urgent and not merely a theoretical discussion of what is fair and equitable. It is important to draw a distinction between the Haredim and national religious Jews (Dati Leumi). The Haredim adhere to a lifestyle entirely committed to observance of Jewish Law and Talmudic study. This is embraced to the exclusion of gainful employment and participation in wider society. They are either outrightly opposed to Zionism or consider themselves non-Zionist. Conversely, followers of the national religious movement in Israel although being observant of Jewish law and learning would alongside this pursue secular professions. Furthermore, they are ardently Zionist and disproportionately serve in IDF combat units. This is often done within the framework of a program called Hesder Yeshiva that combines religious learning with military service. Efforts to cater a similar model for accommodating Haredi participation in the IDF have so far failed to make substantial gains. Such measures designed to override Haredi objections to service based upon modesty concerns by strict segregation of the sexes in these specially formed units have failed to appease the Haredi leadership. For them, any form of military service is considered a dereliction of their duty to fully devote themselves to a Torah lifestyle. They argue that their Talmudic learning and prayers are in itself a form of national service and act to protect the Jewish people spiritually from enemy attack. It is as if two parallel societies exist within Israel. And the trajectory of separation between the two is only growing. The Haredim are cloistered away in their Yeshivas, immersed in lives devoted to adhering to the stipulations of Jewish law. While the particulars of actually running the State is left to the Secular. The Haredim desire all the benefits of subsidizing their lifestyle without contributing to society. What we really have going on here at source is two profoundly different and opposing ideological visions of what is important in life and what is the purpose of a Jewish State. At the State's founding these divergent perspectives were more manageable. Ben Gurion only had to contend with one religious party –the National Religious Party. Later in 1970 Begin aligned with the NRP to form a coalition government that also brought Sephardic Jews under the Likud umbrella which had the effect of bringing unity to the country by bridging the Ashkenazi-Sephardi divide. However, over time Israeli politics has seen a proliferation of religious parties, gaining further leverage as king brokers in forming governments due to the proportionate representation voting system which secular Israelis not uncommonly view as political blackmail. (Author is an Israeli American lawyer academically qualified in British and in U.S.A. law, and a graduate of the School of Oriental & African Studies, London. He is a Jewish believer in Jesus and is currently based in Israel).

Why Is It Always Israel? | Zechariah 12 Is Happening Before Our Eyes

By David Passmore • June 29, 2026
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Pray for South Africa!

By Mea Fredrickson • June 23, 2026
New Paragraph

Disclosure - A Christian response

By David Passmore • June 22, 2026
THE CAPTION AT THE HEAD OF THE POSTER IMAGE FOR THE MOVIE ‘DISCLOSURE DAY’ BOLDLY DECLARES ‘WE DESERVE TO KNOW’ Indeed, we do need to know the truth. But will we find it in Stephen Spielberg’s new movie ‘Disclosure Day’? Could it just as well be entitled ‘DECEPTION DAY’? In an interview with USA Today Spielberg says that evidence of non-human contact has become “overwhelming” to him. He has suggested that his film could raise significant theological questions for Christians. But will it? For us Christians - No, not on our watch! The movie raises no questions for those who accept the proven accuracy of God’s Word, the Bible. The film, which is capturing the imagination of the public, only confirms exactly what scripture tells us about what are in fact extra-dimensional beings. ALIENS OR FALLEN ANGELS? God inhabits the heavenly realm along with a vast array of angels. Because Lucifer, a created angel, wanted to usurp God as ruler of the universe, he was expelled to another realm outside of our time and space, along with one third of the angels who rebelled with him. These fallen angels manifest themselves as demons who can appear on earth and disappear at will. Spiritual hosts of wickedness exist in heavenly places, wherever this realm is, it is not the place where God dwells. ARE ALIENS BENEVOLENT? In the movie, the ‘aliens’ are portrayed as friendly beings who want to help mankind in a time of crisis. If the aliens are really demons, not visitors from outer space, this is a dangerous delusion. Whitley Striber in his book ‘Communion’ writes on encountering ‘aliens’; ‘I felt an indescribable sense of menace. Whatever was there seemed so monstrously ugly, so filthy, so dark and sinister. Of course they were demons. They have to be.’ Many others have reported similar malevolent experiences. During the movie, Daniel claims to have had an encounter with extra-terrestrials during which he received a special gift of empathy, which is regarded by him as the ultimate superpower. However, there is only One who completely understands our human frailty. We read this concerning Jesus: ‘For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet he did not sin.’ (Hebrews 4 v 15). Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11 v 28) END TIMES DECEPTION Before he was crucified, Jesus warned his disciples about these last days in which we are living. The first words he used in this context were: “Watch no one deceives you. For many will come in my name saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” Deception was top of the list! Later, the Apostle Paul wrote about these days: ‘The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.’ (2 Thessalonians 2 v 9) Have you received the love of the truth? Have you received Jesus who is the way, the truth and the life? If not, you are in great danger. Perilous times are here and they are only going to get worse as man turns more and more away from his maker. Things will only change when Jesus returns soon to establish his own Kingdom on earth, where justice and peace will rule. JESUS, OUR ONLY HOPE! The Bible says all human beings are sinners. The message of Jesus is simple; repent and believe the good news, that God wants humanity, his highest creation, to be reestablished in relationship with him. His plan was simple: to give his life in unconditional love for every human being that has and ever will live, by shedding his blood on a Roman cross. In doing this, we can receive forgiveness of sins. Our old life will then be buried with him, giving us new life with the hope of an eternal future of true peace, love and joy, with freedom from pain and tears. Why ignore such a great gift of salvation? If you do, your fate will be sealed for eternity in hell, which is a real place without God, and thus without love, to face only eternal consequences of punishment. We condemn ourselves to such a fate. REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE! Jesus loves you and asks that you repent and believe in him. It would be the best and safest decision of your life! If you commit your life to him, he will give you a new heart, you will be a new person inside. You will also gain a new desire for all that is right and true. And his Holy Spirit will give you an ability to discern the lies of the age we are living in. ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave us his only son, that whosoever believes in him, will not perish, but have eternal life.’ (John 3:16) FINALLY, A RECOMMENDATION  All that is described in this leaflet has been open, in the light for millennia. On the other hand, the theory of extra-terrestrial life has been hidden in darkness, awaiting ‘Disclosure Day’. Which would you prefer to believe, the Word of God, or the word of Stephen Spielberg? I made my choice years ago, and have never regretted it! If this message has spoken to you, just call upon Jesus in a short prayer. Confess to him that you are a sinner in need of salvation. Ask him in sincerity to forgive you and to fill you with his Holy Spirit. You will then become what the Bible describes as being ‘born again’. (John 3 v 7) Then you need to seek a Bible believing church where you can be baptised and become part of a group of believers who can help you get to know Jesus more and more fully. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8 v 32)

