وجبـــــــة روحيـــــ(†)ــــــــــة يوميـــــــــة

[Mary Naeem]

المعمودية: (متى 3: 13-17؛ مرقس 1: 9-11؛ لوقا 3: 21-23)


تعتبر معمودية المسيح بواسطة يوحنا المعمدان في نهر الأردن أول أعمال خدمته العلنية. كانت معمودية يوحنا للتوبة، ورغم أن المسيح لم يكن بحاجة لمثل هذه المعمودية، إلا أنه رضى بها لكي يتضامن مع الخطاة.
في الواقع، عندما رفض يوحنا رغبة المسيح أن يتعمد بواسطته، وقال أنه هو، يوحنا، بحاجة أن يعمده المسيح، أصرَّ يسوع أن يتعمد. وقال: "هَكَذَا يَلِيقُ بِنَا أَنْ نُكَمِّلَ كُلَّ بِرٍّ"، فعمل يوحنا ما طلب منه (متى 3: 13-15). تضامن المسيح، بمعموديته، مع الخطاة الذين كان مزمعاً أن يحمل خطاياهم على الصليب حيث يستبدل بره بخطاياهم (كورنثوس الثانية 5: 21). كانت معمودية المسيح رمزاً لموته وقيامته، وكانت صورة نبوية للمعمودية المسيحية وسبب أهميتها، كما أنها أعلنت تضامن المسيح مع الذين سوف يموت من أجلهم.
بالإضافة إلى ذلك، تأكدت هويته، كالمسيا المنتظر، بواسطة الله نفسه الذي تكلم من السماء قائلاً: "هَذَا هُوَ ابْنِي الْحَبِيبُ الَّذِي بِهِ سُرِرْتُ" (متى 3: 17). أخيراً، كانت معمودية المسيح هي مشهد أول ظهور للثالوث أمام الإنسان. فالإبن تعمد، والآب تكلم، والروح القدس نزل في شكل حمامة. وقد مثَّل أمر الآب، وطاعة الإبن، وتقوية الروح القدس صورة جميلة لخدمة وحياة المسيح.

[Mary Naeem]

المعجزة الأولى في (يوحنا 2: 1-11)


من المناسب أن يكون إنجيل يوحنا هو الوحيد الذي يسجل أول معجزات المسيح. فهدف وشعار رواية يوحنا عن حياة المسيح هو إعلان ألوهية المسيح.
ويبين قيام المسيح بتحويل الماء إلى خمر سلطانه الإلهي على العناصر الأرضية، نفس السلطان الذي يعلن مراراً في العديد من معجزات الشفاء الأخرى، والسيادة على العناصر الطبيعية مثل الريح والبحر.
ويخبرنا يوحنا أن هذه المعجزة كان لها نتيجتين – تم إظهار مجد المسيح، وآمن التلاميذ به (يوحنا 2: 11). كانت طبيعة المسيح الإلهية الممجدة غير ظاهرة عندما أخذ صورة إنسان، ولكن في أحداث معينة، مثل هذه المعجزة، ظهرت طبيعته الحقيقية أمام كل من له عينان لكي يبصر (متى 13: 16).
لقد آمن التلاميذ بالمسيح، ولكن المعجزات ساهمت في تقوية إيمانهم وإعدادهم للأوقات الصعبة التي كانت تنتظرهم.

[Mary Naeem]

الموعظة على الجبل: (متى 5: 1-7: 29)


ربما تكون أشهر عظة في التاريخ هي التي قدمها المسيح لتلاميذه في بداية خدمته العلنية. وتؤخذ الكثير من الأقوال والعبارات التي نتداولها اليوم من تلك الموعظة مثل "طُوبَى لِلْوُدَعَاءِ لأَنَّهُمْ يَرِثُونَ الأَرْضَ"، "مِلْحُ الأَرْضِ"، "عَيْنٌ بِعَيْنٍ"، "زَنَابِقَ الْحَقْلِ"، "اسْأَلُوا تُعْطَوْا"، "ذِئَابٌ خَاطِفَةٌ بِثِيَابِ الْحُمْلاَنِ"، بالإضافة إلى مفهوم "سير الميل الثاني"، و"إدارة الخد الآخر"، و "عدم معرفة شمالك ما تفعله يمينك". وتتضمن الموعظة الصلاة الربانية أيضاً.
ولكن الأهم هو أن الموعظة على الجبل وجهت ضربة قاسية للفريسيين وتدينهم وبرهم القائم على الأعمال.
لم يترك المسيح مجالاً للشك بأن الناموسية الحرفية ليست مفيدة للخلاص، وأن متطلبات الناموس هي في الواقع مستحيلة بالنسبة للبشر، عند تفسيره روح الناموس وليس فقط حرف الناموس.
وأنهى الموعظة بالدعوة إلى الإيمان الحقيقي للخلاص والتحذير بأن طريق الخلاص ضيق وقليلون هم الذين يجدونه.
يشبِّه المسيح من يسمعون كلماته ويفعلونها بالبنائين الحكماء الذين يبنون بيوتهم على أساس متين؛ فعندما تأتي العواصف تظل بيوتهم راسخة.

