Pathian thuthlung, thupuan leh hmangaihna lan chhuahna tak chu kan Lalpa, Isua Krista, Pathian fapa chu a ni a. “He Tempul hi ṭhiat ula, ni thum chhungin ka tungding leh ang,” Isua’n a tih khan a Tempul sawi chu ama taksa a ni si (Joh 2:19-21). Pathian tiam ang ngei chuan Thuthlung leh Thupek Thar chu Isuan kan hnenah min pe ta (Jere 31:31-34; Joh 13:34, Heb 8:13). Tu pawh Isua thupekte pawma zawmtu chu fapa hmangaihtu a ni. Fapa hmangaihtu chu Pain a hmangaih ang a; fapa pawhin a hmangaih ang a, a hnenah a inlar bawk ang. Pawma zawmtu hnenah an lo kal ang a, a hnenah an awm reng ang (Joh 14:21-23). Hmangaihna leh Thutak avang chuan kan chhandamtu, Lal Isua, zarah Pathian Nung Tempul chu kan lo ni ve thei ta a. Thlarau Thianghlim, thlarau thutak, chenna In kan ni ta a ni (1Kor 6:19,2Kor 6:16).

Mi tu pawh Kristaa kan awm chuan thilsiam thar kan lo ni a, thil hlui chu a ral a, a lo thar ta a (2Kor 5:17). Pathian In tak ang chuan a lo thianghlim a, a vawn hna chu hmangaihna avangin kan bat a lo ni ta a ni. Pathian In chu ṭawngṭaina in a ni a, a mi te suamhmang leh rawk tuah chan tir suh (Mat 21:13). Thil paruk-pasarih Lalpa huatzawng a ten em em te chu ti lo la (Thuf 6:16). Inngaihna sual chu tlansan la, inngaihna sual hmangte lakah chuan inthiarfihlim rawh (1Kor 5:9, Luk 8:11-15). Inngaihna chu mahni taksa chunga thil tihsualna a ni si a (1Kor 6:18). Mitin kan thil tih ang zelin kan chungthu a la rel dawn si (Thup 21:27). A nghawngkawl chu inngaitlawm leh thuhnuairawlh takin kan bat ang a, zirtur tak Amah chu kan zir ang. Kan chunga sual te ngaidama ṭawngṭaisakin Ama’n chawlhna tak chu min pe dawn a ni (Mat 11:28-30). Thutak hmang chuan Krista kawng chu kan zawh ang a, nunna kan chhar dawn a ni. Beidawng mai lo la, nghak fan fan rawh. An huat hma chein kan Lalpa an haw si. Ani’n ni kin ni-a kaihthawh a tiam che kha theihngilh suh (Joh 6:44).

Keini’n kan thlang a ni lova, Ama’n min thlang a ni zawk e (Joh 15:15-17). Pathian Biak In thianghlimah chuan a dawhkan rawn kil ta che. A chhang chu ei la, a no chu la rawh. Krista zara thi a tho leh, chatuan a nung turah chuan Pathian chu chen tir la. Thlah lo la, hna ṭha chu thawk la; Pathian ram chu zauh rawh. Tichuan, a Biak In kawngkhar chu a thlan te tan i hawn sak dawn nia.

But how do we know that Jesus is the rock still you say? Let us look at these two passage from Our Lord: ^“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: he is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.”-Luke 6:46-49; And “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”-Matthew 7:24-29. From these two passage we can discern that Jesus equates the hearing of the will of the Lord and doing it akin to a foundation and concrete himself with a rock where this foundation is based upon because the foundation that which is the hearing and doing comes from His will, that which is from The Father. Promising us that anyone who make his house upon this rock as foundation will never crumble against evil of this world. For our house is our body, our hearts, our soul; That which is his Temple. For this our Lord promise us “even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”-John 14:17. And that makes us the church, where God dwells. Just like the Ark where God dwells, God dwells in us now. Fulfilling the words ^“At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you”-John 14:20. To his children who keep his commandments. And following our Lord and Saviour is our work and of his church as is written “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father”-John 14:12. And because we are now God’s temple we must rejoice and come together for our Lord has instructed us “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”-Matthew 18:19-20. Where we gather in our Lord’s name, be it any form physically or by the spirit, we become his Church. By his will, not ours; in him.

For this our beloved brother Peter confirmed “Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”- 1 Peter 2:6-10. Where our beloved brother Paul concurred as was in the olden days to now “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.”-1 Corinthians 10:1-4. For this Paul declared to us “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;” -Acts 17:25-25.