Prayer request for Teerth Sond

By David Passmore • June 20, 2026
Prayer request for Teerth Sond Petitioned Prayer-Supplication/Personal Prayer/ Collective Prayer/Thanks Giving Prayer Our Dear brethren in Yeshua, my family & myself Teerth request your prayers in The Spirit that the latest drugs Ramicirumab & Pacilitaxel will destroy the cancer cell in the Authority Of The Lord Yeshua in The Power of The Holy Spirit. Targeted Petition: Please stand with us in prayer & fasting; The Lord will target the 2cm legion & that it will be cast out of my Liver in the love (agape), compassion, kindness, grace, mercy of God. I do not deserve it because of me- but By His Stripes we are healed for His Glory. This will allow the main operation to go ahead (which should have been done 18 months ago). Step by Step in the leading of The Holy Spirit and the in the Lord Step by Step, as our beautiful sister Beryl said, has worked on my Spiritual man- thank you Lord for waking me up. Lord raise me up for your glory forever because of your love to me, the family & fellowship- an unworthy sinner saved by your grace & love. Email sent to my Oncologist & my Local MP: Greetings Natasha & Dr Mano Joseph Hope All Is Well Thank you for our meeting today. At our meeting we discussed my MRI & CT scans which were done in May 2026. We discussed the operation on my oesophagus which I believe is the best option. (This should have been done 18 months ago). My Kidney operation will be done- non evasive- Lord willing within the next month. Will you be talking to Mr Chacravaty about this? The liver must be targeted first- this is wisdom and the latest radiotherapy treatments available- proton therapy-radiotherapy atezolizumab and bevacizumab sorafenib lenvatinib regorafenib cabozantinib durvalumab and tremelimumab At the meeting we discussed the next CT & MRI scans to be held end off July. Wouldn't it be to better to have them in August so by then I've had 4 full treatments on the latest medication. Also we have Zolbetuximab on compassionate usage- all glory to The Lord. After all the past wrongs I have no doubt now Dr Joseph you will pursue the best for me and family. Dear brethren- King Manasseh, David, Hannah, The Church For Peter, James, The Lord Jesus Christ for example made petitions onto the Lord. We pray as one body to cast off the illness in the Power of The Holy & The Authority Of Yeshua. The Great Physician who came for the ill. To lay out raised hands 🙌🏽 upon the head of our Lord. ABBA/Daddy/Lord in your mercy have mercy on us. Love you all in Yeshua our Lord & God. Teerth, Family & Fellowship

The End of an Extended Honeymoon – Are Trump and Netanyahu Parting Ways?