[Mary Naeem]

الأحداث الرئيسية في حياة المسيح مع الشواهد الكتابية لكل منها (جزء 1)


الميلاد: (متى 1-2؛ لوقا 2) – نجد في هذه المقاطع كل عناصر قصة الميلاد المعروفة، والتي هي بداية حياة المسيح على الأرض: مريم ويوسف، لا مكان في الخان، الطفل في المذود، الرعاة وقطعانهم، جمهور الملائكة يترنمون. كذلك نجد حكماء المشرق يتبعون النجم إلى بيت لحم حاملين هدايا للطفل يسوع، وهروب يوسف ومريم ويسوع إلى مصر ثم عودتهم إلى الناصرة. تتضمن هذه المقاطع أيضاً إحضار يسوع إلى الهيكل عندما كان عمره ثمانية أيام، ثم عندما كان في الثانية عشر من عمره وبقاؤه في الهيكل يتحدث إلى المعلمين هناك. إن قصة ميلاد الفادي منذ ألفي سنة هي قصة عجيبة، تمتليء بالتفاصيل الدقيقة ذات المغزى والتي تعني الكثير لمن عاصروها وأيضاً للمؤمنين بعد ألفي سنة. ولكن قصة الله الذي جاء إلى الأرض كإنسان بدأت قبل ذلك بآلاف السنين مع النبوات المتعلقة بالمسيا الآتي. فقد تكلم الله عن مخلص في تكوين 3: 15. وبعد ذلك بقرون، تنبأ إشعياء عن عذراء تحبل وتلد إبناً وتدعو إسمه عمانوئيل، الذي تفسيره "الله معنا" (إشعياء 7: 14). إن أول الأحداث الرئيسية في حياة المسيح هو البداية المتواضعة في مذود، عندما جاء الله ليكون معنا، وولد لكي يحرر شعبه ويخلصنا من خطايانا.

المعمودية: (متى 3: 13-17؛ مرقس 1: 9-11؛ لوقا 3: 21-23) – تعتبر معمودية المسيح بواسطة يوحنا المعمدان في نهر الأردن أول أعمال خدمته العلنية. كانت معمودية يوحنا للتوبة، ورغم أن المسيح لم يكن بحاجة لمثل هذه المعمودية، إلا أنه رضى بها لكي يتضامن مع الخطاة. في الواقع، عندما رفض يوحنا رغبة المسيح أن يتعمد بواسطته، وقال أنه هو، يوحنا، بحاجة أن يعمده المسيح، أصرَّ يسوع أن يتعمد. وقال: "هَكَذَا يَلِيقُ بِنَا أَنْ نُكَمِّلَ كُلَّ بِرٍّ"، فعمل يوحنا ما طلب منه (متى 3: 13-15). تضامن المسيح، بمعموديته، مع الخطاة الذين كان مزمعاً أن يحمل خطاياهم على الصليب حيث يستبدل بره بخطاياهم (كورنثوس الثانية 5: 21). كانت معمودية المسيح رمزاً لموته وقيامته، وكانت صورة نبوية للمعمودية المسيحية وسبب أهميتها، كما أنها أعلنت تضامن المسيح مع الذين سوف يموت من أجلهم. بالإضافة إلى ذلك، تأكدت هويته، كالمسيا المنتظر، بواسطة الله نفسه الذي تكلم من السماء قائلاً: "هَذَا هُوَ ابْنِي الْحَبِيبُ الَّذِي بِهِ سُرِرْتُ" (متى 3: 17). أخيراً، كانت معمودية المسيح هي مشهد أول ظهور للثالوث أمام الإنسان. فالإبن تعمد، والآب تكلم، والروح القدس نزل في شكل حمامة. وقد مثَّل أمر الآب، وطاعة الإبن، وتقوية الروح القدس صورة جميلة لخدمة وحياة المسيح.

المعجزة الأولى: (يوحنا 2: 1-11) — من المناسب أن يكون إنجيل يوحنا هو الوحيد الذي يسجل أول معجزات المسيح. فهدف وشعار رواية يوحنا عن حياة المسيح هو إعلان ألوهية المسيح. ويبين قيام المسيح بتحويل الماء إلى خمر سلطانه الإلهي على العناصر الأرضية، نفس السلطان الذي يعلن مراراً في العديد من معجزات الشفاء الأخرى، والسيادة على العناصر الطبيعية مثل الريح والبحر. ويخبرنا يوحنا أن هذه المعجزة كان لها نتيجتين – تم إظهار مجد المسيح، وآمن التلاميذ به (يوحنا 2: 11). كانت طبيعة المسيح الإلهية الممجدة غير ظاهرة عندما أخذ صورة إنسان، ولكن في أحداث معينة، مثل هذه المعجزة، ظهرت طبيعته الحقيقية أمام كل من له عينان لكي يبصر (متى 13: 16). لقد آمن التلاميذ بالمسيح، ولكن المعجزات ساهمت في تقوية إيمانهم وإعدادهم للأوقات الصعبة التي كانت تنتظرهم.