Therefore, Children of God, do not be deceived. It is you that which is his temple, it is we that is his stones, it is we his church, it is we that will proclaim God’s will on earth. The chosen few by our Lord, to many. And it is on us that the kingdom of God will be built for the righteous hand of God, his Son Jesus. And through Jesus our Lord with his mercy we have become a priesthood, and by God’s authority through The Holy Spirit that dwell in us we have sown his majestic love and deliver his wrath as written “Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”-Matthew 18:18. The power to bind evil and free the spirited. And by this: The Holy Spirit, sent by Our Father in heaven, has sent us forth to the uninitiated. To eat and drink from the rock our Lord and Saviour Jesus of Nazareth, as he has shown us “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work”-John 4:34. And as he has instructed us to do so “And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”-Luke 22:19.

Remember our Lord and his words dear brethren. Keep it so that we may continue his work, and just as he has saved us save the fallen and the lost. And do not let it go or be dismayed, for God is with us. Endure, Love and Forgive. Believe it humbly because God promised. And his promises are true for his words will live forever. To our God who lives and who lives in us.

May Peace, The Holy Spirit, be with you. Go and built his Church. Sow and reap his Love.

Jesus is Lord.

Maranatha

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In ancient Jewish culture, that is during the time of Mary and Joseph, Jewish halakhists and rabbis prohibit a father from betrothing a daughter while she is still a minor. A girl can be betrothed when she becomes a young woman (Hebrew: נַעֲרָה, romanized: na'arah), which may defined as a girl aged 12-12½ or one who has begun puberty, sometimes it is defined by physical development, a na’arah being a girl who has begun to reach puberty but has not completed it [Daf Shevui to Ketubot 36a3 (The William Davidson Talmud)]. In similarity to the Romans, as per the roman law the age of lawful consent to a marriage was 12 for girls and 14 for boys [Beryl Rawson, "The Roman Family in Italy" (Oxford University Press, 1999), p. 21]. Considering it was lawful betrothing starting at the age of 12 during those times, then the first assumption would be that Mary was older than 12 when she was betroth. But 12 was still considered to be young or child and not among women. From the time a girl reaches the age of twelve years and one day until the age of twenty, if she does not grow two pubic hairs, she is still considered to be a child, even if she manifests the physical signs of barrenness [Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon ("Maimonides"), Ishut, c. 2. sect. 3.]

Now, Mary was not yet pregnant when she was called woman: "And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women"-Luke 1:28. Also Elizabeth, the Mother of John, specifically said “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!"-Luke 1:42. The same term women is used for Mary Magdalene and the other Mary when they came to see the sepulchre where “And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.”- Matthew 28:5. Since the New Testament reserve the word women for older female we can know that Mary, Mother of Jesus, was not a child nor a young girl. She was old enough to venture on her own from Nazareth to the city of Juda to meet Elizabeth, a distance of 128 km to 160 km in today’s measurement (Luke 1:38). Therefore, she could not have been younger than 16 at most and at the least 18 years to travel that far alone. The physique, stamina, mentality and knowledge requirement for her to cross between the two cities alone does not permit a young woman let alone a child to succeed. Not only did she succeed but she met Elizabeth in good health and shape that we can discern from their conversation.

Most importantly, Nazareth of Galilee was under the governing authority of Rome viz. Emperor Augustus. And Augustus made many legislations for Pax Romana. Among the many, Lex Julia de maritandis ordinibus (18BC approx) where Marrying-age celibates and young widows that would not marry were barred from receiving inheritances and from attending public games. Requiring all citizens to marry, also limiting marriage across social class boundaries. Since the law had already existed, by the time Joseph was of age to marry, to receive inheritance he has to marry. Mary being betroth, Joseph decided to fulfil their marriage. But when the time came, Joseph learned that Mary was pregnant: “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.”-Matthew 1:18 During this time, people were already under the law of Augustus legislation’s Lex Iulia de adulteriis coercendis (17BC found later at 4 AD) where this law punished adultery with banishment. The two guilty parties were sent to different islands ("dummodo in diversas insulas relegentur"), and part of their property was confiscated. Fathers were permitted to kill daughters and their partners in adultery. Husbands could kill the partners under certain circumstances and were required to divorce adulterous wives [Greg Woolf (2007). Ancient civilizations: the illustrated guide to belief, mythology, and art. Barnes & Noble. p. 386]. This explains why Joseph was weary of the pregnancy of Mary and decided to act : “And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly”-Matthew 1:19. But when an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, he then woke up and decided to marry his betroth (Matthew 1:24)