By David Passmore • June 19, 2026
The End of an Extended Honeymoon – Are Trump and Netanyahu Parting Ways? Rubin Rothler LLB, LLM  The Israeli public had high hopes for Trump. Unlike his predecessors, he consistently endorsed Israeli measures of self-defence in the different theatres of conflict in which it had to contend. Further to these ends Trump shared in Netanyahu’s determined agenda of preventing the Iranians from pursuing the proliferation of nuclear weapons. During Trump's first term he tore up Obama's negotiated settlement with the Iranians concerning enriched Uranium, echoing Netanyahu’s position that it didn't go far enough. Now in his second term Trump partnered with Israel in a war with Iran that turned out to lack clearly defined goals. The campaign required resolve on the part of America that it wasn't willing to commit. After an initial lightning blitzkrieg that decapitated the Iranian leadership, the Persians dug in and the conflict became a protracted war of attrition hinging on Iran's stranglehold on the straits of Hormuz that could only be realistically lifted by placing boots on the ground or an intensified air war directed against Iranian coastal positions and the destruction of Kharg island, or at least the viable threat to obliterate Kharg island if Iran did not acquiesce. It transpired that Trump and Netanyahu underestimated the resilience of the Iranian regime, thinking that it had already received a near mortal blow during the prior popular demonstrations. So now we are left with a situation where Trump is exasperated with this protracted endeavour and appears to be aiming his frustration towards Netenyahu. A sticking point is Israel's continued occupation of Southern Lebanon. Iran is insistent that Israel withdraw its forces from there as a precursor to fully committing itself to a final status agreement with the U.S. to put an end to its nuclear aspirations. With the midterm elections looming Trump seems to be desperate for an exit strategy from this war. From Israel's perspective the fight against Hizbollah is an inextricable part of the Iranian equation. The IDF has invested massive resources and personnel in the hopes of quashing the Iranian proxy once and for all. Netanyahu is determined to build on the momentum achieved after the spectacular pager attack in 2024. After the catastrophic Hamas massacres of October 7th, the majority of the Israeli public is unwilling to tolerate a capable hostile force on its borders. Trump's proposed solution to this dilemma unrealistically suggests that Syria should take on the role of disarming and removing Hizbollah from Lebanon. In the ultimate reckoning of international relations, America doesn't have iron clad allies, but rather interests like any other nation. If, (as appears to be occurring now) U.S. and Israeli interests fail to align the two countries will cease to act in unison and there may be a rupture in relations on the not-too-distant horizon. Trump has indicated that Israel owes him big time. He has asserted that were it not for his decisive actions they would have been obliterated by Iran's missiles. This is nothing to say of the robust diplomatic support Trump has lent Israel in such forums as the United Nations Security Council and sanctioning officials of the International Criminal Court. Netanyahu is acutely aware of what may be next after Trump. The way public opinion is turning against Israel it is unlikely that the next administration is going to be any way near as friendly as Trump has been thus far to Israel. Trump too of course is mindful of this turning tide opposing Israel. The Iran war has been unpopular to his domestic audience, and the President has been caricatured as Netanyahu’s stooge doing Israel's bidding. Another major consideration for Trump is the colossal impact that the war has had on his other major regional allies: the Gulf States and Saudi Arabia. They have received the brunt of the Iranian backlash that has effectively targeted their energy infrastructure and trading routes. They, along with the Europeans have been exerting pressure on Trump to end the conflict and reopen the Straits of Hormuz regardless of whether the most favourable terms of Iranian capitulation are achieved. Israel, however important a strategic asset and technological powerhouse will not override these broader concerns that are endangering global energy markets. An unspoken factor is Trump's propensity for a belligerent severing of his relationship with allies in the political sphere. His public displays of hostility with former political allies such Senator Ted Cruz, Governor Ron Santos and Elon Musk demonstrate a temperament that the same kind of falling out could invoke with strategic allies as well as those political. Both Trump and Netanyahu are approaching the sunset of their political careers and are naturally inclined to deeply consider the legacies they will leave behind. In the international sphere Trump projected himself as a peacemaker from a position of strength. But as many commentators have pointed out, the war with Iran demonstrated the limits of U.S. power. Trump appraised Iran as low hanging fruit that could be swiftly toppled like Venezuela. However, when push came to shove and the only prospect of landing a decisive blow demanded a massive ground offensive on the scale of the Iraq war, he bottled out and sued for a premature peace that will leave Netanyahu in the cold. Netanyahu is anxious to rehabilitate the injury inflicted on his reputation of the greatest disaster to have occurred in Israel's history having happened on his watch. Eliminating Iran as the great regional adversary pulling the strings of its proxies would have done much in this regard. Neither leader is able to craft their legacies as they would have wanted. Trump is choosing the perceived option of mitigating the damage done to his legacy in foreign affairs. He is trying hard to sell his Iran deal as being more than what Obama bargained in terms of guaranteeing a nuclear free Iran. But as further details of his proposal are leaked this is becoming a tall order. Netanyahu is faced with October elections and he may decide to stay the course in Lebanon as otherwise he will seem weak to most voters. Should this happen, we will be in uncharted waters as it will thwart Trump's designs for an immediate end to this affair.