الموعظة على الجبل: (متى 5: 1-7: 29) – ربما تكون أشهر عظة في التاريخ هي التي قدمها المسيح لتلاميذه في بداية خدمته العلنية. وتؤخذ الكثير من الأقوال والعبارات التي نتداولها اليوم من تلك الموعظة مثل "طُوبَى لِلْوُدَعَاءِ لأَنَّهُمْ يَرِثُونَ الأَرْضَ"، "مِلْحُ الأَرْضِ"، "عَيْنٌ بِعَيْنٍ"، "زَنَابِقَ الْحَقْلِ"، "اسْأَلُوا تُعْطَوْا"، "ذِئَابٌ خَاطِفَةٌ بِثِيَابِ الْحُمْلاَنِ"، بالإضافة إلى مفهوم "سير الميل الثاني"، و"إدارة الخد الآخر"، و "عدم معرفة شمالك ما تفعله يمينك". وتتضمن الموعظة الصلاة الربانية أيضاً. ولكن الأهم هو أن الموعظة على الجبل وجهت ضربة قاسية للفريسيين وتدينهم وبرهم القائم على الأعمال. لم يترك المسيح مجالاً للشك بأن الناموسية الحرفية ليست مفيدة للخلاص، وأن متطلبات الناموس هي في الواقع مستحيلة بالنسبة للبشر، عند تفسيره روح الناموس وليس فقط حرف الناموس. وأنهى الموعظة بالدعوة إلى الإيمان الحقيقي للخلاص والتحذير بأن طريق الخلاص ضيق وقليلون هم الذين يجدونه. يشبِّه المسيح من يسمعون كلماته ويفعلونها بالبنائين الحكماء الذين يبنون بيوتهم على أساس متين؛ فعندما تأتي العواصف تظل بيوتهم راسخة.




What were the key events in the life of Jesus Christ?



The following are the key events in the life of Christ and the Bible books where each is described (Part 1):

Birth: (Matthew 1—2; Luke 2) – Within these passages are all the elements of the well-known Christmas story, the beginning of the earthly life of Christ. Mary and Joseph, no room at the inn, the babe in the manger, the shepherds with their flocks, a multitude of angels rejoicing. We also see wise men from the East following the star to Bethlehem and bearing gifts for the Christ child, and Joseph, Mary, and Jesus escaping to Egypt and later returning to Nazareth. These passages also include Jesus being presented at the temple at eight days old and, at twelve years old, remaining behind at the temple speaking with the teachers there. The story of the birth of the Savior two thousand years ago is amazing, filled with exquisite and meaningful details treasured by those present as well as believers millennia after. But the story of God coming to earth as a man began thousands of years earlier with the prophecies of the coming Messiah. God spoke of a Savior in Genesis 3:15. Centuries later, Isaiah foretold of a virgin who would conceive and bear a son and call His name Emmanuel, which means “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14). The first of the key events in the life of Christ is the humble beginning in a stable, when God came to be with us, born to set His people free and to save us from our sins.

Baptism: (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-23) – Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist at the Jordan River is the first act of His public ministry. John’s was a baptism of repentance, and although Jesus did not need such a baptism, He consented to it in order to identify Himself with sinners. In fact, when John balked that Jesus wanted to be baptized by him, saying that it was he, John, who should be baptized by Jesus, Jesus insisted. Jesus said, "It is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness," so John did as requested (Matthew 3:13-15). In His baptism, Jesus identified with the sinners whose sins He would soon bear on the cross where He would exchange His righteousness for their sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). The baptism of Christ symbolized His death and resurrection, prefigured and lent importance to Christian baptism, and publicly identified Christ with those for whom He would die. In addition, His identity as the long-awaited Messiah was confirmed by God Himself who spoke from heaven: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Finally, Jesus’ baptism was the scene of the very first appearance of the Trinity to man. The Son was baptized, the Father spoke, and the Holy Spirit descended like a dove. The Father’s command, the Son’s obedience, and the Holy Spirit’s empowerment present a beautiful picture of the ministry and life of Christ.

First miracle: (John 2:1-11) – It is fitting that John’s Gospel is the only one that records Jesus’ first miracle. John’s account of the life of Christ has as its theme and purpose to reveal the deity of Christ. This event, where Jesus turns water into wine, shows His divine power over the elements of the earth, the same power that would be revealed again in many more miracles of healing and the control of the elements such as wind and the sea. John goes on to tell us that this first miracle had two outcomes—the glory of Christ was manifest and the disciples believed in Him (John 2:11). The divine, glorified nature of Christ was hidden when He assumed human form, but in instances such as this miracle, His true nature burst forth and was made manifest to all who had eyes to see (Matthew 13:16). The disciples always believed in Jesus, but the miracles helped to strengthen their faith and prepare them for the difficult times that lay ahead of them.

Sermon on the Mount: (Matthew 5:1-7:29) – Perhaps the most famous sermon of all time was preached by Jesus to His disciples early in His public ministry. Many memorable phrases that we know today came from this sermon, including “blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth,” “salt of the earth,” “an eye for an eye,” “the lilies of the field,” “ask and you will receive,” and “wolves in sheep’s clothing,” as well as the concepts of going the extra mile, turning the other cheek, and the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. Also in the sermon is the Lord’s Prayer. Most importantly, though, the Sermon on the Mount dealt a devastating blow to the Pharisees and their religion of works-righteousness. By expounding the spirit of the Law and not just the letter of it, Jesus left no doubt that legalism is of no avail for salvation and that, in fact, the demands of the Law are humanly impossible to meet. He ends the sermon with a call to true faith for salvation and a warning that the way to that salvation is narrow and few find it. Jesus compares those who hear His words and put them into practice to wise builders who build their houses on a solid foundation; when storms come, their houses withstand.