Following the collapse of the Republic, laws about marriage, parenting, and adultery were part of Augustus' program to restore the mos maiorum (traditional social norms) while consolidating his power as princeps and pater familias of the Roman state. [Edwards, pp. 34ff., 41–42 et passim; and "Unspeakable Professions: Public Performance and Prostitution in Ancient Rome," in Roman Sexualities (Princeton University Press, 1997), pp. 67, 89–90 et passim]. Marriage and remarriage had become less frequent, and the citizen birth rate had fallen, particularly among the wealthier, more leisured classes. Augustan law on marriage and family life encouraged marriage, having children, and punished adultery as a crime [Lefkowitz, Mary R.; Fant, Maureen B. (2005). Women's Life in Greece and Rome. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.] The new legislation formalized and enforced what had been considered a traditional, moral duty to family and the State; all men between 25 and 60 years of age, and all women between 20 and 50 were to marry and have children, or pay extra tax in proportion to their wealth. Members of the upper classes thus had most to lose. Citizens who had already produced three children, and freed persons who had produced four, were exempt. Marriages between senators, freed women, enslaved people and citizens were declared legally void. Children born to such liaisons were illegitimate, non-citizen and unable to inherit [Frank, Richard I., "Augustus' Legislation on Marriage and Children," California Studies in Classical Antiquity, Vol. 8, 1975, pp. 44–45 University of California Press DOI: 10.2307/25010681 – via JSTOR )]. A married woman who bore three children or more could be granted legal independence under the ius liberorum [Thomas, "The Division of the Sexes," p. 133.]. These laws were poorly received; they were modified in 9 AD by the Lex Papia Poppaea [Lefkowitz, Women's Life in Greece and Rome. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, p. 102.]. This legislation(s) were with regards to marriage and tax.

Consequently, Joseph and Mary were taxed: "And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria). And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child."-Luke 2 :1-5. Thus both Joseph and Mary were of age to be taxed. That means they were above the age of 20 (Twenty). And it was during this stay that our beloved Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah was born.

So brethren, we know that Laws are decreed with the permission of God whether Good or Evil or that which is borne out of Human’s corruption. As is written "Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God."-Rome 13:1. Just like Jesus submit to the governing authority Pontius Pilate: the fifth governor of the Roman province of Judaea, serving under Emperor Tiberius, Jesus parents submit to the Law governing them. For these things shall come to pass.

On these accounts, we come to the conclusion that Mary/Mariam, the mother of Jesus, was not younger than 20 when she gave birth to Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah. The exact age lost in time or presumed to be so.

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Is it not so “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”(John 3:16). But the Corrupts have adulterated the words and conveniently stroke off the implication of the next which is to believe. To believe is to Love and that is work. It is indeed imperative to understand that the salvation of all existence is because of God’s love. How can one say that they have earned the salvation of the world through their own work but not by the deliverance, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Our Lord, whom Our Father in heaven has sent. Truly, let it not be said that Jesus “the Alpha and Omega” did not gave his life for us on that cross willingly. For this mercifully we have received through Our Lord’s sacrifice: which is borne out of Love, that which is Love, which is the work of the Almighty; salvation on Earth. Is it not written “For I will be merciful to their iniquities, And I will remember their sins no more.”(Hebrew 8:15). Or have we forgotten Our Lord’s words ^“If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.”(John 10:37-38). Hence, Jesus, the Son of God, has shown us his work, his love. Since we are saved by his Holy grace, it is apt that we show our love, which is work it self. Didn’t our Lord said “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”(John 14:15). Or have we forgotten “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”(John 13:34)

Therefore, Children of God, let it be so that we may boast of our Lord’s work and not ours. For he is Good and so is his Love. Not like Evil doers and their followers. So that we may dwell with the death of our Sins and risen to our new self, a cleansed spirit. That we may show of our Love as he has shown his. To one another as to Our Lord, Our Saviour. And forgive those who has strife away and show them what our Lord truly is: the way, and the truth, and the life. Mercifully, for we receive his mercy; Dutifully, as he did his work; Gently, for he is the Lamb; Persevere, as he endured; to it all humbly, because the word became flesh. So that God may see our work. And see of the love we have sown. And be Glad that it may spread by the willing of the Holy Spirit, by the blessing of the Father and the strength of his righteous right hand his Son. Do not be afraid for God is with us. Hold on to your faith in God. Where we may lack the Holy Spirit will teach us for it is written “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful”(John 14:26-27)

May Peace, the Holy Spirit, be upon You. Go and do your work, for God is working.

Jesus is Lord.

Maranatha.