[Mary Naeem]

What were the key events in the life of Jesus Christ?



The following are the key events in the life of Christ and the Bible books where each is described (Part 1):

Birth: (Matthew 1—2; Luke 2) – Within these passages are all the elements of the well-known Christmas story, the beginning of the earthly life of Christ. Mary and Joseph, no room at the inn, the babe in the manger, the shepherds with their flocks, a multitude of angels rejoicing. We also see wise men from the East following the star to Bethlehem and bearing gifts for the Christ child, and Joseph, Mary, and Jesus escaping to Egypt and later returning to Nazareth. These passages also include Jesus being presented at the temple at eight days old and, at twelve years old, remaining behind at the temple speaking with the teachers there. The story of the birth of the Savior two thousand years ago is amazing, filled with exquisite and meaningful details treasured by those present as well as believers millennia after. But the story of God coming to earth as a man began thousands of years earlier with the prophecies of the coming Messiah. God spoke of a Savior in Genesis 3:15. Centuries later, Isaiah foretold of a virgin who would conceive and bear a son and call His name Emmanuel, which means “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14). The first of the key events in the life of Christ is the humble beginning in a stable, when God came to be with us, born to set His people free and to save us from our sins.

Baptism: (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-23) – Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist at the Jordan River is the first act of His public ministry. John’s was a baptism of repentance, and although Jesus did not need such a baptism, He consented to it in order to identify Himself with sinners. In fact, when John balked that Jesus wanted to be baptized by him, saying that it was he, John, who should be baptized by Jesus, Jesus insisted. Jesus said, "It is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness," so John did as requested (Matthew 3:13-15). In His baptism, Jesus identified with the sinners whose sins He would soon bear on the cross where He would exchange His righteousness for their sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). The baptism of Christ symbolized His death and resurrection, prefigured and lent importance to Christian baptism, and publicly identified Christ with those for whom He would die. In addition, His identity as the long-awaited Messiah was confirmed by God Himself who spoke from heaven: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Finally, Jesus’ baptism was the scene of the very first appearance of the Trinity to man. The Son was baptized, the Father spoke, and the Holy Spirit descended like a dove. The Father’s command, the Son’s obedience, and the Holy Spirit’s empowerment present a beautiful picture of the ministry and life of Christ.

First miracle: (John 2:1-11) – It is fitting that John’s Gospel is the only one that records Jesus’ first miracle. John’s account of the life of Christ has as its theme and purpose to reveal the deity of Christ. This event, where Jesus turns water into wine, shows His divine power over the elements of the earth, the same power that would be revealed again in many more miracles of healing and the control of the elements such as wind and the sea. John goes on to tell us that this first miracle had two outcomes—the glory of Christ was manifest and the disciples believed in Him (John 2:11). The divine, glorified nature of Christ was hidden when He assumed human form, but in instances such as this miracle, His true nature burst forth and was made manifest to all who had eyes to see (Matthew 13:16). The disciples always believed in Jesus, but the miracles helped to strengthen their faith and prepare them for the difficult times that lay ahead of them.

Sermon on the Mount: (Matthew 5:1-7:29) – Perhaps the most famous sermon of all time was preached by Jesus to His disciples early in His public ministry. Many memorable phrases that we know today came from this sermon, including “blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth,” “salt of the earth,” “an eye for an eye,” “the lilies of the field,” “ask and you will receive,” and “wolves in sheep’s clothing,” as well as the concepts of going the extra mile, turning the other cheek, and the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. Also in the sermon is the Lord’s Prayer. Most importantly, though, the Sermon on the Mount dealt a devastating blow to the Pharisees and their religion of works-righteousness. By expounding the spirit of the Law and not just the letter of it, Jesus left no doubt that legalism is of no avail for salvation and that, in fact, the demands of the Law are humanly impossible to meet. He ends the sermon with a call to true faith for salvation and a warning that the way to that salvation is narrow and few find it. Jesus compares those who hear His words and put them into practice to wise builders who build their houses on a solid foundation; when storms come, their houses withstand.

[Mary Naeem]

Who was Daniel in the Bible?


Answer


We can read about the life of Daniel in his own writings in the book of Daniel and also in Ezekiel 14:14, 20 and 28:3. There are some striking similarities between the life of Daniel and that of Jacob’s son Joseph. Both of them prospered in foreign lands after interpreting dreams for their rulers, and both were elevated to high office as a result of their faithfulness to God.

After Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, besieged Jerusalem, he chose noble men from Israel’s royal household who were handsome and showed an aptitude for learning, to be trained in the ways of the Babylonians. After their three years’ training, they would be put into the king’s service (Daniel 1:1-6). Daniel, whose name means “God is my judge,” and his three countrymen from Judea were chosen and given new names. Daniel became “Belteshazzar,” while Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah became “Shadrach," "Meshach," and "Abednego.” The Babylonians most likely gave them new names that were completely disassociated with their Hebrew roots to hasten Daniel and his friends’ assimilation into the Babylonian culture.

Daniel and his compatriots proved to be the wisest of all the trainees, and, at the end of their training, they entered the service of King Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel’s first sign of faithfulness to God was when he and his three friends rejected the rich food and wine from the king’s table, because they deemed it a defilement, and became vegetarians. As their health improved, they were permitted to continue with their chosen diet. In their education, the four men from Judah became knowledgeable in all Babylonian matters, and Daniel was given by God the ability to understand dreams and visions of all kinds (Daniel 1:17).

In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar was troubled with a dream that he could not interpret. Beyond interpretation, Nebuchadnezzar commanded his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers to also describe his dream. These men were willing to try to interpret the dream if Nebuchadnezzar first told them what it was, but they said that revealing the dream itself was an impossible task for humans. The king decreed that all the wise men, including Daniel and his companions, must be put to death. However, after Daniel sought God in prayer, the mystery of the king’s dream was revealed to Daniel, and he was taken to the king to interpret it. Daniel immediately attributed his ability to interpret dreams to the one true God (Daniel 2:28). The key feature of the dream was that one day there will be a kingdom set up by God that will last forever, and that God’s kingdom will destroy all previous, man-made kingdoms (Daniel 2:44-45). For his wisdom, Daniel was honored by King Nebuchadnezzar and placed in authority over all the wise men of Babylon. At Daniel’s request, his three countrymen were also placed in positions of authority as administrators of Babylon.

Later, King Nebuchadnezzar had another dream, and again Daniel was able to interpret it. The king acknowledged that Daniel had the spirit of his holy God within him (Daniel 4:9). Daniel’s interpretation of the dream was correct. After experiencing a period of insanity, Nebuchadnezzar was restored to health, and he praised and honored Daniel’s God as the Most High (Daniel 4:34-37).

Nebuchadnezzar’s son, Belshazzar, became the new king, and during a banquet he ordered the gold and silver goblets that had been stolen from the holy temple in Jerusalem to be brought out for use. In response to the defilement of such holy items, Belshazzar sees a hand writing on the wall. His astrologers are unable to assist him in its translation, and so Daniel is called upon to interpret the writing (Daniel 5:13-16). As a reward for interpreting the writing, Daniel is promoted by King Belshazzar to the third highest position in the Babylonian kingdom (verse 29). That night, as Daniel had prophesied, the king was slain in battle, and his kingdom was taken over by the Persian Cyrus the Great, and Darius the Mede was made king.

Under the new ruler, Daniel excelled in his duties as one of the administrators to such a degree that King Darius was contemplating making him head over all the kingdom (Daniel 6:1-3). This infuriated the other administrators so much that they looked for a way to bring Daniel down. They could find no wrongdoing on Daniel’s part, so they focused on the matter of Daniel’s religion. Using flattery, the administrators coaxed Darius into issuing a decree forbidding prayers to any god other than the king for the next thirty days. The penalty for disobedience was to be thrown into a den of lions. Daniel disobeyed the edict, of course, and continued to pray openly to the true God. As Daniel made no attempt to hide his activity, he was seen praying and arrested. With much regret the king gave the order for Daniel to be thrown into the lions’ den, but not without a prayer that Daniel’s God would rescue him (Daniel 6:16). The next day, when Daniel was found alive and well, he told the king that God had sent an angel to shut the lions’ mouths and so he had remained unharmed. This miracle resulted in King Darius sending out a decree that all his subjects were to worship the God of Daniel. Daniel continued to prosper throughout King Darius’ reign.

Daniel is also well known for the prophetic dreams and visions God gave him, recorded in the book of Daniel. Daniel’s prophecies cover a broad range of human history, as he predicted the rise and fall of the Greek and Roman Empires and the rise of a powerful king who “will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods” (Daniel 11:36). Daniel’s “seventy weeks” prophecy spoke of a Messiah who would be killed (Daniel 9:24–27). We saw this prophecy fulfilled with Jesus. The remainder of the prophecy—the seventieth week—will be fulfilled in the end times. Daniel had other apocalyptic visions as well, and understanding his prophecies is important to eschatology.

Daniel exercised great integrity and, in doing so, received the respect and affection of the powerful rulers he served. However, his honesty and loyalty to his masters never led him to compromise his faith in the one true God. Rather than it being an obstacle to his success, Daniel’s continual devotion to God brought him the admiration of the unbelievers in his circle. When delivering his interpretations, he was quick to give God the credit for his ability to do so (Daniel 2:28).

Daniel’s integrity as a man of God gained him favor with the secular world, yet he refused to compromise his faith in God. Even under the intimidation of kings and rulers, Daniel remained steadfast in his commitment to God. Daniel also teaches us that, no matter whom we are dealing with, no matter what their status is, we are to treat them with compassion. See how concerned he was when delivering the interpretation to Nebuchadnezzar’s second dream (Daniel 4:19). As Christians, we are called to obey the rulers and authorities that God has put in place, treating them with respect and compassion; however, as we see from Daniel’s example, obeying God’s law must always take precedence over obeying men (Romans 13:1–7; Acts 5:29).

As a result of his devotion, Daniel found favor with man and with God (Daniel 9:20-23). Notice also in those verses what the angel Gabriel told Daniel about how swiftly the answer to his prayer was dispatched. This shows us how ready the Lord is to hear the prayers of His people. Daniel’s strength lay in his devotion to prayer and is a lesson for us all. It is not just in the bad times but on a daily basis that we must come to God in prayer.

[Mary Naeem]

What were the key events in the life of Jesus Christ?
Answer


The following are the key events in the life of Christ and the Bible books where each is described: (Part 2)

Feeding of the 5,000: (Matthew 14:15-21; Mark 6:34-44; Luke 9:12-17; John 6:5-13) – From five small loaves and two fish, Jesus created enough food to feed many more than 5,000 people. The Gospels tell us there were 5,000 men present, but Matthew adds that there were women and children there besides. Estimates of the crowd are as high as 20,000. But our God is a God of abundant provision, and little is much in the hands of the Lord. A poignant lesson is learned by seeing that, before He multiplied the loaves and fishes, Jesus commanded the multitude to sit down. This is a beautiful picture of the power of God to accomplish what we cannot, while we rest in Him. There was nothing the people could do to feed themselves; only He could do that. They had only a pittance, but in God’s hands it became a feast that was not only sufficient—it was bountiful.

Transfiguration: (Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:26-36) – This event is referred to as the “Transfiguration,” meaning “a change in form,” because Jesus was changed before the eyes of Peter, James, and John into a reflection of His true nature. His divine glory radiated from Him, changing His face and clothing in such a way that the Gospel writers had trouble relating it. Just as the apostle John used many metaphors to describe what he saw in the visions of Revelation, so, too, did Matthew, Mark, and Luke have to resort to images like “lightning,” “the sun” and “light” to describe Jesus’ appearance. Truly, it was otherworldly. The appearance of Moses and Elijah to converse with Jesus shows us two things. First, the two men represent the Law and the Prophets, both of which foretold Jesus’ coming and His death. Second, the fact that they talked about His upcoming death in Jerusalem (Luke 9:31) shows their foreknowledge of these events and the sovereign plan of God that was unfolding just as He had foreordained. God spoke from heaven and commanded the disciples to “Hear Him!” thereby stating that Jesus, not Moses and Elijah, now had the power and authority to command them.

Raising of Lazarus: (John 11:1-44) – Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha of Bethany, was a personal friend of Jesus, which is why Jesus was sent for by the family when Lazarus was sick. Jesus delayed several days before going to Bethany, knowing that Lazarus would be dead long enough by then to verify this amazing display of divine power. Only God has the power over life and death, and by raising Lazarus from the grave, Jesus was reiterating His authority as God and His supremacy over death. Through this incident, the Son of God would be glorified in an unmistakable way. As with many other miracles and incidents, one of the goals was that the disciples—and we—“may believe” (John 20:31). Jesus is who He said He was, and this most astounding of His miracles testifies to that fact. Jesus told Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25) and asked her if she believed what He was saying. This is the basis of the Christian life. We believe that Jesus is the very power of resurrection, and we trust in Him to give us eternal life through that power. We are buried with Him and raised by His authority over death. Only through His power can we be truly saved.

Triumphal entry: (Matthew 21:1–11, 14–17; Mark 11:1–11; Luke 19:29–44; John 12:12–19) – Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem the week before the crucifixion is the basis of what is known as Palm Sunday. The multitudes who greeted Him laid palm branches in the road for Him, but the worship of Him was short-lived. In just a few days, other crowds would be calling for His death, shouting “Crucify him! Crucify him!” (Luke 23:20-21). But as He rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey’s colt, He received the adoration of the crowd and their acknowledgement of His messianic claim. Even the little children welcomed Him, demonstrating that they knew what the Jewish leaders did not, that Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy of Zechariah repeated in John 12:15: “See, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”

[Mary Naeem]

الأحداث الرئيسية في حياة المسيح مع الشواهد الكتابية لكل منها (جزء 2)





إطعام الخمسة آلاف: (متى 14: 15-21؛ مرقس 6: 34-44؛ لوقا 9: 12-17؛ يوحنا 6: 5-13) — خلق المسيح طعاماً يكفي أكثر من خمسة آلاف نفس من خمسة أرغفة صغيرة وسمكتين. تخبرنا الأناجيل أنه كان هناك خمسة آلاف رجل، ويضيف متى أنه كان هناك نساء وأطفال أيضاً. ويصل تقدير عدد الجمهور إلى 20000 شخص. ولكن إلهنا هو إله التدبير الفائض، والقليل يصبح كثير في يد الرب. ومن الدروس الهامة هنا، ملاحظة أن المسيح أمر الناس أن يجلسوا قبل أن يبارك الخبز والسمك ويضاعفه. وهذه صورة جميلة لقوة الله التي تستطيع أن تفعل ما لا نستطيعه، إذ نهدأ ونضع ثقتنا فيه. لم يكن هناك شيء يستطيع الناس أن يفعلوه ليطعموا أنفسهم؛ هو فقط الذي كان يستطيع ذلك. كان لديهم أقل القليل، ولكن في يدي الله تحول ذلك إلى وليمة كبيرة – لم تكن كافية وفقط بل فاض منها أيضاً.

التجلي: (متى 17: 1-8؛ مرقس 9: 2-8؛ لوقا 9: 26-36) – يسمى هذا الحدث "التجلي" بمعني "تغير في الهيئة"، لأن هيئة المسيح تغيرت أمام نظر بطرس ويعقوب ويوحنا إلى صورة طبيعته الحقيقية. كان مجده الإلهي يشع منه، مغيراً وجهه وملابسه بطريقة عجز من كتبوا الأناجيل في وصفها. وكما إستخدم يوحنا تشبيهات كثيرة لوصف ما شاهده في الرؤى في سفر الرؤيا، كذلك أيضاً إستخدم متى ومرقس ولوقا تشبيهات مثل "البرق"، و"الشمس"، و"النور" لوصف مظهر المسيح. بالفعل كان منظره ليس من هذا العالم. ويبين لنا ظهور موسى وإيليا للحديث مع المسيح أمرين. أولاً، يمثل الرجلين الناموس والأنبياء، وكل منها تنبأ بمجيء المسيح وموته. ثانياً، تبين حقيقة أنهم كانوا يتحدثون عن موته الذي كان سيحدث في أورشليم (لوقا 9: 31) العلم المسبق بهذه الأحداث وخطة الله السامية التي كانت تتحقق كما سبق ورسمها. تكلم الله من السماء وأمر التلاميذ أن "يسمعوا له" وبهذا قرر أن يسوع، وليس موسى أو إيليا، هو من له القوة والسلطان الآن لكي يأمرهم.

إقامة لعازر: (يوحنا 11: 1-44) – كان لعازر، أخو مريم ومرثا من بيت عنيا، صديقاً شخصياً للمسيح، لهذا أرسلت العائلة تطلب من المسيح الحضور عندما مرض لعازر. أجّل المسيح ذهابه إلى بيت عنيا عدة أيام عالماً أنه ستكون قد مرَّت على موت لعازر فترة كافية لإثبات إظهار قوته الإلهية. الله وحده له السلطان على الموت والحياة، وعندما أقام يسوع لعازر من الموت فإنه أكّد سلطانه الإلهي وسيادته على الموت. من خلال هذه الحادثة تم تمجيد إبن الله بطريقة واضحة. كان أحد أهداف هذه المعجزة، مثل الكثير من المعجزات والأحداث الأخرى، هو أن "يؤمن التلاميذ – ونحن أيضاً (يوحنا 20: 31). فيسوع هو من قال عن نفسه أنه هو، وتشهد هذه المعجزة العجيبة على تلك الحقيقة. قال يسوع لمرثا "أَنَا هُوَ الْقِيَامَةُ وَالْحَيَاةُ" (يوحنا 11: 25)، وسألها إن كانت تؤمن بما يقوله. وهذا هو أساس الحياة المسيحية. نحن نؤمن أن المسيح هو قوة القيامة، ونحن نثق أنه يمنحنا الحياة الأبدية من خلال تلك القوة. نحن قد دفنا وأقمنا معه من خلال سلطانه على الموت. ومن خلال قوته فقط ننال الخلاص الحقيقي.


الدخول الإنتصاري: (متى 21: 1-11، 14-17؛ مرقس 11: 1-11؛ لوقا 19: 29-44؛ يوحنا 12: 12-19) – إن دخول المسيح الإنتصاري إلى أورشليم في الأسبوع الذي سبق صلبه هو أساس إحتفالنا بأحد السعف/الشعانين. قامت الجماهير التي إستقبلته بإلقاء سعف النخيل في الطريق أمامه، ولكن عبادتهم له كانت قصيرة الأمد. ففي غضون أيام قليلة صرخت نفس الجماهير مطالبة بموته، قائلين: "أصلبه! أصلبه!" (لوقا 23: 20-21). ولكن عندما دخل إلى أورشليم راكباً على جحش إبن أتان – إشارة إلى إتضاعه – وجد ترحيباً وتأليهاً من الجموع وإعترافاً منهم بأنه المسيا. حتى الأطفال رحبوا به، وبهذا أظهروا أنهم يدركون ما لم يدركه قادة اليهود، بأن يسوع هو المسيا. كان دخول المسيح إلى أورشليم تحقيقاً لنبوة زكريا في العهد القديم والتي ذكرت في يوحنا 12: 15 "هُوَذَا مَلِكُكِ يَأْتِي جَالِساً عَلَى جَحْشِ أَتَانٍ".


What were the key events in the life of Jesus Christ?
Answer


The following are the key events in the life of Christ and the Bible books where each is described: (Part 2)

Feeding of the 5,000: (Matthew 14:15-21; Mark 6:34-44; Luke 9:12-17; John 6:5-13) – From five small loaves and two fish, Jesus created enough food to feed many more than 5,000 people. The Gospels tell us there were 5,000 men present, but Matthew adds that there were women and children there besides. Estimates of the crowd are as high as 20,000. But our God is a God of abundant provision, and little is much in the hands of the Lord. A poignant lesson is learned by seeing that, before He multiplied the loaves and fishes, Jesus commanded the multitude to sit down. This is a beautiful picture of the power of God to accomplish what we cannot, while we rest in Him. There was nothing the people could do to feed themselves; only He could do that. They had only a pittance, but in God’s hands it became a feast that was not only sufficient—it was bountiful.

Transfiguration: (Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:26-36) – This event is referred to as the “Transfiguration,” meaning “a change in form,” because Jesus was changed before the eyes of Peter, James, and John into a reflection of His true nature. His divine glory radiated from Him, changing His face and clothing in such a way that the Gospel writers had trouble relating it. Just as the apostle John used many metaphors to describe what he saw in the visions of Revelation, so, too, did Matthew, Mark, and Luke have to resort to images like “lightning,” “the sun” and “light” to describe Jesus’ appearance. Truly, it was otherworldly. The appearance of Moses and Elijah to converse with Jesus shows us two things. First, the two men represent the Law and the Prophets, both of which foretold Jesus’ coming and His death. Second, the fact that they talked about His upcoming death in Jerusalem (Luke 9:31) shows their foreknowledge of these events and the sovereign plan of God that was unfolding just as He had foreordained. God spoke from heaven and commanded the disciples to “Hear Him!” thereby stating that Jesus, not Moses and Elijah, now had the power and authority to command them.

Raising of Lazarus: (John 11:1-44) – Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha of Bethany, was a personal friend of Jesus, which is why Jesus was sent for by the family when Lazarus was sick. Jesus delayed several days before going to Bethany, knowing that Lazarus would be dead long enough by then to verify this amazing display of divine power. Only God has the power over life and death, and by raising Lazarus from the grave, Jesus was reiterating His authority as God and His supremacy over death. Through this incident, the Son of God would be glorified in an unmistakable way. As with many other miracles and incidents, one of the goals was that the disciples—and we—“may believe” (John 20:31). Jesus is who He said He was, and this most astounding of His miracles testifies to that fact. Jesus told Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25) and asked her if she believed what He was saying. This is the basis of the Christian life. We believe that Jesus is the very power of resurrection, and we trust in Him to give us eternal life through that power. We are buried with Him and raised by His authority over death. Only through His power can we be truly saved.

Triumphal entry: (Matthew 21:1–11, 14–17; Mark 11:1–11; Luke 19:29–44; John 12:12–19) – Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem the week before the crucifixion is the basis of what is known as Palm Sunday. The multitudes who greeted Him laid palm branches in the road for Him, but the worship of Him was short-lived. In just a few days, other crowds would be calling for His death, shouting “Crucify him! Crucify him!” (Luke 23:20-21). But as He rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey’s colt, He received the adoration of the crowd and their acknowledgement of His messianic claim. Even the little children welcomed Him, demonstrating that they knew what the Jewish leaders did not, that Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy of Zechariah repeated in John 12:15: “See, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”

[Mary Naeem]

إطعام الخمسة آلاف
(متى 14: 15-21؛ مرقس 6: 34-44؛ لوقا 9: 12-17؛ يوحنا 6: 5-13)
خلق المسيح طعاماً يكفي أكثر من خمسة آلاف نفس من خمسة أرغفة صغيرة وسمكتين. تخبرنا الأناجيل أنه كان هناك خمسة آلاف رجل، ويضيف متى أنه كان هناك نساء وأطفال أيضاً. ويصل تقدير عدد الجمهور إلى 20000 شخص.
ولكن إلهنا هو إله التدبير الفائض، والقليل يصبح كثير في يد الرب. ومن الدروس الهامة هنا، ملاحظة أن المسيح أمر الناس أن يجلسوا قبل أن يبارك الخبز والسمك ويضاعفه.
وهذه صورة جميلة لقوة الله التي تستطيع أن تفعل ما لا نستطيعه، إذ نهدأ ونضع ثقتنا فيه. لم يكن هناك شيء يستطيع الناس أن يفعلوه ليطعموا أنفسهم؛ هو فقط الذي كان يستطيع ذلك. كان لديهم أقل القليل، ولكن في يدي الله تحول ذلك إلى وليمة كبيرة – لم تكن كافية وفقط بل فاض منها أيضاً.

[Mary Naeem]

التجلي
(متى 17: 1-8؛ مرقس 9: 2-8؛ لوقا 9: 26-36)


يسمى هذا الحدث "التجلي" بمعني "تغير في الهيئة"، لأن هيئة المسيح تغيرت أمام نظر بطرس ويعقوب ويوحنا إلى صورة طبيعته الحقيقية. كان مجده الإلهي يشع منه، مغيراً وجهه وملابسه بطريقة عجز من كتبوا الأناجيل في وصفها.
وكما إستخدم يوحنا تشبيهات كثيرة لوصف ما شاهده في الرؤى في سفر الرؤيا، كذلك أيضاً إستخدم متى ومرقس ولوقا تشبيهات مثل "البرق"، و"الشمس"، و"النور" لوصف مظهر المسيح.
بالفعل كان منظره ليس من هذا العالم. ويبين لنا ظهور موسى وإيليا للحديث مع المسيح أمرين.
أولاً، يمثل الرجلين الناموس والأنبياء، وكل منها تنبأ بمجيء المسيح وموته.
ثانياً، تبين حقيقة أنهم كانوا يتحدثون عن موته الذي كان سيحدث في أورشليم (لوقا 9: 31) العلم المسبق بهذه الأحداث وخطة الله السامية التي كانت تتحقق كما سبق ورسمها.
تكلم الله من السماء وأمر التلاميذ أن "يسمعوا له" وبهذا قرر أن يسوع، وليس موسى أو إيليا، هو من له القوة والسلطان الآن لكي يأمرهم.